Noodle for Indonesian is a comforting food. Most of us never refuse a bowl of noodle. Even every Indonesian might have more than one favorite noodle, but we all agree that a great noodle can soothe our soul.

In my hometown, Surabaya, mostly noodles are influenced by Chinese. One of the best is Mie Mapan. Their texture noodle is perfect, not too thick or thin. My favorite menu is pangsit mie bakwan, noodles served with mustard green, ground chicken, boiled and fried dumplings, and meatball. Their dumplings are the best. You can choose it fried or boiled or both. I choose both. It is so addictive. Don’t forget to order their fried siomay. It is so big and satisfy.

Nowadays Mie Mapan has more than 20 outlets. Mostly at East Java, some in Jakarta, and one in Bali. I have wandered away from Surabaya for almost 10 years, but I think Mie Mapan is the best noodle so far. I like tasty and salty chicken noodle. Since in Jakarta mostly chicken noodle are sweet, so not my type.

Formerly, Mie Mapan only sold in their terrace by couple Jang Hwa Heng and Ting Yek Sin in a housing complex on the outskirt of Surabaya. They sold since 1992, only tasty noodles.

They maintain their noodle flavor consistently until many people recognize it as their signature. Because the position of their stall behind a church, their noodle is famous with Bakmi BG (Buri Gerejo or Behind Church).

Lately, they renamed the stall as Mie Mapan as the stall complex, Rungkut Mapan. Mapan is also has a good meaning. It means stability, established, and prosperous. A good name for a company.

At 2000, Mie Mapan also made new menu, penyetan. I think because Surabaya is famous for their penyetan menu. It could be fried chicken, fish, egg, tofu or tempe and served with raw vegetables (lalapan) and chili sauce (sambal). Besides that, Mie Mapan also served ribs, shredded meat, meat ball, muscle beef, shrimp for penyetan variation. And you can put all of them in one menu, Penyet Keroyokan, which is one of their best sellers.

I always came here when it was at Rungkut Mapan, their first stall. Actually, I really missed their lettuce at the noodle. I remember when I eat Mie Mapan, there was a raw lettuce. The flavor of raw lettuce combined with the broth was so unique. However, I don’t remember when they removed the lettuce out of their noodle menus. I think it might be lettuce rots easily.

However, Mie Mapan always be my stop by whenever I came to Surabaya. It is a memorable and comforting food for me. 

Photo: Doc. Mie Mapan and Google