I live in Surabaya where people like to eat delicious, spicy, cheap, and big portion food. Consequently, you will find many delicious foods with cheaper price compared to other cities in Indonesia. It is contradiction because Surabaya is the second big city after Jakarta. However, the food is way cheaper than Jakarta and other big cities.

One food that become Surabaya’s identity is sego sambel. It is everyone’s favorite, so you can find this menu in every corner of the town. From street food until restaurant.

It is white rice with many sambals and protein choice like chicken, duck, fish (lele/catfish, mujair/tilapia, or salted fish), shrimp, cow meat, ribs, tofu, or tempe. It usually accompanied with raw vegetables, like cucumber, long bean, cabbage, lemon basil/kemangi. It is called lalapan.

If you asked Surabaya people where the best sego sambal in town, the answers may vary. Since each people has their own favorite.

I consider myself lucky, because I have a neighbor who sell sego sambel. It is Kedai Cak Bondet which is located at Jl. Kertajaya VB no. 40. Their specialty is duck and chicken fried served with their own sauce and three variants of sambal; onion, tomato, and terasi sambal.

Our first try was when we moved here couple months ago. We just randomly ordered food from around. Surprisingly, it is delicious. My favorite was their onion and terasi sambal. When mixed with their sauce, its mind blowing!

Later, I told my cousin about the food. She said it was her favorite food while she was in college. It is like 30 years ago. When I asked the owner, she said that they have been already opened the stall for more than forty years. Wow!

Formerly, they rented the stall on the side of the main road. After it become crowded every day, the owner of the stall increased the rent. Therefore, they open in front of their house and sold online through marketplace.

In fact, sego sambel has already existed since decades in Surabaya. However, it is not as a complete meal like nowadays. It was simpler. Just local rice, plenty of sambal, and salted fish. Many carbos, but less protein which represent that the food was for survive. It usually wrapped in banana leaves. Fisherman or farmer brought that for packed meal while working.

Sego sambel is one of local food which still exist until now and everybody loves it through generations. Since it I really practical, delicious, and full filling.