Nex Carlos Recommendations: 6 Places, Mar 16–22, 2026

Videos

2

Places to eat

6

Cities

3

Total views

1.3M

This week, Nex Carlos explored six notable eateries across three cities in East Java, Indonesia. Highlighting classic Indonesian dishes like bakso (meatball soup), ayam panggang (grilled chicken), and sate kambing (goat satay), the featured spots offer a mix of affordable and flavorful options that resonated well with international viewers. Below is a detailed recap of each place, ranked by Nex Carlos’ scoring formula based on taste, popularity, price, and engagement.

1. Bakso Mama 1 Pusat — Jombang

Bakso Mama 1 Pusat in Jombang takes the top spot this week. Specializing in bakso, an Indonesian meatball soup beloved nationwide, this spot offers a 'Badabest!' enak level (2/3) with prices under Rp 25,000, making it both tasty and affordable. Its video titled “AYAM PANGGANG DI UJUNG DESA, LAKU RATUSAN EKOR PER HARI!!” garnered 729,187 views, reflecting high viewer interest. The combination of rich flavors, value pricing, and strong online engagement earned it a score of 58 out of 100.

2. Ayam Panggang Bangi — Jombang

Also located in Jombang, Ayam Panggang Bangi offers a signature grilled chicken dish seasoned with a unique bumbu rujak (spiced fruit sauce) that delivers a savory and spicy taste. Priced moderately between Rp 25,000 and 75,000, it matches Bakso Mama 1 Pusat in enak level (2/3) and YouTube views (729,187). This place shares the same video as the top pick, highlighting its popularity and culinary appeal in the region.

3. Sate Kambing P. Slamet - Ringin Contong — Jombang

Ranking third is Sate Kambing P. Slamet in Ringin Contong, Jombang, known for its goat satay, a popular Indonesian skewered meat dish. With the same enak level and price range as Ayam Panggang Bangi, and featured in the same viral video, it holds a steady position for delivering satisfying flavors and good value to its local and online audience.

4. Cak Mat Sambel Wader & Botok — Mojokerto

Moving to Mojokerto, Cak Mat Sambel Wader & Botok serves iwak wader, a small freshwater fish, paired with a spicy terasi (fermented shrimp paste) sambal. This dish is a local favorite for its bold flavors. Priced under Rp 25,000 and rated Badabest! (2/3), it attracted 615,113 views on YouTube, ranking it fourth overall despite a lower score of 43 out of 100.

5. Rawon Abah Pangat — Sidoarjo

Rawon Abah Pangat in Sidoarjo specializes in rawon, a traditional Indonesian beef black soup known for its rich keluak nut broth. Though sharing the same video and view count as the Mojokerto spots, it ranks fifth due to moderate pricing and the same enak level, scoring 43 out of 100.

6. Asapan Sambel Tempong SEDAP ABADI — Mojokerto

Also in Mojokerto, Asapan Sambel Tempong Sedap Abadi offers ikan asap (smoked fish) served with sambel tempong, a spicy chili sauce typical of East Java. It holds the same enak level and price range as the other Mojokerto places, with 615,113 views but a score of 43 out of 100, placing it sixth this week.

This week’s Nex Carlos recommendations showcase a flavorful journey through East Java’s culinary gems, led by Bakso Mama 1 Pusat’s exceptional value and taste. From the grilled chicken and goat satay in Jombang to the spicy fish dishes in Mojokerto and hearty beef soup in Sidoarjo, these six spots offer a well-rounded introduction to authentic Indonesian flavors. For food lovers exploring East Java, these picks provide both affordability and quality, backed by strong online engagement.

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