Rice & Sambal
Day 1: 5-Course Nouveau Indonesian Tasting Series
Indonesian food has not gotten its share of attention on the culinary landscape, but this exceptional South Philly eatery, which began as a residency in 2023 at Dankbaar and took over the Hardena space in April of 2024, is supremely noteworthy. Indeed, it has appeared on Philadelphia Magazine’s List of “50 Best Restaurants,” and Chef Diana Widjojo, a Co-Owner of Hardena, is a 2018 James Beard Award Semi-Finalist for “Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic.” At Rice & Sambal, she reimagines classic Indonesian dishes with modern techniques and locally sourced ingredients in such creations as bebek madura (duck confit, blackened spice paste, roasted root vegetables, breadfruit mash), nasi goreng (fried rice, torched shitaake mushrooms, sweet & sour pickles) and lush desserts like nastar (vanilla sponge cake, pineapple jam, jamu chantilly cream). “The menu is constantly changing, but you can trust that every dish… will be vibrant in both color and flavor,” raves Philadelphia Magazine. We’re excited to visit here and to spend time with Chef Widjojo, as she shares her insights into Indonesian cuisine and culture.
About the Host:
Diana Widjojo
Chef/Owner
Chef Diana Widjojo is an Indonesian-American chef. A former co-owner of Hardena in South Philly, who previously honed her craft at Noord and Dankbaar, she was named a James Beard "Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic" Semi-Finalist in 2018. Her work has appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Eater, Food & Wine, and Edible Philly.
The Lineup
All courses will be individually plated. For the list of restrictions Chef is accommodating, scroll to the bottom of this page.
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Nasi Goreng
rice ball with indonesian style pickles
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Sop Ubi
ubi & potato coconut soup with amaranth
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Sambal-Style Caesar Salad
housemade shrimp sambal caesar dressing, baby shrimp, kale, breadcrumbs, grated grana padano cheese, ebi chili oil
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Bebek Goreng
duck confit, sweet soy glaze, sautéed watercress, jasmine rice
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Kue Lapis Buah Naga
layer cake, dragonfruit compote, chantilly cream
Rice & Sambal
1911 E Passyunk Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19148
Event FAQs
- Does this restaurant serve alcoholic beverages?
- This restaurant is a BYO establishment, so please feel free to bring your own alcoholic beverages.
- Do guests need to be of a certain age to attend this event?
- Yes. All attendees must be 21+ to gain entry.
- What is the event ticket cancellation/refund policy?
- Restaurants purchase the food for our events 14 days before the event date, at which point we are on the hook for the cost of your ticket. As such, we are not able to offer refunds (or credits towards future events) for any cancellation requests submitted within 14 days of the event date. We will, however, issue full refunds for all cancellation requests submitted at least 14 days before the event date. All cancellation requests must be submitted via email to support@tastingcollective.com.
- What dietary restrictions/food allergies can be accommodated at this event?
- Due to the large-format nature of our events, restaurants are not able to accommodate all dietary restrictions/food allergies or make any menu adjustments based on food preferences (e.g distaste for specific ingredients/flavor profiles). This restaurant will be offering substitutions exclusively for the following restrictions/allergies: Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Dairy, Gluten, Fish, Mushroom. They are NOT accommodating restrictions related to the following ingredients: Chive, Garlic (cooked), Onion (cooked), Shallot, Coconut, Candlenut, Shrimp. If you have any of these restrictions/allergies, please make sure to note this in your profile (in the “Event Preferences” section) either before or right after purchasing your tickets so Chef can prepare accordingly.
- Will this event be handicap acccessible?
- According to the restaurant, this event is handicap accessible. If applicable however, please email support@tastingcollective.com with your needs to ensure proper accommodations.
