📍Sambal | Modern Indonesian Bistro – 463 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 1P1
🌍Country: Indonesia   
🔥Must-try dish: Bakmi Ayam
🪑Seating: Indoor seating only
👍The high: Indonesian food is one of those cuisines everyone loves but hasn’t discovered yet. Sambal is a perfect introduction, showcasing both the recipes and the care put into their preparation.

👎The low: It’s opening night, so a little grace is allowed, but one thing to note is that dishes sometimes arrive a bit quickly, which can disrupt the dining rhythm. 

Indonesian food has been hiding out in Toronto for way too long. Finally, we’ve got a proper spot to dig into all those bold, delicious flavours, and it’s right on the Danforth. Sambal started out as a pop-up, but now they’ve put down roots with a full-on restaurant in Greektown. Opening night honestly felt more like a party than a dinner, and you couldn’t help but be excited for the team behind it.

If you’ve never tried Indonesian food before, think of it like Southeast Asia’s greatest hits, but with its own twist. Big flavours, lots of spice (if you want it), and dishes that keep you guessing. Don’t worry though, if you’re not a chili fanatic, the kitchen can tone things down. The menu even has little chili icons to guide you so you know what you’re getting into.

The food menu’s short and sweet, divided into Starters, Staples, Signatures, and Desserts. We went in as a hungry group of four and ordered almost everything (for “research purposes,” of course). Here’s what stood out:

Starters

The Sambal Flight is a no-brainer to kick things off: a mountain of shrimp chips with three chili dips. The Terasi is all about heat, the Ijo is a punchy green mix of chilies and tomatoes, and the Kacang – a peanut-chili combo, was hands down the winner for us.

Staples

The Nasi Goreng Kampoeng (spicy fried rice with dried fish, chicken, a fried egg, and pickles) is pure comfort food. Mix it all up and dig in, it’s meant for sharing.

But the dish of the night? Definitely the Bakmi Ayam. Hand-pulled noodles, melt-in-your-mouth braised chicken, crispy little dumplings, and sambal tying it all together. If you’re only ordering one thing, make it this.

The Nasi Uduk Jakarta was another fun one, coconut rice piled with fried chicken, ribbons of egg, peanuts, and anchovies. Every bite was a little different, which made it one of the most exciting dishes. Plus, it’s a great option for anyone who doesn’t want to go all-in on the spice.

Signatures

The Beef Rendang is the showstopper. Beef slow-cooked for hours in coconut milk, chilies, and spices until it’s fall-apart tender with a rich, curry-like sauce. Every forkful hits you with something new, lemongrass, turmeric, chili. It’s served with rice and all the fixings, so it’s a full meal on its own.

The Ayam Bakar is the opposite vibe, juicy, charcoal-grilled chicken on lettuce with a side of sambal. Simpler, but still delicious. And healthy?

Dessert

We went for the Gula Aren Panna Cotta and had zero regrets. Silky, lightly sweet, and just the right way to cool off after all that spice.

Oh, and the cocktails? Definitely worth exploring. You’ll find classics, creative twists, and drinks that sneak in Indonesian ingredients you’ve probably never tried.

It’s exciting to see new life on the Danforth post-pandemic, especially with a restaurant that adds something so different to the neighbourhood. Grab some friends, order everything you can, and thank us later – Sambal is worth it.

Eat with you soon!