If you visit Medan, it feels like something is missing if you don't have a culinary tour in this place. That is Merdeka Walk in Medan. Merdeka Walk is a multi-purpose field, usually used for a kind of ceremony on the national anniversary, as well as a place for tourists to go on a culinary tour.
The location of Merdeka Walk is very strategic. Close to the Medan train station and close to the main road, making it easier for public transport users to find this place.
So some time ago I went to the field for one business. I met my friend there and decided to stop at Srikandi Caffe. That actual name is 'Warung Kopi Srikandi'. A little information about that name tha Srikandi was a female warrior in epic story from India, Mahabharata. She has important role in the biggest war, Bratayudha, the war between Pandama and Korawa. She is described as one of strong women in that story.
I've never been to this cafe and there's no particular reason why we went there. It's only because the place is very spacious and allows us to have room to chat because the distance between one table and another is very wide. I'm not sure if that has relation with social distancing or not but I thought that distance too long for me. But you freely to combine two table into one. It is just if you choose the outdoor, you have face the smoke.
In the Srikandi Caffee I have ordered Soto Medan and Cendol. Soto Medan is a special cuisine original from North Sumatera. It was contain with vermicelli and chicken with gravy who's made from coconut milk, lime leaves, star anise, galangal, lemon grass, onion, garlic, coriander, cumin, black pepper, ginger, turmeric, sugar and salt for flavoring.
Soto Medan has special texture than another soto from another city. Soto Medan has yellow gravy but soto in another city has white gravy.
For the drink I have order Cendol. Cendol was a typical Indonesia traditional drink containing drops of green rice flour, coconut milk, and palm sugar syrup. You can find out cendol in everywhere in Indonesia. Cendol was distributed as street drink who has cheap price. Peoples who didn't like sweet you can request less sugar cause Cendol was too sweet.
Srikandi Caffe was provide another Indonesian cuisine like Nasi Goreng, Meatball, Soup, or Cassava compote. You will find your Indonesia favorite cuisine there and not to pricy I bet.
For Soto Medan and Cendol I just paid around IDR 50.000,- which's isn't too expensive for that strategic place.
Whoever you are, you must stop by Merdeka Walk for a culinary tour because the dishes provided are very diverse. If you like western food, there are franchises there too.