Satay Sate - Toronto, Ontario

The service was quick, the portions were good and the people were friendly. But seriously this is anything but Indonesian street food. The nasi goreng had no eggs or any condiments, completely bland, it only had the darkish color and that's where the similarities ends with an actual nasi goreng. The satay ... was actually tasty, but that was NOT satay. It was just a basic chicken skewer with a little bit of a very bland peanut sauce added on it. Beef rendang was a sweet korma like dish. None of the dishes had any level of spiciness. I mean, the food was alright, i wouldn't call it horrible, but it wasn't Indonesian street food in any shape or form. Indonesian street was some of the best food i had when i stayed in SEA for 2 years, and I was quite hopeful I'd find myself a decent Indonesian joint in Toronto. But this was a big dissapointment. Read more

Despite having a very diverse and thriving food scene, Indonesian restaurants are a very rare breed in Toronto. So I was extremely excited when I found out about Satay Sate, which brands itself as an Indonesian street food restaurant. Best of all, it is in my neighborhood of North York, ... just a very short walk away from North York TTC Station. The restaurant itself is very small and geared towards fast food style / take-out format, so the food you get will only come in take-out boxes. There are tables available if you want to dine there, and the seating capacity is enough to accomodate 13-15 diners. For our visit, we ordered: Beef Rendang (Slow Braised curried beef in coconut milk and spices Indonesian Style): We found the beef and the sauce very tasty, although the beef could be a bit more tender. Unlike other restaurants which douse heavy doses of coconut milk into their sauce, the sauce here at Satay Sate only has a subtle coconut flavor and it's a welcomed change. Great dish overall. Ayam Goreng Meal (Deep fried marinated chicken along with crispy tasty crumbs): The chicken had a nice crispy crust there was not overly thick, and it was tender and moist. We upgraded to the coconut rice which was great upgrade as it is very delicious, and should have done the same for the Rendang dish. The coconut rice is not what you expect, as it is actually coconut-lime rice, and the lime flavour comes thru much more so than the subtle coconut. There are also crispy bits with this dish that was made from rice flour and the sauce leftover from after the chicken is marinated, and this was great with the coconut rice. Yum! Both dishes came with shrimp crackers (even though there is no indication of this on the menu), which are very dense compared to the ones you normally get at supermarket / Chinese restaurants. We also ordered a chicken skewer, and it came with a blend of peanut and a sweet molasses-like sauce. Even though the skewer was tender and delicious, we can't help but think it is somewhat pricey. Overall, I think Satay Sate is a very welcomed addition to the very under-served Indonesian food scene here in Toronto, and I would come back again Check out @instantonium on Instagram for more great eats Read more

The food here in one word: Quality. I have tried the beef rendang with coconut rice and also the beef wrap. Both were delicious, fresh and fair sized. The kicker for me is the crunchy shrimp cracker that you can add to your order, which tops any shrimp chip I have ... ever had in Toronto. Yummy fresh side salad also comes with the rendang. The spring rolls and soup were good too. And the hot sauce they have is delicious too without being incendiary. There's a limited amount of seating in the shop but it's bright, spacious and comfortable enough for a sit down lunch. Well worth a try if you are in the area and want to try something a little different. Read more

This hole in the wall in North York exceeded expectations. Don't let the limited seating and menu fool you (I believe the owners intended this restaurant to be mainly for take-out). The small menu offering 4 traditional Indonesian classics (Beef Rendang, Ayam Goreng, Nasi Goreng and Nasi Soto Ayam) and a ... few sides delivered big authentic flavors. No complaints regarding the counter service. For dine-in customers, beware the food was served in take-out containers like in a food court. If the owners can switch to a more environmentally friendly option, it would elevate the dining experience for dine-in customers. Beef Rendang entree ($11.69): Authentic and absolutely delicious. The beef chunks were tender and exploded with coconut and other classic flavors. The thick gravy complimented the steamed rice. The seasoning was a perfect balance of spices with no overpowering elements. This arguably ranks among the best beef rendang in the GTA. Served with a simple refreshing salad (cucumbers, lettuce, carrots, onions, tomatoes, light vinegar dressing) and a surprisingly good sambal. 5/5 Ayam Goreng ($12.69 including coconut rice upgrade): Served with the same salad and sambal. The fried chicken (dark meat) was moist and had great crunch and flavor, especially with the sambal. The coconut rice was fragrant and satisfying (worth the upgrade). 4/5 Side order of beef satay ($3.89 for 1 skewer): Moist and tender chunks of beef drenched in a mild, delicious peanut sauce. Tasty appetizer. 4/5 Pisang Goreng ($3.29): Fried slices of plantain on a skewer, served with condensed milk, chocolate sprinkles and a shredded mild cheese. The plantains were amazingly sticky sweet. The cheese was unexpected and unique. The chocolate sprinkles and condensed milk pushed this dessert over the top sweet. Probably a drizzle of dark chocolate syrup and a light whipped cream would have been a better compliment. 3.5/5 Read more

Not many places like this! A must try for those who don't mine peanuts and love rice and protein! Everything is home made from scratch and taste pretty dam good! Coconut and rice rice is on point! Chicken is halal and meals are a good balance of rice, meat, and ... veggies for a quick lunch or yummy dinner! Would go back to get my indo cuisine fix! Read more