Akira Back

Akira Back debuts in the trendy MD office building in Jakarta. The building exteriors lights up like a beacon at night, so much so that you won’t miss this particular landmark when cruising through Menteng Bridge. This restaurant is named after the chef, Akira Back, himself. An internationally renowned Korean chef who has lived in both Japan and United States,explaining the fusion dishes that are served in this restaurant. Personally, I am not a big fan of fusion Japanese dishes as I prefer them served in an authentic manner to bring out the subtle flavours of the base ingredients. However, I found Akira Back to be pretty decent. Akira Back restaurant is separated into two sections; the dining area and the lounge. The interior is very modern and hip, decorated by the night view of Jakarta and filled with upbeat music. It has a similar feel to Altitude trio restaurants at Plaza Indonesia. I will not be surprised if the place buzzes with expats in no time. Service was exceptional and I was impressed by how fluent the waiters’ English were. The dishes I ordered were mainly the chef’s recommendations. The first dish was the Tuna Pizza– Ponzu mayo, shiso and truffle oil. The truffle oil was a little bit overpowering. But I have to admit that what originally sounded like an odd pairing of Western and Eastern food has turned out to be a delicious surprise. Next recommendation is the Crispy Rice – blackened tuna, nori paste and spicy ponzu aioli is delightful to eat, mainly due to the crispy texture of the rice which gave a nice contrast to the softness of the tuna and the nori paste. Very friendly on the Indonesian palette. The Crispy Kalbi Roll we ordered was very mediocre. Made tasty by the generous addition of mayonaise, I could not tell the freshness of the ingredients. AB Tacos featuring Korean-inspired wagyu kalbi and spicy tomato ponzu fillings was a fun combination. I know it’s almost a crime to compare but I was yearning for Taco Local’s out-of-this-world tacos (read our review here) while eating this. The 48 hours Wagyu Short Rib was very soft, almost losing its beef texture. It was nicely seasoned though I felt that it was expensive for its portion at Rp450k. My favourite dish of the night is the Yellowtail Jealapeno. The plating is remarkable, something chef Akira Back is famous for. The yellowtail was of good quality and the jalapeno, cilantro and yuja soy made the dish very refreshing. The Molten Chocolate Cake was quite forgettable, though you can never go that wrong with choclolate. A far cry to Emilie’s Valrhona chocolate lava cake. A place with breathtaking view with decent food and extensive drink choices, Akira Back is perfect for meetings and people watching. Steer clear if you are looking for a quiet evening.   Food: |***  |          Ambience: |**** |         Price: |$$$$ | Opening hours: Everyday 11am-10pm Location: MD Place Penthouse, Jl. Setiabudi Selatan No.7  Telephone: 021 2904 0777 Posted by PrincessFiona