La Posta: The Best of Northern Argentinian Food in the Heart of Jakarta

With a relaxing atmosphere, well-paced service, and top-notch food, La Posta brings the best of northern Argentinian food to the heart of Jakarta.

Argentina is world-famous for its high-quality beef. Ask most people about the country’s geography, though, and they may be less clear about what to say.

A hand-painted map on the wall of Jakarta’s La Posta restaurant details the world’s eighth-largest country. Stretching almost 2,400 miles from north to south, the nation is very diverse not only geographically but in culinary terms, too. The restaurant’s co-owner, Chef Pancho, has brought the flavours and techniques of his native northern Argentina to life in the upstairs central location beside Citywalk Sudirman, occupied by the restaurant for almost nine years already.

Is it all about meat, then? In answering this question, there is good news — and good news. The good news, for those with a less-than-carnivorous appetite, is that there are plenty of non-meat options available. Argentina’s history of Italian immigration has given the nation’s cuisine its own take on classic pasta dishes such as spinach and ricotta ravioli, and spaghetti with Argentine Bolognese sauce. The restaurant’s delicious handmade empanadas, made using family recipes, come with a range of fillings, including options such as cheese and onion.

For meat lovers, though, the good news is: La Posta delivers. The restaurant’s offering of certified black Angus beef imported from Australia lies firmly at the centre of its menu. The focus here is firmly on bringing out the quality of the meat rather than smothering it. Argentina’s light-touch cooking style stands in contrast to cuisines where marinades or heavy sauces are the norm. Nor do butter, spices, or ageing play a role. Instead, the emphasis of the beef dishes at La Posta is purely on the meat, salt-crusted and cooked to order.

On a recent weekday lunchtime, my meal started with a couple of the empanadas: tasty, filling, and substantial. I then moved on to slow-grilled salt-crusted beef ribs. These were the smallest available, but still substantial. Presented simply though elegantly on the plate, the ribs were appealing aesthetically even before cutting into them.

I had ribs on the bone, but the menu offers a range of cuts both on and off the bone. Tomahawks, ribeyes, flank, top rump, top loin, and sirloin, some offered in different cuts: take your pick!

With the ribs cooked to order, I went for rare. With such a hefty piece of meat — the menu described it as both fatty and chewy — I probably should have opted for a longer cooking period. My mistake. The perfectly cooked meat, though, was high-quality and packed with flavour.

Alongside the steak, I had a plate stacked with a Jenga-like tower of the restaurant’s hand-cut fries. A beautiful, consistent golden yellow, these generously portioned chips were cooked to perfection and made for a superb accompaniment to the steak. So too did the grilled cheese dish made with an Argentinian variant of provolone cheese, provoleta. Grilled sufficiently to give the edge a toasty crust, the cheese was simply garnished with garlic oil, sliced tomato, and oregano. Served piping hot like the chips, the mostly softened texture made for a simple, powerful, and very filling accompaniment for the ribs. Throughout the menu, there are northern Argentinian touches, such as the garlic and bay leaf chimichurri served with welcome bread rolls.

grilled cheese dish Argentinian style — grilled cheese dish, Argentinian style

Beyond beef, the menu also includes pork and chicken. Indeed, La Posta is one of the few restaurants in Indonesia to offer a whole suckling pig (if ordered in advance). But when people think of Argentinian food, their first thought is often beef — and La Posta showcases why.

The nation is also known for its wine, and I accompanied my meal with a glass of Malbec. The wine list offers a number of reds and whites from different producers in Argentina’s Mendoza region, alongside some Spanish and Balinese vineyards. Argentine sangria, mixing fresh fruit, sugar, crushed ice, and wine, is also available, alongside non-alcoholic options including homemade lemonade.

Alongside the à la carte options, La Posta also offers a set lunch menu from Wednesday to Friday. The menu rotates every couple of months, offering a starter, main course and drink for Rp135,000++.

The décor strikes an unfussy rustic note, with lots of wood, simple textiles, and tiles. The space has an airy and relaxing feeling thanks to a host of small-paned windows that help set a classic tone. With a relaxing atmosphere, well-paced service, and top-notch food, La Posta brings the best of northern Argentinian food to the heart of Jakarta.