Where to find Indonesian ingredient in Chicago?
August 27, 2024 5:44 PM Subscribe
I'm looking for kecap manis, aka Indonesian sweet/thick soy sauce in Chicago. Even big regular supermarkets don't carry it, and I had no luck at two Asian markets I tried in the city (in the north side - Tai Nam and Talard Thai Asian Market). One pointed out that Indonesia isn't really "Asia". Great, but where might I find this stuff then?
You can make it, it's just 5:4 parts brown sugar:soy sauce, boil then reduce heat and let the sauce reduce until thickened like maple syrup, for a basic one. You can add other aromatics/spices like garlic, ginger, star anise and cloves such as in this recipe. Should keep in the fridge for months.
posted by axiom at 6:12 PM on August 27 [8 favorites]
posted by axiom at 6:12 PM on August 27 [8 favorites]
I'm pretty sure I've bought it at Park to Shop. It's not listed on their website but it's also clearly not intended to be an exhaustive representation of everything in the store; call first.
Unfortunately the only specifically Indonesian grocery store in the area closed earlier this year.
I'll be watching this in case phunniemee comes through with something more certain!
posted by pullayup at 6:25 PM on August 27 [2 favorites]
Unfortunately the only specifically Indonesian grocery store in the area closed earlier this year.
I'll be watching this in case phunniemee comes through with something more certain!
posted by pullayup at 6:25 PM on August 27 [2 favorites]
I second making this, I tried it recently and it was very straightforward. Instructions I used are here, but there’s plenty of more elaborate ones out there too.
posted by advil at 8:02 PM on August 27 [1 favorite]
posted by advil at 8:02 PM on August 27 [1 favorite]
I'll just mention that it looks like you can order it from various online places such as Amazon & Walmart. The prices look to be quite exorbitant for a little bit of soy sauce + brown sugar, but this is an option that is out there.
By the time you've fruitlessly driven to 4 different places looking for it you might wish you'd just ordered a $12 bottle from Amazon.
posted by flug at 9:05 PM on August 27 [1 favorite]
By the time you've fruitlessly driven to 4 different places looking for it you might wish you'd just ordered a $12 bottle from Amazon.
posted by flug at 9:05 PM on August 27 [1 favorite]
In Dutch, it is called Ketjap Manis, and since we have a colonial past with Indonesia we have this product in every super market. There are webshops shipping it to Dutch people living abroad.
No idea about shipment costs to where you are, but the first one I checked looked kinda expensive to send it to for instance the USA, it will be cheaper to make it yourself like the other commenters suggested.
posted by IAr at 9:30 PM on August 27 [1 favorite]
No idea about shipment costs to where you are, but the first one I checked looked kinda expensive to send it to for instance the USA, it will be cheaper to make it yourself like the other commenters suggested.
posted by IAr at 9:30 PM on August 27 [1 favorite]
Seconding that this is also used in the Netherlands, under the name of 'ketjap manis'. 'Conimex' is a common brand.
While living in the US, we got these kind of products from a Dutch store in NYC - perhaps Chicago has one as well?
posted by demi-octopus at 11:05 PM on August 27
While living in the US, we got these kind of products from a Dutch store in NYC - perhaps Chicago has one as well?
posted by demi-octopus at 11:05 PM on August 27
If you did want to order it online, I've been happy ordering various things from this place for many years: https://importfood.com/products/thai-sauces-condiments/item/kecap-manis-sweet-soy-sauce
posted by LadyOscar at 12:30 AM on August 28 [3 favorites]
posted by LadyOscar at 12:30 AM on August 28 [3 favorites]
The abc brand in LadyOscar’s link is what you need. (I wouldn’t use Conimex for a variety of reasons).
posted by Namlit at 3:23 AM on August 28 [1 favorite]
posted by Namlit at 3:23 AM on August 28 [1 favorite]
You could try Joong Boo on Pulaski (there's one on Kimball too, but the Kimball one is smaller).
posted by tiny frying pan at 4:36 AM on August 28 [1 favorite]
posted by tiny frying pan at 4:36 AM on August 28 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I've definitely seen the ABC brand at Tai Nam, but it's not in the aisle with their other "normal" soy sauces. They hide it in the last aisle on the east end of the store in a section of ingredients from other nationalities. The rest of that aisle is like dried mushrooms and bulk spices and stuff like that, so the organization is not the most logical. I believe the Park to Shop on Broadway usually has it too, but they're not as consistent about what exact items they stock from one week to the next. Source: I live like two blocks from these places and have been trying to justify this exact purchase but the thing stopping me is I already have too many soy sauces and not enough cabinet space, availability is no issue.
posted by gueneverey at 4:57 AM on August 28 [7 favorites]
posted by gueneverey at 4:57 AM on August 28 [7 favorites]
Honestly, I just use molasses in place of kecap manis.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 5:22 AM on August 28
posted by TWinbrook8 at 5:22 AM on August 28
A bit of a long haul, but I know that United Noodles and other larger stores in the Minneapolis area have it. I have half a bottle left in my pantry as we speak (ABC brand).
If I were where you are, I'd go big--maybe someplace like H Mart or 88 Marketplace. Smaller shops that cater to specific customer groups might not stock it.
posted by gimonca at 5:32 AM on August 28 [1 favorite]
If I were where you are, I'd go big--maybe someplace like H Mart or 88 Marketplace. Smaller shops that cater to specific customer groups might not stock it.
posted by gimonca at 5:32 AM on August 28 [1 favorite]
Walmart online has it, not for in-store purchase but for shipping.
posted by Short Attention Sp at 5:41 AM on August 28
posted by Short Attention Sp at 5:41 AM on August 28
If you're intent on trying to find it in a brick & mortar store, I think it could be done, but it would be a lot of work as you'd have to go in and have a look yourself, as even some of the larger Asian supermarkets near here do not always have the best websites. Joong Boo's only offers a newsletter signup. Fresh International's online system is down. H Mart's is chaotic. And this might be the kind of thing where unless you hit gold with a recognized brand, you might need to hold the bottle in your hand and decide on the spot.
If you decide to give it a go, Schaumburg has, within a short distance, a Joong Boo, an H Mart, and a Fresh International Market. Honestly, there are a few other large and dozens of smaller groceries here, too, focusing on various combinations of "Asian" and they might or might not have it. There are many stores for Indian/Pakistani food (Patel Bros is the big one), Filipino foods (A+ Asian Mart), Japanese foods (Mitsuwa Marketplace), etc. Many of these stores sometimes have a surprising mix of things, with a somewhat meandering definition of "Asian."
Honestly, you could spend days going through the stores all in one fairly compact area, all in Schaumburg.
But I'd probably either make it myself or cop out and buy it online. This would be an odyssey. You'd probably spend more on gas than you'd lose overpaying for it on Amazon.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:39 AM on August 28 [1 favorite]
If you decide to give it a go, Schaumburg has, within a short distance, a Joong Boo, an H Mart, and a Fresh International Market. Honestly, there are a few other large and dozens of smaller groceries here, too, focusing on various combinations of "Asian" and they might or might not have it. There are many stores for Indian/Pakistani food (Patel Bros is the big one), Filipino foods (A+ Asian Mart), Japanese foods (Mitsuwa Marketplace), etc. Many of these stores sometimes have a surprising mix of things, with a somewhat meandering definition of "Asian."
Honestly, you could spend days going through the stores all in one fairly compact area, all in Schaumburg.
But I'd probably either make it myself or cop out and buy it online. This would be an odyssey. You'd probably spend more on gas than you'd lose overpaying for it on Amazon.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:39 AM on August 28 [1 favorite]
I believe that 'sweet soy sauce' is the same thing as kecap manis; it's available at many Asian groceries in my area but never under the name 'kecap manis'.
Of course, I live in Minneapolis where 'Asian' groceries tend to be SE asian; not sure if that's the case in Chicago.
posted by eraserbones at 9:15 AM on August 28
Of course, I live in Minneapolis where 'Asian' groceries tend to be SE asian; not sure if that's the case in Chicago.
posted by eraserbones at 9:15 AM on August 28
It's quite a trek from where (I think) you're located but I would bet Seafood City supermarket has it.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 10:36 AM on August 28
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 10:36 AM on August 28
Sorry to not be more helpful on the sourcing (I’m in Australia, where kecap manis is in every supermarket), but I couldn’t go past this:
One pointed out that Indonesia isn't really "Asia".
Say what, now?! No single country ‘is’ Asia, for that matter, but Indonesia is most certainly part of Asia.
posted by Salamander at 7:26 PM on August 28 [2 favorites]
One pointed out that Indonesia isn't really "Asia".
Say what, now?! No single country ‘is’ Asia, for that matter, but Indonesia is most certainly part of Asia.
posted by Salamander at 7:26 PM on August 28 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Coworker was out yesterday but has returned with an encyclopedia.
Her first suggestion was Waroeng, which she was sad to learn is apparently closed now. She said before Waroeng opened, she used to get all her Indonesian groceries at Viet Hoa Plaza on Argyle, and it's where her sister still shops. She thinks that's your best chance of finding it.
While you're hungry, she also said to try out Lapis 312. Located here but apparently online order only. She said if you buy anything, tell them she sent you :)
In Philly? Go check out Martabakok. They used to sell in Waroeng, RIP.
If you like the taste of kecap manis and you happen to see Wiwas Tempeh snacks for sale anywhere, she says to pick some up for sure, especially the chips.
She says I'll be quizzed on all this tomorrow (there was considerably more non food information 😅) and if we like the snacks that we should all plan a trip to Indonesia as soon as possible. Yes, this coworker is one of the most genuinely kind people I've ever met.
posted by phunniemee at 3:30 PM on August 29 [1 favorite]
Her first suggestion was Waroeng, which she was sad to learn is apparently closed now. She said before Waroeng opened, she used to get all her Indonesian groceries at Viet Hoa Plaza on Argyle, and it's where her sister still shops. She thinks that's your best chance of finding it.
While you're hungry, she also said to try out Lapis 312. Located here but apparently online order only. She said if you buy anything, tell them she sent you :)
In Philly? Go check out Martabakok. They used to sell in Waroeng, RIP.
If you like the taste of kecap manis and you happen to see Wiwas Tempeh snacks for sale anywhere, she says to pick some up for sure, especially the chips.
She says I'll be quizzed on all this tomorrow (there was considerably more non food information 😅) and if we like the snacks that we should all plan a trip to Indonesia as soon as possible. Yes, this coworker is one of the most genuinely kind people I've ever met.
posted by phunniemee at 3:30 PM on August 29 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks for all the good responses, all. Seems I do have a number of options in my area - along with online shopping options (which ironically might be what I go with).
To my Dutch answerers: I do know about Indonesian foods availability in Netherlands, as I have only just returned from a trip to the Netherlands! And I even made some effort to score some ketjap manis in Amsterdam. Unsuccessfully, but I didn't try very hard, partially because I knew I'd probably be able to get it at home (and you all have confirmed that :) ). I also had a fantastic Indonesian dinner at Indrapura in Amsterdam.
To Salamander: Yeah, I thought that comment about Indonesia not being part of Asia seemed off. Seems like a "narcissism of small differences" situation with that person who said it.
posted by Mechitar at 4:18 PM on August 29
To my Dutch answerers: I do know about Indonesian foods availability in Netherlands, as I have only just returned from a trip to the Netherlands! And I even made some effort to score some ketjap manis in Amsterdam. Unsuccessfully, but I didn't try very hard, partially because I knew I'd probably be able to get it at home (and you all have confirmed that :) ). I also had a fantastic Indonesian dinner at Indrapura in Amsterdam.
To Salamander: Yeah, I thought that comment about Indonesia not being part of Asia seemed off. Seems like a "narcissism of small differences" situation with that person who said it.
posted by Mechitar at 4:18 PM on August 29
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posted by phunniemee at 6:01 PM on August 27