Warung Indonesia Opens Permanent Location In Downtown Fredericton

FREDERICTON – Warung Indonesia, an Indonesian food truck mainstay in Fredericton, now has a permanent location at the King’s Place Mall food court.

The seating area has been at reduced capacity with Covid-19 restrictions, with tables and chairs stacked high and food court establishments only offering an in-person option of take-out only.

But that doesn’t bother longtime friends and owners Natali Caswell and Dellya Estey, who are eager to bring the flavours of their native Indonesia to more people in Fredericton’s downtown and are now happy to be able to offer delivery.

Originally starting out at The Garrison Night Market, the pair have been offering up tasty Indonesian food at Fredericton’s Boyce Farmer’s Market and The Cultural Market since 2018 and have continued to make regular appearances there.

But to get their location up and running, they’re curtailing their market presence for the time being. December 18 was Natali and Dellya’s last day for the year at the Boyce Market, though they both plan to be back there to serve before the Spring.

Natali and Dellya also announced at the end of November that Warung Indonesia would end its current run at The Cultural Market in order to be able to focus on the new King’s Place location full-time.

The takeout from Warung Indonesia’s market stops has been lauded for its eco-friendly packaging and wooden utensils, but the real star is its menu, which offers filling options for $12 or less.

Sate Ayam, a grilled chicken skewer served with Lontong, (rice cake with peanut sauce) or Rendang (a spicy coconut milk dish), are just some of the popular menu options.

“It’s only the two of us,” says Dellya. “And we like it that way because we have a different kind of way of cooking. We like fresh and we like surprises. We don’t like storage. So that’s why we do this together.”

Both Natali and Dellya already use local vegetables like New Brunswick grown potatoes and use local staples like kale and green onions, which they’ve been sourcing from local market vendors. There are also plenty of options on the menu for those with dietary restrictions, including vegan and gluten-free dishes.

With Natali and Dellya looking to bring additional items to the menu as they go, having a “go-to” kitchen space felt like the missing piece.

“We needed a kitchen. That’s the issue…This place is perfect for us because it’s downtown,” says Dellya.

The kitchen looks nothing like it was when it was once a bustling McDonald’s, with all of the fast-food grills, fryers and hoods gone. The space became available already stripped down to its screws. It offered a clean slate for Dellya and Natali to incorporate their fresh food element with plenty of room for hot dishes cooked from a steamer.

Both wanted to expand the business to include delivery, something which has been a lifeline for many cultural eateries throughout the region during the pandemic.

Running a kitchen from a truck is cold business at the farmer’s market in December. The space and the season weren’t enough to allow the owners to improvise and offer a more attractive and eclectic menu that would better reflect their Indonesian roots and meet the dietary needs of their loyal customers year-round.

Warung Indonesia is using delivery partner apps like Skip the Dishes and DoorDash. The new outlet also sits at the main connection hub for Fredericton Transit, with buses parking along the King Street stretch, for customers who catch buses on their way home.

Warung Indonesia had a soft opening just before Christmas. The new location opens officially on December 28.

Tyler Mclean is a Huddle reporter based in Fredericton. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].