
Servers Jess and Joviant deliver the Indonesian breakfast. Photo: Michelle Rowe.
A short menu that’s long on authentic flavours is a winner in any language. A handful of traditional dishes interspersed with lesser-known family favourites can provide an excellent entrée to an unfamiliar cuisine, and the culture behind it.
Or in the case of Kopiku Café in leafy O’Connor, it can bridge the gap for those hankering for the flavours of home.
Kopiku’s new Indonesian menu is the work of the café’s owner, Jakarta-born Meida Dewi, who took over the old O’Connor Cafe in the Sargood Street shopping strip just before COVID-19 hit.
Initially, she introduced a menu comprising breakfast and lunch staples including organic coconut sugar pancakes with fruit and icecream, BLT rolls, salt and pepper calamari and an enticing range of pizzas, which the locals tucked into with gusto. But she’d mentioned her plans to introduce a second, smaller menu comprising dishes from her home country, and her regulars – many from the local Indonesian community – were not letting the issue lie.
“It’s taken me a while to get the Indonesian menu up and running, but people kept asking about it,” says Meida, who spends hours after close of business chopping and mixing and blending the pastes and stocks that form the basis of Indonesian food. The cuisine is heavy on herbs and spices such as galangal and turmeric and eschallots, and the pungent aromas that waft from Kopiku’s kitchen are surely a better advertisement than any billboard.

Kopiku’s mee goreng. Photo: Michelle Rowe.
Kopiku’s current Indonesian menu features just six dishes, ranging in price from $16 to $18. There’s the familiar nasi and mee goreng – stir-fried rice or noodles with Asian greens, accompanied by pickles and rice crackers and topped with a fried egg, as well as a chicken rendang with rice.
One of the dishes closest to Meida’s heart is the babi kecap, marinated pork belly and fried potatoes served with cucumber and jasmine rice. It’s a dish her mother always cooked, which involved a fair degree of dedication. The pork is marinated overnight before being slow-cooked for seven hours.
I’m desperate to order the pork, but it’s 8 in the morning and slipping into a food coma before midday is never a good look. Instead, I choose the soto ayam, a soup comprising shredded chicken with vermicelli, cabbage, boiled egg and herbs, and feel smugly satisfied at having made the right choice.
The Indonesian version of chicken noodle soup is light and flavoursome, and feels like a healthy choice (were it not for the huge portion, which is a theme among all the dishes that come out of Kopiku’s kitchen).

Cafe owner Meida Dewi and her son Joviant, who lends a helping hand. Photo: Michelle Rowe.
My husband is tucking into his mee goreng like there’s no tomorrow. He’s more than enthusiastic about Meida’s rendition of Indonesia’s traditional noodle dish.
We also order a takeaway lontong sayur – “it’s vegetarian and people really love it”, says Meida – and have it later for dinner. The lontong in the name is a compressed rice cake traditionally rolled in a banana leaf then boiled and cut into small cakes. Generous pieces have been simmered in this coconut milk soup along with tempe, vegetables and boiled egg and it’s incredibly good.
While we’re eating, a young lad sets a good pace between the kitchen and the alfresco area at the front of the café, delivering breakfasts and coffees. Joviant is Meida’s 12-year-old son who helps out the waitstaff during school holidays and at weekends, and he’s clearly got the hang of things.
Family and community is at the heart of this little operation; Meida says she searched for a long time for just the right spot to open Kopiku.
“What I wanted was something connected to the community. Where families would come. It’s a really good spot here – and the parking’s good too,” she says.
Judging by the full tables inside and out, and the steady flow of customers ordering takeaway coffee (Kopiku means My Coffee in Indonesian and the Jackson Blend from Adore coffee is fabulous) it seems the community has warmly welcomed this newcomer to the neighbourhood.

Meida’s lontong sayur features generous portions of Indonesia’s traditional rice cake. Photo: Michelle Rowe.
As I’m chatting to Meida, a smiling woman at the table opposite catches my eye. Denise is a regular here, and for good reason, she tells us. “They serve the best coffee in Canberra,” says Denise, “and the best breakfast too. The staff here are amazing. The food is great. Kopiku has made such a big difference to O’Connor.”
Kopiku is open 6:30 am to 4:00 pm seven days a week, serving both the Indonesian and regular menu. It’s located at
1/5 Sargood Street in O’Connor.
Annette 'Kitty Killher' Taylor for next time u come to visit
Sky Maitz have you tried it?
not yet!
Sky Maitz add it to the list, I’m keen to try it
Mental health essentials Rachelle Rodrigues 🥴🥴🥴
Sisca Rudy Ingrid O'Sullivan Sally Swinnen ayo coba?!
Ayooooo! Mari kita lihat if I approve 😂
Tentu saja! Perlu restumu Mbak! ;)
Ya, mari kita pergi 🙂
Widhiari ooo have you been here ?
Jasmine Pheng not yet but keeennnnnn
Widhiari looks so good !
Kevin Lo What ya think of this place?
Luke Evans this place would be good to try.
Lisa Black I'll be in on that
Lindsay Burrows we better go then
Maria Kristyanti Tjandradjaja have you tried this place? Perhaps there is a indo restaurant that might be good!
Emily Mitchell oh didn't know this one. Might try it. Thanks
Emily Mitchell , bet you can't wait to go eat there 😅
Ibu Kirsten Nor Idris Anita Patel Kirrilly McKenzie Nor - you could almost walk there with your students!
Rebecca Battaglini I literally just sent Kirrilly a message about this! Keren sekali dan bisa berjalan ke sana. Ayo pergi mengopi di sana.
Rebecca Battaglini this makes me more excited to come back!
Nor Idris saya mau ikut x
Kirrilly McKenzie Are you coming back???
Kylie Ann Seluka yep!!! Melbourne has been a whirlwind and so keen to come home. I’m coming back to LHS
Oh that is great news Kirrilly McKenzie!!
Anita Patel I’ve started my maternity leave so I’m free any day 😂
Nor Idris yay! Let's catch up this week. 💞
Let's catch up soon Kirrilly McKenzie x
Anita Patel that sounds amazing! I will be back in late December x
Anita Patel also it looks like I am probably teaching a line of English next year which is terrifying so I’d love your help 🙂
Kirrilly McKenzie you can come over to my place whenever you like for afternoon tea and therapy... Happy to offer help and hugs... 💞
Anita Patel amazing! Terima kasih!!!!
Narmadhaa Sivaraja this is the place I spoke to you about. In O'connor
En Ro, Charlotte Bradley check it out
Wow! Just as we depart the area! Outrageous
Gen Catherine Linda lets take dad when he comes back
Love Indonesian food. Definitely trying this place out soon! Erna Glassford have you been here yet?
Paul you’ve got K 😀
Angela cool KFC then 😄
What a find, and that Mee Goreng is sensational