The venue that was previously the home to Neapolitan pizzeria Bufad in Spring Garden is being replaced by Satay Bistro, a new Indonesian restaurant, writes Ali Mohsen for Billy Penn at WHYY.

Satay Bistro is the brainchild of husband-and-wife duo Indra Cipto and Fenty Triany.

They desire to bring the cuisine they grew up with to a wider audience.

With most of the other Indonesian-inspired restaurants in the city mostly centered around South Philadelphia, Satay Bistro has a unique opportunity to fortify itself in the Spring Garden neighborhood. 

The restaurant’s menu is a mix of traditional Indonesian recipes, as well as their personal favorites. 

Cipto and Triany both aim to keep their flavors and cooking methods as authentic as possible, with some consideration to the American palette, which may not be as accustomed to the Indonesian level of spice.

“Our spicy is spicy,” Triany said. “Even when we’re sweating, we’re still eating it.”

This is the latest restaurant the couple has opened over the years.

The two previously opened a deli in Center City, and later two New York Bagel Cafe and Deli locations — one in Bala Cynwyd and another on Buttonwood, two blocks southeast from Satay Bistro.

The first two both closed during the pandemic. Read more about Satay Bistro in Billy Penn at WHYY.

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