Day 18 of eating at 100 Asian restaurants in the DMV, and this one took me somewhere new. Indonesian food is a cuisine I’m honestly not super familiar with, so when I found out Artha Rini in Kensington is billed as the DMV’s first halal Indonesian restaurant, I knew I had to go.
Artha and her husband could not have been nicer, walking us through the whole menu and making sure we knew what we were ordering. And you guys, the food? SO good! The rawon, a nearly black beef soup, ended up being my favorite thing I ate, and the rendang was deeply flavorful in the best way. If you’ve been curious about Indonesian food, or you’re hunting for great halal eats in Montgomery County, let this be your push to make the drive to Kensington. (You’ll also see it written Artharini, same spot.)
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What Makes Artha Rini So Special?
Artha Rini isn’t just a restaurant, it’s kind of a labor of love. Artha catered Indonesian food around the DMV for close to two decades before she and her husband opened this place back in 2023, and that history shows in how personal the whole experience feels. It’s also the area’s first sit-down halal Indonesian spot, so every single dish is halal, which makes it a real find in Montgomery County.
On top of the dining room, it doubles as a mini Indonesian market, so you can grab pantry goods and snacks on your way out. If you want to keep exploring Southeast Asian food around here, Eat A Lao over in Rockville does incredible Laotian cooking, but for Indonesian, Artha Rini’s pretty much it in the DMV.
What to Order at Artha Rini
We came ready to try a little of everything. Here’s what stood out.
Rawon ($16.75)
This was my FAVE! Rawon is a nearly black beef soup that comes from East Java, and the color comes from keluak, a fermented black nut that gives the broth this deep, nutty, earthy flavor you don’t get anywhere else. It’s loaded with yum beef, and it came with a whole platter on the side: rice, a salted egg, cucumber, tapioca crackers, and a potato fritter. They also make their hot sauces from scratch, so do not skip those. If you order one thing here, make it the rawon.
Padang Style Rice Platter ($15.75)
This is the move if you want to taste a few things at once. For $15.75 you pick three items, and I went with the rendang, grilled chicken, and jackfruit curry. Everything was deeply flavorful, but the rendang stole it for me. If you’ve never had rendang, it’s meat slow-cooked for hours in coconut milk and a deeply spiced paste (think lemongrass, garlic, and chiles), until the sauce reduces right down and the meat turns rich, tender, and PACKED with warm spices.
Pisang Goreng Keju ($8)
I can never resist dessert, so I grabbed the pisang goreng keju, an Indonesian banana fritter with chocolate and cheese. Real talk, this one wasn’t for me, but I’m not writing off their desserts. They have a mixed-ice dessert (es campur) that reminds me of halo-halo, and I already know I’ll love it!
Beyond what we got, the menu runs deep with Indonesian classics like chicken sate, gado-gado, and gudeg, so there’s plenty of reasons to go back.
Is There A Lot Of Indonesian Restaurants in the DMV?
Not that I know of – please correct me if I’m wrong. That’s why restaurants like Artha Rini matter so much. Indonesian food has been hard to find as a sit-down meal around here, so a brick and mortar restaurant seems to be a rarity. Artha Rini changed that as the DMV’s first halal Indonesian spot, and it’s become a go-to for anyone craving rendang, sate, or a real bowl of rawon. If you’ve been Googling Indonesian food near DC/in the DMV, this is the one.
The Vibe and Experience
The space itself is so homey and welcoming. The decor’s really cool and personal, and because it doubles as a little Indonesian market, you get this cozy, tucked-away feel, like you’re eating at someone’s home. Artha and her husband walking us through the menu made it even better, especially since I was new to a lot of these dishes.
It’s an easy, low-key spot, perfect whether you’re walking in totally new to Indonesian food or you already know what you want. If you’re in the mood for more Southeast Asian food nearby, Kook Kai’s in Silver Spring does delish Thai.
Good to Know
- Location: 📍 10562 Metropolitan Ave, Kensington, MD
- Hours: Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday to Sunday 11am to 9pm, Friday 12pm to 9pm, closed Mondays.
- Halal: every dish is halal, and there’s no alcohol.
- Market: the space doubles as a mini Indonesian grocery, so you can shop for pantry items on the way out.
- Prices: budget-friendly to moderate. The rawon was $16.75 and the Padang platter $15.75 on my visit, though menu prices can shift, so double-check.
- Dietary: there are vegetarian and vegan options (think gado-gado and fried tempeh), plus gluten-free picks marked on the menu.
- Dine-in, takeout, and delivery are all available.
- Parking: free lot on site plus street parking nearby.
- More info: see the full menu on their site, artharini.com.
Is Artha Rini Worth It?
Yes, especially if you love discovering a cuisine you don’t get to eat often. The rawon alone is worth the trip, the rendang’s rich and comforting, and the fact that it’s all halal and family-run makes it even easier to root for. If you’re putting together a Montgomery County food list, add it, and check out my roundup of the best Asian restaurants in Rockville for more spots nearby. Artha Rini’s a genuine DMV gem.
Have you guys tried Indonesian food before, Nomsters? If Artha Rini’s on your list now, let me know in the comments, and tell me what I should order next, because I’m definitely going back for that es campur. Save this one for your next DMV food adventure.