LayarHijau– Chinese actress Esther Yu delighted fans during the Combo Asia – Meet & Greet: Esther Yu event that was held by iQiyi at Jakarta Concert Hall, iNews Tower, on Wednesday (Nov 26, 2025). A lively highlight of the evening came when the star tried a variety of Indonesian dishes on stage.
Hosts Indra Herlambang and Fera Cai prepared a lineup of beloved local foods — from popular comfort meals to iconic street snacks.
“These are some traditional foods from different regions in Indonesia that we’ve prepared,” Fera explained to the crowd.
“We’ll try them one by one. Let’s choose what to start with,” Indra added playfully.
Esther kicked off her tasting session with Indonesian fried rice (nasi goreng). Her eyes widened in excitement after her first bite, and she immediately praised how delicious it tasted.
She then sampled batagor, a fried fish dumpling dish served with a sweet and slightly tangy peanut sauce. “Batagor, so it tastes sweet and sour, right?” she said, sparking laughter from fans enjoying her candid reaction.
But the moment that stole the show was when she tried cilok — chewy tapioca ball snacks often sold by street vendors. Her innocent surprise brought even louder cheers.
“Cilok, the stickiness and softness are just right. A bit spicy and chewy too,” she commented while still chewing.
“Cilok is the best,” she added with confidence, instantly making the humble snack the star of the tasting.
For dessert, Esther tried kue ape, a Jakarta-style street pancake with crispy edges and a soft center, as well as sweet martabak, Indonesia’s famous thick stuffed pancake filled with chocolate and cheese. Both treats earned her enthusiastic approval.
“Kue Ape, wow. Martabak, please wrap this one up for me,” she joked, drawing laughter from the audience.
To top it all off, she sipped on refreshing Indonesian beverages including es teler (mixed fruit cocktail with coconut and condensed milk), cendol (iced pandan drink with green jelly), and avocado juice. She remarked how perfect they were for Jakarta’s warm weather.
The culinary adventure became one of the most memorable fan interactions of the night. Beyond the games and conversations, Esther Yu’s exploration of Indonesian street food created a special cultural connection with her fans — and cilok officially became her favorite dish of the evening.
