A new addition to South Jakarta’s dining landscape is set to open in Wijaya. Manzo is a family-owned restaurant that presents a fusion of Japanese technique and Italian comfort food, drawing on the founders’ upbringing and culinary roots. Named after the Italian word for beef and the Japanese word manzoku, meaning satisfaction, Manzo is the latest entry into Jakarta’s growing interest in hybrid cuisines.
The concept is inspired by the co-founders’ childhood memories at Tahiti Cafe, their late grandmother’s Chinese bistro, and aims to reinterpret traditional Italian dishes through the lens of Japanese culinary precision. “What we aim to bring to the table is something new but at the same time familiar,” said co-owner Naomi Bongso.
Led by Chef Dhani, Manzo’s menu focuses on woodfire-grilled wagyu steaks, seafood-driven comfort dishes, and creative hybrids that steer away from the expected. “No, we do not have sushi,” said Chef Dhani, noting that Manzo is not a fusion restaurant in the typical sense. “Imagine how the Japanese might approach an Italian restaurant in Kyoto: exquisite, mindful, and profoundly fulfilling.”
Signature steak options include the Woodfire Grilled MB8/9 Wagyu Bone-in Ribeye and the Porterhouse, served with garlic chips, wasabi, shiitake mushrooms, and ponzu brown butter. Seafood appears in dishes like the Scallop Doria Rice, a creamy baked rice dish inspired by Japanese doria, while the Ham & Cheese Mille-feuille Katsu layers beef ham and mozzarella in a crisp breaded shell. Desserts lean umami-forward with creations such as the Brownie Miso Caramel Parfait.
While the menu is the center of attention, the restaurant’s vision extends beyond food. “The goal is to create a place where memories and close bonds are formed through shared meals,” Naomi said. She also hinted at future plans: “Eventually, we would like to branch out with our DNA of combining flavours and colours. Perhaps new product lines, a focus on beverages, or even hospitality.”
Set against the backdrop of Jakarta’s increasingly cosmopolitan dining culture, Manzo positions itself as part of the new generation of restaurants that prioritize not just flavor, but experience. With roots in heritage and an eye on innovation, it opens with a clear intent: to offer something different without losing touch with what’s familiar.
MANZO Jakarta
Jl. Wijaya II No.28, Melawai, Kec. Kby. Baru, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12160
