Three Buns: Neighborhood Burger Joint & Bar

i literally jumped like a kid on smarties upon receiving an invitation of this restaurant's grand opening. not surprising though, since three buns has been highly anticipated by many people in jakarta, especially the urbans. youre about to find out why!

conceived from a creative idea of PTT family (potato head), three buns stood up to serve cocktails and gourmet burgers perfected with quality and design. just like any other PTT family's restaurant, this vintage burger joint owns a unique concept with a magnetic charm that entices hip youngsters to come by. it is built like a humongous garage with additions of theater-style seating (you know, the ones that pile up from bottom to the top). you may also choose the comfy corners on top of the stairs, where you can sit in circles or casually mingle with other guests. even the walls are only painted halfway, reflecting a yard complete with ivy plants. 

also do note that everything here is self service! so go place your order at an old rustic van that is parked at the front of restaurant, then you will receive a queue number to get your meals or drinks after theyre done being processed in an open kitchen just beside the van. 

the origins of three buns' menus came from chef adam penny, a london based chef who also runs a reputable burger joint at his hometown called london's patty & bun. the burger patties here are made of high quality australian brahman meat, topped with homemade burger buns, and special selections of homemade sauces. they will suggest medium gradation for the best meat, but if you prefer well-done then of course its possible too.

the favorite here is baby huey, that consists of 150 gr patty, cheese, mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomato sauce. just like the classic baby huey character, the size is pretty gigantic that even pictures dont do justice to reflect the actual look in real life. the artisan buns are glazy and crisp, and it only takes one bite to meet the thick and juicy meat with a slight of pink strikes inside, indicating that its cooked nicely in medium. every bite is pure beefy deliciousness! for a 'heavier' class, you may opt for four floors, with double cheese and 200 gr worth of patties.

another specialty of three buns is the usage of slow cooked homemade sauces to spark the taste in their burgers. the flavor is pretty close to BBQ sauce i think, though it has a fresher take thanks to the tomato-based ingredients. but for those who favor spicy flavors, they also got a homemade sauce called 'burning man', a mixture of baked jalapeno, hot ketchup, and dashi mayo. surprisingly the spicy level isnt too overwhelming even though they use jalapeno. other than meat, three buns also improvise with lamb patty or even vegetables for their vegetarian burger, the roots.

the casual atmosphere feels alive with hip hop playlists surrounding this glass roofed restaurant (we did jam hard to drake and run dmc while munching). before we go i feel like its a must to explore some of the recommended side dishes! my favorite here is naughty fries, or french fries dunked in korean sauce 'gojuchang'. its savory, a tad spicy, and simply addictive. dont miss out three buns' specialized chicken wings too, for they're cooked with yoghurt!

dang, it's even harder to get our asses from the super comfy spot when the cocktails and mocktails arrived. all of them are concocted with natural ingredients such as fruits and spices. time to spend a chill evening by sharing some refreshing glass of tropical thunder (pineapple, rum, passion fruit), very berry (various berries mixed with vodka), and the lovely smoked mary (citrus vodka with a hint of spices). perfect!

(photos: doc. three buns)

Three Buns

Jl Senopati Raya no. 90

Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan 12190

Ph: 021 2930 7780

Opening hours: 11.00 – 23.00

Price range: Rp 35.000 – 125.000
Website: www.threebuns.com