RRI.CO.ID, Semarang - Toko Oen (Oen's shop) stands as one of the most iconic culinary landmarks in Semarang, Central Java. Established in 1936, during the colonila era, the restaurant is committed to preserving its heritage while making modifications to suit younger generations' tastes.

The founder, affectionately known as Oma Oen (Grandma Oen), loved cooking and hosting gatherings. Because guests were consistently delighted by her culinary creations, Dutch nobles frequently commissioned her to cater their banquets.

“The business grew out of a genuine hobby, which is a passion for cooking," explained Hendri, a manager of Toko Oen in Kota lama, Semarang on Friday, May 15, 2026.

The original Toko Oen is on Jalan Pemuda and later has a branch in Semarang’s main tourist area, Kota Lama (old town). Hendri said the Kota Lama outlet was opened to preserve a heritage building and prevent it from being neglected.

"Actually, the initial intention (for the Kota Lama branch) was simply to save the old building, because our main outlet is on Jalan Pemuda. This is the owner’s way of caring for the preservation of the heritage buildings in Kota Lama," said Hendri.

Hendri noted that the Kota Lama branch has a different character from the Jalan Pemuda outlet, which is adopting a more contemporary concept. Several menu items have been developed with new variations, such as turning chocolate ice cream into dark chocolate, and adding flavors like mint chip, berry sorbet, breakfast cookies, and a local snack called ganjel rel (railroad tie), which is not offered at the Jalan Pemuda store.

"The base recipes remain the same, we’re just developing them toward more current trends. Since this outlet is in a tourist area, we want to broaden appeal, not just to families but also to young people," explained Hendri.

Toko Oen also operates small outlets in several Semarang malls, which are Tentrem Mall, Citraland Mall, and DP Mall. These are not full restaurants and offer signature items only, such as ice cream, cookies, and traditional cakes.

The menu ranges from snacks and main courses to desserts, including cookies, kue basah (traditional moist cakes), ice cream, and pancakes. Hendri said customer favorites include beef tongue steak (bestik lidah) and fried rice. Other offerings include risoles, lumpia, bitterballen, fried noodles, gado-gado, and various kinds of beef steak.

The ice cream line features 16 flavors, and the most popular pancakes varieties are poffertjes and Banana Royale. Typical menu prices at Toko Oen range from around IDR 35,000 to IDR 40,000 (USD 2 to USD 2.30). ***