In the Muara Karang neighbourhood of North Jakarta, a cluster of seafood restaurants lines the streets near a wet market selling the day's catch. The routine here is simple: browse the market stalls, pick your fish — red snapper, grouper, squid, mud crabs, tiger prawns — then carry it to one of the nearby restaurants to be cooked however you like. Grilled with sambal, steamed Chinese-style with ginger and soy, deep-fried with garlic — they will prepare it any way you want, served with steamed rice and fresh vegetables.
Prices are reasonable for the quality and freshness. The area gets busy on weekend evenings when Jakarta families come out for dinner. Go hungry.