Sambal

What is Sambal? Set along the Danforth Avenue strip just east of Chester, Sambal is the permanent brick-and-mortar home of a pandemic-era supper club launched by Maureen Usman and Jasson Powell Wijaya, with executive chef Andrea Santawirya at the helm. The dining room pairs clean blonde woods, woven textures, and traditional shadow puppetry accents with plush banquettes and intimate bar seating. It fills a long-standing gap in the city by delivering dedicated Balinese and Javanese bistro cooking right to the edge of Riverdale and Greektown.

Sambal Menu & What to Order Kick off your meal with the signature sambal flight served with crisp prawn crackers, which lets you explore varying tiers of complex chilli heat. The standout mains are anchored by a 48-hour slow-cooked beef rendang that melts apart on contact and the bakmi ayam, featuring springy hand-pulled noodles tossed in chicken fat and savoury toppings. Be sure to order the smoky konro bakar (spiced grilled beef ribs) alongside an order of sate ayam, washed down with a house sambal margarita or coconut pandan cocktail.

Know Before You Go Evening tables routinely fill up via their online booking portal, though early-evening walk-ins can often snag bar stools or quick turnover tables. Dining slots operate on an 80-minute seating limit, and the kitchen enforces a final seating cut-off 30 minutes prior to the 10:00 p.m. close. Located on Line 2 between Chester and Pape stations, it is far easier to reach by subway than dealing with Danforth street parking.