At Mr. Sate LA, the Bakso Abang dish brings the nostalgic flavors of Indonesia’s bustling street food scene straight to Los Angeles—serving a hearty, flavorful, and soul-warming bowl of traditional bakso, just like what you’d find from a friendly pushcart vendor ("abang bakso") on the streets of Jakarta, Bandung, or Surabaya.

“Abang” is a term of endearment for the familiar meatball vendors who roam neighborhoods on foot or bicycle carts, ladling out steaming bowls of soup from giant metal pots. Mr. Sate LA captures the spirit and flavor of that beloved experience in this comforting, authentic menu item.

Bakso is Indonesia’s iconic meatball soup, made from finely ground beef mixed with tapioca flour to create a uniquely firm and bouncy texture. The meatballs are poached in a savory, clear beef broth, then served with yellow egg noodles, rice vermicelli, fried tofu, bean sprouts, bok choy, and crispy fried shallots—all swimming in a warm, umami-rich soup.

The dish is often topped with a hard-boiled egg, a splash of kecap manis (sweet soy sauce), sambal (chili sauce), and a squeeze of lime—all allowing diners to personalize their perfect bowl.