Pondok Betawi
Cultural-inspired menu design for an Indonesian restaurant based in Australia.
Taste
Heritage
For their restaurant’s in Australia, Pondok Betawi needed a new menu that celebrated Betawi culture—simple, rich in story, and easy to navigate for international diners.
This was the first official project under The Cloudy Design, and it was a special one. Pondok Betawi, an Indonesian restaurant in Australia, asked us to redesign their entire menu with a clear brief: preserve the authenticity of Betawi culture, while making the menu accessible and engaging for non-Indonesian audiences.
The menu begins with a cover that uses minimalist design language in red and white tones—referencing the Indonesian flag—setting the tone for national pride and cultural warmth. The opening spread features a brief introduction and history of the Betawi people and Jakarta, grounding the dining experience in cultural context.
Each subsequent page is dedicated to specific dishes, with large photographs taking center stage. Text was intentionally laid out with ample spacing, using clear and legible typefaces. Since many of the dish names were kept in their original Indonesian form, we added short descriptions under each to help customers understand what they’re ordering—bridging the cultural and culinary gap.
This project is a great example of how design can connect cultures through food, clarity, and storytelling.
