Ayam Gepuk Pak Gembus

Pak Gembus took sambal geprek to the masses, growing from a small stall into a huge franchise with hundreds of outlets across Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Its signature is the sambal bawang (garlic chili relish) that's pounded with a secret ingredient – a bit of crushed cashew nut – giving it an extra savory, nutty kick.

The chicken itself is fried to golden crispiness, then "gepuk" (smacked) so the sambal seeps in. Spice-seekers love this place for its potent heat; you can request insanely high chili levels. As a chain, Pak Gembus is omnipresent – from Jakarta to small towns – yet it maintains quality that keeps fans coming back.

It was even deemed the "clear winner" in a spicy chicken taste-test by one food reviewer. With its extensive reach and consistently fiery sambal, Pak Gembus has earned a nationwide reputation for sambal geprek greatness.