If you’ve visited Surabaya for food shopping, you probably noticed posters everywhere of a senior Chinese-Indonesian woman with short and curly black hair and a lively smile. Underneath her image will be the words “Bu Rudy.” The woman’s name is Lanny Siswadi. It all began on July 2, 1995, when Bu Rudy’s husband went shrimp fishing. Bu Rudy then sold the fried shrimp that she had cooked herself to her fellow gymnasium mates, and the rest is history.
After its establishment, people raved about Bu Rudy’s delicious prawn-based food items, which led her to establish Pusat Oleh-Oleh (abbreviated as Pusol) Bu Rudy in the Dharmahusada area of East Surabaya. She officially named this Pusol “Terlengkap, Terbesar & Termewah di Surabaya” (“Most Complete, Largest & Most Luxurious in Surabaya”).
My favorite Bu Rudy products at Pusol include the sambal in jars and the famous udang goreng kering (fried shrimp). To discover yours, check out my recommendations of must-buy food items from Pusat Oleh-Oleh Bu Rudy, Surabaya.
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1. Sambal Setopan
This is Bu Rudy’s signature product, which is now available in overseas supermarkets! Recently, Bu Rudy has been calling the product “Sambal Setopan” because of its packaging colors, which resemble traffic lights.
When I visited Pusol last, I noticed that the sambal is now available in jars and sachets. I also must mention that Bu Rudy warns that this spicy product would make sambal lovers reluctant to share it with others. After all, this versatile sambal can be used in most dishes!
2. Udang Kering and Petis Udang
“Udang Kering” refers to shrimp that has been deep fried (called udang in Indonesia) until the texture is crispy. It is also one of Bu Rudy’s signature food items. I prefer the boxed version, even though Pusol also provides pouch packaging. I can save money by having more shrimp from the boxed package.
I recommend pairing Udang Kering with Petis Udang. Petis Udang looks quite similar to sambal and is also a spicy condiment. The shrimp broth and aromatic spices are the primary characteristics of Petis Udang. This not only differentiates it from sambal’s bird-eye chili as the primary ingredient but also allows the shrimp’s aftertaste to blend with the aromatic spices.
3. Rengginang
Grains of dried rice that are deep-fried represent the distinctive characteristics of Indonesia’s rengginang. I particularly enjoy Bu Rudy’s version of rengginang because it is crispier than the typical rengginang I find in wet markets and other local supermarkets.
Since Bu Rudy specializes in all things shrimp, you can find rengginang with shrimp at Dharmahusada’s Pusol. One of these variants is called Prawn Rengginang (Rengginang Goreng Udang). Meanwhile, my personal favorite is the Original Rengginang, which does not have any additional flavoring. Another variation of rengginang is Rengginang Lorjuk, also known as rengginang with shellfish.
The long shelf life of rengginang is another reason why I highly recommend this product!
(P.S.: If you enjoy cooking, I suggest trying the ready-to-fry variant, which does not include the word “Goreng”)
4. Crispy small seafood crackers
Bu Rudy’s superb skills with seafood means that it’s not just the signature product, which is shrimp, that gets attention. You can also find other small-sized seafood crackers in Pusol. Some examples include Teri Oven (oven-heated crispy anchovies), which comes in original and spicy variants (“Teri Kacang Balado” or crispy anchovies with peanuts and fiery condiments), and Wader Crispy (fried rasbora jacobsoni).
I suggest pairing these crispy seafood crackers with other Indonesian rice dishes, such as nasi uduk (rice cooked in coconut milk) or nasi campur (mixed rice). Trust me, they will enhance the flavors of the rice.
5. Ready-to-reheat (and eat) proteins
My experience living outside of Surabaya and even Indonesia has taught me that ready-to-eat products are affordable and convenient to bring or pair with other foods. That’s why Bu Rudy’s ready-to-reheat (and eat) protein products have become a must-buy.
If you visit the Pusol shop in Dharmahusada, you’ll realize that Bu Rudy is the only gift shop that offers authentic ready-to-reheat (and eat) proteins, such as Oseng Tuna Asap (stir-fry smoked tuna) or Grinting Lorjuk (Madurese beach shellfish) in a jar.
The smoky and spicy tuna flavors, as well as the crunchiness of Grinting Lorjuk, will delight your senses when you reheat the food. It also pairs well with rice-based dishes, except for fried rice. This way, you can tone down the spiciness a bit!
6. "Kering" foods
“Kering” here means deep-fried, dried, and dehydrated. Kering Tempe and Kering Kentang are packaged food items from Pusol Bu Rudy at Dharmahusada that I would recommend trying. When you combine these two food items, you will get “sambal goreng kentang,” which is one of the side dishes in many rice-based dishes.
Tempeh, soon-to-be part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, helps us differentiate kering tempe from kering kentang. Kering tempeh also has more spices, making the texture stickier than kering kentang, which only focuses on potato chips.
What differentiates kering kentang from potato chips? It has peanuts, even though the portions are smaller than its kering tempe counterpart.
7. Basic deep-fried and dehydrated crackers
I’ve included Pringles-inspired potato chips and crackers (keropok, usually Kerupuk Bawang) that are commonly found in warong stalls or similar eateries in this list because Bu Rudy’s Pusol now offers two versions of each “basic” cracker: the ready-to-fry and ready-to-eat versions. Kerupuk bawang and keripik kentang are two examples of food items that you can find at Dharmahusada’s Pusol Bu Rudy.
I refer to both products as having “basic” flavors because their original flavors can complement and balance the spiciness of other food condiments and side dishes. That’s why I highly recommend this product!
8. Chicken and beef floss
Floss is “Abon” in Indonesian. Therefore, you will find “Abon Ayam” (chicken floss) and “Abon Sapi” (beef floss) in Bu Rudy’s luxurious, grand, and comprehensive Pusol.
These two Abon food items shouldn’t be novel in Bu Rudy’s collections. After all, I have known them since I was in elementary school.
I prefer the chicken floss because I’ve had enough childhood memories with the beef floss variants. Besides, the chicken floss complements jasmine rice perfectly, making it an excellent and low-calorie meal for weight loss.
9. Bumbu Pecel
Pecel is an authentic vegetarian-friendly dish from Indonesia. When I travel around Indonesian wet markets, I usually see the Bumbu or solid condiment that we should simmer before we mix it with the veggies. So, the presence of Bu Rudy’s authentic Bumbu Pecel in the Pusol ignites my admiration for Bu Rudy’s resourcefulness in managing her businesses! She knows how to use her well-known presence to introduce authentic Indonesian culinary products, just like Bumbu Pecel.
We usually have the option to choose the spiciness level of the Bumbu. Yet, since it’s from Bu Rudy, why not give the spiciest one a try?
10. Banana Crackers
In Indonesian, “Banana Crackers” roughly translates as keripik pisang. In Indonesia, the crackers either go through the drying and dehydrating processes directly without adding sauces beforehand (which preserves the crackers’ original taste) or have additional spoonfuls of sugar syrup or salt that enhance the crackers’ flavors.
It wouldn’t be authentic Bu Rudy if the crackers didn’t come in spicy variants, which is why Keripik Pisang Kaca, or the flaming hot version, exists. A word of caution, don’t let the glass (“Kaca” in Indonesian) prick your tongue with its kickin’ hot and spicy flavors!
Have you ever wished Bu Rudy would create a sweeter variant? Well, you’re in luck! You will find that Sale Pisang will tantalize your sweet tooth!
11. Sweet "kue" products
People usually translate “kue” as cakes. However, Bu Rudy’s “kue” products are more like meatball-shaped crackers rather than dry cakes or cakes for birthdays and special occasions. If you have ever wished that Bu Rudy would sometimes introduce sweeter food items, the “kue” products, such as Kue Blinjo (Melinjo choux) and Kue Almond (typical Asian almond cake), are perfect for you!
Despite being categorized as “sweet,” none of them overpower your taste buds. Additionally, I personally love the crunchiness of Kue Blinjo!
12. Lapis Bu Rudy
Even Bu Rudy realizes that buying spiku is a must whenever you step foot in Surabaya! So, she launched Lapis Bu Rudy (lapis is an alternative name for spiku) as one of her new products. I thought, why not give it a try?
The usual lapis or spiku only has three colored layers: yellow on top, brown in the center, and yellow on the bottom. The yellow layer comes from the egg yolks, while the brown part is usually made from cocoa or mocha powder. Lapis Bu Rudy is different because it has a green layer made from pandan leaves. Since the size is quite large compared to other similar products, I recommend trying it with your travel buddies.
13. Aneka Gorengan
You will see the words “Aneka Gorengan” on one of the food menu billboards when you step into the restaurant area of Bu Rudy, located on the second floor of Pusol. It translates to “various fried foods” that you can try.
Does your accommodation not provide fridges to store food? Then, Bu Rudy’s fried foods, such as fried tofu, banana, or jackfruit, will be the best food items for you! I love their fried banana for its versatility, as one can combine it with chocolate sauce to make it sweet or tomato and/or hot chili sauces for something savory.
14. Kue Kepang
“Kue Kepang” is a traditional Indonesian deep-fried street snack known for its sweet taste. The name “Kue Kepang” is derived from its resemblance to braided hair, which is called “kepang” in Indonesian.
This lesser-known treat can be discovered at Pusol Bu Rudy’s restaurant, where it is available at the cashier’s register. The combination of smoky and sweet flavors will never disappoint!
Try the best of Bu Rudy's yummy offerings while you're in Surabaya
Bu Rudy has expertly introduced new products that cater to the diverse needs of tourists. While the famous sambal setopan still remains the signature product, other new items, like Lapis Bu Rudy, have recently been introduced to the market.
So, visit Pusol Bu Rudy at Dharmahusada and fill your cart with delicious food. You won’t regret the experience!
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