Why Locals Love Pempek Lala
Nestled in the heart of Palembang’s bustling Kampung Pempek, Pempek Lala offers an authentic taste of traditional Indonesian cuisine that’s sure to delight any food lover. Specializing in the beloved Palembang delicacy, pempek—a savory fish cake made from fish and tapioca—this humble eatery at Jl. Mujahidin 26 Ilir brings both flavor and atmosphere together in a way that leaves a lasting impression.
Stepping into Pempek Lala, you immediately notice the lively and welcoming ambiance. The restaurant, often buzzing with locals and tourists alike, retains a clean yet casual setting that invites you to sit down and savor every bite. The aroma of fresh, steaming pempek fills the air, instantly whetting your appetite.
What makes Pempek Lala stand out is their signature serving style—guests are typically presented with a plate of 10 assorted steamed pempeks, each bite-sized but bursting with a perfect blend of textures and flavors. Despite their modest size, these little delicacies have a magical way of compelling you to order more. The variety extends beyond steamed options to other local favorites like grilled pempek, model (a savory fish dumpling), tekwan (fish ball soup), and lengang panggang (grilled savory egg cake), each offering a comforting and richly spiced experience that showcases the culinary heritage of South Sumatera.
Customers frequently praise the deliciousness and value at Pempek Lala. As Jeje R. expressed, “You won’t regret trying the food at Pempek Lala... the prices are cheap and the taste incredibly delicious.” Visitors like Wening S. Amungkasi appreciate the affordability here, especially when compared to other well-known pempek brands, making it a fantastic choice for both budget-conscious travelers and local families. Although the restaurant can be busy and service sometimes a bit slow or less personable, the overwhelming consensus highlights quality and flavor as the true stars of this destination.
Beyond the food, the location itself contributes to the experience. Tucked within an alley teeming with other pempek sellers, Pempek Lala offers a glimpse into Palembang’s rich culinary culture. Easy parking and a welcoming environment make it a convenient and fuss-free spot for a quick bite or a leisurely meal. Whether you’re a first-timer eager to taste this iconic dish or a returning fan craving the genuine local nuance, Pempek Lala promises a satisfying and memorable culinary adventure.
If you’re exploring the city and want to dive headfirst into Palembang’s food scene, make sure Pempek Lala is on your list. The friendly chaos of the place, the mouthwatering aroma of freshly made pempek, and the irresistible balance of taste and price create a dining experience that’s both authentic and heartwarming.
See the Space & Food
What Makes This Place Friendly
- No-contact delivery
- Delivery
- Takeaway
- Dine-in
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Coffee
- Halal food
- Quick bite
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Table service
- Toilet
- Casual
- Cosy
- Trendy
- Groups
- Tourists
- University students
- Accepts reservations
- Usually a wait
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- Credit cards
- Good for kids
- Kids' menu
- Paid parking lot
- Paid street parking
- Parking
Real Reviews from the Community
- Mar 6, 2026
You won't regret trying the food at Pempek Lala. It's the busiest shop in Sentral Kampung Pempek Palembang, and rightfully so because the prices are cheap and the taste is incredibly delicious. Even though the pempek sizes are small, they'll make you want to keep ordering more. When you sit down, they'll automatically serve you 10 pieces of assorted steamed pempek. You can eat them according to your preference; you don't have to finish them all. You can ask for them to be fried, but it will charged fully. The next day, I went back to Pempek Lala to order their vacuum-packed pempek. I'll definitely come back here if I visit Palembang again.
- Jan 25, 2026
Pempek Lala is one of many great Pempek shops you can visit in Palembang, especially in Kampung Pempek (the center of pempek shops in the city). Despite its being crowded, this tourist destination has more positive sides. First, this place is known for its reasonable price. Compared to other popular brands like Vico or Candy, Pempek Lala is cheaper. For a pack of frozen pempek, we can buy it for 70.000 rupiahs. Also for the kerupuk (crackers) products, there are wide array of it with lower price. Second, there are some delicious dishes that we can eat there, such as model, tekwan, and pempek itself. For the pempek, we can try various kinds of it, like pempek kapal selam, lenggang, etc. The crispy one is the best. If you don't want to eat, you can also enjoy its refreshing beverages. Third, the service is quite fast and good. You don't have to wait for a long time to get your orders. All in all, Pempek Lala can be the best option for those who want to get tasty yet affordable pempek in Palembang.
- Jan 22, 2026
The food is delicious, the place is quite good because it is a center for selling pempek, the service is a little lacking, apart from the waiters being less friendly with customers, the food also takes a long time to arrive.
- Dec 31, 2025
Ambiance : The place is clean and quite busy at meal times. located in an alley containing pempek sellers. Parking is quiet easy Service : The service is fast and informative for visitors who have never tried the pempek menu in general Food : Small pempek is served on a plate containing 10 pempek. We can order another plate and many other pempek menus, such as grilled pempek, model, tekwan, and lenggang. The cuko is very thick, different from cuko pempek in Java. The red bean ice is quite refreshing Pempek 4.9/5 Res bean ice 4.5/5
- Dec 30, 2025
Nice food stall, love being here with my family. I still want to taste the lenggang panggang, still curious. The cashier queue was long and more ppl have to wait. I guess adding one more cashier doesnt hurt or make the service quicker will solve the probs
- Dec 25, 2025
Pempek & Fish Crackers Restaurant Crowded place --- No COVID-19 Protocol Busy atmosphere Cash, Debit/Credit card available Vehicle parking space for motor bikes is in front of shop. For cars it's about 20-50 meter's Public transportation access Cheap --- No Air Conditioner --- Dirty area --- No Wifi Halal Parking Fee It's a cheap price for fish pempek. It's just Rp.1.000,-. At first i thought the size of small empek2 is as normal as any other shop sell. Its about 6-7cm wide. But the fact is, its just 2,5-3cm wide. Half of normal size even smaller. And it's smelly pempek for me althought you have to put it near to your nose. Seriously, I'm laughing while eating it
- Nov 24, 2025
I have tried most famous pempeks in Palembang but never tried pempek Lala before. With its affordable price, I didn’t expect that pempek lala would taste great!
- Nov 17, 2025
Always in crowd, and it surely be because of its tasty, complete, and most affordable Pempek at its low price range. It’s located in a small street that hosts several stalls selling Pempek, Mie Celor, and Krupuk; all known as signature dishes of Palembang city.
