Oh, the burn!

Hot plate No. 2: Nasi bungkus

Hot spot: Toko Rame, Bellflower

The elements: Nasi bungkus is kind of like a sampler platter of beloved dishes from the Padang region of Sumatra. At Toko Rame, the sampling consists of rendang (slow-cooked beef marinated in coconut milk), ayam goreng (marinated and fried chicken), hardboiled egg, tofu, veggies and rice—all wrapped together in banana leaves, then steamed. This Bellflower halal restaurant is often praised for the authenticity of its Indonesian fare; we check to see if the spice level is just as authentic.