Jakarta, February 9, 2026 - PT Bank JTrust Indonesia Tbk (J Trust Bank) consistently innovates in providing the best service for customers, business actors, and the community, one of which is through "Gourmet Choice 2026", an appreciation and appreciation event for business actors and professionals driving the culinary industry in Indonesia.
J Trust Bank President Director Ritsuo Fukadai explained that the first Gourmet Choice awards held in 2024 were a response to requests from business partners for information on high-end restaurants that can be trusted with their tastes, as well as the voices of the food and beverage industry and chefs who want their skills and efforts to be professionally assessed. In order to provide reliable information to meet customer trust, strict secret visits are carried out every year to select restaurants that meet exceptional standards.
The event was attended by distinguished guests from the political and business worlds. After remarks from the organizing committee, the Chairman of the Regional Representative Council of the Republic of Indonesia (DPD RI), Mr. Sultan Bachtiar Najamuddin and the Ambassador of the Republic of Seychelles to Indonesia and ASEAN, Mr. Nico Barito congratulated the award-winning restaurants. Then the event continued with a toast by the Chairman of the Japan Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises, Mr. Kazunori Kobayashi which marked the start of the award ceremony.
This year, the "Dua Bintang" award is given to restaurants that maintain the highest quality, and "Special Recognition" is given to restaurants selected from all over Indonesia for their unique character.
The next Two-Star Award was given to Hakuryu (Jakarta), Kiwami (Jakarta), and II YAWARA (Jakarta), while Special Recognition was given to Rumah Dani (Bogor), Sumi to Kome (Jakarta), Syunsai Nonki (Jakarta), Koki (Bali), Echigoya Ramen (Jakarta), and Yimo (Bali).
On behalf of the award winners, Mr. Yoshiaki Matsuo from Hakuryu expressed his appreciation saying, "We would like to express our sincere gratitude to J Trust Bank for organizing Gourmet Choice 2026. This award is not only an honor for us, but also a great motivation for us to continue to improve the quality of our cuisine to meet the expectations of Indonesian culinary connoisseurs. We will continue to work hard every day, without compromise."
On the same occasion, Chef Erham Tandjung, a culinary expert and MasterChef Indonesia contestant, expressed his views, "I am impressed that J Trust Bank has highlighted hidden gems not only in Jakarta but also in Bogor and Bali, and evaluated them based on strict standards. The existence of such an objective and prestigious award is a big boost for those of us who are in the culinary world. I am confident that through this award, Indonesia's culinary culture will be further refined and shared with the world."
Furthermore, a specialist in authentic Bangka cuisine, healthy food, as well as culinary entrepreneur Eddrian Tjhia expressed his hope. "Food is a universal language that transcends language and cultural boundaries and connects people around the world. This award serves as a platform to showcase outstanding talent to the world, and I hope that the restaurants selected here will attract international attention and make a significant contribution to revitalizing the entire industry."
J Trust Bank President Director Ritsuo Fukadai added, "Culinary culture has the universal power to connect people's hearts, transcending languages and differences between countries. All of the restaurants selected this time are of exceptional quality that can be proud around the world, and we have great respect for their passion and technique. We sincerely hope that this award will not only serve as a 'trusted culinary guide' for everyone, but also help Indonesia's global culinary cultural richness and contribute to economic and cultural development."
