Tip Top Restaurant is a legendary restaurant in Medan currently managed by the third generation of the founding family. Originally, in 1929, the restaurant was named ‘Jang Kie’ after its founder and was located on Jalan Pandu. The building used at that time was the former office of a Chinese trading partnership. In 1934, the restaurant moved to Kesawan area, the business center of Medan City at that time, and changed its name to ‘Tip Top’, which means “prime” or “perfect.” At that time, there were only two major restaurants in Medan, and Tip Top is the only one that survives to this day.
Since moving to Kesawan, Tip Top has expanded its menu options. Besides bread and cakes, they started serving heavy dishes such as nasi goreng, steaks, salads, as well as European and Chinese food. Ice cream, made with a special recipe, became a favorite of European customers who were feeling hot in Medan City. At that time, the restaurant’s customers were mostly Dutch people who worked in administration and plantations, so Tip Top was known for its European-standard dishes.
During the Japanese occupation in 1942, the name Tip Top was changed back to ‘Jang Kie’ to avoid the impression of Dutchness. After Japan lost World War II in 1945, the name Tip Top was restored and the restaurant grew in popularity among locals. Renovations in 1947 and 1980 focused more on the interior, such as the wall ornaments in the music room and the conversion of the void into a dining room. The facade was also improved to make it more attractive.
Tip Top Restaurant was designed with a colonial modern architectural concept, featuring a wide span flanked by large pillars. The building covers 1440 m², with a height of ±15 meters, length of 60 meters, and width of 24 meters. The facade design is prominent on the upper floors, where the wall is divided into three window areas that have now been replaced. Ornamental air vents with traditional decorations also add to the beauty of the building. The restaurant has several rooms, including a semi-outdoor dining room, bakery, music room, main dining room, and a second floor that functions as living quarters. The three main areas of the restaurant, namely the front, center, and inside, provide different atmospheres, while the classic touches are retained, although there are some adjustments to the entrance area to match the modern café style.
As a more than 50-year-old restaurant, Tip Top has been an important part of Medan City’s culinary history. Since developing as an industrial plantation town, Medan has transformed into an international city with a diversity of nations and ethnicities, including Europeans who were Tip Top’s main customers in the past. The restaurant has become a symbol of colonial culinary tourism, offering European-flavored food and reflecting Medan’s cultural diversity.
In terms of architecture, Tip Top has a high aesthetic value with its modern colonial style and Art Deco ornamental details seen on the facade, small towers on the left and right sides of the building, and ventilation decorations. This beauty reinforces the character of the Kesawan area as a historic district. In the past, the restaurant was the center of the European community in Medan, and until today, Tip Top remains a tourist destination for European tourists who want to experience the nostalgia of Medan’s culinary history.
