Bakmi GM
{{Short description|Indonesian noodle restaurant chain}}
{{Infobox company
|name = Bakmi GM
|logo = Bakmi GM Logo.png
|type = Private company
|hq_location_city = Jakarta, Indonesia
|locations = 50+
|parent = Djarum
|founded = {{start date and age|1959}}
|industry = Restaurant
|website = {{URL|bakmigm.com}}
}}
PT Griya Miesejati, doing business as Bakmi GM, is an Indonesian restaurant chain specializing in bakmi noodle dishes. It was established as a single store at Gajah Mada Street in 1959, and has since then expanded to over 50 locations mostly in Greater Jakarta.
History
The company started as a noodle stall located at Gajah Mada Street in Jakarta, established by couple Tjhai Sioe and Loei Kwai Fong in 1959 with five tables. The restaurant was previously known as Bakmi Gajah Mada, and it opened its second location at Melawai in 1971.{{cite news |title=60 Tahun Berdiri, Ini Kunci Sukses Bakmi GM |url=https://travel.kompas.com/read/2019/12/04/111700127/60-tahun-berdiri-ini-kunci-sukses-bakmi-gm |access-date=9 September 2022 |work=KOMPAS.com |date=4 December 2019 |language=id}} The original location at Gajah Mada has been visited by multiple Indonesian presidents from Sukarno to Joko Widodo, with B. J. Habibie and Megawati Soekarnoputri being regular customers. In particular, Habibie was known to visit the restaurant at lunchtime during the 1970s, before he was appointed a government minister.{{cite news |title=B.J. Habibie Selalu Bungkus Pangsit Bakmi GM untuk Dibawa Pulang |url=https://www.jawapos.com/warung-ri/23/03/2022/b-j-habibie-selalu-bungkus-pangsit-bakmi-gm-untuk-dibawa-pulang/ |access-date=9 September 2022 |work=Jawa Pos |date=23 March 2022 |language=id}}
In December 2024, Djarum acquired 85 percent of the company for a reported figure of "between Rp 2 and 2.4 trillion" (~USD 120 to 150 million).{{cite news |title=Diversifikasi Bisnis, Grup Djarum Akuisisi Restoran Bakmi GM |url=https://kontan.co.id/news/diversifikasi-bisnis-grup-djarum-akuisisi-restoran-bakmi-gm |access-date=10 December 2024 |work=Kontan |date=9 December 2024 |language=id}}
Products
Aside from the namesake bakmi (Indonesian noodle) dishes including mie ayam, the restaurants serve several rice-based and chicken dishes, in addition to popular milk tea drinks. Its most popular and flagship product remains "Bakmi Spesial GM", a noodle dish served with chicken broth, topped with soy sauce chicken, choy sum and mushrooms and priced at around Rp 32,000 (USD 2.2) in 2019.{{cite news |title=Makanan Favorit di Bakmi GM sejak 60 Tahun Lalu |url=https://travel.kompas.com/read/2019/12/04/130500827/makanan-favorit-di-bakmi-gm-sejak-60-tahun-lalu?page=all |access-date=9 September 2022 |work=KOMPAS.com |date=4 December 2019 |language=id}} CNN Travel describes the noodles as "iconic", and says the dish "garners a cult following".{{cite news |title=40 Indonesian foods we can't live without (#10) |url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/40-indonesian-foods/index.html |access-date=9 September 2022 |work=CNN |date=February 2016}}
Locations
File:Bakmi GM Pangsit Goreng.jpg (2012 photo)]]
The chain has over 50 locations with 1,200 employees as of 2022.{{cite news |title=5 Meja yang Menjadi 50 Cabang |url=https://www.jawapos.com/ekonomi/bisnis/25/05/2017/5-meja-yang-menjadi-50-cabang/ |access-date=9 September 2022 |work=Jawa Pos |date=25 May 2017 |language=id}}{{cite web |title=Outlet |url=http://www.bakmigm.com/outlet |publisher=Bakmi GM |access-date=9 September 2022 |language=id |archive-date=20 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171327/http://www.bakmigm.com/outlet |url-status=dead }} It also operates food trucks and takeout stalls.{{cite news |title=Konsistensi Rasa Jadi Rahasia Sukses Bakmi GM |url=https://www.republika.co.id/berita/pxc7xs328/konsistensi-rasa-jadi-rahasia-sukses-bakmi-gm |access-date=9 September 2022 |work=Republika |date=5 September 2019 |language=id}} Most of the chain's locations are located in Greater Jakarta and West Java, with several branches in Surabaya (opened in 2017){{cite news |title=Kisah Sukses Bakmi GM, Dari 5 Meja Makan Menjadi 50 Cabang |url=https://www.jpnn.com/news/kisah-sukses-bakmi-gm-dari-5-meja-makan-menjadi-50-cabang |access-date=9 September 2022 |work=JPNN |date=25 May 2017 |language=id}} and Denpasar (opened in 2018).{{cite news |title=Bakmi GM kini Hadir di Jantung Kota Denpasar |url=https://balitv.tv/2018/12/13/bakmi-gm-kini-hadir-di-jantung-kota-denpasar/ |access-date=9 September 2022 |work=Bali TV |date=13 December 2018 |language=id}} In 2019, the company announced its intent to open locations in Sumatra.{{cite news |title=Bakmi GM set to open outlets in Sumatra |url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2019/09/05/bakmi-gm-set-to-open-outlets-in-sumatra.html |access-date=9 September 2022 |work=The Jakarta Post |date=5 September 2019 |language=en}} It serves an estimated 30,000 customers daily as of September 2022.{{cite web |title=About Us |url=http://bakmigm.com/about-us |publisher=Bakmi GM |access-date=9 September 2022 |language=id}}