The Gadjah Wong restaurant was established in 1997 by Ibu Yani, who is also the Chef. There are many legends about the origins of the name Gadjah Wong, which literally means Elephant Man or Ganesha, the ‘Lord of Obstacles and New Beginnings’. Before Yani started, the steep riverbanks were used by the neighborhood as a waste dumping ground that was occasionally flushed in the wet monsoon. Inspired by the mystical attraction of the place, Yani mobilized the neighbors to clean up the waste and turn the banks into a botanical garden with indigenous herbs and spices, which later became the site of her ‘warung’. Over the years, Gadjah Wong has developed from a small eatery for a handful of friends into today’s exquisite dining venue.