Warung Varuna is the place to go, from the tasty yellow rice infused with coconut and lemongrass, to the nasi goreng, the vegetables are fresh and tasty, the chicken in all its forms is delicious, a rimbambelle of dishes we’d all love to try. Don’t forget your whole coconut to stay hydrated. Located a few steps from Pantai Batu Bolong beach, this is a chill & stay spot, where you can take away or stay in and finish off with a cool ice cream just outside the door. It’s a meeting place for all Indonesian culinary specialties! The price is slightly low for the quality. Try the tempe manis/sweet tempe.
Warung Inklusive is a typical Indonesian restaurant, also serving breakfast and Western food, from Bebek Goreng (fried duck) to Nasi Campur, and many other dishes. Your taste buds will be delighted. The restaurant offers happy hours, drag shows, and evenings where you can learn sign language. It’s the perfect combination of business and pleasure, with a sprinkling of fun! You’ll pay a bit more than the usual warung, but the service is good.
The Sweet Escape Bakery is a very small place for great aesthetic things, and it’s all gluten-free. I had a hard time finding it, but it’s easier to park in Gojek. They make birthday cakes on request, and the workshop is in the back. I went there for breakfast, where the pancakes were soft and fluffy at the same time, tasty. Accompanied by black tea, they were perfect.
Poke Poke is my favorite for Poke (they have other things than Poke, of course). Why my favorite? There’s the choice of size, the ingredients are fresh, you’re asked if you want spicy tuna sashimi or not, choice between white or black rice, Balinese mayonnaise (a big favorite) or other, add quinoa if you like for 25’000IDR (=1.45 CHF). Basically, you can also follow the menus or create your own Poke for less than 10 CHF. Can you believe it? The staff are simply adorable! You’ll find Indonesian specialties next door in Roti Canai such as their incredible Soto Ayam (chicken, vermicelli and egg soup served with white rice), as well as the must-try Martabak, a thin, crispy pastry enveloping vegetables and chicken served with a delicate, fragrant curry sauce. Roti Canai means roti, in other words « bread », and believe me, there’s plenty to choose from, including onion and bacon roti… I’d also recommend the breakfast menu, which includes gluten-free waffles and a whole host of delicacies. There’s something for everyone, sweet and savory.
Sukun is the Amnaya Resort Kuta’s very elaborate restaurant, where you’ll find everything from Western to Italian to Indonesian – yes, we’re in Kuta (the tourist destination) The breakfast is very copious if you can eat everything. I’d recommend the eggs Benedict, the hollandaise sauce, is really tasty if I can compare it to others where butter dominates. The gado gado is not bad at all… As for the dishes, the portions are small for the price. That said, in terms of taste and presentation everything is there, unfortunately less spicy than elsewhere, but I think that’s normal for an international hotel restaurant, as some people’s habits are not those of others.
On the Rooftop of the Beachwalk Mall in Kuta, please choose the Yuki bakso stand. Do you like fragrant broths, tasty meatballs made from chicken or beef (even fish, buffalo and so on)? Accompanied by crispy patties, kecap manis (sweet soy sauce) and sambal (chili puree), this is one of my favorite Indonesian dishes, and it’s very light, contrary to what you might think. Especially in this little stall run by a pretty lady dressed in pink and black with a warm smile. Dumplings (you can ask for tofu too), a mixture of crumb noodles and rice vermicelli covered in a light broth and you’ve got your meal for just 3 CHF.
At Bluefin Japanese fusion, I haven’t tried the teppanyaki, but I can tell you that it’s quite a presentation show that pleases their barbecues. As for me, I’d sometimes go for some sushi, gyoza, or soba (cold spelled noodles soaked in broth) served with crispy tempura.
Umane cafe and restaurant, but what a delightful aerial setting overlooking the rice fields! I advise you to look at the patisserie when you come in, you’ll see cakes, and you’ll know you’re getting a dessert 😉 . I’ve only been there once, but I can already tell you that the green curry was special, not like Thai curry, but rather a flavor I’d never eaten before and would give anything to have the recipe! My friend had a Mie goreng that looked giant and very good too. Their freshly squeezed juices and teas are sweetened with no added sugar.
The Village Green is ideal if you want a full breakfast at a more than fair price! The choice is vast, with something for every taste. From the shrimp omelette to the eggs Benedict, the brioche sandwich with rucola and tomato tapenade, and finally my favorite, the big village green breakfast (toast and two egg style, sausage, bacon, hash brown, guacamole, salad, mushrooms and spinach), all well seasoned. You can always choose between pork or beef bacon and sausage. Basically, the latter is to be avoided if you have a lunch planned, but a must if you have the famous Bali-gover (Bali hangover). The welcome is friendly, and you’re sure to bump into Liza, one of the sweetest waitresses I’ve ever met! Don’t forget the dim sum aswell they are good 😆
Passo by Nook, this restaurant is just incredible, the environment is magnificent, between swimming pool, rice fields, palm tree, the decoration but especially the cooking! This nasi goreng was by far the best I’ve had in two consecutive trips to Bali, and believe me, I’ve eaten some nasi goreng, the balance between too spicy and not spicy enough! The fresh mango juice was perfect. The wait staff were simply pleasant, smiling and helpful.
Bale Udang! Oh, my words! I lost my words on arrival! It’s such an incredible place, I’m going to put a few photos up here, so indescribable in a single paragraph dedicated to the food. It seems that the locals come here more than the tourists, which is just as well, because in Bali, fusion cuisine is often present. At Bale Udang, everything is refined, from the service to the dishes and purely local food, which is what I liked. I rediscovered the authenticity of Bali, with its chilies, garlic, and lemongrass.
HoiAn ! Tested several times… and completely adopted! Between the bun, the Pho, and so on, it was an interesting Vietnamese culinary experience, and it gave me lots of ideas to try and reproduce at home. The setting is so friendly!
Ji Restaurant is located in Canggu Pantai Batu Bolong, next to the Tugu Hotel. Japan is served directly to the plate, and there’s a huge choice of sushi, each as colorful and tasty as the next. If you can’t decide, there are tasting plates (I recommend the Tic Tac Toe) and, for dessert, the coconut crème brûlée. But there’s also a light ramen, for once the broth is fine and it’s not stuffy! The menu is precise, the choice is not exorbitant and the products are very fresh. The quality/price ratio is respected. It may seem a little expensive, but in the end, it’s better to pay a little more for quality. Don’t hesitate to go around 6 pm when the restaurant offers a magnificent view of the ocean and a magical sunset!
Travel with Mi 