Bali Food – a Mini Guide
Our latest trip to Bali in November 2016, re-confirmed that our favourite spots last time are still our favourites. Of course we tried a few new places, and left with even more on our list for next time.
Our recommendations in this Bali guide cover Seminyak (plus some of it’s surrounds), Canggu and Ubud. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to email me direct: info@decisivecravings.com.au
Jen Curcio.
Potato Head’s Espresso Martini
SEMINYAK AND SURROUNDS
Potato Head Beach Club and Resort
Jalan Petitenget 51B, Seminyak
This would have to be one of the most exciting venues on the island. Imagine a venue five times the size of the Stokehouse on the beach front with an infinity pool, day beds, a café/restaurant, several bars (including the pool) – just coming here makes your day. For $50 you can hire a day bed (prime location) to sit back, relax, read, sunbake and dry off in between dips in the pool and you can do this all day long while eating and drinking from your little perch (at your own cost of course). This is a must! Food is great but you really are paying for the drinks and location (try the Espresso Martini’s, non alcoholic Lassi’s or go a classic – your own fresh Coconut).
Jl kayu aya / Gang 51, Seminyak – Oberoi (they also have a smaller cafe’ at Jl Petitenget #102, Seminyak
We have been visiting Revolver Espresso for a few years now. They can be relied on for a decent coffee, delicious thick shakes and for filling comfort food. Their burgers are very popular, as are their modern Australian style breakfasts – smashed avocado even makes an appearance on the menu. Revolver Espresso is a great option for a lazy brunch. It’s ideal for groups of two to four.
Jalan Petitenget 19, Kerobokan
This is an exquisite restaurant, a treat for all visitors to Bali. It is hard to say what you would expect to pay in Melbourne for the same food, quality, service and atmosphere. Think fusion Asian street food – wonderful seafood dishes, curries, crispy pork belly (very popular), salads with soft shell crab, duck or slow cooked octopus, DIY steam buns (a personal favourite), stir-fries and a whole myriad of dishes from the Tandoor. Well worth the visit and a real treat, so bring your loved ones or special guests and enjoy!
Always bustling – Biku Tea House
Jalan Raya Petitenget 888, Seminyak
This little café/restaurant is a pleasant surprise in Seminyak. Part café, part book and gift store Biku is a little haven where you can relax and read while enjoying beautiful food in a gorgeous Balinese style setting (and browse for gifts). They specialise in teas (wait ‘til you see the tea menu), and they also do a high tea. The only downfall is the heat (no air conditioners); just fans so not bearable for all.
Weighing in the meat at Smokehouse BBQ
Jalan Raya Petitenget 14, Kerokoban, Bali
We ventured to the Smokehouse BBQ Bali on strong recommendation from friends of ours. They delivered. So much so that we went there two days in a row and even organised take away meals for our flight to Lombok. The Smokehouse does one thing very well and that is slow smoked meat Texas style. If you see their giant smoker to the right of the building when you walk in you’ll know they don’t play around. The concept and offering is simple, overnight slow smoked meat by weight: beef brisket, pork spare ribs, pulled pork, sausage and chopped beef. At all times I would highly recommend the pulled pork as it seems does everyone else which is why it often sells out super quickly. As a second option the beef brisket is also great. You can have the meat on its own or with bread and choose from a range of sides. If you are getting take away and need a few minutes to kill, try a coffee from Pison next door, their coffee roasted by Giyanti in Jakarta is quite impressive.
Notes: Pre-orders and delivery available, as well as drinks and alcoholic beverages.
Jalan Kayu Aya 104 Oberoi-Seminyak, Kuta
It looks a little dated (going by the logo and set up) but this restaurant is packed for dinner every night and for good reason. The food is fantastic – authentic Italian cuisine in what proved a casual but also romantic environment (if you sit out the back). We loved the 1kg grilled lobster with garlic, the marinara pasta (the sauce was outstanding), and the tuna and salmon carpaccio’s were excellent too. All of this accompanied by some very good Espresso Martini’s and completed with Tiramisu. All in all, a lovely spot for dinner for two or with the family (seemed very kid friendly), and extremely affordable obviously compared to Australian prices.
One of our many banquets at Betelnut Cafe in Canggu
CANGGU
Betelnut Cafe’
Jalan Pantai Batu Bolong No. 60, Canggu, Kuta Utara, Bali
This is an incredibly popular spot and for good reason. Betelnut offer a relaxed beach inspired spot to eat in as well as providing take away. Their menu is extensive covering lunch to dinner with what I would describe as a mixed menu brimming with big and bold salads, burgers and wraps as well as Indonesian style food and a kids menu. There are also a lot of really healthy options with allergies like gluten catered for. Also look out of their juices and smoothies and their extensive selection of cheesecakes.
Note: Tax and service charges are included in the menu price.
Jalan Tanah Barack 51, Canggu and Jalan Petitenget 17D, Kerobokan-Seminyak, Bali
On our most recent trip to Bali in November 2016, we stumbled upon La Baracca in Canggu. We were craving pizza, and this along with pasta seemed to be the focus areas of their menu. The most apparent strength of La Baracca is its atmosphere. Mostly twenty, thirty and forty-somethings, almost all of them seated in groups, talkative, happy and seemingly having a great time. This energy was definitely a contributing factor to us enjoying our experience too, but so of course was the meal. Our starter of arancini was good, but the real highlight was our pizzas. The wood fired base, the generous toppings and the large serving size definitely made this the food star. I would recommend La Baracca for a fun, but low-key group lunch or dinner. Definitely book ahead.
UBUD
(There it is – the glorious suckling pig from Ibu Oka)
Ibu Oka
Several locations including Jalan Suweta, Tegal Sari 2, Ubud
Foodies come to Ibu Oka for one thing – the suckling pig. Ibu was recommended to us by so many people that we had to try it and I could not fault it. The eatery itself is ‘alfresco’, very basic and casual – you are eating street food essentially not fine dining. In fact, part of you may think you might get a little sick, but we didn’t and the pig truly was exceptional. Imagine thin, crispy crackling almost like chips with shredded pork on a more than ample serving of rice. One of those ‘up there’ meals and you can even order extra crackling! If you are a pork eater – this is another one to add to your list when going North of the Island (Ubud).
Stunning fare at Locavore
Locavore
Jalan Dewi Sita, Ubud, Bali
If you are looking for a special culinary experience while in Ubud or Bali in general then I cannot recommend Locavore enough. It was recently voted the best restaurant in Indonesia, and was placed in the 49th spot at this years Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards.
There are so many things to love about Locavore. Firstly, they are committed to using almost 100% local and fresh seasonal produce (hence the name), in turn supporting local farmers and communities.They offer a five or seven course lunch or dinner degustation Monday to Saturday. Think fresh, locally sourced ingredients served in a creative and thoughtful manner yet somehow avoiding being pretentious. The combination of quality, well designed dishes, service and fresh, local produce make this place a winner for me and Asia’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards seem to agree. If you’re after a more in detail review, have a look here.
If you can’t get a seat at Locavore, then you might like to try their sister eatery, Locavore to Go. It’s a stones throw from Locavore, only a one hundred metre walk. It’s more of a day-time eatery and has a very relaxed atmosphere. You can enjoy breakfast until 11am, and lunch until 6pm. They also offer a lovely selection of house made deli products like jams and chutneys – a great souvenir for loved ones if you can get it past customs!
Notes: Bookings for Locavore should be made a few weeks in advance.
The Elephant
Jalan Raya Sanggingan, Hotel Taman Indrakila, Ubud, Bali
The Elephant is another cafe and restaurant in Ubud offering 100% vegetarian and vegan food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The cafe’s setting is quite tranquil and looks out onto a ridge offering Ubud’s typical green and stunning jungle views.
Apart from great salad options and plenty of allergy friendly dishes like zucchini spaghetti and sweet potato fritters, they also serve excellent coffee and iced coffee with dairy free options like cashew and soy milk.
What also made me smile were some of the eco-conscious initiatives in place like using recyclable bamboo straws with drinks, recyclable napkins and using recycled bags for take away orders!
Notes: The Elephant has a sweet little kids menu that’s preservative, additive and spice free, and they also offer delivery to selected areas.
Colour your plate at Alchemy in Ubud
Alchemy
75 Penestanan Kelod, Ubud, Bali
This place had been on my list for a good year and a half. A raw vegan cafe, Alchemy also houses a holistic clinic and health food store. It is a one-stop-shop for healthy eating and living where you can have some traditional Indonesian Jamu, a bountiful salad bowl, some cold pressed juice and raw dessert followed by some Colon Hydrotherapy – why not? I highly recommend their salads and juices, their Kangen Water (highly alkaline) and the raw dessert bar. The peanut cups (coconut milk chocolate with creamy peanut butter filling), bounty balls (shredded coconut covered in dark chocolate) and Sexy Brownies are all great choices.
In addition, they have vegan ice cream, tea and coffee, bottled nut milks and fresh organic and local produce most of which is grown on their organic farm. I promise you will bounce out of this place feeling enlightened and super healthy.
Notes: Home delivery and take away available.
A bowl of colour and goodness – the gorgeous ingredients we worked with during our Casa Luna cooking classes
OTHER CULINARY EXPERIENCES
Cooking – Casa Luna Cooking School
Address: Jalan Bisma, Ubud
Still one of our most treasured experiences in Bali was our cooking class experience at Casa Luna Cooking school. They also have on-site accommodation which is excellent.
A must for cooking enthusiast’s and foodies. Read our full review here.
Notes: When dining out note that most places charge an additional goods and services tax.
Disclaimer: Prices, menu items, management or trading hours may have varied since time of review. Please also note that our recommendations are based on our own personal experience.
