Backstreet eatery in Kuta Bali
The Kuta area is loaded with places to eat, good restaurants on the street, flashy places like the Hard Rock Cafe, smaller favourites like Made’s Warung, Poppies restaurant and warungs.
What most tourists don’t see, or more correctly don’t notice are the hundreds of streetside vendors and warungs located down side streets that don’t seem very sexy, but sometimes serve good grub.
A friend of mine Miguel recently recommended a place that has become popular with locals and tourists alike. Its called Nikmat and doesn’t look like much of a place from the street. I’ve ridden past this place before buy never gave it a second glance. Its located down one of the small streets off of Jl. Bakung Sari in Kuta and serves Javanese food.
I invited my friend Dewi to join me as I thought she’d have some comments being from Java.
As we pulled up on our bikes Dewi said this place used to be her local lunch place and was very familair with the routine. Basically the the U-shaped central area is full of plates covered in food. You enter and one of the ladies gives you a pile of nasi putih ( white rice ) and you point to items you want. At 12.30pm it was jam packed with Japanese surfer chicks, Aussies and locals out from the office. Pretty cool I reckon that there’s a place that makes its reputation on good food and appeals to everyone.
I chose a big piece of chicken, some sour squash, a tempeh item, thin noodles and some yellow curry sauce….price 8,500rp ( $1.05 ). Dewi had rice, a chicken leg and some veg for 5,000rp.
Barrie you’ve got to check this place out. They move the food through so fast its all good and fresh. Dewi said her food was good and I asked what her favourite dish was. She said there is Javanese spicy mushroom soup that her mum in Yogyakarta makes that you can’t get here, I can’t remember the name, any ideas Candika?
Anyway I reckon for a traveler on a budget this place knocks out pretty good food and will help you prolong your trip here while stying healthy.
Cheers Miguel!
By Nick | Permalink
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Aloha Nick,
I almost wish you didn’t post those photos of Indo food…my mouth is watering as I write this.
I absolutely love those side-street Indo restaurants. Tempeh, fried fish, and about two dozen other bowls of stuff that I have no idea what it is but it doesn’t matter.
We’ve got one Bali restaurant nearby in Waikiki but it kind of sucks…nothing like the real thing.
Enjoy!
Jason
Waikiki, Hawaii
Barrie, cool that you’ve been there, I’m definitely going back.
Jason, the photos don’t do it justice, there were plates all over the serving area loaded with great food. The scene when I lined up was quite hectic with people pushing to get in there, it encouraged me to see the locals going nuts over the food.
Hi Nick, as promised here is one persons report of some expensive restaurants based on one meal. All in the quest to avoid Bali Belly. As my brother in law and I took turns paying, every nite’s goal was to find a more expensive restaurant. We had fun! From best to worst :
THE LIVING ROOM : The best of everything - food, martini’s, service and ambiance. Busy
GADO GADO : Excellent all around, and killer location on the beach. Busy
KU DE TA : Extravagant, classy, more Euro than Indo, service was almost too attentive. Busy
POPPIES : Not expensive, different class, but very good food and atmosphere. An oasis amidst chaos. Clueless when it came to vodka martini however. Busy
KAFE WARISAN : Most excellent, very close in quality to The Living Room and with an art gallery too. Would have been top of the list with better setting. Busy
LA LUCCIOLA : The best ambiance and setting, very nice food but completely clueless as to what a cesar salad is. Busy.
TOSCARANA : Exquisite, the most expensive on this list, with live music and complimentary car to whisk you away after dining. Deserted.
BELAROSA : Nice setting by beach. Food ok, clueless on vodka martini and not in same league as others. Deserted.
PAPA’S PLACE : Setting not too hot, food ordinary, lousy martini. Not comparable to others but not as pricey either. Busy.
JIMBARAN BAY (one of the original spots) : had lobster, very good, but incredibly overpriced - 5 star price for no star experience. Deserted.
Conclusion : The first seven on list except for Poppies, are world class - you won’t find much better anywhere. Poppies was a favorite and the only one we went to more than once. The last three don’t quite compare to the rest. The bottom line was that these top end eateries were extremely reasonable - averaging $60.00 US per person with 3 drinks!
Hi James,
Great coverage of the top-dollar places!. For that $60, I could eat for a week or so!.
James,
Nice to hear from you and thanks so much for the top end guide. Its good to hear a gourmet will have options here.
Bali has come a long way in the last 10 years as far as middle / top end restaurants, cafes and delis.
I must admit you and Chris are in a totally different league to me and 60,000rp is a top end place for me.
Looking forward to your next visit.
G’Day Mate,
I know the place!. Candika ate there one day on our way back from the Klenteng where she prayed.
The name of the spicy mushroom soup evades me at the moment but when I think of it then I will post it.
Will definitely return there. There are a few other places near Bemo corner where the kaki lima sell great food of the carts. Down Jl Legian to Bemo Corner, turn left and it’s not to far from the temple on your left hand side. Only there at night folks.