Cheap and Delicious Warungs in Bali

Since I live in Bali, I go to local warungs a few times a week.

Compared to Japan, the interiors are darker, and some people might worry about whether they are hygienic, but once you get used to it, it's incredibly interesting.
They are basically dirt cheap, so I get really happy when I manage to discover a place that is delicious despite that.

This time, I would like to write about my own way of 'finding delicious local warungs'.

What is a warung in the first place?

The 'warung' you often hear about in Bali is, simply put, like a local eatery.

・Small shops that look like family-run businesses
・For local people
・Focuses on Indonesian cuisine
・Some are specialty shops for specific dishes, while others handle a wide range of Indonesian food

These are the characteristics.

Even for the same Nasi Goreng, it costs over 500 yen at cafes or restaurants aimed at tourists, but at a local warung, it starts from 120 yen. It's common for it to be under 300 yen even if you add a fried egg or satay, which makes Japanese people think, 'So cheap!'

Of course, the atmosphere of the shop, hygiene, and the presence of air conditioning are completely different, so you can't make a simple comparison, but local warungs have their own charm.

Use Google reviews only as a reference

I thought about this after coming to Bali, but the overall ratings on Google reviews are incredibly high.
However, there are quite a few shops that aren't actually delicious when you go there.

There are cases where reviews are helpful, but it's not as strict as in Japan, or maybe everyone is just kind, or perhaps there's a culture of giving high ratings anyway...
A rating of 4 or higher is the default state, and the scores are high overall.

So recently, rather than the score itself, I have started looking quite a bit at:

・Photos
・Review content
・Japanese reviews in particular, if any

Japanese reviews are highly likely to share the same sensibilities in various aspects, including taste.
Conversely, even if foreign evaluations are high, they often don't suit our own palates that much.

Look at 'meal times' for delicious warungs

The most important thing for me is whether there are actually people eating there during meal times.

You really can't tell just by looking at local warungs in Bali.
Honestly, they are all dimly lit, and at first glance, many look like, 'Is this place okay...?'

But in reality, there are places that look run-down but are incredibly delicious.
Conversely, there are also places that are reasonably clean but taste mediocre.

So, I ride my bike around and keep an eye on whether they are properly busy during breakfast, lunch, and dinner hours.
I think it's the same in Japan, but in Bali, popular restaurants that are full of customers are often delicious.
The warungs where I've had a major miss were usually empty even at dinner time.

Chinese-style Indonesian food is often a hit

Also, in my experience,

Chinese Indonesian Food

I feel like warungs with signs like this often suit the Japanese palate. It's not Chinese cuisine, but Chinese-style Indonesian food.

Sometimes I go in without knowing, try the food, think 'Hey, this is delicious!', and then notice 'Chinese Indonesian Food' written in small letters on the sign.

After visiting various warungs, I realized that even Nasi Goreng and Mie Goreng often taste good to me if they have a slightly Chinese-style seasoning.

Delicious warungs that are always crowded

Warung Suka Bakmie
A shop with delicious Mie Ayam
Google Map
Address: Gg. Biduri No.6A, Kuta, Kec. Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361 (Corner inside Warung Makan Nikmat halal)

Warung Ibu
A warung with an unusually high number of Japanese customers. Everything is delicious.
Google Map
Address: Jl. Kubu Anyar No.23, Kuta, Kec. Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361

Sate Babi Bli Ketut
A Sate Babi specialty shop that always has customers whenever I go.
Google Map
Address: Jl. Raya Kuta No.127k, Kuta, Kec. Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361

Warung Nusantara Chinese Kuta
There are always customers whenever I go, and everything is delicious.
Google Map
Address: Jl. Dewi Sri IV No.6, Legian, Kec. Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361

Please give them a try when you come to Bali!