The following day at the Karma Kandara, we got a phone-call from our friend, Benny who lives in Bali. The message on the other end of the phone was clear. “I am going to take you to eat the best Nasi Ayam in Bali”!
It was called Nasi Ayam Ibu Oki and situated in Jimbaran, approximately 20 minutes out from the hotel.
It was love at first sight. Immediately, I knew I was going to like this place!
Looking around, the place was packed to the rafters. Fortunately, we found a place to sit. Benny did the ordering for us, and we settled down to wait for lunch that looked and smelt so good form a distance. My head was splitting. If I did not eat in the next half hour, I felt I was going to pass out.
Then, it arrived.
Ah, so this is the famous chicken rice. The rice itself was fluffy, fat and white. The steam was making me salivate. Then my eyes fell on the chicken.The style it was prepared in is none other than the ‘Bumbu Bali’ way of marinading, with lots of local Indonesian herbs. Moist and fragrant, it screamed to be eaten. Upon taking my first bite, the tender and supple flesh just melted away, and then I hit the lovely crispy skin. The aroma of the seasoning was sensational! The best chicken I have ever had in Bali for sure. However, again the size was a matter of concern for me and I found the portion too small for my liking. No matter, as we ordered two helpings of the chicken! Benny watched in amazement as we devoured the portion of Nasi Ayam, made for two. All he could mutter with a smile was, “I’m happy you like it!”
Balinese cooking is heavy on flavour and there is nothing subtle about the taste of it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s really tasty but if you like lighter tasting food, this is not for you. Many Balinese have a one spice mixture called base gede or bumbu bali that they prepare in a large quantity and use in their everyday cooking. It’s like all-spice, Balinese style. We found this bumbu bali seasoning sweet and spicy but not too spicy that you break a sweat eating it. It is also bursting with the flavour of rempah (herbs). We could taste in the bumbu bali, herbs such as shallots, onions, garlic, red chillies, galangal root or ginger, tumeric, coriander seeds, kemiri/candlenuts, dried shrimp paste, black peppercorns, grated nutmeg, cloves and even cumin and sesame seed! Imagine what a potent explosion of flavours, biting into that chicken! I think when Benny and his girlfriend Gaby and family come to visit Kuala Lumpur, we are going to be hard pressed topping this Nasi Ayam Ibu Oki dish! Cumi and I are already planning where to take them for the best Chicken rice in town, but KL style!
Address Nasi Ayam Ibu Oki , Indonesia Jl Uluwatu II Gg Celagi Basur No 3y JimbaranJimbaran
Phone +62-361-8052059, +62-361-8472067
Website
http://www.nasiayamibuoki.com
After that our host Benny, took us to hangout at the beach on Kuta
Drinking beer with the fierce ocean breeze in my hair, I felt like a regular beach bum. Life does not get better than this.
After lunch had settled, Benny decided to bring us for dessert. Cakes at his favourite dessert shop was in order. We headed out to the Bali Catering Company.
This cozy gourmet cafe is opened daily from 7am until 9pm. Serving an all day breakfast menu the opportunity to create your own salads and sandwiches, this place also does cakes. They serve fresh Illy coffee, both regular and organic coffees and healing herbal teas as well.
So many cakes on display, it takes you a while to decide..
We decided on an assortment of cakes and sweets such as the macaron, cheese cake, eclairs etc etc.
Pastries galore!
My favourite was the cheesecake. Solid and dense with just the right amount of cheesy flavour, offset by the tangy strawberries. Lovely!
Benny in action!
The Chocolate Éclair that was by far Benny’s favourite, was a dainty pastry filled with a chocolate flavoured custard. It was delicious but way too small! I could have eaten three of these, being the pig that I am.
Cream puffs
Cream puffs coated with sugar – average tasting and a little hard.
Organic rice that caught Cumi’s attention
The Lamington
Finally we were even surprised to find the Lamington here in this small bakery in Bali. A Lamington is a sponge cake in the shape of a cuboid, coated in a layer of traditionally chocolate icing then desiccated coconut. Lamingtons are commonly found in Australian cafes, bakeries and that’s why we were surprised to see it here in Bali. Cumi said this version was only so-so. It cannot beat the Lemony ones from Australia nor the Raspberry variety in found in New Zealand.
All in all a great lunch outing. Don’t forget to check out these two places should you visit Bali. A big thank you to Benny for his kind hospitality!
Add: Bali Catering Company, Jl. Petitenget 77A KerobokanShop: 62. 361. 8475 115
Fax: 62. 361. 737325
Open: daily 7 am – 9 pm
Too bad the portion size was so small…but when the food is that stunning, without thinking I devour as many plates as possible and worry about the bill later! Your description of the spice / herb combination lacing the chicken sounds spectacular!
thanks mark! tell me about it. took every restraint to not keep ordering more portions of chicken;)
aiyoh making me hungersss!
gooooood:P
Scrumptious! And lamingtons are my childhood love in NZ… I ate so much of those I couldn’t play hockey and got an E for Phys Ed. HAHAHAHAH!
Cumi loves Lamingtons! I find them so-so.. too sweet LOL 😛 Oh yeah min, i forgot you spent half your life in NZ! You must have had many of those, amongst other things!
oh chicken rice, at this rate, bali, hainan or otherwise, i need some proper chicken rice soon!
come home then!
The desserts at the gourmet cafe look soooo good! I’m glad you found tasty chicken rice– I know it is among your favorites 🙂
LOL, i know.. i know.. chicken rice ain’t vegetarian i know.. poor les;)
yum! and here i thought babi guling and the spicy duck were the only must-try meats in bali. looks like chicken gets its chance to shine too! that dish really looks mouthwatering 😀
that’s right.. plenty more surprises to be sure
Indonesian food in general is heavy in flavor — which makes it awesome in my book (I’m so not biased at all even though I’m Indonesian).
Gosh, this makes me crave Indonesian food so bad.
Glad you love it!
Ah I want to eat the chicken rice! missed it the last time I went.. It looks so fluffy and yummy! And oh the cheese cake too! Drools!
i knew u would like it!
Aiyooh so yummy Indonesian food……how to jaga badan???????
hah! eat now worry later!
Rarely heard ppl said eat chicken rice at Bali wor, normally is babi guling ^^
Duh! that’s because you don’t know where to eat.. like the locals, and yesss, babi guling already covered in my post on 8 Things to Do in Ubud .. double DUH! haha 😛
https://ccfoodtravel.com/2011/02/8-things-to-do-in-ubud/
Nice post and photographs are really fantastic…Yummy!!!! I am big food lover.
thanks!
Oh Thank you so much for sharing this piece of information. A good reason for me to step into Jimbaran area again, after that disasterous crab meal I had previous. It was by far the worst crab dish I’ve ever had in my life!
Lamingtons ~ is the co-owner Ozzie?
+Ant+
Think it comes from Australia. Hope u have more luck on ur next trip.. foodwise. Try looking out for this chicken rice place!
For me, it’s the extremely flavourful herbs and spices that got me falling for Balinese cuisine. The sambal, the condiments and the rice.
Hi James I agree.. but not too frequently because I also like my chicken plain, know what i mean;)
“Then my eyes fell on the chicken” “Balinese cooking is heavy on flavour”
These two points are really important. I was worried when I read about fluff rice. Not exactly my favorite food. Thai rice seems to be the only type of rice with some flavor.
So it’s good to heard people in Bali enjoy food with strong flavors!!
really? i don’t like rice either! LOL
Thanks for sharing such an interesting post on the chicken rice in Bali 🙂
I am eagerly looking forward to my coming Bali trip – will try to look out for the above mentioned chicken rice (hope I can find it) beside the popular babi guling and itik.
thx CK!
that chicken rice so good, I can have it everyday for my lunch if it’s in here hehe
it might be too hot a place to wear a suit! MWUAHAHA!!!
The first time I ate there (Ibu Oki), I got stomach ache right away :D, but it’s due to the hotness of the chillies they uses, not hygiene related.
However after that, this place has become one of me & wife favourite eateries in Bali and we go there once a month at least. I agree this is one very good Balinese Chicken Rice, despite there are other famous vendors in Denpasar (i.e. Warung Krishna), and Ubud (Nasi Ayam Kedewatan).
Now my stomach are more resistant to the spices 😉