In the 11 years since Elizabeth Gilbert’s bestseller Eat, Pray, Love thrust Ubud into the limelight, tourists have inundated this once-sleepy Balinese town encircled by rice paddies. The centre now has more restaurants selling smoothies, salads, and western fare than anything one might call authentically Indonesian. Yet away from the main drag, pockets of local culture have managed to survive. One such spot is Nasi Ayam Kedewatan Ibu Mangku, a humble eatery in a beautiful teak house and garden. Although the place is hardly a secret – locals have been coming here for more than two decades.
There are only two items on the menu: a small portion of nasi ayam campur and a bigger portion with rice on the side, costing less than £2. Get the latter, since once you try a bite, you’re likely to want more. The simplest translation of this dish would be “chicken rice,” but that hardly does justice to the array of textures and flavours packed into a single dish.
Slow-roasted chicken thighs, tender breast meat slathered in a betutu spice mixture, a hard-boiled egg, and a turmeric-tinted minced chicken satay skewer sit atop a fluffy mound of white rice. Long beans with coconut, salted peanuts, and deep-fried crackling provide crunch, while generous lashings of chillies leave a long, lingering burn on the palate.
The chicken rice dish in Ubud, Bali often takes a backseat to the famous suckling pig known as babi guling, which is a favorite among locals and tourists alike. However, don't underestimate the appeal of this mouthwatering chicken rice option. Unlike babi guling, which uses pork, this dish offers a halal-friendly alternative that caters to everyone on the island.
Located on Jalan Raya Kedewatan in Ubud, this restaurant is a must-visit for chicken rice lovers. Open daily from 9am to 6pm, you can indulge in this delectable dish, complete with tender chicken and flavorful rice. If you are traveling to Bali from afar and need a place to stay, the Seminyak area offers a variety of appealing hotel options. Explore hotels here >> https://www.all-balihotels.net/en/seminyak-hotels-19082/ to find a comfortable base for your gastronomical journey to Ubud. After all, an adventure like this starts with a great stay, and being comfortably lodged will surely heighten your chicken rice experience.