Following up on tips can be worthwhile sometimes. A couple of tips for Ubud are as follows. Jeff from Galaxy in Seminyak (no he’s not the tip) told me several times about a babi guling (roast suckling pig) place in Ubud. According to Jeff the pork was sensational and Jamie Oliver reckons its the best he’s ever had. No choice then but to get up there and check it out. The place itself, Warung Babi Guling, is owned by Ibu Oka and is situated just 20 meters off of the main street, Jl. Raya Ubud, on Jl. Tegal Sari. The place is really ‘down home’, with the whole roast pig there in front and half a dozen older Balinese women assembling plates for the gathered masses. Seating is anywhere you can find at low tables under the roof. A waitress wanders around and will sometime get to you. The drink menu is limited to soft drinks but its the pork that is the star.
For just 20,000rp you’ll get served a plate of rice, with slices of roast pork, sausage, pork fat, skin and Balinese spicy vegetables. Ibu Oka’s does tremendous business due partly to the reputation and partly to the location. Today Chinese tourists from Jakarta, as well as other large groups from Taiwan and Japan sat and enjoyed their food. Ibu Oka’s could easily double the price and still be packed. The proximity to the Ubud Royal Place certainly doesn’t hurt. Nice to see a really traditional place doing well among all the trendy places that come along. Its not often you’ll see bus loads of tourists seated together chowing down on babi guling. This is definitely somewhere you’d hit for lunch rather than dinner.
Warung Babi Guling (Ibu Oka’s)
Jl. Tegal Sari #2
Ubud
(0361)976345
After a plate of babi guling the other hot tip was a mere few minutes away. Naughty Nuri’s is a warung popular with Ubud expats, famous for its bbq ribs and ‘lethal martinis‘. Nuri’s was also packed today, seating at a premium. Situated directly across the street from the Neka Museum (the best art museum in Ubud) is not a bad place to be. The bbq was smoking and again, Chinese tourists from Jakarta tucked into plates of ribs and other fare. My gin martini was 45,000rp and was very good, they know how to make martinis! I’d say 2 of those and you’d be putty. Naughty Nuri’s would make a good lunch or dinner stop. For those staying in downtown Ubud catch a taxi to Campuhan and head north for another 5 minutes.
The lesson to be learned from these 2 very different, but successful places seems to be, plant yourself close to a big attraction and stake your reputation on doing something simple, well.
Naughty Nuri’s
Jl. Raya Sanginggan
Ubud
