Seminyak may be home to scores of restaurants offering cuisines from around the world, but if it’s authentic Indonesian food you’re after, then Café Degan should be your port of call. Founded by “MasterChef Indonesia” judge and namesake Degan Septoadji Suprijadi, Café Degan serves home-cooked comfort delicacies in a fine-dining setting.

With an interior design inspired by the Javanese joglo house and keroncong music playing in the background, the atmosphere here is more Yogyakarta than Bali. Its menu consists of both Thai and Indonesian dishes, but as a fully fledged Indonesian food enthusiast, I opted for the latter. My order for that day comprised Lumpia Goreng (fried spring roll), Sayur Lodeh (vegetable soup with coconut milk), and Ikan Panggang Kemangi (grilled fish in lemon basil). It’s also worth noting that the prices here start from Rp.56,000, which is quite affordable for an eatery of such stature.

The food here are served as if one is at one’s own home, such as the Sayur Lodeh and the white ceramic plate that is used for the rice. Taste-wise, everything was superb. The grilled fish featured a heavenly aroma thanks to the addition of lemon basil, while the Sayur Lodeh was made perfectly with the right consistency for the coconut milk and the vegetables are nicely cooked. Although classified as an appetiser, the Lumpia Goreng ended up becoming an excellent side dish for my meal.

Despite the refined ambience of the place, it felt like home at Café Degan.

Jl. Petitenget No. 09, Kerobokan,
Bali
T: 0813 3728 1281
Open daily from 11am-10.30pm
Rp.100,000/US$7.60 per person