Our 8th day in Bali was a full one! A visit to the expansive rice terraces and THREE temples all in one day used up all our energy and WE NEEDED TO EAT! So that night, we had dinner… not once but TWICE!
Trying Babi Guling at Warung Men Agus
I was really curious about Babi Guling, which is a traditional Indonesian pig roast dish. If you plan on visiting Bali, it’s pretty much a given that you should also try Babi Guling at least once. This dish is an important part of Balinese culture and is given as a wedding offering for the bride’s family. It is also served during significant Balinese events and ceremonies.
To satiate my curiosity, our driver / guide Made said to us: “I’ll take you to this place so you can eat Babi Guling like the locals.” He parked his car at this warung (local eatery) called Men Agus, which was a small and bare-bones eatery in the middle of the road.
Made gave us a heads up and said that this is a very simple and frill-free eating joint, nothing fancy. Indeed, when we stepped out of the car and into the restaurant, we were greeted with a structure held together by wood and hollow blocks. Crispy pig skins displayed at the entrance of the warung said “hello” to us. There were no decors, no air conditioning, and no menu. We were really digging this whole “eating like a local” thing already!
Like I said, there is no menu because aside from the drinks, they only have ONE thing on the menu: Babi Guling! That’s it! So it’s pretty useless to print out a menu when Today’s Special and the Bestseller only really pertains to one thing, right?
Made explained to us how Babi Guling is made. The whole pig is rubbed with Balinese spices on the outside. Then, its insides are cleaned out and stuffed with more Balinese spices, including garlic, cilantro, turmeric, and lemongrass. He said that the traditional method of cooking the Babi Guling involves making a hole in the ground and then building a coconut husk fire to roast the pig underground.
Our order finally arrived and it was a platter filled with steamed white rice, fried pork, babi guling crackling skin and shredded meat, and two sticks of chicken satay. It also came with lawar, tasty clear soup, and sambal relish.
The dish reminded me a lot of lechon, which is quite popular in the Philippines. There’s nothing like lechon but we did enjoy the babi guling too. The one we had at Men Agus was quite flavorsome and I liked how the spices blended well with the meat. I heard that babi guling is typically really spicy, and the one at Men Agus had just the right amount of spice. It smelled really good too!
If you’re really hungry, this would be a good stop for a meal. The serving is pretty generous. I would have been full with just the babi guling, but the hot soup and the two chicken satay sticks were a nice plus. Actually, the chicken satay was yummy. If you’re not in the mood for babi guling, you’re probably going to enjoy the chicken satay.
Men Agus is not “up there” with the more famous babi guling restaurants like Ibu Oka, but I heard that it’s a favorite by the locals. If you’re in the area or if you’re coming from Tanah Lot, do pay Warung Men Agus a visit for your babi guling fix!
Warung Babi Guling Men Agus
Address: Jl. Raya Canggu (Padang Lonjong), Badung, Kuta, Indonesia
Phone: +62 361 7872361; +62 81936064104
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Average Cost per Person: IDR 70,000 to 80,000 (PHP 246-281 or USD 5-6)
Snacking at Barbie-Q German Beer Garden
Still craving for a pre-midnight snack (yep, we’re pigs!), we went over to this beer garden / bar / restaurant which was within walking distance from our villa in Seminyak. You can’t miss this place. It’s right at the corner of the road and it’s really not hard to spot the big bamboo hut, the bright green and yellow lights, the flags from different countries hanging on the ceiling, and the dynamic energy from the diners and drinkers (mostly expats) that are having a jolly good time.
Every time we pass by this place, it’s always bustling with customers. We wondered if the food was really that good, so we decided to check it out for ourselves. When we got there, even without ordering the food yet, I understood why this place was always busy. There was something about the vibe of the place that makes you feel comfortable. Everyone in the restaurant was in high spirits, always talking, laughing, and just having a good time while guzzling beer. The people working here are very pleasant and polite, so we instantly felt welcome. Two of the staff that attended to us — an old lady and a younger woman — were both so sweet to me and Mike, accommodating and friendly without being pushy. Before we left, the old lady said to us “I hope to see you here again, okay?”
The staff gave us a small plate of mixed nuts to munch on while we waited for our food and drinks so that kept us busy.
If your goal is to go out for drinks, this is the place to be! They have an extensive drinks menu, and it took me a while to decide on what to order because there were so many choices and the prices were reasonable too!
The food menu is broad too, with pastas, steaks, sausages (it is a German restaurant, after all), and of course, barbecue! We didn’t actually have barbecue at Barbie-Q. We just shared some sandwiches, and that filled us up quite nicely. I can’t say that the sandwiches were outstanding but they were delicious, dense, and meaty. Look at the photo below and you’ll see that it’s packed with meats, eggs, and vegetables. It also came with yummy fries, so we got full even if we just shared one dish.
Barbie-Q is a great spot to have a casual night out when in Seminyak. Sure, it’s not the most popular restaurant in Bali or even in Seminyak but I’d gladly come back for the laid-back atmosphere, the excellent service, the extensive menu, and the fair prices.
Barbie-Q German Beer Garden
Address: Jl. Braban 72 cor.(Jl. PangkungSari), Seminyak, Kerobokan Kelod 80361
Phone: +62 811 3856879, +62 361 8225286
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This sandwich with fries looks so delicious, nice place btw xox
http://www.theninebyivana.blogspot.com
It was pretty good. 🙂
Babi Gulling looks sooooo good! I didnt even know it exists!! That with à beer would go down nicely!! Thanks for the info 🙂
Looks like 2 great places to eat. I have been to Bali but never eaten at either of these. I will look them up on my next visit as I certainly want to try the Babi Guling 🙂
The pig roast dish looks and sounds so delicious! At first when I was reading it, I was thinking they might just bring out a whole pig and cut off a slice for you, so I’m glad that was not the case. I would definitely hang out in the beer garden too. Love that they have different countries’ flags hanging there.
What a fantastic find! I like the openness of the restaurant! I love a good pig roast and have never heard of Babi Guling but I think I would love it, of course I love 99.9% of all food so it would be a treat! It looks like a great place to go with a group and slurp down a few bevies!
Hi Nadine. The babi guling looks really yummy. But if you mentioned that lechon in the Philippines is still much delectable then I am not that jealous anymore. I miss the Bintang beer in Bali. I hope we could go back go Bali soon.
Would love to try the Babi Guling ! It looks so ambrosial and there’s so much of preperation steps followed.Thanks for putting a great dish on my radar.
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Its so important to read such detailed posts on local dishes and restaurants, because try as you might, unfamiliarity with food in foreign countries does leave you a little lost most times. Bein prepared with the look and description of different cuisines can be comforting.
I love Bali and go every year. I don’t eat pork so this wouldn’t be for me. I do love Warungs though and have visited quite a few over the years.
I would totally love to tey Babi Guling, looks delish. Thinking that it’s the only menu in one repectable food house would totally mean something. Bali has a lit to offer other than great beaches, they also have one of a kind dishes. 🙂