Shinta Warung

First off, the location on a side street away from the hustle and bustle of the main street is a big plus! The place has an amazing atmosphere. It's a small, family-run business, with everyone involved in their work. The food is delicious, and the menu isn't too extensive, giving the impression that the food is fresh and prepared relatively quickly. When it comes to service, they always greet customers with a smile. This place is a must-visit on the Kuta culinary map during your stay in the area.

After surfing in Kuta, we looked for a place to eat on Google Maps and found this place. We have had bad luck at a few different family-run restaurants but this one was excellent! It is not on the main street and you really have to pay attention and to your map when finding it because the sign is not big and it’s hidden behind the plants as you can see in some of my photos. But once you find it, you will be rewarded by a good dining experience. First of all, it’s very clean and nicely kept. There is a sink just outside and the server sanitizes tables after customers leave. The presentation of the food was very nice. We ordered Mie goreng and nasi goreng and both were on a wooden plate with banana leaves on top. They make things from scratch so you have to wait for 15 minutes or so but it’s worth the wait. The amount of food is pretty generous. The appetizer spring roll salad was small with just one spring roll cut into four pieces but you get a fresh salad, something that’s hard to come by in Bali. We ordered our Nasi goreng and Mie goreng with 2pca of satay. Both fried dishes were very tasty with the right amount of sauces and the texture. I especially liked nasi goreng’s rice texture and taste. You can choose between pork and chicken for your satay and also the meat in the stir-fry. We had pork satay and it came with an amazing peanut sauce! It had just the right amount sweetness and saltiness to bring out the robust flavors of spices and roasted peanuts. I licked every bit of the sauce. It was delicious! Other people were trying burgers and milkshakes and nobody was leaving any food behind. So they must have been good. One thin I wish they had was Gadogado because it’s a healthy option when traveling and also their peanut sauce would make the dish very flavorful. Overall, we think it’s an excellent restaurant at an affordable price. There were about five people working in an orderly kitchen. All of them seemed shy but all were dedicated to bringing nice tasty dishes to your table. We would definitely go back! (We had gelato as our dessert at a nice gelato place nearby. I wrote a review for that place too. Take a read.)

We have been coming to Shinta Warung since we discovered it on our first trip to Bali several years ago. To say that it's a hidden gem would be an understatement... Small, and tucked away down a small street off the main road, you are guaranteed a delicious meal everytime. From outstanding nasi goreng, Thai pork basil, fried chicken wings and chicken satays through to what we think is Bali's BEST pizzas, when we leave we are already planning our next visit. The staff, whilst with limited English, are very kind and welcoming. And the magic that happens in the kitchen will keep you coming back for more. Great prices too. I thoroughly recommend that everyone visit Shinta Warung when they travel to Bali. Travel a bit further if you have to, as it will be worth it.