Dulang Kafe

📍Coordinates: Bali, Indonesia

The pronunciation of Dulang Kafe sounds very similar to "dui lan" (a slang term for gambling), but don’t worry, this is not a gambling restaurant. On the contrary, the restaurant’s decor is atmospheric and quite beautiful. The correct translation should be Dulang Coffee, but every time I pass by the entrance and the staff calls out "dui lan" to you, it still feels really funny. 🤣

The restaurant has been in Kuta Square for a long time. It used to be just a clean, ordinary restaurant, and I hadn't been there for several years. This time, I suddenly missed their oxtail soup, so I brought colleagues who had never tried it before. The restaurant has changed a lot; it's become prettier with a lot more flowers and plants in the decor. The lighting is dimmed, creating a romantic ambiance, perfect for a date. 😆

The menu has also gone digital; the server provides a small tablet for you to browse through. The dishes come with pictures, which is very considerate, making it easier for tourists to choose. You just need to let someone know when you're ready to order.

This time, we ordered:

• Bakmie Goreng (IDR 85,000)
  I forgot what flavor of fried noodles I ordered, but Indonesian fried noodles are all thin noodles, giving a taste similar to fried instant noodles. It’s stir-fried with some vegetables and egg strips, a very homely feeling. I give it a thumbs up for the noodle choice.

• Sate Ayam (IDR 70,000)
  Chicken satay, the accompanying satay sauce is very delicious. Satay from Indonesia, Singapore, or Malaysia is always a safe bet, so you can order confidently.

• Nasi Goreng Seafood (IDR 95,000)
  The best dish today is definitely this seafood fried rice! It’s stir-fried to the point of having wok hei (breath of the wok), and the flavor is really deep. My colleague and I couldn't help but give a thumbs up in admiration. 👍 This is a must-order!
  There are many different meats to choose from; since we already had chicken satay, we chose seafood for this dish.

• Sop Buntut (IDR 185,000)
  I was looking forward to the oxtail soup the most this time, but I ended up being the most disappointed. 🥹 It’s good but the soup became very salty… and the pepper taste is very strong. I really wanted to ask the staff if I could add some clear broth; it's quite different from my memories.
  Oxtail soup is the signature dish of this restaurant, and nearly every table has a bowl of it. I don't know what others think, but it might take me a long time to come back again! At least I won’t be ordering oxtail soup anytime soon… the good taste I remembered has been shattered. 💔

Although the oxtail soup was a bit disappointing, the performance of the other dishes was still quite good. There are many other authentic Indonesian dishes that are also very tasty. The staff are very kind and friendly, coming over to chat and check on the dining experience. Overall, I would still highly recommend this restaurant.