We’ve covered some cheap Indonesian eats in the Legian area of Seminyak already, so now we’re turning our attention to the Laksmana/Petitenget loop, where despite the ever-growing numbers of fancy boutiques and pricey restaurants, you’ll still find some bargain eats.

One of your better kept warungs.

A few years ago I interviewed chefs here in Bali about where they like to eat themselves on the island. The brains behind Sarong and now Mamasan told me about Kolega, a Javanese-style warung just opposite the relatively new hostel on Petitenget — if you’re on a budget and staying in the Petitenget area, there’s a good chance you’ll be staying at the hostel, in which case you should definitely try Kolega.

No surprises with labelled choices.

Kolega is one of the more foreigner-friendly warungs in the area, but still very popular with locals as well. It’s clean and well organised, and with your point and pick choices for the most part well-labelled in English, so you won’t have any of the surprises that come with some other joints — whether that’s a good or a bad thing though is up for debate.

A plate of mixed yum.

I tucked into a great early lunch here last week of red rice, long eggplants, fried tempeh, a potato croquette and egg, with sambal on the side. Dishes are quite sweet but still on the fiery side, especially with the sambal smeared on. I had an es kelapa mudah as well — coconut water with the flesh scooped in, slightly sweetened and with a wedge of lime on the side. The meal came in at 16,000 rupiah — a little pricier than your more local warung but still pretty great value for what you’re getting — plus 7,000 for the coconut.

At Aneka, so many mystery dishes, so little time.

One of those cheaper style places again is Warung Aneka Rasa, located just a few doors away from Down to Earth (on the same side) back on Laksmana. With possibly some unhealthier additives in the food than you’ll find at Down to Earth, and white rice on offer, the ever-busy Aneka Rasa serves up your usual array of mostly Javanese dishes. As usual, I tucked into my favourite dishes — fried tempeh and spicy eggplant, plus I tried a good potato dish as well. The sweet and the fire factors here are both quite high.

Pass the tissues.

The grand total for the meal was just 7,000 rupiah. Bargain! (Throw in an extra plate of plain rice, milk, and a bottle of coke — grand sum of 20,000 rupiah.) For those a bit nervous of buying meals from roving kaki lima, you can also buy bakso and soto ayam from large silver vats at the back of the restaurant.

Kolega
Jalan Petitenget 98A, Seminyak/Kerobokan
T: (0361) 473 2480

Warung Aneka Rasa
Jalan Laksmana/Kayu Aya 21, Seminyak

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Tags: Aneka Rasa, Kolega