I was poised to write something about roti canai and how it’s the simple things in life that are often the best… and then I remembered we’d written about roti prata over on our Singapore pages. I had a peek, and that’s exactly how we kick off talking about this delicious, basic dish over there. But it’s so very true — it’s easy to overlook the simplest of dishes sometimes, but the roti canai as well as the teh tarik served up at Warung Bunana, found in three locations in Bali, is delectable and should not be missed.

Doesn't look like much, huh?

Roti is a general Indian term for bread, and on its own the term covers the myriad kinds of bread found there. But then you can get a little more specific — tandoori roti is bread cooked in a tandoor, for instance, while besan ki roti uses chickpea flour instead of the usual wheat. Roti canai is the Malaysian version of a simple unleavened flatbread of flour, ghee, water and sometimes egg, in which the dough is stretched and pulled to create a wonderful buttery more-ish flakiness — strudel is made using a similar technique.

Buttery, fatty, oo-ey.

Warung Bunana will win no prizes in the decor stakes, with basic wooden tables and basic cursory cleanliness. But their menu is lengthy, yummy and cheap, and the roti canai (basic is 6,000 for a small and 10,000 for a large) here is really something. Go savoury with the roti onion, egg and cheese (12,000/17,000),  or roti with sardine chilli sauce (8,000/13,000); sweet via the roti kaya (with sweet coconut custard cream, 7,500/12,000); or kind of savoury-sweet with the roti susu keju (with cheddar cheese and condensed milk, 10,000/16,000). A couple of basic curries and rice dishes are also on the menu.

I rest my case.

Juices are around 8,000 rupiah — go local and try the avocado or the mango — and lassies around 13,000 rupiah, though I can never go past the super sweet and reviving teh tarik — 8,000 rupiah and served piping hot. I’m yet to try the spiced version, though it sounds good and mysterious: “some spices” are included. Coffee is also served, of course.

Caution: this plus teh tarik = extreme sugar high.

Alas, all of the Warung Bunana locations are a little off the main beaten track. In Kerobokan, you might come here if you’re furniture or homewares shopping along Raya Kerobokan; in Sanur, it’s way down the end of Danau Poso on the bypass; and in Jimbaran, it’s a short walk from Jenggala ceramics. But if you’re a roti fan, I think you’ll be pleased you’ve made the effort to get here. And at these prices, your wallet certainly won’t be upset.

Informative *and* decorative.

The food is halal, and the joints are open from 10:00-22:00 in Kerobokan and Sanur, and 12:00-24:00 in Jimbaran. They’re always jumping so despite the average cleanliness, the speedy turnover means you’re probably not looking at a case of Bali belly here — so don’t be meek, you’ll be missing out!

Warung Bunana
Jalan Raya Kerobokan 55, Kerobokan, Bali
T: (0812) 399 3425

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Tags: roti canai, Warung Bunana