Swinging To Gianyar Restaurants: A Review On Tebasari And Semar Kuning

Two things that you shouldn’t miss when you are in Ubud, Bali are the giant swing and traditional Balinese food. Exploring Bali swing destinations led me to two culinary gems in Gianyar – Tebasari Resto, Bar & Lounge and Semar Kuning Restaurant. These two are large restaurants in Tegallalang, where most of the Bali swing parks are lined up.

During our 2022 Bali trip, we ended up eating at Tebasari Resto, Bar & Lounge, which was just in front of Uma Pakel, a coffee plantation and a park, featuring Bali jungle swings. And in our recent Bali stay, our tour guide, Jick, brought us to Semar Kuning Restaurant before we proceeded to Aloha Ubud Swing. Both restaurants feature an al-fresco Balinese bamboo house setup with intricate decorations. You’ll love the breeze of air and light heat of the sun while enjoying the hearty meals.

Tebasari and Semar Kuning both offered distinct takes on traditional Indonesian flavors, blending authenticity with personal twists. Here’s a rundown of my experience.

Tebasari

Tebasari aims to elevate Indonesian classics with a fine-dining flair, and it shows in both presentation and taste.

Nasi Goreng Special

The Nasi Goreng took me by surprise with its flavor-packed rice that reminded me of Filipino alamang rice. It was served both with beef and chicken satay. The meats were tender and delicious. I love that they weren’t just sliced pieces. They made an effort to grind and mold them, making each skewers more flavorful. However, compared to a traditional nasi goreng, the plate felt a little underwhelming in quantity. Their intention to adopt a fine-dining aesthetic is clear and works well for those craving elegance over abundance.

Prawn Kare

Kare is a fragrant Indonesian curry. Tebasari has this dish in vegetable, chicken, duck and prawn. I had the prawns, which were perfectly seared. They got the right technique of cooking it. I love that the natural sweetness was retained as well. While the dish was enjoyable, I wished the curry flavor infused more into the prawns instead of just pooling beneath them like a stew. I wish there were more shrimps, too. Considering Tebasari specializes in duck dishes, their Duck Kare could be an intriguing alternative for next time.

Be Sampi Base Bali

This traditional braised beef dish in coconut milk was indeed a delight. The rich coconut flavor on the sauce and within the meat was spot on. There’s a little of spice in it that sort of make them sing together. However, the dish left me wanting for more meat. Despite tasting incredible, the dish only had small amount of thin beef slices that were scattered over a bed of vegetables to make them look plentiful when presented. The beef was slightly tough as well. The vegetables were naturally delish and crunchy though.

Ayam Panggang

The Ayam Panggang, or broiled chicken, was delightful. The marinade of lemongrass and turmeric penetrated the skin and meat, delivering a fragrant and well-rounded flavor. The chicken itself was small though. If they couldn’t make the chicken bigger, they should have added shrimp crackers here just like what they did with their Nasi Goreng and Kare. I’m glad that it was paired well with cold vegetable and bean sprout salad to make the serving larger, though the vegetables felt a little bland.

Chocolate Cake

It was our friend’s birthday and the staff surprised us all with this slice of simple chocolate cake. That’s so sweet of them! Ending the lunch on a sweet note, the freshly baked chocolate cake was a treat. It was still served hot like as if it was fresh from the oven. Paired with cold strawberry ice cream, the contrast of hot and cold was delightful. While the cake was crumbly and slightly dry, it had a brownie-like texture that balanced the dessert nicely. The fruits with it was beautiful and fresh. I even loved it more because of the whipped cream.

Semar Kuning

In contrast, Semar Kuning delivered hearty portions and a more casual approach, showcasing the comforting side of Balinese cuisine.

Mie Goreng

While we had Nasi Goreng at Tebasari, I guess it’s time to switch to Mie Goreng for our lunch at Semar Kuning. Their Mie Goreng boasted the largest serving I’ve had during my two Bali trips. Just look at how packed this plate is! The fried noodles were flavorful. The texture is interesting as it was cooked al dente. It was complemented by thin strips of scrambled egg. The chicken satay had this clean and mild flavor, relying on a spicy and sour sauce for depth. It was not for me though because I’m more of a fan of satay that is rich in flavor and served with peanut sauce.

Balinese Babi Kecap

I learned that Babi Kecap is a kind of braised pork dish in sweet soy sauce. The first thing I noticed was the big cuts of pork. The pork cuts were tender so it was easy to eat despite of the size. When we saw the serving, we already knew that we were going to pack and bring home a lot of leftovers. The rice and pork were even accompanied by prawn crackers and bean sprout salad that added a contrast. The herbs and veggies are doing what it’s supposed to do, which is contributing freshness. 

Chicken Kung Pao

Just like the Balinese Babi Kecap, the Chicken Kung Pao was tender and served in generous cuts. There were also prawn crackers and a small salad served on lettuce. It was indeed a full meal! The Kung Pao I’m familiar with is the Chinese Kung Pao but I wasn’t sure if they were following this traditional recipe because instead of peanuts and chili peppers, it had ginger hints. It was interesting but the sauce leaned too salty for my taste. Therefore, I recommend eating each bite with rice.