KKO KKO Balinese — Restaurant in Sydney

Last year Indonesia replaced New Zealand as the top destination for short trips overseas by Australians for the first time in nearly fifty years of Australian Bureau of Statistics data. With Bali practically an Aussie pilgrimage, it surprises me that we don’t see more Balinese food in Sydney. The owner of Kkokko Balinese, Jenny—who hails from the seaside town of Sanur—is equally perplexed. Jenny is a vibrant presence on the floor of this small underground Pyrmont restaurant, skipping about to explain the cuisine and her desire for Australians to love these dishes as much as we love visiting her homeland. And love them I do: the Kkokko peanut salad ($18) in particular is a beautifully balanced and much appreciated method of delivering crisp raw vegetables into winter.

At the heart of Balinese cuisine is base gede, a Balinese spice paste that incorporates red chilli, garlic, ginger, galangal, turmeric, dried shrimp—it has 17 different ingredients here—pounded together with a pestle and mortar. Think of it as Balinese miso. You can taste it in the Balinese fish cakes ($11/2) that have been cooked over wood charcoal in banana leaves. The smoky flavour of the wood charcoal is most evident in the beef rib and ayam taliwang. Both of these come as plates for one with your choice of steamed rice, chips or summer salad. Go for the salad: filled with pickles it’s also delightful. Eat the bird by ordering Wayan in the house ($24.95/quarter, $36.95/half) where a smoky half bird smothered in sambal (you choose the heat level, we opted for the highest one) is joined by a clever piece of stuffed fried tofu.

The Balinese charcoal beef rib meal ($29.95) gives you 220 grams of sticky-smoky-sweet-and-spicy rib meat falling off the bone. We tried sticking ours in soft tortilla wraps ($3.50/3), which were the meal’s only let-down as they were stiff and commercially produced. I’d like to see the kitchen switch to making their own roti. Wash it down with Indonesia’s favourite beer, Bintang ($9) or choose from a short six-bottle wine list. If you’re lucky like we were, Jenny might even allow you to BYO...

if you go to one restaurant this year, LET IT BE KKO KKO BALINESE 👏🏻 this meal was actually incredible. firstly, jane is the sweetest person ever ! biggest thank you to her for making us feel welcomed and introducing us to bali cuisine. balinese food is so layered, such an amazing combination of spices and flavours. simply incredible.

starting with the entrees, we got crispy squid tentacles, chicken satay, balinese fish cake and cassava chips. each dish was so varied in terms of texture and flavour. the chef’s usage of sauces is just amazing - they’re sweet, tangy, and salty and spicy all at the same time. my favourites were the squid tentacles and the cassava chips (which were so interesting! love how it’s slightly sweet)

the mains. where do i even start. their chicken was so juicy and it was glazed with this sweet and spicy sauce that was just so delicious. you can adjust the spice level, but if you’re gonna have real balinese food, get the level 3 at least ! levels 1 and 2 aren’t spicy :) and the beef burnt ends - im coming back just for this. it just completely fell apart; so so so tender. and the flavour - so smoky? and the onion jam goes so well with it. soooo good.

finally, the pandan tiramisu dessert was INSANELY good. it mimics a semifreddo texture, and the pandan flavour was delicious!

all in all, the restaurant is beautiful and the food is amazing. it’s an amazing introduction to bali’s cuisine and genuinely genuinely, everyone should go ! it’s super close to the pyrmont bay or the star’s light rail stops :)

(@chickenfeedz...

For an authentic taste of Indonesia, Kko Kko Balinese Chicken is a culinary destination worth exploring. The menu is a diverse celebration of lavours, with something to delight every palate.

To start, the Balinese peanut salad is a refreshing choice, offering a mix of crisp vegetables and a rich peanut sauce that balances sweetness with a touch of spice.

For the main course, the Balinese Taliwang Chicken—grilled chicken seasoned with a blend of aromatic spices—is a standout. It’s tender and flavorful, served with fragrant jasmine rice and a side of spicy sambal. The Charcoal Beef Ribs, perfectly tender and well seasoned, is another must-try, offering a delightful mix of sweet and savoury notes. The star of the menu is, undoubtedly, the Jimbaran Charcoal Fish. Prepared in the classic Jimbaran style, the fish is marinated with a blend of aromatic spices before being grilled to perfection over charcoal. The result is a beautifully charred exterior with a tender, flaky interior that is bursting with flavour.

Service at Kko Kko Balinese Chicken is attentive and friendly, with staff who are eager to share their knowledge about the dishes and make recommendations based on your preferences.

Overall, Kko Kko Balinese Chicken delivers a genuine Indonesian experience with its flavorful dishes, welcoming atmosphere, and excellent service. It's an ideal spot for anyone looking to explore the rich and diverse flavours of Indonesian cuisine. Highly...