Chandi — Restaurant in Bali

There’s a cluster of restaurants that dominate the left-hand side of the road as you walk from Seminyak Square towards Bintang Market. And Chandi restaurant is one. With so many options lining the pavement, you could blink and keep on

There’s a cluster of restaurants that dominate the left-hand side of the road as you walk from Seminyak Square towards Bintang Market. And Chandi restaurant is one. With so many options lining the pavement, you could blink and keep on walking without so much as a cursory glance sideways. Such was the case with me and not just on this one unplanned trip, but on so many other occasions over the years.

And thus it was, one early afternoon of aimless wandering, that I drew a line in the sand and said to myself, “Enough is enough.” I dug my heels in and walked in for a late lunch.

Chandi was empty and pristine when I walked up the steps. No one was there at 2pm. When I breached the gap between the bar top stools, to my left and right, a solitary row of empty tables exuded a feeling of haute cuisine, with their white linen cloths. Yet once inside, there was no such grandeur. Rows of naked four-top tables were clothless and exposed, more in keeping with a modern café than fine dining. A huge bar dominated the right-hand wall, with rows of glasses and bottles. A massive wooden wall carving loomed above.

With the sun beating down outside and not a customer in sight, I sought the cooler confines of the airconditioned interior and ordered a customary cold Bintang beer.

The Chandi lunch menu offers a wonderful slice of Pan Asian cuisine with an obvious Indonesian bias. A great range of starters lead with the Crisp Curry Coconut and Black Pepper Pork Dumplings. Or may be Thai food is your bent. Try the Chicken Green Coconut Soup.

For me, the Seared Sesame Tuna Noodles with asparagus, egg noodles, cilantro black seasame and fresh chives was filled with flavour and a total winner. I wolfed it down, wishing (like with many Balinese restaurants) that the portion was bigger. I could have eaten twice that size! Mind you, at IDR 110,000 a bowl (approximately AUD $11 a an order) beggards can't be choosers.

Chandi offers a lot of great menu items and now I am kicking myself for not coming here before. May be out of laziness or habit, I had sidestepped this joint in favour of other restaurants very close by. But now, with authority, I can honestly say that Chandi is better than its neighbours. I will not forget and as Arnold once said,...

Chandi Restaurant in Bali is a must-visit for any foodie looking for a delicious meal with a unique twist. From start to finish, our dining experience was nothing short of amazing. From the moment we walked in, we were struck by the restaurant's striking decor. The restaurant was bright and airy, with large windows, high ceilings, and natural elements like bamboo and stone accents throughout.

The menu itself was a work of art. There were plenty of vegan and gluten-free options, which was a huge plus for us. We started with the Crispy Calamari, which was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. The calamari was perfectly cooked and served with a spicy aioli that was out of this world. We also tried the Wagyu Beef Tataki, which was served with ponzu sauce, and it was so flavorful and juicy.

For our main course, we opted for the Grilled and Slow-Cooked Baby Back Ribs, which were some of the best ribs we've ever had. The meat was so tender it fell off the bone, and the glaze was sweet and savory at the same time. The sides of green papaya and pomelo salad and garlic fried rice were a perfect complement to the ribs.

What really stood out to us, however, was the incredible service. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and offered great suggestions. Each dish was expertly described and explained to us, and our drinks were always topped up. The level of attention we received was truly outstanding.

The atmosphere of the restaurant really added to our enjoyment of the meal. The music was lively but not too loud, creating a fun and relaxed vibe. The decor of the restaurant, with its mix of modern and traditional Balinese elements, created a unique and inviting ambiance.

In terms of pricing, Chandi is a bit more expensive than some other restaurants in Bali, but we definitely felt that the quality of the food and service justified the price. With the level of attention and quality of food, the prices were very reasonable.

Overall, our experience at Chandi was fantastic. The quality of the food and service, combined with the atmosphere of the restaurant, made for an unforgettable meal. We highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique dining...

We have had a dozen of meals in Seminyak and this was one of the best (want to know who won the 'Bali award', read my other reviews). Went here twice. Price approx. 500-600k pp.

We went here twice. The first time, we were actually going for Mama San, but that was fully booked. So we walked up the street towards Seminyak square, where the bars and restarants are. Then we tried Batik (😒), which was very full but we only had to wait a few minutes for our table. So we sat for 5 minutes and since no one was gesturing us for a table, we asked about the 'table status'. Suddenly it would take 'hopefully 15 to 20 minutes'... we left instantly

Luckily we found Chandi, 3 minutes walking from Batik. The staff was much more attentive, a porter, welcoming and easy handover to the waitress. Our host was lovely, very attentive and personal without overdoing it. She did not miss anything. PS our second night, we had the same waitress, still very good but becoming less attentive as the evening moved on.

Food **1/2 What I like, is mentioning which food is local, which imported (avoid IMO), fresh or fried. The menu offers a lot of good dishes, expect to take some time to decide. The sate specials are great, order as a special or individual pieces, at a very decent price. We had 3 individual sate, all sorts. The first time presentation was better. Meats and fish, grill specials. We had the crispy duck and grilled tuna. Both were excellent! The second night we had Balinese pork belly, which was average. The Indochine dim sum was quite nice, bit small though. Rendang envelopes very nice, also small. Drinks: try a cocktail (100-120k). Their bar is suited for it. Some cocktails are a bit light, we have had better on Bali, but good. Red Sangria, a spiced Mojito.. whatever you like.

Roasted cashew nut baklava: * (wow!)

Decor is very nice, good atmosphere. Music is fitting. There is seating upstairs. Airco can get a bit windy. Suitable for younger children. Audience is tourists, of course, but mixed and overall pleasant. A dress code would be...