Jali Kitchen — Restaurant in West Nusa Tenggara

To put it succinctly — food coma. It seems I finally beseeched the Gili gods to grant me a place on the island where the price/quality is at its best balance.

Keep in mind, the place is closed during some hours in Ramadan. It's the first time I've seen on Gili, but in Tunisia, they even close grocery shops for the whole day time in Ramadan.

I arrived there without any expectations from the place cuz at every 1st restaurant on Gili something is always off, be it the staff, the food, or the overall price/quality.

I happened to be there 10 minutes before the so-called opening time, there were free tables. They seated me, handed me a menu, and I began to choose my food. Honestly, from the reviews, it's not very evident that this is a nice place tho. And the menu is well-executed.

The waiter approached the guests in the order they arrived at the place, and I found this to be very pleasant. A kind of fairness. I liked it very much.

Then I inquired whether it was possible to add to the current options, for example, to change rice for mashed potatoes where I want it. To be honest, I came because I saw some dishes with potato puree in the menu. I received a satisfactory answer to everything and ordered "apple cider" meat from the menu. Frankly, I would have preferred fish to meat. But since there was no such option in the menu, I didn't want to take advantage of the hospitality. Friendly enough staff is a rarity on Gili tho.

They brought my dish an hour after I ordered it. I suppose this is because the kitchen opened at 7, and the dining room was almost fully seated by then. The portions were large, but I ate it in 15 minutes and thought I would have enough strength for a carrot cake. By the way, the main dish was very tasty, like homemade. Barely had the strength for the cake, the portions are not small, to be honest, but then I ate the best carrot cake of my life. And it's huge. I mean, really huge. The second very pleasant surprise. I would have taken it to the hotel better, but my room doesn't have a fridge. Cake portion is really hard to eat it all by yourself. But I had to eat it all))

I can confidently give this place five stars. No stretch at all, and I wouldn't change anything, except maybe add a grilled fish with a mash to the menu, but even the current menu looks very decent!

Thanks for the best dinner on Gili this past week. I feel like coming back.

UPD: I probably went to this place every day for a week, for to go options as well. Honestly, the food is really good, especially considering the price. It's not oversalted, but I added my black salt, and I enjoyed it. The only thing is, I felt a bit queasy from too much oil 😅

But I'll definitely return when I'm back on Gili. The carrot cake...

Jali Kitchen is a MUST go in Gili Trawangan especially for foodies like me - first time I attempted to go, I was walking there and the rain left a puddle of mud on the long side street going there and decided to just go another time. Second time's the charm when I had a bike and braving myself through the dark alley bike ride, praying to myself 'this better be worth it!' - and it was!!

Tucked in the middle of residential area away from the crowd (best part!!), you'll find this place lively and filled with such warm welcoming ambiance esp for solo diners like me. The food is more Asian thai with local dishes which will surprise you the moment you taste it. Its not just the presentation and the experience but also the way they cook and infuse their flavors into it does justice to this place and makes it worth the bike ride - rain or shine. Pricing isnt so bad too given that kind of dining + their service is impeccably attentive (they approached me 2x thinking I needed something even if I didn't call anyone)!

I had the Ikan Pepes, a local dish with the fish wrapped around banana leaf and marinated with some special Indo sauce - mix of flavors is amazing (usually served with rice but I opted for veggies in case you get confused with the photo). You CANNOT miss the dessert also - crazily good how they make it - I had the flourless chocolate cake and boy, does it melt in your mouth. One last surprise was the cocktails menu - had the Caipiroska and it was perfectly refreshing to complement my food. Overall, worth it - will definitely come back I think I will do one more visit before my trip ends.

PS highlight of my visit was Ming - look for him and he'll take care of you- from food recommendations, to giving you a glass of iced water just to refresh you -...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Jali Kitchen in Gili Trawangan, and it has unequivocally become my top choice for a dining experience on the island. After three visits to Gili and exploring numerous eateries along the port-side strip, I was on a mission to discover a restaurant that would truly leave a lasting impression – and Jali Kitchen exceeded all expectations.

Having sampled 45 meals across my three visits, I can confidently say that Jali Kitchen stands out as a culinary gem. Despite not offering a seaside view, the sheer excellence in the quality of their food and the delightful flavors make it a standout choice on the island.

A friend recommended Jali Kitchen to me, and I am immensely grateful for the suggestion. The dining experience here is nothing short of amazing. The meticulous attention to detail in the preparation of each dish is evident, resulting in a culinary journey that tantalizes the taste buds. From the first bite to the last, the flavors are unparalleled, making it the best gastronomic experience I've had in Gili Trawangan thus far.

In conclusion, Jali Kitchen has secured its place as a must-visit establishment for those seeking an extraordinary dining experience in Gili Trawangan. The absence of a sea view is easily overshadowed by the remarkable quality and taste of the food. For anyone in pursuit of culinary excellence on this island paradise, Jali Kitchen...