Traveler in a Suitcase!: Streetfood

Siomay Pak Lebah & Bakso Near Renon: Peanut Sauce Peace, Meatball Soup Backup, and a Melon-Coconut Ice

If it’s me, it’s siomay. If I need a backup singer, it’s bakso.

What is siomay (and why my plate looks edited)

Siomay: Indonesian steamed fish dumplings drowned lovingly in peanut sauce + kecap manis. Usual entourage: tofu, potatoes, eggs, steamed veg.

Confession: I eat everything except the potatoes & eggs. Personal lore. Keep your judgment sauced.

Where to go

Siomay Pak Lebah: Denpasar favorite people kept recommending until I caved.

Location: Jl. Dokter Muwardi, Denpasar (near Lapangan Renon).

Price: Rp 10–15k per plate (bakso sits in the same neighborhood).

What to order

Siomay (must): ask for extra peanut sauce if you live for chaos.
Bakso (meatball soup): the comfort fallback when rain threatens your plans.
Es kelapa melon: coconut + melon iced drink = tropical reset vibe.

Quick notes (taste & texture)

Dumplings are bouncy-soft, sauce is nutty-sweet-salty with a hint of chili if you request it.
If you want less sweetness, say “kecap manis sedikit aja.”
I skip potato & egg; you can customize your plate, just point like a director.

Pros & cons (speed run)

Pros

💸 Cheap (Rp10–15k) and filling
🥜 Peanut sauce that hugs everything
📍 Easy to find near Renon
🥣 Bakso option for soup people

Cons

🕒 Can get busy around meal times
🍠 If you don’t like certain items (hi), customize or they’ll still appear

Tips to win lunch

Tell them your no-list upfront (e.g., “tanpa kentang, tanpa telur”).
Ask for sambal terpisah if you’re spice-shy; add slowly.
Pair with es kelapa melon, perfect after peanut sauce diplomacy.

Don't forget to order es kelapa melon

(dunno what's the name in english but it might be coconut melon ice lol)

Happy eating!

Ikkel

1 comments

, by travelerinasuitcase

Bali

Warung Abnormal (Ropan) ~ sweet toast for Saturday night

Address: Jl. Waturenggong No. 25B, Sanglah, Denpasar

Hours: 18.00–23.00 (night only)

Parking: Motorbikes OK; car parking is tiny - plan to walk a bit.

Vibe: Always ramai, casual, teeny-tiny tables, quick turnover.

What’s “Ropan”?

Roti Panggang (grilled/baked toast). Think thick toast with wild toppings.

Prices start IDR 6-22k, add ice cream IDR 3-8k.

What I tried

Ropan KitKat Milo - IDR 17k

Ropan KitKat Greentea - IDR 22k

+ Greentea ice cream - IDR 5k (each)

I’m not a sweet-tooth, but the toast is crunchy outside, soft inside, and the toppings are generous. If you love creamy-cold on warm toast, add two or three scoops—trust.

Savory options

Not into dessert? They also do Ropan Chili Cheese Dog, plus rice bowls, Indomie, and snacks (about IDR 10-18k). Great for mixed cravings.

Bonus bite next door

I grabbed pecel (veggies) from the stall beside Warung Abnormal: loaded toppings, IDR 22k.

Worth the side quest.

Quick tips

Go early or expect a wait.
Bring cash (and patience. Crowded!).
Share a few flavors with friends so you can sample sweet + savory.
Verdict: Cheap, cheerful, and dangerously easy to keep ordering “one more toast.”

Happy dinner everyone!
Ikkeru

1 comments

, by travelerinasuitcase

Bali

Kerak Telor in Denpasar?! Accidental Find Near North Imam Bonjol (Across Fontana Market)

I wasn’t hunting Jakarta street food in Denpasar, but destiny wore a beanie and flipped a pan. Near north Jl. Imam Bonjol (farther from Kuta, closer to the city), right across Fontana Market, I spotted a guy making kerak telor and my brain yelled woot woot.

What is kerak telor (and why the pan is on fire)

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, by travelerinasuitcase

Bali

A Little Japan on a Rainy Bali Night: Meet mr. taiyaki in bali!

Even with the K-food wave, Japanese street snacks aren’t going anywhere in Bali. Lately I keep spotting little carts selling sushi, takoyaki… and my soft spot: taiyaki!

What’s taiyaki?

A fish-shaped waffle (the “tai” fish) cooked in a metal mold, then stuffed. Traditionally with sweet red bean (azuki), but many carts now offer custard, chocolate, cheese, even nangka. (indonesian version)

What I got

Azuki and cream cheese (IDR 8 each).

Not too sweet (bless), crispy edges, soft middle. I’m a “bite-the-head-first” person...

Judge me later 😂

Diet math (very approximate): one piece feels ~220-250 kcal.

Delicious? Yes.

Two pieces = basically a meal.

Price & tips

Most fillings sit around IDR 8K; some add-ons may cost a bit more.

Best eaten hot while the outside is still crisp. If you like extra filling, ask...

Some vendors are generous, some… artistic with the center only 😉

Where to find this cart

Pertokoan Kartika Plaza, Jl. Diponegoro (across Toko Sakura; near BCA KCP Maluku). I first found it years ago, went back on a rainy night, and the nostalgia hit like anime background music.

Wishlist

Still hunting for taiyaki parfait (crushed azuki + matcha ice cream + a warm taiyaki). If Jakarta has it, Bali. and Surabaya, please catch up!

Do you go tail-first or head-first? 😋

ikkel

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, by travelerinasuitcase

Bali

Serabi Hunt in Bali: Waroeng Soerabi Bandoeng 101 (Jl. Dewi Sri)

Selamat bulan Februari! Time is sprinting and my cravings are too, so… serabi time. After ages without it (and a friend begging to try), we went to my go-to spot: Waroeng Soerabi Bandoeng 101 on Jl. Dewi Sri. It’s my fave because the servers are ridiculously kind, even when I attack them with dad jokes.

(They still smile. Bandung hospitality supremacy.)

First, what is serabi?

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, by travelerinasuitcase

Bali

Nasi Pedas "Ibu Anik"

First Time Nasi Pedas (finally!)

What do people eat the minute they land in Bali? Babi guling, ayam betutu, lawar…and, apparently, nasi pedas. My friends swear by it. Me? I’d never tried it. So last week they dragged me to fix that gap in my Balinese resume.

Where we went

Nasi Pedas Ibu Anik: Pasar Kuta (near Joger).

Famous cousin: Nasi Pedas Bu Andika (also in Kuta): people say it’s pricier and always packed.

I chose Ibu Anik this round.

How it works (so you don’t panic at the counter)

Join the line. Trays move fast; breathe.

Point at lauk (side dishes).

There’s no printed price list; each item has its own price.

They plate rice + what you chose. You pay at the end, add bottled drink if you want.

Sambal = the “pedas.” Add at your own risk. 🌶️

What I picked & how much

Tempe kecap, mie goreng, ayam suwir, kangkung, perkedel + rice
1 bottled water

Total: IDR 20k (IDR 16k food + IDR 4k water)

I thought everything would be flaming; turns out the spice lives in the sambal. Without it, it’s basically nasi campur; with it, your soul time-travels.

Crowd & vibe

Always crowdead: lots of Java accents, a mix of locals and holiday stomachs.
Turnover is quick; tables are basic; nobody’s here to linger, just to inhale joy on a plate.

Order smart (aka how not to blow your budget)

Veggies + tofu/tempeh = budget-friendly.
Multiple meats = price climbs fast.
Ask the staff roughly how much that combo will be if you’re unsure. They’re used to it.

Summary:

Taste: Homey, punchy, sambal-forward.
Heat: Customizable: start small, add more.
Price: Can be cheap if you go veggie-heavy.

Will I go again? Yes, next time I’m hunting the legendary kulit ayam

(sold out… my villain origin story).

Go explore other nasi pedas spots too (including Bu Andika) and tell me your fave. Just… respect the sambal. 🌶️

xxx

ikkel

2 comments

, by travelerinasuitcase

Bali

Broke, Bandaged, and Craving Sushi: Arkenzi Review (Cheap Sushi Bali, Menu & Prices)

It’s been a looong month.....

No one missed me (soooo rude)
Meanwhile, my thumb did...

Thumb Drama (NSFW alert)

“Thumb vs. Knife, Episode 12: Disney/Pixar presents ‘Finding Band-Aid.’”

(NSFW = Not Safe For Whisks) lol

Forensic report (completely unhelpful)
Weapon: knife that moonlights as a villain.
Motive: I attempted “chef’s kiss,” achieved “chef’s hiss.”
Scene: cutting board that skates like it’s in the Winter Olympics.
Witness: a daisy sticker who refuses to testify.

Because the thumb is the bodyguard...

Front row, no hazard pay.

Forget the claw grip for one second and it volunteers as tribute. Add a slippery board, dull knife, wet hands, or the classic cutting-toward-your-own-DNA, and… yeah.

Arkenzi, Because Cooking Betrayed Me

I went to Arkenzi because: craving sushi, zero desire to cook, and I’m broke (bought a bathroom scale to check my weight every morning, turns out I could’ve just used my friend’s, wow).

Also March = family birthday boss rush, so hello, penniless arc.

Where

Beside Circle K Marlboro, Denpasar. Red lanterns everywhere; rain ruined my photo ambitions.

Vibe & service

Mostly locals + uni kids doing calculus on calories vs. cash. Staff are ridiculously friendly~

The kind of goodbye that makes you promise to fix your life (tomorrow).

Note: Indonesian-palate tweaks; no raw options = newbie-friendly.