Having read about Cumi Bali, we decided to give it a try! It was surrounded by bars and night clubs. Go there early if you don't want to see "the crowd"!

We ordered the grilled squid (very average), chicken satay (great taste, very tender), beef rendang (completely different take from the Malay style, we didn't like it) and okra (great and spicy)! Home made lime juice was far too sweet...and the cendol was a bit different...it's more like ice kacang!

The owner Fiona told us she would be moving to a new location before Xmas and it would be on Neil Road...so we shall see if it will be any better with the new location.

The food here is generally quite ok. Chicken satay and Tahu Telur is a must try. The squid is topped with satay sauce which tastes quite nice too. The fried kang kong is a little disappointing, it was quite tasteless. Their own made sambal chili is spicy good, not for mild chili eaters.

I've been patronizing Cumi Bali for quite a while now. You could call me a regular at the restaurant.

The waiter / waitresses (if you could call them that) are really obliging. I once asked the owner for a dish (Ikan Gurami) that is not usually done (I prepared her before hand of course). She did it to perfection even though she had not done it for a really long time already.


What brings me back to the restaurant would be the homely experience and traditionally cooked food. They do it over a charcoal stove instead of using gas. You don't really get this type of food everyday.

The other thing that I like is the service. It just feels like coming home after a long day of work. A good place to bring friends and family to.

My favourite dishes are:
- Cumi Bali
- Ikan Bakar
- Tahu Telur

They are a hit with everyone I bring to the restaurant too.

Indonesian cuisine has always been on the spicier and more flavourful side of the menu. And this restaurant is no exception.

The place had a cosy and village kinda look and feel. No air conditioning but the temperature was fine, with a few fans to prevent the air from getting stale. It was raining the day we dined there, so it felt exceptionally comfortable and pleasant.

To the best of my knowledge, there are no menus there. What you see behind the glass counter is pretty much what they provide as well as some specialty dishes shown on a couple of posters. So after a couple of minutes of staring at the posters and the dishes, my group and I ordered; Mutton Rendang ($8), Sayur Lodeh ($5), Barbecued Squid (approx. $13) and Chicken Satay ($9). These portions were all meant for three people.

The mutton rendang was just a little short of fantstic. It tasted like what it's supposed to, mutton cooked to tenderness with a rather tasty curry sauce. Though not the best I've tasted, it was definitely better than most. The Sayur Lodeh (Cabbage, long beans and toufu boiled till soft within gravy prepared with coconut milk) wasn't as good as the rest. It was actually almost sub-standard and was served cold. Maybe you need an acquired taste for this one, but it tasted different from the other sayur lodehs served at other locations.

The Chicken Satay and the Barbecued Squid were marvellous. The satay (tender chicken meat skewers) were barbecued very well with the edges charred a little. The meat was tender and slid off the skewers easily. The sauce accompanying the satay was a good compliment. As for the barbecued squid, it was well prepared and served. The squid wasn't too tough and seemed rather tender which allowed easy consumption. The sauce provided went along with it superbly well. This was the only dish served hot since it's their specialty dish that's prepared only upon order. The way it was served, the squid's tentacles were tucked into it's body and then cut up thus allowing pleasantly easy dining on the squid.

Their dessert; chendol (crushed ice with coconut milk and brown sugar served with red beans and chendol) was also rather tasty and suited for those with a sweet tooth.

Sets are also available at about $6 per pax. Kindly check with them on the dishes served within the sets. Didn't ask them about the details

The service was very good. They made sure you didn't wait for the food (though it was served cold) and were always glad to serve us. Our table was served by a young pleasant lady who never failed to smile throughout. All in all, a pleasant experience

Cumi Bali has been around for several years but has been mostly under the radar. It serves homecooked Indonesian food, and very good food at that.

Stepping into Cumi Bali makes you feel as if you have stepped into another place altogether. It has a sort of beach-feel to the place and makes you feel as if you are sitting out on the verandah of a bungalow, waiting for your mum to bring out dinner. And the owner of Cumi Bali happens to be a lovely, maternal Indonesian lady who never fails to make her guests feel like they're at home.

Their Assam Fish is a real classic; spicy yet light and refreshing. Other favourites of mine are Nasi Goreng, Ayam Gulai and a dish that is not on the menu but which the owner always obliges my special request: egg omelette with onions and chilli padi. Although it is not something they normally do, the dish is done so well, even better than the one my mom cooks for me.