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Balinese beach seafood served by a charming waitress |
Nancy Harkrider of ExploreAsia.net travels to Bali where she enjoys jimbaran, a famous style for grilled seafood and a Balinese beach sunset.
When we ask our taxi driver to take us to a restaurant on the beach for a seafood dinner in the village of Jimbaran, we know we are onto something good. Our driver, flashing that famous Balinese smile, turns to us and says “Which one? They are all amazing.”
We go with the recommendation from our hotel desk manager. The smells are intoxicating and the early evening setting on the beach is a kick-back party as far as we can see in either direction. Our waitress invites us to select our dinner from lobster, sea prawn, river prawn, baronang, red snapper, white snapper, barakuda, clam, garupa, squid or crab.
With local beers in hand and a tropical beach sunset unfolding before us, we banter with our waitress while we anticipate dinner.
The fish was as amazing as advertised. Was it the slow grilll over cocunut husks rather than charcoal? Or maybe that astonishing tropical sunset melting us into “Bali time”?
Barbeque fish on the beach at Jimbaran is an absolute thumbs up. While it’s on the menu all over the island, the mystic and the ambiance of Jimbaran, where it originated, is the perfect combination of freshness, skilled preparation and a jaw dropping setting.
For the rest of our time in Bali, the locals would initiate conversations by asking “have you tried the jimbaran?”
Don’t forget to pay attention when locals recommend their country’s signature dishes. It will always guide you to food experiences you will savor forever and recommend frequently.
The fishing village of Jimbaran is located in the southern part of Bali, halfway between the airport and Nusa Dua.
We suggest going late afternoon when the tropical sun begins to dip into the horizon, then staying after dinner for a walk along the beach. By that time, you may be ready for round two of Bali’s famous barbequed fish!
However, be forewarned. If you make a stop at Jimbaran on your way to the airport, you may just book another week to experience Bali’s charms.
Hear more about Bali in Nancy Harkrider's exclusive podcast: