Bali 2014 - Nasi Ayam Kedewatan Ibu Mangku

Before we head over to our hotel in Ubud, we decided to stop by one of Ubud's institutions for lunch. Like Ibu Oka's which only serves one dish - the famous Babi Guling, Ibu Mangku's warung only serves their famous Nasi Ayam. However, this is not what most people would expect - i.e. the Hainanese chicken rice. This is the Indonesian version - where the chicken is poached in a broth with herbs and spices - then served with white rice, a spicy sauce, 1 stick of satay lilit, sayur lawar (long beans with grated coconut), and sambal.

Like Ibu Oka, Ibu Mangku has done very well. Behind the warung is a large house which consists of a series of pavilions. This is where you go if you prefer a more comfortable dining experience - though there are no chairs. You have to sit on the floor while the food is served on low tables.

During our last visit - the chicken rice was very good. The chicken was tender and flavourful, and the sauce had just enough flavour and kick to round out the dish. This time around, we found that the serving was cold, and the chicken though tender - lacked flavour.

Like Ibu Oka's the quality of the food seems to have suffered due to the popularity. This is unfortunately as Ibu Mangku used to be a must-stop in Bali for us. Now we are not so sure.