The nearest you can get to Indonesia... without the bother of getting on an aeroplane.
Our menu accommodates many flavours: from the firey hot to the cooly mild; vegetarians, pescatarians and carnivores... are all catered for - as are children of all ages.
For a quick bite, we have special set menus throughout the day... or just take your time and meditate on the wonders of Indonesian cuisine.
Indonesian Cuisine
Of course, the best and only way to find out what Indonesian food is like is to get some inside you. We would be the first to admit that actually being in Indonesia is the very best way to do that... but you would probably be the first to admit that London's West End is a tad closer. And our cooking is pretty damn close to what we eat back home.
Putting words in your mouth
Many people, when asked to describe Indonesian food, will say, "It's a cross between Indian and Chinese." A bit like saying that a tiger is a cross between a cat and a zebra.
All tastes are catered for: carnivores, vegetarians, piscetarians - some grilled, some fried, some gently stewed. And all delicious. OK, so some of the food is hot - but that's a legacy of the Europeans (bringing chillies from south America). Like most cuisines, Indonesian has many influences - yes, Chinese and Indian, but also Dutch, Malay, Portugese, middle eastern... and even a little English, if you look close enough.
Talking of chilli heat, we always recommend that our diners choose a balanced meal: some hot, some mild, some spicy and some tangy. If you find that your meal is not as spicy as you would like, ask for some Sambal sauce - very hot, but pungent and aromatic, too. Oh, and rice (not water) is the best cure for an over indulgence in chilli.
If you are new to our food, please ask a waiter for help. Also, our special lunch-time and pre-theatre menus are a great introduction. Even better, bring a few friends, so you can all sample a few dishes - BaliBali is a fun and enjoyable restaurant: great for parties, but also perfect for a quiet meal.
Important!
Only a very few of our dishes contain nuts, and it's easy to avoid them and still have a meal full of piquant pizzaz! Please tell our staff if you have any kind of allergy and we'll ensure your meal is not only delicious, but safe (always a bonus).
Also Important!
Back home spicing can seem pretty volcanic if you're not used to our cuisine, so we tend to err on the side of caution with our chillies.
But we also know that many of our customers want something a little more authentic (or 'hot').
Please take your time to talk to our staff about how you would like your food spiced.
Talking with your mouth full:
Your reviews of our food
- Amazing!
Our 2nd trip to Bali Bali.. outstanding .. wonderful family run restaurant ... you feel like your dining with old friends. The food is amazing and the cost is so good for that part of town... no wonder it's been here as long as as it has.. recommend 100% we will be back for a 3rd time and hopefully may more. Great staff .. great location. 10/10
- Trip Advisor, January 2024 - Fantastic last minute find..
Found this restaurant when looking for a meal before a show in a very busy west end. The service was good & very friendly and our food was served to us very promptly. Every dish we had was very nice and we all left very happy to stumble on this gem. Would definitely recommend this restaurant to others
- Trip Advisor, January 2024 - Lovely spot with great food
Still a great spot t find some tasty authentic Indonesian/Malaysian food. We booked in advance for early evening, and the place was full, as they were clearing out the pre-theatre meal rush. They had our table for two saved though. For starters my wife had the vegetable spring rolls, and I the chicken sate. Nice tasty dipping sauces with both, and the food was fresh and hot. For mains my wife had the Kari Ikan (deep fried fish in Malaysian style curry), and I had the Kari Daging (beef in medium hot Malaysian style curry). Nasi Putih (steamed rice) with both, and it was well cooked and truly delicious. I had a Bintang Indonesian beer to wash the meal down with. We really enjoyed the food, service, and ambience, the price was very reasonable, an we would definitely come again soon.
- Trip Advisor, February 2024 - Dinner with friends
Yummmy authentic Indonesian restaurant and the best Indonesian restaurant in London . The owner so friendly and the stuff too . Foods sooo yummy the best Me and my friends from Norway will back again to Bali Bali restaurant.
- Trip Advisor, February 2024 - Diamond in the Rough
Absolutely fantastic meal and experience. Food was incredibly authentic & the owners are wonderfully warm and inviting. We had visited an Indonesian restaurant in Holland previously and enjoyed their rijstafel so thought we would indulge when we had access to another in London. This place really did not disappoint. Great portions and delicious, authentic food. The owners (2 brothers, one front of house and 1 in the kitchen) are the epitome of hospitality. We loved the gado gado salad with tofu and when we expressed this to front of house, the chef came upstairs to chat to us and even gave us the ingredients to recreate it home! Such a totally unexpected experience in the Covent garden area, I would utterly recommend it to anyone.
- Trip Advisor, February 2024 - Will not disappoint
Outstanding value Would recommend spring rolls and crispy chicken wings. Friendly and efficient service. This unpretentious gem in Central London is well worth a visit.
- Trip Advisor, March 2024
Reserve your scrummy comestibles!
Consider...
Please note that we are a small, family-run restaurant with a limited number of tables: if you need to cancel or amend your booking, please give us plenty of notice. Thank you.
If you wish to tweak your booking time in order to ensure you get to a theatre or somesuch (say, 18:45), please let us know in the text box at the bottom of the form.
If you can, please phone to confirm your reservation:
+44 20 7836 2644
If you want to get in touch quickish, send us a Facebook Post with Pizzaaz:
The home of piquant pizzaz!
We always offer two special lunch menus, consisting of a nice range of dishes that have been chosen to maximise both your taste and your time. Our current menu is here.
An Indonesian taster
A quick idea of what's on the menu
- Rijsttafel: A Dutch word meaning 'rice table', consists of a number of dishes that make a good introduction to our food.
- Sate: Often seen in other south Asian cuisines, but originally from Indonesia - which is why ours is the best!
- Nasi Goreng: The easiest introduction to our cuisine - fried rice with a selection of meats and seafood in a mixture of mild spices.
- Sambal: Rather hot chilli sauce - if you want more heat, ask for a side-order.
- Rice: The best foil if you over-do the sambal - much more effective than a cold drink.
- Everything Else: By far the most important! Your waiter will not just take your order, but will be more than willing to give you advice - on tastes, textures, amounts and more... don't be afraid to ask!
All of our meat is Halal
Allergies
If you have any kind of allergy, please tell our staff. Only a very few of our dishes contain nuts, and it's easy to avoid them and still have a meal full of piquant pizzaz!
Special menus
If you're going to take in a play or film in the West End, our pre-theatre menu will provide you with enough zingy sustenance to get you through a few hours of culture.
For newbies fresh from the daily grind, leave your thinking caps at the door and choose the Rijstafel Special: a luxurious mix of some of Indonesia's best-loved dishes.
We can also accommodate parties of between six and fifty hungry people - just pop in for a chat, tell us your budget, number of vegetarians/picky eaters and anything else that's relevant, and we'll put together a menu that's perfect for your event.
The home of tangy yum-yums!
When
Monday-Thursday:
12:00 - 22:00
Friday:
12:00 - 22:45
Saturday:
12:00 - 23:00
Last order: 22:30
Sunday:
12:00 - 22:00
Note that the kitchen closes about thirty minutes before the restaurant: please give us plenty of time to cook your meal.
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Where
Address: 150 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8HL
+44 20 7836 2644
Nearest Tube stations: Leicester Square, Covent Garden