Nestled along one of the main shopping streets, Bebek Bengil (otherwise known as Dirty Duck), is an institution in the town of Ubud. Serving its popular crispy duck with Balinese spices since 1990, the restaurant caters to a mix of both tourists and locals alike.
However when I paid it a visit one late Friday morning, the majority of their visitors appeared to be non-local.
At 125,000rp (before service charge and taxes), the house specialty dish Crispy Duck with Rice and Balinese Vegetables might be considered a little more expensive when compared to other local establishments.
However you pay for what you get, and what you get is half a delightful fried duck which is nicely spiced and with skin that is as crispy and delicious as raved about. It was beautifully crunchy and flavourful, with a faint oily, spice aftertaste.
The meat was a little on the drier side, but I guess that’s to be expected with a small bird. Still tasty, though. The Balinese vegetables were light and fragrant, and the sauces that came with it were super rich, oily and spicy.
I probably spent more time swatting flies than eating, but it was overall an enjoyable meal amidst relaxing greenery and open spaces.
The visit fell slightly short of my expectations which were set pretty high because of its famed reputation and rave reviews from friends.
I can understand why it’s a popular place to get the Balinese dish though, as it was after all quite a positive experience for my taste buds. They also offer many other dishes like Crispy Chicken and other local Balinese food on the menu, which could be good too.
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Bebek Bengil (Dirty Duck Diner)
Jalan Hanoman, near the turning into the Monkey Forest road, just before Yoga Barn Padang Tegal, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Tel: +62 361 975 489
Open daily from 10.00am to 11.00pm.
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