The Place During my stay at Capella Ubud this month, I managed to have a meal at Api Jiwa, an Asian barbecue focused restaurant located right below Mads Lange. Inspired by the Sanskrit word meaning ‘fire to the soul’, this is an Asian omakase style dining in a sheltered open-concept restaurant.

The interior of Api Jiwa is quite rustic, cosy and intimate, where the best seats are definitely the counter seats around the open kitchen counter where diners can watch the chefs cook up their magic. For smaller groups, there are also limited table seats in the restaurant. 

It was relatively cooling when I visited the restaurant for dinner, and I do like the rustic vibes where nature feels quite close to me. 

The Food Api Jiwa is only opened for dinner, where there is the Asian Omakase Sample Menu (IDR 1,500,000++ per person) where you can expect dishes like Babi Guling in steamed bun, Australian beef tenderloin, Chawanmushi and grilled Sumatran River Prawn with Nasi Goreng. Expect most of the dishes to be prepared over charcoal fire. 

I had the Asian Omakase Sample Menu, and here is what to expect for the 10-course meal. 

Lombok Oyster, Wagyu Beef, Celery, Caviar 
The meal started with an appetiser of a land and sea combination where I had fresh local Lombok oyster topped with beef tartare and caviar along with a green foam of celery and cucumber. 

Nigiri 
Next up is a sushi course which showcased smoked unagi (eel) from Japan rested on a bed of shiso leaf and seaweed.  

Chawanmushi, Borneo Crab, Ponzu 
I love chawanmushi (steamed egg) and this version is mixed with Shiitake mushroom, Borneo crab and a tinge of ponzu.    

Steamed Bun, Babi Guling, Cured Egg Yolk 
A contemporary take on one of the iconic dishes in Bali, Babi Guling (roasted suckling pig), we have the roasted pork meat in a steamed bun, topped with some cured egg yolk. 

Espresso Gulai, Chicken skewer 
One of my favourite courses on the menu is this Espresso Gulai, where gulai simply refers to a curry dish. It is a nice version of curry soup with a tinge of espresso, paired with minced chicken skewer. 

Cauliflower, Green Curry, Coconut Cream 
Steamed in a bamboo basket and then charcoal grilled, the cauliflower here is drenched in Indonesian Green curry along with fresh coconut cream. A robust and flavourful course which shows that vegetables could be equally appetising as meats. 

River Prawn, Nasi Goreng 
This course showcased fresh local Sumatran river prawn grilled over charcoal, and added with Nasi Goreng which is quite a unique combination of ingredients for me. You get the fresh flavour of the well-grilled prawn, along with an aromatic Nasi Goreng. 

Smoked Tenderloin, Cabbage, Kimchi 
For this protein course, the tender Australian beef goes well with some grilled cabbage, and a unique kimchi sauce by the side. 

Tangerine Granita, Coconut, Vanilla 
A refreshing palate cleanser course before the next dessert.  

Chocolate, Miso, Macadamia Nut 
For the second dessert, chocolate lovers will rejoice in this course. 

Petit Fours 
Last but not least, this is a trio of raspberry, chocolate truffle and Magdalene to conclude the omakase meal.   

Rants It might get a little smoky around the counter seats. 

Will I Return Again? Api Jiwa is an interesting restaurant to check out in Ubud even if you are not a staying guest at Capella Ubud, as it is a deviation from the typical fine-dining concepts in other Ubud resorts. The dining ambience is laid back with a focus on imparting the charcoal flavours to the dishes, where the omakase menu showcases a wide variety of dishes. Highly recommended to try if you are already planning to stay at Capella Ubud. 

TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 4/5
Hole in the pocket: 4/5
Ambience: 4/5
Overall Experience: 4/5

Api Jiwa At Capella Ubud
Banjar Triwangsa, Jl. RY Dalem, Keliki, Kec. Tegallalang, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80561, Indonesia 
Tel: +62 361 2091888 

Opening Hours 
Monday to Sunday: One seating at 7:00pm 

 
Ranted by The Ranter