One day while working, I ended up in a village called Kayu Putih in Singaraja, North Bali. It was midday, and lunchtime had arrived as the clock struck 13:20. So, my friend and I stopped at a small food stall on a quiet road in Kayu Putih. This stall served syobak and mixed rice.
Syobak in Singaraja has its roots in Chinese Hokkien cuisine, specifically inspired by sio bak, which means roasted pork belly in Hokkien. No wonder—Singaraja was historically a melting pot where different cultures gathered for trade and cultural exchange. One of the influences that remained is Chinese cuisine, including sio bak, which consists of tender pork belly, meat and crispy pork skin served with a sweet sauce and pickles.
In Bali, syobak has evolved to suit local tastes, incorporating Balinese spices and chili. It is often served with rice. This stall offered syobak, but my friend decided against it. His taste buds couldn’t handle the combination of sweet sauce and pork. Being from South Bali, he wasn’t familiar with syobak, as it is mainly known in North Bali. Instead, he opted for regular mixed rice.
We waited about 10 minutes for the seller to prepare our food. She cut the meat, poured the sauce over it, and added sliced cucumber. However, I had specifically requested only meat, no pork belly—just the way I like it.
When my food arrived, I had a plate of steamed rice and another plate of syobak. I looked at it and thought, "No vegetables?" So, I asked the lady to add some mixed vegetables on top of the rice. Now, my meal was complete—syobak, rice, and vegetables.
The taste was delicious. The sauce had a slight sweetness, and the meat was tender. Then, the chili kicked in, adding an extra layer of sensation to the dish. My friend watched me eat but said nothing. It was a great meal—though maybe I felt that way because I was starving.
In the end, my friend decided he wanted to try syobak for dinner. But I was sure he wouldn’t like it—he's a typical Balinese from the south, where pork with sweet sauce isn’t popular. That also includes @Ekavieka—he’s from the south too.
Ahh Balinese food with hot chillies...nice but I've a sensitive tummy so I can't eat them 😅
Don't worry, not all Balinese food is spicy 🔥😁
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