The best fast-food in Bali (?)

Earlier this year, I ate at KFC and McDonald’s in Bali, the two biggest fast-food chains in the world. Both were majorly disappointing. McDonald’s took nearly half an hour to serve us cold burgers and lukewarm drinks, while the quality of the chicken, chicken patties and the oil they fried it in at KFC was pitiful. Not even a street dog in Bali would give the latter a good review. But what about Pizza Hut, the world’s second-biggest pizza chain after Domino’s, and the world’s second-oldest after Shakey’s? There are 21 Pizza Huts scattered primarily around the southern part of the island, including one each at the international and domestic airports. I visited one of half a dozen outlets in the capital Denpasar and was pleasantly surprised to discover the product was as good as it is in Australia while the service, as is usually the case in Bali, was miles above. The first thing I noticed upon walking in was the hygiene: a rarity in Indonesia, where restaurants often focus solely on the food and overlook other aspects. It was sparkling. I could see my reflection in the countertop, the walls and every other surface in the restaurant. And while the decor at many KFC and McDonald’s outlets in Indonesia is stuck in the 1970s and 80s, this and every other Pizza Hut outlet in Bali is newly renovated, with the corny but poignant tagline “Pizza is for everyone” splashed behind the cashier in neon lights. For my starter, I helped myself to the self-serve salad bar — something I generally avoid because of hygiene concerns. However, I had no such concerns here. In addition to an overarching sneeze guard, every ingredient was covered with a plastic lid and only uncovered by staff, who were super friendly and efficient.

And every ingredient was super fresh. The salad, piled to the top with cold pasta and chunky sauces, cost $5. I paid another $5 for a small, or “personal” size, pepperoni pizza, while a large pizza would have cost $15. Thirty bucks would have bought me a “Limo” metre-long pizza. With the exception of a handful of top-tier Italian restaurants like Buzo and Da Maria, pizza in Bali is nearly always NQR (not quite right). They just can’t seem to get the yeast “starter” right in the tropical climate; the dough is generally under or overcooked, and they always skimp on the toppings, especially pepperoni, which attracts high import taxes in Indonesia. But at Pizza Hut in Bali, they deliver exactly the same product, with exactly the same ingredients, in the same quantities, as Pizza Hut in Australia — a crispy pan pizza oozing with gooey melted cheese and sharp, slightly caramelised pepperoni. Interestingly, the first Pizza Hut in Indonesia, which opened in the capital Jakarta in 1985, came to fruition under a licence from Pizza Hut Australia. My bill for lunch, which included a refreshing lychee mocktail, came to $12.57. It was fresh and delicious. On the fast-food scale, I give it five stars.