Bali is such a melting pot of cultures, and as a food lover, I feel like the dining options here are endless. I love Indonesian and Balinese food, of course – but I also enjoy trying dishes from other countries. One of the things I really appreciate about living in Bali is that I can explore so many different cuisines without having to travel far.
Not long ago, a friend of mine from Regent Bali Canggu invited me to the grand opening of one of their new restaurants, Sazón. They gave us a little sneak peek of what’s on the menu during the party, and it made me want to come back for more. And I did! I went back to Sazon, and here’s a little story about my evening filled with delicious Spanish food and good company.
I rarely eat Spanish food and, I gotta be honest, I didn’t know much beyond the famous paella. But Chef Javier passionately walked us through each dish as he served our dinner, from starters to dessert – and I soaked it all up like story time on a plate. I enjoyed every bite. Here’s what we had.
“Look it up on Google,” Chef Javier said. Turns out Gilda is a 1946 black-and-white romance film starring Rita Hayworth. So, why was the Gilda on my plate marinated tuna with olives and peppers? hehe. Well, Gilda is a classic Spanish tapa named after the film because, just like the movie, it’s bold, salty, and full of spicy flavour. It was a lovely intro to the courses that followed.
Pa Amb Tomàquet
As simple as it looks, and as basic as it sounds on the menu; bread, tomato, ham – this dish tasted like so much more than just those three elements. I’m not exactly sure where all the flavour came from, but wow, my taste buds and tummy did a little happy dance. The ham isn’t your average ham, it’s Jamón Ibérico, a premium cured pork from Spain. I could’ve easily eaten a whole plate of it, but there was more food on the way, and I had to save some room in my tiny stomach.
Croquetas
The name pretty much says it all. We have an Indonesian version called kroket – pronounced the same. We tried the one filled with mushrooms, and it was deliciosa!
Just when I thought it was time for the main course, another round of sharing bites arrived. At this point, I started to regret my fitted outfit choice! Haha, I probably left Sazón looking three months pregnant (with food baby, of course). Okay, back to the dish – I’m a big seafood fan, especially scallops, and everything in this one worked perfectly together: dill, cucumber, almonds.
Patatas Bravas
Potatoes – but make it fancy, with aioli and spicy tomato. I’ve always loved potatoes in any form, but I didn’t know there was another kind to love… until this.
Ibérico Grilled Pork & Mushroom Paella
And here it is – the main event and the highlight of my evening: the paella. Rich, comforting, and full of flavour, this dish perfectly combines tender Ibérico grilled pork with earthy mushrooms. Even though it’s not something I eat often, it tasted very comforting and somehow familiar.
Santiago Cake, Orange Curd & Toasted Meringue
I’m a dessert person, and I believe there’s always room for dessert—but we were heading into a serious food coma, so we decided to share the Santiago cake, a Spanish almond cake. It’s flourless and moist with a sponge-like texture—not too sweet, with a lovely hint of citrus from the orange curd.
All in all, Sazón is a great addition to Canggu’s buzzing dining scene. Whether you’re into Spanish food or just here for a tasty night out like me, they serve up good vibes and even better dishes. Their tagline, “más amor, por favor” (more love, please), totally fits – you can tell everything’s made with a lot of love. Can’t wait to go back and try even more from the menu. Gracias, Sazón!
📍 Jl. Pantai Batu Bolong No. 93 xx, Canggu, Kuta Utara, Bali 80361,
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