First bite: Bali Bulay brings Indonesian food to Des Moines

Jason Clayworth

Plate with spaghetti and vegetables on the left, a greenish cone of mashed potatoes in the center, pink ham slices behind, and a large browned steak on the right; stainless diner table in the background. — The lunch combo also includes yellow rice and garlic chips (those pink-looking wavy items at the back). Photo: Jason Clayworth/Axios

Bali Bulay Indonesian Satay has opened a permanent downtown Des Moines home.

Why it matters: The restaurant gives the metro something new: Father-son owners Franklin and Kaleb Creighton Crum say it's Iowa's first Indonesian restaurant.

Driving the news: The restaurant opened last month inside Local Bites International Food Hall at 700 Locust St.

Catch up quick: The family spent about a decade living in Bali, Indonesia, before moving back to Iowa.

They debuted their food at CelebrAsian last year, later used the Mickle Center shared-use kitchen, and served at events including the Valley Junction Farmers Market

On the menu: The star is satay — grilled meat skewers served with sauce — alongside Indonesian dishes including rendang, a slow-cooked beef dish with coconut milk and spices.

A rotating selection of sambal, the spicy condiment central to Indonesian cooking, rounds out the menu.

On my plate: I tried the $15 lunch combo: three skewers — two chicken and one beef — plus noodle salad and sweet-and-spicy sambal.

It was flavorful, filling and worth a return trip.

If you go: 11am-2pm Monday-Friday.

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First bite: Bali Bulay brings Indonesian food to Des Moines

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