There is no shortage of Indo-Chinese cuisine across Lombok but what about the real deal? Many restaurants pay homage to Chinese food but the influence tends to be more Indo than Oriental. Outside of the Chinese owned eateries in Mataram, authentic Chinese is surprisingly thin on the ground. In Kuta, Jiang Nam Restaurant is now filling this gap with not only authentic East Asia flavours but also an eatery full of character that wouldn’t look out of place in the Middle Kingdom.

The overall design aesthetic of the restaurant is typical tropical style with a few distinctive Oriental touches. Accessed through an impressive stone archway, an open air courtyard forms the centrepiece, with abundant bamboo fixtures and a liberal sprinkling of tropical plants throughout. It has a very cosy, rustic ambience with a mixture of natural wood tables, and vintage artwork adorning the walls.

The layout is ideal for group dining or for a romantic meal for two, thanks to little quiet nooks and the mood lighting. It is surprisingly spacious. The lighting itself gives it an authentic vibe with hanging Chinese lanterns and Oriental style neon signs illuminating the space after dark.

It’s a visually appealing place that is matched by the artfully presented food. It has a rotating yet compact menu with an array of interesting dishes spanning dim sum delights, authentic stir fries and noodle dishes. Steamed dumplings come in many varieties including Kimchi pork, veggie and tuna, as well as prawn and chicken wontons. There are other snackable bites to share such as steamed Gua Bao buns, chicken wings and more.

Mains include slow cooked beef noodle soup or you can spice it up with chilli prawn and garlic noodles. There is a pretty good variety of stir-fries too with timeless favourite lemon chicken, Mapo tofu or Hunan beef. For something a little more exotic, check out the BBQ flavoured octopus stir fry. There is a decent selection of veggie and gluten-free options and everything is nicely presented. Desserts include chocolate lava Bao steamed buns.

Jiang Nan has a pretty impressive drinks menu with wine (by the glass or bottle), beers and classic cocktails like daiquiri, mojito and margaritas. Homemade healthy concoctions range from mint lime ice tea and kombucha.

If you want to give the uninspiring Indo-Chinese staples a miss and try some authentic flavours of the Orient, Jiang Nan is a top choice in Kuta. It is located in the heart of town, nestled between the beachfront and Kuta’s bar and café scene.

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