Chef Michael Herjanto

Chef At Home in Denpasar

I grew up in a small town, where the kitchen was the heart of our home. My mother was my first inspiration—her love for cooking sparked my own. As a child, I roamed the streets, tasting everything I could, fascinated by the way simple ingredients could create something magical.

That curiosity led me to travel, immersing myself in local food cultures and learning from the hands of street vendors and master chefs alike. I studied in Singapore and New Zealand, refining my craft, before stepping into the professional world, where I honed my skills in Rosette and Charcoal, Fine Dining Singapore.

But Bali called to me—its rich culture, vibrant flavors, and deep culinary heritage felt like home. Here, I bring my journey full circle, blending global inspirations with the traditions and flavors of my childhood, creating food that tells a story in every bite.

For me, cooking is...

For me, cooking is more than a job—it’s a passion, a craft, and a love that brings people together, creating flavors that evoke memories and inspire.

I learned to cook at...

I learned to cook in Singapore and New Zealand, refining my skills, but it all started in my mom’s kitchen, where I discovered the magic of food.

A cooking secret...

I never kiss and tell. But one thing’s for sure—if you haven’t tasted my food, you’re missing out on something special.

My menus

Ember Market

STARTER

All inclusive

Crispy Gochujang Chicken Bites - Lightly battered chicken glazed with sticky gochujang sauce, sesame seeds, and spring onions

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Sesame Soba & Herb Salad - Cold soba noodles tossed with cucumber, edamame, coriander, mint, toasted sesame dressing, and crispy shallots

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Black Pepper Beef Udon - Stir-fried udon noodles with sliced beef, black pepper sauce, garlic, soy butter, and scallions

Miso Butter Barramundi - Pan-seared barramundi finished with miso butter glaze, charred bok choy, and ginger oil

DESSERT

All inclusive

Matcha Ice Cream - Creamy matcha ice cream finished with toasted sesame crumble and condensed milk drizzle

Bara & Rempah

STARTER

All inclusive

Crispy Tempeh Sambal Matah - Golden fried tempeh bites served with fragrant Balinese sambal matah, kaffir lime, and crispy shallots

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Charred Eggplant & Kemangi Salad - Grilled eggplant served with fresh kemangi leaves, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, toasted peanuts, and tamarind dressing

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Beef Short Rib Rendang - Slow-braised beef short ribs cooked in rich coconut rendang spices until tender and deeply caramelized

Grilled Jimbaran Prawns - Charcoal-grilled prawns glazed with sweet soy, garlic, and butter, served with fresh lime and sambal

Ayam Bakar Rica - Grilled chicken marinated in spicy rica spices with lemongrass, bird’s eye chili, and fresh herbs

Pandan Coconut Rice - Fragrant jasmine rice cooked with pandan leaves and coconut milk

DESSERT

All inclusive

Dadar Gulung Coconut Crêpe - Soft pandan crêpes filled with sweet coconut and palm sugar. Simple, nostalgic, and easy to prepare

Fire & Coast

STARTER

All inclusive

Oyster Tempura - Lightly battered oysters fried until golden and crisp, served with spicy mayo and citrus soy dipping sauce

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Passionfruit Tuna Tataki Sambal Matah - Lightly seared tuna topped with fresh sambal matah and passionfruit dressing for a balance of freshness, sweetness, and gentle heat

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Garlic Butter Prawns - Juicy prawns sautéed in garlic butter with parsley, lemon, and cracked black pepper

Grilled Beef Striploin with Pepper Sauce - Tender grilled beef striploin served with creamy black pepper sauce and roasted garlic

Butter Fried Rice - Savory fried rice cooked with butter, garlic, and spring onions

Sautéed Seasonal Vegetables - Fresh seasonal vegetables sautéed with garlic and olive oil

DESSERT

All inclusive

Classic Black Forest Cake - Layers of soft chocolate sponge cake, whipped cream, cherries, and chocolate shavings

Coastal Table

STARTER

All inclusive

Crispy Calamari with Chili Lime Mayo - Lightly battered calamari served crispy with a zesty chili lime mayonnaise

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Passionfruit Tuna Tataki Sambal Matah - Lightly seared tuna topped with fresh sambal matah and passionfruit dressing for a balance of freshness, sweetness, and gentle heat

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Garlic Butter Prawns - Juicy prawns sautéed in garlic butter with parsley and lemon

Pan Seared Fish with Lemon Herb Sauce - Pan-seared fish fillet served with a light lemon herb sauce and roasted cherry tomatoes

Butter Rice with Herbs - Steamed butter rice finished with fresh herbs

Garlic Green Beans - Sautéed green beans with garlic and olive oil

DESSERT

All inclusive

Tropical Vanilla Panna Cotta – A luxuriously smooth Italian cream dessert, delicately set with vanilla, served with a vibrant medley of fresh tropical berries

SPICE MARKET TABLE

STARTER

All inclusive

Chicken Satay Skewers - Grilled chicken skewers with peanut sauce

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Thai Papaya Salad - Fresh green papaya salad with peanuts and lime dressing

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Beef Massaman Curry - Slow-cooked beef curry with potatoes, peanuts, and warm spices

Sides of Jasmine Rice and Roti Bread

DESSERT

All inclusive

Klepon - Soft glutinous rice balls filled with molten palm sugar and coated in fresh grated coconut, offering a chewy bite with a sweet surprise inside

SEOUL AFTER DARK

STARTER

All inclusive

Korean Fried Cauliflower - Crispy cauliflower tossed in gochujang glaze

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Spicy Tofu Salad - Fresh greens, tofu, sesame dressing, and chili oil

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Kimchi Fried Rice with Pork - Wok-fried rice with kimchi, pork, fried egg, and sesame

DESSERT

All inclusive

Yuzu Cheescake - A luscious, creamy cheesecake infused with vibrant yuzu and lemon, balanced with a buttery biscuit crust and a tangy citrus glaze

WOK STORIES

STARTER

All inclusive

Thai Chicken Wings - Crispy wings tossed in sweet chili glaze

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Mushroom Skewers - Charred and smoky mushroom skewers, glazed with a savory umami sauce and grilled to perfection

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Beef Pad See Ew - Wok-fried flat rice noodles with beef, Chinese broccoli, and sweet soy sauce

DESSERT

All inclusive

Es Cendol - Traditional Indonesian iced dessert made with pandan-flavored rice flour jelly, coconut milk, and palm sugar syrup, served cold

EAST & FIRE

STARTER

All inclusive

Crispy Chicken Gyoza - Pan-fried dumplings served with soy dipping sauce

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Burrata Kimchi - Creamy burrata served with house kimchi, chili oil, and toasted sourdough

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Soy Glazed Salmon - Pan-seared salmon with sesame soy glaze

Sides of Garlic Rice and Asian Slaw Salad

DESSERT

All inclusive

Mango Sticky Rice - Sweet coconut sticky rice with fresh mango

Show me more

Chef Michael's reviews

4.64

•

592 services

Chef Michael was very professional and the food was delicious

Chef Michael created the most wonderful Asian fusion dinner for our group of 8 when we stayed at Uluwatu. We could not recommend him more highly. His food was amazing - his Javanese chicken curry and Beef Rendang were highlights. Succulent and SO tasty. Communications were so easy, he was punctual, very personable and talked easily with the group, and tidy up was thorough. We all agreed that his meal was a trip highlight. Recommend him without hesitation,

Absolutely incredible. So so so delicious and accomodating

Chef Michael was really amazing and we all loved the food!! Communication was also great and I was able to adapt the menu in every detail. Definitely recommend!!!

Chef Michael went beyond my expectations! Presentation of the food and a buffet style as requested was done to perfection. He was awesome. He was so awesome that I asked for him to prepare another meal but he was unavailable. I am so glad that we selected him as our chef. Everyone loved, loved the food. I would highly recommend him as your personal chef for your next event. Five stars.

Michael served an assortment of delicious items for breakfast during our stay, the food was cooked well and his service was amazing. He was super friendly and willing to assist with any requirements. The food was insanely yummy, I would recommend his services to anyonei.

Chef Michael was incredible, we had the privilege of Chef Michael’s time for 8 days. Chef Michael was extremely friendly, his food was perfect and tasted phenomenal. He put so much time, care and effort to everything he did and made sure we were well fed and happy. Nothing was too hard for him. I would give Chef Michael 100/10 he blew my expectations out of the water. Next time I return to Bali I will requesting Chef Michael to cook for me again. Thank you for such an amazing experience Chef Michael, I really appreciate it.

Chef Michael cooked us a delicious birthday lunch with a creative Asian fusion menu captivating the unique flavours of Balinese and Indonesian cuisine. He was communicative, kind and service was 10/10. Highly recommend!

Unreal chef - talked us through the food menu and was lovely throughout

Chef Michael really delivered on an authentic Indonesian meal for our first night in our villa at Bali ???? His knowledge of all the ingredients was very impressive as we got to be educated on the diverse range of local spices and flavours. The food was so delicious and you could taste the time and care that went into preparing it all. We’ve had many nasi gorengs but never one as good as Michael’s. The Ikan bakar bumbu jimbaran fish dish was cooked to perfection and I still think of the sauce! Chef Michael was also a super friendly man, happy to chat and joke with us while he was cooking and cleaning up.

Friendly and professional, sapi maranggi is brilliant.

We had an amazing experience and Michael was amazing. The food was great, and prepared expertly. We’d recommend Michael to anyone looking for a wonderful experience.

Michael was incredible! We had a dinner for 26 people and then a breakfast for 12 people. The food was delicious and Michael was professional and communicative

Chef Michael served us a great dinner on our final night in Bali. We requested that the food be served on sharing plates, so that we could serve ourselves in the kitchen and then eat on the couch in a more relaxed setting, and him and his assistant accommodated for this very nicely. They were very discreet and the kitchen was left spotless. They even brought an additional cake and candles on short notice for our friend who was celebrating their birthday, which was a great way to finish the night!

Our dinner by chef Michael was amazing! He is highly professional, and attentive. His communication was excellent and there was no issue making tweaks to the menu for us. It was our favourite meal of our trip to Bali. They also cleaned up everything beautifully and packaged our leftovers. We highly recommend!!

Chef Michael exceeded all our expectations! The food was unreal and his service was really good too. Thanks Michael!

Michael Herjanto’s food was totally amazing! Every dish was totally delicious!! We had one vegetarian and tofu was on another level!! Incredible flavor! Beef rendeng also superb!! Would absolutely do again ams would highly recommend!!

Chef Michael and his assistant did a great job in sharing his culinary skills for us to enjoy, it was an insight for us to appreciate Indonesian food at its best.

Chef Michael was incredible. It was my wife and my first night in Bali, and it could not have been better. Every dish was delicious and beautifully presented. I would recommend him every time.

Everything was excellent! Thank you very much!