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

The Mediterranean

STARTER

All inclusive

Potato Croquettes with Tartar Sauce

Deep Fried Crispy Eggplants with Tomato Salsa

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Crispy Pork Belly with Organic Greens Drizzled in Vinaigrette

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Grilled Beef and Garlic Prawns with Homemade Gravy

Creamy Mashed Potato

DESSERT

All inclusive

Tiramisu - Classic Italian dessert

Asian Inspirations

STARTER

All inclusive

Grilled Chicken Yakitori Skewers - Glazed Japanese chicken skewers

Crispy Fried Cauliflower with Homemade Tartar Sauce

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Fish Roulade with Tomato Salsa

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Chinese Fried Noodles in Savory Soy Sauce with Eggs and Vegetables

Crispy Pork Belly

A Side of Pickles and Tempong Javanese Sambal

DESSERT

All inclusive

Es Cendol - Ice dessert of coconut milk, pandan jelly droplets, palm sugar syrup

The Asian Trails

STARTER

All inclusive

Tuna Tataki - A Japanese-style dish featuring lightly seared, thinly sliced tuna, served with citrusy ponzu sauce, sesame seeds, and scallion garnishes

Som Tam - A vibrant Thai green papaya salad bursting with a perfect balance of spicy, tangy, and savory flavors

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Yakitori - Japanese dish of skewered, grilled chicken, seasoned with salty and savory sauce, that delivers a delicious blend of smoky, charred flavors

Chicken Gyoza - Delicate Japanese chicken dumplings, pan-seared to perfection with a crispy bottom and juicy filling, served with a savory dipping sauce

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Ikan Goreng Sambal Mangga - Crispy fried fish topped with a zesty, spicy mango sambal, delivering a perfect balance of heat, tang, and sweetness

Nasi Goreng - Indonesian fried rice dish bursting with savory spices and bold umami notes

DESSERT

All inclusive

Strawberry Shortcake - A classic dessert with tender cake, fresh strawberries, and whipped cream

The Island Horizon

STARTER

All inclusive

Lumpia - A crispy spring roll filled with a savory blend of seasoned vegetables, capturing the vibrant flavors of Indonesian cuisine

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Sate Ayam - Succulent, marinated chicken skewers grilled to perfection and served with a vibrant, flavorful peanut sauce

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Ikan Bakar Bumbu Jimbaran - A grilled fish delicacy marinated in a bold, aromatic blend of Balinese spices that captures the essence of Jimbaran's coastal flavors

Kerang Bakar Madu - Succulent grilled clam dish, luxuriously glazed with honey that perfectly balances sweet and savory notes, celebrating Indonesia's vibrant coastal flavors

Udang Mentega Bawang Putih - Crispy fried prawns coated in a rich, garlicky butter sauce

Nasi Putih - White steamed rice

Kangkung Belacan - A vibrant Indonesian stir-fry that elevates crisp water spinach with the bold, umami-rich flavor of fermented shrimp paste, garlic, and chili

DESSERT

All inclusive

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

The Paradise Lane

STARTER

All inclusive

Lumpia - A crispy spring roll filled with a savory blend of seasoned vegetables, capturing the vibrant flavors of Indonesian cuisine

Perkedel Jagung - Crispy, golden corn fritters bursting with sweet and savory Indonesian flavor

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Sate Ayam - Succulent, marinated chicken skewers grilled to perfection and served with a vibrant, flavorful peanut sauce

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Nasi Goreng - Indonesian fried rice dish bursting with savory spices and bold umami notes

Rendang Sapi - Slow-cooked Indonesian beef dish simmered in a rich blend of spices and coconut milk for melt-in-your-mouth tenderness

Babi Krispi - Crispy, golden-brown pork dish with perfectly crackling skin and tender, juicy meat

DESSERT

All inclusive

Dadar Gulung - Fragrant pandan-flavored rolled crepe filled with sweet spiced coconut

The Globetrotter

STARTER

All inclusive

Rendang Bruschetta - Antipasto of grilled bread topped with braised beef in thick gravy and tomato salsa

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Nasi Goreng Arancini - Indonesian fried rice balls covered in crunchy deep fried breadcrumbs

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Spaghetti Goreng Jawa - Classic Italian pasta stir fried with local and traditional herbs and spices from Java

DESSERT

All inclusive

Puding Cokelat Karamel - Chocolate pannacotta with caramel drizzle

The Best of Indonesia

STARTER

All inclusive

Karedok - Raw vegetable salad with peanut sauce dressing

Perkedel Jagung - Deep fried crispy and crunchy corn fritters

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Mie Goreng - The classic favorite of fried noodles with eggs and vegetable

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Kepiting Saos Padang - Indonesian style chili crab

Cumi Goreng Tepung - Deep fried squid covered in breadcrumbs

Kerang Bakar Bumbu Bali - Balinese style grilled clams

Bistik Sapi - Beef steak with steam vegetables

DESSERT

All inclusive

Es Cendol - Ice dessert of coconut milk, pandan jelly droplets, palm sugar syrup

The Sunday Brunch

STARTER

All inclusive

Potato Croquettes with Tartar Sauce

Veggie Vietnamese Spring Rolls - Fresh summer vegetable rice paper rolls in tangy dipping sauce

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Assorted Bread and Pastries with Jam and Butter

MAIN COURSE

Choose 3 dishes

Eggs Benedict - two halves of bread each topped with bacon, a poached egg, and hollandaise sauce

Smashed Avocado on Toast with Eggs

Crispy Bacons, Roasted Mushroom and Tomatoes

Hashbrowns

Eggs Your Way ( Sunny Side Up, Scrambled, Omelette, Poached )

DESSERT

All inclusive

Fresh Fruit Platter and Assorted Yoghurt

The Mediterranean

STARTER

All inclusive

Potato Croquettes with Tartar Sauce

Deep Fried Crispy Eggplants with Tomato Salsa

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Crispy Pork Belly with Organic Greens Drizzled in Vinaigrette

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Grilled Beef and Garlic Prawns with Homemade Gravy

Creamy Mashed Potato

DESSERT

All inclusive

Tiramisu - Classic Italian dessert

Asian Inspirations

STARTER

All inclusive

Grilled Chicken Yakitori Skewers - Glazed Japanese chicken skewers

Crispy Fried Cauliflower with Homemade Tartar Sauce

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Fish Roulade with Tomato Salsa

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Chinese Fried Noodles in Savory Soy Sauce with Eggs and Vegetables

Crispy Pork Belly

A Side of Pickles and Tempong Javanese Sambal

DESSERT

All inclusive

Es Cendol - Ice dessert of coconut milk, pandan jelly droplets, palm sugar syrup

The Asian Trails

STARTER

All inclusive

Tuna Tataki - A Japanese-style dish featuring lightly seared, thinly sliced tuna, served with citrusy ponzu sauce, sesame seeds, and scallion garnishes

Som Tam - A vibrant Thai green papaya salad bursting with a perfect balance of spicy, tangy, and savory flavors

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Yakitori - Japanese dish of skewered, grilled chicken, seasoned with salty and savory sauce, that delivers a delicious blend of smoky, charred flavors

Chicken Gyoza - Delicate Japanese chicken dumplings, pan-seared to perfection with a crispy bottom and juicy filling, served with a savory dipping sauce

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Ikan Goreng Sambal Mangga - Crispy fried fish topped with a zesty, spicy mango sambal, delivering a perfect balance of heat, tang, and sweetness

Nasi Goreng - Indonesian fried rice dish bursting with savory spices and bold umami notes

DESSERT

All inclusive

Strawberry Shortcake - A classic dessert with tender cake, fresh strawberries, and whipped cream

The Island Horizon

STARTER

All inclusive

Lumpia - A crispy spring roll filled with a savory blend of seasoned vegetables, capturing the vibrant flavors of Indonesian cuisine

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Sate Ayam - Succulent, marinated chicken skewers grilled to perfection and served with a vibrant, flavorful peanut sauce

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Ikan Bakar Bumbu Jimbaran - A grilled fish delicacy marinated in a bold, aromatic blend of Balinese spices that captures the essence of Jimbaran's coastal flavors

Kerang Bakar Madu - Succulent grilled clam dish, luxuriously glazed with honey that perfectly balances sweet and savory notes, celebrating Indonesia's vibrant coastal flavors

Udang Mentega Bawang Putih - Crispy fried prawns coated in a rich, garlicky butter sauce

Nasi Putih - White steamed rice

Kangkung Belacan - A vibrant Indonesian stir-fry that elevates crisp water spinach with the bold, umami-rich flavor of fermented shrimp paste, garlic, and chili

DESSERT

All inclusive

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

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Chef Michael's reviews

4.62

•

306 services

Chef Michael’s food was amazing! Cannot recommend him enough ????????????

Chef Michael came to our villa and got to work on preparing a delicious meal with many components. He told us what everything was, its place of origin and even his own personal twists to certain dishes. While we ate, he cleaned all dishes, cutlery or cooking equipment used while answering any of the questions we had about our meal. Overall, a great experience, delicious and fun.

Great service from chefs, food was delicious, everyone loved it and we had leftovers too which we had for supper.

非常好的体验，食物也很美味，份量也很足，我们度过一个美好的中午，推荐！

Absolutely amazing service and experience. Would highly recommend

Michael was amazing, 10/10

Chef Michael was incredibly accommodating, even when we had multiple delays. His menu fit exactly what we asked for and the food was delicious. Michael was professional as well and was very reasonable with the pricing. Highly recommend ????

A very professional and knowledgeable person great menu and food would highly recommend this person

Chef Michael is very easy to work with. We had last minute requests as we’re a big group with so many requests, and chef was very attentive to our needs. At the end, everyone is very well-fed. The portion is very generous and my family is happy with the cooking. He also made sure the place is cleaned before they leave. Overall, I’m very satisfied with the service and would definitely reccomend to our friends.

Chef Michael was incredible! Every dish exceeded our expectations! My fussy teenager ate everything and said it was the best meal she had ever eaten! High praise! Chef Michael was happy to amend the menu to suit our preferences. The meals looked like artwork. I highly recommend chef Michael for a special occasion or just so you can experience the best meal we have ever had in Bali!

Exceptional service! Chef Michael was absolutely amazing—from arriving on time to the impeccable food preparation and stunning presentation, he truly made our day unforgettable. Thank you, Chef!

Michael was simply amazing! It started when he was open to me changing and adapting menu’s to suit our interests. We really wanted to have a traditional Indonesian experience but had a few choices and selections we were interested in and Michael was super adaptive and really tailored the menu to my preference. When it came to the night, the whole experience was amazing. Michael is an extremely accomplished and talented chef who brought his experience along with his willingness to share knowledge and culture with us whilst he prepared and served us dinner. The food was amazing and Michael shared the extensive preparation he had done earlier in the day and explained the cultural influences of each of the dishes. Along with Dewi, they were both so attentive and really personable working in our villa’s very small seperate kitchen to create and share an amazing meal with us. I couldn’t recommend Michael more as a chef and the whole Take a Chef experience was just so easy and professional. Thank you Michael and Dewi for creating such a magical and memorable evening for us.

I had an incredible experience with Chef Michael through Take a Chef. He was punctual, extremely polite, and demonstrated exceptional professionalism throughout the evening. The food was spectacular, beautifully presented, absolutely delicious, and tailored perfectly to my preferences. His attention to detail and ability to curate a meal to my liking made the experience truly special. I highly recommend Chef Michael for anyone looking for an unforgettable dining experience. I can’t wait to book with him again!

Our chef Michael Herjanto was FANTASTIC. I couldn’t fault a single thing from the evening. I will 150 million percent be using him again in future. If you are struggling to choose a chef, you better choose him! Trust me!!!!

Great day and chef was incredible. My whole family had the best food for christmas

Michael was terrific! Easy to communicate with and to set up a great menu for 12. The food was fantastic, affordable and we didn’t have to do a single thing. I highly recommend Michael and the ease of Takeachef.

Michael's food and presentation was exceptional, the flavours were so good! Michael is very friendly and lovely to talk to. I highly recommend this chef!

Michael and his assistant were absolutely flawless. The entire meal was so delicious. Loved the rendang in particular and the mochi dessert was delicious. Michael explained the meals very well and made us feel relaxed on our villa while he cooked. Highly recommend.

Incredible experience that my husband and I had with chef Michael! He had such a delicious menu and was so beautifully plated! We were so so satisfied and would love to have chef Michael as our chef again! Thank you for such a special night!

We had a great experience the chef was very professional and the food was incredibly tasty

Chef Michael’s food was amazing! Cannot recommend him enough ????????????