Let’s get one thing straight: Belarusian food is not vodka and mystery meat stews. In fact, one of the best things I ate this month was technically a taco – except the shell was a potato pancake and the filling was spiced chicken with a slap of horseradish. Welcome to Draniki Ubud, where comfort food from Eastern Europe gets a playful Bali twist.

As an Australian, my idea of comfort food usually swings between smashed avo toast and meat pies. So stumbling into Belarusian potato pancakes in Ubud was frankly not on my bingo card. But wow, game changer!

The mastermind is Aliaksey, who grew up in Belarus surrounded by his grandmother’s and mother’s cooking. When he moved his family to Bali, he decided to bring a slice of home with him. First came Canggu, then Ubud. Now, tucked just far enough off Jl Tirta Tawar to escape the chaos, Draniki has become a haven for families, foodies, and anyone who believes carbs and butter deserve respect.

Menu: Slavic classics with a twist

Yes, you’ll find the classics. The Draniki Classic (aka crispy golden potato pancakes) are as addictive as they sound, and the Paparatz-Kvetka cutlet is basically a juicy meatball stuffed with butter and cheese. But the real fun is in the remixes:

• Draniki Tacos: potato pancakes folded around spicy fillings. Why haven’t I tried this before?!
• Cold Beet Soup: bright pink, tangy, probiotic-packed – Belarus’s answer to gazpacho, designed for sweaty Bali afternoons. 
• Syrniki: little golden cottage cheese pancakes that straddle dessert and breakfast. Sweet, tangy, impossible to stop eating.

Pro tip: Come hungry. The portions are generous, unapologetically creamy, and not here to fit into your “detox” week.

Vibe: homely comfort

Draniki is cultural pride on a plate. Every dish asserts that Belarus deserves its own spotlight – no lazy ‘isn’t it just Russia?’ jokes needed. And while the food speaks for itself, Aliaksey’s warmth makes it even more memorable; his stories turn plates into postcards from a place we rarely get to taste.

Draniki is about expanding your definition of comfort food. It’s for the days when you want something hearty but not heavy, traditional but not predictable. It’s for anyone who secretly believes the best meals are fried in butter and served with a side of intelligent conversation.So, next time you’re in Ubud and craving something different, skip the usual forgettables. Go for the potato taco and the Barbie-pink beet soup instead. You’ll leave full, happy, and maybe just a little smug that you now know your syrniki from your sashimi.