Google 4.7 rating, Bali buffet for 60 bucks per person, who gave it the courage?
qponx
2026-02-01
Tempted by a Bali buffet with a 4.7 Google rating for only $8? This article investigates and reveals a shocking truth. Beyond the sticky tables and disappointing food quality lies the secret to its high score: staff who allegedly pressure diners into giving 5-star reviews on the spot. This piece serves as a cautionary tale and an "anti-trap" guide, exposing the reality behind the seemingly too-good-to-be-true deal and offering tips for those brave enough to try it.
Every time I pass by this Kaneshiro in Denpasar, seeing its high Google rating of 4.7 and the huge crowd at the entrance, I've been incredibly curious. An all-you-can-eat Japanese meal for only 120,000 IDR per person (about 60 RMB), how good could it possibly be? Today, I finally couldn't resist and came to check it out myself. The result... Anjay, you really need to read this note carefully, otherwise, you'll be the next one to get 'stung'!
Experience? No, it's an 'Adventure'
The moment I stepped in, that mixed smell already felt a bit off... The floor and tables were sticky, it felt like the previous customer's BBQ sauce was still enthusiastically lingering[1]. The restaurant has two floors; the first floor has AC but is packed like a sardine can, while the second floor is a semi-open space, but without AC, eating BBQ there is practically a free sauna experience[2], Mantap!
Rushing to the food pickup area, my heart sank. The quality of the meat was indescribable, cut into strange shapes, with an alarming amount of fat, instantly halving my appetite[3]. I took a few plates of beef, but after grilling, it had a fishy smell; the chicken was even more outrageous, no matter how I grilled it, it still felt raw[4]. I originally wanted to make up for it with the hotpot broth, but it was either as salty as drinking seawater or as bland as plain water. Moreover, the refilling speed was incredibly slow, and the popular dishes I wanted were always empty[5]. Friends, this really isn't for Nongkrong, this is more like coming here to face a trial, isn't it? 🫠
The 'Secret' Behind the 4.7 Rating
Halfway through the meal, I finally understood how this high score of 4.7 came about. The waiters would stand smiling by your table and 'supervise' you to open Google Maps on the spot and give a five-star review[6]. Don't give it? That look... You know. This move is just too wild, isn't it? No wonder the rating is so ridiculously fake!
Anti-trap Guide (If you really want to go)
If after reading all this, you're still determined to challenge it, listen to a few pieces of advice from me 📝:
- 1. Lower your expectations! Don't expect to eat any delicacies, just treat it as spending 120,000 IDR[7] to buy a seat and chat with friends for two hours.
- 2. Book in advance! You must use WhatsApp to book a seat on the first floor[8], going directly is basically a no-go, and the second floor will genuinely be so hot you'll question your life choices.
- 3. Don't waste food! You'll really get fined if you can't finish it, don't make trouble for your own wallet[9].
- 4. Be careful with parking! The parking attendant at the entrance isn't very friendly, be mentally prepared[10].
- 5. Hold your ground! When you see a waiter come over and ask you to rate them, just smile and say nothing, write your true feelings when you get home, don't be an 'accomplice'!
- 4.7 high rating? It's an astonishing operation [1] with waiters "supervising" 5-star reviews on the spot!
- 120k IDR [2] for Japanese BBQ buffet per person? A ceiling-level challenge price in Bali. Can it *actually* be good?
- Sticky floors, BBQ sauce smell [3]. Upstairs BBQ? A free sauna experience [4]! More sensory "adventure" than a meal.
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