Bungkus Bagus - Balinese Street Food from an LA Pop-Up

BUNGKUS BAGUS

Balinese Street Food from a Los Angeles Pop-Up Warung

Words and Photography by Patrick Manalo

If there’s one thing to take-away from this pandemic period, it is the allowance for us to reflect and find connection.  If that won’t do for you, then perhaps a take-away Balinese meal by way of the Carrara sisters’ reflections will do the trick. 

Like a good number of us who come from industries put on a pandemic pause,  Sisters Tara and Celene Carrara were found to be reunited,  thinking of creative ways to make ends meet.  The result - Bungkus Bagus, a pop-up serving Indonesian bungkus and other street comfort foods as an ode to their childhood home of Bali. 

Tara and Celene’s fondest memories growing up in Bali were roaming around the local warungs, or small stores usually set up infront of one’s home. Here, they would take to go banana leaf-wrapped meals of rice, coconut chicken curries, sambal, and other fiery and flavorful Indonesian dishes. 

When you stop by the pop-up,  you’ll be delighted to see the two sisters share their favorite childhood experience with you. Their Glendale driveway takes the spirit of the warung, where you can pick up these flavorful bungkus wraps and get a taste of Balinese food right here in Los Angeles. 

Photos taken by Patrick Manalo - Los Angeles Food Photographer