Garuda Indonesian Restaurant in Swansea

Simply the best restaurant in Swansea. We are in Swansea for one week and have visited twice already with a third visit planned. Fantastic cooking and very friendly and quaint.

Let’s be honest, sometimes Tripadvisor’s recommendations disappoint. Not this time! Booked based on all the reviews and enjoyed a fantastic meal. Tesco very near to buy the BYO too! If, like me, you’re missing long haul destinations, then a night out at this restaurant offers a reminder of those holidays. Really enjoyed meeting and talking with the owners/chef too

Fantastic authentic food, created and served by lovely people. We look forward to our next visit post lockdown

This Thursday will be my fourth visit since reopening, been cold turkey for nearly four months it was difficult, however I can now resume my fortnightly addiction. Welcome back Ani and the gang

A lovely evening at Garuda with our son Pete. The service was charming, relaxed and efficient. We had a variety of starters and mains which were all excellent. Two points to note: The loo is upstairs which might put some people off. You bring your own wine/beer which keeps the bill down. Excellent, we will go again.

The food was amazing and the service very friendly and attentive. We are holiday visitors in area so sadly it might be a while until we return but hope we can.

Garuda is an amazing restaurant. small enough to be intimate with an amazing authentic Indonesian menu. Annie works wonders in the kitchen. we have been an number of times over the years and I am still amazed that this is the only Indonesian restaurant in Wales. The food is to die for. My wife loves the Gule Cod and I love the Beef endang. we all love the noodles. Have booked again for friday and can't wait

How lovely to be back at Garuda’s after so many months in lockdown! Peter greeted us as always in his friendly welcoming way. The food was delicious, we shared a vegetarian Tauco Terong as a starter ,for mains my partner had hake asam pedas & I had my favorite beef rendang. All dishes are cooked by Ani , a brilliant chef who uses the finest freshest ingredients! If you haven’t been to Garuda before , do yourself a favour & try it , you certainly won’t be disappointed! Bring your own drinks too!

Garuda has reopened! After the pandemic of 2020 closed all Welsh restaurants, we were not sure when we would get back to eat at this gem, but felt honoured to be amongst the first customers to return for (re) Opening night! Peter and Gareth provide a warm welcome but take their PPE responsibilities very seriously, diners are properly distanced within the restaurant and full contact tracing procedures are observed, with temperatures taken to reassure diners they are safe to enter. You will not be surprised to hear that Ani has lost none of her flair and enthusiasm in the kitchen; this was one of the best meals we have enjoyed in recent memory, and not just because lockdown has prevented eating out for many months! The real tester for me was that we ordered a vegetarian menu, which may be a risk in many establishments, but not here. The spicing of each dish was so perfect and the combination of flavours so complimented one another, that this carnivore did not miss meat at all! I cannot stress highly enough how you must find time to visit Geruda, Wales' hidden gem, you will not be disappointed.

My last review of Garuda was Sept 2012It is now 17 years of very frequent visits and the food has and is the finest Indonesian quisine available anywhereDutch visitors always comment that they wish they could have this type of Indonesian cooking at homeI can't wait till Friday for my Garuda fortnightly fixLong live Ani and the gangTry Starters Bakwan UdangMain Sambal Hake Gule Terong Gado Gado Boiled riceDesert Banana and coconut pancake Coffee Tobruk to finishSeventh heaven eating☺☺☺☺

Every dish was superb. Very light hand on the flavourings. It's more home cooking than cordon bleu but it a seriously skilled cook. Our only complaint - we should have ordered more!!

Spring rolls, Cod Gule a special noodles. All to die for. Had bits of others too and every dish is just amazing and different. Nothing like this close and it’s certainly not like Indian or Thai. It’s unique food and it’s just immense. Vegetarian options are excellent to and staff offer to chill your drinks if you bring any which is brilliant hospitality considering some places charge corkage etc. If you haven’t been here then your missing out on a gem. Swansea doesn’t know how lucky it is! Very well food travelled and this all round beats it all.

A brilliant little restaurant, staff are more than helpful, food is fantastic and a real change from the normal indian meals. The flavours are very different special noodles are the best ever. If you have't been you must try it.

We had a lovely meal at Garuda having turned up as a walk-in and getting the last available table. Good vegetarian food available. I had Bakwan as a starter - shredded vegetables in a batter - which was delicious and Gado Gado for the main. The main was a large portion. My other half had the beef satay and the hot prawn and chicken dish with fried rice. Neither of us could finish the portions. The service was excellent and the food is cooked fresh to order. I’d absolutely recommend this place if you are looking for something a bit different for a meal out. Not licensed so take your own drink.

First time ever eating Indonesian food! I loved everything we had and they catered well for vegetarians. Friendly owner-chef came out and spoke to us. We were welcomed like family even though she had never met us. Only downside is that the restaurant is very small. Make reservations!

I started going to Garuda years ago when it first opened. The food was always amazing. I moved so Haven’t been for a little while but went for a meal on Friday evening. The food was as good as ever, a real treat for the taste buds.

Garuda is a no frills Indonesian restaurant in St Helen’s road on the cusp of the town centre. It has a truly authentic Indonesian menu with super friendly staff. The whole menu is exceptional and the beef rendang is truly a specialty. The restaurant has no alcohol licence so the option to take your own wine or beer adds to the great feel of the place as you don’t get that overpriced bill feel for a bottle of supermarket wine, so the quality of your tipple is left entirely to your preference. Great midweek dinner option but book as it is very popular with those that know.

Been there two days in a row now. Genuine tastes and each dish has it’s own distinguished mix of fresh herbes and spices. We’ve just ordered several different dishes for all so everyone could gat a taste of al the great flavors. It was a real treat. Oh, and you’ve got to try the divine sambal (chilly paste) but trust them when they warn you about how hot it is. The ambiance is very simple. It’s a very small restaurant (you’d easily pass it without noticing) run by a family who is very kind with an authentic Indonesian cook. It’s not licensed so bring your own beer and or wine. Takeaway is only possible on quiet evenings. To us (we’re Dutch) the prices are ridiculously low. Food of this quality and drinks for a total of £ 20 per person. Awesome.

Garuda manages to get it right in so many areas.1) The food is lovely. Authentic indonesian. Flavours are not exactly what you expect - richer, deeper flavours that the packet stuff you buy from the supermarket. Beautiful food - especially the fish dishes.2) Ambience - lovely local bistro style setting. Intimate without being on top of other diners.3) Service - perfect. Friendly greetings from all the staff and sometimes the chef - and nothing too much for the staff in terms of dietary requirements (my partner a coeliac).4) BYO - a small tesco up the road for you to pick up what you need. 5) Value for money - absolutely. Overall a lovely dinner/night out. Cannot recommend highly enough.

Third time of visiting but this is my first review. I thought the first visit was so good it might be a fluke! But....it wasn't. The service is really friendly, the restaurant pleasant, but best of all the food..Utterly gorgeous! So good with subtle flavours and heat to your own taste. The owner/chef is Indonesian herself and boy does she get it right. Our favourite food in all South and West Wales. Fri and Sat it's busy so book ahead. You won't regret it. Oh yes and take your own wine or beer. Tesco express is 5 doors away!! Can't wait for the next visit.

Absolutely the best Asian restaurant we have visited in Swansea, we ordered loads of food and there was literally no weak link, all dishes were incredible! The Sate was excellent and the Rendang just blew us away. Even got a durian chocolate! Great service too. Will be back ASAP.

Paid our 2nd visit to this wonderful unique place.

Easily one the nicest places to eat in Swansea. Lots of unique dishes - I would recommend the Gule Tempe & Spinach (you can ask them to tone it down if you don't like spicy food).

Cosy, friendly, small restaurant with delicious authentic food. Reasonably priced, and bring your own wine. Very helpful staff. Highly recomend a visit. Book ahead as small place.

I love this place. Staff are friendly and food is always good. Visited recently with my partner and it’s most definitely one of my favourite places to eat in Swansea

We came to this restaurant on Friday 5th October and have to say what a lovely time we had! This is a family run restaurant and has a very relaxed and welcoming ambiance to the place. We were served by both the owner and a waitress who were both attentive and knowledgeable and were happy to help us with our menu choices....although I’m sure that anything we ordered would have been amazing!

Excellent meal. and friedly service. will definitely return. It is BYO so keeps the bill down as a bonus

So impressed with this place. My friends and I went last Friday and it was delicious. The noodles were my favourite and the chicken was lovely too. Defiantly recommend ! Staff were friendly too. Can’t wait to go there again

run by a lovely couple who work like hand n glove !! Although 1 person to serve you .... foods very quick to arrive .... delicious , as good as homemade Indonesian cuisine .... appears to be all made from scratch ... unlike some restaurants where readymade pastes with oodles of preservative are used. .... anyway , food was tasty , place clean , with kind of eastern ambience .... should try spicy lamb dish ..:: yummmm.... mouthwatering and sooo soft n supple

I visit this place a couple of times a year. The food is absolutely delectable! It’s absolutley packed with flavour and the meat is cooked to perfection! It’s a cosy and friendly little place to eat. The staff are incredibly friendly! I do advise booking in advance as they don’t tend to have free tables if you just walk in.

I have been here twice recently and each time, I've loved it. The service is friendly and you can take your own wine, which is always a bonus. The chicken rendang is to die for, as are the noodles!

Had a wonderfully tasty 3course meal in a relaxed atomosphere. Cooking is authentic. Not a large menu but everything is done well. It is quite a small premises so booking is advisable especially as the restaurant is not open every day. The prices are reasonable especially as you are encouraged to bring your own wine. Looking forward to a repeat visit.

Once again the food was amazing , friendly service with right amount of attention ... loved it will be back soon !

Mi esposa y el chef, Ani, son de la ciudad de Medan, en Indonesia, en el Norte de Sumatra.

He estado viniendo aquí durante años y cada vez que lo hago, siempre me dicen que debería venir más a menudo. El lugar tiene un ambiente agradable y relajado y el servicio es siempre amable y atento adecuadamente.

Really best of the best. Fantastic again !after all those years still amazing authentic food which one could only expect to experience when traveling abroad. Thank you very much for this very special place .

Cena en un viaje de negocios con un colega. Buena comida, buen servicio. Lugar familiar, disfrutamos hablando a la señora que prepara la comida al final de la comida. Tenía un entrante y un plato principal, tanto buena, demasiado llenos para el postre. Opción razonable de opciones vegetarianas

Had a wonderful night at Garuda's. The food was out of this world! Quality ingredients and tasted very fresh. The service was outstanding too! Very friendly and comfortable. Can't wait to visit again! Thanks for a wonderful evening! Xxx

This was my first experience of Indonesian cooking and hopefully won't be my last. I had a prawn and yellow bean main course which was spicy and tangy, with the perfectly cooked juicy prawns a wonderful contrast. My mouth is watering now, thinking about it....

Esta fue mi segunda visita a Garuda y tenía grandes expectativas porque tuve cenamos aquí hace 2 años y entonces la comida era increíble y tradicional, el servicio era impecable y el ambiente del restaurante era genial. Sin embargo, la última noche estaba severamente decepcionado. Después de exaltar el lugar a mi amigo por años, finalmente decidimos comprobarlo y ambos nos sentimos muy entusiasmados. Era miércoles por la noche a las 7:00 y el restaurante estaba medio lleno, que probablemente la Mesa 4. Cuando llegamos allí tuvimos que esperar caracterizados para ser recibidos entonces el hombre agradable nos sentamos pero la señora con pelo largo en un plait que vino a tomar nuestro pedido tal problema de actitud, que por culpa de ella probablemente no habrá jamás volver. En primer lugar, nos preguntamos lo que recomiendo en el menú porque mi amigo y no tengo mucha experiencia con la cocina de indonesia. Su respuesta fue paternalista, inútil y muy mojado. No recomiendo ninguna platos, sino que se rieron de nosotros cuando pedimos algo muy tradicional de Indonesia. No soy estúpido y sé que es un restaurante indonesio, pero algunos de los platos estaban etiquetados 'Thai', así que quería algo muy auténtico, pero cuando yo le pregunté ella se rió y dijo: "bueno, todo es tradicionalmente de Indonesia". Después de ese desagradable encouncter decidí que podíamos hacer nuestra propias decisiones y ella nos dejó y elegimos el rape, la carne y el pollo satay rendang para comenzar. Nuestra entrada salió bastante rápido, pero a 6 libras te dan 3 brochetas muy pequeñas que eran sabrosos, pero sin duda sólo suficiente para una persona. Después de esto, nos estaban esperando 40 minutos para que llegue nuestro principal platos. Ten en cuenta que íbamos a ver una película a las 8:30 pm y porque la comida tardaron mucho tiempo en venir, ya no podía ir a la visualización. Después de unos 30 minutos de espera, vi el hombre que trabaja en el restaurante a la mesa y punto en otra mesa que acababa de recibir de su comida y que parecía que estaban hablando de nosotros, quizás sirvieron a otros platos de nuestra mesa, que es la razón por la que tardaron tanto tiempo. No estoy seguro exactamente lo que sucedió, pero definitivamente no debería haber tomado 40 minutos para llegar a la comida. Cuando llegó le pregunté a la señora con pelo largo por qué tardaron tanto tiempo y ella me miraban como si quisieran decir 'qué diablos estás en unos y laminados en sus ojos me. Ella me hizo mi amigo y sentir tan incómodo todo el tiempo que estuvimos de comedor que queríamos comer rápido y salir. Su respuesta a mi pregunta fue que 40 minutos fue la cantidad normal de tiempo para cuando los alimentos se hizo recién. Esto no puede ser cierto, yo había cenado allí antes y no tome más de 20 minutos y ese tiempo el restaurante estaba lleno! Y cuando pedimos sólo había otras 2 mesas esperando! Así que ella no nos dieron ninguna disculpa, es evidente que 'el cliente siempre tiene la razón" no es el caso de Garuda. De todos modos, comimos, la comida era agradable, no excepcional, pero fue bueno. El rape era fresco y coconuty y la carne era deliciosa y muy rendang picante. Estábamos comiendo, la señora con el pelo largo que llegó una vez a preguntar cómo fue entonces parecía que ella estaba evitando nuestra mesa. Necesitamos más agua del grifo pero que no encontramos un momento hasta el final decirle esto. Nos dieron una disculpa de la chef para el largo tiempo de espera y de el hombre que trabajaba allí, pero este con el pelo largo camarera arruinó la experiencia para nosotros. Sin duda no será comer en Garuda de nuevo lo que es una pena porque se lo he recomendado a muchos amigos y familiares! Pero mi opinión sobre el lugar ha cambiado mucho de esta experiencia. Cuando nos íbamos, los propietarios del restaurante estaban siendo amable y tener una charla con otros clientes, pero a nosotros nos dijeron un 'bye' y miserable que nos fuimos. Tuve una experiencia muy desagradable en Garuda, que es una pena.

Nos encanta la comida aquí! Estado viniendo aquí durante un número de años y nunca me ha decepcionado! Menú vegetariano para nosotros y cada plato tiene un sabor diferente! Ambiente acogedor y muy agradable, Anni y Peter Gareth. Anni es un chef increíble y sabes que ella ama cocinar su comida cuando te he servido. Esperamos nuestra próxima visita! !

The food was amazing, the portions were perfect and the staff are very friendly. It's very small in there and gets booked up quite quickly. There was a big party of people behind us who were extremely loud and because it's such a small restaurant the sound bounces off the walls! So apart from them being really loud (I'm no scrooge they were just having fun) just couldn't hear very well when having a conversation but the place itself is amazing. Would highly recommend.

People had been telling me I'd like this place for years, literally years. When I eventually went, I really regretted not heeding their words. Food is just excellent, as long as you like things a bit spicy, and and the staff/owners create a super-friendly atmosphere. Wish it was open more!

The atmosphere was pleasant and plainly popular; you have to book well in advance.The food was very good and the service very good indeed - don't forget to bring your own beer and wine!

Had a fantastic meal here for my friends birthday. The menu is a simple selection of tasty treats which didn't disappoint. It feels as if you've been invited into a families home for the evening as the restaurant is cosy, warm and friendly. The service was attentive and the food was brilliant. Can't wait to go back.

I have visited Garuda's a few times in 2016. The Monkfish Curry is very tasty but if you can handle the spice level, then the Beef Rendang is to die for. The chicken noodles are a tasty favourite too. A portion for two will easily serve four people. If there are more than two of you, then you need to book ahead.Looking forward to my next visit already

So welcoming and informal it is almost like eating in the family home. The staff are all totally committed to giving you a great experience of simple, fresh and extremely tasty Indonesian cooking. Vegetarians well catered for. We made a selection of 4 dishes between the three of us (as we wanted to taste a range of dishes). I don't think they thought we could possibly eat that much - but it was so nice we ended up wiping the plates clean.We will now book for our sons 21st in November.

I can't fault the staff as they were really attentive and I would not judge a book by its cover so the decor didn't faze me however, the food although tasty enough I didn't feel we had value for money as the dinner plates were the size of side plates and both the monkfish curry and lamb curry did not come with any interesting looking vegetables so looked abit plain especially as we only had one medium sized bowl of rice between us now if the prices reflected this I would not have been so upset but when you've paid £14 and £12.50 respectively and that's without the rice I feel somewhat ripped off so I don't think I'll be frequenting this establishment anytime soon especially as you can have fabulous tasty cheaper meals a couple of hundred feet up the road.

Four of us (two couples) went here to celebrate a birthday. If my first impression was to go by I wasn't looking forward to it! From outside it doesn't look the best and inside wasn't that much better either! In all fairness I couldn't have been more wrong, the flavours of the amazing food we had were amazing. It was one of the best meals I have had in a long long time. The chicken noodles were my favourite and went lovely with my rice (2 portions between 4 of us) and chicken in coconut milk were outstanding. My husband and friends really enjoy their meals too. We took our own drink and had a really lovely evening. Staff were very helpful and friendly. Keep up the good work everyone we'll see you again soon xxx

We came upon it by chance a while ago, so when we returned to Swansea for a family gathering we decided to take the family, who all arrived an hour late from London but the restaurant were very patient. The starters were perhaps the least exciting, but for main course we all had fish except our vegan, and everything was absolutely delicious. There are also plenty of meat options if you choose. You can bring your own drink [we did]. The atmosphere felt great and the staff were lovely. We will return.

Visited this lovely Indonesian restaurant last evening, which was our first, but most certainly not our last. The gentleman who served us was extremely welcoming and helpful and explained the dishes to us. When the food arrived it was very fresh and very different to what any of us had tasted before. We cannot wait to return.I recommend you give this eatery a go, you won't be disappointed.

Went with friends this evening, I hadn't heard of it before but it really is a hidden gem as another reviewer has already described it. Will definitely recommend and go again. We did wait a while for our food but we hadn't chosen starters and it was clear that the cooking was done by one person and everything prepared from scratch. Sensible prices too. They don't have a licence but happy for you to bring your own and don't charge corkage.

My and my partner went here after it being recommended by a friend. The food is amazing the staff very friendly and go through menu with you so you don't end up ordering something really spicy, saying that I went for the Beef Rendeng and WOW what a meal if you get chance please pay this restaurant a visit.

Genuinely had the best meal I've ever had in Swansea here. The food is so delicious, and the staff so friendly and welcoming! We shared a chicken satay to start (I then wished we weren't sharing it was so good) and I had the chicken rendang for main which was beautiful, with rice and noodles. Will definitely be coming again! Try it!

Came here for the first time last week with a group for my birthday. Found the vegetarian options very tasty and fresh, great atmosphere and lovely staff. Will be returning.

Came here for the first time with my family the other day and the food was superb. Incredibly friendly waiters were happy to tell us through what we didn't quite understand on the menu. Lovely little place. Wish I had come sooner

We have been coming to this restaurant for many years it has never failed to serve up the most delicious food. The staff are very welcoming, and kind. We just love it. Can not recommend it enough. No fancy decor but cosy and friendly.

Have been coming here about 11 years and every time everything has been fantastic. As a vegetarian there is plenty of choice, although I find it hard to stray from the tempeh and spinach dish. All the flavours are delicious- good food and consistently good.The atmosphere is very relaxed and friendly. BYO too. Our favourite restaurant of all.

First time here , unaware byo, swiftly nipped to supermarket for wine ! Starters were delicious, especially the deep fried shredded prawn dish. We both had a prawn main which were large , fragrant and very filling with the rice . Restaurant is quirky and small , lovely customer service . Will definitely be back to try the noodles !

I enjoyed the spice in their dish, and would like to return to try some of their other choices! And yes, it is spicy (which is unusual in a good way!), but they do offer to turn it down a notch if you prefer.

We always have a nice evening at the restaurant.Be warned that the majority of the food is fairly spicy - anything on the menu marked HOT is not for the faint hearted!

WE have been to this wonderfull restaurant dozens of times over the last 16 years . Annie and Gareth are lovely people. This restaurant is tucked away on ST Helens road in a line of asian grocery stores and fast food out lets. It is a small but cosy place very welcoming warm and friendly. It is Indonesian food at its very best. And my partner and I have eaten in Every food outlet in Swansea area.The food is amazing hot spicy tangy and Authentic. ( Annie will tone down the heat level if you ask ) Gareth will put your beer wine etc in the fridge as soon as you arrive and then you look over the exiting menu . If your New to this cuisine Gareth will guide you to dishes that suit your palate. He will also chat about his many visits to Thailand Indonesia . A Fantastic place which we Absoloutly reccomend Brilliant

It is a small family resturant but with really good food and service. The curry were delicious. Went with work colleagues and we both enjoyed . Thanks so much and will see you soon.

We have been to this restaurant several times over the years after it was recommended by a friend. The food is different to other Asian cuisine, the menu is large enough to have a good choice. I had Ashleys chicken and prawn, it was, as it said on the menu Hot, but was cooled down the the addition of yogurt. The staff were very friendly, the lady owner/chef came out to the restaurant to make sure everyone was happy with her food. We certainly were.

Really good food and service. The noodles were delicious. Went with work colleagues and the visit was very relaxing and

A fabulous restaurant that never disappoints. We don't get to Garuda as much as we'd like to. Every Time we've eaten there the food has been fantastic and service impeccable. It's great!

The Garuda seems to be an all family restaurant which means you receive genuine interest from the staff that your food is good (which it was) and your experience was enjoyable (which it was) The great thing is you can bring your own drinks which means your not hit with a big bar bill on top of the meal price. Really enjoyed thank you to the staff lovely evening

Garuda has been a firm favourite of ours since we first visited around 5 years ago.Exceptional, friendly service, great atmosphere and always authentic, faultless food.Good value night out too considering you bring your own booze ;-)Best little gem in Swansea, keep up the good work!

The Garuda is out of the Swansea city centre and could easily be missed as it is tucked away in a row of small shops. However it is well worth seeking out. It has been family run for many years. You need to take your own drinks and there is no corkage charged so an evening out is remarkably good value. The ambiance is simple but comfortable and friendly. The menu is not extensive but there is a satisfying range of dishes which are generous and very well cooked. In fact, after a visit my wife and I returned two nights later because we were so keen to sample again the delights of this small restaurant. Try the soup - it's delicious! It is advisable to book for evening meals as this restaurant is often full especially at weekends.

I've been going to this restaurant for nearly 15 years and I still love it. It has an informal atmosphere and the food is always superb and great value for money. The bring your own drinks policy is great and there's plenty of local shops nearby.

A very lovely, humble restaurant. The food is absolutely delicious and the service is always spot on. The chef is wonderful and is also very attentive with customers, which is a really nice touch. I thoroughly recommend it.

I was brought here a couple of years ago by a family friend and told that it was a good place to eat, within an area that otherwise wouldn't appeal to me but the experience was fantastic and I was looking forward to the next opportunity to go along and I'm glad to say that five not only been back a couple of times but I keep telling people that they need to at least try it once. The service once you enter is 1st class, they really put the effort in and the ambience is just right. It probably works well for them that they only open for a few days each week, which keeps regulars coming back for more from the local area, as well as from 15 miles away, which is what my partner and I did.The food is second to none and just when I didn't think I'd find a nice Malaysian establishment in the area, this ticks all the boxes for taste and quality and to top it off, they let you take a doggie bag home too. Hats off to the chef, not sure if she's the owner but her finale to come out to say hi to the customers is a really nice touch also. High recommended!!

Visited Garuda for the first time on Friday night. The restaurant itself is fairly small with a really nice relaxing atmosphere. The service from the waiting staff was excellent, unobtrusive but with an obvious and genuine care for your dining experience. The food was just amazing, so full of flavour and really fresh. We shared the spring rolls and had the special noodles, egg fried rice and the prawn and chicken chilli dish from the specials menu - all superb. My partner and i were really impressed and cannot wait to go back :)

Went with two friends and their young daughter.The service was very attentive and friendly, and the owner running front of house was keen to explain the dishes and key ingredients. The menus were given to us along with an offer for us to ask for any dish which did not appear on the menu for the chef to make.The cooking was of an exceptionally high standard, there is no prepared base sauces here, everything is very different and very fresh. The satay was amazing, and the four dishes we shared for main course were each intensely flavoured but with numerous flavours well layered and subtle. Unlike many Indian restaurants, there was no feeling that each meat dish was a variation on a theme, or a common cream/tomato base sauce with different spices added, the sauces were completely unique and delicious. We had noodles and rice to supplement the meal.Dessert was the most interesting rice pudding I have ever had (in an entirely positive way)The chef came out for a chat afterwards and told us about her Sumatran roots - it is clear this is a kitchen run by one person who puts a huge amount of care and love into the food, and cooks traditional, no frills, Indonesian (Sumatran) home-style foodAll four of us left feeling as if we had discovered a hidden gem in South Wales and we will return.

Came here with partner for a night out. It was bring your own booze so we prepared by popping into the Tescos nearby! We shared a starter, and for mains I had a lamb curry with rice while my date had some sweet king prawn dish which looked tasty! We ha to stay for desert as the food was too good!On top of that, we were sat in a secluded area near the kitchen away from the other diners making the night more romantic and special! Well done Garuda!

This restaurant is situated on St Helens Rd, not the best of areas & doesn't look particularly enticing, but it is a small very friendly intimate restaurant that serves excellent Indonesian food, having lived in Indonesia I can vouch for the food being genuine, the owner is Indonesian & does all her own cooking, waiters all welcoming.this is a Bring Your Own Wine/drinks restaurant which makes it very affordable, in fact nothing is very expensive anyway, not a vast menu but all the better for it. If you haven't tasted Indonesian food this is the place to go.

Amazing food, attentive staff, and a warm and friendly atmosphere. What more would you ask for? Would definitely go again and recommend to all friends and family. The nicest touch was meeting the chef afterwards, she deserves all the accolades she gets on here.

I really don't understand these rave reviews. I was here last Saturday and very disappointed. We had the spring rolls, which were overdone and had no flavour or texture, followed by the spicy beef. It was not awful, but just some meat in a hot, nothing special sauce and nothing else - no veg or garnish - just some meat on a plate. Husband had sweet beef which was a bit more flavourful but oversweet and again, with no side of any kind. My friend had the Gado Gado which looked a little more interesting. Very small portions are okay if well done, but these was small and below average. The service was very slow. Won't go again.

If I could write a review in two words about Garuda, I would say "simply delicious".We visited as a couple on a Saturday night. When we made the reservation we were told that we could bring our own wine.The waiter was friendly throughout, and the customer service was excellent.The food was truly amazing and presented nicely. I didn't want the meal to end.I live in Swansea and can't believe I haven't been here before. Will visit again.

My husband and I spent a lovely evening at Garuda, the food is authentic and the welcome warm and friendly without being intrusive. We shared starters and then moved on to beef redang for hubby (too Spicey for me) which he said was delicious, I had gule udang, a prawn dish in the most delicious sauce I've tasted for a long time.....pud was black rice pudding with coconut cream, I would eat this every day if I could!! Our son has been to this restaurant a few times and now we know why, we will be back!!

We were in Swansea for two nights and had identified Garuda from Trip Advisor.We we turned up on the Friday night they were fully booked, but within half an hour of our leaving I received a phone call to say that they could fit us in on the Saturday. Excellent news!My wife and I shared a satay ayam starter, and then she had a delicious king prawn dish while I had the beef rendang. The menu said this dish would be HOT, the waiter told me that it would be hot - and both were correct! Possibly the hottest food I've eaten in 30 years......but it was utterly delicious - and it was a generous serving too!For pudding, the banana and coconut pancake was also a delight.In addition to the wonderful food, our experience was enhanced by the delightful service. Thank you!

Have been going here for a good few years now and the standard of food is excellent ,the staff are very helpful when choosing your dish ,if there is something you fancy but feel that you would like it more or less spicy then it can be done ,and you can take your own drinks, I would recommend booking as its a small place. Enjoy

Such a hidden gem; the food, ambience and service are fantastic at a easy price, plus you bring your own alcohol ( bubbly of course!). Cant wait to go back!

I went to Garuda's recently for my friends birthday. The food was simply excellent. Having sampled a lot of Asian cuisine I can confirm the authenticity. There is a good selection of dishes which are all very tasty and very reasonably priced. The waiter, who I suspect is the owner was an absolute gentleman and nothing was too much trouble. Highly recommended, the only Indonesian restaurant within a considerable distance, give it a go you most certainly wont be disappointed. It is BYO but there are licensed shops right next to it.

Booked this restaurant after a friend recommended, and I'm so glad I went.Staff were extremely friendly and accommodating, booked for 20 people and every plate was clean, everyone loved their food.Didn't wait long before we were served and for a large group we didn't have to wait long for everyone to have their food together considering it was just two people at the front serving.Will definitely be returning to Garuda, first experience of indonesian food and it just tasted so good. Chef even came out after to check if everything was ok.They even took the extra wine and put it.in their fridge for you so it stays cool while they have coolers for the open bottle.I can't recommend one dish as they were all so nice, but when it says hot.on the menu it certainly is.Thanks carwyn for being so accommodating and allowing.me to.change the booking the day before. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed

This has to be Indonesian food at it's best. The menu has a reasonable choice but is not 10 miles long, what they do they do massively well. The food is very well priced, it's sorted in to starters mains and sweets for Western sensibilities and at the moment if you did three courses you'd get away with about £25 a head. And for what you get it is amazing value. The place seems to be run by about 4 or 5 people who do the front of house, cooking and waiting. It's small and incredibly friendly, Take your own beer or wine (no spirits) and there is no corkage fee. Booking essential unless you are very lucky. Oh yes, an afterthought, when they say HOT, they mean HOT, all other dishes as described!

Loved this restaurant! Excellent service, friendly and quick. Good choice of vegetarian and vegan options in addition to many meat options. Wanted to try everything off the menu!Flavours were amazing and the portion sizes very reasonable. One of the best meals I've had in a long time and very reasonably priced. Greatly exceeded expectations and I will be returning as soon as possible.

We love Garuda. Spicy, gutsy Indonesian food, which is always wonderful. We actually crave their gado gado, it's so delicious. The service is always excellent: efficient and warm. It's one of our favourite places to eat. A tip - you can have the amount of chilli added to food turned up or down to taste.

I've visited this restaurant a few times now, the food is outstanding! My family have also been here and enjoyed. They allow you to bring your own alcohol which is nice. Some people may find this place expensive but you do get really tasty food!

First time at this restaurant and trying Indonesian food. Service staff and food fantastic. Excellent value for money- they coped well with large group and were very attentive with drinks even as we had brought our own. We will definitely be back!

In my opinion, Garuda is the best restaurant in Swansea.I urge you to try the Satay chicken to start and then Sambla Udan or Sambal Ayam for your main course. You could ask for an "Ashley special" which is a mixture of Chicken & Prawn Sambal. This dish is rather spicy, but the staff are more than happy to help if you would like the dish "toned down" in any way.As it is a relatively small restaurant, you will need to book in advance if you would like a table on a Saturday night. Always a very warm reception by very friendly staff.Try it!

A very friendly restaurant, which I will return to again and again. There is a good selection of food, of which all is fresh and delicious! The staff are helpful and very very nice. The restaurant itself is quite small and it is a very popular place to eat out - so reservations are necessary. This is the only problem that you cannot get your fix straight away!! p.s. Take your own alcoholic drinks with you!

Very lovely and warm staff welcome you with open arms. As it was my first time having Indonesian food I was very apprehensive. For starters I ordered prawns in batter which was delicious (on the menu it began with 'B'. Sorry) and then as a main I ordered the chicken noodles. We went as a large party and when we arrived the waiter had even printed out (along with our names down the side) what we had already pre ordered. The extra touch was that we were allowed to bring our own drink as well. The only thing which stopped me giving it a 5/5 was the fact it was so warm inside. As it was full the poor ceiling fan didn't stand much of a chance keeping us all cool. Would definitely go again and broaden my horizon with the menu!

Wonderful and freshly made Indonesian food by Annie. The chicken soup starter is a must with the most beautiful flavours! and if you like your food spicy hot, ask for the Ashley special (chicken and king prawn curry extra hot). To finish, the apple crumble with cinnamon and ice cream... fantastic. We go for our curry "fix" every month.

Second visit and just as amazing as the first. Such friendly and helpful staff. Food amazing and so tasty. Well worth a visit.

This is one of our favourite restaurants in Swansea, it is unpretentious and modest and always brilliant!

Love going here. Eaten here a couple of times over my life and it is always a treat. The menu is not huge but everything I have tried has been amazing. The last time I tried the Beef Rendang again and it's still very spicy and very tasty (waiter and chef checked up on me to see if I was okay with the spice, which was nice of them!). It's quite a small restaurant but caters for most sizes. Just book and remember to bring alcohol (if you want it) and you'll have a lovely evening, guaranteed.

went here for the first time as a party of 8. Food was really lovely. very tasty and fresh. Lovely staff and very helpful. will definitely be returning very soon

Went for Valentines day and can't wait to go back! The restaurant is cosy and relaxed with a warm atmosphere, the wait staff are very freindly and helpful with menu choices and the food is to die for!!Definitely recommend the Gado Gado and Rendang curry, but everything looked fantastic. Overall an absolute Gem in Swansea, would recommend for couples, freinds and parties.

This restaurant is a Swansea gem! Eaten here many times and whatever dish you choose- mild medium or fiery- the ingredients are always fresh and cooked to perfection. Once or twice, when arranged by phone whilst booking the table, they have cooked me something off the menu wanting vegetarian, no chilli and with coconut milk. Wonderful bistro atmosphere and patient, gentle service.