“Smells The Same, But…” Tourists Disappointed After Trying Rotiboy Rival in Bali

July 17, 2026July 17, 2026

A Familiar Smell That Sparked Excitement

For many Malaysians travelling abroad, craving local favourites is almost unavoidable. Recently, a tourist couple shared their experience while visiting Discovery Mall in Kuta, Bali, where they stumbled upon a bakery selling coffee buns that looked similar to Malaysia’s iconic Rotiboy. The rich coffee aroma immediately reminded them of home. Although they knew it was not the original brand they were familiar with, the irresistible smell was enough to make them eager to give it a try. Having skipped breakfast that morning, they were even more excited to see if it could satisfy their craving.

High Expectations Ended In Disappointment

After purchasing the bun, the couple’s excitement faded slightly when they realised it was not completely warm. Still, they decided to continue with the taste test in hopes that it could live up to the version they loved back in Malaysia. “Let’s see if it compares to Rotiboy. Come on Emily, take a bite,” one of them said. Emily initially thought the flavour was similar after her first bite, but her opinion quickly changed as she continued chewing. When asked what she thought, she honestly shook her head and replied, “It’s not good. It doesn’t hit.” They felt the texture and flavour failed to satisfy the craving they had for the original coffee bun. Asked to rate it, Emily gave it a score of just two out of ten, while saying Rotiboy deserved “10, 15 out of 10.” “This one doesn’t have much flavour. It kind of falls flat. It’s not the same,” they added.

Rotiboy And Roti O Are Separate Brands

The couple’s honest review showed that while the appearance and aroma of a coffee bun may be replicated overseas, recreating the authentic taste that Malaysians know and love is another story. For them, the search for a Rotiboy-like bun in Bali ended with the conclusion that the Malaysian version remains unmatched. For the record, Rotiboy originated in Malaysia after being founded in 1998 in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, by Hiro Tan before expanding internationally, including into Indonesia. Meanwhile, Roti O is an Indonesian brand established in 2012 under PT Sebastian Citra Indonesia. Although many people confuse the two because both specialise in coffee buns with a similar concept, they are separate companies with no operational relationship.

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