Food is an important part of Bali’s culture, and a visit to the region is incomplete without a taste of local nasi goreng or a platter of nasi campur. Bali has everything, from trendy coffee shops offering smoothie bowls with your name written in slices of dragonfruit to humble street carts serving up 15k Indonesian Rupiah mie goreng.
No matter what you are looking for, Bali has something for everyone in food and dining experiences. Here are some that you can’t miss when visiting Bali.
Local Cuisine and Popular Dishes
Satay Pork Belly. Alpha Lau. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
Locals and tourists alike crowd “warungs” in Bali for a quick and tasty feed. A local warung is a small business that serves daily meals, light snacks and bottled drinks. At your closest warung, you can find the meals that keep Bali going: nasi goreng, mie goreng, gado-gado, satay, nasi campur and more. For a quick orientation, learning some Indonesian can be helpful when deciding what to order: goreng translates to “fried,” nasi to “rice,” ayam to “chicken,” campur to “mixed,” and mie to “noodle.”
Nasi and mie Goreng are fried rice and noodles, respectively, typically served stirred up with vegetables, your choice of chicken or tempeh and a fried egg atop. Gado-gado consists of mixed vegetables and, often, tempeh served in a delicious peanut sauce — a vegetarian’s favorite when visiting Bali. Satay is a skewered grilled meat, which you may add on the side of another dish or enjoy with some nasi! Nasi campur varies from warung to warung, but it is a mixture of side dishes with rice, and sometimes, you may choose the sides from a buffet. These are just a handful of classic meals you’ll find and enjoy at a local warung.
Warungs are one of the best ways to immerse yourself in delicious local cuisine and are likely to be the least expensive dining option when going out to eat, though some are more upscale and catered toward Western tourists.
For other specialized dishes in Bali, found in both local warungs and restaurants alike, the list could go on:
Seafood is a popular menu item in the region, and is often caught fresh from the lengthy coasts of Bali. Ganesha Cafe is known for its lobster platters served right over the water of Jimbaran Bay.
Beef rendang, a slow-cooked spicy beef dish, is a traditional Indonesian food and often incorporated in many fusion and upscale restaurants. Try a fried beef rendang gyoza from Laggas in Uluwatu.
If you’re hanging out on the beach, don’t miss out on a fresh coconut, Indonesia’s finest Bintang beer or an ear of grilled corn.
Trending restaurants and cafes
Due to the high number of expats and tourists in Bali, trendy cafes and restaurants are abundant. Bali has endless unique restaurant experiences for brunch, a quick smoothie bowl or poolside dinner. For health-conscious travelers or nomads, wellness-oriented cafes are plentiful, especially near gyms and health centers. Throughout South and Central Bali, there is no shortage of food options.
A smoothie bowl from a cafe in Canggu. Commeuneenviedevoyage. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
Recommended restaurants and cafes:
There is a wide range of delicious restaurants to try in Bali, but here are a few recommendations.
Cantina Rooftop in Ubud fuses modern dishes and tradition from its location on the jungle roof overlooking the Pura Gunung Lebah temple.
Yuki, with locations in both Uluwatu and Canggu, offers delicious Japanese food. The restaurant adds a modern and local twist to traditional Japanese flavors, curating a dining experience that will bring you back for more.
For a more local experience, visit Bebak Joni restaurant in Ubud to dine amidst a rice field that makes farm-to-table a reality.
Temple by Ginger Moon in Seminyak pairs exotic cocktails with authentic food from a modern setting and features weekly entertainment from local Balinese performers.
After a day of diving and snorkeling at Lipah Beach, enjoy a meal to refuel at Pondok Vienna Beach Restaurant in Amed. This beachside restaurant is the perfect place to post up. With its own pool, bar and delicious food, this is the place to be on one of the few sandy beaches in rocky Amed.
For a charming location with great food in Canggu, stop in at Penny Lane. Enjoy delicious food ranging from healthy offerings to loaded fries that will satisfy any craving.
In Amed, try some delicious health-conscious food at Rimba Cafe. Sit in their beautiful garden while enjoying a smoothie bowl just a quick walk away from the beach.
Ginger Moon Restaurant in Seminyak. Ginger Moon Bali. CC0.
Unique food and drink experiences to try:
There are a number of unique Balinese dining experiences that are sure to elevate your experience of culture.
Tebasari emphasizes Bali culture through traditional performances by fire dancers, local musicians and exotic performers to provide entertainment while you enjoy an authentic Balinese meal.
Merlin’s in Ubud creates a magical experience through immersive performances and an expansive menu that combines curiosity of the unknown with classic Balinese culture.
Enjoy your food from a floating tray in a private pool at Kekab Restaurant, a beachside restaurant that specializes in fresh seafood.
Dietary Restrictions and Preferences
For anyone worried about restaurants accommodating their dietary preferences, know that many restaurants are willing to cater to your needs. Some, such as d’Alas Warung, pride themselves on vegan dishes and all-natural ingredients.
An aside: The real deal on “Bali Belly”
Often when discussing food and dining in Bali, it cannot be without the conversation of the dreaded “Bali Belly.” “Bali Belly” does not refer to a specific illness or bacteria despite popular belief, rather it is just a colloquial term for an upset traveler’s stomach (which may happen anywhere, not just in Bali). Some recommend staying away from certain foods to avoid it, but some people can eat everything without an issue, or others “stay away” from certain things and end up doubly sick. An upset stomach can be caused by an introduction to completely new bacteria in foods, as you have not grown up eating in this area, not just food that has gone “off.”
Some ways to avoid an upset stomach:
- Drinking bottled water and avoiding the tap (Yes, even for brushing your teeth)
- Avoiding undercooked foods or meats
- Use hygienic eating practices
- Wash your hands before eating
- Choose establishments with hygienic cooking practices
If you have gotten sick, make sure to stay hydrated. Before you travel, reach out to your doctor to bring over some medication like electrolytes, gastric relief or pain relief medication that may be useful if you end up sick. Additionally, some people take pro-biotics to support their gut bacteria before travel.