Ultimate Bali Food Guide: 20 Must-Try Indonesian Dishes

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Bali is one of the best places in Indonesia to explore local food.

You can eat inexpensive meals at traditional warungs, or try Balinese specialties.

The Bali food guide highlights options from restaurants serving cuisines from around the world.

For a first trip, it is worth trying at least a few traditional Indonesian and Balinese dishes.

1. Nasi Goreng

Nasi goreng is Indonesian fried rice.

It is usually prepared with rice, vegetables, egg and seasonings, with chicken, seafood or other ingredients added depending on the restaurant.

It is one of the easiest Indonesian dishes to find throughout Bali.

2. Mie Goreng

Mie goreng is Indonesian-style fried noodles.

It can contain vegetables, egg, chicken or seafood and is commonly served as a quick and inexpensive meal.

3. Nasi Campur

Nasi campur consists of rice served with several small portions of different side dishes.

The exact combination varies between restaurants and regions.

A Balinese version can include vegetables, meat, sambal and other local specialties.

It is a good choice if you want to try several flavors in one meal.

4. Babi Guling

Babi guling is one of Bali’s most famous traditional dishes.

It consists of roasted suckling pig prepared with a mixture of herbs and spices.

It is traditionally associated with ceremonies but is also available at specialized restaurants and warungs.

5. Ayam Betutu

Ayam betutu is chicken cooked with a rich mixture of Balinese spices.

The meat is slow-cooked until tender and is known for its strong, aromatic flavor.

It is one of the traditional Balinese dishes worth trying during your trip.

6. Bebek Betutu

Bebek betutu is a duck version of the betutu preparation.

The duck is cooked slowly with spices and herbs.

The result is tender meat with a strong and aromatic flavor.

7. Lawar

Lawar is a traditional Balinese dish made from a mixture of vegetables, coconut and other ingredients.

Different versions can contain meat.

Recipes vary between regions and families.

8. Sate Lilit

Sate lilit is a Balinese style of satay.

Instead of placing chunks of meat on a skewer, seasoned minced meat or seafood is wrapped around a bamboo stick.

It is commonly served with rice and other Indonesian dishes.

9. Gado-Gado

Gado-gado is a vegetable dish served with peanut sauce.

It can include vegetables, tofu, tempeh and boiled egg.

It is a useful option if you want something lighter than a meat-based Indonesian meal.

10. Rendang

Rendang is a slow-cooked meat dish originating from the Minangkabau cuisine of Sumatra.

Beef is commonly cooked with coconut milk and a complex mixture of spices until the sauce becomes thick and intensely flavored.

Although it is not originally a Balinese dish, it is widely available in Indonesia and Bali.

11. Soto Ayam

Soto ayam is an Indonesian chicken soup.

It usually contains chicken, noodles or rice, herbs and spices.

The exact recipe varies from place to place.

It is a good choice when you want something warm and relatively light.

12. Bakso

Bakso is an Indonesian meatball soup.

It is usually served with noodles, vegetables and broth.

Street vendors and small restaurants often serve it as an inexpensive meal.

13. Pepes Ikan

Pepes ikan is fish seasoned with herbs and spices, wrapped in leaves and steamed or grilled.

The cooking method gives the dish a distinctive aroma.

It is a good option for travelers who prefer seafood.

14. Ikan Bakar

Ikan bakar means grilled fish.

Fresh fish is usually seasoned with spices and grilled over a flame.

It is particularly popular in coastal areas.

15. Sambal Matah

Sambal matah is a Balinese raw sambal made with ingredients such as chili, shallots and lemongrass.

It is commonly served alongside meat, seafood or rice dishes.

It can be quite spicy.

16. Pisang Goreng

Pisang goreng is fried banana.

It is a common Indonesian snack and can be served simply or with additional toppings.

It works well as a quick dessert or afternoon snack.

17. Es Campur

Es campur is a mixed iced dessert.

It can contain shaved ice, fruit, jelly, sweetened ingredients and syrup.

It is particularly refreshing in Bali’s hot weather.

18. Es Cendol

Cendol is a sweet dessert drink containing green rice-flour jelly, coconut milk and palm sugar.

It is served cold and is widely enjoyed across Indonesia.

19. Indonesian Coffee

Indonesia produces several well-known coffee varieties.

Bali itself has a coffee-growing region in the highlands around Kintamani.

Coffee lovers can visit local cafés or coffee farms to learn more about Indonesian coffee production.

20. Balinese Desserts and Snacks

Bali has many traditional sweets and snacks made from rice flour, coconut, banana and palm sugar.

Markets and traditional food stalls are often the best places to discover them.

Do not limit yourself to restaurant menus.

Where to Eat in Bali

You can find Indonesian food almost everywhere in Bali.

Warungs

Warungs are small local eateries.

They are often among the cheapest places to eat and can be excellent for trying traditional Indonesian food.

Local Restaurants

Traditional restaurants offer a wider selection of Indonesian and Balinese dishes.

They are useful if you want a more comfortable setting while still focusing on local cuisine.

Markets

Traditional markets can be interesting places to discover snacks, fruit and prepared food.

Food hygiene standards vary, so choose busy stalls with high turnover and food that is freshly prepared.

Tourist Restaurants

Popular tourist areas have restaurants serving Indonesian food alongside international cuisine.

Prices are usually higher than at local warungs, but the environment may be more familiar to international visitors.

How Much Does Food Cost in Bali?

Food costs vary significantly depending on where you eat.

A simple local meal at a warung can be inexpensive.

Mid-range restaurants cost more, while upscale restaurants and beach clubs can become expensive.

If you are traveling on a budget, eating local Indonesian food is one of the easiest ways to reduce daily expenses.

Is Balinese Food Spicy?

Some Balinese dishes can be very spicy, but not everything is hot.

Sambal is often served separately, allowing you to control how much you eat.

If you cannot tolerate spicy food, ask about the level of chili before ordering.

Is Bali Food Safe for Tourists?

Food safety depends on the individual restaurant or food stall. Choose places with good hygiene practices and high customer turnover. Make sure cooked food is served hot. Be cautious with raw ingredients if you are unsure about their preparation.

Drink bottled or properly treated water if you are not accustomed to the local water supply.

Vegetarian Food in Bali

Vegetarian travelers generally have many options.

Gado-gado, vegetable dishes, tofu, tempeh, rice dishes and many modern restaurant menus can be adapted for vegetarian diets.

Always explain your dietary requirements clearly because some sauces and seasonings may contain animal products.

Vegan Food in Bali

Bali has a particularly large selection of vegan and plant-based restaurants, especially in areas such as Ubud and Canggu.

However, traditional dishes can contain eggs, fish sauce, shrimp paste or other animal ingredients.

Ask about the ingredients rather than assuming that a vegetable dish is automatically vegan.

Final Advice

Do not spend your entire Bali trip eating only international food.

Try local warungs, traditional Balinese dishes and Indonesian specialties.

Start with nasi goreng, nasi campur, sate lilit, ayam betutu and other familiar dishes, then explore less familiar foods as you become more comfortable.

Food is one of the easiest ways to experience a different side of Bali.

You can find more detail in our Bali Travel Guide: Where to Stay, Things to Do & Travel Tips.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is nasi campur?

Rice served with several small portions of different side dishes, with the exact combination varying between restaurants and regions — a Balinese version can include vegetables, meat, sambal and other local specialties.

What is babi guling?

One of Bali’s most famous traditional dishes, roasted suckling pig prepared with a mixture of herbs and spices, traditionally associated with ceremonies but also available at specialized restaurants and warungs.

What is sate lilit?

A Balinese style of satay where seasoned minced meat or seafood is wrapped around a bamboo stick instead of placing chunks of meat on a skewer, commonly served with rice and other Indonesian dishes.

Is rendang a Balinese dish?

No — it originates from the Minangkabau cuisine of Sumatra, made from beef slow-cooked with coconut milk and a complex mixture of spices, though it’s widely available throughout Indonesia and Bali.

What is gado-gado?

A vegetable dish served with peanut sauce that can include vegetables, tofu, tempeh and boiled egg — a useful lighter option compared to a meat-based Indonesian meal.