Bali has been one of my favourite destinations since my first visit to Indonesia as a teenager. I love its unique culture, colourful ceremonies and, of course, delicious Balinese food.
Balinese cuisine reflects the mainly Hindu population of the island but also borrows from the cooking traditions of nearby Java and as far afield as India. It can be spicy and but is always full of flavour.
Once visitors to Bali needed to venture away from the main resort areas to find local food. These days you can try local dishes almost anywhere – from local street food stalls called warung through to Michelin starred restaurants. You can even hire a chef to prepare you a feast at your favourite Bali vacation rentals.
So what foods should you try in Bali? And what are the main elements that make the food of Bali so delicious.
Learn all about it in our Bali food guide
Headed to Bali? Check out this excellent guide to travel in Bali
This guide has the best locations to stay and these great tips to know before you go
Elements of Balinese cuisine
Staples of the cooking in Bali include rice, fish and pork as well as the tropical fruits and vegetables native to the island. What makes the cuisine unique is the use of pungent spice blends, fish paste, chilli and palm sugar.
Fresh galangal, ginger, turmeric and garlic are used alongside dried spices. Most people are familiar with the use of white and black pepper, coriander, cumin, and cloves in south east Asian cooking but in Bali the use of candlenut, nutmeg and sesame seeds is also common.
One of my favourite mainstays of Balinese cuisine are the sambals or spicy condiments made with a variety of chilli and other ingredients like coconut, tamarind and shrimp paste.
What to eat in Bali
Babi Guling (roast suckling pig)
Once saved for special ceremonies and occasions, babi guling is one of the most popular delicacies served in warungs and restaurants across Bali. The roasted pork meat comes with lawar (see below) and steamed rice, and is a staple food in almost all rituals and ceremonies.
Where to eat: Babi Guling Ibu Oka, Jalan Raya Teges Peliatan, Ubud
Rujak Buah
By Sofiah Budiastuti – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
Rujak Buah is another traditional Balinese dish. Similar to fruit salad, the dish consists mainly of raw mango, pineapple, cucumber, and papaya. It is served with a spicy sweet and sour dressing of ground chilli, peanuts and palm sugar.
Want to know more about exotic fruits – click here
Gado gado
In Indonesian, gado gado means mix mix which is an apt name for this warm salad. Made with slightly steamed vegetables, tempeh, boiled potatoes and hard boiled eggs, the salad is served with a spicy peanut sauce and crispy fried shallots.
Lawar
This authentic Balinese dish is made of a combination of vegetables, minced pork meat, grated coconut mixed spices and other condiments. Lawar is normally served with steamed rice and a soup of chopped banana stems.
The lawar dish is usually prepared in large quantities, during celebrations and other important ceremonies in order to feed big crowds.
Some of my favourite dishes is Lawar udang, made with green papaya and served with shrimp sate, and Lawar Kuwir, made of minced duck skin and fried duck meat.
Where to eat: Bumbu Bali Restaurant and Cooking School, Jalan Pratama, Tanjung Benoa, Nusa Dua
Serombotan
A vegetarian dish, serombotan is made from boiled vegetables such as, beans, waterlily, eggplant and spinach.
The prepared vegetables are then mixed with fried peanuts, soya bean, grated coconut, chilli sauce, lime juice and spices. The dish has its origin from Klungkung, and is considered to be a healthy snack in Bali.
Bebek betutu (smoked duck)
Possibly Bali’s most famous dish, bebek betutu or smoked duck is a delicacy that you must order in advance. Duck is covered in spices and wrapped in betel leaves before the slow smoking process begins. Taking at least 24 hours to cook, it is well worth waiting for this favourite Balinese dish.
Where to eat: You must visit Bebek Tepi Sawah, Jalan Raya Goa Gajah Br. Teges Peliatan, Ubud
Ayam Betutu (steamed chicken)
Ayam betutu or steamed chicken is another poultry favourite. Chicken is marinated, then gradually steamed for about an hour and then roasted over an open flame with coconut husks for another 60 minutes. It is then wrapped in banana leaves to retain the moisture in the meat ensuring the dish is extremely juicy and tender.
Ayam Betutu, though relatively easy to make, is a great hit and parties and social gatherings, especially when the banana leaf it is served in is opened by the guests. In Bali, this dish is considered to be a great treat
Where to eat: Warung Ayam Betutu Liku, Jl. Gandapura III F No 10, Denpasar
Martabak
Available both in sweet and sour form, Martabak, is another popular local dish of Bali. Like a stuffed pancake, the sweet variety comes with a thick filling of chocolate or banana and is widely consumed during the evening hours.
The savoury version, Martabak Telur, has a filling of duck egg and minced meat with green onion and other seasonings.
Tipat Cantok
The most traditional and commonly found dish in Bali, Tipat Cantok, is made from a mixture of steamed vegetables such as water lily, ling beans and sprouts which are mixed with rice cake and peanut sauce.
The dish is hugely popular with the locals, and is found in most warungs but rarely in the big restaurants.
Sate lilit (satay)
Sate is one of the most popular foods not only in Bali but the whole of South East Asia. The Bali version is special because of the addition of extra ingredients, like lemongrass and chilli, which are used to give it a stronger flavour.
Sate is a simple dish that involves grilling minced chicken, mutton, pork or fish, threaded onto bamboo skewers that are cooked over a charcoal fire. The meat is usually served with steamed or fried rice (nasi goreng) and peanut sauce.
Where to eat: head to your favourite warung or cafe, you are unlikely to find bad sate in Bali
Join a Bali food tour or cooking class
I always say if you really want to uncover authentic local cuisine you need to head to the produce markets of the area you visit. A great way to do this is with a guide who can point out ingredients and explain the way they are eaten and used in local dishes.
When you visit Bali, do seek out a local guide or tour to help you explore this unique cuisine. Here are some ideas for foodie experiences in Bali
✪ Join a cooking class at a farm near Ubud and test your skills at making satay lilit and tempeh asam manis
✪ This Bali food safari is a progressive feast of up to 12 course exploring the local cuisine in beautiful venues across the island
✪ Enjoy eating a meal with a local family in Ubud in the heart of the island’s rice paddies
✪ Discover Seminyak’s street food scene and local warungs in a VW Kombi van
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The creator, writer and photographer behind Untold Morsels, Katy has been travelling and tasting the world since she was a teenager.
Now the proud mum of twins, she hopes they grow up to share her passions of great food, wine and travel. Favourite destination: Italy