🍜 Are you a foodie & a flavour adventurer? You found the perfect place : here's a guide about local food & unique specialties, some of them most people will never try. We all love avocado toasts, but Bali & Indonesia are so much more than this!
🍚 I will take you to the local warungs and to more modern places. Because Bali is also home to amazing chefs who are now creating new dishes & experiment with the classics. My recommendations will take you on a food journey throughout Indonesian flavours. Of course, there are hundreds of delicious warungs on the island, but here's my absolute favorite.
🥥 I will add my own recommendations, specify if it's spicy and vegetarian friendly . As well as some facts about Bali and how its story is so tied to its food.
✅ All adresses have been tested & approved, they are my personal favorites & I hope they will become yours as well.
💵 All budgets can find happiness : from super local to higher end.
🧭 Let's go from south to north, we'll first head to what we call the Bukit area. Bukit means 'hill', you will understand when you get there! Perched higher above the sea level, this area used to be a quiet surfer's spot. Now it's the new place 'a la mode'. But you can still find some local gems, especially in Jimbaran area where a lot of Balinese & Indonesian still live.
Outside influences
🍚 In the south of Bali, the influx of tourism, both international but also national is having a huge impact on the cuisine. Many people from Java & all over Indonesia come to Bali to work & bring their own specialties. So if you want to explore, the south is the best place. When you start going up the mountains and deeper inland, you will find more of the original Bali tastes.
Did you know the best dish in the world is Indonesian?
🏆 Of course there are many different surveys, but one of them in 2011 by CNN, voted beef rendang to be the world's best dish. A slow cooked beef stew with a mix of Indonesian spices like coriander seeds, galanga, ginger, turmeric and so much more. Beef rendang is specialty from Sumatra, hence it can be difficult to find a really good one in Bali. You're best bet will be restaurants with owners from that region.
✅ If you need the perfect list of what to prepare for before your trip to Bali, here's a guide of everything you need : stays, which area is best for you, paperwork and a lot more :
🔥 Probably my favorite eatery on the island for Indonesian flavours. The owners are a couple from Java who travelled the world as chefs before settling in Bali. They chose to focus on the classics of their childhood and what Indonesia does best. Everything is great, but they are especially famous for their barbecue & brisket.
🏆 Vivi is the first Indonesian woman pit-master in the country, not a small achievement!
🪴 The place is only open for dinner in a nice breezy garden area. Amazing quality for the price, you won't break the bank & just dream to come back.
My personal favorites :
- Bakso goreng ( the most common soup in the country)
- Smoked brisket
- Nasi goreng brisket ( a twist on the classic fried rice)
- Ayam crispy rica for some extra spice 🌶️🌶️
Budget : 💰 Very affordable
Spicyness : 🌶️ Many 'tidak pedas' options
Vegetarian friendly : 🌱 A few options but meat is definitely the main ingredient
🥩 Famous for the steaks, Gourmet Garage is restaurant, supplier & awesome place to go to. You can choose the piece of meat you want & then they cook on the spot.
But my recommendation is to try Jono's products : made with Bali's black pigs (endemic to the island), he's reviving a type of meat people were not cooking anymore. He works closely with the breeders and all the meat is locally sourced, in small quantities & all products are homemade : sausages, saucissons etc.
Budget : 💰💰 Average budget
Spicyness : 🌶️ Plenty of not spicy dishes
Vegetarian friendly : 🌱 🌱 Lots of meat but also many salads & veggie burgers
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South Bali
Let's head to the city, you will find plethora or places to eat, but I will showcase the ones I consider closer to Indonesian flavours & that people don't usually go to.
The type of place only Indonesians go to, you won't find many 'bule' (foreigners) there. The place is very cosy, away from Kuta's hectic streets. You will find all the dishes locals love, even desserts! If street food scares you, it's the perfect place to start some classics like :
🧋Es Daluman or es pisang ijo
🧃Sirsak juice (my favorite fruit & a classic here)
🍜 All the variations of bubur (porridge), it's the Indonesian comfort food
🌶️ Rujak : a spicy fruit salad usually sold on the side of the street.
You will feel like a reel Indonesian on holiday!
Budget : 💰 Very affordable
Spicyness : 🌶️ Easy to choose not spicy but still possible to make it 🥵🥵
Vegetarian friendly : 🌱 Some options, but great for an afternoon sweet snack
🇮🇩 Masakan Padang is a classic from Sumatra, the island north of Bali. It's buffet style, where you choose everything you want in your plate with a base of rice. Don't be scared to add more carbs, Indonesians favour rice & noodles together! Everything is delicious, but definitely try the beef randang. Also easy to make it vegetarian as you pick what you want!
Also open 24/7, perfect place after a long flight in the middle of the night. You'll see the local crowd there of workers, neighbours & retirees who have been living in Sanur for decades.
Budget : 💰 Very affordable, you get the price when you finish making your plate.
Spicyness : 🌶️🌶️ Lots of options might be a bit spicy but it's manageable. Just ask if 'pedas?'
Vegetarian friendly : 🌱🌱 You can make a vegetarian plate fairly easily with the corn fritters, tempe, tofu & vegetables.
High quality coffee using Indonesian grains.
Budget : 💰💰
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Bali chili 🌶️
🔥There are 2 main types of chilis used in Bali : the Lombok chili from the neighbour island, it's the big ones about 15cm long and bright red. These are much sweeter and almost not spicy at all. They are the more common ones used in touristy places.
🔥🔥🔥 The ones you can be scared about are Bali chilis. Tiny dark red chilis with a big kick! They are used in cooking every day food and to make the sambal : the usual hot paste they serve everywhere.
Ubud
The cultural heart of the island, the city also infamous for its traffic. Ubud is still a wonderful place to stay at & the food scene is probably the best on the island.
A renowned fine-dining establishment who reinvents local dishes. If you want to experience a gastronomic experience, Locavore is the place! They also source their ingredients locally.
💰💰💰 Expensive for the island, but compared to a similar experience in Europe or the US, quite affordable.
🌱 Some options
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There are plenty more options of delicious food in Ubud, but my other favorites are not really Indonesian inspired. I'll give you the recommendations if you still want to try them!
My favorite Indian : it's original, delicious, portions are reasonable & you will discover some new dishes.
I especially recommend the Pani Puri.
💰💰 Medium range
🌱🌱🌱 Most of the menu is vegetarian
🌶️ Mostly not very spicy
Peruvian & south american influences, absolutely delicious & original. The pisco sour is also especially good.
The place is tiny so I recommend to book.
💰💰💰 Higher end, but so worth it
🌱 Some vegetarian options
🌶️ Mostly not spicy
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Central Bali
💎 A hidden gem & one of the most stunning area of Bali. Get lost in the pristine rice fields & head to my favorite place to stay : Batukaru Coffee estate. You will never want to leave...
Hotel but also restaurant it's one of the place I recommend the most.
The Indonesian owner, after living abroad, dreamed of a natural oasis in Bali. The property spreads over a huge area and cultivates everything that is used in the restaurant, even the rice & the coffee! All dishes derive from Indonesian classics as well.
But my favorite is the hot chocolate : you can see the cacao growing on the side of the paths to the rooms! As the temperature drops in the evening, it's so cosy to sip a hot chocolate looking at the view.
The place is bit more remote, but I recommend to stay a couple nights to really enjoy the quiet & the walks in the rice fields.
💰💰 Medium range
🌶️ Easy to ask not spicy
🌱🌱🌱 The menu is only vegetarian
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North Bali
🌋 The less accessible yet most rewarding area of the island. I have a lot more adresses to test & will add them to this guide soon. Venture north if you're looking for authenticity in the culture, the people & the flavours.
A true gem : chef Gede welcomes you the traditional Balinese compound where he lives with his family. But there is no menu : he cooks with ingredients fresh from the day, and it can be different everyday. Sit and wait or even watch the process to prepare Balinese classics.
💰 Affordable for the amazing experience
🌱🌱 Easy to ask vegetarian options
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Sidemen
🌾 Another rice field rich area, always green & luscious. Sadly a lot of the food options are disappointing, too tourist oriented & lack flavours, except for this address : a favorite for many of my friends as well when we pass through Sidemen.
Lovely environment, they also cook what they grow and offer cooking classes. The food is really good the walk through the garden very nice.
🌱🌱🌱 Entirely vegan
💰💰 Medium range
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Amlapura
🕌 Not the typical stop during a trip to Bali, but if you're adventurous & can use google translate, you can try some delicious Balinese food. Those places cater to locals first and the flavours will not disappoint!
One of the very few places where you can try the regional dish of Karangasem : Nasi Belayag. Steamed rice in banana leaf with a mix of veggies & meat covered with a coconut curry style sauce. One of my favorite thing to eat, and most people never hear about it.
It's also a very local place, you won't see many foreigners there.
🌱🌱 Easy to ask without meat
💰 Very affordable
Another place always full of locals, buffet style, it's always fresh & delicious.
🌱🌱 Quite a lot of veggies & tempe, tofu
💰 Very affordable
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Amed
🤿 The diving heaven of Bali with its volcano view. Most touristy area in the region but still very quiet compared to the south of the island. What we eat in the day is the most important question here and the options are many!
This area is special to my heart and if you want to explore more of it, I have prepared a more detailed guide of it :
The owner is a french who married a local fisherman, from her past of chef in France, she created a 'fusion' menu between the two cuisines. Everything is delicious but my favorite is the banana flower curry. Book in advance as it's usually full.
🌱🌱🌱 Very vegetarian & vegan frendly
💰💰 Medium range
If you want to experience a real warung, it's the perfect place, the owner's are lovely and welcoming and the food always delicious. But as most local places, service is slow, sometimes very slow, my recommendation is to avoid going if you already see a couple tables. I personally love to order a nasi campur : white rice with a mix of veggies & meat.
Don't refuse the free dessert of fried bananas, it's delicious and Iluh will get mad!
🌱🌱 Lots of vegetarian option
💰 Low budget
Another place where locals, expats & tourists come to. Super affordable & delicious : try the ayam lalapan (fried chicken) and the bakso (local soup). Bakso is an absolute staple of Indonesian food & something they eat almost every day. You will see men on scooters with a set up to sell bakso off it. If you have a strong stomach you can try it, otherwise warung Kita will be a very nice option!
🌱 Limited options
💰 Low budget
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Hungry already ?
🫶 If you enjoyed this short guide, feel free to leave a tip at the bottom of the page, and come back regularly : I always try new places & add recommendations!
🇫🇷 Hi, I'm Julia, I'm a frenchie who grew up in Normandy & studied history in Paris for 6 years.
🇮🇩 I have now been living in Bali, Indonesia for more than 5 years.
Far away from the expat community I've settled in a more natural, tranquil area of the island. I've learned the language, actually I still am, as well as the culture or the history of this region & the country.
🌴 Since I've moved here my goal has been to bring a different side of the island to visitors, for them to see the traditions, the slow Bali life. Use the services of local businesses & more sustainable options than the big chains we can find in the south of Bali.
🛵 If you like to explore off the beaten path, trust me you're in for a treat! After driving around the island on my scooter, I've found some truly beautiful places that tend to be forgotten or overlooked.
🍛 I'm also a huge foodie, an ocean lover & a road tripper : trust me to taste the best the island has to offer in terms of flavors, 🤿 diving spots & scenic roads .
🤫 From super budget to semi-luxury, I'll give you all my best adresses, send you to my favorite local guides & activities, give you my recommendations for an unforgettable & hassle-free holiday.
Check out my guides & services to plan the perfect Bali holiday!
