Food · Bali · Indonesia
What to eat in Bali
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Bali, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Paskuu, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Start with Babi guling, Bebek betutu and Nasi campur Bali. Tables on the sand at Jimbaran Bay serve fish, prawns and clams grilled over coconut husks at sunset; agree on prices by weight before ordering. Restaurant menus often show prices before tax and service ('++'), which can add about 15–21%.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Babi guling
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 5
- Tipping
- Tipping is not obligatory, but appreciated: rounding up for drivers and leaving small…
- Food experiences
- 4
10 foods to try
Dish
1.Babi guling
Spit-roasted suckling pig rubbed with a turmeric, chilli and lemongrass spice paste, served with crackling, lawar, sausage and rice — Bali's ceremonial feast dish.
Where: Babi guling warung around Ubud, Gianyar and Denpasar, usually at lunchtime until sold out.
Dish
2.Bebek betutu
Duck (or chicken, ayam betutu) stuffed with spice paste, wrapped in banana leaves and slow-cooked for hours until tender.
Where: Specialist restaurants in Ubud and Gianyar; some require ordering a day ahead.
Dish
3.Nasi campur Bali
Rice with small portions of several dishes — shredded chicken, sate lilit, vegetables, peanuts, egg and sambal — that change by warung and by day.
Where: Local warung across the island; point at what you want from the display.
Street food
4.Sate lilit
Minced fish, chicken or pork mixed with coconut and spices, wrapped around lemongrass stalks and grilled over coconut husks.
Where: Warung, night markets and as part of nasi campur, especially near fishing villages such as Jimbaran.
Dish
5.Lawar
A Balinese mix of finely chopped vegetables, grated coconut and minced meat with rich spices; some versions include raw blood, so ask before ordering.
Where: Babi guling warung and ceremonial meals.
Dish · Vegetarian
6.Nasi goreng and mie goreng
Indonesia's fried rice and fried noodles with sweet soy, shallots and chilli, often topped with a fried egg and crackers — on every menu from beach shacks to hotels.
Where: Everywhere; warung versions are the best value.
Dish · Vegetarian
7.Gado-gado
Blanched vegetables, tofu, tempeh, egg and rice cake under a peanut sauce, with prawn crackers on top.
Where: Warung across the island and vegetarian cafés in Ubud.
Dessert · Vegetarian
8.Black rice pudding (Bubur injin)
Sticky black rice simmered with palm sugar and pandan, topped with coconut milk — a common breakfast or dessert.
Where: Warung and hotel breakfasts across Bali.
Snack · Vegetarian
9.Jaje Bali
Colourful traditional cakes of rice flour, coconut and palm sugar, such as klepon (pandan balls filled with liquid palm sugar) and dadar gulung (coconut pancake rolls).
Where: Morning markets such as Ubud's and Gianyar's, and roadside stalls.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Balinese coffee (Kopi Bali)
Robusta and arabica grown in the Kintamani highlands, traditionally brewed with the grounds left in the cup and sweetened.
Where: Warung everywhere; coffee plantations near Kintamani and specialty cafés in Canggu and Ubud.
Food experiences
Jimbaran seafood dinner
Tables on the sand at Jimbaran Bay serve fish, prawns and clams grilled over coconut husks at sunset; agree on prices by weight before ordering.
Ubud cooking class
Many Ubud classes start with a morning market visit and teach base genep spice paste, sate lilit and lawar in a family compound.
Warung lunch
Family-run warung serve nasi campur and local dishes at a fraction of restaurant prices; Ubud, Sanur and Canggu all have well-reviewed ones.
Gianyar night market
A local evening market in Gianyar town known for babi guling, sate and sweets, with few tourists.
Quick bites and street food
- Sate lilit — Warung, night markets and as part of nasi campur, especially near fishing villages such as Jimbaran.
- Jaje Bali — Morning markets such as Ubud's and Gianyar's, and roadside stalls.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 5 are usually vegetarian: Nasi goreng and mie goreng, Gado-gado, Black rice pudding, Jaje Bali and Balinese coffee. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Restaurant menus often show prices before tax and service ('++'), which can add about 15–21%.
- Ask for 'tidak pedas' if you want food without chilli.
- Drink bottled or filtered water and avoid ice from unknown sources in very basic stalls; ice in restaurants is usually factory-made.
- Drink only branded spirits in reputable venues; illicit arak has caused methanol poisoning.
- Ride-hailing food delivery apps work in the south and Ubud and are useful for villa stays.
Tipping
Tipping is not obligatory, but appreciated: rounding up for drivers and leaving small tips for spa therapists and guides is common. Many restaurants already add a service charge.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Om Swastiastu | Balinese Hindu greeting |
| Terima kasih | Thank you (Indonesian) |
| Suksma | Thank you (Balinese) |
| Berapa harganya? | How much is it? |
| Tidak pedas | Not spicy |
| Selamat pagi | Good morning |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Bali famous for?
Babi guling, Bebek betutu, Nasi campur Bali and Sate lilit. Spit-roasted suckling pig rubbed with a turmeric, chilli and lemongrass spice paste, served with crackling, lawar, sausage and rice — Bali's ceremonial feast dish.
+Is Bali good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Nasi goreng and mie goreng, Gado-gado and Black rice pudding.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Bali?
Tipping is not obligatory, but appreciated: rounding up for drivers and leaving small tips for spa therapists and guides is common. Many restaurants already add a service charge.