Top 10 Bali Local Foods: Savor the Best of Bali's Culinary Delights!

Traveloka Accomodation
11 Jul 2024 - 11 min read

Balinese Food - Apart from its rich culture and beautiful natural charm, Indonesia is also famous for its rich-tasting food. No wonder because the people use a variety of herbs and spices. Each region even has unique culinary delights that you must try, including Balinese food.

Local Balinese food is different from traditional food in other places because most of the people there are Hindus. So you can try dishes with pork, which you usually don't find in other parts of Indonesia. If you don't have a choice about what to eat in Bali, here are recommendations for the best food in Bali.

10 Best Food in Bali that You Must Eat and Where to Find Them

1. Nasi Campur

Address: Nasi Bali Made Weti, Jl. Segara Ayu, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan
Price: IDR 30,000
Opening Hour: 07.00 am to 01.00 pm

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As the name suggests, Nasi Campur is rice mixed with various side dishes: shredded meat, sate lilit, and others. Similar to Nasi Rames in other areas with the addition of the Balinese genes base, lawar or urap, and sambal. Some restaurants may serve mixed rice with additional boiled eggs, fried peanuts, and sambal matah.

To be more specific, mixed rice is usually distinguished by the three main side dishes in the dish. Pork mixed rice with suckling pig, chicken mixed rice with shredded chicken, and spicy mixed rice with a great chili sauce.

Try mixed rice at Nasi Bali Made Weti which is legendary because it has been open since 1970. Other places offering mixed rice are Warung Made, Warung Mek Juwel, Nasi Ayam Kedewatan Ibu Mangku.

2. Ayam or Bebek Betutu

Address: Ayam Betutu Pak Sanur, Jl. Arjuna No. 19 Ubud
Price : IDR 20,000
Opening Hours: 07.00 am to 01.00 pm

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This dish from Gilimanuk has a distinctive taste because it is cooked with spicy spices for a long time. So you can feel the pleasure of tender meat with spices that permeate perfectly.

The seasoning used is base genep or Wangenan seasoning which has previously been mashed and sautéed.

Then the duck or chicken meat will be wrapped in banana leaves during the cooking process in the coals. You can try chicken or duck betutu in many places, including Ayam Betutu Khas Gilimanuk, and Ayam Betutu Mek Rati.

3. Sate Babi

Address: Sate Babi Pak Dewa, Jalan Sekuta No. 32A, Sanur, Denpasar
Price : IDR 15,000
Opening Hours: 11.00 am to 08.30 pm

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As the name implies, Sate Babi is a processed satay that uses pork in its best body parts. This dish might be quite difficult if you look for it in other areas, but it will be easy to find in Bali. The way of making it is similar to satay in general, both chicken satay and goat satay.

It is by burning it, but pork satay is served not with soy sauce or peanuts but has its own seasoning. Some places you can visit to taste this dish are Sate Babi Bawah Pohon, Sate Plecing Mak Lukluk, SABO (Oka Pork Chicken Satay).

4. Jimbaran Seafood

Address: Menega Cafe, Jl Four Seasons Muaya Beach, Jimbaran, South Kuta
Price: IDR 14,000 per 100 grams of food
Opening Hours: 11.00 am to 11.00 pm

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Seafood is not specific to Balinese food, but it is not complete if you visit the beach but don't try seafood. One of the legendary seafood is seafood near Jimbaran Beach, which is the choice of many people. Seafood is served in various ways, from fried grilled, to sautéed with red spices. For those of you who want to try a new way, try mixing it with Indonesian fried rice.

You can get the taste of fresh seafood rich in spices and the best view. It will be even more delicious, especially if you taste it while watching the sunset with your partner. Among the seafood restaurants near Jimbaran Beach are Menega Cafe, Warung Ramayana Jimbaran, Lia Cafe, and Raja Seafood.

5. Babi Guling

Address: Babi Guling Pan Ana, Jl. Nusa Kambangan, Gang 33, No.4, Denpasar
Price: IDR 25,000 - 45,000
Opening Hours: 08.00 am to 09.00 pm

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As the name implies, Babi Guling is a pork dish that is cooked by rolling it around. This method gives a distinctive taste because the pork is roasted whole with spices added to strengthen the taste.

The soft texture of the meat combined with the delicious Balinese spices will make you addicted. You can find this dish in many places, including Warung Babi Guling Pak Malen, Warung Babi Guling Sari Dewi (Dobiel), and Babi Guling Candra.

6. Iga Babi

Address: Hog Wild, Jl. Batu Belig No.41, Kerobokan Kelod, Kuta Utara, Badung
Price: IDR 100.000 - 200.000
Opening Hours: 10.00 am to 09.00 pm

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You can easily find premium pork ribs in Bali. Moreover, they have been marinated in Balinese special sauce and covered in BBQ sauce. Pork ribs will be served with soft, sweet, and juicy meat in every bite. Pork ribs are usually served with several choices, ranging from rice, french fries, or salad.

Get this delicious dish at Hog Wild, where the pork ribs are cooked by an international chef, Chef Bruno. Other places serving pork ribs include Nuri Naughty, Warung Nia, Wahaha Pork Ribs, and Warung Mufu Balinese Food.

7. Sate Lilit Ikan

Address: Sate Lilit Be Paseh, Jl. Pemuda III No. 24, Renon, Denpasar Selatan
Price: IDR 26,500
Opening Hours: 09.00 am to 22.00 pm

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In contrast to general, made from diced meat, the meat on sate lilit will be chopped or ground. The results of the ground meat are then attached to lemongrass or bamboo sticks. The meat that is usually used is chicken, which will be mixed with grated coconut when served.

The taste of sate lilit will be even more delicious after the perfect combustion process. Sate Lilit is easy to find with mixed rice, at Warung Ari, Warung Wardani, and Warung Be Pasih.

8. Laklak

Address: Laklak Buleleng 168, Jl. Pemogan Raya, No. 220, Denpasar
Price: IDR 8,000
Opening Hours: 08.00 am to 06.00 pm

When you see Laklak, you may be familiar with it because it can be found in several other areas. However, it is usually called surabi in other places, except that Laklak is identical to the green color. The cooking process uses a jug made of earth and then heated over a fire. This cooking method certainly gives a traditional impression and a unique taste from fire.

Laklak served warm, has a soft and crunchy texture on the outside. Laklak is served with coconut milk to add a savory taste and a sprinkling of grated coconut for a bite texture. If you want a sweet taste, brown sugar syrup is also an additional option. Laklak is sold at very low prices at Laklak Bali Rama, Biu Penebel Men Bayu, and Warung Pengangon Bakas.

9. Lawar

Address: Nasi Lawar Yan Negro Jl. Sutomo Gg. I, Pemecutan Kaja, Denpasar
Price: IDR 15,000
Opening Hours: 07.00 pto 12.00 am

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This typical Balinese food is a mixture of nutrient-rich vegetables usually used as a side dish. The fillings include long beans, jackfruit vegetables, and grated coconut mixed with Balinese spices.

Serving lawar will usually add shredded meat with various choices of meat—for example, wild duck, chicken, or pork, which you can choose according to your taste. You can try it at Warung Nasi Lawar Men Jana, Warung Sapi Odah Jaran, and Nasi Lawar Yan Negro.

10. Pepes Ikan

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Address: Rasa Segara, No. Pasekan 11, Sukawari Gianyar
Price: IDR 21,000
Opening Hours: 11.00 am to 08.00 pm

As in other areas, Pepes Ikan in Bali is a dish of fish wrapped in banana leaves and then steamed. Using banana leaves during the installation process gives its distinctive taste. Because Bali is a coastal area, you will get the taste of fresh fish. The fish used is usually quite diverse, ranging from pindang fish, peda fish, tilapia, mackerel, and others.

Many places serve these fish pepes, usually in stalls selling sate lilit and mixed rice. You can visit Sate Pepes Sop Marlin Bu Ribu Fish, The Bukit Artha Warung & Home Stay, and Rasa Segara.

Bali Food Recipes

Tempting, right?! Well, you probably want to be in Bali right away, but if you are still busy with your daily hustle and bustle, no worries. The good news is, you can cook Balinese dishes at home!

Yeah, well, some might be complicated but some Balinese dishes are easy to follow too. You can go to the nearby market and easily find the ingredients. Here, we have 5 Bali food recipes for you to try at home.

1. Bebek Betutu

Let’s cook Balinese dishes at home and start with Bebek Betutu, one of the easiest. Anyway, you can change the protein to chicken, if you don’t really like duck. The one tricky thing about making Bebek Betutu is buying the spices. Don’t skip one!

Ingredients

Main Ingredient:

1 Peking duck (about 1kg), cut as desired

Ground Spices:

12 shallots
7 cloves of garlic
5 candlenuts, roasted
15 curly chilies
5 bird's eye chilies
2 teaspoons roasted shrimp paste
1.5 teaspoons coriander
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 finger-length piece of kencur (aromatic ginger)
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 finger-length piece of galangal
2 finger-length pieces of turmeric
5 stalks of lemongrass, use the white part only

Additional Spices:

4 bay leaves
3 kaffir lime leaves

Other Ingredients:

2 tablespoons sugar
1.5 teaspoons salt
1.5 teaspoons chicken stock powder
65 ml of coconut milk
2 liters water
Cooking oil for sautéing the spices

Instructions

Let’s start with the Peking duck to make the delicious Bebek Betutu! Cut the Peking duck into pieces as desired.
When it’s done, let’s make ground spices. Blend shallots, garlic, roasted candlenuts, curly chilies, bird's eye chilies, roasted shrimp paste, coriander, black pepper, kencur, nutmeg, galangal, turmeric, and the white part of the lemongrass into a fine paste. You can add a little water or oil to make it easier for you to make them as a paste.
Heat some cooking oil in a large pot, then sauté the ground spices until fragrant.
Add the bay leaves and kaffir lime leaves, and continue to sauté for a few more minutes.
Add the duck pieces and stir well to coat with the spices.
Pour in 2 liters of water and bring to a boil.
After it’s boiling, add sugar, salt, chicken stock powder, and coconut milk. Stir well.
Lower the heat and simmer until the duck is cooked and tender.
Now that your Bebek Betutu is done, you should serve the cooked duck with rice!

2. Ayam Sisit Bali

The next Balinese food for you to cook is Ayam Sisit Bali. It is usually one of the toppings of Nasi Campur Bali too. Here’s the ingredients and how to cook it:

Ingredients

500 grams chicken breast
4 kaffir lime leaves, finely sliced
1 stalk lemongrass, bruised
2 bay leaves
1 piece galangal, crushed
Salt, sugar, and chicken broth powder

Spice Paste:

8 shallots
3 cloves garlic
10 red curly chilies
4 bird's eye chilies
3 cm turmeric
1 cm aromatic ginger (kencur)
2 candlenuts
1 piece shrimp paste

Instructions

Start your cooking process with cleaning the chicken breast and rub it with lime juice and salt. Boil the chicken with bruised lemongrass and bay leaves until cooked. Drain and shred the chicken into coarse pieces. Then, set aside.
Blend the shallots, garlic, red curly chilies, bird's eye chilies, turmeric, aromatic ginger, candlenuts, and shrimp paste into a fine paste.
Sauté the spice paste until fragrant. Add the sliced kaffir lime leaves, bruised lemongrass, and crushed galangal. Cook until the oil separates from the paste.
Add the shredded chicken, salt, and chicken broth powder to the pan. Pour in a little of the chicken broth from the boiling step.
Stir well and adjust the seasoning to taste.
Before serving, squeeze in some lime juice for extra flavor. Then, it is ready to be served with warm rice!

3. Sate Lilit Ikan

Sate Lilit Ikan or Fish Satay is usually made from mackerel, but some people also prefer chicken. To cook Balinese dishes at home might be a little complicated, but it’s going to be worth it, just like when you try to make this Sate Lilit Ikan. Here’s the ingredients and instructions:

Ingredients

500 grams mackerel or tuna
150 grams grated coconut
1 stalk lemongrass, bruised
2 kaffir lime leaves, finely sliced (optional)
2 kaffir lime leaves, torn
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1.5 teaspoons fine salt
4 tablespoons palm sugar
Oil for sautéing
Lemongrass stalks for skewers

Spice Paste:

5 candlenuts, roasted
4 red curly chilies
8 shallots
4 cloves garlic
1 piece shrimp paste, roasted
1 piece turmeric, roasted
1 piece ginger
1 cm aromatic ginger (kencur)
1 small red tomato, seeds removed

Instructions

Start your cooking by preparing the spice paste.Blend the roasted candlenuts, red curly chilies, shallots, garlic, roasted shrimp paste, roasted turmeric, ginger, aromatic ginger, and tomato into a fine paste.
Sauté the spice paste with bruised lemongrass, finely sliced kaffir lime leaves, torn kaffir lime leaves, and pepper until fragrant and the oil separates. Set aside to cool.
In a separate bowl, mix ground fish, grated coconut, palm sugar, salt, and the cooled spice paste. Combine until well mixed.
Now take a lemongrass stalk and shape the fish mixture around it. Repeat until all the mixture is used.
Grill the fish satay on a lightly oiled griddle or pan until golden brown. You can eat it with Sambal Matah Bali or with rice. Yummy!

So, how’s it going to be? Are you going to Bali and check out our recommendations, or maybe you want to cook Balinese dishes at home first? We are so sure, by following those Bali food recipes, you can try your own home-made Balinese dishes easily to cure your craving!

When planning your trip to Bali, consider staying at well-rated accommodations such as The Sun Boutique Hotel Kuta, The Canggu Boutique Villas & Spa by Ecommerceloka, Semana Residences by Cove, Quest San Hotel Denpasar by ASTON, or Mount Batur Villa. These hotels offer a comfortable and convenient base from which to explore Bali’s renowned food scene and other attractions.

Not only Articles about Balinese Food that Traveloka provides, but we also have a lot of best-recommended articles for you guys to read! Here is the list of the best Articles recommendation special for you:

If you choose to go straight to Bali to taste those delicious Balinese foods, let us help you with all your travel needs. Choose the best hotel or resort, probably with an infinity pool and superb nature view around, and book it easily on Traveloka! Get the best price for all Traveloka users, starting from hotels, flights, and attraction tickets!

In This Article

• 10 Best Food in Bali that You Must Eat and Where to Find Them
• 1. Nasi Campur
• 2. Ayam or Bebek Betutu
• 3. Sate Babi
• 4. Jimbaran Seafood
• 5. Babi Guling
• 6. Iga Babi
• 7. Sate Lilit Ikan
• 8. Laklak
• 9. Lawar
• 10. Pepes Ikan
• Bali Food Recipes
• 1. Bebek Betutu
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• 2. Ayam Sisit Bali
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• 3. Sate Lilit Ikan
• Ingredients
• Instructions
Hotels
Flights
Things to Do
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