10 Best Local Dishes From Bali
Famous Food Locals Love to Eat in Bali
Thousands of islands with different cultures make up Indonesia, so it’s no wonder that Balinese food is just as diverse. To complement your vacation experience in Bali, it’s important to sample some of the most popular, local dishes.
Our list of Balinese food to try includes exotic choices such as “lawar” (minced meat salad), “bebek betutu” (roast duck), “sate lilit” (Balinese satay), and the island’s famed “babi guling” (whole spit-roast pig). The Balinese have a rich collection of snacks, cakes, and desserts for your sweet tooth too. Read on to discover more delicious Balinese dishes to try.
1. Sate (Satay) Varieties
Stunning satay, the Balinese way
Good for: Food
“Sate” (or satay) are marinated, skewered, and grilled meats served with spicy sauce. The meat usually consists of diced or sliced chicken, goat, mutton, beef, or pork, but you’ll also find satay that’s made with fish, tofu, eggs, or minced blends.
Bali’s popular variant is the “sate lilit”. Made from either minced beef, chicken, fish, pork, or even turtle meat, it’s mixed with coconut, coconut milk, and a rich blend of vegetables and spices. The satay is then wrapped around bamboo, sugarcane, or lemongrass sticks before it’s grilled over charcoal. You can enjoy sate lilit with or without dipping sauce.
2. Nasi Ayam and Nasi Campur
Rice with all manner of delicious meats
Good for: Food
Bali’s take on chicken and rice, “nasi ayam” and “nasi campur” are served at many “warungs” (small, often family-owned eateries) and restaurants throughout the island.
A plate of white rice comes with different elements of Balinese cuisine, such as a portion of “babi guling” (roast suckling pig) or “betutu” (spiced chicken or duck), mixed vegetables, and a dab of spicy “sambal matah” (Balinese sauce). Nasi ayam and nasi campur are sometimes served with a bowl of soup. For those who do not want it too spicy, simply ask for it without the sambal.
3. Bebek and Ayam Betutu
Chicken or duck slow cooked the traditional way
Good for: Food
“Betutu” is the slow-cooked equivalent of Bali’s “babi guling” (roast suckling pig), but without the pork. Suitable for muslims and others who don’t eat pork, this iconic Balinese dish consists of a whole chicken (ayam) or duck (bebek) stuffed with traditional spices, wrapped in banana leaves, then enveloped tightly in the bark of a banana tree.
The entire thing is baked or buried in a coal fire for 6 to 7 hours, resulting in a rich and juicy meat that easily separates from the bones. For a satisfying dish that’s packed with flavor, this one’s not to be missed.
4. Babi Guling
Whole spit-roasted pig for a sumptuous treat
Good for: Food
“Babi guling” is a famous and all-time favorite Balinese dish, consisting of spit-roast pig stuffed with rich traditional spices and vegetable mixes such as cassava leaves. It’s slowly rolled over a coal fire (“guling” means “to roll” in Indonesian).
The crisp brown skins are prized, while the meat is a tender and juicy treat. At first, babi guling was a communal treat during special festivities and ceremonies, but you can now find it any time of year at many “warungs” (local eateries) and restaurants that specialize in this dish.
5. Tahu and Tempeh
The amazing versatility of soybeans
Good for: Food
Among the most versatile of food items, “tahu” (tofu) and tempeh (fermented bean cake) come in different forms, some as savory snacks, and others as accompaniments and even main-course dishes.
These soybean curds can be fried, stuffed, or battered, meaning they can become a tasty part of a vast number of different dishes. Many Indonesian cuisines, especially rice dishes, include tempeh crackers. Some of the best tahu snacks are the stuffed and fried versions, which usually contain a mixture similar to spring rolls
6. Jimbaran Seafood
An area renowned for spicy seafood
Good for: Food
Beachside cafes on Muaya Beach in Jimbaran Bay typically serve grilled seafood, ranging from shrimp, clams, crabs, calamari, lobsters, and a wide assortment of fish. But in terms of taste, the secret lies in each of the cafe owner’s special recipes involving barbecue sauce and condiments. These coatings and sauces usually come in the form of homemade “sambal” (spicy sauce).
The food from this region has collectively become known as “sambal seafood – Jimbaran style”. From sweet and sour blends to the typical hot and spicy, tasting is believing when it comes to Jimbaran seafood.
7. Pepes and Tum
Ingenious food parcels wrapped in banana leaves
Good for: Food
Pepes is an Indonesian-Sundanese cooking method that uses banana leaves as food wrappings. Thin bamboo sticks seal both ends of the small package, before it’s steamed, boiled, or grilled until the contents are cooked. It is most commonly used to prepare fish as “pepes ikan”, but meat, chicken, tofu, or vegetables are common ingredients as well.
“Tum” takes on a different form, with the leaf wrapping folded and stitched at one top end, and the package is usually steamed. Tum commonly contains minced pork mixed with spiced paste. The use of banana leaves adds an aromatic and authentic Balinese flavor to pepes and tum.
8. Jajanan Pasar
Delicious, traditional cakes and desserts
Good for: Food
Traditional cakes in Bali are collectively called “jajanan pasar” (traditional market cakes). Originally used to accompany ceremonial offerings, these local desserts are now available throughout the day. There are plenty of jajanan pasar to choose from, which mainly use rice flour, glutinous rice, sugar, coconut, and tropical fruits.
Some of the most common desserts in Bali include “jaja bendu” (sticky rice cake), “pancong” (rice flour and coconut milk cake), “jaja batun bedil” (glutinous rice balls in palm sugar soup), “bubuh injin” (black glutinous rice porridge), “pisang rai” (steamed banana), and “kelepon” (coconut-covered rice cake with liquid palm sugar).
9. Nasi Goreng
An iconic fried-rice dish
Good for: Food
Nasi goreng (fried rice) is one of Indonesia’s most notable and popular dishes. It’s made by stir-frying cooked rice with a combination of meats and vegetables, ranging from scrambled eggs, diced beef, strips of chicken, shrimp, anchovies, lamb, crab, green peas, onions and shallots.
The mixed rice, meat, and vegetables is then blended with “kecap manis” (sweet soy sauce) and hot chili sauce. The dish usually features the typical toppings such as sliced tomatoes and/or cucumber, fried shallots, fish, or shrimp “krupuk” (crackers), and “acar” (mixed pickles).
10. Lawar
Red or white, meat eater or not
Good for: Food
“Lawar” is a mix of finely chopped meat, vegetables, grated coconut, and spices. In some regions of Bali, this traditional dish is prepared by mixing fresh animal blood with meat and spices to strengthen the flavor. The dish is usually served immediately after preparation as it cannot be kept long.
There are 2 main types of lawar, white and red. The white version appeals to vegans and vegetarians as it doesn’t contain meat or blood. However, if you’re a carnivore, it’s worth trying the red type for a taste of authentic Balinese cuisine.
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