The Foodie's Guide to Bali: 12 Mouthwatering Dishes You Need to Try

What do Tokyo, Singapore, and Bali have in common? They’re Asia’s foodie hubs! Whether you’ve got an appetite for sushi, laksa, or nasi goreng, these food capitals will more than satisfy you. And if you’re planning a trip to Bali soon, you’re in luck. These 12 mouthwatering dishes are the best food Bali has to offer! 

Hands down the yummiest food in Bali,nasi goreng is an Indonesian fried rice dish that’s well-loved for its earthy and smoky flavour. Locals whip up this signature dish by combining the taste of beef, chicken, shrimp, lamb, fried shallots, and sliced tomatoes, and top it off with fish crackers and hot chilli sauce.

Klook recommendation: Nasi goreng is a staple in every Balinese restaurant menu—it’s just that good! But Murni’s Warung, the oldest restaurant in Bali, has perfected the dish since 1974. 

Sate lilit makes for a great meal if you’re feeling hungry in between sightseeing trips. These marinated skewered grilled meat (either chicken, beef, pork, fish, or even turtles!) are wrapped in bamboo or lemon grass sticks and served with coconut milk and spicy sauce, so they’re easy to eat and perfect for quick bites!  

Klook recommendation: At Warung Eropa, you get to feast on sate lilit while relaxing in its fine ambience. Alternatively, you can also savour this Balinese treat at the Nusa Dua Night Market. 

Foodies who aren’t scared of getting their hands dirty should try nasi campur bali. An Indonesian pick-whatever-you-get staple, this delicious dish treats you to a memorable feast of steamed rice, string beans, mixed veggies, shrimp, meat, and coconut milk for a fully-packed meal to fuel you through the day…or at least ‘til dinnertime if you’ve got a huge appetite. 

Klook recommendation: Indulge in the best nasi campur in town at the Kereng Night Market!

Adventure time isn’t only limited to sightseeing, but also food in Bali! For the more adventurous foodies, we highly recommend the bebek and ayam betutu, an iconic Balinese meal consisting of roasted duck stuffed with traditional spices and served with betutu paste (Balinese spiced paste). 

Klook recommendation: You can get your hands on this succulent dish from Bebek Bengil—the best in Bali! The menu also includes vegan options to suit your taste buds. 

Unique only to Indonesia, serapah penyu is a special type of turtle stew served during important rituals such as weddings, births, cremation, and Kuningan (a ceremony that marks the end of the Gaungan holiday). Typically, the turtle is removed from its shell and cooked with spices and herbs to give it a light and refreshing taste. 

Klook recommendation: Feeling adventurous? Get your freshly cooked serapah penyu at Nusa Lembongan, home to plenty of seaside shacks that serve turtle meat and other rare Balinese treats! 

While on the topic of seafood, here’s another food in Bali you need to try—sambal udang, the ultimate ocean delight! Imagine biting into freshly cooked gigantic prawns drowning in spicy sambal sauce and tamarind paste. It’s definitely a dish you can’t miss while on the island. 

Klook recommendation: Sambal udang and other Balinese seafood cuisines are served extra fresh at Bale Udang Mang Engking in Kuta, so make sure to drop by during your Kuta Beach trip!

This raw, spicy shallot salsa is one of the most scrumptious foods in Bali you’ll ever taste! Sambal matah is tuna that’s covered with Bumbu Bali (a shrimp paste, coconut oil, lemongrass, and tamarind sauce) and seared on a hot pan for that extra spicy kick. Foodies who’ve got the hots for spicy food won’t be able to get enough of this dish! 

Klook recommendation: Little Bali whips up a fantastic array of Balinese food, from sambal matah to nasi goreng!

Take a break from meaty and tangy meals with a refreshing plate of salad. Gado gado is a traditional Balinese food that mixes steamed vegetables, fried shallots, and fragrant peanut sauce. Or to sum it up, it’s a yummy salad that’s done the Bali way! 

Klook recommendation: Try this refreshing Bali food at Murni’s Warung! 

Treat your tastebuds with fusion cuisine. Bali’s very own soto bakso is the prime example of a melting-pot dish, blending together Chinese, Dutch, and local flavours. It is a classic soup (“soto”) and meatball (“bakso”) recipe cooked with fried shallots, fresh coriander, chilli, minced beef, and rice noodles. 

Klook recommendation: Get the authentic Balinese experience by dining at the small canteen-like eatery in Kuta. Warung Wijaya Soto & Bakso offers the most refreshing soups in all of Bali! 

Another local Balinese fave is Tipat Cantok—aka rice cake with sides of boiled greens and sprinkled with peanut sauce. Often, you’ll find a variety of this dish. Some serve it in steamed coconut or banana leaves, while others add ingredients (garlic, spices, and fried tofu) to switch up the flavours. 

Klook recommendation: You can find tipat cantok served all over Bali, from far-flung villages to touristy towns! 

Besides spicy, mouth-watering grubs, Bali also has equally great coffee to wake you up and get you pumped all day long. Kopi Luwak is the most expensive coffee in the world, and surprise, surprise, it’s found in Bali and made with—we’re not kidding—poop! The civet cat poops out coffee beans that are then collected, washed, and roasted into the most earthy blend you’ll ever sip! 

Typically, a one-kilo bag of kopi luwak—also called “jungle coffee”— can cost as much as AUD $2800, but in Bali, a cup is only about AUD $4. 

Klook recommendation: Can’t wait to try? Head to Lumbung Sari House of Luwak Coffee in Gianyar to get your kick! 

Need a quick bite between activities? Just go to any local restaurant and you’ll get to savour the crunchy goodness of tahu tempe (sliced tofu) and soy cake braised in coconut water, spices, and sauces, and served as savoury snacks. 

Klook recommendation: Pair this treat with a bubur sumsum, a dessert of glutinous rice, coconut cream, and banana slices at Warung Biah Biah in Ubud!