Where to find the best food in Bali
Here’s one for the foodies – if food tops the list as your number one reason for travel, you’ll be glad to know that Bali is the ultimate food paradise! What’s even better is that you don’t have to break the bank to fill your bellies. From traditional Balinese restaurants to cool cafe joints and not forgetting authentic street food, the island has all your food cravings covered.
We’ve scouted the island and filled our tummies to bring you only the food worth eating. These food don’t just taste good, most of them are #foodporn goals as well! Read on to find out where to find the best food in Bali!
P.S You’ll definitely be needing a SIM Card to incite some serious food envy and don’t read this article on an empty stomach!
Getting to Bali’s best restaurants
The easiest way go on this Balinese food trail is with a private car charter! Klook yourselves a private car charter and let the driver take you to all these delicious food places and so much more.
P.S. Some of the best food we had on our trip was recommended by our local driver!
Inclusive of:
- 10 hours full day private car rental
- Driver fees
- Hotel pick up and drop off
Best restaurants in Ubud
1. Babi Guling Ibu Oka – The tastiest suckling pig in Bali
Bali is home to the biggest Hindu population in Indonesia and you’d be surprised to know that the Balinese love their pork very much. If you hate wasting food, you don’t have to worry about a single part of the pig being wasted!
Babi Guling is a combination of crispy pork skin, pork blood sausage, pork roll, and fried pork meat and has a reputation for being Bali’s national dish. Ibu Oka serves up some of the island’s best babi guling with well-seasoned pork skin fried to perfection and the juicy meat literally melting in your mouth.
Klook Tip: The only thing that can disappoint is arriving late and having it all sold out! Do get here early before the lunch crowd sets in!
P.S The Babi Guling was so good that even Obama dined here on his family vacation to Bali!
Price: IDR 70,000 (~ PHP 255.00)
2. Bebek Bengil – The crispiest duck in Bali
Another Balinese favourite is Bebek Bengil (literally translated to “dirty duck”) and you can’t say you’ve been to Bali without trying this local must-have. The dish after which this restaurant is named consists of half a duck that has been steamed in Indonesian spices then deep fried to a crispy finish.
Each serving comes with sauteed potatoes, side salad, or rice and Balinese vegetables. If you love potatoes as much as we do, you can even opt to have your rice changed to creamy mash potatoes that really complements the flavours of the duck.
Price: IDR 127,500 (~PHP 470)
Address: Padang Tegal, Jl. Hanoman, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Opening Hours: 10am – 10.30pm, daily.
3. Bali Asli – Enjoy million dollar dining views without the hefty price tag
Bali Asli is your one-stop shop for good food, good views and even a cooking school! Located in the foothills of Mount Agung, Bali Asli offers million dollar views without the million dollar entrees. Although it is slightly pricier here than local restaurants, the priceless view is enough to make you feel like every cent was well spent. So sit back and sip on their traditional Balinese drink – a fragrant concoction of lemongrass, cinnamon and snake fruit, while enjoying the views of Mount Agung.
Classic Balinese dishes
Just like how every Italian restaurant serves bread before a meal, they serve crackers in Bali. The crackers were freshly deep-fried in-house and cannot be compared to the pre-packaged crackers available in your local provision store. You’ll be amazed by the interesting variety of crackers they have here – soy, prawn, rice flower and potato that were served with condiments such as tomatoes, onions and lemongrass sambal.
For a taste of an all-time Indonesian staple, order their Nasi Campur, a mixed rice dish that comes with a simple selection of steamed rice and side dishes.
Side dishes include:
- Plecing Kacang Panjang – steamed long beans with zesty tomato sambal and fried peanuts
- Urab Klelimun Kacang Barak – coconut and cucumber salad with local fragrant salad sauce
- Be Siap Megorent Base Manis – Balinese fried chicken served in sweet soya sauce
Another signature dish here is Bali Asli Meribuns, and this fare is similar to their Nasi Campur but designed for sharing and for those who want to sample a good variety of local side dishes. Served on a traditional platter, this meal comes with rice, soup, sambals, crackers and finishes off with Balinese sweets and fruits. The food served here was light and simple, but very palatable.
Forget the sate you’ve tasted elsewhere. The skewered grilled meat was slightly charred with a sweet and savoury finish. Each place serves their sate slightly differently but we can confidently say that we found one of the best sates at Bali Asli.
Price
- Nasi Campur: IDR 165,000 (~PHP 600)
- Bali Asli Meribuns: IDR 228,000 (~PHP 840)
P.S Don’t hesitate to respond to nature’s calling! The views from the bathroom are quite spectacular and not to be missed.
Address: Jalan Raya Gelumpang Gelumpang Village, Karangasem, Kec. Karangasem, Kabupaten Karangasem, Bali 80811, Indonesia
Opening Hours: Daily, 10am to 6pm
4. Seniman Coffee – For every coffee lover
If you want to enjoy a cup of authentic Balinese coffee, head over to Seniman Coffee! You know you can be guaranteed good quality in a cup when they don’t just sell coffee, they also export, roast, design and process their beans in house! Balinese coffee tends to be slightly on the bitter side and if that’s not to your liking, order a latte and the milk will do its job to neutralize any hint of bitterness.
The best way to enjoy coffee is with local Balinese snacks! The coffee here is served with cashew chocolate and their local soft peanut cookie that just melts in your mouth. This bittersweet combination is sure to delight your taste buds.
P.S. You can even pick up a skill or two at their coffee workshops.
A lover of all things coffee, the owner of Seniman believes that coffee goes well with everything. Experience the best of both worlds in their their espresso martini series and you’ll be convinced that he’s right. The mix was a neat concoction of kahlua, vodka and the Seniman house blend.
Price:
- Espresso Martini Mix: IDR 90,000 (~PHP 330)
Address: St. Sriwedari No 5, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia 80581
Opening hours: Daily, 5am to midnight
Best Restaurants in Seminyak
5. Ultimo – Authentic Italian fare for cheap
You can experience a taste of fine Italian food without having to worry about burning a hole in your wallet at Ultimo. Don’t be fooled by the fancy interior of this restaurant – prices here are absolutely wallet friendly. If you’re spoilt for choice and can’t decide what to eat, order a couple of dishes to share with your friends and eat to your heart’s content! For good vibes and music, grab a seat in the courtyard and enjoy your meal with the accompaniment of a live band.
Although Carbonara is a classic pasta dish that may seem easy to whip up, the trick in getting it right is balancing the creaminess and thickness of the base and Ultimo’s carbonara was just right.
Another must-try at Ultimo is their homemade wood fire pizzas. The thin crust pizza was crisp on the edges, with a generous amount of crispy bacon evenly spread out on every slice. To complete your meal, top it off with a seafood platter. Slightly charred but fragrant, happily dig-in to a belly-filling seafood platter!
Come hungry because there’s so much to eat and try here!
Address: Jalan Kayu Aya No 104X, Seminyak, Kerobokan Kelod, Badung, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Opening Hours: Daily, 4.30pm to 1am
6. Revolver Espresso – Coolest coffee cafe spot
For one of the best cold brews in Bali, visit Revolver Espresso! While most cold brews tend to taste a bit too watered down, the cold brew in this boutique coffee joint is smooth and strong. For those who prefer more flavourful coffee, the menu offers a wide selection of blended flavoured espressos such as caramel, vanilla, and chocolate mint. Need some caffeine to kick-start your day or take the food coma away? Just pay a little more (IDR 5,000, ~PHP 15) for an extra strong espresso shot.
Klook-Tip: Not only does the cold brew tastes good, the fancy bottle makes a really good souvenir for that coffee lover friend you have!
Here’s one for the gram – take an Insta-worthy shot of you and your cuppa against the cafe’s graffiti wall!
Address: Jl. Kayu Aya Gang 51, Seminyak, Kuta, Seminyak, Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Opening Hours: Daily, 7am to 11pm
7. Sisterfields – Best brunch food and good vibes
There are many cafes in Bali but we think Sisterfields is the best place to get all your breakfast food cravings satisfied! There’s a reason why this cafe is always packed – good food and great vibes. You can never go wrong with a classic Bacon and Eggs Benedict for breakfast! The sight of their silky smooth hollandaise sauce dripping from perfectly poached eggs and savoury crisp bacon is enough to get your mouth watering.
If you’re looking for a hearty breakfast, their Salmon Poke Bowl are a fun alternative to rice bowls as it comes with easy to eat rice balls, sashimi salmon cubes, and edamame! Don’t be taken aback if you’re not a fan of spicy food – the spiciness in this dish is just enough to tickle your taste buds and makes the dish more appetizing than it already is.
For those with a sweet tooth, the Chocolate Brioche French Toast will be your go-to item on the menu. Served with salted caramel, banana and yoghurt sorbet, there is no better way to enjoy french toast.
P.S Get there early and request for a seat against this green wall. With glass ceilings, the natural light shines in to give you an unbelievable glow!
Klook-Tip: Know a friend who loves all-natural and healthy fruit juices? Take away their cold pressed juice in a fancy glass bottle!
Price:
- Classic bacon and eggs benedict: IDR 110,000, (~PHP 400)
- Salmon Poke Bowl: IDR 140,000 (~PHP 500)
- Chocolate Brioche French Toast: IDR 98,000 (~PHP 355)
Address: Jalan Kayu Cendana No. 7, Seminyak, Kuta, Kerobokan Kelod, Kuta Utara, Kerobokan Kelod, Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Opening Hours: Daily, 7am to 10pm
Best Restaurants in Kuta
8. Motel Mexicola – No frills Mexican tacos, nachos and margaritas
We weren’t kidding when we said that Bali is a food haven. You can find almost every kind of cuisine here and Motel Mexicola is famed for having one of the best Mexican tacos, tapas, nachos, and margaritas!
Our favourite: The old-school classic nachos! The nachos come served with smashed avocado, pico de gallo and homemade corn chips! The brown corn chips are more hearty and more grainy than the yellow chips, and their contrast just looks more aesthetic for your gram!
We are big cheese lovers and if you’re just like us, don’t miss out on their Quesadilla De Queso. Filled with fresh and chewy mozzarella cheese, stretch that cheese as you take a bite off this grilled flour tortilla!
Don’t forget to pair your food with some of their unique drinks! You don’t have to worry even if you have a friend who can’t drink. They have a good range of mocktails (or what they call “joketails”) and we recommend their Lollipop drink! Not only does it look nice for the gram but tastes of sweet fizzy raspberry, elderflower and lime soda. For an equally aesthetic but alcohol-based drink, order the Pina Colada which is a mix of white and dark rum, and coconut liqueur and coconut milk.
P.S Every corner of this cafe screams Insta-worthy so don’t waste your chance and snap away!
Price:
- Lollipop: IDR 60,000 (~PHP 220)
- Pina Colada IDR 130,000 (~PHP 480)
- Quesadilla De Queso IDR 65,000 (~PHP 240)
Address: Jalan Kayu Jati No. 9X, Petitenget, Kerobokan Kelod, Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Opening Hours: Daily, 11am to 1am
9. The Fat Turtle – Fluffiest Red Velvet pancakes in Bali!
Even if you don’t have a sweet tooth, you’ll be sure to love the pancakes here at The Fat Turtle! Everyone deserves to treat themselves to a good dessert and so do you. Dig into the fluffiest pancakes you’ll find in Bali – their signature red velvet pancakes! These were so good that we gobbled down every last bit of three stacks of warm, soft pancakes that came with a single scoop of ice cream.
Klook-Tip: For last minute souvenir shopping, save the turtles and do-away with plastic straws by purchasing reusable bamboo straws and a bamboo cutlery set here!
Price:
- Red Velvet Pancakes: IDR 55,000 (~PHP 200)
Address: Jl. Petitenget No.886A, Kerobokan Kelod, Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Opening Hours: Daily, 8am to 6pm
10. Kynd Community – Customizable acai bowls
Eating clean and having a diet of fresh and all natural ingredients is the hype these days. Head down to Kynd Community to get your daily fix of fresh Acai bowls and smoothies in Bali! Their smoothie bowls are customizable, and you can get them to spell out your name or even just “Bali Vibes” with fruits!
Klook-Tip: Know someone who loves to take photos of their food? Get them the pretty golden spoon you see in the photo above to eat their breakfast cereal with or just #forthegram.
P.S You’d want to head down early to get a spot against this insta-famous wall!
Price:
- Acai Bowls: IDR 73,000 (~PHP 270)
Address: Jl. Petitenget No.12X, Kerobokan Kelod, Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Opening Hours: Daily, 6am to 6pm
11. The Living Stone – The cutest bakery in town!
If you’re looking for delicious pastries and bread that look too cute to eat, combined with a relaxing atmosphere to relax after a whole day of shopping and walking, The Living Stone bakery is where you should be! And yes – the chocolate mousse in the photo is 100% edible (and completely affordable too)!
The Living Stone bakery also has one of the best croissants in Bali. Their croissants are warm and buttery, with just the right amount of flakiness. Don’t miss out on a good breakfast here!
P.S This open-concept cafe is also the best place to take a shot for the golden hour glow.
Have a truly local breakfast and pair this watermelon loaf with a coconut jam spread that can be purchased from any local supermarket for the perfect breakfast!
Klook-Tip: Cakes may be difficult to take home as souvenirs but it isn’t as difficult to bag home a loaf of this absolutely cute looking watermelon loaf!
Address: Jl. Petitenget No.88X, Kerobokan Kelod, Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Opening Hours: Daily, 7am to 10pm
12. XOXO Gelato – Best ice cream rolls in Bali
Bali has one of the best gelatos and after a taste of the ice cream rolls in XOXO Gelato, you’ll wonder why not all ice cream is served roll-form.
Pleasing to the eyes and your taste buds, dig in to an assortment of flavours – from white chocolate to strawberry cheesecake, mint and the good ol’ cookies and cream. The gelatos featured above are “50 Shades of Grey”, “The Golden Ticket” and “The Red Wedding” and boy have they seduced our taste buds with sweet goodness.
Price: IDR 65,000 (~PHP 240)
Opening Hours: Jl. Poppies II, Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Address: Daily, 10am to 12am
13. Jimbaran Bay Lia’s Cafe – The freshest catch in Bali
Jimbaran Bay has seafood restaurants lining the coast of the beach and for good reason. Who doesn’t love dining right by the waters? For a great sunset view, sea breeze in your face and a mouth-watering seafood spread, visit Lia’s Cafe to indulge in the freshest catch of the day!
Get your fill of freshly barbequed crabs, lobster, prawns, clams and fish glazed with a special savory Balinese sauce! Complete your meal with a pint of ice cold Bintang or a fresh coconut for the perfect refresher! The best part? You don’t have to break the bank to indulge in a good spread of seafood here! A set consisting of crayfish, crabs, prawns, clams, fish, rice, salad and 2 pints of Bintang only costs 70,000 IDR (~SGD $70) and is more than enough to feed a party of 4. If the mood wasn’t already right, local performers may even serenade you as you feast on your seafood dinner.
Klook-Tip: Arrive by 5pm and watch the sun go down while you enjoy a sunset dinner.
Address: Jl. Pemelisan Agung, Jimbaran, Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Opening Hours: Daily, 10am to 11pm
14. Sate – Grilled Indonesian skewered meat
This classic Indonesian favourite dish is made up of pieces of grilled skewered meat on a stick and can be found practically anywhere in Bali. Whether you’re in a fine dining restaurant, or at a local street vendor. The sweet peanut sauce you’re used to is replaced with fresh shrimp paste and soaked in coconut milk and Indonesian spices for a uniquely fragrant local taste.
15. Bakso – Savoury Indonesian meatballs
Bakso is famous in Bali and this local dish has even made the headlines for being Obama’s favourite childhood snack! Unlike normal meatballs which are made from unwanted meat parts, Bakso is made from meat paste. You won’t find chunky bits in Bakso as the finely ground meat paste is what gives it that smooth and pasty texture!
16. Mie Goreng – Spicy fried noodle dish
You’ve probably heard of the popular instant noodles brand “Indomie” that everyone loves as a quick late night supper. Now you no longer have to eat instant noodles if you’re craving for some mie goreng as you’ll find it almost everywhere in Bali. There’s just something about this simple noodle dish, best topped with a Hotdog and fried eggs!
17. Perfectly grilled and buttered sweet corn
The best hangouts in Bali are definitely at their golden beaches, but the best way to watch the sunset by the beach is with a golden corn cob in hand. You’ll easily spot a local corn seller along popular beaches like Jimbaran bay as they make the perfect snack. These corns cobs that are coated with salt, sugar, butter and other sauces like chili or barbecue sauce, perfect to be enjoyed by all.
18. Have as many pancake toppings you want with Terang Bulan
Terang Bulan is a local pancake that gives customers the option to choose from a wide variety of dessert toppings! If you always face first world problems of not being able to choose between your favourite toppings, you’ll find yourself having the opposite sentiments with Terang Bulan! Most importantly, why limit yourself when you can have everything on one pancake? Choose between having 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16 and even 20 toppings on a single piece of pancake!
For those with a sweet tooth, this dessert is a combination of chocolate, marshmallows, condensed milk and all your favourite sweets, sauces and chocolates. You’ll get an overload of sweetness and satisfaction with this pancake!
19. Goreng Pisang – Golden brown deep-fried banana fritter
Goreng Pisang is no stranger to those who live in Southeast Asia as these banana fritters are a popular snack amongst locals. Fresh bananas covered in batter and deep-fried in hot cooking oil till golden brown, the combination of banana and batter make an addictive sweet and salty pair.
You can find these street food at almost any corner in Bali but for some late-night snacking, Dewi Sri Food Center will have you covered.
Address: Jl. Raya Kuta No.59, Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Opening Hours: Daily, 8am to 12am
Other Bali Essentials
Hungry yet? You’ll be glad to know that the food here that have made our list really do taste as good as they look!
Be the envy of your friends and get a 4G SIM card to share all your mouth-watering food moments with your friends on Instagram! You can also Klook yourself a private car charter to bring you on all your food adventures in Bali. If you’re planning for your next holiday to Bali, discover more things to do in Bali, attend a Balinese cooking class, or have breakfast with Orangutans at the Bali Zoo!
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