Introduction to Balinese Cuisine

Bali food is a mix of flavors from Hindu culture, Indonesian cooking, and food from around the world. Balinese cooking balances salty, sweet, sour, and spicy tastes. Cooks use methods like slow cooking, steaming food in banana leaves, and frying to bring out flavors while keeping the food healthy.

When you eat a Balinese meal, you’ll usually get four or five dishes around a pile of rice, with spicy sauce called sambal. Common ingredients include ginger, galangal (like ginger but different), turmeric, lemongrass, limes, coriander seeds, and chili.

Must-Try Traditional Balinese Dishes

Babi Guling (Suckling Pig)

Babi Guling is Bali’s most famous dish. It’s a whole young pig stuffed with spices like chili, turmeric, ginger, galangal, shallots, garlic, cilantro seeds, and aromatic leaves. The pig is cooked over fire for hours until the meat is juicy and the skin is crispy. Once only served at weddings and parties, you can now find it at small restaurants called warungs all over Bali.

• Warung Babi Guling Ibu Oka (Ubud) – Probably the most famous for babi guling.
• Babi Guling Pak Malen (Seminyak) – Tender, spicy, and tourist-friendly.
• Babi Guling Candra (Denpasar) – Traditional and popular with locals.

Betutu (Spiced Chicken or Duck)

Betutu is chicken or duck cooked with lots of local spices. The duck version (Bebek Betutu) is very popular. The meat is cooked slowly with herbs and wrapped in banana leaves. The recipe uses cinnamon and a mix of shallots, turmeric, candlenut, chili, shrimp paste, ginger, lemongrass, palm sugar, pepper, salt, coriander seeds, and lime juice.

• Bebek Tepi Sawah (Ubud) — Known for their duck Betutu.
• Ayam Betutu Khas Gilimanuk (Kuta, Denpasar) — Authentic chicken Betutu.

Nasi Campur (Mixed Rice)

Nasi Campur means “mixed rice.” It’s a pile of rice surrounded by small portions of different foods like meats, vegetables, peanuts, eggs, and crispy shrimp crackers (krupuk). It comes with spicy sambal sauce. This is a great way to try many Balinese flavors in one meal. You can find nasi campur everywhere from street food carts to fancy restaurants.

• Warung Wardani (Denpasar, Kuta) — Balanced and traditional.
• Bumbu Bali (Nusa Dua) — Upscale experience with authentic flavors.

Lawar

Lawar is a Balinese salad made of finely chopped meat, vegetables, grated coconut, and spices. There are two kinds: White Lawar (Lawar Putih) has no animal products, and Red Lawar (Lawar Merah) has animal blood mixed in. People often eat this dish during special events and celebrations.

Essential Balinese Condiments and Sides

Sambal (Spicy Condiments)

Every Balinese meal comes with sambal, a spicy sauce. People say it’s “like ketchup but much spicier and better.” Indonesia has about 300 different sambals, but these three are most common in Bali:

• Sambal Matah: Made with chopped shallots, lemongrass, garlic, chili, and lime, mixed with hot oil, salt, sugar, and a bit of shrimp paste.
• Sambal Tomat: Made with tomatoes and usually spicier than sambal matah.
• Sambal Terasi: Made with fermented prawn paste, with a strong taste that takes time to enjoy.

Base Gede (Balinese Spice Paste)

Base Gede is a basic spice mix used in many Balinese dishes. Like in other Asian cooking, this flavorful mixture is the starting point for many traditional recipes.

Popular Rice and Noodle Dishes

Nasi Goreng (Fried Rice)

Nasi Goreng is Indonesia’s national dish and very common in Bali. It’s rice fried with spices, bits of meat, vegetables, and topped with a fried egg. You can find it everywhere from street carts to fancy restaurants, with prices from very cheap to more expensive.

Mie Goreng (Fried Noodles)

Like Nasi Goreng but with noodles instead of rice, Mie Goreng has noodles mixed with meat and/or vegetables, usually topped with an egg. Locals eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and you can find it all over the island.

Satay Varieties

Sate Babi (Pork Satay)

Sate Babi is small pieces of marinated pork cooked on a grill. It’s usually served with plain white rice or compressed rice cooked in banana leaves (nasi lontong) and spicy sambal sauce.

Sate Ayam (Chicken Satay)

Sate Ayam is chicken pieces on skewers, grilled and served with peanut sauce. You can find the real street food version away from tourist areas, while fancier versions are in cafes and restaurants.

Sate Lilit

Unlike regular satay, Sate Lilit is made from ground meat (usually fish, chicken, or pork) pressed onto skewers, often using lemongrass sticks instead of bamboo. This gives it a special flavor and look.

Seafood Specialties

Pepes Ikan

Pepes Ikan is whole fish (usually snapper or mackerel) covered in herbs and spices, steamed in a banana leaf, then grilled to add a smoky taste. The fish comes out tender and full of flavor, perfect to share with friends while enjoying a cold beer.

• Menega Cafe (Jimbaran) — Grilled seafood right on the beach.

• Made Bagus Cafe (Jimbaran) — Fresh lobster, prawns, and fish.

Base Be Pasih (Seafood Spice Paste)

Base Be Pasih is a special Balinese spice mix made just for seafood dishes. This flavorful mixture makes fish and other seafood taste better while adding the unique Balinese flavor.

Sweet Treats and Desserts

Pisang Goreng (Fried Bananas)

If you like sweet foods, try Pisang Goreng. These fried bananas come in different shapes and sizes and are often served with toppings like condensed milk, honey, coconut, or ice cream making them a tasty dessert or snack.

Where to Eat in Bali

Bali has food options for every budget – from street food vendors and local warungs to fancy restaurants in luxury hotels. For the most authentic experience, look for family-run warungs that focus on specific dishes like babi guling, bebek betutu, or nasi campur.

Night markets, food stands, and fruit vendors are great places to try local foods at low prices. Many areas also have cooking schools with daily classes where you can learn to make traditional Balinese dishes yourself.