Bali’s Traditional Cuisine: Authentic Dishes and Local Food Experiences

Bali is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and there are many reasons that you might want to visit this lovely area. From gorgeous beach locations to fun towns that are bustling with life and things to do, there are so many things that you can do and see in Bali. Bali is also a great place to get delicious food. You might already have a list of things that you want to try out, but there are some authentic dishes that many travelers are not aware of, as well as local food experiences that they don’t know they should give a try. Towns like Kuta are great places to head to in order to dine on lots of local cuisines, go shopping, and experience Bali in all its glory. Bali’s traditional cuisine should be on every travelers bucket list!

As you taste your way through this Indonesian island, don’t carry too much. Visit a local luggage storage before you start exploring the food scene, and you’ll have your hands free to try it all.

Bali’s authentic dishes that you have to try

Babi Guling

This dish is one of the most famous Bali’s traditional cuisine, and it is a suckling pig. This pig is roasted by hand, turning it over a fire, and it was made popular in other cultures by Anthony Bourdain, who talked about it on his show. Ibu Oka in Ubud is one of the best places to head to enjoy this dish. This can be an expensive dish to order, as this is not something that locals eat, but it is worth the extra expense to get to try this traditional food.

Gado Gado

Gado Gado is a great vegetarian dish to try while you are in Bali. This is a traditional salad-type meal but with lots of hearty ingredients that will make sure that you don’t feel hungry while you are sightseeing. The peanut dressing is one of the best parts of the salad, and you need to make sure that you try this part of the salad out unless you have an allergy that will prevent you from doing so. There are many restaurants that offer this dish in Bali, but you can also find it offered at street vendor stalls if you want to eat locally.

Sate

Sate, also spelled satay, is one of the most classic Bali’s traditional cuisine. You can smell the aroma of sate all over food market spaces, and following the delicious-smelling smoke will bring you right to the stall where they are being cooked.  This filling and delightful street food item is very portable and delicious, and you will want to try different sate types as well. Most locations will offer a choice between beef and things like chicken, but you might also be able to try goat or rabbit sate as well.

Can’t-miss Bali food experiences

Remember that when you head to markets and warungs, these locations create food for locals. This means that the spice level can be too high for those who are not used to spicy foods. You can always ask what the spice level is, but remember, and this is a relative concept. Be sure to dive into these kinds of food carefully if you are someone who is sensitive to spicy dishes.

Warungs

These traditional eateries are some of the best places to get local cuisine. You will find that this kind of eating experience is very affordable as well compared to eating at restaurants in tourist areas or resorts. You can get everything from snacks to full meals at these Warungs, and you will often be offered samples to try of the various tempting treats that are being cooked right in front of you as you wander around.

This is one of the best ways to support locals as well since many of the Warungs that you can head to are collections of stalls that are manned by local families. Even if you are not fluent in Indonesian, you can easily figure out what to order.

Markets

There are various open-air markets scattered around Bali that offer you the chance to shop through local wares and to dine on local cuisine. These are often more permanent locations that feel like large warehouses that have vendor stalls in them. You can get everything from a beach towel and cover-up to a full meal of local dishes in these market spaces.

This is a really affordable way to enjoy local food, and you will love being able to wander while snacking on unique and tasty things. A pro tip is to make sure you don’t commit too early. Don’t fill up on the first thing you see. Instead, go for small portions so you can sample it all. Make sure to come to a market hungry and with some cash in hand so that you can have a great time.

Eating in Bali is a taste sensation (and affordable)

There are so many really amazing ways to enjoy Bali’s traditional cuisine. You can head to a local market or a Warung, or you can track down specific restaurants that offer the dishes that you have been most excited to try. There are lots of local cuisine options that will be perfect for those who love vegetarian foods and spicy treats at local food vendor stalls as well.

Bali is an amazing place to travel to because there is so much of the local culture still in place. Bali has not been overwhelmed by outside influences yet, and it still feels very traditional and authentic in most of the places that you can choose to visit. 

You can opt to create the kind of trip to Bali that you have always dreamed of and stay at a local hotel, eat at places where the locals eat, and ride a scooter everywhere you go. You will never go hungry in Bali, and these food suggestions will help you to make the most of your dining experience in this lovely part of the world.

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