This guide presents the main types of food and cuisines you can find in Bali. It also features the common dish examples, dietary options, and the types of dining venues available across the island.
In Bali, you will find a variety of cuisines including Balinese food, Indonesian food, Asian dishes, Western food, Middle Eastern Food, European food and Russian cuisine. The wide variety of restaurants caters to the diversity of tourists visiting the island. We have created this guide so that visitors to Bali know what to expect with food options on their holiday prior to travel.
Local Balinese Cuisine
Balinese food is common Bali-wide, and found in small warungs, restaurants, hotels and food stalls. Balinese cuisine often uses spice pastes made from roots, herbs, and aromatics. Pork is commonly used.
Key dishes:
- Babi Guling – Roast suckling pig is prepared with a spice paste.
- Ayam Betutu – Chicken is marinated in a rich spice paste. It is wrapped in banana leaves and slow-cooked.
- Lawar – A crunchy mix of chopped vegetables, minced meat, and grated coconut is seasoned with traditional herbs.
- Sate Lilit – Minced meat satay is wrapped around lemongrass sticks.
- Nasi Campur Bali – Rice is served with small portions of meat, vegetables, and sambal.
Indonesian Cuisine
Many Indonesian dishes are offered in both meat-based and vegetarian versions. They are commonly found in warungs, cafés, and casual restaurants.
Key dishes:
- Nasi Goreng – Fried rice is cooked with seasoning, vegetables, and egg.
- Mie Goreng – Fried noodles are prepared with vegetables, egg, and sauce.
- Rendang – Beef is slow-cooked with spices and coconut milk.
- Gado-Gado – Vegetables are served with peanut sauce.
Satay – Skewered meat is grilled and served with sauce.
Asian Cuisines
There is a wide variety of Asian cuisine offered in Bali including Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese food. Asian cuisines are offered in casual restaurants, cafés, region-specific restaurants, fine dining venues, and mixed Asian dining venues.
Japanese Cuisine
Key dishes:
- Sushi – Vinegared rice is served with raw or cooked seafood.
- Sashimi – Raw seafood is sliced and served without rice.
- Ramen – Noodles are served in broth with meat, vegetables, and egg.
- Tempura – Seafood or vegetables are battered and fried.
- Yakitori – Skewered chicken is grilled and seasoned.
Chinese Cuisine
Key dishes:
- Fried Rice – Rice is stir-fried with vegetables, egg, and meat.
- Noodle Dishes – Noodles are stir-fried or served in broth.
- Dim Sum – Small portions of dumplings and buns are prepared by steaming or frying.
- Stir-Fried Vegetables – Fresh greens are tossed with garlic.
- Roast Meats – Crispy pork or duck is sliced.
Thai Cuisine
Key dishes:
- Pad Thai – It is a stir-fry of rice noodles, egg, and crunchy sprouts.
- Green Curry – Curry is cooked with coconut milk and herbs.
- Red Curry – Curry is prepared with chilli paste and coconut milk.
- Tom Yum Soup – Soup is cooked with herbs and a sour broth.
- Papaya Salad – Shredded papaya is mixed with seasoning and lime.
Vietnamese Cuisine
Key dishes:
- Pho – Rice noodle soup is served in a clear broth with fresh herbs like basil and cilantro.
- Fresh Spring Rolls – Rice paper rolls contain vegetables and protein.
- Banh Mi – A crusty baguette packed with meats, pickles, and fresh chilli.
- Rice Dishes – Rice is paired with meat dishes.
- Noodle Bowls – Noodles combine with vegetables and herbs.
Korean Cuisine
Key dishes:
- Korean Barbecue – Grilled meat is served with a selection of side dishes.
- Bibimbap – A mixed rice bowl is topped with seasoned vegetables, meat, a fried egg, and spicy chilli paste.
- Korean Fried Chicken – Fried chicken is coated in sauce.
- Kimchi Stew – A stew is made with fermented cabbage and meat.
- Rice Cakes – Rice cakes are served in a seasoned sauce.
European Cuisines
It is easy to find European food in Bali. European cuisines are found in casual restaurants, bistros, and fine dining venues.
French Cuisine
Key dishes and formats:
- Degustation Menus – Many courses are served in a set sequence.
- Confit de Canard – Duck leg is slow-cooked in its own fat until tender.
- Soupe à l’oignon – Caramelised onions in a broth are topped with melted cheese.
- Seafood Dishes – Fresh catches are pan-seared with lemon and light herbs.
- Pastries – Flaky layers are created using chilled butter and flour.
Italian Cuisine
Key dishes:
- Pasta – This is a bowl of boiled noodles topped with sauce.
- Risotto – It is a creamy rice dish made by cooking grains in broth.
- Pizza – This food is a flat crust baked with cheese and tomato.
- Lasagne – It is a baked meal made of stacked flat noodles, meat, and sauce.
- Seafood Pasta – These are simple noodles tossed with fish or shrimp.
Greek Cuisine
Key dishes:
- Mezze Plates – They are a variety of small, flavorful dishes meant for sharing.
- Grilled Meats – Charred skewers or cuts are seasoned with lemon and oregano.
- Greek Salad – Fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, and olives are topped with feta cheese.
- Pita Bread – Soft flatbread is served from the oven.
- Yoghurt-Based Dishes – Creamy dips are made with garlic and cucumber.
Indian Cuisine
Indian food is common in Bali, especially in tourist hot spots. This cuisine commonly uses spices, grains, vegetables, meat, and dairy.
Key dishes:
- Butter Chicken – It is a mild tomato curry containing tender chicken pieces.
- Tandoori Dishes – Meats and vegetables cooked in a traditional heat-clay oven.
- Paneer Curries – Soft Indian cheese cubes are cooked in a thick gravy.
- Dosa – A large, paper-thin crepe is made from rice and lentil batter.
- Biryani – Rice is mixed with meat and aromatic spices.
Middle Eastern Cuisines
Middle Eastern restaurants are getting more popular in Bali offering both dine-in and take-away options. It is easy to order on food ordering apps like Grab or Gojek for those who prefer to eat at their hotel or villa.
Lebanese Cuisine
Key dishes:
- Hummus – It is a chickpea-based creamy dip.
- Falafel – They are fried chickpea fritters; they are made from ground chickpeas and savoury spices.
- Grilled Meats – They are charred skewers of seasoned meat eaten with warm flatbread.
- Tabbouleh – It is a fresh herb salad mixed with cracked grains and lemon.
- Flatbreads – Soft, freshly baked dough is served as a side.
Turkish Cuisine
Key dishes:
- Kebabs – Meat is grilled and served with bread or rice.
- Pide – Flatbread is baked with toppings.
- Grilled Vegetables – Vegetables are cooked over heat and seasoned.
- Rice Dishes – Rice is cooked and served as a main or side.
- Baklava – Layered pastry is prepared with nuts and syrup.
Russian and Ukrainian Cuisines
Russian and Ukrainian meals are found in both casual dining venues and upscale venues in Bali.
Key dishes:
- Borscht – Beetroot soup is cooked with vegetables and meat.
- Pelmeni – Dumplings are filled with minced meat and boiled.
- Varenyky – Dumplings are filled with vegetables or cheese.
- Blini – Thin pancakes are cooked and served with savoury or sweet toppings.
- Meat and Potato Dishes – Meat is cooked with potatoes and seasoning.
Western Cuisines
Western food is common in Bali and widely available all over the island. Western cuisines are found in casual restaurants, cafés, pubs, hotels, and fine dining venues.
American Cuisine
Key dishes:
- Burgers – Minced meat patties are served in buns with fillings.
- Steaks – They are thick cuts of grilled beef paired with side dishes.
- Barbecue Dishes – Smoky, slow-cooked meats are covered in a thick, tangy sauce.
- Fried Chicken – A crunchy, battered dish with pieces of deep-fried chicken.
- Sandwiches – Bread is filled with meat, vegetables, and sauces.
Australian Cuisine
Key dishes:
- Brunch Plates – Smashed avocado on sourdough is served with poached eggs.
- Grilled Meats – Meat is cooked simply and served with accompaniments.
- Salads – Vegetables are combined with grains or protein.
- Seafood Dishes – Fish is grilled or pan-cooked.
- Café Classics – Toasts and bowls are prepared with varied toppings.
English Cuisine
Key dishes:
- Fish and Chips – Fish is battered and fried, then served with potatoes.
- Pies – Savoury meat and vegetables hide inside a golden crust.
- Roasts – Oven-cooked meat is served with a side of potatoes and greens.
- Breakfast Plates – Eggs, sausages, and bread are served together.
- Pub Dishes – Simple hot meals are prepared for casual dining.
Dining Scene in Bali
Bali offers several dining options to visitors with dietary preferences – vegan, vegetarian, halal, gluten-free, seafood, and organic.
Visitors can choose Bali restaurants that suit their budgets and occasions. They include local warungs, cafés, casual restaurants, fine dining venues, steakhouses, bistros and pubs.
Discover Fine Dining in Ubud, Bali
Apéritif Restaurant is a fine dining restaurant in Ubud blending local flavours with masterful European techniques. This venue features unique tasting menus and 1920s vintage décor. The experience begins with apéritifs – in line with the traditional European custom.
Reservations are recommended. Book your table.
