What to eat in Bali. Traditional Balinese dishes. Prices in restaurants and cafes
Balinese cuisine, alas, is not a brand. But this does not mean that guests of the island will remain hungry or will not enjoy tasting local dishes. Yes, the dishes offered either in a restaurant or in a cafe will be quite simple in execution (this will include rice, noodles, meat, vegetables, spices and seafood in various combinations). But all this is fresh, a little spicy, if you want - quite spicy and flavored with the most radiant smile. In a word, it definitely deserves the attention of a tourist.
Food in restaurants and cafes
Trying to find restaurants and cafes on the map of Bali leaves you with the feeling that they simply aren’t here. But not everything is so sad. It’s just that most restaurants are located at hotels in large resorts, and local cafes (“warungs”) are often so small that no one would think of putting them on a map. In terms of the number of haute cuisine establishments (including European, Arabic, Indonesian), the popular areas of Bali are in the lead: Seminyak, Kuta, Jimbaran, Ubud, Nusa Dua. Cafes with a good selection of local dishes can be found both in large populated areas and in tiny villages where at least one vacationer has ever appeared.
You should give preference to a restaurant with a sea view - the island has fantastic sunsets.
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The answer to the question “where does it taste better?” the visitors have still not found it. Success depends entirely on the skill of the chef. But tourists have long ago decided on what to try first.
5 dishes you must try in Bali
- “Baby Guling”: it is no coincidence that it is first on the list. Suckling pig with spices and seasonings, roasted on a spit, is considered a festive dish, but it is prepared every day for dear guests. It is important to find an establishment that specializes specifically in “babi guling” and go there in the morning, before the pig’s ears and legs are left.
- "Betutu" - poultry meat. There are two types: “ayam betutu” - from chicken and “bebek betutu” - from duck (it is better to order this one). The dish takes almost 24 hours to prepare. First they beat it, then marinate it in a special mixture of spices and herbs, and then stew it, wrapped in banana leaves.
- “Pepes ikan”, “ikan bakar”, “ikan goreng” are all fish, only cooked in different ways: “pepes” - stewed in banana leaves, “bakar” - grilled, “goreng” - simply fried. It’s worth trying any of these dishes, if only because in Bali fish is abundant and its quality is excellent.
- “Gado-gado” is the passionate love of all vegetarians vacationing on the island. It is an ensemble of boiled vegetables (cauliflower, carrots, spinach, corn and others), tofu and an amazing nut sauce (by the way, it can also be ordered with other dishes). Gado-gado is often served with shrimp or fish chips.
- Bubur Injin is a pudding of sweet black rice in coconut milk and coconut pulp.
It’s also worth trying local coffee and cocoa and buying it home - then the memories of Bali will be even tastier.
The price of a dinner for two with alcohol in a restaurant will be about 900,000 IDR, in a cafe - 340,000 IDR, but excluding alcohol. Bali is predominantly Muslim, so strong drinks are not offered everywhere. The bill will include 15% of the check amount - tax and service charge, so tipping is optional.
You can eat cheaply and quickly right on the street: during the day, “baksoshnits” appear on the beaches and central streets of villages - glass-top carts from which they sell “bakso” soup with fish, noodles, spinach and rice. Price - from 20,000 IDR. If you're lucky, you can stumble upon "makashnits" selling "sate" - skewers of meat or seafood and "martabak" - pancakes fried in oil stuffed with chocolate and bananas or eggs with meat and vegetables. For “sate” they will ask from 5,000 IDR, for “martabak” - from 15,000 IDR.
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Food at the markets
As morning comes, large and small markets open in almost all parts of the island. Pasar Badung (Jl. Sulawesi No., 1) in Denpasar is famous for its huge selection of fresh meat, eggs, seasonings and fruits, as well as souvenirs and handicrafts. In Kuta, almost at sunrise, the most famous fish market in Bali (Jl. Pantai Kedonganan) opens its doors - people come here from all over the island for the freshest seafood. In Ubud, one of the markets is called the Morning Market (Jl. Raya Ubud No., 14). There is an incredible assortment of fruits, vegetables, flowers and souvenirs. With the onset of evening, tourists and locals are invited to the Night Market; their assortment is the same as in the morning ones.
In the markets, the one who knows how to bargain “wins”; you can knock 30-40% off the initial price.
1 kg of mango on the market can be bought for 20,000 IDR, bananas - from 18,000 IDR, rambutan - for 15,000 IDR, watermelon - from 7,000 IDR/kg. Tomatoes and cucumbers cost on average 15,000 IDR, corn - 10,000 IDR, potatoes - 18,000 IDR. Ready meals - from 15,000 IDR.
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Food in supermarkets
Those who are too lazy to haggle in an incomprehensible mixture of sign language, Russian and English should look into the island’s many supermarkets. The giant Transmart Carrefour (Sunset Road Building Lantai 3, Jl. Sunset Road) in Kuta has everything - from food to household appliances; the assortment is a little more modest in the supermarkets of the Pepito chain - they are in Uluwatu (Jl. Raya Uluwatu, Ungasan, Kuta Sel. ) and in Ubud (Jl. Raya Tebongkang, Singakerta). The “minimum food-drinks-chocolates” set is offered by even smaller supermarkets, which are found in all large villages.
The larger the store, the lower the price. But the difference is not too big - on average up to 10,000 IDR. Potatoes cost 17,000 IDR, tomatoes - 19,000 IDR, regular milk - 23,000 IDR, soy milk - 16,000 IDR, chicken - 51,000 IDR, beef - 135,000 IDR. Large supermarkets have food courts, prices are average for Bali.
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The content of the article
Balinese culture is quite complex and is reflected in almost every aspect of life, including food. National dishes in Bali are a big part of its traditions, some of which are almost as old as the culture itself. Fine THERE We have prepared for you a list of traditional dishes that you can try in Bali.
1 Satay
Satay, or satay in Indonesian, is basically pieces of chicken, goat, beef or pork fried on wooden skewers. This is a traditional dish that tourists can find in almost all cities in Indonesia. Every culture has its own version of this classic dish. Sate lilit (translated from Indon as “wrapped in sate”) is the Balinese’s own creation; they mix meat with coconut milk and spices. Tourists will enjoy the fact that the meat is wrapped around a stick rather than sliced, hence the name lilit (wrapper). It is not necessary to order sauce for the satay, as the salad already has a delicious combination of spicy, salty and sweet flavors.
2 Babi Guling
Babi Guling or Balinese Roasted Suckling Pig is one of the delicacies you can try in Bali. The whole pig is roasted because this is the only way it will cook evenly, so it is originally a communal dish. Often served as a treat during cultural performances or ceremonies, babi guling can now also be ordered in restaurants. While the meat of a fresh pig (often piglets) is quite juicy on its own, the mixture of traditional spices that are used to stuff and coat the meat also plays an important role in convincing you that Babi Guling is an unforgettable dish.
3 Betutu (Ayam Betutu)
Legend has it that betutu was once a favorite dish of kings. Therefore, it is not surprising that the food is prepared in such a complex way. A whole chicken or duck is often chosen as the main ingredient, which is then infused with a complex blend of spices including shallots, garlic, ginger, chillies, peanuts, etc. Betutu requires at least eight hours to prepare, most of which is spent baking. The taste does not convey, of course, the effort that went into it, but the long process gives a rich aroma to every piece eaten.
4 Lawar
Lawar is made from a mixture of minced meat with various green vegetables and grated coconut. As for meat, you can choose from beef, chicken, duck, pork, turtle or a combination of these. Balinese people prepare two types of lavar: red and white. Red Lavar gets its color from animal blood added to the mixture, which adds a distinct flavor to the entire dish. On the other hand, white lavar does not contain blood and often the meat is replaced with jackfruit.
5 Bubur Mengguh
Bubur mengh is a specific type of porridge that originated in Buleleng (Bali). This savory dish is an important food for the Balinese people as it is one of the obligatory dishes in traditional festivals or ceremonies. The porridge is topped with a thin mixture of spices, shredded chicken, roasted peanuts and celery. Bubur mengh is often served with urab, a vegetable salad with coconut sauce. Warm, freshly brewed bubur mengh is ideal for breakfast.
6 Nasi Tepeng
Nasi tepeng is the local cuisine of Gianyar (Bali). Soft, fluffy rice is complemented by a special blend of spices and herbs to give this dish a flavorful flavor, and it also comes with fried chicken, egg, jackfruit, beans and eggplant. In Gianyar, nasi tepeng is a common breakfast for locals and its enticing aroma in the morning is a treat in itself.
7 Urab (Urap)
There is no shortage of meat dishes, especially pork and chicken, in Bali. But the people living here also know well how to cook vegetables deliciously. Urap (also urab) is a traditional vegetable salad with coconut spices. It consists of a large amount of steamed or raw vegetables, including green beans, cabbage, bean sprouts, spinach and cassava leaves. You can enjoy urap as an independent dish or as a side dish. This is a vegetarian food, rich in tasty and nutritious substances.
8 Tum
We advise tourists and lovers of gourmet dishes to try the delicious tum, which is beautifully served in banana leaves. The dish is made from minced chicken or beef, along with herbs and spices such as garlic, shallots, chilies, bay leaves, lemongrass and more. Tum turns out to be quite compact, which makes it convenient to eat as a main dish or snack on the go.
9 Nasi Jinggo
Nasi Jingguo is a dish that is an integral part of the daily life of the local population. They say that the portion nasi jinggo fits in the palm of your hand and that’s almost true, it’s small but quite filling. Consisting of rice, vegetables, side dish and seasoning wrapped together in a banana leaf, naxi jingguo is an affordable food for locals and tourists. Typically, side dish options are shredded chicken, egg or noodles. Sell nasi jinggo on almost all the streets of Bali, with parked motorcycles.
10 Sambal Matah
Sambal is a delicious Balinese hot sauce that has made its way into restaurants and home kitchens throughout Indonesia. Each culture has its own chili sauce recipe, but sambal matah is loved for its fresh sensation. Shallots, garlic and chillies, which are common ingredients for Indonesian hot sauce, are chopped or mixed to give it a delicious texture. The secret to the fresh sensation is lime and lemongrass. Sambal matah can enhance the flavor of a simple fried chicken, pork or egg dish.
Traditional Bali cuisine is formed in accordance with the traditions of the island's inhabitants, as well as influenced by the cuisine of other regions of Indonesia, Chinese and Indian cuisine. Despite the fact that Balinese cuisine is part of Indonesian cuisine, the main religion of the island, Hindu, significantly influenced its formation and introduced its own characteristics. For example, unlike the rest of Indonesia, where the population is Muslim, Bali allows the consumption of pork.
It is worth noting that it is often used in traditional dishes. Rice in Balinese cuisine, as well as in most other Asian countries, is considered a staple product. Therefore, it should not be surprising that almost all food in Bali is served with it. As a rule, it is consumed with vegetables, meat or seafood. In Balinese Hinduism, the rice goddess Dewi Sri is one of the most revered and beloved by local residents; the famous one was built in her honor.
What is the basis of Bali cuisine? Of course, on aromatic spices, which are in abundance on the island. The famous combination of 8 main spices is widely used - white pepper, black pepper, coriander, cumin, cloves, nutmeg, sesame and candlenut. In addition, Balinese cuisine cannot be imagined without shallots, garlic, turmeric, ginger, chili pepper and palm sugar.
– is a firm favorite among the Balinese. Babi Guling is suckling pig seasoned with aromatic spices and seasonings, then spit-roasted for about an hour or two. The meat simply melts in your mouth, served with rice, vegetables, blood sausage and sauce. Traditionally, the dish is sold in the morning in cafes (warungs), which specialize in its preparation. The cafe closes after the pig runs out. So if you want to try the most delicious morsels, come early. It is worth noting that Bali cuisine would be much lost without Babi Guling.
Betutu
– Balinese traditional dish of chicken (ayam betutu) or duck (bebek betutu). The meat is stewed and fried with spicy spices, served with a traditional sauce of small onions, red chili peppers and coconut oil. The preparation of the dish takes at least 24 hours, due to which the meat becomes soft and tender. The dish is common on the islands of Bali and Lombok and was enjoyed not only by local residents, but also by numerous tourists.
Martabak
- one of the most popular dishes both in Bali and in other regions of Indonesia. You can find both sweet and savory versions of this dish. Although the method of preparing sweet and salty martabak is very different. Sweet martabak (martabak manis) is a thick pancake with filling. The sweet filling comes with chocolate, nuts, bananas, condensed milk, etc. Salty martabak (martabak telur) is a thin dough in which a filling of eggs and other ingredients such as onions, chicken, beef, etc. is wrapped. Traditionally, it is prepared in evening time of day by street vendors.
Nasi campur Bali
- This is the Balinese version of a fairly common dish in Indonesia. The rice is served with grilled tuna skewers, fried tofu, vegetables, beef, chilli sauce, etc. Nasi Champur can be purchased from street vendors or local warungs and is usually served wrapped in a banana leaf.
As for traditional drinks, the most popular among locals are Balinese coffee (kopi Bali) and hot tea (teh panas). Both coffee and tea are served with sugar and condensed milk.
In general, Bali cuisine is quite comfortable for domestic stomachs. However, before trying the dishes, you should consider the spiciness of the seasonings. It is also advisable to ask waiters or sellers about this.
If you liked the food in Bali and wanted to surprise your family and friends when you arrived home with unusual dishes, Bali offers a huge variety of culinary courses. Balinese chefs will not only introduce you to the basics of local cuisine, but will also go with you to the local market to tell and show you how to choose the right ingredients.
We wish you pleasantly pleased with the cuisine of Bali and bon appetit! Selamat makan!
Food in Bali is one of the most pressing issues for newcomers to the island. Some say that the food in Bali is not at all varied, some, on the contrary, get lost among the unusual names on the menu and order at random, while others interrogated the old-timers in advance and thoroughly learned how things are with Indonesian cuisine. We, in turn, decided to tell you how not to remain hungry on the island, and not to get confused when going to warung. For your convenience, the article will consist of two parts. In the first, we will tell you about the main dishes of Indonesian cuisine, those that are sold here on every corner, and which you must try, at least for a general acquaintance with the local gastronomic delights. The second part of the review will be devoted to some places in Bali where you can get your fill. So, here we go:
Traditional food in Bali
Nasi Goreng and Mie Goreng (Nasi Goreng and Mi Goreng)
The most popular product in the country is rice; it is the main grain crop in Indonesia. The phrase “Nasi Goreng” is literally translated as “fried rice”. Of course, this is the most common food in Bali and it has two undeniable advantages: firstly, it is cheap, and secondly, it is filling and tasty. This simple dish is prepared like this: the rice is first boiled, then fried in a special frying pan, adding various spices and vegetables, and, of your choice, chicken, pork or seafood. The dish is often served with a fried egg and an improvised salad (usually a couple of pieces of tomatoes and cucumbers). You can flavor all this splendor with the sweet kecap manis sauce, which is found in every Indonesian warung, or with chili sauce. Mie Goreng is basically the same story, but the rice is replaced with egg noodles. And remember the most important thing: “Whoever hasn’t eaten nasi goreng has never been to Bali.”
Nasi Campur
This food in Bali is, in a way, an Indonesian buffet. The base product is white or brown rice, your choice. You can already add various vegetables to the rice, these can be eggplants, green beans, bean sprouts, a mix of boiled vegetables, as well as various types of meat - chicken in a sweet sauce, or simply fried, beef in a spicy sauce and whatever your heart desires. Also, in cafes that specialize in nasi champur, there may be several types of tofu and boiled eggs, which are cooked in various sauces (sometimes even in black pepper sauce), shrimp and everything that the cook’s imagination allows for. This pleasure is not very expensive - you will pay as much as you can. The author of the article, without denying himself anything, never paid more than $4 for Nasi Campur.
Gado-Gado (Gado-gado)
Vegetable joy in nut sauce. This dish includes stewed vegetables such as carrots, cauliflower, spinach, baby corn, and sometimes zucchini and beans. Tempeh and boiled eggs are also sometimes added to gado-gado. The most important feature of gado-gado is its delicious peanut dressing. Often this dish is served together with krupuk - these are chips based on starch or protein products (shrimp, fish, etc.).
Soto Ayam (Soto Ayam)
Soto Ayam is, as it may seem at first glance, the most ordinary chicken noodle soup. However, the noodles here are rice, thin and transparent, and in addition to chicken and noodles, the broth also contains a boiled egg, cabbage, and sometimes celery and shallots. The soup is generously seasoned with various spices (which give it its beautiful yellow color), and if you are lucky with the cook, the taste of the soup will be unforgettable. The dish is served with boiled rice, lime and chili. We recommend adding all three ingredients to the soup - you won’t regret it.
Sate
Sate is another typical food in Bali. Small skewers that can be made from pork, chicken or beef. Sate is cooked over charcoal and then generously flavored with either peanut sauce (which is very, very tasty) or a hotter sauce. You can buy it right on the street, where a specially trained person will prepare this simple but tasty dish for you.
Seafood
In Bali there is clearly no shortage of products that the ocean gives us. Shrimp, squid, crabs, octopus, lobsters, all kinds of shellfish, and a wide selection of fish - such an abundance will satisfy the taste of any gourmet. You can taste all this in good restaurants, or where these seafood are obtained - in the village of Jimbaran. Seafood restaurants stretch along the entire coast of Jimbaran, and, by the way, half of them have menus in Russian. The average bill is difficult to determine; it depends on what exactly you want to eat. But usually $30 per person is quite enough. There is also a budget option - the fish market at the end of Jimbaran. This is where the real Asia is! The smell, of course, is impressive there, but you will have the opportunity to buy the same tuna for $3 per kilogram, or shark for $5. Next to the market there is a brazier where everything you bought will be cooked over coals for you at a reasonable price - $ 1.5 per kg.
Food in Bali. Places.
Made's Warung- one of the oldest cafes on the island of Bali. There is a lot of space, the menu is very extensive. A great opportunity to try all the delights of national cuisine. The average check is $10.
Bale-Bali— located on jl street. Kunti in Semenyak. A pleasant place where Indonesian cuisine is also widely represented. The average bill is $7-12.
Warung Biku- by Seminyak standards, not very expensive, but in all respects a pleasant place. European and Indonesian cuisine. Average check - 10-15$
Campur-Campur- Clean, pleasant and very popular among both locals and tourists, warung in Bukit, namely on Jalan Uluwatu. Specializes in nasi champur. The average check per person is $2-5.
Warung-Warung– a very pleasant place on Jalan Uluwatu 2. Also nasi champur, the food is very tasty. Not a bad choice for vegetarians. The average check is approximately $4-6.
Food Court– one of the most famous places in Kuta for hungry people. Several warungs with pleasant cuisine (both Indonesian and European) concentrated in one place. And, of course, the most famous freshly squeezed juices on the island.
Totemo- a warung with a long history on Benesari Street in Kuta, very loved by Russian tourists for reasonable prices and delicious food. The cuisine is Indonesian and European. The average check is $5-10.
Bali Buda– a favorite of healthy food lovers. Everything is very natural, healthy and vegetarian. As a bonus, there is an eco-products store. The average check is $10.
The Bridges– a restaurant located in a very picturesque location in Ubud. Excellent wine list and delicious menu. Prices, by Balinese standards, are steep. The average check per person starts from $20.
That's all for today. We have honestly tried to give you some idea about the food in Bali. We hope that when you come to visit us, our recommendations will help you. See you!
One of the important elements of relaxation is the kitchen! In Bali, you can not just eat tasty and satisfying food, increase your knowledge of food, but expand your culinary horizons within the framework of food.
In Bali, tourists, as a rule, eat adapted dishes in hotel restaurants, but not everyone gets to know and try real Indonesian, and especially Balinese, cuisine. I will try to fill this gap and talk in detail about the most significant dishes of Balinese cuisine and introduce you to real original recipes from the residents, as they say, first-hand.
Bali cuisine is delicious and the most self-sufficient among all the cuisines of Indonesia.
Bali cuisine is a whole range of dishes. Chili peppers are widely used in cooking, so when ordering at a local restaurant, tell the waiter not to cook it spicy (note spicy or hot), otherwise you simply won’t be able to eat it.
The basis of Indonesian or Balinese cuisine is rice - Nasi. Without rice - nowhere. As in our sayings “Bread is the head of everything,” so in Bali, as in fact in all of Southeast Asia, Rice is the basis of the foundations. Without rice, not a single Indonesian feels not only full, but not even confident or healthy. Without rice there is no strength. I say this because I know, and this knowledge comes from knowing the way of life of my friends and local residents. Rice is often prepared completely unleavened, but it is always consumed with sauces and often very spicy ones. Today, almost every family has a rice cooker, and rice is cooked in it. The family may not have any food, but there must always be rice.
An essential component of Indonesian cuisine is all kinds of seasonings and sauces. Most of them are very spicy, but they are certainly included in many dishes. A lot of cloves are also used, cloves grow abundantly on the island, this is facilitated by a special plant, it is imported and is a significant source of income for residents of some regions of the island.
The original dishes of Bali cuisine are: babi guling - suckling pig on a spit; ayam goreng, bebek goreng - fried chicken, fried duck with all kinds of spices; gado-gado (gado-gado) - vegetable salad; ikan pepes - charcoal fish wrapped in banana leaf; mie goreng - fried noodles; nasi goreng - rice fried in oil; nasi campur - steamed rice with meat, fish and vegetables; saté - small skewers of lamb or chicken; gorengan is something like pies fried in oil, there are several varieties.
In Bali you will find a variety of restaurants from colorful local warungs to luxury European-style restaurants. Our advice, do not stop at the hotel restaurant, even if it is, go to the streets. In restaurants on busy and central streets, prices will always be higher, and the cuisine will be more adapted to European cuisine. And you turn into the alleys and you will find other small pleasant restaurants - Varungi, with ridiculous prices and excellent cuisine. There you will see Europeans, those who are not in Bali for the first time and already know the ropes. There are many such warungs everywhere.
is a small room with several tables and a glass display case with local dishes. Here lunch will cost you 1-2 dollars. Many tourists are happy to visit such establishments, despite the warnings of travel agency workers that, they say, you can get poisoned in such establishments; believe me, they are doing their job.
Bali has very good coffee and excellent cocoa. Try ginger tea (ginger tea), which is excellent for warming, and if you see ginger coffee on sale (it’s better to buy it on a plantation), be sure to buy it, it will not leave you indifferent.
Despite the fact that Indonesia is a Muslim state, alcoholic drinks are widely available in Bali. Local Islam is much softer and more tolerant, and cannot be compared to the Middle East. Local Muslims enjoy drinking beer and appreciate Russian vodka. You will be offered a wide selection of drinks, both European or, say, Australian-made, and local drinks - for example, arak - palm or rice vodka, local moonshine, in principle, is not of poor quality and is about 25%. According to local residents, the best arak is from Amed (a village on the eastern side of the island). There is industrial arrack 40%, sold in stores. Shops, bars and restaurants have a wide selection of cognacs, whiskey, vodka, French and Australian wines. Locally produced wines are also not bad.
For beer lovers, there are both world-famous varieties: Heineken, Guesser, Corona, and Bintang beer (translated from Indonesian as star) - Czech beer produced in Indonesia under license.
There are many descriptions of Indonesian cuisine, and Balinese in particular, on the Internet, but often these descriptions have nothing to do with the real national cuisine of the local people. These are either articles written to order, by a person who is not even close to familiar with Indonesian cuisine, or articles copied from each other, reminiscent of school essays, when some of the works are very similar to each other.
To make it interesting for you to read about Balinese cuisine, I deliberately spent some time among the Balinese, asking about recipes, real cuisine and watching how they cook. These recipes are absolutely original, as they say, from the hands of real local chefs. These dishes are taken from observations of. Most of them are quite simple to prepare, so you can prepare simple but delicious dishes of authentic Balinese cuisine. As the article continues, you will learn everything about the most authentic Balinese dishes; you will not find such recipes anywhere else.
In continuation of this topic, the articles “” and “” in which you will find interesting and simple recipes of national cuisine that you can prepare yourself and others are so original that it is worth familiarizing yourself with them.