10 Traditional Foods in Bali You Must Try as a Tourist!

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10 Traditional Foods in Bali You Must Try as a Tourist!

With recipes that go back centuries, traditional food dishes in Bali act as a tangible representation of history connecting present-day humans to the past. Thus, Bali’s gastronomy works to bring culture, spirituality, and local ingredients together and builds unique culinary experiences for tourists.

So, if you’re planning a trip to Bali, here are 10 traditional foods that will offer you an authentic taste of Bali’s heritage along with a deeper connection to its traditions.

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1. Babi Guling

Image source: IG @bumbubalirestaurant

Babi Guling, the Suckling Pig, is not just Bali’s most legendary dish, but also one that represents the region’s cuisine most beautifully. Most tourists land with this traditional Balinese food already on their itinerary.

Babi Guling involves a fairly extensive preparatory process; the recipe involves coating a piglet with spices, letting it marinate, and then fully stuffing it with basa gede or the traditional Balinese spice paste. The unique combination of spices and the piglet meat come together in a delicious blend once roasted.

2. Betutu

Image source: IG @ramdhinisiti

Betutu is cooked in a similar way as Babi Guling, however the ingredients are slightly different.

Betutu is made with both duck (Bebek Betutu) and Chicken (Ayam Betutu), and makes use of a tamarind-based spice paste. Betutu also uses banana leaves to wrap the meat for over 24 hours, after which it is slow-cooked in bamboo bark for a rich taste profile. The dish is traditionally served with vegetables and sambal (Balinese chill sauce).

Betutu has a long history in Bali, and is believed to have been cooked first during the Majapahit era.

3. Lawar

Image source: IG @lins_chandr

Lawar is a unique traditional Balinese dish with minced meat (any of your choice), grated coconut, and a spice mix called “base genep.”

The flavor profile of this traditional dish can vary greatly depending on the options available:

1. Choice of Meat: The type of meat you select plays a significant role in shaping the dish’s taste.

2. Types of Lawar: There are two main variations of Lawar:

Lawar Barak (Red Lawar): Includes coconut and animal blood, giving it a richer flavor.
Lawar Putih (White Lawar): A simpler version made with coconut, offering a milder taste.

3. Combination of Lawar: A mix of various types of Lawar is called Lawar Padamare, which combines the unique flavors of each variant.

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4. Sate Lilit

The word “Lilit” literally means to wrap around.

Sate Lilit can be made with any kind of meat, even turtle meat which is blended with grated coconut, coconut milk, and other ingredients and then wrapped around natural plant sticks.. The signifying factor behind Sate Lilit is its wrapping around the sticks which may be bamboo, sugarcane, or lemongrass sticks.

Sate Lilit is easily available at many Warungs (family-business eateries) in Bali.

Not sure how to fill your itinerary? Check out our suggested itineraries here.

5. Nasi Campur

The word Campur literally means ‘mixed’ in Indonesian, and Nasi Campur fits perfectly.

Nasi Campur is a rice bowl with various side dishes of your choice. While some side dishes are common, you can expect to see a range of options from different Warungs/restaurants. However, if you want to try out different flavors for your Nasi Campur, going for a buffet is the best option.

Some common side dishes include,

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6. Urutan

Image source: IG @chef_kompiang

Even if you’ve eaten sausages a million times already, Urutan or Balinese sausage will still come as a surprise!

Urutan is a sun-dried fermented sausage made with pork, spices, and coconut milk. It is rich and aromatic and holds a special place in Balinese cuisine.

Often served at festivals, Urutan represents the island’s bold and flavorful approach to food. While traditionally, Urutan uses pork, you can easily find many halal versions too.

7. Tipat Cantok

Image source: IG @warung_men_runtu

Tipat Cantok is a common Balinese traditional food dish that is easily available at most local Warungs.

Tipat Cantok is a vegetarian-friendly dish and includes boiled rice cakes served with peanut sauce and vegetables. Additionally, restaurants may also serve tahu (firm tofu) or fried tempeh (fermented soy blocks) with it.

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8. Serombotan

Image source: IG @rahayuni_evendi

Serombotan is a vegan-friendly side dish that uses fresh vegetables with coconut, beans, and sambal as topping.

The toppings make Serombotan perfect for those who want to enjoy the freshness of Bali’s produce without missing out on the island’s bold flavors

9. Balinese Coffee

Balinese Coffee or Kopi Bali, is famous for its bold flavor. Kopi Bali has strong historical roots, with businesses that have been involved in it for generations, over centuries.

Among all Indonesian coffees, Kopi Luwak is the most famous one, however, in Bali Arabica and Robusta are exceptional too.

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10. Martabak

With different versions of it consumed all across Asia, Balinese Martabak is one of the most popular local traditional foods.

In Bali, Martabak is available as both sweet (martabak manis) and savory (martabak telur). Martabak can be best described as a stuffed-pancake, with chocolate or banana filling for martabak manis and egg, onion, meat, and seasonings for martabak telur.

Where to Find Authentic Balinese Food?

1. For the most authentic taste of Balinese cuisine, visit local food markets and small warungs (family-owned eateries).

2. These spots serve traditional dishes made with love and time-honored recipes, and you will also get the best deals here.

Interested in exploring more of Bali’s traditions and history? Check out unique local-led walking tours in Ubud.

Kelly Williams

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Ubud Story Walks is something different. It’s a fun, entertaining and refreshing way to delve into Ubud’s past. The knowledgeable guides place as much emphasis on how they tell a story as they do on what they’re sharing, which means all sorts of magical and mystifying details are revealed. I believe the best way to get to know a place is to walk its streets, which makes Ubud Story Walks one of the best ways to get to know Ubud.

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We had a fantastic time walking around the historical centre of Ubud! Even though we've been based in Bali for a few years, we'd never had an actual tour of some of Bali's most iconic landmarks and learning about the history was fascinating. Our guide was hilarious and full of information and it was a lovely and relaxing way to learn so much. The tour was early in the morning which was perfect timing as the temperature was still cool and we were able to witness the morning bustle of Ubud's famous markets. 10/10 would recommend!

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     Excellent  
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 2024-12-13
 
 
  A great way to get to know Ubud, past and present. Win and Kelly were fantastic tour guide: knowledgeable, friendly, and open. I’d just landed in the country and this was the best welcome to immerse myself in some of the culture and historic as well as get a bit of a lay of the land. It was great to visit historic sites as well as the museum, and here fun stories. Bonus points for traditional sweets! Many thanks to both. Would definitely recommend this walking tour
  
 
       
   LH Sim 
 2024-12-10
 
 
  Joe was our guide for the Ubud Story Walk Tour : Past To Present.  He is very professional and knowledgeable who has many interesting stories to share.  During the tour, he showed pictures related to the history for our better understanding. Besides pictures, he also showed us coins that were used in the past. Apart from being proficient in conducting the tour, he is also a very caring guide as he offered us sunscreen, mosquito repellent prior to his tour and brought us snacks and water when we had our short break during the tour.  Thank you Joe for the excellent commentary. Will definitely join the other Ubud Story Walks on my next trip to Bali.
  
 
       
   Jessica Hübner 
 2024-12-05
 
 
  Ubud story walk  past to presents was one of our favorite things to do in Ubud. Our guide Joe was super fun and very informative! Thank you Joe for the great time we had. I highly recommend this tour
  
 
       
   Andrea Slosar 
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  I was on two tours and I really liked them. They are beautifully and comprehensively designed. Old black and white photos are  an interesting addition. I was especially impressed by Windari with her communication skills and knowledge of the English language and Balinese culture. I wish the whole team much success in their future business and on discovering and solving pieces of the puzzle of Balinese culture.
  
 
       
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 2024-12-01
 
 
  I went on two walking tours, loved both! The guides Ira and Win shared excellent insights on Balinese culture, history and traditions - helping me understand local context, beyond the usual pics on social media.
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 2024-11-26
 
 
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   tamara fields 
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  We had a lovely and informative morning walk with Win. Her perfect pace, both physically and with information sharing , provided us with a rich understanding of Bali’s history and culture
  
 
       
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  Great walking tour of Ubud. Ira was very knowledgable and spoke good English. Nice places to stop, little alleyways and quieter parts of Ubud. Very well looked after. Would recommend 👍.
  
 
       
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 2024-11-15
 
 
  It was an amazing experience to learn more about Bali's history and culture. Our guide, Ira, was incredibly knowledgeable, positive, and caring. Thank you for such a wonderful experience!

10 Traditional Foods in Bali You Must Try as a Tourist!