A trip to Bali wouldn’t feel complete without tasting the island’s traditional dishes. Besides being famous for its beautiful beaches, Bali also offers a rich culinary scene that’s ready to delight your taste buds.
In general, Balinese cuisine is known for its bold flavors, thanks to the use of traditional spice blends packed with aromatic herbs and seasonings. So, make sure to set aside some time during your vacation to enjoy the delicious local food Bali has to offer.
So, what are the must-try traditional Balinese dishes? Let’s take a look at the full recommendations below.
In fact, Balinese cuisine is incredibly diverse and rich. Below, we’ve compiled some of the most popular traditional dishes you should definitely try during your trip. Take note and don’t miss out!
When talking about iconic Balinese dishes, Ayam Betutu almost always tops the list.
Ayam Betutu is a whole chicken dish cooked with betutu spices, a traditional Balinese blend made from shallots, garlic, chili, turmeric, ginger, galangal, candlenuts, and various aromatic herbs.
The cooking process is quite unique. The chicken is thoroughly coated with the spice mixture, then wrapped in banana leaves and slow-cooked for hours until the flavors fully absorb into the meat.
If you want to try a variety of Balinese dishes in one plate, Nasi Campur Bali is the perfect choice.
This dish typically consists of steamed white rice served with a selection of Balinese side dishes such as spiced shredded chicken, Sate Lilit, Lawar, eggs, sambal matah, and crispy pork skin crackers.
Unlike typical satay that uses chunks of meat, Sate Lilit is made from minced meat mixed with grated coconut and traditional Balinese spices.
The meat, usually fish, chicken, or pork, depending on the region and preference, is wrapped around lemongrass stalks or flat bamboo sticks before being grilled over charcoal, giving it a distinctive smoky aroma.
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Lawar is a traditional Balinese dish made from a mix of finely chopped vegetables, grated coconut, minced meat, and rich spices.
It comes in several variations, often distinguished by ingredients and seasoning, and is commonly served as a side dish alongside rice and other main courses.
If you’re looking for a lighter, vegetable-based Balinese dish, Serombotan can be an interesting choice. This traditional dish originates from Klungkung and is known as one of Bali’s unique culinary specialties.
Serombotan consists of various boiled vegetables such as water spinach, long beans, bean sprouts, and eggplant, which are then topped with two types of signature sauces: peanut sauce and spiced coconut sambal.
Now, for those of you who want to try a simple yet flavorful traditional Balinese snack, Laklak is the answer.
This traditional cake is made from rice flour and cooked using a special mold, resulting in small round shapes with a soft texture on the inside and slightly crispy edges.
Laklak is usually served with freshly grated coconut and drizzled with liquid palm sugar, and it comes in various colors, ranging from white to green.
One of the most famous culinary dishes from Bali is Babi Guling. This dish consists of a whole pig that is slowly roasted over charcoal after being coated with a rich blend of traditional Balinese spices.
The long roasting process makes the meat incredibly tender, while the skin turns crispy and savory. Babi Guling is typically served with steamed white rice and a variety of side dishes such as lawar, sambal, and vegetables.
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If you want to try a Balinese dish with a unique flavor, Rujak Kuah Pindang can be an interesting choice.
Unlike typical rujak that uses peanut sauce or palm sugar, this dish uses pindang broth made from fish stock, offering a combination of sour, spicy, savory, and slightly sweet flavors.
It usually consists of a variety of fresh fruit slices such as green mango, guava, kedondong, and jicama.
Nasi Tepeng is a traditional Balinese dish originating from the Gianyar area. At a glance, it may look similar to mixed rice, but what sets it apart is its softer rice texture and the use of richly spiced gravy.
In one serving of Nasi Tepeng, you’ll typically find various side dishes such as spiced shredded chicken, long beans, eggs, and vegetables cooked with traditional Balinese seasonings.
Besides Sate Lilit, Bali also has another signature satay dish known as Sate Plecing.
This satay is generally made from chicken or pork cut into small pieces, then grilled over charcoal until fully cooked.
What makes Sate Plecing unique is its plecing sambal, which is served as a complement. This sambal has a spicy, fresh, and slightly tangy taste, made from chili, tomatoes, shrimp paste, and a squeeze of lime.
Author is part of the Gosek Adventure Bali team, dedicated to sharing practical tips, travel inspiration, and insider insights to help you enjoy the best experiences in Bali.
