Around Bali's Kitchen: Dishes Worth Your Gourmand Appetite

Energetic and savory, Bali attracts both VIP tourists and common sightseers like a magnet. There is no wonder, with year-round sunshine, warm bathing experience, and cuisine beyond compare.

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Nothing satisfies a gourmand's taste quite like Bali. On this paradise island, you'll come across every cuisine imaginable, but it's the duty of an ardent globetrotter to sample the local gastronomy. Let's discover it as if there were no tomorrow. 

Food Habits on the Go 

The island's food is bursting with versatility, offering a vast assortment of regional specialties, Michelin-starred restaurants, and simpler chain establishments, such as McDonald's and KFC. 

If you aim for more traditional recipes, pay a visit to small-sized canteens known as"warungs," where a decent selection of pre-prepared dishes is available for picky eaters at any time of the day. 

Bali's national dishes are tourist favorites, alluring by freshness, low prices, and immaculate quality. In particular, seafood is succulent to such an extent that it's hard not to turn the market into a travel-related activity. 

Among locals, vegetarianism is not a common trend, and most of the regional restaurants are geared toward visitors and run by expats.  However, foodies highlight exceptional tastes, unfamiliar to most visitors with experience. Such exotic fruits as durian, salak, and rambutan have won the hearts of many, conjuring associations with habitual pineapple and lemon. 

Rice is the centerpiece of any feast, and no one will leave the island without this special treat. Meat is consumed in large quantities, primarily pork and chicken, but goat, beef, and duck don't stay aside.

Local coconuts are a typical ingredient in a plethora of dishes. For instance, coconut milk can be found in practically every meal served.

Fish and seafood are served grilled, often wrapped in banana leaves. The dish is generously seasoned and drizzled with peanut sauce before delivery. 

Dishes and Servings 

In addition to Indonesian dishes, the island shines with Balinese cuisine.

As in any Southeast Asian country, in Indonesia, rice is king.  Nasi goreng and mie goreng, popularly known as fried rice and fried noodles, are gaining momentum throughout Indonesia, and Bali is not an exception. There are countless combinations of rice coupled with seafood, chicken, and crispy vegetables. 

Bihun goreng and kwetiaw goreng refer to fried noodles - a favorite that you can taste elbow-to-elbow with your travel companion. As a rule, this dish is served with a few vegetables on the side and topped with a fried egg. Due to its affordability, bigun goreng can be found both in warung (cafes) and upscale restaurants. 

Nasi Champur is another Bali specialty served with rice as a side dish, mixed vegetables around the edge, and meat skewers for an appetizer. That dish has gone the rounds in popular Balinese establishments, representing a harmony on your plate. 

Meat and chicken skewers, called sate, can be enjoyed separately; three to four skewers will be regularly served when ordered. Skewers are prepared on the grill and paired with tender nut sauce. This plain menu item makes your travel experience memorable, as in Bali, you may taste a richer version with minced seafood, which is a widespread delicacy. 

If you are a fan of soups,  you can explore notorious soto ayam and bakso. The idea of preparing soto ayam lies in combining chicken, noodles, and vegetables, seasoned with spices. You can add cooked rice on the side, if you prefer. 

Bakso, which resembles meatballs floating in broth, is an age-old recipe for overseas travelers. Interestingly, Bakso carts are found right by the roadside, scattered across the island. 

We highly recommend trying suckling pig – babi guling. Where else can you enjoy pork in Muslim Indonesia?! A sucking pig can be found as an alternative to traditional meat to give an extra delight. 

The cooking process is quite simple: the young pig is whizzed up on a spit, spice-infused with herbs, and served with rice–it's an absolute must-have. 

For more discerning palates, we voch for bebek betutu, or duck stewed in sauce. This dish is a balancing act, as the duck is soaked in a mix of turmeric, ginger, and shrimp paste, resulting in an ensemble of aromas, and cooked slowly in an earthen pot. 

Among the island's seafood offerings, pepes ikan (fish) and pepes udang (shrimp) baked in banana leaves enhance the flavors. Both dishes are served steaming, leaving us with positive emotional connections to local treats. 

If you're looking for Balinese sweets, river rice pudding, and Balinese lak lak cake are primary choices after a long day of exploring the island. Lak lak cake resembles a rice flour pancake topped with sweet cane syrup.

Keep your senses open, indulge in exploring Bali, and treat yourself to gourmet top picks on this paradise island!