Bali is an adventurous foodie’s paradise. Street Food in Bali A Local Street Food Dishes to Try in Bali Here is Popular dishes of Bali Nasi Goreng, Bakso, Terang bulan, Babi Guling With vibrant dishes which have no parallels in the cuisine of any other country, the street food in Bali is a major tourist magnet. Street food in Bali and its markets are know for not only their scrumptious bakso food but for theatrical cooking styles which provide a feast for the eyes.
Bali’s culinary scene is easily as vibrant as its beach landscape. Bakso Filled with colourful tastes, traditional customs and stories. Although there are many excellent high-end restaurants in Bali, you’ll never fully bakso experience babi guling Balinese cuisine bakso before trying the classic. Affordable but rich street food. Here’s our selection of the best local street food dishes to try in Bali.
Here are some of the dishes you must try to truly get a taste of street food in Bali:
1. Nasi Goreng
Nasi Goreng is the popular Indonesian fried rice which is traditionally serve with a fried egg. I love the unique dark brown, caramelised colour of the rice! It’s a simple recipe, you won’t need to hunt down any unusual ingredients, and it’s one of my favourite Indonesian foods – and I’m betting you will love it too.
Nasi goreng, Indonesia’s version of fried rice, gets a sweet-savory profile from kecap manis and a big hit of umami from shrimp paste.
Nasi goreng is essentially Indonesia’s take on fried rice. In addition to kecap manis, the country’s ubiquitous sweet soy sauce, terasi (Indonesian shrimp paste) is what sets nasi goreng apart from other fried-rice variations you’ll see in other countries.
Terasi is an umami bomb that pervades both your kitchen and your senses. If you can’t find it easily, feel free to substitute another Southeast Asian shrimp paste, or omit it—you’ll making what my mom calls nasi goreng cina, or Chinese fried rice, which is the version she made for us when I was growing up.
Anyone who is familiar to Bali with Nasi Goreng and probably had it almost every day because it’s everywhere and darn delicious!
What is Nasi Goreng?
The literal translation of Nasi Goreng is “fried rice” in Indonesian and Malaysian – and that’s exactly what it is! It’s mainly rice with just a little bit of meat and just onion for the vegetables. The thing that distinguishes it from other Fried Rice dishes is sauce which is made with kecap manis, a sweet soy sauce that stains the rice dark brown and caramelises the rice when it cooks.
Typically it’s serve with a sunny side up egg (love how the yolk runs into the rice!) and a side of fresh cucumber and tomato (no dressing) to make a meal of it.
2. Nasi Jinggo
Also know as Jinggo Rice, this dish can find in every corner of Bali. Considered a quick and easy breakfast option, Nasi Jinggo comes in small portions and is a favourite street food in Bali amongst locals. Since it is prepare by wrapping the rice in banana leaves, most vendors sell it as it is. Served with eggs, fried noodles and chilli sauce, this dish packs a punch despite its size.
Imagine a full dish — rice, side dish, vegetables, and condiments, packed conveniently inside a banana leaf: that is nasi jinggo. The catch is, tourists can only find nasi jinggo in small portions, there’s even a saying that you can fit a whole one in the palm of your hand, making it the perfect on-the-go meal – and an easy and affordable way to eat without missing any nutrients.
Tourists can find nasi jinggo in almost every main street in Bali, sold on food street kiosks or on parked motorcycles, with side dish options ranging from fish, beef and chicken to seafood and eggs.
Where to find it: Nasi Jinggo Babi Kecap Jik Elle, Jl. Tukad Irawadi No.13, Panjer, Kec. Denpasar Sel., Kota Denpasar, Bali
Timings: 8AM-11 PM
3. Bakso
Bakso is an Indonesian meatball served in a hot broth, often with noodles and fried dumplings. Many street vendors sell bakso on portable carts pushed around a neighbourhood or on modified motorcycles bakso that allow the cart to attach alongside. The warm food is not only perfect for cold days in Bali –bakso which do not appear very often – but bakso also makes for a perfect snack between meals.
Bakso, in itself, is a meatball dish, bakso made like a fish ball. It may serve as a snack or along with soup and noodles. While like Sate, Bakso is one of the most famous street foods in Bali, it can also be found in frozen, ready-to-eat packages. Usually made using beef mince, bakso tapioca flour and salt, some variants may also use pork, chicken or shrimp meat.
Where to find it: Bakso Gerobak Biru, Legian, Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali
Timings: 2 PM-6 PM
4. Babi Guling
One of Bali’s most famous dishes, no trip is complete without trying the Babi Guling. So It is a whole roast pig infused with herbs and spices. Babi guling Most places serve it with a side of sticky rice, babi guling crispy skin and peanuts, making it a filling, wholesome meal. However, being a predominantly Muslim country, very few places in Bali serve this dish. Babi guling The best of these are mentioned below.
Due to its massive popularity, tourists can now find babi guling – or Balinese roasted pig – from fine dining restaurants and on the streets. Originally a ceremonial dish, babi guling can now enjoyed casually at street food vendors, babi guling at an affordable price without discounting the taste. The babi guling meal owes its flavour to the distinctive roasting technique and traditional spices greased all over the meat, making it a truly outstanding dish.
Where to find it: Warung Babi Guling, Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai No.256, Sanur, Kec. Denpasar Sel., Kota Denpasar, Bali
Timings: 11 AM – 7 PM
5. Fish Head Soup
One of the lesser-known wonders of Balinese cuisine is the fish head soup. Served with rice and fried mackerel on the side, this soup is a delight for seafood lovers. While you may not have heard about this dish from your guide, fish head soup is a local treasure. The amazing, yet unique flavour of the soup is not a dish for the faint-hearted.
Where to find it: Warung Mak Beng, Jalan Hang Tuah No.45, Sanur Kaja, Denpasar Selatan, Sanur Kaja, Kec. Denpasar Sel., Kota Denpasar, Bali
Timings: 8 AM-10 PM
6. Nasi Campur
Nasi Campur stands for mixed rice in Indonesian and true to its moniker. This wildly popular street food in Bali is served as rice mixed with vegetables, meat and eggs. A staple meal of many Southeast Asian countries, Nasi Campur, is prepared differently by almost every vendor. Similarly The night market in Bali is famous for the best Nasi Campur in the city.
Where to find it: Sindhu Night Market, Jl. Pungutan No.2, Sanur, Kec. Denpasar Sel., Kota Denpasar, Bali
Timings: 4 PM-10 PM
7. Jaje Bali
A blanket term for a variety of pastries and cakes sold in the night market, Jaje Bali is an embodiment of what Balinese cuisine stands for. grate coconut and a generous amount of palm sugar, these delicacies are not e missed. Sticking to traditional Balinese cooking, these cakes are made from sticky rice and flour. The banana leaf packaging gives it an extra kick of flavour.
Where to find it: Gianyar Night Market, Jalan Ngurah Rai, Ubud, Bali
Timings: 5 PM onwards
8. Bali Coffee
Traditional Balinese coffee is unlike any other hot beverage you would have ever tried. Made using Balinese coffee beans, know to among the best in the world, the delectable aroma from the coffee is sure to wake you gently. A popular drink among locals, the warungs are usually crowd right from early in the morning. To get the freshest quality brew, try to reach the shops right when it opens.
Where to find it: One of the many local warungs (small family owned eateries) in Sanur
Timings: 9 AM – 11 PM
9. Sate Lilit
Sate is one of the most famous street food in Bali and in the world. Literally translating to barbeque meat on bamboo sticks, Sate can made from chicken, pork, goat, rabbit etc. Turtle meat sate is prepare only during special ceremonies. Usually served with sweet soy sauce or peanut sauce, this dish is a perfect evening snack. Most vendors in the night markets offer a side of rice along with it.
Sate lilit (satay) is basically pieces of grilled meat on skewers. As one of Indonesia’s classics, sate can find in fine dining restaurants or at street food vendors. Being a country with a diverse culture, almost every region has their own sate variant, and luckily sate lilit is among the best in taste and popularity.
The meat for sate lilit – usually pork, chicken, or fish – is mince, soaked with grated coconut, coconut milk and other spices, then wrap around the sticks before getting grill. While most Indonesian sate is serve with condiments, additional sauce is optional for sate lilit. As it already has a delicious combination of spicy, sweet and savoury taste.
Where to find it: In Seminyak, across from Bintang supermarket
Timings: 5 PM-11 PM
10. Terang Bulan
Translating to ‘bright moon’, Terang Bulan is a type of pancake unique to Balinese cuisine. Believe to have been invent by General Tso, a military leader of the late Qing dynasty, this delicacy has a rich past. It is made like a traditional pancake,terang bulan with coconut milk and palm margarine giving it characteristic Balinese punch. Also Terang bulan Usually sprinkled with crushed peanuts, sugar and sweetcorn kernels, this dish is as much a delight to the eyes as to the taste buds.
Terang Bulan is one of Asia’s classic desserts and is also popular in Bali. terang bulan So It is like a pancake in texture and kind of like a crepe in mixture and taste. terang bulan In between two pancake-like layers, tourists can choose what to have: chocolate, cheese, nuts, condensed milk, terang bulan a combination of those or all of those at once. Terang bulan, or martabak, is a much-loved snack in Indonesia, terang bulan often sold by street vendors in kiosks or parked cars.
Where to find it: Sindhu Night Market, Jl. Pungutan No.2, Sanur, Kec. Denpasar Sel., Kota Denpasar, Bali
Timings: 4 PM-10 PM
11. Pisang Rai
A traditional Balinese morning snack, Pisang Rai is made of coat bananas. Bali, a tropical country, grows some of the best quality bananas, which factor into many of its dishes. The bananas are first coated in a homemade batter of rice flour, boil/steam and then toppled over with freshly grate coconut. It makes for the perfect snack to have with a cup of tea or coffee.
Being an equatorial paradise, tropical fruits like coconut and banana are abundant in Bali. And when you combine the two, you get Pisang Rai. This Balinese snack is made from boil banana wrap with rice flour, then roll in grate coconut. Its soft texture is almost in contrast with the tempting sweet and savoury taste from the mix. Many street food vendors will offer an additional sauce made from brown sugar and pineapple pieces, making the tropical feels even stronger.
Where to find it: Morning Market, Jl. Raya Ubud No.14, Ubud, Kec. Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali
Timings: 6 AM-9 AM
12. Lawar
A fairly large meal made of rice, vegetables, coconut, minced meat and herbs. So lawar is find in many of Bali’s warungs. Lawar gets its distinctive taste from the young jackfruits use to make it. This may serve with a side of Babi Gulung or roast pig. Traditionally made lawar uses blood to make it, hence the red colour and the telling moniker.
Where to find it: Warung Nasi Lawar Sapi Odah (Segara Beach, Sanur) or Lawar Kuwir Men Sono (Sangeh, Abiansemal)
Timings: 7 AM-6:30 PM
13. Bubur Injin
This Balinese black rice pudding can find in morning markets. Packaged in banana leaves, the pudding is drench in coconut milk and toss with shredded kernels of corn. Coconut shreds and thick palm sugar syrup garnish to top it all off, lending to the nutty yet velvety texture to the dish.
Food is the truest depiction of the culture and traditions of a place. The street food in Bali gives you a chance to experience what the elusive Indonesian island is all about, all the while, giving your tastebuds a wild ride. Make sure you take some time out on your visit and live the culture of Bali!
14. Laklak
Laklak is traditional Balinese cake made from rice flour and coconut milk. And Laklak got its green colour from suji leaves and pandan leaves, greeneries that can almost exclusively find in Asia.
The snack is often serve with grated coconut or a brown sugar sauce with jackfruit – giving it a distinctive fresh, sweet and savoury taste. Laklak can enjoy along with afternoon tea or morning coffee or as a sweet dessert.
15. Rujak Bulung/Rujak Kuah Pindang
Rujak is an Indonesian fruit salad with a traditional dressing. There are many variations of rujak throughout Indonesia, and Balinese’s take on the traditional dessert is rather quirky compare to others.
Most rujak dressing are made from brown sugar or peanut sauce. But Balinese use their abundant seafood products to enhance the flavor. Balinese use tuna and other spices to create the dressing for rujak kuah pindang and add fresh seaweed to create rujak bulung. You’d never thought that fruits and seafood could go along that well.
16. Nasi Tepeng
Nasi tepeng is a common breakfast choice in Bali. Street food vendors line up on the main streets in the morning with their carts, presenting an appetizing aroma of spices and herbs. Local people love the solid but soft texture, which is somewhere between rice and porridge. Nasi tepeng can enjoy with fried chicken, eggs, beans, eggplant and jackfruit – and is often serve on banana leaves.
17. Murtabak
This murtabak recipe is for a delicious folded roti or flatbread stuffed with juicy flavorful chicken. Popular in Singapore and famous in Asian and Arab countries, murtabak is a beloved food. This easy version of murtabak Singapore makes little pockets of goodness that are crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. Journey to Singapore with a local favorite everyone will go crazy for!
Murtabak is often described as spicy folded omelette pancake with bits of vegetables. The most common form of murtabak is made from pan fried crepes usually stuffed with beaten eggs, chopped leeks, chives, or green onion (scallions) and minced meat, which is then folded and cut to squares. In Indonesia, the murtabak is one of the most popular street foods and is known as martabak.
Vegetarian murtabak and other forms of murtabaks with chicken and other stuffings exist and can be found in many Yemeni, Indian Muslim restaurants in Singapore, including the Little India area and Arab Street.
Ayam Goreng
Ayam Goreng is a type of Indonesian fried chicken recipe. Chicken tossed with veggies, mingled in sambhal paste and soya sauce. Marinated in a fragrant curry paste before tossing in cornflour to make the coating ultra craggy and crunchy as it fries, Ayam Goreng is Malaysia’s answer to Southern Fried Chicken. In the crowded playing field of fried chicken, it’s a hot contender for the world’s best!
Human beings love fried chicken. It explains why so many cultures have some version of this wickedly delicious food, and every country thinks their version is king.
But why play favourites? I think there is room in this world (and my belly) for all great fried chickens to happily coexist. For one, my mother would put my head on a stick if I didn’t make mention of Karaage (Japanese fried chicken). And if you haven’t yet tried Homemade Southern-style KFC, your life is about to drastically improve because it truly kicks the Colonel’s soggy stuff to the curb!
