1. Nasi goreng
Nasi goreng, literally meaning "fried rice”, is one of the most popular Balinese dishes and you'll find it everywhere from street food jointsto fancy hotels. The dish consists of rice fried with chunksof meat andvegetables, and a fried egg on top. A plate of nasi goreng issimple, tasty and satiating.
2. Satay
Indonesia is famous for its satay (sometimes spelt‘sate’ on local menus) –tasty meat skewers (usually chicken) cooked over hot coals and slathered in a moreish peanut sauce. They make for a great snack or a main meal served with rice. The smell of the sweet peanut sauce alone is enough to make your mouth water.
3. Nasi campur
Nasi campur, or “mixed rice”, is a bit like an Indianthali. It comeswith a decent-sized scoop ofrice, several accompanying dishes with meat, fish or veggies, and yummy toppings such aspeanuts, fried-shrimp krupuk (crackers) and sambal. It's usually served buffet style andyou’ll find it all over the island (hot top: you'll usually find the best ones in warungs, local family-run eateries). You can even buy nasi campur wrapped in a banana leaf from street hawkers as a grab-and-go meal – definitely an upgrade on your standard servo sandwich!
4. Sambal
If you like your chilli sauceshot, you’re in for a treat. Sambal – a fiery paste made of crushed chilli, shrimp paste, scallion, lime juice, and various spices – is one of the best things about Balinese cuisine. Most savoury dishes will come with a side of this spicy paste to mix in. If you’re going island hopping, be sure to try the local sambal in each village as they’ll usually have their own version. If you’re not great with spicy foods,let your wait staff know when ordering to dial down the heat or order tanpa sambal (sambal without chilli) which isequally delicious.
5. Gado gado
Gado gado is essentially an Indonesian-stylesalad, and after eating it you’ll never want your basiciceberg, tomato and cucumber salad again. It’s made with a range of cooked and/or raw vegetables– usually cabbage, green beans, beansprouts, carrots andAsian greens – which istopped withfried tempeh, tofu, boiled eggs and adelicioussatay sauce. Gado gado is the perfect dish to eat for lunch.
6. Babi guling
Babi guling is the Balinese version of a roast suckling pig. Awhole pig is stuffed with a fragrant mix of chilli, turmeric, ginger, galangal, shallots, garlic, coriander seedsand aromatic leaves before being rotated over an open fire for several hours until the meat is juicyand the skin is crispy. Babi guling is usually served at weddings and celebrations, but you might also find it at street-side warungs that serve it as their signature dish.
7. Pepes ikan
Pepes ikan is a whole fish (typically snapper or mackerel) that is marinated in fragrant herbs and spices, steamed in a banana leafandgrilled over hot coals to give it a smoky flavour. It’s deliciously tender and is a great main to share with friends with a cold beer.
8. Mie goreng
Mie goreng is a stir-fried noodle dish made with thin noodles fried in lots of garlic, veggies and a meat of your choice. The noodles are thentossed in a sweet sticky sauce and topped with a fried egg.There’s no need to snack on two-minute packet noodles in Bali when mie goreng can be whipped up by a street food vendorin minutes.
9. Jajanan pasar
Jajan pasar are traditional market cakes and sweets. They are loads of varieties, but they usually take the form of a sweet sticky rice cake that is filled with steamed fruits or bean paste and topped with seeds or nuts. They are a great accompaniment toa mid-morning coffee or teh tarik.
Learn more about popular drinks in Bali
10. Es campur
Es campur is a popular sweet treat in Indonesia that consists of shaved ice mixed with coconut milk. It's then garnishedwith a range of toppings such asgrass jellies,tapioca pearls,basil seeds and fermented cassava. It’s the perfect dessert to enjoyon a hot Bali afternoon.
Want to learn more about Bali? Return to Bali FAQs
