Bali, Indonesia – We were on the last leg of Trip of Wonders and still on a high from our Komodo National Park trip. After landing at Denpasar International Airport, our bus shuffled us to our first stop: lunch! So if you’re looking for what to eat in Bali, check out our foodscapades below!
See Also: What to see and do in Bali in two days
What to eat in Bali, Indonesia
Warung Eropa’s Bebek Goreng
Bebek Goreng or Crispy Duck is one of the foods that you definitely must eat while in Bali. Although we already had our first taste of it in Bandung, for sure nothing beats eating it in Bali. With a tagline of “the finest crispy duck in Bali“, looks like Warung Eropa is the best contender for the title.
We arrived lunchtime so that means the two-story restaurant is almost packed. The open-air restaurant is decorated Balinese style with lots of wooden furniture.
True enough, the Bebek Goreng served to us was crispy on the outside while still tender and juicy on the inside. The deep fried small duck was tasty enough to make me forget fried chicken for a while. It may be a bit greasy but the rice was a perfect complement to this fried treat.
I tasted a bit of the three sambals included and concluded that my tolerance for everything spicy still hasn’t gone up. Spicy lovers will surely enjoy though.
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Babi Guling Men Lari
They say that you haven’t been to Bali if you haven’t tried Babi Guling. Best known as lechon in the Philippines, this roasted suckling pig is stuffed with lots of spices and seasonings. Warungs along the streets of Bali usually serve a portion of it with vegetable salad, steamed rice, and soup.
Ecstatic to finally try one of Bali’s popular dishes, we sat cross-legged on a platform with a low table facing the paddy fields along the way to Tanah Lot. The warung is called Babi Guling Men Lari.
After a short wait, a plate of the roasted suckling pig was finally on our table. Although not all of the pork skin was crispy, a bite of the skin and meat instantly satisfied our cravings for pork throughout our Indonesian journey. The portion may be a bit on the small side but it makes up for it on its tastiness brought about by the spices – turmeric, lemongrass, garlic, black pepper, and coriander seeds.
More of Indonesian food at Jatiluwih 259
After our jaunt along the edges of Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, we had lunch in this roadside restaurant called Jatiluwih 259. We each ordered something local off the menu and of course, I couldn’t resist my favorite Chicken Satay (Ayam Sate).
Served with a good portion of steamed rice, the marinated chicken skewers cooked on a charcoal grill was in a bed of mixed vegetables and accompanied with a creamy peanut sauce.
The chicken meat on thin bamboo skewers was tender and exactly what I was craving for at that moment.
Bali’s barbecue pork ribs
Another pork dish that we couldn’t wait to try was Bali’s barbecue pork ribs. Too bad I was too preoccupied with my corrupted SD card that time that I failed to take note the name of the warung.
We got a small serving of the marinated pork ribs to share and this succulent bad boy was surprisingly fall-off-the-bone tender. It was sticky because of the Balinese spices and bbq sauce, but I gladly sucked off my fingers to savor that goodness. I also loved the charred bits!
Although it wasn’t the most life-changing pork ribs ever, I can definitely say that it was still a good testament to why Bali’s barbecue pork ribs are famous.
Asian street food staples at Lantern
For our remaining hours in Bali, we met up with the #TripofWonders gang for the last time before catching our flight. Indra chose Lantern, a hip and urban restaurant in Petitenget serving contemporary Asian street food in style.
It was a bit full of millennial foreigners when we arrived, but our attention was instantly captivated by its modern and artsy interiors. Aside from the interesting mural, I loved the Asian yellow lanterns although it certainly wasn’t a good lighting for taking pictures! #bloggerproblems hehe.
Their menu is a mix of street food staples around Southeast Asia. I settled for Penang’s Char Kway Teow since I was missing it. Too bad I forgot to say no spicy! (Indonesia hasn’t increased my tolerance for spicy food)
Spiciness aside, the dish was clearly freshly made and flavorful, reminiscent of the street side Char Kway Teow I devoured back in George Town, Penang.
Other must-try dishes and food in Bali, Indonesia:
- Lawar – a combination of finely chopped meat, vegetables, coconut, spices, and fresh blood
- Bebek or Ayam Betutu – stuffed duck or chicken
- Sate lembat – Bali’s version of sate (satay) paired with sambal matah
- Balinese Kopi (coffee)
- Balinese-style Nasi Ayam or Nasi Campur
Popular restaurants in Bali
Motel Mexicola
Claim to fame: Instagrammable place and lively parties
Naughty Nuri
Claim to fame: BBQ Pork Ribs and martinis
Nalu Bowls and Kynd Community
Claim to fame: Instagrammable smoothie bowls
Panama Kitchen and Pool or Cabina
Claim to fame: Instagrammable decor and pool
La Plancha
Claim to fame: Beachside resto-bar with colorful bean bags
I’ve only scratched the surface of what Bali offers in terms of culinary delights and I hope to come back soon to sample more of those.
Have you been to Bali? What was your most memorable dish there?
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Noemi
August 28, 2017 at 7:15 pmAll these look amazing!!!! I didn’t know Indonesia also does its own version of a crispy duck. It looks like it was cooked to perfection, the skin looks incredibly crispy even from the photos.
I was supposed to be on that trip but my passport was with the British Embassy… We could’ve met there! 🙁
Darlene
September 5, 2017 at 5:34 pmOh yeah. Maybe I get to meet you in UK! Hopefully!
Emma
August 27, 2017 at 4:52 pmWow that all looks delicious!! I will have to check this out again next time I am going to Bali!!! 🙂
Darlene
September 5, 2017 at 5:34 pmBalinese food is really worth checking out!
Ariana del Rio
August 27, 2017 at 3:09 pmThis looks like a foodie heaven, and you sure gave us a thorough trip through the culinary delights of Bali. It’s great that you eat Local, and now I have some inspiration for my Bali trip.
Darlene
September 5, 2017 at 5:34 pmIt’s great to check out the Balinese food!
Carina Covella
August 27, 2017 at 1:31 pmOh my god my mouth is watering! This all sounds so delicious and the photos are beautiful too!
Beenish Maqsood
August 27, 2017 at 5:10 amAlso love Bali for food. Also, mentioned some of my fav places in Bali for food on my blog post on Bali on beetravelista.com. Did you try any of those?
Caroline
August 27, 2017 at 4:58 amOmg this all looks amazing! I’ve been dying to go to Bali and I will have to check out some of these dishes when I finally make it over there!
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