Balinese culture is unique and elaborate; it is manifested in every aspect of life, especially foods. The traditional Balinese cuisine is a major component of its cultural identities, some of which are as old as the Balinese culture itself. Here are some top recommended traditional dishes that you must try during your trip in Bali if you want to experience the essence of the island on your plate.
1. Warung Nia Satay Chicken & Pork
Satay is probably one of the culinary signatures representing Indonesia, they are marinated slices of chicken, beef, pork, goat or seafood skewed on bamboo sticks, grilled on charcoals. This is a traditional dish with endless varieties that visitors can find in virtually everywhere through Indonesia, and there are bunch of top rated satay restaurants in Bali.
Warung Nia, one of the most popular Balinese satay restaurants, situates in the north strip of Kuta, draws hundreds of thousands of foodies around the world every year. You should try their signature Balinese Rijsttafel Platter Sets, with mixed chicken and pork satays marinated in coconut milk and spices, drizzled with peanut sauce and lemongrass dressings. The set also comes with chicken curry, green papaya salad, and various side dishes. To go along with your meal, you should grab some bottles of Bintang Beer, the premium Indonesian brewery brand you will enjoy during your visit.
2. Bebek Bengil Dirty Duck
Another signature Balinese dish is the dirty duck, which was served as original crispy fried duck, and the one of the most famous restaurant is Bebek Bengil Dirty Duck Diner in Ubud. Two recommended dishes are Nasi Campur Bebek, which is a Balinese Nasi Campur with Crispy Duck, boiled egg, fish satay and Balinese vegetable sets; Bebek Bengil, which is a set meal of the Original Crispy Duck with half a duck steamed in Indonesian spices and deep fried for a crispy finish, and it is recommended to use your fingers to enjoy the yumminess. The set meal is served with steamed rice and sautéed Balinese vegetables and side salad. There are other Balinese specialties, desserts and a full bar in the restaurant where surrounds with rice fields, Hinduism statues, lily ponds and lush plantations.
3. Best Babi Guling Roasted Suckling Pig @ Pak Malen
One of Indonesia's iconic culinary representations is the BBQ Roasted Suckling Pig, or Babi Guling, which is not only a signature Balinese cooking, but also a sacred ceremony. Warung Pak Malen is your go-to place on the island for the best rated Babi Guling. The restaurant itself is a large, cavernous hall with a counter in front, and this place specializes in one thing only, Bali Guling, with set meal here consists of pork prepared in a variety of ways.
First up is a heady spiced broth with pork, which you drink directly from the bowl. Then on to the main event, a bamboo plate piled high with rice, roasted pork, pork satay, fried pork, a piece of fried pork rind, some pork skin, and braised pork. Sides include traditional lawar, which is a mix of vegetables and spicy sambal. There is no better cultural experience than having a hearty Babi Guling platter sitting in a steamy shack on a tropical island.
4. Segara Club Grilled Seafood @ Jimbaran Coastline
No trip to Bali is complete without a lavish seafood feast in Jimbaran district. With abundant seafood products nourished from the Bali Sea, you will find an amazing seafood experience offered by Bali. One of my top recommendation for seafood is the Segara Club Seafood and Indonesian Restaurant that brings together a variety of traditional Indonesian dishes to your table. You will enjoy locally fresh caught seafood grilled over charcoal fire to perfection while soaking up the most romantic atmosphere under the Jimbaran sunset and moonlight, and you can also catch some traditional dancing ceremony once a month under the full moon in the Segara Club, making this one of your most unforgettable dining experience in Kuta.
5. Tipat Tahu Grenceng
As one of the most renowned traditional street food in Indonesia, Tipat Tahu is a must-try dish when visiting Bali. This is a unique dish of rice cake mixed with an omelet, soy sauce, tofu, and vegetable sprouts in spicy peanut sauce, which is also an integral component to Indonesian cuisine. This tiny eatery shack, Tipat Tahu Grenceng, is one of the most popular Tipat Tahu restaurant on the island, attracting hundreds of regular local customers as well as many international visitors on a daily basis. It's a perfect brunch for you and your family to kick start the day with many adventures and explorations ahead your way in North Denpasar.
6. Ayam Betutu @ Legendary Khas Gilimanuk
Have you ever wonder that an authentic Bali tastes like? If you will be able to handle the hardcore spiciness, then this iconic poultry dish will blow your mind! With probably one of the best Balinese Nasi Campur with Betutu chicken dish, Khas Gilimanuk probably offers the best Ayam Betutu dishes on the island, with thousands of five-star reviews and hundreds of thousands of visitors attracted to the restaurant every year, just for the spicy taste of chicken that are cooked for many hours with juicy, tender meat, tasty to the bone. I recommend the steamed version which is unique and tastier than grilled one, and it goes well with their complimentary kangkong, peanuts and sambal matah.
7. Warung Nasi Ayam Ibu Oki
Bali is famous for its variety of spicy chicken cuisines, each dish contains different types of spices and the unique way of handling the culinary complexity and dynamic layers of flavors. One of the top rated restaurants in the Badang District, Warung Nasi Ayam Ibu Oki, provides an authentic chicken platter using fresh, high quality ingredients from trusted local suppliers. Once you get there, you just need to pick your meal size and the level of spiciness! I love the taste of their authentic chicken mixed rice. The spiciness induces a perfect mix and a clash of flavors between chicken, nuts, long beans and chili. Even though the place is far from fancy, just a lil' shack on the street, it is reasonably priced, and this will stimulate your palate to the fullest excitement for every single bite. The spicier, the better!
8. J.CO Donuts & Coffee @ Mal Bali Galeria
Your once-of-a-lifetime vacation deserves every bit of sweet satisfaction. Even when you on a mission to explore the traditional culinary journey on the island of Bali, nothing really beats your craving of a box of gleaming, fancy, sweet delicious donuts and a few cups of Arabica cold brew coffees in the Bali Galeria Mall to escape the burning heat on the beach. J.CO Donuts & Coffee is an Indonesian global café restaurant chain that specializes in handcrafted donuts, premium coffee and frozen yogurt. This is a perfect go-to place for desserts, coffee break, or doing your remote works during your vacation in Bali.
TipsyMonkey
Bali, Indonesia. 2017
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