Balinese Food Culture: The 7 Best Foods to Eat in Bali

While Bali dazzles with its gorgeous temples and beaches, it’s the island’s cuisine that truly tells the story of its people. You’ll find centuries of tradition on every plate, where complex spices meet fresh ingredients in dishes that nourish both body and spirit. The distinct flavors of Balinese cooking reveal the deep cultural ties to Hindu ceremonies, communal gatherings, and agricultural rhythms. Ready to discover the seven iconic foods that will transform your understanding of Bali beyond its postcard perfection?

Key Points

• Babi Guling (roasted suckling pig) combines crispy skin with tender meat infused with turmeric, ginger, and other aromatic spices.
• Betutu features spiced poultry prepared through steaming or roasting, traditionally served at weddings and ceremonies across regional variations.
• Sate Lilit consists of minced meat molded around lemongrass sticks with a complex blend of turmeric, coriander, and galangal.
• Lawar mixes meat, vegetables, and grated coconut with spice paste, available in meat-heavy, seafood, or vegetarian versions.
• Nasi Campur showcases Balinese culinary philosophy through a balanced variety of rice with assorted sides like grilled meats and sambal.

Babi Guling: The Royal Feast of Roasted Suckling Pig

Though now widely available throughout Bali’s restaurants and warungs, babi guling was once reserved exclusively for Balinese royalty and special ceremonies. This iconic roasted suckling pig represents a perfect blend of tradition and flavor that’s become a must-try culinary experience.

From royal tables to street-side warungs, babi guling embodies Bali’s culinary heritage in every crispy, flavorful bite.

The preparation involves stuffing the pig with a complex bumbu paste of turmeric, ginger, galangal, garlic, shallots, and chili, along with aromatic herbs like lemongrass and lime leaves. This practice embodies the nose-to-tail cooking philosophy deeply rooted in Balinese culinary traditions.

It’s then slow-roasted over coconut husks while being basted with coconut water for that signature crispy skin.

You’ll enjoy the contrasting textures of crackling skin and tender meat, balanced by the layered flavors of earthy spices and subtle coconut sweetness. Babi guling is considered one of the top flavors of authentic Balinese cuisine.

For an authentic experience, try it at popular spots like Warung Babi Guling Ibu Oka or Pak Malen.

Betutu: A Spiced Delicacy of Steamed or Roasted Poultry

Another culinary masterpiece in Bali’s prosperous food tradition is betutu, a labor-intensive dish that showcases the island’s complex spice artistry through steamed or roasted poultry.

You’ll find this dish prepared with an opulent blend of shallots, garlic, ginger, galangal, turmeric, and various aromatics ground into a fine paste. Traditionally made with rooster chicken or duck, the meat is generously marinated before being cooked for 1-3 hours via steaming in banana leaves or roasting for a smoky finish. The dish varies across Bali with regions like Gianyar, Gilimanung, and Klungkung each offering distinct regional styles. While staying in Sanur beach area, you can find excellent authentic betutu prepared by local chefs who maintain traditional cooking methods.

When you’re invited to a Balinese wedding or ceremony, you’ll likely encounter betutu as it holds significant cultural importance. Enjoy it with warm rice, sambal matah, and fried peanuts for the authentic experience.

The dish beautifully represents Bali’s communal cooking traditions and hospitality.

Sate Lilit: Balinese Minced Meat Skewers

Sate lilit stands apart from other Indonesian satays with its distinctive preparation method of minced meat molded around fragrant lemongrass stalks. You’ll find this Balinese specialty made with chicken thighs, fish, duck, or seafood combinations, depending on the region.

What makes sate lilit truly exceptional is its complex spice blend featuring turmeric, coriander seeds, galangal, and shrimp paste. The mixture is enhanced with grated coconut and palm sugar before being shaped onto the lemongrass skewers. The term “lilit” means “to wrap” in Indonesian and Balinese, perfectly describing how the seasoned meat mixture encircles the lemongrass.

The secret to sate lilit’s irresistible charm lies in its masterful blend of aromatics, coconut, and palm sugar embracing each lemongrass skewer.

Whether grilled or pan-fried, the result is a flavorful dish that’s both aromatic and satisfying.

You’ll encounter sate lilit at ceremonies and gatherings throughout Bali, where it symbolizes the island’s culinary creativity. Many surf destinations in Bali offer local warungs serving these delicious skewers to hungry surfers after a day on the waves. Try it served with sambal matah for an authentic taste experience.

Lawar: The Traditional Mixture of Meat, Vegetables, and Coconut

When you encounter lawar at a Balinese ceremony or warung, you’re experiencing one of the island’s most culturally significant dishes. This intricate mixture combines finely chopped meat (typically pork, chicken, or liver), fresh vegetables, grated coconut, and a complex spice paste called base genep.

Traditionally prepared communally by men before religious festivals, lawar often contains animal blood, though blood-free versions are increasingly common in tourist areas. The dish represents Balinese community spirit and religious devotion. Indonesia’s rich culinary heritage makes dishes like lawar a compelling reason to visit the archipelago beyond just Bali. For home cooks attempting to recreate this dish, each component requires attention, with the sambal paste being a critical element that brings the dish together.

You’ll find regional variations across the island—meat-heavy versions in Gianyar and Ubud, seafood adaptations in coastal villages, and jackfruit-based vegetarian options. The distinctive flavor develops from aromatic kaffir lime leaves, galangal, turmeric, and coriander, best enjoyed at room temperature as part of nasi campur.

Nasi Campur: A Colorful Plate of Rice and Assorted Sides

At the heart of Balinese cuisine lies nasi campur, a vibrant dish that embodies the island’s culinary philosophy of balance and variety. You’ll find this staple centered around aromatic rice surrounded by an assortment of flavorful sides.

Each plate typically features grilled meats marinated in local spices, crispy fried tempeh, fresh vegetables, and spicy sambal. The Balinese version highlights island ingredients like turmeric and lemongrass, creating distinctive aromatic profiles you won’t find elsewhere. The traditional preparation often includes the complex basa genep spice mix, which gives Balinese nasi campur its unique character.

Whether you’re enjoying it at a family gathering or from a street vendor, nasi campur offers a complete culinary experience in a single serving. When ordering in local eateries, knowing a few basic Balinese phrases can enhance your dining experience. The dish not only satisfies your appetite but also connects you to Bali’s opulent cultural traditions, where food brings communities together and celebrates the island’s agricultural bounty.

Bubur Mengguh: Savory Porridge for a Balinese Breakfast

Unlike the typical sweet breakfast porridges found across Asia, Bubur Mengguh presents a savory alternative that awakens your taste buds with its complex flavors and hearty ingredients. This traditional Balinese dish combines rice, chicken breast, and green beans in a flavorful broth enhanced with ground turmeric, garlic, onion, and coriander.

What makes this porridge special is the addition of coconut milk, which creates a creamy texture, and the finishing touch of fried peanuts for a satisfying crunch. Fresh kaffir lime leaves add distinctive lemony and floral notes that elevate the dish’s aromatic profile. While both Bali and Fiji offer beautiful beaches, Bali’s culinary traditions are often cited as a key reason travelers choose this Indonesian island. You’ll find spices are ground before cooking to release their full aroma, while bay leaves and bouillon powder deepen the flavor profile.

Often enjoyed during family gatherings and festivals, Bubur Mengguh offers both nutrition and cultural significance, making it a must-try breakfast when visiting Bali.

Balinese Sambals: Essential Spicy Condiments

No Balinese meal is truly complete without the vibrant, piquant accompaniment of sambal, a spicy condiment that transforms even the simplest dishes into flavor sensations. These aromatic chili-based mixtures come in countless varieties, each with distinct ingredients and preparation methods.

When you’re exploring Balinese cuisine, you’ll encounter:

1. Sambal Matah – An uncooked mixture of finely chopped lemongrass, shallots, and chilies with an invigorating citrusy kick. Traditionally, it’s served with grilled fish or seafood to enhance their natural flavors.
2. Sambal Terasi – Opulent and pungent with shrimp paste adding deep umami notes
3. Sambal Goreng – A cooked version featuring fried chilies, garlic, and shallots
4. Sambal Kecap – A milder option blending chilies with sweet soy sauce

You’ll find these condiments accompanying everything from grilled seafood to roasted meats, each adding their distinctive character to Bali’s culinary landscape. Some locals enjoy these spicy sambals while relaxing at Bali’s volcanic black beaches, creating a perfect blend of culinary and natural experiences.

Last Words

As you’ve journeyed through Bali’s culinary landscape, you’ll find these seven dishes represent more than just food—they’re cultural expressions. When my friend Lisa visited Ubud, she was initially hesitant to try Babi Guling, but ended up declaring it the highlight of her trip. Whether you’re seeking ceremony or comfort, Balinese cuisine offers you both tradition and flavor in every unforgettable bite.