What to eat when in Bali, Indonesia?

Of all the places in the world, my favourite region to eat has to be South-East Asia. Although it has been a year since my trip to Vietnam, I still crave the delicious yet straightforward Pho served at every street corner. Now it was my turn to explore Bali’s culinary delights.

First off, the local cuisine here is very palatable to an average Indian. Chicken is the primary protein, and there are a lot of vegetarian options as well. The primary fat that is used in cooking is palm oil which is available in abundance in this part of the world. The local street food spots are called Warungs, and you can find one in every corner of the Island.

Nasi Goreng

Where to start? One thing you should try out is Nasi Goreng which is Indonesian chicken fried rice. Its flavorful, hearty and I was told that locals eat this stuff for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And after your first bite, you’ll know why.

Mei Goreng

If you are noodle person, pick the Mei Goreng instead. It’s essentially stir-fried noodles, with chicken, veggies and soy sauce. Mei Goreng is not as subtle as Nasi Goreng so I skipped having this for breakfast most of the times.

Chicken Satay

I’m no connoisseur of satays, but I can say they do a pretty good job here with their version of the chicken satay. Similar to the ones you find in Malaysia, these are small chunks of chicken, mildly seasons and cooked over charcoal. Dip in peanut sauce, and you have a perfect evening snack.

Want a bit more variety? How about order Nasi Campur, the Indonesian version of the popular Thali meal which you find in India. You get rice, veggies, meats, and peanuts which should fill you up.

The best for last

Roast Pork

And now the best thing to eat in Bali? Hands down its the Roast Pork at Ibu Oka in Ubud, Bali’s cultural capital. Even Antony Bourdain famously said that the pork here is some of the best he had in his life. And I can’t disagree. If you manage to get a piece of the crispy skin, you’re going to forget about bacon. This stuff is amazing.

If you want to stick to Indian food, there are numerous Indian restaurants peppered around popular areas such as Kuta, Ubud and Nusa Dua. No matter what you eat, wash it down with a pint of Bintang the local beer which practically replaced water for me while I was there.

What else do you think tastes amazing in Bali?