Best local food in Bali is full of spices and surprising flavor to explore, including all the authentic Balinese food and cuisine to try. If you enjoy the taste of local culinary, here are some of the best local food in Bali that only locals know, but do expect modest setting for most places – such as small warung (small shop) with wooden chairs and tables without the air-con.

Warung Babi Guling Sanur

Babi guling or suckling pig is one of the easiest local food to find around the island, commonly served with lawar (Balinese meat salad) as well. Some tourists’ favorite might be located in the southern area of Kuta or Jimbaran, but Warung Babi Guling Sanur near Denpasar is one of the most recommended by the local Balinese.

Address: Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai No.256, Sanur, Kec. Denpasar Sel., Kota Denpasar, Bali 80227

Open daily from 11AM-7PM.

Warung Lesehan Mertha Sari Klungkung

Satay lilit is still one of the best local food in Bali you should try. One of the best satay lilit on the island can be found in the small regency of Klungkung: Warung Lesehan Merta Sari Klungkung, which has been serving this delicacy for over 30 years.

Address: Jl. Kresna, Pesinggahan, Kec. Dawan, Kabupaten Klungkung, Bali 80761

Open daily from 8AM-6PM.

Warung Liku

Some of the best ayam betutu (authentic Balinese chicken dish) come from Gilimanuk, but Denpasar has a favorite one named Warung Liku. The original ayam betutu is very spicy, but Warung Like adds more herbs than chilis, making it more enjoyable.

Address: Jl. Tukad Musi No.19 A, Panjer, Kec. Denpasar Sel., Kota Denpasar, Bali 80239

Open daily from 8AM-10PM.

Warung Bambu Bu Lulu

Warung Bambu Bu Lulu’s locals’ favorite menus are deep-fried fish (throat), and spicy and sour fish soup, which can be quite spicy but very refreshing. If you are not a fan of spicy and sour dishes, you can try its original fish head soup. This is one of the places for the best local food in Bali, not for tourists, located in Sanur area.

Address: Jl. Suka Merta, Sanur Kauh, Kec. Denpasar Sel., Kota Denpasar, Bali 80239

Open daily from 9AM-10PM.

Sate Plecing Arjuna

Quite different from other general satays in Indonesia, one of the popular pork satay in Bali is sate plecing, which is seasoned with spices and herbs for a combination of sweet and spicy flavors, and served with a spicy red sauce called plecing. This place is always packed with local customers coming for its popular sate in town.

Address: Jl. Arjuna No.47, Dauh Puri Kaja, Kec. Denpasar Utara, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80232

Open daily from 9AM-4.30PM.

Warung Nasi Bali Men Weti

This roadside venue sells one of the most popular Balinese nasi campur (mixed rice) for breakfast or brunch. It consists of shredded betutu chicken, roasted chicken, Balinese satay lilit, half egg topped with hot chili, blanched cassava leaves, lawar (Balinese meat salad), fried peanuts, and sambal matah (Balinese chili mix). The optional menu you should try to add is the deep-fried crispy chicken skin. Make sure to let the seller know if you want less chili to make it less spicy.

Address: Jl. Letda Reta No.52, Dangin Puri Klod, Kec. Denpasar Tim., Kota Denpasar, Bali 80233

Open daily from 8AM-3PM.

Warung Makan Sederhana “Bu Dayu”

Soto Balung Babi is one of the best local food in Bali that is not touristy, which is basically a Balinese pork rib soup with a few slices of radish. The pork broth has a tad sweet with a slightly peppery aftertaste, while the ribs are perfectly cooked and best served with warm steamed rice. In Denpasar itself, the good soto balung babi is rare and quite difficult to find, and one of the places recommended by the local Balinese is Warung Makan Sederhana “Bu Dayu” in Sanur, founded in 1975.

Address: Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai No.208, Sanur Kaja, Kec. Denpasar Sel., Kota Denpasar, Bali 80227

Open Monday-Saturday from 10AM-9PM.

Sai Laqu

This restaurant serves a wide range of best local food in Bali and coffee, including tipat blayag (tipat is a boiled rice cake packed in a diamond-shaped leaf, usually served as a replacement for rice) , tipat cantok, tipat kuah, rujak Bali, jaje Bali, bubur ketan hitam, es daluman, bubur injin, and many other Balinese authentic menu which you can enjoy in the comfortable setting.

Address: Jl. Hayam Wuruk No.256, Sumerta Kelod, Kec. Denpasar Tim., Kota Denpasar, Bali 80239

Open daily from 10AM-5PM.

Nasi Ayam Kedewatan Bu Mangku

This ‘nasi ayam’ or mixed chicken rice is a typical Indonesian food with Balinese taste. It consists of the steamed rice with spicy chicken, satay lilit, lawar, fried chilies with peanuts, and a bowl of gravy, and you have the options to have it all served in one plate (campur) or separately (pisah). Eating with a hand like a local can give you a more authentic experience.

Address:

Jl. Raya Kedewatan No.18, Kedewatan, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571

Open daily from 8AM-6PM

Jl. Tukad Badung No.11, Renon, Kec. Denpasar Sel., Kota Denpasar, Bali 80234

Open daily from 8AM-9PM

Jl. Kayu Jati No. 12, Patitenget, Seminyak, Kuta, Kerobokan Kelod, Kuta Utara, Kerobokan Kelod, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361

Open daily from 8AM-9PM

Warung Soto Sapi Nyoman Kuta

This food stall has been established since 1987, definitely one of the best local food in Bali you can find. It only sells a menu: beef soup (soto), and you can choose whether you want to add the beef meatballs. The Balinese soto has unique flavors compared to other soto in Indonesia, which usually has yellowish soup color. Here, the broth is clear with strong and delicious beef flavor, and containing beef slice, fat, tripe, meatballs, and turnips.

Address: Jl. Kuta Theater, Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361

Open daily from 11AM-9PM

Those are the 10 best local food joints in Bali where locals go. However, the addresses and timings are subject to change without notice, please make sure to check the other sources (such as Google or Trip Advisor), or call them before your visit.