How to Eat Like a Local in Bali - Local Dishes to Savour during a Trip to Bali

Although most tourists head to Indonesia's holiday island to enjoy its stunning beaches, Bali is also a foodie's dream destination. Bali is considered one of the best places to dig into authentic Indonesian cuisine, and the island nation's own culinary treats will leave you clamouring for more. From delicious rice meals you can purchase from a street vendor to lesser-known treats around the island, here's where to go and what to order when dining out in Indonesia's beach hotspot.

Nasi Campur

Those who love a little bit of everything in their rice will love this Indonesian staple. Nasi Campur, or "mixed rice", is usually made up of steamed rice and an assortment of chicken, seafood, tempeh and vegetables. A small serving of piping hot sambal will also be placed on the plate to add a punch to this otherwise mild dish. While Nasi Campur is widely available all across the island, some of the venues to order this classic dish include Cafe Wayan, the Laka Leke Restaurant, Warung Wardani and Warung Mangga Madu.

Martabak  

This delicious local flatbread variety is one of Bali's best-kept culinary secrets as only a few visitors are aware of just how irresistible Martabak can be. This is a conventional street food that doesn't garner much attention from tourists, and the long lines of locals purchasing this meal at night markets and roadside vendors should be an indication of its popularity in the island nation. Stuffed with eggs, meat and vegetables, Martabak comes in both sweet and savoury varieties with the sweeter Martabak containing chocolate sprinkles, peanuts, condensed milk and other delectable toppings. Kakao Martabak and Terang Bulan in Legian and Terang Bulan Mini Barito are known for their take on this dish while Sedap Mantap Terang Bulan in Denpasar is equally well-known for Martabak.

Nasi Goreng

A trip to Bali would not be complete without enjoying Nasi Goreng at least once. Whether you are luncheoning at Anantara Uluwatu Bali or any of the other restaurants in Uluwatu, Ubud, Bophut or any other corner of Bali, you can bet this classic dish will be on every menu. Featuring a crispy fried egg on top, this rice meal is also one of the spiciest contenders in the Indonesian canon.

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Sate  

Spelled "satay" on some local menus, this mouth-watering snack is served in Indonesian restaurants all around the world but few diners are aware of the origins of this juicy treat. Sate is a global crowd-pleaser. To make this dish, chicken is grilled and cut into cubes before being doused in peanut sauce. The flavour of the meat is due to the spices that are used in the marinating process before the meat is skewered and grilled to perfection. 

Laklak

When it comes to local desserts, there's nothing like a serving of Laklak when you're holidaying in Bali. Made using coconut cream and rice flour, the dessert is drizzled with coconut shavings and brown sugar for added sweetness. It's a delightful treat that captures the essence of the island's flavours in every bite.

Mie Goreng  

Noodle dishes are much loved in Bali as in other parts of the island but no other dish commands the popularity that Mie Goreng has secured. Fried noodles featuring a wide variety of toppings are served in various restaurants but the dish exudes the same taste owning to the spices employed. Mie Goreng is a dish that's available everywhere in Bali, and some of the finest Mie Goreng spots on the island include Memoh Warung and Ulekan.

Gado Gado

Seasonal veggies are used to create Gado Gado, which is tossed in a thick and rich salad dressing featuring peanut sauce. Although it is technically a vegetarian dish, there are non-veg variations of this dish that feature boiled eggs and prawn crackers.