Selamat Makan: A Guide to Bali’s Food and Culinary Experience

1. Choose Your Adventure: Warung vs. Family Restaurant

When dining in Bali, you usually have two options: traditional warung and family restaurant. Allow me to explain:

Warung: These cozy family-owned eateries represent the very essence of Balinese cuisine. Imagine a tiny corner place where local people come for a wholesome homemade dinner. Warung offers a wide selection of classic dishes. often with a buffet style that allows you to have it your way.

Family restaurant: If you’re looking to include elegance in your tradition, one of Bali’s high-end family-oriented restaurants could be the ticket. They always provide a variety of the tastiest Balinese dishes cooked with a different approach than in warung. These locations receive rave reviews for both their food and cleanliness and are popular among locals and tourists

2. Rice, Rice, Baby: Understanding Balinese Menus.

Rice is the king of Bali. If the menu items contain the word “nasi,” which stands for rice in Indonesian, then the likelihood that rice will accompany your meal is high.

However, if you dream of dishes made with bread products, I should warn you that there aren’t any such in Balinese cuisine! Now that you’re equipped with insider knowledge for your Balinese culinary escapade, dive into the vibrant palette of the island’s tastes!

3. Hydration Station: The Scoop on Mineral Water

I’d like to address the elephant in the room: mineral water. Despite it not being on the house at most dining establishments in Bali, don’t fret! There are plenty of other thirst-quenching options that you can purchase. From chilled coconut water, freshly squeezed house water, and any juice under the sun, you can be sure you’ll stay cool and refreshed!

4. Gazebo or Table? Decoding Bali's Dining Delight

Upon entering a local Balinese restaurant, you are usually faced with two possible options: a table or a gazebo. But what really is the difference there, one may ask? And the answer is – not that much, after all. Let’s delve a bit deeper into Bali’s unique way of arranging seats and see what truly lies beneath the surface.

Tables: For your classic dining experiences, complete with a comfortable chair and a solid base for your plates. Tables offer the most common and reliable way to dine, suited for both casual settings and larger groups.

The local preference – Gazebo: While the substantive difference between tables and gazebos is negligible, what local families prefer the most is intimacy. While eating in a gazebo, one feels protected and close to the others, which helps create the complete dining experience. Another fabulous opportunity that the gazebos will offer you is sitting just like the Bali people do – no tables or chairs, no stress, just you, cross-legged.

5. The Price Puzzle: Tax and Service Fees

Imagine yourself in a cozy Balinese restaurant looking through the menu and deciding on your upcoming culinary quest. However, here is something you should already know: most restaurants in Bali indicate only the basic price in their menus. What is the trick, you might wonder? Be ready to be charged an extra 10% tax on top of the standard prices. But that is not all! Depending on the restaurant, you may also face a 5-10% service fee. Therefore, when you receive your check, do not be startled if the total is a bit higher than you expected.

6. Eco-Friendly Essentials: BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag)

Wave goodbye to single-use plastics and hello to sustainability. In Bali, the use of single plastic bags is forbidden during the takeaways since the island is eager to conserve the environment. So before you leave home, always make sure to tuck a reusable shopping bag into your day bag

Enjoy every mouthwatering moment and let the melody of your senses dance in rhythm with this tropical paradise! Selamat makan – that’s bon appétit in Indonesia Bahasa!