Balinese cuisine is rich with spices and delicious flavours, with rice being the main item found in many dishes, such as NASI GORENG, a delicious fried rice that can come with beef, chicken or seafood. Noodles are less common, but most famously come in MIE GORENG, the noodle version of NASI GORENG. You will also find soups, various fried entrees and snacks, and local desserts.
The gallery below is an assortment of meals that I enjoyed over a 1 week period in Bali, and Lombok.
Everyone has their own version of the staple dishes, and you will rarely find two places serving each dish the same way.
If your feeling home sick, the more popular tourist areas also offer a wide variety of other cuisines such as mexican, pizzas, japanese and Australian steak houses, not to mention famous fast food chains and international restaurants. Check your google maps to see whats close by in your area.
Prices will vary wildly, for example, a nasi goreng ayam you can find for as little as 15k IDR from tiny local warungs (small roadside eateries), or as much as 150k IDR from more established restaurants.
In popular tourist areas such as Kuta in Bali, some restaurants will charge a service tax that is not seen in menu prices, so always ask when you enter if they charge the additional tax, so you dont get a rude shock when you get the bill. Normally its 10%, but some places like restaurants at DPS will charge two different taxes, the first at 10%, then a second tax at (.8% after the first tax is calculated, its ridiculous to say the least.
I always recommend going for the local cuisine, and personally have very rarely had any stomach issues after, the one time I did, was from a restaurant in Canggu I had visited many many times without issue.
Drinking water
Do not drink the tap water! Clean bottled water is available everywhere, and cheap, so dont risk it!
Another handy tip, if you enjoy your cocktails, ask the bar if they use tap water ice, or bought in ice, as the tap water ice will give you a bad time.
Mick's travel guide 