Where to Eat Like a Local in Kuta, Bali

Please don’t make the mistake I did and eat at an overpriced restaurant catered to tourists.

The food was not bad, but we can do so much better.

Indonesia has fantastic cuisine, and what better way to experience Indonesian culture than through the food?

I stayed in Kuta, a city in southwest Bali, which is a popular resort and beach area that tourists frequent. It is a touristy area, with stall upon stall lined with clothing, souvenirs, and more. It seems like it’s all catered towards tourists, but if you explore a road or two off the main road, you’ll escape all the tourists and end up where most locals frequent.

On my first day in Kuta, I didn’t wander too far from the resort I stayed in (add link) and got some Indonesian food from a nearby restaurant. While it was good, it didn’t blow my mind, and I was craving a more local experience since most diners were tourists.

So, please don’t make that mistake, and let me share some of the local spots I got to try that blew my mind.

Table of Contents

Local Food Warung Ajik Dewa

Address: Jl. Kubu Anyar No.88x, Tuban, Kec. Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia

Come here and get the Nasi Campur, Balinese mixed rice—it is heavenly. It’s steamed rice and small portions of several other sides, including meats, vegetables, peanuts, and more. It’s a textural heaven with crunch and chew. It’s paired with a delicious chicken broth on the side that is the perfect soup to wash down the dish. A small family runs it, and the food is prepared lovingly.

The best meal I had in Bali: Nasi Campur

What to order: Nasi Campur (a customer helped me out to order since the auntie didn’t speak English, but showing them a picture should be enough)

Price: 20 IDR (~1.30 USD)

Bakso Panorama Pak Jun

Address: Jl. Pantai Kuta No.9X, Kuta, Kec. Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia

Try Indonesian beef meatball soup or Bakso at this local joint. It’s run by an uncle and his wife (I presume), and you’ll be served a hot, steaming, and savory broth with meatballs, noodles, peanuts, fried wonton, and tofu. But it’s honestly more of a meatball dish with a side of noodles, haha. They are very generous with the meat portions!

What to order: Bakso

Price: 20K IDR (~1.30 USD)

Top Ice Teler Supernova

Address: Jl. Kubu Anyar No.16, Kuta, Kec. Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia

Great spot for a classic Indonesian dessert, Es Teler. It’s a fruit cocktail, similar to Vietnamese Che, consisting of crushed ice, condensed milk, young coconut meat, pandan, coconut milk, jackfruit, avocado, and other toppings. It’s creamy and refreshing; the fruit and toppings are nice. You get to choose what you want on top. I got the coklat keju version, and it was so good! The chocolate adds a nice crunch.

What to order: Es Teler (the toppings are up to you, they have a list of the top 10 if you’re unsure). I got the es teler coklat keju

Price: 15K IDR (1 USD)

KFC Indonesia

Address: Varies

Okay, this is less local, but I wanted to include it. You have to try the beef rendang fried chicken combo from KFC! I’m always curious about what American chains have in different countries, and KFC Indonesia did not disappoint. The chicken is crunchy on the outside and moist. The rendang sauce was sweet, salty, and spicy, which paired soooo well with the chicken, and the rice was also delicious. An avocado drink comes with the combo, and it was so delicious with the coffee jelly!