A warung in Indonesia is typically a small family business in the form of a cafe or restaurant. While traveling in Bali you’re sure to see many spots to eat starting or ending with that name. For us the word “warung” became synonymous with the awesome veggie buffets we found all over the island. So what makes a Bali warung so good? It’s just vegetables isn’t it? While there are the many Bali vegan food options to choose from, we found that the warung buffets were both cheaper and better tasting then any restaurant. So stay tuned for some of the best food in Bali!

The Vegan Culture

Bali Vegan food has been catching on for quite some time now, and can be seen in popular towns like Canggu and Ubud. The healthy culture came with tourism, and people flocking to the Indonesian islands for something more than a vacation. The yoga, surfing, and overall healthy lifestyle that’s represented in Bali is a movement that gained steam and has never looked back. With that, comes all types of cafes and restaurants for us to enjoy!

More Expensive Options

Most of the new age Bali food options combine western health food with local flair and ingredients. Usually this will involve hip Balinese furniture and decor, with funky beats bumping in the background. While these are often fun places to hangout and mingle, the food leaves something to be desired. From what we experienced, the Bali Vegan Food at these establishments looks very appealing, but the taste doesn’t always stack up. What I’m trying to say is that it might look great for an instagram picture, but it never tasted as good as it looked. This is part of what led us to our first warung in Indonesia!

*Just so we’re clear… When we say expensive we don’t mean it’s going to cost you an arm and a leg to eat at non-warung places. Instead, we’re just talking comparatively with the buffet style places we’re going to tell you about next!

The Best Food in Bali

Okay, now onto the good stuff! Warung’s may feel like the ugly stepsister to these fancy new wave restaurants, but we guarantee they’re way better. When you first roll up to a local warung in Indonesia you’ll see a big glass case with all the food lined up inside. The good ones are self serve or buffet style so you’ll get to pick out as much delicious Bali vegan food as you can handle! Most of the tempe, tofu, and other goodies are smothered in some type of tangy or spicy sauce. While the vegetables may not be amazing on their own, once you mix them together it creates a plate that’s bursting with flavor. Oh, and one last thing. If you’re not vegan or vegetarian there is meat options available at most of the Bali warung restaurants, too!

Typical Items at a Veggie Warung in Bali:

Tempe

Tofu

Eggplant

Bok Choy

Bitter Melon

Beans/Green Beans/Bean Sprouts

Potato Curry

Cabbage

Veggie fritters

Spicy Peanut and Chili Sauce

Cheapest Food in Bali

When it comes to the pricing at a Bali warung it can get kind of confusing. Rarely are the prices labeled, and we have zero idea how they count up what you owe. However, as much food as we piled onto our plates it always came out insanely cheap. How cheap do you ask? Well, I don’t think we ever paid more than 25,000-30,000 Indonesian Rupiah (around $2 USD) for a meal! To sum it all up, this is the healthiest, cheapest, and best food in Bali… So dive in and enjoy!

Bali Warung Recommendations:

Canggu- Oma Jmu, Warung Bu Mi, and Varuna Warung

Uluwatu- Warung Heboh Padang Padang

Amed- Warung Osin

Kuta- Warung Indonesia

Safe Travels,

Brigitte & Jake

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Where To Stay In Bali

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