Gado-gado
Blanched vegetables, potatoes, fried tofu and tempeh in peanut sauce, with optional egg. Sold everywhere from street stalls to restaurants.
Vegetarian food in Bali for Indians
Which Balinese dishes are vegetarian, what to ask for, and where to find plant-based cafés and Indian restaurants with Jain options.
- Watch for
- Terasi, fermented shrimp paste
- Ask for
- “Tanpa terasi” (without shrimp paste)
- Indian food in
- Kuta, Seminyak, Legian, Nusa Dua, Ubud
- Warung meal
- Often under $4 USD a plate
The one ingredient to watch
Balinese cooking starts with basa gede, or bumbu, a spice paste of turmeric, galangal, ginger, coriander seed and chilli. Much of it will taste familiar to an Indian palate.
Many traditional dishes also contain terasi, fermented shrimp paste, even a harmless-looking sambal. Say “tanpa terasi” (without shrimp paste) when you order and far more dishes open up.
Balinese dishes that are vegetarian
Naturally vegetarian or easy to adapt. Look for these on menus.
Indian restaurants in Bali
Approximate prices for a main course.
| Topic | What to know | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Queen’s Tandoor | Kuta, Seminyak, Nusa Dua and Ubud. North Indian, South Indian and tandoori; try the dal makhani and paneer tikka. Jain food on request. $7–15. | |
| Ganesha Ek Sanskriti | Ubud and Kuta. Chefs from India and a more formal setting; try the baingan bharta and bread basket. $10–18. | |
| Atithi | Legian. Modern presentation, a full vegetarian menu with a Jain section, and thalis. $6–12. |
Plant-based cafés in Ubud, Seminyak and Canggu
In Ubud, Moksa serves raw and lightly cooked plant-based food from its own permaculture garden, just outside the centre. Alchemy, a raw vegan café, has a build-your-own salad bar, cold-pressed juices and a health food store.
Kynd Community in Seminyak is known for smoothie bowls, toasts and the Kynd Burger. It gets busy at brunch.
The Shady Shack in Canggu is fully vegetarian, in a rustic space overlooking rice fields. Try the nori bowl with tempeh or the halloumi bowl.
Phrases to use when ordering
English is widely spoken in tourist areas, but these help in local warungs.
- Saya vegetarian: I am vegetarian
- Tidak ada daging/ayam/ikan: no meat, chicken or fish
- Tanpa terasi: without shrimp paste (the most important one)
- Minta sayur saja: vegetables only, please
- Ini ada telur?: does this have egg?
Warungs, cooking classes and markets
At a warung nasi campur you point at the dishes you want with your rice. Warung Sopa in Ubud and Warung Bu Mi in Canggu label their vegetarian dishes clearly. A plate often costs under $4 USD.
Paon Bali Cooking Class, in a village compound near Ubud, starts with a market tour and teaches a vegetarian Balinese meal for about $35 USD per person.
Badung Market in Denpasar and Ubud Market, best early in the morning, sell mangosteen, rambutan, salak and many kinds of banana.
More Bali travel guides
- Bali travel guide Flights, visa, money and seasons in one place.
- Packing guide Clothes, medicines and adapters.
- Currency and ATMs Rupees, rupiah and cards.
- Direct flights Non-stop routes from India.
- Trip cost What a Bali trip costs from India.
- Indian meals and driver Packages with vegetarian meals and a private car.
Vegetarian food questions
All questions and answers
Plan a vegetarian-friendly Bali trip
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