Local food

Nasi goreng. Similar to the Chinese and Japanese fried rice. Indonesians take it a step further by adding a fried egg on top, and sometimes serve it with Satay.
Gado gado. Served with fresh vegetables and a delicious peanut sauce. No meat is served, so this is a great dish for vegetarians.
Satay. Slices of pork, chicken, beef and sometimes seafood, grilled and served on a stick accompanied with peanut dipping sauce.

Indonesian and Balinese

The local food in and around Ubud will be a combination of both traditional Balinese and Indonesian cuisine. While they may seem very similar, there is a noticeable difference between the two styles, and your trip will be that much more fulfilling to sample them all. Balinese foods are further different from Indonesian in the infinite varieties of spices such as: tamarind, cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, shallots, garlic, tumeric, galingale, lemongrass, coriander, kefir lime.

Indonesian foods (National)
Available all over Indonesia with little regional specificity.

Dishes	Description
Nasi Campur Plain rice with toppings	Perhaps the most popular, and versatile dish in Indonesia. Plain white rice is served with your choice of toppings. The most popular options being egg, green veggies, tofu, sambal (chili paste), and choice of meat. The closest thing to a buffet, the dish is handed right over to you, and of course vegetarian options are available.
Nasi Goreng Fried rice	Similar to the Chinese and Japanese versions, Indonesians take it a step further by adding a fried egg on top, and sometimes serving it with Satay.
Mie Goreng Fried noodles	The same thing as nasi goreng only with noodles instead of rice.
Satay	Slices of pork, chicken, beef and sometimes seafood, grilled and served on a stick accompanied with peanut dipping sauce.
Gado Gado	A dish that is similar to Nasi Campur, but is served with fresh vegetables and a delicious peanut sauce. No meat is served, so this is a great dish for vegetarians.
Sambal Chili paste	Dense sauces made from chilly and shrimp pastes to accompany rice based dishes, meats and sometimes even snacks.
Rujak	Sour dish, mixture of fruits and vegetables all in a shrimp paste and chilies sauce.

Balinese (Ceremony)
Traditional Balinese dishes that are normally prepared for temple ceremonies and then handed out to the community.

Dishes	Description
Bebek Betutu Roasted Duck	Slow roasted duck served with rice and veggies. The duck is stuffed with Balinese spices beforehand, and the slow roast keeps the meat tender and juicy. Most places require you to order one day in advance, but something that should not be missed. Check Out Dirty Duck: for over 15 years this place has made its fortune on one thing, roasted duck.
Babi Guling Suckling Pig	Translated as ?Suckling Pig?, this is the most legendary food in Bali. A young pig is stuffed and basted with a mixture of turmeric and coconut water as it pit roasts for over five hours. The end result is a cut of pork so juicy and tender you may be quoting famous chef Anthony Bourdain - ?This is the best pork on Earth?. Most places require 24 hours notice, but it is worth the wait. Check out Ibu Oka: only open for lunch, they serve suckling pig all the time at local prices.
Lawar Mixed Vegetable	As traditional as it gets, this mixture of over 15 spices, vegetables, and meat is finely chopped into small pieces, and then thickened with coconut milk. A meal in and of itself, Lawar is traditionally served as a side dish. While it is not as common as other dishes, the restaurants that serve it allow you to experience a true taste of Bali.

Dishes

Description

Bebek Betutu

Roasted Duck

Slow roasted duck served with rice and veggies. The duck is stuffed with Balinese spices beforehand, and the slow roast keeps the meat tender and juicy. Most places require you to order one day in advance, but something that should not be missed. Check Out Dirty Duck: for over 15 years this place has made its fortune on one thing, roasted duck.

Babi Guling

Suckling Pig

Translated as ?Suckling Pig?, this is the most legendary food in Bali. A young pig is stuffed and basted with a mixture of turmeric and coconut water as it pit roasts for over five hours. The end result is a cut of pork so juicy and tender you may be quoting famous chef Anthony Bourdain - ?This is the best pork on Earth?. Most places require 24 hours notice, but it is worth the wait. Check out Ibu Oka: only open for lunch, they serve suckling pig all the time at local prices.

Lawar

Mixed Vegetable

As traditional as it gets, this mixture of over 15 spices, vegetables, and meat is finely chopped into small pieces, and then thickened with coconut milk. A meal in and of itself, Lawar is traditionally served as a side dish. While it is not as common as other dishes, the restaurants that serve it allow you to experience a true taste of Bali.

It is also important to point out that geography plays a big part in the regions diet. Since Ubud is in the hills of Bali, fish is not a primary component of the local?s diet. If it is on the menu, chances are it is fresh water fish from local streams. Duck, chicken, and pork are the primary meats around Ubud.

See also
Best Ubud's local restaurants with indonesian and Balinese food...