Vegetarian Food in Bali
So here’s the deal — I’m a picky eater, but I make it a point to try the local cuisine everywhere I go. Sometimes I love it enough to eat it the whole trip; sometimes I quietly retreat to my emergency stash of ready-to-eat Indian food after a few days. Balinese cuisine landed somewhere in the middle for me. I ate nothing but Nasi Goreng for the first week and loved it, then had a run of bad meals in Munduk that put me off it for the rest of the trip. But overall? Bali fed me well, and it’ll feed you well too.
Is Bali vegetarian-friendly
Short answer: yes, Bali is one of the easier places in Southeast Asia to be vegetarian or vegan. Tourist hubs like Ubud, Canggu and Seminyak are overflowing with plant-based cafés, and even traditional warungs serve dishes that are either vegetarian by default or easily made so.
The one catch — and it’s the same catch I hit everywhere outside India — is that “vegetarian” in Bali can quietly include egg, and sometimes the crackers or stock hide fish or shrimp. So the trick isn’t finding vegetarian food; it’s confirming it. More on the exact phrases I used further down.
Vegetarian Balinese Cuisine You Have To Try
Nasi Goreng & Mie Goreng
The two staples every vegetarian leans on: Nasi Goreng (fried rice) and Mie Goreng (fried noodles). I lived on Nasi Goreng for a solid week — it’s filling, comes with a side of veggies, and you’ll find it on literally every menu.
The egg trap: many places top a “vegetarian” Nasi or Mie Goreng with a fried egg without mentioning it. I run through my “No egg, no fish” mantra every single time I order, and it’s saved me almost everywhere. I’d also skip the crackers (kerupuk) unless you’ve confirmed them — they’re often shrimp, prawn or egg.
Sayur Urab
Sayur Urab is steamed vegetables tossed with toasted grated coconut and spices, usually served with rice. Naturally vegetarian, genuinely delicious, and one of the most underrated local dishes — order it if you see it.
Gado Gado
Gado Gado is an Indonesian salad of vegetables, tofu and tempeh in a rich peanut sauce. It usually comes with egg, so ask for it without for a fully vegetarian version. The peanut sauce alone is worth the order.
Recommended: Organica Fresh and Tasty Food in Nusa Penida, The Botanist in Munduk, and the Artotel in-house restaurant in Sanur all do excellent vegetarian Balinese plates.
Local Bali desserts worth trying
Dadar Gulung — rolled crepes filled with coconut and palm sugar, dyed green with pandan leaves. Can contain egg, so check first.
Pisang Goreng — banana fritters, either whole bananas battered and fried or banana purée mixed into batter. They tasted exactly like the Mangalore Buns back home in Karnataka, which made me absurdly happy.
Banana Crepes — usually served with the coconut-palm-sugar mix and/or ice cream. Often made with egg, so confirm before ordering.
Beyond Balinese cuisine: vegetarian & vegan food in Bali
When you’ve had your fill of fried rice (it happens), Bali’s international food scene quietly delivers some of the best vegetarian and vegan meals you’ll find anywhere in Asia.
Smoothie Bowls
If you’re in Ubud, smoothie bowls are on every other corner. I had some of the best dragonfruit and açaí bowls of my life here — refreshing, filling and actually healthy, which feels like a small miracle on holiday.
Places I recommend: Acai Queen in Ubud and Together in D&B Villa in Ubud.
Mexican
This surprised me: Bali has a genuinely excellent vegan Mexican scene. Freshly baked nachos, seitan-filled tacos, the freshest guac — some of the tastiest Mexican food I’ve had anywhere
Places I recommend: Coco’s Vegetarian Mexican in Ubud – friendliest owner ever!
Vegan Gelato & Icecream
Coconut based desserts are popular in Bali and I found so many places serving vegan gelatos and icecreams made with coconut milk. Tukies with their coconut icecream with toasted coconut (YUM!) and Gelato Jedi with their variety of coconut milk based gelatos were an instant favorite.
Places I recommend: Tukies, Gelato Jedi in Ubud and Gelato by Massimo in Sanur.
Coffee
A coffee plantation tour is a classic Bali activity — though I’d steer you away from the ones pushing the unethical Kopi Luwak. The Indonesian coffee itself, however, is unmissable; just have it at a proper café instead.
Places I recommend: Seniman Roasters in Ubud — their Seniman Oat is something I still daydream about.
Italian
Ubud is a vegan paradise, so the excellent vegan pizza wasn’t a shock. A little heavy on the wallet, but a no-brainer when decision fatigue hits.
Places I recommend: Pizza Cult in Ubud.
Indian food in Bali
One of the most vegetarian-friendly cuisines on earth — and I never last long before the cravings hit. I tried a few Indian spots across Bali.
Places I recommend: Ganesha Ek Sanskriti in Sanur (The one in Ubud is not that great).
And… actual coconuts
We’ve covered coconut based food, but what about the real thing? If you come to Bali and don’t drink a fresh coconut on the beach, did you even go? They’re huge, delicious and brilliantly cooling in the tropical heat. Prices climb the closer you get to the sand, but honestly — what screams holiday more than a coconut by the beach?
Best vegetarian & vegan-friendly restaurants in Bali
Vegetarian restaurants in Ubud
- Coco’s Vegetarian Mexican — the best Mexican I’ve had anywhere. The owner is so warm we went back four times; he greeted us with the widest smile every time.
- Tukies and Gelato Jedi — for dessert.
- Acai Queen — for smoothie bowls.
- Seniman Roasters — best coffee in Ubud; try the Seniman Oat.
- Pizza Cult — vegan Italian.
- Together (at D&B Villa, where we stayed) — incredible smoothie bowls, a little out of the way from the main Ubud streets but worth it.
Vegetarian restaurants in Sanur
- Artotel — the in-house restaurant had genuinely great vegetarian food (we were staying there).
- Gelato by Massimo — always a crazy queue; we had gelato here twice, which explains the queue.
- Little Mars — solid variety of vegetarian Indonesian; the Nasi Goreng and Mie Goreng were really good.
- Jalapeño — a busy Tex-Mex spot with decent veg options. Good, not life-changing.
- Ganesha Ek Sanskriti — one of the best Indian vegetarian restaurants in Bali. The chole chaat here was better than some I’ve had in India.
Vegetarian restaurants in Nusa Penida
Plenty of vegetarian-friendly spots here too — handy if you’re doing the 2-day Nusa Penida itinerary.
- Sunny Café — good vegetarian options.
- Organica Fresh and Tasty Food — some of the yummiest food on the island, a bit pricey; we ate here three times.
- Indian Food Chhoti Wala — limited Indian options on the island, but this one does the job.
Vegetarian restaurants in Munduk
Munduk is where I struggled most — fewer options and everything’s remote.
- The Botanist — AMAZING, and a must after a day chasing waterfalls in Munduk. The cutest doggo came and sat beside me while we ate, and it genuinely made my day.
- The Winaposa (our hotel) — we ended up eating here both nights. It’s better known for its non-veg, the vegetarian food is just okay, but the desserts are great.
Tips for eating vegetarian in Bali (and the phrases that saved me)
- “Vegetarian” can include egg. Always confirm — even when the menu literally says vegetarian.
- Learn one phrase: in a warung, say “saya vegetarian” (“I am vegetarian”). Add “tidak pakai telur, tidak pakai ikan” (“no egg, no fish”) and you’re golden.
- Skip the crackers unless confirmed — they’re often shrimp or egg.
- Supermarkets are your friend — local breads and muffins make easy grab-and-go breakfasts.
- Use Happy Cow and Google Maps to find vegetarian restaurants; the reviews are reliable.
- Food delivery exists — Grab and Gojek both deliver, lifesaving on a lazy or rainy day.
- Warungs are cheapest (Bali’s version of street-food eateries), but the vegetarian selection can be limited, so manage expectations.
