Vegan Food in Bali: What to Eat on the Island of the Gods
Bali is one of the easiest places in the world to eat vegan. Ubud and Canggu are packed with plant-based cafés, but even away from the smoothie-bowl hotspots, a lot of traditional Indonesian food is built on rice, vegetables, tofu and tempeh, which is good news for anyone eating plants.
Naturally vegan (or easy to make vegan) dishes
Tempeh and tofu. Tempeh was born in Indonesia, and you will find it everywhere: fried, in sweet soy glaze (tempe manis), or in spicy sambal. Tofu is just as common.
Gado-gado. Steamed and raw vegetables, tofu, tempeh, potato and rice cakes covered in peanut sauce. Ask for it without egg and check the crackers (krupuk), which are sometimes made with prawn.
Nasi campur. Rice with a selection of small dishes. Many warungs offer vegetarian versions. Ask for "tanpa daging" (without meat) and "tanpa ikan" (without fish).
Sayur urab. A Balinese salad of blanched vegetables tossed with spiced grated coconut. Fresh, fragrant and often vegan.
Nasi goreng and mie goreng. Fried rice and fried noodles. Ask for them without egg ("tanpa telur") and with tofu or tempeh.
Jaja Bali. Traditional Balinese sweets made from rice flour, coconut and palm sugar. Many are naturally vegan.
What to watch out for
- Shrimp paste (terasi). A common base in sambal and many sauces. Ask "tanpa terasi".
- Fish sauce and fried shallots in animal fat – less common, but worth checking.
- Egg – often added to fried rice and noodles by default.
Useful phrases: "Saya vegan" (I am vegan), "tanpa daging, ikan, telur, susu" (without meat, fish, egg, milk).
Where to find vegan food
- Ubud – the vegan capital of Bali, with fully plant-based cafés and restaurants on almost every street.
- Canggu – trendy cafés, smoothie bowls and plant-based burgers.
- Local warungs – small family-run eateries everywhere on the island. Cheap, authentic and usually happy to adapt dishes.
Bring Bali home
You do not need a plane ticket to cook Balinese-style vegan food. Stock up on these pantry basics:
- Tempeh and firm tofu
- Kecap manis (sweet soy sauce)
- Coconut milk and grated coconut
- Lemongrass, galangal, lime leaves and fresh chillies
- Peanuts for satay and gado-gado sauce
A quick weeknight favourite: fry cubes of tempeh until golden, then toss with kecap manis, garlic, chilli and a squeeze of lime. Serve with rice and steamed greens.
The cookbook for Bali lovers
Punk Ass Vegan – Bali Restaurants is full of authentic Balinese vegan recipes inspired by the island's restaurants, so you can recreate the flavours of the Island of the Gods in your own kitchen.
Need more protein in your plant-based cooking? Tempeh lovers will also enjoy Protein Punk – 90 Ways to Save a Cow.
