If you're heading to Bali for the first time, there’s one word you’ll probably see everywhere: warung. But don’t worry if you’ve never heard of it. By the end of this post, you’ll not only know what it is, but you’ll probably want to eat at one every day.
So, What's a Warung?
A warung (pronounced like wah-roong) is a store or a shop. Although they mostly serves food, there are some warung that you can buy some groceries or everyday item. In this blog post, we're mainly focusing on warung makan which is a place that serves food, the size of the place is typically small, sort of like your neighborhood local diner, except much smaller in scale and seating areas are very limited. You’ll find them all over Bali, and they usually serve homemade food that’s cheap, tasty, and super local. It's where the locals eat!
Why You Should 100% Eat at a Warung
Here’s why warungs should be on your Bali bucket list:
- Real local food. These aren’t tourist traps, they’re the real deal.
- Super affordable. We’re talking full meals for a few dollars or euros.
- Casual vibes. You’ll see people from all walks of life casually dining and there's no dress code.
What to Try (Even If You Don’t Know What It Is)
You find yourself in a warung wanting to try some local food but you don't know how to order. Sometimes there's no menu, and even if there is one, its in the local language and you are not sure what to order. The easy part about this is most of the food served in Warung are normally displayed up front, so you'll able to kind of point and order. For some warung, the offerings are limited and they probably serve just one dish, which most likely a dish called "Nasi Campur" which is pretty much a bit of everything on one plate. You get rice, veggies, meat, tofu and sambal (Bali's spicy chili sauce).
Handy Local Phrases
Since you'll find mostly locals in warungs, they may not be able to speak other languages very well. You don’t need to speak Bahasa Indonesia, but tossing out a few words always gets a smile:
- "Porsi Satu" - One portion of food or whatever you ordered
- "Es Jeruk" - Iced Orange Drink
- "Es Teh" - Iced Tea (Indonesia's Most Popular Drink)
- "Es Teh Tawar - Iced Tea with No Sugar
- “Terima kasih” - Thank you
- “Enak!" - Delicious!
- “Harga berapa?” – How much is the price?
How to Spot a Good Warung
Not all warungs are created equal, so here are a few quick tips:
- Follow the locals. If it’s packed, that’s a great sign.
- Check reviews on Google maps if you could find the warung name. A lot of times, other visitors have tasted and left some reviews on the food. Or better yet, explore our Bali Directory and check out some top rated warungs near you!
- Ask locals, especially the ones that work at the hotel you're staying on where to find good local food, they are more than happy to introduce you to their favourite warung.
Final Thoughts
Warungs are more than just a cheap meal, they’re a chance to get a taste of real Bali. Skip the fancy cafés (at least once) and go where the locals go. You might just find your new favorite dish and a story to go with it. Don't forget to bring cash!
