The choices in Bali are many, but it's rare to find authentic Balinese or Indonesian food on a menu for foreigners; for that, you'll have to go to a warung, a local cafe, and many visitors are dissuaded by the typical warung's appearance (some are pretty grungy). If you're not put off by a bit of grime, a la an old greasy spoon in the U.S., the food at warungs is authentic, delicious, and cheap. Most visitors, however, surrender to the call of high-quality international dining options, which are affordable and varied, with great options for vegetarians.
Indonesian dishes that you are most likely to encounter include nasi goreng (fried rice, usually topped with an egg), mie goreng (fried noodles), nasi campur (a plate of boiled rice with sides of meat and veggies and a house specialty), ayam goreng (fried chicken), gado gado (salad with peanut sauce, served hot or cold), and satay (small chunks of meat on skewers served with peanut sauce). Padang food (sold in little cafes called rumah makan) is spicy tidbits of fried fish, chicken, or veggies on a buffet; you pick what you want. A truly authentic Balinese dish found in roadside cafes is babi guling, delicious roast suckling pork prepared with spices over a spit. Just look for the ubiquitous signs with a picture of a pig. A good website with details on Bali dining can be found at www.balieats.com.
