Where to Eat the Best Indonesian Food in Canggu

While Canggu is known for having some of the best international cuisine on the island, you'd be missing out if you didn't make the most of the local food scene too.

From traditional warungs serving authentic Balinese dishes to modern fusion restaurants, there are plenty of cheap and cheerful places in Canggu to try delicious Indonesian food.

We love eating local food in Canggu and have made our way around all of the area's warungs and restaurants over the last few years. Here are a selection of our favourites.

1. Warung Local

Best for: first-timers and a great Nasi Goreng.

If it's your first time trying Indonesian food in Canggu, Warung Local is a great starting point. The popular spot is a modern take on a traditional warung, with a counter filled with local dishes you can choose from.

Unlike other warungs, all dishes are clearly labeled in English, with notes on whether they're vegan, gluten-free, or spicy. There are also clear instructions on how to order, making it easy for first-timers in Bali.

In addition to the counter food, you can order freshly cooked dishes like Nasi Goreng (fried rice) and Mie Goreng (fried noodles). We love Local's Nasi Goreng, served with chicken satay and garlic crackers. They also accept card payments, which isn't always the case at warungs.

Warung Local now has two locations in Canggu, one on central Batu Bolong (the busiest) and a newer location overlooking the rice terraces in Pererenan.

2. Warung Sika

Best for: an authentic local experience.

Warung Sika is a more rustic and traditional warung in Canggu and a firm favourite among the area's local expat community. No matter when we visit, it's always packed. That's how you know it's good.

The counter is filled with authentic local dishes, from steamed veggies to curries, stews, and delicious fried chicken (my fave). But there are no signs, and it’s often too busy to ask about each dish, so you’ll have to guess—it's part of the fun!

Once you've selected your dishes you'll be given a price card and you can pay after you've eaten. Portions are huge, and a plateful rarely costs us more than 50,000 IDR.

The warung has large communal tables where you can meet other travellers. It’s always busy, so you have to be quick to nab a seat. Don’t worry about the long lines—they move fast!

3. Casa Tua

Best for: a sit-down evening meal.

Casa Tua is an upmarket Indonesian restaurant in Canggu. Recognisable by the blue camper van out front, it offers a relaxed dining experience with table service.

There's an à la carte menu of classic Balinese and Indonesian dishes, including beef rendang, chicken satay, bebek batutu (duck), and soto ayam (noodle soup). They also have one of the best local dessert menus in Canggu, with favourites like klepon (sweet rice cakes) and pisang goreng (fried banana).

The restaurant has a rather eclectic decor, with many quirky antiques and unusual knickknacks. Watch out for the creepy human-sized statues in the bathroom and don't miss the little rabbits hopping around — yes, real-life bunnies, we have no idea why but they're super cute!

While prices are higher than a warung, Casa Tua is still more affordable than most Western restaurants in the area.

4. Happy Rendang

Best for: succulent pork rendang.

Rendang is a slow-cooked aromatic dry-curry originally from West Sumatra but popular all across Indonesia. It’s one of our all-time favourite Indonesian dishes, so of course we had to find a good one in Canggu.

Happy Rendang is a small local restaurant in northern Canggu that specialises in pork rendang, a variation on the traditional beef dish to make it more accessible to Bali's Hindu population. The curried pork here is beautifully succulent and just melts in your mouth. We love the unique blend of savoury, sweet, and spicy flavours.

You can try anything from traditional rendang with rice to more creative dishes such as rendang tacos, burritos, ramen, and omelette. The rustic little restaurant also serves pork belly, pork ribs, satay, and chicken wings.

5. Sate House Senayan

Best for: Indonesian sate (meat on a stick).

Sate House Senayan is another of our favourite Indonesian restaurants in Canggu. The huge space at the end of Batu Bolong specialises in sate, which are small pieces of seasoned meat, seafood, or vegetables skewered on sticks and grilled over charcoal.

You can pick from loads of different types of sate from the different regions of Indonesia, including Bali, Java, and Sumatra. We tried the Balinese Sate Lilit (minced chicken) and Javanese Sate Sapi (sweet beef), and we will definitely be coming back for more!

We also got some delicious Indonesian side dishes, including the Rendang Kentang (spicy potatoes - a must order!) and Pecel (mixed veggies). Sate House is a great spot for an upmarket yet authentic Indonesian feast in Canggu. Visit on a Saturday night for their traditional dance show.

6. Bakso Iga Canggu

Best for: Indonesian chicken meatball soup.

Bakso IGA Canggu is a hidden gem overlooking the rice fields in northern Canggu that specialises in soto bakso, a simple Indonesian meatball soup with roots in Chinese cuisine.

The dish features fluffy chicken meatballs (or other meat) served in beef broth with rice noodles, tofu, simple greens, and steamed dumplings or wontons.

Bakso is one of the most popular local street foods among locals in Bali. It’s often served from small carts towed around the streets by bicycle or motorbike.

However, if you’re a foreigner who's new to Bali and wants to try bakso, it's best to avoid the street carts (Bali belly risk!). We found this a much more foreigner-friendly place to try bakso.

7. Warung Bu Mi

Best for: Indonesian curries.

Warung Bu Mi is another popular local warung on Canggu's central Batu Bolong and one of our favourites for a cheap and convenient local meal.

There's usually a great selection of dishes in the counter, with names and prices for each dish. While everything is delicious, the curry is a must-try! It's the main thing we come here for. Although it's best not to arrive too late, as they can run out of the best food fairly early in the night.

Warung Bu Mi has recently started taking card payments as well as cash.

8. Warung Varuna

Best for: a wide selection of counter dishes.

Warung Varuna sits just a few minutes walk from Batu Bolong beach and was our local for a long time. In our opinion, it has one of the best counter selections of any warung in Canggu. There's always so much variety to pick from!

The honey chicken, spicy fried tempeh, and veggie fritters are some of our favourite dishes here, but there's plenty more on offer. There's also a small à la carte menu of local dishes like Nasi Goreng, which are always quick to arrive.

There's plenty of seating downstairs, but we prefer eating on the upper terrace, which many people miss, so it's usually quieter. Varuna also recently opened a small coffee and gelato stall in front, so you can grab dessert on your way back to the beach after a tasty local lunch.

9. Oma Jamu (Vegan Warung)

Best for: vegans and vegetarians.

While most warungs in Canggu a good number of vegetarian and vegan options, a couple of totally vegan warungs have popped up in the area, including Oma Jamu.

The rustic spot has a small warung-style counter with all vegan dishes. Expect fried tempeh, tofu curries, and fresh veggies in aromatic sauces. Even as non-vegans ourselves, we really enjoyed the food here.

Oma Jamu also has a bakery with tasty vegan cakes and pastries, as well as a small on-site grocery store selling fresh fruits, veggies, and vegan products, including their famous detox juices, local jamu, kombucha, and kefir drinks.

10. Tiga Canggu (III)

Best for: fussy or health-conscious eaters.

Tiga is a rather unique spot in Canggu that serves both Indonesian and international dishes in a warung-style setting. It's ideal for fussy eaters who want a more local experience.

The large restaurant has several buffet-style counters with a mix of cuisines. Dishes change regularly, but you'll find everything from Balinese curry and mixed veggies to lasagna, pasta bakes, casseroles, potato gratin, empanadas, and huge piled-high salads - plus loads more.

The food at Tiga tends to be fresher and healthier than normal local warungs, making it popular among Canggu's health-conscious and fitness crowd. You can also order grilled meats and fish that are cooked fresh and added to your order.

Tiga is slightly more expensive than other local spots, but if you visit between 10-11pm (just before closing), all of the counter food is 50% off. There's loads of seating so you'll never struggle for somewhere to sit.