PHOTO: The raw vegan dishes at Taksu are beautiful and delicious in equal measure. (photos by Shannon Wolf)
Without realizing it, after two weeks in Ubud, I managed to compile an extensive list of the best restaurants, warungs and street stalls.
Eating out is not within my budget, but the thing is, you can eat like a king in this Bali town for little to nothing. And the best part? It's ACTUALLY good for you! I had no idea just how incredible the food was here, both in quality and for your wallet.
In almost a year of travel, I can honestly say that Ubud has provided the best food I've eaten on my journey thus far. Do yourself a favor and check these amazing places out!
Cheapest Eats: Visit the Ubud Market downstairs from the shopping district and learn to bargain for fresh fruit and vegetables. Watermelon, mangos, papaya, bananas and snake fruit are some of the cheapest! I was spending $1 a day for my meals here!
READ MORE: Mixing Southeast Asian Food and Travel
Top Budget Warungs:
• For the best experience and freshest food, go at lunch only.
BUFFET-STYLE: PAY-PER-SCOOP
• Warung 9: THE BEST budget vegan/vegetarian-style buffet I have ever been to, with a million options to choose from. (A gigantic plate for no more than $2!)
• Warung Ijo: Spicy, traditional Indonesian food - a favorite haunt for locals, but I wasn't overly convinced.
RESTAURANT STYLE WARUNGS
• Warung Pojok: THE BEST gado-gado you'll eat in Indonesia. (Gado-gado is a banana leaf with vegetables, tofu, tempeh and rice in a peanut sauce.)
• Warung Mendan Nasir: Small menu but quality food for the price:
Tofu curry ($1.50), rice (50 cents)
Warung Bia-Bia: Great curry soup ($1.80)
PHOTO: This gado-gado from Warung Pojok is as good as it looks and gets "best in Bali" honors!
Best Street Food:
The best street food can be found on Cokorda Gde Rai Road just off of the main road in Ubud.
• Nasi Lawar Bali: Babi Kecap (For meat eaters, you will never want to eat anywhere else. It's all pork.)
• Kuliner Desa Peliatan (The BEST banana-leaf wrapped coconut fish in Ubud for 80 cents. Other street vendors serve a delicious deep-fried banana, tofu or chicken for 50 cents each.)
READ MORE: Social Etiquette in Southeast Asia: Do's and Don'ts on the Banana Pancake Trail
Expensive Restaurants (but worth it!)
• Fresh Restaurant @ Taksu (Top quality organic, healthy and raw vegan. Beautifully presented and tastes as good as it looks.)
• Buda Bowl (Superb vegan dishes - large portions, healthy, organic and worth the $5.)
PHOTO: Warung 9 is the best bang for your buck - you'll never pay more than $2 for an incredible, filling and delicious meal!
Overrated Restaurants:
• KAFE and Yoga Barn Cafe (As it turns out, the owners of Yoga Barn also own both establishments. I have tried both with high expectations and was incredibly disappointed in how bland every meal was and the extremely high prices ($8 and up for a salad). However, the beetroot juice is wonderful!)
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