Bali knows how to BBQ!
Although it may seem like a modern introduction to the island, the Balinese have been grilling and BBQ’ing meats for centuries! Suckling pig, babi guling, plays a big part in the island’s cuisine – especially during ceremonies. You’ll also find street style ribs and grilled chicken, ayam bakar, in local warungs.
There’s a whole lot of variation of BBQ restaurants in Bali, from the more down-to-earth, local venues to polished eateries that import extravagant meats and wines to make your dining experience all the more special.
Without further ado, here are some of the best joints to start your BBQ quest in Bali – check them out!
10 Finger Licking Good BBQ Restaurants in Bali
From world-famous spots and those mentioned in guide books, all the way to much-adored warungs, there’s a wide selection of BBQ restaurants in Bali.
Dotted across the island, you’ll find everything from Balinese-style eats to Brazilian-inspired BBQ joints.
Despite its name, The Grumpy Butcher is a seriously friendly spot for an incredible BBQ feast.
With a range of BBQ dishes cooked to perfection, this is definitely one for all the BBQ lovers out there. Coffee wood-smoked beef brisket, anyone? Maybe some house-made sausages? Or ribs so soft and succulent the meat falls right off the bone?
It has a chic, modern decor with a polished concrete terrace and tables scattered across a grassy lawn – the setting is cool and contemporary.
Relax and unwind with a drink while you wait for your food, then devour the delicious feast. You won’t regret it if the Grumpy Butcher is your one BBQ stop while in Bali – it’s quickly become my favourite restaurant in Seminyak.
Not only is Naughty Nuri’s one of the best BBQ restaurants in Bali, but it’s also one of the island’s most famous (and one of my favourite spots, too).
Now with a clutch of spots across Bali, the one to head to is Ubud.
Constantly featured in a whole range of media as Bali’s best place to eat, even legendary chef Anthony Bourdain proclaimed its dirty martinis as the best in the world.
Growing from a humble warung, Naughty Nuri’s still feels amazingly authentic. The ribs here are truly out of this world.
Not only is the BBQ sauce outstanding, their range of sides and fresh meats will make your mouth drool right over the menu.
Warung D'Atas
Another Ubud restaurant to try, Warung D’Atas is a down-to-earth Balinese BBQ restaurant that serves hungry diners put together menu of succulent and tender pork ribs.
Seriously: each bite has been perfectly seasoned and absolutely bursts with flavour.
To complement the amazing food, the staff create a welcoming atmosphere where you can enjoy these homey eats overlooking lush rice paddy fields.
I would definitely say Warung D’Atas is a must-visit for anybody visiting Bali who is craving BBQ pork ribs.
It may not be as reclaimed as Naughty Nuri’s, but it is still up there regardless!
One of my favourite things about Sang Ria Grill is the setup.
You can dine on BBQ delights in a garden patio seating area, surrounded by lush tropical greenery and lit up with funky lighting.
It makes your dining experience feel both relaxed, and like an anticipated event!
Sang Ria Grill is a Bali BBQ restaurant that gets a particular nod for its baby back pork ribs – a speciality of the chef and owner.
But there’s more to it than that. The menu caters to different tastes, with options for vegetarians and kids. Because of that, I think it’s an awesome spot to go with a group of friends or your family – there’s something for everyone!
Batubara
The clue is in the name: Batubara is all about the wood fire.
Turn up, peruse the hunger-inducing menu of Mediterranean-influenced dishes, and leave extremely satisfied.
Of course, high-quality meat takes centre stage at this BBQ restaurant in Bali. It’s all expertly cared for and tended to as it’s cooked over an open fire.
You can expect a whole smorgasbord of meaty offerings from Australian wagyu and Argentinian beef to tenderloin from Bali itself. There’s even halal wagyu on offer!
The meat is cooked table side, the ambience is elegant, and the wine list is pretty amazing, too.
Liap Liap
Billing itself as a “modern Indonesian grill”, Liap Liap serves up regional cuisine from across the Indonesian archipelago, with a focus on grilled delights.
Located close to Monkey Forest in Ubud, it is an ideal stop off after having explored the forest and need some sustenance,
It’s not just convenience that makes Liap Liap so good. You’ll find that everything is cooked to perfection on their well-seasoned grill, including smoked octopus, bamboo chicken, tamarind prawns and a whole lot of satay.
Price wise, it’s more than the average warung costs, but it’s a small price to pay to tantalise your tastebuds.
Hog Wild with Chef Bruno
Soft, smokey and eminently tasty, the ribs served at Hog Wild draw in hungry diners from far and wide.
Claims that they serve the best pork ribs on the island aren’t necessarily unfounded (they’re really good). The meat literally falls off the bone and is slathered with a BBQ sauce that is both sweet and tangy.
The sides are incredible, too. Things like sweet potato fries pair perfectly with the juicy meat of the ribs.
All in all, it’s very satisfying and pretty great value for the taste and portions. For me, the crispy skin pork belly served on fresh green mango salad is the winner. But then there’s also a tender pork belly roll, also with a crispy skin. Unreal.
You’ll find Cupit BBQ in a down-to-earth location in Ubud, a pilgrimage for those looking for the best BBQ restaurant in Bali.
Inside it’s homely and clearly much loved, though not exactly the most chic place. But who cares when the food’s this good?
Everything that’s cooked at Cupit is imbued with the smoke from the wood fire, the pork ribs, in particular, being the star of the show.
Don’t pass on the chicken wings if you’re a fan, as they’re a definite plus point. In fact, all of the chicken at Cupit BBQ is incredibly tasty.
Warung Pondok Madu
Warung Pondok Madu works hard to prepare some of the best BBQ pork ribs in Bali. I’m definitely on board with that statement.
The ribs are delectable. The ingredients have been carefully considered to ensure the highest quality going, with pork sourced from local farms.
The meat takes around 10 hours to process, cooking it slow over a wood fire to produce soft, tender pork that truly is a melt-in-the-mouth experience. My go-to is the pulled pork sandwich, which is chock-full of BBQ flavour. For a taste of everything (or if you can’t choose), opt for the BBQ platter.
Brazilian Aussie BBQ
There’s a fusion going on at Brazilian Aussie BBQ, bringing together traditions of Brazilian churrascaria (roughly meaning barbecue) and Australian grill cooking for a meat feast with a difference.
The Brazilian chefs create a flavour-filled BBQ bonanza for hungry souls, with three locations in Bali. You’ll never be too far away from the good stuff.
The Seminyak location of this mini Bali BBQ restaurant chain is a colourful venue for chowing down on a delicious meal. The menu may seem bamboozling, with a whole lot of different options, but ask for recommendations and you’ll be greeted by friendly staff who’ll help you out.
A selection of meats will be served throughout the restaurant, carved right at your table to your plate. As long as your green card is showing, more meat will show up! Sounds irresistible to me.
Smoke is a restaurant in Canggu that will quickly become your go-to spot for every BBQ craving and special occasion.
Set in a beautiful garden with a tent style setup, you can bask in the smells of the BBQ grill cooking up some of the best BBQ flavours on the island.
For one of their decadent Sunday roasts or an impressive burger for lunch, everything on the menu at Smoke will have your dribbling down your shirt.
Final Thoughts
There’s nothing quite like the smell of BBQ to really entice your senses and lead you into some amazing restaurants.
Whether its barbecue in the sense of grilled meat (think satay and fresh-caught fish), or BBQ in terms of slow-cooked pork marinated in an alchemical concoction of herbs and spices, you’ll find some awesome BBQ restaurants in Bali.
Though it’s super famous, Naughty Nuri’s isn’t resting on its laurels. This legendary Balinese BBQ restaurant is still as good as it ever was, serving up what might at least be my favourite ribs on the island. For a pulled pork sandwich that’s pretty much a transformative experience, however, I’d definitely recommend Warung Pondok Madu. Hog Wild is also all sorts of amazing.
And although BBQ is all about pork, don’t forget about the chicken; you’ll find some awesomely juicy, tender chicken on offer at Cupit BBQ. Whatever you go for, you won’t be disappointed!
Featured image: Hog Wild with Chef Bruno
