Bali Food Diary: 5 Restaurants Perfect for Chinese Taste Buds
Setting Off: A Culinary Journey from Early Morning
Boarding in Guangzhou at dawn on a direct flight with TransNusa Airlines, five hours later you land not on a food desert but a tropical paradise for foodies – Bali.
Beyond stunning beaches and lush rice terraces, there are plenty of restaurants where Chinese travellers can find that familiar sense of comfort.
1. Lao Da Zhong Restaurant
📍 Jl. Pantai Kuta, Kuta area
A long-standing local favourite run by ethnic Chinese, many Chinese visitors make this their first meal stop in Bali. Their tweaked rendang is less fiery but richer in aroma and tenderness. Paired with a bowl of plain congee, it’s especially soothing when your stomach hasn’t quite adjusted to tropical spices right after landing.
🔺 Bonus: The waitstaff speak Chinese and are happy to adjust the spiciness to your taste.
2. Jimbaran Bay BBQ
📍 Jimbaran Beach
How could you visit Bali and miss a beachside barbecue? Countless stalls line the shore. Order a garlic-steamed lobster, add some grilled squid and stir-fried water spinach, and feast as the sun dips below the horizon – pure bliss.
🦐 Tip: It gets crowded at peak hours, so arrive before dusk. Take your time picking seafood while soaking in the sunset.
3. Bamboo Restaurant
📍 Jl. Kayu Aya, Seminyak area
This fusion restaurant has an understated elegance. The signature coconut curry crab is a hit: a richly aromatic sauce that’s deep in flavour without being cloyingly salty, perfect with rice or for dipping bread. Ideal for those who love bold tastes but appreciate subtlety.
🌿 Ambience bonus: Surrounded by lush greenery, it’s a cool escape from the tropical heat – a spot where you can eat and snap photos in comfort.
4. Cafe Lotus
📍 Next to Ubud Palace
Dining beside a lotus pond at dusk – what’s that like? This iconic Ubud restaurant has won over countless Chinese visitors with its toned-down version of bebek betutu (Balinese smoked duck). The spices are mellowed just right, so even friends who usually shy away from lemongrass found it surprisingly palatable.
🌺 Best timing: Evening is most magical. When the lanterns are lit, Ubud’s night turns as romantic as a painting.
5. Sichuan Hotpot (Seminyak)
📍 Seminyak Square
After days of nasi lemak and satay, if you suddenly crave fiery broth, tofu skin, and glass noodles – this hotpot spot will have you humming with nostalgia. The broth packs serious heat, the dipping sauce selection is solid, and the ingredients are fresh. It feels just like a branch straight out of Chengdu.
🔸 Popular restaurants – book ahead, especially on holidays or for dinner.
💰 Carry some cash. While digital payments are widely accepted, small stalls and night markets mostly still rely on cash.
🌶 Not into spicy food? Just say “Tidak pedas” (not spicy) – the staff will understand.
✈️ Fly direct from Guangzhou to Bali with TransNusa Airlines, arriving easily in Denpasar. Generous baggage allowance means you can bring those food souvenirs home without hassle.
The biggest worry when travelling is not finding something you enjoy eating, but Bali brims with pleasant surprises – a gentle bridge between tropical flavours and a Chinese palate. From a bowl of congee to a plate of curry, all the way to a bubbling spicy hotpot, every bite made me fall for this island a little more.
If you also end up on that early-morning flight from Guangzhou, tuck this food list away. Let your Bali trip be deliciously comfortable and happy from the very first mouthful.
