Lombok Indonesia – Best Places to Eat and Dishes to Try
Funnily enough, the word Lombok actual directly translates to chilli pepper in Bahasa Indonesian and while this conjures up delicious, flavoursome images, in actuality the name holds no connotation to the spicy food. This arbitrary fact aside, the cuisine in Lombok is tasty; full of flavours, herbs and spices; and the island is filled with many scrumptious and traditional local dishes that all travellers should attempt sampling.
local specialties
Lombok boasts many local specialities and it can be rather daunting to try and work your way through the list of must-try meals, but try we must!
Ayam taliwang is probably the most popular dish in Lombok and it is sold everywhere from smoky food-stalls on the side of uneven alleyways all the way to fine-dining restaurants. Ayam taliwang is essentially grilled chicken that is covered in a rich, red sauce that consists of tomato, turmeric, and galangal (an earthy ingredient similar to ginger).
Another unmissable Lombok staple is piecing kangkung which is a spicy, vegetarian-friendly dish that was actually one of our favourite meals in all of Indonesia. The dish is made with spinach, bean sprouts, green beans, grated coconut and served with a generous dollop of chilli sauce.
Other fantastic veggie options in Lombok are kelor (hot vegetable soup), timun urap (a side salad made of garlic, coconut and onion) and ares (young banana stems cooked with sweet and savoury spices and cooked with coconut milk).
Another one of our top eats in Lombok, and a big hit with backpackers on a budget, is a big bowl of steaming nasi campur (fried rice). Usually made up of various vegetables, peanuts, bean sprouts and either tofu, chicken, beef or fish; this dish is a scrumptious and nutritious meal to fill up a hungry traveller’s tummy.
For those who enjoy spicy food, be sure to make a beeline for any dish that has sambal added to it. Sambal is Lombok’s universal condiment and is a red, spicy paste made up of ground red chilli peppers. Satay (essentially a meat or fish kebab) of every kind is also a popular on-the-go snack here in Lombok and makes for an easy cure to grumbling stomachs when out and about.
The price of food
The price of food throughout Lombok varies quite a bit depending on the location that you’re travelling through, with the more popular tourist hotspots such as Gili Islands naturally having the highest prices. The more touristy spots will also serve more variety in terms of international cuisine such as pizza, burgers, pasta, pancakes and steak but for travellers seeking traditional, local grub head to one of Lombok’s many many warungs (small local eateries). Warungs in Lombok are very well priced and offer meals that are hearty, nutritious and wonderfully inexpensive.
Cheap eats & markets
Many would agree that a true and authentically local culinary experience while in a foreign country is one of the best souvenirs you can take home with you. And while the local warungs will no doubt give you a wonderful sense of the culture, an even more genuine food experience can be found at the local street food markets or by paying a visit to a traditional rumah makan café.
Everything from seafood mee goreng (seafood fried noodles), satays, curries, es kacang (a shaved ice desert with an assortment of sweet toppings), dodol (fruity candy made from palm sugar), and nasi campur can be easily sourced from a street food market in Lombok. Travellers will not only be able to save a lot of rupiah by eating this way but will also be able to sneak a peek behind the curtain of Lombok’s culinary culture as they dine with the locals.
There are plenty of food stalls dotted throughout Lombok, as well as fruit stalls selling cold, fresh fruit, and travellers will have no problem finding tasty street food during their exploring of the island.
There is a wonderful food market in Ampenan which is vibrant and colourful; and there another in Pemenang, near to the Gili Islands departure points if you’re more in the north of Lombok.
For those on Gili Trawangan, the small island has a nightly food market that divers, beach-bums and backpackers flock to by the masses. This market on the southeast beach pier sells a combination of local specialities with a few international menu items thrown in for good measure. It is all on display in an open-air dining space with a few tented local cafeteria-style warungs serving up food too. From glutinous rice snacks to fiery sambal, the tastes are unforgettable and meals can cost as little as IDR 20,000.
Local restaurants
For those searching for a local restaurant or eatery to dine at, Lombok caters for all budgets and taste preferences. There are so many local warungs all over the island that your biggest problem will be all the choices offered to you and discerning foodies and those simply looking to fill their stomachs for as little rupiah as possible, will all be satisfied by Lombok’s dining options. Lombok being the large region that it is, has resulted in us breaking our top spots into the various areas so that your foodie adventure can be that much simpler.
One of our favourite local eateries on Gili Air was Warung Sunny. This spot served a combination of Indonesian as well as Asian dishes and was very very vegetarian friendly. A delicious wrap filled with fresh ingredients costs around IDR 35,000 and the fresh juices are the perfect morning pick-me-up. The service was excellent, the portions were generous and the quality and presentation superb. Warung Sunny even offers cooking courses!
Another inexpensive and wonderful local eatery in Kuta is Warung Flora, located at Jl. Pariwisata Pantai. The food is mostly local specialities such as gado-gado (a salad of boiled egg and steamed veggies), fresh snapper fish, ayam taliwang (grilled chicken), fried rice options, noodles, and cashew and veggie dishes. The warm and welcoming staff with their wide smiles is enough to make you return again and again. We really loved the fresh juices too.
Western and international food
For travellers in Kuta who are craving a bit of Western fare, head over to BZH Crepe Restaurant on Jl. Pariwisata Pantai Kuta (next door to Pipe Dream Villas) for your fill of sweet and savoury crepes. From Nutella and banana to bolognaise to smoked salmon; the options are endless and the items are very well priced.
Another spot in Kuta for those wanting international grub would be Tomato Café and Restaurant. Tomato has vegan and vegetarian options and boasts an Italian and local menu. We absolutely loved the thin-based, crispy pizza and tomato soup.
The café on Jl. Raya Mawun is lively and full a lot of the time – a testament to its delicious food, excellent service and well-priced menu.
Catering to the needs of the masses, there are many wonderful international restaurants all over the Gili Islands and our best word of advice is; if in doubt, go where it’s busiest. Divers and travellers on yoga courses generally spend a lot of time on the islands and have figured out which spots serve up the best food, follow their lead and you won’t be lead astray.
Cafés and coffee houses
Next up is cafés and coffee houses for travellers needing a spike of caffeine before tackling a day out exploring the gems of Lombok. For those wanting the perfect Instagrammable breakfast, head to Good Earth Café on Gili Air. The food is excellent, the presentation is akin to a tropical paradise and the coffee is really quite exceptional. Yogi Bar in Kuta boasts a delicious food menu and great coffee options too. This spot has lovely décor, wonderful music and excellent service and we found ourselves heading back more than a couple of times.
Bars and drinking venues
Although Lombok and the Gili Islands are known as being predominantly Muslim, the area still knows how to have a good time with a surprisingly active nightlife scene. Linger with a cocktail in an upscale bar, go bar hopping along the beach fronts, or just take it easy at one of the many rock and reggae bars in the area; the choice is yours. Naturally the islands, as with any tropical destination, are generally the most lively once the sun goes down and Lombok is no exception.
The Gili Islands are well known for their beach parties, night clubs and drinking culture, with Gili Trawangan being the more rowdy of the three. The Blue Marlin is a famous nightclub on Gili T well-known for its parties and energetic atmosphere, whereas Gili T’s Blue Beach Bar invites visitors in for a laid-back and relaxing evening listening to chilled live music and sipping an icy drink in the warm, balmy open air.
