What To Avoid Eating In Bali

This guide lists 15 food types you should avoid in Bali. These food items could lead to Bali Belly, food poisoning, or stomach infections that can hit within hours and ruin your holiday.

We’ve compiled this list based on real traveller experiences and local food safety concerns. You can follow this guide to enjoy Bali’s food scene without the risk of foodborne illness.

1. Food Prepared With Tap Water

Bali’s tap water isn’t safe to drink. It’s not purified like in many Western countries. That means anything made with it — soups, ice, juices, and sauces — can carry disease-causing bacteria. 

How To Stay Safe? 

• Stick to drinks without ice unless you’re sure it’s from purified water. 
• In restaurants, ask if sauces and soups use filtered water. Most reputable places do. But at small warungs or street vendors.
• Some luxury resorts use purified water, but when in doubt, ask.
• Avoid anything water-based.

2. Street Food in Unsanitary Conditions

Bali has amazing street food, but hygiene varies. Some vendors handle food with bare hands, leave it uncovered, or cook it in unclean conditions. 

How To Stay Safe? 

• Eat where you see high turnover — a busy stall means fresh food. 
• Watch how they handle ingredients. If raw meat sits too long, skip it. 
• Choose vendors who wear gloves, use clean utensils, and keep food covered. 
• If in doubt, go for something cooked fresh in front of you.

3. Buffet or Pre-Cooked Food Left at Room Temperature

Buffets and pre-cooked meals can be risky in Bali’s hot and humid climate. Food that sits too long in warm temperatures becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.

How To Stay Safe? 

• Stick to places where food is kept hot or chilled properly. 
• Avoid buffets that look like the food has been sitting for hours. 
• If a dish looks dry, oily, or stale, it’s best to skip it. 
• When in doubt, choose freshly cooked meals instead.

4. Cold Food That Should Be Hot

If a dish is supposed to be hot but arrives lukewarm or cold, it’s a red flag. Food that cools to room temperature sits in the danger zone. They create the perfect environment for bacteria to grow, increasing the risk of food poisoning.

How To Stay Safe? 

• Only eat hot meals that are served steaming or freshly cooked. 
• If a dish isn’t hot when it should be, return it or avoid it. This is especially important for rice, meats, soups, and stews.

5. Uncooked or Unwashed Fruits & Vegetables

Fresh fruits and vegetables may look tempting. But they’re often washed in tap water, which isn’t safe to drink. This can leave bacteria, parasites, or pesticide residue on the surface. 

How To Stay Safe? 

• Stick to fruits you can peel yourself, like bananas, mangoes, and papayas. 
• When in doubt, wash produce with bottled water or avoid it altogether.

6. Pre-Cut or Pre-Packaged Fruits From Vendors

Pre-cut fruits might look refreshing. But you don’t know how long they’ve been sitting out or what water was used to wash them. If they’re exposed to air, dust, and flies, they can carry bacteria or parasites that cause stomach issues.

How To Stay Safe? 

• Buy whole fruits and peel them yourself. 
• If you must buy pre-cut fruit, get it from a busy vendor who prepares it fresh in front of you. 
• Avoid anything that looks dry, discoloured, or has too much moisture collecting in the packaging.

7. Unpeeled Fruits

Fruits with thin, edible skin — like apples, grapes, or plums — might be washed in tap water, which can leave bacteria or pesticide residue on the surface. 

How To Stay Safe? 

• Choose fruits with thick peels like bananas, oranges, and mangosteens. 
• If you want to eat unpeeled fruit, wash it thoroughly with bottled or filtered water before eating. 
• When in doubt, peel it or skip it.

8. Raw Salads

Salads may seem a healthy choice. But in Bali, they’re often washed with tap water, which isn’t safe to drink. Leafy greens and raw vegetables absorb water, making it difficult to remove bacteria and parasites.

How To Stay Safe? 

• Only eat salads at a high-end restaurant or highly rated establishment that uses filtered or bottled water for washing. 
• If you’re unsure, stick to cooked vegetables instead. 
• When in doubt, avoid raw greens altogether.

9. Unpasteurised Dairy Products

Milk, cheese, and yoghurt that haven’t been pasteurised can contain harmful bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, or Listeria. In Bali’s heat, dairy also spoils quickly, increasing the risk of food poisoning.

How To Stay Safe? 

• Stick to branded, store-bought dairy with proper labelling. 
• If you’re unsure whether the milk or cheese is pasteurised, ask or avoid it. 
• When in doubt, choose plant-based alternatives like coconut or almond milk.

10. Dishes With Excessive Spice or Fermentation

Balinese food is packed with bold flavours, but if you’re not used to spicy or fermented dishes, they can upset your stomach. Chilli-heavy dishes may trigger acid reflux or digestive issues. Fermented foods like tempeh or sambal-based sauces can cause bloating or discomfort.

How To Stay Safe? 

• If you have a sensitive stomach, start with milder dishes and build tolerance. 
• Ask for less spice when ordering. 
• For fermented foods, try small portions first to see how your body reacts. 
• When in doubt, opt for lightly seasoned dishes.

11. Raw or Undercooked Meat

Meat that isn’t fully cooked can carry bacteria, parasites, or viruses, increasing the risk of food poisoning, tapeworms, or other infections. In Bali’s warm climate, improper storage or handling can make raw meat even riskier.

How To Stay Safe? 

• Stick to well-cooked meats with no pink inside. 
• Avoid rare or medium-rare dishes, especially from street vendors or small warungs. 
• If ordering a steak, choose a reputable restaurant that follows proper food safety standards. 
• When in doubt, go for fully cooked meals.

12. Seafood or Meat From Unknown or Questionable Sources

Not all seafood and meat in Bali are fresh or safely sourced. Some vendors store them without proper refrigeration. Others sell low-quality or expired products. Spoiled seafood can even cause serious conditions like ciguatera poisoning.

How To Stay Safe? 

• Choose busy restaurants that serve high-turnover seafood and meat. 
• Avoid places where raw meat or fish smells bad, looks slimy, or has a dull colour. 
• If you’re unsure about freshness, order vegetarian or well-cooked options instead.

13. Exotic Meats (Bat, Turtle, Dog Meat)

Some local warungs serve bat, turtle, or dog meat, but these come with serious health risks and can be ethically questionable. Bats can carry viruses, turtles may contain toxins and dog meat is often sourced under questionable conditions raising ethical concerns.

How To Stay Safe? 

• Avoid unfamiliar meats unless you’re sure of their source. 
• If a dish isn’t clearly labelled, ask what’s in it before ordering. 
• When in doubt, stick to common meats like chicken, beef, or fish.

14. Dishes You’re Unfamiliar With

Not every dish in Bali is what it seems. Some meals contain unexpected ingredients like exotic meats, fermented elements, or strong local spices that might not sit well with you. If you have dietary restrictions or allergies, unfamiliar dishes can be risky.

How To Stay Safe? 

• Always ask about the ingredients before ordering. 
• If something looks or smells off, trust your instincts and skip it.

When in doubt, start with well-known dishes from reputable restaurants, even if the restaurant costs more.

15. Food With Endangered or Unethical Ingredients

Some dishes in Bali like shark fin soup, turtle satay, or rare seafood may unknowingly contain ingredients that harm the environment or come from unethical sources. When you consume these meals, you support illegal wildlife trade and overfishing.

How To Stay Safe? 

• If a menu item seems questionable, ask about the ingredients. 
• Stick to sustainably sourced seafood and ethical dining choices.

FAQs

1. What is Bali Belly, and how does food contribute?

Bali Belly is a traveller’s diarrhoea. Many tourists in Bali get this disease, but it can happen anywhere. It’s usually caused by bacteria or parasites in food or water. Eating contaminated street food, unwashed produce, or food prepared with tap water can trigger it. Symptoms include stomach cramps, nausea, dizziness, fever, and chills.

2. How do I know if a restaurant in Bali follows food safety standards?

Look for cleanliness, high customer turnover, and proper food handling. Read the restaurant’s online reviews. Avoid places where:

• Food is out for a long time.
• The utensils look dirty.
• Raw and cooked food are handled together. 

It’s generally safer to eat at reputable restaurants and busy warungs.

3. Can I eat at local warungs or should I stick to tourist restaurants?

You can eat at warungs, but choose wisely. Go for places that look clean and busy. Avoid:

• Warungs with flies hovering over food.
• Raw meat stored in unrefrigerated or visibly dirty conditions.

4. Are certain types of cuisine riskier to eat in Bali?

Yes. Buffets, raw seafood, and dairy-based dishes can be riskier in Bali’s heat. Spicy or fermented dishes may upset sensitive stomachs if you’re not used to them. Stick to freshly cooked, hot meals.

5. What are some signs that food has gone bad or isn’t safe to eat?

You must avoid food that:

• Smells sour, rotten, or overly fishy. 
• Looks discoloured, slimy, or has an odd texture.
• Served cold but should be hot.
• Has been sitting out too long.