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Food tours in Lombok: what to eat and which tour to book
Lombok's food is Sasak cooking, and it is hotter than most visitors expect: almost every dish arrives with sambal. The signature plates are ayam taliwang (grilled chicken coated in chilli and shrimp paste), plecing kangkung (water spinach with a fierce tomato-chilli sambal) and several local satays. The island is mostly Muslim, so food is halal by default outside a few Balinese Hindu areas and tourist restaurants. Eating is cheap and informal: warungs with plastic chairs, night markets, and roadside grills. Mataram, the capital, is where locals eat; Senggigi, Kuta (Mandalika) and the Gili Islands are where most visitors stay and where menus lean towards Western food.
Use this page to know what to order and where, with rough 2026 prices in rupiah and euros (about Rp 18,000–19,000 to €1; rates move). The tours shown are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; confirm the price and meeting point on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Lombok
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taliwang grilled chicken ayam taliwang | Young chicken grilled partway, flattened, then basted with a spicy paste of chilli, garlic and shrimp paste and grilled again. Named after Karang Taliwang in Mataram. Ask for 'tidak pedas' or 'sedang' if you want it milder, though it is never mild. | Specialist ayam taliwang restaurants in Mataram, and warungs across the island. | roughly Rp 40,000–90,000 (about €2.50–5) for a chicken with rice and sides |
| Water spinach with sambal plecing kangkung | Blanched water spinach served cold with a spicy sambal of chilli, tomato, shrimp paste and lime, often with bean sprouts and fried peanuts. The standard side to ayam taliwang. | Any Sasak warung; usually ordered alongside grilled chicken or fish. | about Rp 10,000–25,000 (€0.60–1.50) a plate |
| Rembiga beef satay sate rembiga | Sweet-and-spicy marinated beef satay, grilled over charcoal. Named after the Rembiga area of Mataram, where the best-known stalls are. | Satay warungs in Rembiga, north Mataram. | roughly Rp 30,000–60,000 (€1.70–3.50) for a portion with rice |
| Bulayak satay sate bulayak | Small meat skewers (usually beef, sometimes chicken or offal) served with bulayak, rice cake wrapped in a spiral of palm leaf, and a thick, curry-like peanut and coconut-milk sauce. | Roadside stalls and warungs, especially around Narmada and on the roads east of Mataram; ask locally for the current favourites. | roughly Rp 20,000–40,000 (€1.10–2.20) a portion |
| Nasi balap puyung | Rice topped with spicy shredded chicken, fried soybeans or peanuts and sambal; a cheap, very hot everyday meal associated with Puyung in Central Lombok. | Small warungs across the island, often wrapped to take away. | about Rp 10,000–25,000 (€0.60–1.50) |
| Grilled fish and seafood ikan bakar | Fish, squid or prawns grilled over coconut husk and served with rice, sambal and plecing kangkung. You often choose the fish raw and pay by weight. | Beach grills in Senggigi and Kuta, and the night market on Gili Trawangan. | roughly Rp 50,000–150,000 (€3–8) per person depending on the fish |
| Mixed rice nasi campur | A plate of rice with a selection of dishes from the counter: vegetables, tempeh, egg, chicken or fish, sambal. Point and choose. | Warungs everywhere, especially at lunchtime. | about Rp 15,000–35,000 (€0.80–2) a plate |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Mataram and Cakranegara
The capital and its old commercial district have the most authentic eating on the island: ayam taliwang restaurants, satay stalls in Rembiga, and the large traditional market in Cakranegara for produce and snacks. Few tourists, local prices.
Senggigi
The older beach resort north of Mataram. Beach grills, warungs and hotel restaurants along the coast road; good for grilled fish at sunset.
Kuta (Mandalika)
Surf town on the south coast, now the centre of the Mandalika development. Plenty of cafés aimed at visitors plus Sasak warungs on the side streets and around the market area.
Gili Trawangan night market
An evening food market near the harbour on Gili Trawangan with grilled fish, satay, nasi campur and sweets at stall prices. Convenient if you are staying on the Gilis, though aimed at visitors.
Narmada and the roads east of Mataram
Roadside stalls for sate bulayak and Sasak snacks, near Narmada Park, a former royal water garden.
Food tours in Lombok compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lombok: Lombok Cooking Class by Mas Oppa | 2 - 6 hours | from €17 per person | — | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Lombok: Pottery & Cooking Class with Local Family | 4 hours | from €34 per person | private | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Lombok: Tetebatu Village Tour with Waterfalls & Lunch | 3.5 - 10 hours | from €23 per person | private | Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them. | Check dates |
| Lombok : Local Market Tour, Cooking Class, and Waterfall | 1 day | from €181 per person | private | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
Lombok: Lombok Cooking Class by Mas Oppa
On GetYourGuide · run by Lombok Cooking Class by Mas Oppa
- Length
- 2 - 6 hours
- Price
- from €17 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 44 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Hands-on instruction from a passionate local home cook All fresh ingredients and cooking utensils Your delicious, self-made meal to enjoy at the end of the class
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- Go into Gang Pesut (Pesut Alley). In 100 meters, you will find a building with the sign "Puri Mas Oppa"
Lombok: Pottery & Cooking Class with Local Family
On GetYourGuide · run by Lombok Pottery Studio
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €34 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 10 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- private
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
Lombok: Tetebatu Village Tour with Waterfalls & Lunch
On GetYourGuide · run by Lombok Aja Tour and Travel
- Length
- 3.5 - 10 hours
- Price
- from €23 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 4 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- private
- Suits
- Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them.
Lombok : Local Market Tour, Cooking Class, and Waterfall
On GetYourGuide · run by PT GLOBAL HOLIDAY INDONESIA
- Length
- 1 day
- Price
- from €181 per person
- Group size
- private
- Included
- Visit to a traditional local market Interactive cooking class Guidance from a local chef Lunch Visit to a hidden tropical waterfall
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Street food on Lombok means roadside satay grills, warungs selling nasi campur or nasi balap from glass counters, and evening markets. It is very cheap and mostly fresh, but spice levels are high; say 'tidak pedas' (not spicy) and still expect heat.
Sit-down meals
Sit-down meals are informal: a Sasak restaurant serving ayam taliwang with plecing and rice, or a beach grill. Tourist areas have Western menus at Western-ish prices. Alcohol is limited in Muslim areas and in Mataram; it is easy to find in Senggigi, Kuta and the Gilis.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes run mainly in Senggigi, Kuta and on the Gili Islands, often in a family home or small restaurant, sometimes starting with a market visit. Expect sambal, plecing kangkung, a satay or taliwang-style chicken and a sweet, then eating what you cooked.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | Rp 100,000–200,000 (about €6–11): warung meals and street food |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | Rp 300,000–500,000 (about €17–28): a mix of warungs and tourist restaurants with a drink |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | Rp 800,000+ (about €45+): resort or beach-club dining with wine or cocktails |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Possible but needs care. Tempeh, tofu, vegetable dishes and gado-gado are common, but shrimp paste (terasi) is in most sambals, including plecing kangkung. Ask for 'tanpa terasi' (without shrimp paste) and 'tanpa daging' (without meat). Tourist cafés in Kuta, Senggigi and the Gilis have plenty of vegetarian and vegan choices.
Halal: Lombok is predominantly Muslim and most warungs and restaurants are halal by default. Pork appears mainly in Balinese-run places (there is a Balinese Hindu community around Mataram and Cakranegara) and some tourist restaurants; ask if unsure.
Gluten-free: Rice is the staple, which helps, but soy sauce (kecap), fried batters and some satay marinades contain wheat. Communication can be hard in small warungs; plain grilled fish or chicken with rice and plecing is the safest choice. Tourist cafés understand 'gluten-free' better.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Fish chosen raw at beach grills or night markets, with the weight or per-100 g price unclear until the bill arrives. Agree the weight and total price before it is grilled, and confirm whether rice and sides are included.
- Menus without prices in tourist areas, or a 'tourist price' quoted verbally. Ask the price before ordering, or eat where prices are written up. Eat in Mataram warungs for local prices.
- Tax and service (often around 15–21% combined) added at the end in tourist restaurants without being clear on the menu. Look for '++' after prices on the menu, which means tax and service are extra.
- Arak (local spirit) and cheap cocktails sold by unlicensed sellers; methanol poisoning cases involving tourists have been reported in Indonesia. Avoid home-made arak and very cheap spirit cocktails; stick to bottled beer or drinks from established bars.
Top tours & activities in Lombok
Rent a car in Lombok
Compare rental cars from local and international companies, with free cancellation on most bookings.
Compare car rentals in LombokPlan the rest of your Lombok trip
Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
How spicy is Lombok food?
Very. Ayam taliwang, plecing kangkung and most sambals are hot by Indonesian standards. You can ask for 'tidak pedas' (not spicy) or 'sedikit pedas' (a little spicy), and sambal is often served on the side if you ask. Order rice and a cold drink with everything, and try the dishes in Mataram, where they are made the traditional way.
Is street food on Lombok safe?
Generally yes, if you choose busy stalls where food is cooked in front of you or turns over quickly. Grilled satay and fish straight off the fire are the safest bets. Don't drink tap water; use bottled or refilled filtered water. Ice in tourist areas is usually made from filtered water, but in very small roadside places you may prefer to skip it.
Is food on Lombok halal?
Mostly. The Sasak majority are Muslim, so warungs and most restaurants serve halal food by default. Pork is found mainly in Balinese-run restaurants around Mataram and in some tourist spots on the Gilis, Kuta and Senggigi. If you need certainty, ask the staff or look for a halal sign.
How much should I budget for food per day?
Eating at warungs, about Rp 100,000–200,000 (€6–11) a day is enough. Mixing warungs with tourist cafés and a beer or two comes to roughly Rp 300,000–500,000 (€17–28). Resort and beach-club dining with drinks easily costs Rp 800,000 (€45) or more per person per day. Cash is still needed in most warungs.
Can I drink alcohol on Lombok?
Yes, in tourist areas. Beer and cocktails are easy to find on the Gilis, in Senggigi and in Kuta, but many warungs and restaurants in Mataram and villages don't serve alcohol. Prices are higher than in Bali because of import taxes. Avoid cheap home-made arak because of the risk of methanol poisoning.
Does Ramadan affect eating on Lombok?
Yes. During Ramadan many local warungs close during daylight or open only towards sunset, while tourist restaurants in Kuta, Senggigi and the Gilis usually keep serving. Eating and drinking openly in villages during the day is considered rude. In the evenings, markets and stalls selling food for breaking the fast get busy and are worth visiting.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.