Despite being a bit of a beatnik island and therefore awash with vegan-style Eat, Pray, Quief type vegan fare, there is actually a decent street food Gili T scene, particularly in comparison to much of Bali.
Generally this can be split into 3 distinct genres, with these being the epic night market in Gili T, general vendors littered around the island, and the warungs of the beaches and back streets. And were this not enough there are good pubs and restaurants knocking out some good western fare.
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What the Gili T?
Gili Trawangan, or Gili T for short, is the largest of the three Gili Islands off the coast of Lombok. Population-wise, it is tiny, with just a few thousand locals, mostly fishermen and small-scale vendors. People come here for a combination of reasons: the turquoise water, white sand beaches, and a more relaxed vibe than Bali, although there are still some party-goers.
The island attracts a mix of backpackers, couples looking for an escape, and divers from around the world. There are fewer beer pong and hippie types than Bali, but they do exist. Most visitors stay in small bungalows or boutique villas, enjoying the simplicity of life without cars, as bicycles and slow electric scooters are the main modes of transport.
Street Food Gili T
Street food on Gili T can be found in three main places. The night market, held near the main harbour, comes alive in the evening and offers a huge variety of Indonesian classics alongside grilled seafood and skewers. Around the island, random vendors pop up near beaches or intersections selling small bites, fried snacks, and fresh fruit juices. Lastly, the warungs along the beaches and in the back streets serve more substantial meals like Nasi Goreng, Mie Goreng, grilled fish, and seafood platters.
By and large, it is bloody good. The seafood selection is obscene, with lobster and monster shrimp taking some beating. Even the smaller warungs serve Lombok fried rice and spicy butter-covered corn that are top drawer. There are also fusion stalls offering fruit juices, Indonesian-style meatballs, and even durian, which I partook in.
Click to read about Balinese Cuisine.
Where to get the best street food in Gili T
- Night Market – Jalan Raya Harbour, Gili T, fresh seafood skewers, satay, and fried snacks
- Warung Bu Ana – Jalan Pantai, near North Beach, specializes in Lombok fried rice and grilled fish
- Beach Vendor – West Beach, selling spicy butter corn and fried squid
- Frozen Juice Stall – Main Road near Central Square, tropical fruit juices, smoothies
- Small Backstreet Warung – Jalan Sunset, serves local meatballs and gado-gado
5 street food Gili T dishes to try
The street food in Gili T is very much Indonesian, but with a lot of influences from the cuisines of Bali and Lombok, This means there some fairly cool shit to try.
5) Lombok fried rice
This is nasi goreng Lombok style and it hits harder than the Bali version. Proper chilli heat, smoky wok flavour, often cooked with chicken or seafood and finished with a fried egg. Cheap, filling, everywhere and exactly what you want after a day in the sun.
4) Spicy butter sweet corn
Sold from little push carts, usually brushed with butter, chilli sauce and sometimes lime. Sounds basic, tastes brilliant, especially late at night with a beer in hand.
3) Indonesian meatballs
Bakso done island style. Beefy broth, springy meatballs, noodles and chilli sauce added to taste. Comfort food and very easy to find around the night market and roadside stalls.
2) Grilled lobster
Yes it’s touristy, but it’s also real. Big Lombok lobsters grilled over charcoal, usually served with rice and sambal. Not cheap by Indonesian standards but still excellent value for what you get.
1) Monster prawns
These were obscene. Huge prawns grilled fresh, lightly seasoned, juicy as hell and often better value than the lobster. Hands down the best street food seafood on Gili T.
Click to read about Lombok Cuisine.
Best Restaurants on Gili T
Being so popular with tourists means that the overall food selection on Gili T is pretty good. That though is not to deny there is a lot of shit out there. Many of the resorts are just card board copy of each and other which means overpriced food that is not very good.
Then there are the overpriced restaurants. I looked at menus of some seafood restaurants on the beach that as well pass being “world famous” charged a small fortune for a meal.
Worst though are the places in Gili T that lazily try to pander to what “tourists want”. I counted 4 Irish bars and honestly I lost count of places selling Mexican food – for SHAME.
I digress though, because there is actually a lot of very good food too, which I shall share below.
5.Scallywags Seafood Bar and Grill
Gili Trawangan Main Beach Road, Gili Indah, Lombok Utara
Beachfront seafood place where you choose your fish, prawns or lobster and they grill it in front of you. Tourist heavy but reliable if you want simple grilled seafood and a sunset.
4.Pituq Waroeng
Jl. Ikan Paus, Gili Trawangan, Lombok Utara
One of the better Indonesian options on the island. Good curries, solid local food and breakfasts, and a step up from the lazy resort kitchens.
3.Kayu Cafe
Near Gili Trawangan Harbour, Lombok Utara
Looks a bit yoga retreat on the surface but the food is actually very good. Strong breakfasts, decent coffee and lighter meals when you want a break from fried everything.
2.Regina Pizzeria
Jl. Pantai Gili Trawangan, Lombok Utara
Proper Italian run pizza place with a wood fired oven. Excellent pizzas, good pasta and a godsend when you are sick of rice and noodles.
1.Dirty Burgher
Jl. Pantai Gili Trawangan near the night market, Lombok Utara
Best burgers on Gili T and it is not even close. Big greasy patties, decent fries and exactly what you want after beers. Cheap, filling and zero bullshit.
Drinking on Gili T
Gili T is a pestio party island and obviously does have times of year when the backpacker tribe come. This is evidenced by the fact that you do see beer pong. Thankfully, on my visit at least, this was minimally seen and for the most part drinking was done in regular bars, or with a background of football.
There are, though, without doubt, bars to fit most tastes and indeed people happy enough to come and befriend you should you desire. I personally went for the chilled vibe, as well as a wee bit of drinking for my country. There’s also a “Gili Pub Crawl” and at least one bar that specializes in nightly karaoke.
Formerly there were no vehicles aside from bicycles at all on Gili T. Now, thankfully, they allow very slow electric scooters, which makes a night out drinking that bit easier.
5)Sama Sama Bar – Laid-back beachfront bar, good for sunset beers and casual chats with other travellers
4) Rudy’s Bar – Small main street bar with cheap cocktails, casual vibe, some dance music
3) Scallywags Bar – Beachfront bar, sun sets over the ocean, decent mix of locals and tourists
2) Blue Marlin Bar – Occasional live music, chilled seating, perfect for relaxing after a day on the water
1) The Portside Bar – Right by the harbour, proper karaoke nights, where you can “can your drink for your country,” full-on party atmosphere
Sleeping on Gili T
OK, so I had stated this as a full street food Gili T guide, but the more I write the more I remember just how much I loved the place, with hotels being a big reason for this.
Prices here, again if you avoid the overpriced resorts, are insane and you can get a decent place with a pool for just $20 a night. It is though when you expand on things that they get really good. I dropped just over $60 and got a palace of a villa with a private pool. Utara Villas not only provided breakfast with that, but also had a sports bar Irish of course where I could watch Man City lose.
This place was honestly my absolute happy place and I am still sporting the sunburn from spending a whole day in my own pool.
Best 5 Hotels on Gili T
Gili Teak Resort, Jalan Pantai, Gili Trawangan. Clean mid-range hotel with a pool and beach access. Price 300,000 IDR / 20 USD per night
Villa Almarik, North Beach, Gili Trawangan. Small villa complex with basic amenities and a chilled vibe. Price 450,000 IDR / 30 USD per night
Serene Villas, West End, Gili Trawangan. Decent rooms with shared pool, great for couples. Price 600,000 IDR / 40 USD per night
Oceana Villas, Sunset Road, Gili Trawangan. Spacious rooms, excellent pool, quiet location. Price 900,000 IDR / 60 USD per night
Utara Villas, South Beach, Gili Trawangan. Private pool, breakfast included, sports bar on-site, absolutely stunning. Price 1,000,000 IDR / 65 USD per night
Overall
In case my overall opinion has not been put across enough, I really do quite like the Gili Islands and Gili T, and very much plan to come back and play here again.
There’s great scenery, a good crowd, awesome hotels, and the street food Gili T scene was enough to keep the smile firmly on my chops.
Click to see my Indonesia Tours.