Bali is a food lover's island: grilled satay at the beach, crispy nasi goreng, fresh juices and warungs on every corner. But if you have a peanut or tree nut allergy, eating out in Bali needs more planning than at home. Peanuts are a staple of Indonesian cooking, and they often appear in sauces where you can't see them. Add a language barrier and busy kitchens, and it's easy for an allergy to get lost in translation.
This guide explains where peanuts and nuts turn up in Indonesian food, how allergen labels work, the phrases worth learning, and how an Indonesian peanut and tree nut allergy card can do the explaining for you.
Last updated: 27 October 2026.
The Quick Answer
- Learn one phrase: Saya alergi kacang tanah means "I am allergic to peanuts".
- Peanut sauce (bumbu kacang) is everywhere: gado-gado, pecel and satay all rely on it, and it can't be picked out of a dish.
- "Kacang" is not specific: it means peanuts or legumes in general, not tree nuts. Name each nut you need to avoid.
- Show your card before you order, and check it has been understood. A smile or a "yes" doesn't always mean it has.
- Emergency numbers: 112 for general emergencies, 118 or 119 for an ambulance.
Where Peanuts and Nuts Hide in Indonesian Food
Recipes vary by island, restaurant and cook, so treat this as a list of things to ask about, not a list of dishes to avoid or trust.
| Dish or ingredient | Indonesian term | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Peanut sauce | bumbu kacang / saus kacang | Made from ground fried peanuts with palm or coconut sugar, chillies and tamarind. It gives gado-gado much of its flavour, and vendors often make it fresh. |
| Vegetables in peanut sauce | gado-gado | The vegetables are well coated in the sauce. Some versions also add cashews. |
| Javanese vegetables in peanut sauce | pecel | Similar to gado-gado and more common in Central and East Java. |
| Satay | sate / satay | Grilled skewers are served with a peanut-based sauce. Ask before ordering, even if you would skip the sauce. |
| Peanut crackers | rempeyek | Crispy fried crackers made with peanuts, often sold as a snack. |
| Sweet pancake | martabak manis | Ask about the toppings, which can include crushed peanuts. |
| Dumplings and fried snacks | siomay, batagor | Often served with peanut sauce. |
| Candlenut | kemiri | Pounded into spice pastes and used to thicken sauces, so you can't see it. Ask your allergy specialist whether candlenut is suitable for you. |
| Cashews | kacang mede | Used in some dishes and snacks. |
| Peanut butter | selai kacang | Can be added to smoothies and café food, sometimes without being listed on the menu. |
Removing visible peanuts doesn't make a dish safe. The sauce, paste or oil it was cooked with may still contain them.
Are Allergens Labelled in Indonesia?
Indonesia's rules for packaged food labels (BPOM Regulation No. 31 of 2018) apply to processed food made in, or imported into, Indonesia. According to published summaries of the regulation, allergen information must appear on labels and covers peanuts, tree nuts (including cashew, almond, hazelnut, walnut, pecan, Brazil nut, pistachio and macadamia), egg, milk, soy, fish, shellfish, cereals containing gluten and sulphites.
On packaging, look for kacang tanah (peanut) and kacang pohon (tree nuts). The word mengandung means "contains". Labels are written in Indonesian, so a translation app can help, but it shouldn't be your only check.
Labels only help with packaged food. Meals cooked fresh at a warung, beach café or market stall won't come with one, so asking questions and showing your card matters most there.
How to Explain Your Allergy in Indonesian
Indonesian is the national language and is used across the country, including Bali, where Balinese is also spoken. These phrases are good starting points:
| English | Indonesian |
|---|---|
| I am allergic to peanuts. | Saya alergi kacang tanah. |
| I am allergic to cashews. | Saya alergi kacang mede. |
| Does this food contain peanuts? | Apakah makanan ini mengandung kacang? |
| I am having an allergic reaction. | Saya kena reaksi alergi. |
To name a different allergen, swap in susu (milk), telur (egg) or terigu (wheat).
Short phrases can't explain how serious an allergy is, or that you also need clean utensils and oil. That is where a card helps.
Why "Kacang" Isn't Enough for Tree Nuts
In Indonesian, kacang means peanuts or legumes in general. There isn't one everyday word that means "tree nuts", so telling someone you're allergic to "kacang" may not cover cashews, almonds or walnuts. If you have a tree nut allergy, make sure each nut you must avoid is clearly named.
Eating Out in Bali With a Peanut Allergy
Warungs and Street Food
Warungs are small, family-run eateries that serve everyday Indonesian food. They are a highlight of eating in Bali, but peanuts are widely used in Indonesian cooking, kitchens are small and equipment is often shared. If a cook can't tell you what's in a dish, choose something else.
Check That You've Been Understood
A smile or a "yes" doesn't always mean your allergy has been understood. Messages can also get lost between the person taking your order and the kitchen. Hand over your card before you order, not after, ask staff to show it to the cook, and check again when the food arrives.
Cafés, Smoothies and Resorts
Cafés and smoothie bars may add peanut butter without listing it. Ask about every ingredient, including toppings and sauces. If you're staying at a hotel or resort, contact them before you arrive to explain your allergy and ask how the kitchen handles it.
Busy Times
Mistakes are more likely when a restaurant is at its busiest. If your allergy is severe, consider eating a little earlier or later, or choosing somewhere you've already checked.
Planning Your Trip: Ubud, the South Coast and Beyond
- Ubud and inland Bali: warungs and cafés are everywhere. Show your card at each new place, even if you've eaten somewhere similar.
- Seminyak, Canggu and the south coast: menus are often written for visitors, but still ask about sauces, dressings and smoothie ingredients.
- Java, Lombok and smaller islands: pecel is more common in Central and East Java, so ask about peanut sauce there. On smaller islands, check how far the nearest hospital is before you book.
Your Indonesian Peanut and Tree Nut Allergy Card
Our Peanut & Tree Nut Allergy Travel Card in Indonesian is a digital download with English on one side and Indonesian on the other. Its translations are checked by native speakers. It explains your allergy and how serious it can be, gives examples of foods that may contain nuts, warns kitchen staff about cross-contamination (clean utensils, and no shared oil or surfaces) and ends with a polite thank you in Indonesian.
It's credit-card size, so you can keep it on your phone or print it and laminate it for the tropical weather. Print a few copies and keep one in your wallet, one in your day bag and one in your hotel room.
Get the Indonesian Peanut & Tree Nut Allergy Travel Card – £5 Digital Download →
Visiting more than one country? Get Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian cards together in the Thailand, Vietnam & Bali bundle (£9.99).
Travelling with a different allergy? We also have Indonesian cards for:
What to Pack for Bali With a Food Allergy
- Prescribed medication, including two adrenaline auto-injectors if you have been prescribed them, kept in your hand luggage.
- Your allergy action plan and a letter from your doctor.
- An insulated allergy medical bag to keep medication together and cool in the heat.
- Printed, laminated copies of your allergy card, plus it saved on your phone for offline use.
- Safe snacks for journeys and days out.
- Travel insurance that covers your medical needs.
Check the latest rules for taking your medication into Indonesia, and your airline's requirements, well before you travel.
Emergency Information for Bali
Save these numbers before you go (from Indonesia's official tourism site):
- General emergency / police: 112 (or 110)
- Ambulance / medical: 118 or 119
Find the nearest hospital to where you're staying and how long it takes to get there. If anaphylaxis is suspected, follow your emergency action plan, give adrenaline promptly and call for emergency help. Hospital assessment is needed even if symptoms improve. For more, see the NHS guidance on anaphylaxis and the UK Government's Indonesia travel advice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bali With a Peanut Allergy
Is Bali safe for someone with a peanut allergy?
People with peanut allergies do travel to Bali, but peanuts are common in Indonesian cooking and kitchens can be small and busy. How safe it is depends on your allergy, where you eat and how clearly your allergy is understood. Careful planning and clear communication are essential.
What is the word for peanut in Indonesian?
Peanut is kacang tanah. The word kacang on its own can mean peanuts or legumes in general.
Is satay safe with a peanut allergy?
Satay sauce is a peanut sauce, so satay is a dish to avoid or check carefully. Even if you skip the sauce, ask how the meat was prepared and cooked.
Are tree nuts labelled on food in Indonesia?
Published summaries of BPOM Regulation No. 31 of 2018 list tree nuts as a separate allergen category on processed food labels. Look for kacang pohon. Freshly cooked food has no label, so you'll still need to ask.
Do I need an Indonesian or a Balinese card for Bali?
Indonesian is the national language, and it's the one used on food labels and across restaurants, so an Indonesian card is the right choice for Bali.
Should I take an allergy translation card to Bali?
A translated card is a useful communication aid, especially in small warungs where little English is spoken. It can explain your allergy, how serious it is and the need to avoid cross-contact, but it can't guarantee that food is safe.
Enjoying Bali With a Nut Allergy
A nut allergy doesn't mean you have to miss out on Bali. It means finding out what's in your food, saying clearly that you have an allergy, and walking away when you aren't sure. Heading to more of Southeast Asia? Read our guides to travelling to Thailand and travelling to Vietnam with a peanut or nut allergy, or browse every language in our allergy travel cards collection.
Travelling to more than one country? See our Thailand, Vietnam and Bali guide and Southeast Asia backpacking guide. The Thailand, Vietnam & Bali bundle (£9.99) and the six-language Southeast Asia bundle (£14.99) cost less than buying cards one at a time.
Important: This guide is general travel information, not medical advice. Ingredients and food preparation vary, and no dish or restaurant mentioned should be assumed safe. Always follow your allergy specialist's advice, carry prescribed emergency medication and check ingredients. Indonesian words and phrases in this guide should be checked by a native speaker before being relied on for safety-critical communication.