We are visiting Bali later this year and would appreciate FT recommendations for must-eat restaurants. I've been trying to research online but TA reviews are mostly fake and independent non-blogger food reviews are limited.

As context, we live in Los Angeles so we have good access to excellent cuisine in general (Western, Mexican, Asian etc.) so we would prefer to eat Balinese/Indonesian food. However, since prices are much cheaper in Bali, we would be open to eating even Western cuisines if they're truly world class, especially if our 3 small kids get tired of eating Indonesian food and start asking for pizza and burgers. Below is my list so far based on my research. We would like to avoid pretentious, tiny portions places, but we don't mind eating at nicer, more expensive places that would cost double or triple in the US. We are staying in Ubud and Seminyak. Please also let me know if any of these below on my list are over rated. Thank you.
-Hujan Locale
-Nusantara by Locavore
-Pica
-Sawah Terrace at Ritz Carlton Mandapa
-Babi Guling Slingsling
-Mama San
-Jimbaran seafood on the beach
-Pica
-Bebek Tepi Sawah
-Naughty Nuri
-Kaum
-Seasalt
-Warung Sate Kakul
-Coffee - Revolver, Seniman, Gangga
-Breads for Breakfast - Livingstone, Starter Lab, Rusters, Monsieur Spoon

If you are near Ubud, suggest - https://locavorenxt.com/

I'd go for the drink pairing, its mostly cocktails made with spirits from locally grown produce.

Review here:

https://www.theworlds50best.com/stor...-nxt-2023.html

Though if you are not in the area, weekday traffic is a nightmare, things are a little more chilled at the weekends.

I'm sure there's plenty of opinions on places to eat, but looking at your list, my one (possibly unpopular) opinion is about Jimbaran. It seems that everyone goes in the evening to witness the sunset which is cool, but I found it on the 4 or 5 times I've been, not a wonderful experience. The food is good and cheap and the sunset is great.

There are several problems I found. First, you want to experience the sunset, so you're on the beach. It's pretty dark and it's easy to go tumbling. Second, because it's a mad house with so many people, you will wait for food... and I meant really wait. During my trip in 2015, I had to wait an hour, which isn't too bad if you're just wanting a nice gentle evening, but as you know, with small kids, it might turn out to be a sceaming/tantrum nightmare. The inside area is so bright, you have to be on the beach to experience the sunset. However, if you're ok to just watch it from inside the restaurant, then third, be prepared to smell like smoke because there's really no decent ventilation. And burnt coconut husks have a really really strong smell.

But starting in 2017, I stopped going in the evening and now only ever go during lunch time. Of course you don't get the sunset but the food is still good and cheap, you don't have to wait ages for the food. It is of course super hot, if you sit on the beach. However, every time I've been to Jimbaran at lunch time, you can choose pretty much any of the restaurants and sit in the ones with the air conditioning. It's just so much more civilised LOL!
The place I go to is Menega. I don't go anywhere else so I can't say anything about the others.

Let me finish by saying that if you want the beach BBQ experience with the sunset and are willing to splash out, you can always stay at a hotel which does this evening bbq on the beach. I've not done it myself, but most of the major 5* hotels offer this experience. It will literally be just you and your kids and the chef and wait staff (kids optional I suppose!).

I haven't written a report about it but I had dinner on a trip last year at the Kempinski at the Reef Beach Club (I'm not advertising and I don't work there) but this was an upmarket experience. It was outdoors there was good live music and it wasn't crazy expensive - a surf and turf (lobster, squid, clams, fish, tenderloin, sirloin etc etc) comes to about US$100 (need to add taxes service).

I love Ginger Moon in Seminyak. Modern Asian Restaurant And Asian Canteen | Ginger Moon (gingermoonbali.com)

Can't help with specific restaurants in your areas, but the best food I had in Bali were in Sidemen. Not many people make it to this village, but if you did, you'd have great Balinese food at a fraction of Ubud prices with genuine smiles and great views. Plenty of rice terraces and longer walks to explore afterwards. When I stayed in Ubud main street years ago, all the food I had were tourist magnets and not especially memorable (I didn't look for upscale restaurants).

Syrco Bas� in Ubud.