Food · Fiji
What to eat in Fiji
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Fiji, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: KhufuOsiris, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Kokoda, Lovo and Palusami. Many resorts hold a weekly lovo feast, where you can watch the earth oven being opened, often followed by meke (traditional dance) and a fire show. On outer islands, resorts usually require a meal plan because there are no other places to eat; factor it into your budget.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Kokoda
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 6
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected in Fiji.
- Food experiences
- 4
9 foods to try
Dish
1.Kokoda
Fiji's version of ceviche: raw white fish cured in lime or lemon juice, then mixed with coconut cream, chilli, onion and tomato, often served in a coconut shell.
Where: Resort restaurants, cafés in Nadi and Suva, and village feasts.
Dish
2.Lovo
An earth-oven feast: meat, fish, taro, cassava and palusami wrapped in banana leaves and cooked for hours on hot stones buried in the ground.
Where: Weekly lovo nights at many resorts, and in villages for Sundays and celebrations.
Dish · Vegetarian
3.Palusami
Taro leaves wrapped around thick coconut cream and onion and baked until soft; some versions add tinned corned beef or fish.
Where: Lovo feasts, village meals and local cafés; ask for the plain version if you want it vegetarian.
Dish · Vegetarian
4.Rourou
Chopped taro leaves simmered in coconut milk, a soft green side dish served with root crops and fish.
Where: Village meals, local cafés and some resort buffets.
Dish · Vegetarian
5.Dalo and tavioka
Taro (dalo) and cassava (tavioka) are the staple starches of Fijian meals, boiled, baked in a lovo or cooked with coconut milk.
Where: Markets, village meals and local cafés across the country.
Dish
6.Indo-Fijian curry and roti
Curries of chicken, goat, fish or dhal with roti, a legacy of the Indian labourers brought to Fiji's sugar plantations from 1879. Curries here are often milder than in India and served with chutneys.
Where: Curry houses in Nadi, Lautoka and Suva, and roti parcels from local takeaways.
Drink · Vegetarian
7.Kava (Yaqona)
A drink made from the pounded root of the kava plant mixed with water, earthy in taste and mildly numbing on the lips. It is shared in a ceremonial setting from a wooden tanoa bowl and drunk from a half-coconut shell (bilo).
Where: Village welcomes, resort kava ceremonies and informal evening kava circles.
Dish · Vegetarian
8.Duruka
Sometimes called Fijian asparagus, duruka is the unopened flower of a cane-like plant, cooked in coconut milk or added to curries, in season around April and May.
Where: Municipal markets and local cafés in season.
Snack · Vegetarian
9.Tropical fruit
Mangoes, papaya (pawpaw), pineapple, bananas and watermelon are abundant and inexpensive, with mango season in the hotter months around the end of the year.
Where: Municipal markets in Nadi, Sigatoka and Suva, and roadside stalls.
Food experiences
Lovo night
Many resorts hold a weekly lovo feast, where you can watch the earth oven being opened, often followed by meke (traditional dance) and a fire show.
Kava ceremony
Join a kava circle on a village visit or at your resort: clap once, accept the bilo, say 'bula', drink it in one go and clap three times.
Market and curry lunch
Browse a municipal market in Nadi or Suva, then eat curry and roti at a local curry house nearby.
Village visit
Organised visits to villages in the Highlands or near the Coral Coast include a sevusevu welcome, a walk through the village and a shared meal.
Quick bites and street food
- Tropical fruit — Municipal markets in Nadi, Sigatoka and Suva, and roadside stalls.
Vegetarian options
Of the 9 foods in this guide, 6 are usually vegetarian: Palusami, Rourou, Dalo and tavioka, Kava, Duruka and Tropical fruit. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- On outer islands, resorts usually require a meal plan because there are no other places to eat; factor it into your budget.
- Local cafés and curry houses in towns are far cheaper than resort restaurants.
- Many villages and some resorts keep Sunday quiet; town restaurants may close or open late.
- Alcohol is expensive at island resorts; duty-free purchases on arrival help.
- Ask before drinking water from taps on remote islands, where it may be rainwater.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in Fiji. Many resorts have a staff Christmas fund box for a collective tip if you wish to reward good service.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bula | Hello / welcome / life |
| Vinaka | Thank you |
| Vinaka vakalevu | Thank you very much |
| Moce | Goodbye (pronounced 'mo-thay') |
| Io | Yes |
| Sega | No |
| Kerekere | Please |
| Namaste | Hello (Indo-Fijian greeting) |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Fiji famous for?
Kokoda, Lovo, Palusami and Rourou. Fiji's version of ceviche: raw white fish cured in lime or lemon juice, then mixed with coconut cream, chilli, onion and tomato, often served in a coconut shell.
+Is Fiji good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Palusami, Rourou and Dalo and tavioka.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Fiji?
Tipping is not expected in Fiji. Many resorts have a staff Christmas fund box for a collective tip if you wish to reward good service.