Food · Maldives
What to eat in Maldives
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Maldives, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Alexey Potov - Noblige, CC BY-SA 2.5
Quick answer
Start with Mas huni, Garudhiya and Mas riha. Join locals at a tea shop around 4pm for sweet tea and a plate of gulha, bajiya and masroshi; you pay for what you eat from the plate. Choose your resort meal plan carefully: resort restaurants are often the only option, and prices are high.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Mas huni
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 4
- Tipping
- A 10% service charge is added to most bills.
- Food experiences
- 3
11 foods to try
Breakfast
1.Mas huni
The classic Maldivian breakfast: shredded smoked or tinned tuna mixed with grated coconut, onion, chilli and lime, eaten with roshi flatbread and sweet tea.
Where: Local cafés in Malé and on inhabited islands; many resorts serve it at breakfast if you ask.
Dish
2.Garudhiya
A clear tuna broth, the backbone of Maldivian home cooking, served with rice, lime, chilli and onion.
Where: Local restaurants and guesthouse kitchens; resorts with Maldivian nights often include it.
Dish
3.Mas riha
A tuna curry cooked with coconut milk, curry leaves and spices, eaten with rice or roshi.
Where: Malé cafés and guesthouses on local islands.
Bakery · Vegetarian
4.Roshi
A thin, soft unleavened flatbread similar to chapati, used to scoop up mas huni and curries.
Where: Served at almost every local meal and at resort Maldivian breakfasts.
Snack
5.Hedhikaa
The collective name for Maldivian short eats served with afternoon tea, such as gulha (fried dough balls filled with tuna and coconut), bajiya (pastry parcels) and masroshi (baked roshi stuffed with mas huni).
Where: Tea shops (hotaa) in Malé and on local islands, especially in the late afternoon.
Dish
6.Fihunu mas
Whole reef fish or tuna steaks rubbed with a chilli paste and grilled over coals, often served at beach barbecues.
Where: Resort barbecue nights and guesthouse dinners on local islands.
Snack
7.Kulhi boakibaa
A spicy baked fish cake made with tuna, rice flour, coconut and chilli, cut into slices and served at tea time.
Where: Malé tea shops and bakeries; it is also a favourite at celebrations.
Dish
8.Rihaakuru
A thick, salty paste made by boiling down tuna stock for many hours, eaten in small amounts with rice and chilli. It is an acquired taste and very Maldivian.
Where: Local cafés and island kitchens; jars are sold in Malé's local market.
Dessert · Vegetarian
9.Bondibaiy
A sweet rice pudding cooked with coconut milk, sugar, cardamom and sometimes rose water, served at celebrations and after meals.
Where: Local cafés and resort Maldivian-themed dinners.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Kurumba
Young green coconuts, opened with a knife and drunk straight from the shell; the soft flesh is eaten afterwards with a spoon.
Where: Resort bars, guesthouses and island stalls; ask for one picked from the island's own palms.
Drink · Vegetarian
11.Maldivian tea (Sai)
Strong black tea, usually very sweet and often with condensed or powdered milk, drunk with hedhikaa in the afternoon.
Where: Tea shops across Malé and on every inhabited island.
Food experiences
Afternoon tea in a Malé hotaa
Join locals at a tea shop around 4pm for sweet tea and a plate of gulha, bajiya and masroshi; you pay for what you eat from the plate.
Maldivian night at a resort
Many resorts hold a weekly buffet of Maldivian dishes such as garudhiya, mas riha and fihunu mas, often with bodu beru drumming.
Sandbank or beach barbecue
Grilled reef fish and lobster on the sand under the stars is the classic Maldives dinner; resorts and some guesthouses arrange them.
Quick bites and street food
- Mas huni — Local cafés in Malé and on inhabited islands; many resorts serve it at breakfast if you ask.
- Roshi — Served at almost every local meal and at resort Maldivian breakfasts.
- Hedhikaa — Tea shops (hotaa) in Malé and on local islands, especially in the late afternoon.
- Kulhi boakibaa — Malé tea shops and bakeries; it is also a favourite at celebrations.
Vegetarian options
Of the 11 foods in this guide, 4 are usually vegetarian: Roshi, Bondibaiy, Kurumba and Maldivian tea. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Choose your resort meal plan carefully: resort restaurants are often the only option, and prices are high.
- Alcohol is only available at resorts, liveaboards and some hotels on uninhabited islands, never on local islands.
- Most resort and many guesthouse bills add a 10% service charge plus government taxes.
- During Ramadan, local cafés close during daylight hours; resorts operate normally.
- Maldivian food is fish-based and can be spicy; ask for chilli on the side.
Tipping
A 10% service charge is added to most bills. Many guests also leave a cash tip in US dollars for room attendants, butlers, dive guides and boat crews at the end of a stay.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Assalaam alaikum | Peace be upon you (greeting) |
| Haalu kihineh? | How are you? |
| Shukuriyaa | Thank you |
| Aan / Noon | Yes / No |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Maldives famous for?
Mas huni, Garudhiya, Mas riha and Roshi. The classic Maldivian breakfast: shredded smoked or tinned tuna mixed with grated coconut, onion, chilli and lime, eaten with roshi flatbread and sweet tea.
+Is Maldives good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Roshi, Bondibaiy and Kurumba.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Maldives?
A 10% service charge is added to most bills. Many guests also leave a cash tip in US dollars for room attendants, butlers, dive guides and boat crews at the end of a stay.