Traditional Fijian Food: 20 Foods to Try in Fiji 🥥

Last Updated: 20 June, 2025

Fijian Food You Must Taste!

Sure, you might have come to Fiji to be lazy in the irresistible sun, swim with tropical fish, and get some pool time, but once you discover the flavours of Fiji, you might just find your next favourite thing about these tropical islands!

Food in Fiji is influenced by a mix of traditional rituals, the melting pot of cultures in the country, and the natural produce that thrives in a tropical climate. For these reasons, food in Fiji consists of a tantalising array of dishes, from cool and creamy refreshing meals to cool you down in the daytime to spicy Indo-Fijian flavours to fire up the nights.

With that, check out this list of unique Fiji foods you must try!

Want to learn more about Fiji food? Check out The Complete Guide to Food in Fiji, as well as The Guide to the Fiji Culture for Travellers.

1. Lovo – Fiji’s National Food

Let’s start with a traditional Fijian meal that you’ll hear about oh so often: lovo. Lovo means “a feast cooked in the earth” and that’s exactly what it is! Pork, fish, lamb and vegetables are wrapped in banana leaves and slow-cooked in an underground furnace.

Lovo is only prepared for special occasions, such as weddings or the New Year, so even the locals have a hard time finding some lovo to try! Nevertheless, some resorts and homestays prepare lovo, especially for their guests, so check if your resort has a special night for love!

Where to try: Vavavi (Nadi), Paradise Taveuni (Taveuni), Mamacita Mexican Restaurant (Denarau), Fiji Culture Village (Nadi), Highlander Twinny Tours (Nadi/Lautoka), Robinson Crusoe Island (Coral Coast), Koro Sun Resort (Vanua Levu) and so much more!

Fiji Food: 18 Unique Foods in Fiji You Have to Try 🥥

2. Kokoda – Fiji’s Most Popular Food

Something you’ll find on plenty of menus around Fiji is kokoda (pronounced “ko-kon-da”). This raw salad dish served in a coconut shell or mini tanoa (kava bowl) primarily consists of raw fish marinated in lime juice and coconut cream.

Additionally, cucumbers, onions, tomatoes and peppers are also added. This dish makes a good entree to your meal or a refreshing dish for lunch.

Where to try: Malamala Beach Club (Mamanuca/Denarau), The Establishment (Pacific Harbour), Volivoli Beach Resort (Suncoast), Golden Point Resort (Suncoast), The Pearl Resort (Pacific Harbour), Nadina Fijian Restaurant (Denarau) and pretty much every resort menu in Fiji!

3. Ika Vakalolo – Fiji’s Most Authentic Dish

Ika vakalolo is a delicious Fijian dish that combines two essential elements: “ika,” meaning fish, and “vakalolo,” referring to cooking in coconut cream. This mouthwatering recipe typically features white fish like snapper or cod as its star ingredient.

To prepare this tasty meal, the fish is lightly fried or pan-seared before being simmered in a luscious sauce. The sauce is a heavenly blend of coconut cream and vegetables, often including onions and tomatoes. For an extra burst of flavour, a splash of lemon juice is added, giving the dish a delightful tangy twist.

You’ll love how the rich coconut cream complements the delicate fish and fresh vegetables!

Where to try: Nautical at Nawi (Savusavu), Nandina Fijian Restaurant (Denarau), Bonefish Seafood Restaurant (Denarau), Vakanananu Retreat (Taveuni), Ocean Terrace at Bedarra Beach Inn (Coral Coast) and more.

4. Uru Saga Velo Mitu – Fiji’s Most Fun Fish to Make

Experience the unique flavour of Uru Saga Velo Mitu, or “prawns cooked in bamboo,” at Nanuku Resort‘s Fijian warrior cooking class. You’ll learn to catch fresh prawns and prepare them in a traditional bamboo cylinder with coconut cream, chilli, and your choice of seasonings.

The bamboo is then cooked over a coconut husk fire, infusing the prawns with a delicious smoky flavour. Once ready, crack open the bamboo and serve the prawns in a bilo (coconut half-shell) for a truly authentic Fijian dining experience.

Discover more about this culinary adventure in Nanuku Resort: Where Luxury Meets Culture in Every Adventure.

Where to try: Nanuku Resort (Pacific Harbour) and Nadina Fijian Restaurant (Denarau).

5. Cassava (Tavioka) and Taro (Dalo) – Fiji’s Favourite Vegetables

Discovering the staples of the everyday diet in another country is one of the most interesting things about travelling (well, at least for foodies).

Something you’ll find on most Fijians’ dinner plates are cassava or taro, otherwise known as tavioka or dalo. These root vegetables are slightly different in taste but are prepared the same, either boiled or fried. Think of them as the Fiji version of potatoes – served on the side of a main meal.

Go to any cooking classes or homestays in Fiji and you’re sure to try some! Learn more about cooking classes in our list of the 10 Foodie Experiences in Fiji.

Where to try: Available at any of the 10 Best Markets in Fiji or in dishes served at Nadina Fijian Restaurant (Denarau), Bedarra Beach Inn (Coral Coast), Volivoli Beach Resort (Suncoast), The Boat Shed at Vuda Marina (Nadi) and many more restaurants!

6. Baigan Valo – Fijian Indian Food

Our first fusion dish in the melting pot nation of Fiji, Baigan Valo is essentially stuffed eggplants. “Baingan” in Hindi means eggplant, and in Baigan Valo the eggplant is either stuffed with fish or spicy sauce before being topped with coconut cream.

You’ll find it on the menu in many resort restaurants and city restaurants! Find out more about the different cultures of Fiji in Who are the People of Fiji?

Where to try: Yellow Chilli (Suva) and Suaguat (Suva).

7. Fijian Roti – Indo-Fijians’ Favourite Food

Another Indian influence on the flavours of Fiji is roti, which originated from the Indian sub-continent and has been a favourite in Fiji for decades.

The flatbread cooked over an iron tava is a side dish to curries, as well as being used as a wrap for a quick, cheap eat in curry houses and snack stands in Fiji’s towns and cities.

Where to try: Sigatoka Market (Coral Coast), Mum’s Country Kitchen (Savusavu), Lookout Cafe (Savusavu), Nadina Fijian Restaurant (Denarau), Crusoe’s Retreat (Coral Coast), The Boat Shed at Vuda Marina (Nadi), Tanoa Hotels (Nadi, Rakiraki, Lautoka and Suva), Curry House (Suva) and just about any curry house in Fiji!

8. Babakau – A Fijian Breakfast Favourite

A real treat for breakfast, babakau is Fijian fried bread! While most resorts will offer the standard “continental style breakfast”, homestay hosts are more likely to spruce up something a little more special, like babakau!

This delicious bread is usually served with jams, butter and fruit.

Where to try: Usually at one of the 15 Best Homestays in Fiji.

9. Cooked Fish – Fiji’s Favourite Protein

With islands surrounded by lively waters, it’s no surprise that fish is always on the menu. Plus, you’re likely to try a species of fish that you’ve never tasted before. Fish are prepared by either being fried, grilled, smoked or steamed.

On a side note, Fijians don’t fillet their fish so be prepared for some bone picking. Try catching some fish yourself following the advice in The Complete Guide to Fishing in Fiji.

Where to try: Bonefish Seafood Restaurant (Denarau), Captain’s Table (Savusavu), Sails Restaurant (Denarau), The Boatshed at Vuda Marina (Nadi), Crab Shack (Coral Coast), Flying Fin Restaurant (Coral Coast), Wicked Walu (Denarau), Crow’s Nest Resort (Coral Coast), Golden Point Resort (Suncoast) and the list goes on.

10. Palusami – A Traditional Fijian Meal

Another tasty South Pacific dish, Palusami is a curry made with taro leaves. Although the curry does not have spices or chilli, it still has a rich taste. Palusami is either topped with coconut cream or lamb chunks.

For a similar dish, look out for “rourou” cooked in coconut cream (more on rourou below).

Where to try: This dish is difficult to find, but rourou balls features on Nadina Fijian Restaurant (Denarau), while it is also possible to try during homestays.

11. Chop Suey – A Fijian-Chinese Dish

Fiji has a significant Chinese population too, so naturally, Chinese food is extremely popular! Chicken or vegetable chop suey is a staple item on fast food menus found in Fiji’s Chinese takeaways and restaurants.

The tangy aromatic flavours make a real contrast to traditional Fijian food so give it a try for some variety in your palette.

Where to try: Golden Point Resort (Suncoast), Savusavu Wok (Savusavu), LC’s Restaurant (Nadi), Dua Dua Beach Resort (Suncoast) and just about any Chinese restaurant in Fiji!

12. Tropical Fruit – A Must-Try at the Market

One of the best foodie experiences in Fiji is going to a produce market and trying all the weird and wonderful tropical fruits that you never knew existed! What fruit is Fiji known for? Try the alien-looking sour sop bursting with flavour, smooth pawpaw (papaya), the jelly-like Fijian longan and so much more!

Even the fruit that you’re probably familiar with, like pineapples and bananas, will look and taste a lot different (and sweeter) than the supermarket produce at home. Plus, who can forget the fresh coconuts!

Take a look at the 10 Exotic Fruits in Fiji You Have to Try.

Where to try: Available at any of the 10 Best Markets in Fiji.

13. Cassava Cake – The Best Fijian Dessert

A tasty sweet treat made from the aforementioned cassava or taro is the cassava cake. Be on the lookout for this sticky dessert in Fiji’s cafes or on the dessert menu of your resort restaurant, which is usually topped with butter, icing, fruit or whatever else the chef has in store.

Where to try: Some of the markets and roadside food stalls (see 10 Best Markets in Fiji).

14. Fiji Coffee – A Must-Try Drink in Fiji

Encroaching onto the liquid side of Fiji’s gastronomical offerings, Fiji’s coffee is something that will go very well with your cassava cake! Coffee bean plantations are nestled in the inland mountainous regions of Fiji.

In turn, locally grown coffee is roasted by several Fijian coffee roasters. Bula Coffee, Fiji Coffee and Cafe Planet are just a few that you might see in cafes and for sale in souvenir shops.

See more beverages to try in the 10 Drinks in Fiji You Have to Try.

Where to try: Bulaccino Café (Nadi), Bula Coffee Tour (Coral Coast) and Cafe Planet (Coral Coast).

15. Kava – A Traditional Fijian Drink

A staple of the Fijian culture, kava is a drink made from ground-up yaqona root mixed with water. The result is an earthy-tasting drink that, once you have had a few too many, will leave you tingly and majorly relaxed.

While casual night around the tanoa (bowl used to make and serve kava) is a way of life in Fiji, drinking kava is also drunk as part of a welcoming ceremony for new guests entering a village. That’s why many resorts in Fiji will greet their guests with a kava ceremony and get you ingrained in the local culture.

Learn more about where to experience kava drinking in our 10 Best Ways to Experience the Fijian Culture.

Where to try: Just about any resort in Fiji! Restaurants with kava-infused drinks include Cantina (Denarau) and Bulaccino (Nadi).

16. Rourou – Fijian Spinach

Rourou is taro (dalo) leaves cooked in a way that’s similar to spinach. It can be used in Palusami (see above) or something called Rourou Peti, which are taro leaves wrapped around chilli, onions, coconut milk and fish.

Where to try: Bedarra Beach Inn Ocean Terrace (Coral Coast), Nadina Fijian Restaurant (Denarau) and Isa Lei (Nadi).

17. Coconut Bread – A Tropical Staple

While not exclusive to Fiji, as you’ll find this baked staple across the Pacific Islands, coconut bread is still a must if you find it on the menu or at the bakery.

Where to try: Hot Bread Kitchen (Nadi, Namaka, Denarau or Suva).

18. Lolo Buns – Baked in Paradise

Another way to do coconut bread is the semi-sweet version, lolo buns. Served for breakfast or as a naughty treat, lolo buns are sometimes stuffed with coconut or soaked with coconut milk (or both).

Where to try: Hot Bread Kitchen (Nadi, Namaka, Denarau or Suva).

19. Nama – Fijian Sea Grapes

Harvested in the shallow waters of Fiji, nama is otherwise known as sea grapes and is a very traditional food in Fiji. The seaweed specifically grows in the lagoon waters of the Yasawa Islands where you can join villagers to harvest it.

Where to try: Nautical at Nawi (Savusavu). Not always, but try some of the 10 Best Markets in Fiji.

20. Sugarcane – Grown in Fiji

What many visitors don’t realise until they come to Fiji is just how much of the land across Viti Levu and Vanua Levu are sugar cane plantations. It’s not uncommon to see sugarcane trucks and trains passing through towns and even some resorts!

Many raw sugarcanes can be found lying around during the harvest season (November) where resorts are usually happy to chop them up for you to try the raw sweet stuff!

Otherwise, sugarcane is used in the production of Fijian rum, which you can find out more about in the 10 Drinks in Fiji You Have to Try.

Where to try: Try the 10 Best Markets in Fiji.

Final Facts About the Food in Fiji

Now that you know some of the best foods to try in Fiji, here are some final facts about Fijian food:

Ingredients that Fijians use in cooking include fish, rice, coconut, taro, cassava and breadfruit
Indian food is well represented in Fiji thanks to the large Indo-Fijian population
Local foods are often served bones-and-all, so prepare for some picking
Kava is the national drink in Fiji, although the islands also produce rum, coffee and beer
There are more ways to experience food in Fiji than just eating it, with cooking classes, medicinal walks, coconut demonstrations and more
Not all water is safe to drink in Fiji so be prepared with a Lifestraw bottle.

That’s it for the most unique foods in Fiji. Learn more about each of the facts about the food listed above, as well as more traditional dishes to try in The Complete Guide to Food in Fiji.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across Fiji and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Tourism Fiji (General travel advice - Updated [2025])
Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (Tourism trade association - Updated [2025])
SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (Tourism statistics - Updated [2025])
Land Transport Authority (Road safety advice - Updated [2025])
Fiji Immigration (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2025])
Fiji Revenue & Customs Service (Customs and visitor taxes - Updated [2025])
Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2025])
Fiji Meteorological Service (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2025])
Fiji Bureau of Statistics (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2025])
Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])
Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])
Travel.State.Gov (U.S. travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])

Our editorial standards: At Fiji Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

Laura (Lora) S.

This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor in chief and co-founder of Fiji Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in the South Pacific over 10 years ago with nothing but a backpack and a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to explore a paradise such as Fiji. She knows the islands inside-out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience Fiji’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also editor of several other South Pacific travel guides.

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