Market-Where-to-Buy-Food-in-Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com
Market-Where-to-Buy-Food-in-Fiji

Where to Buy Food in Fiji

© FijiPocketGuide.com

Guide to Food Shopping in Fiji

Everybody’s got to eat, right? So where you can eat in Fiji? The obvious go-to is the restaurants in resorts, but if you want to save a ton of money while travelling in Fiji or just love to cook, then you’re going to want to make some meals for yourself. With that, you’re going to need to know where to buy food in Fiji! We can help you there!

In this guide on where to buy food in Fiji, we’ll go over what the typical supermarket in Fiji stocks, as well as go over what other outlets in Fiji are available for you to buy your own food. We’ll also give you a few quick tips on eating out and what your options are beyond your resort restaurant.

If you find this article useful, you might also like Where to Buy Your Essentials in Fiji, as well as 10 Foods in Fiji You Have to Try.

5 Food Tips for Fiji

  • If staying on one of the outer islands, stock up on snacks and bottled water, as these are often very expensive to buy on the islands (if available)
  • Check what food you can pass through biosecurity when arriving in Fiji. See What to Declare When Arriving in Fiji for more details.
  • When staying at island resorts, restaurants are your only option. Consider having a late lunch/early dinner so that you can eat from the lunch menu, which is often half the price of what’s on the dinner menu.
  • Locals prepare meat and seafood with the bones still in, so ask what is Ok to eat if you are unsure.
  • Don’t assume that all rooms in a resort will have access to kitchen facilities. Usually, only apartments or villas have that luxury.
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Grocery Stores and Supermarkets in Fiji

Supermarkets are relatively abundant in Fiji, with most large towns and cities have multiple to choose from. While there are a lot of independent supermarkets, there are some brands found across Fiji, like New World, Consumers and RB Patel. These styles of supermarkets will stock foods common in Western cultures with a mix of New Zealand, Australian and Fiji food brands.

The typical items and cost are as follows:

  • Milk (1 litre/35 ounces) – FJ$2.90
  • Loaf of Bread – FJ$1.20
  • Rice (1kg/2.2 pounds) – FJ$2.30
  • 12 Eggs – FJ$5.50
  • Cheese (1kg/2.2pounds) – FJ$21
  • Bottled Water (1.5l/53 ounces) – FJ$3
  • Chicken Breast (1kg/2.2 ounces) – FJ$21
  • Beef (1kg/2.2 ounces) – FJ$23
  • Bananas (1kg/2.2 ounces) – FJ$4
  • Tomato (1kg/2.2 ounces) – FJ$10
  • Onion (1kg/2.2 ounces) – FJ$2.50
  • Pack of Cookies/Biscuit Snacks (200g/7 ounces) – FJ$2.40

Note that food prices in supermarkets close to big tourist areas, such as within resorts or in Denarau, will have slightly more expensive food prices.

Chinese and Indian supermarkets are also readily available in larger towns and cities where many more food products can be found. Spices are cheap to buy at these food outlets, many of which are locally grown.

Baby products and food are also easily found in supermarkets with brands like Heinz and Huggies. As for those with special dietary needs, the larger supermarket chains are likely to have gluten-free products and more.

Opening hours for supermarkets are usually 8am-5pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 3pm on a Saturday.

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Convenience Stores in Fiji

Convenience stores are dotted throughout Fiji and provide a good option for picking up bits and bobs you might have missed from the supermarket. Like most places in the world, the price of food in convenience stores are a little more expensive in Fiji. You will find many of your basic foods in convenience stores (sometimes called a “dairy”) in Fiji, just not a wide selection.

A thing to note about Fiji convenience stores is that it’s not always obvious that they are convenience stores from the outside. Many of the buildings in Fiji’s cities and towns are labelled with branding like “Coca-Cola” so it can often be difficult to differentiate between stores without reading the signs.

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Fresh Food Markets and Roadside Food Stalls

The best deals on fresh fruit and vegetables can be found in the food markets and roadside stalls of Fiji’s larger towns and cities. Not only are the markets cheaper, but the money goes directly to farmers and producers, rather than through big corporations. Many travellers to Fiji choose to visit the fresh food markets for the cultural experience too: seeing all those rows of fresh and colourful produce and meeting friendly Fijians.

While some fruit and vegetables are seasonal, for instance, tomatoes, fruit like pineapple, watermelon and bananas can be bought year-round. Many of the produce is sold in bundles, for instance, you will buy a heap of tomatoes on a plate. Some larger items can be bought individually.

You’ll notice that fruit will look different here in Fiji than what you will find in the supermarkets in Western cultures. That’s because the fruit and vegetables are grown more naturally here than what is imported to supermarkets across the globe. With that, they’ll taste fresher and sweeter too!

The final advantage of shopping at a fresh food market is that you’re bound to discover new vegetables, like dalo or taro, used in Fiji like a potato. Ask the stall owners how to prepare vegetables that you are unsure of (don’t worry, they are asked by tourists all the time). Check out 10 Foods in Fiji You Have to Try to get an idea of what to look for!

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Eating Out in Fiji

When it comes to eating out, almost all resorts will have restaurants serving a range of foods in a range of continental styles from Fijian to Western to Chinese and more. However, it’s no secret that resort food isn’t cheap. The price of resort food largely depends on the style of accommodation: luxury resorts will have luxury prices, budget resorts will have more affordable prices. However, it is possible to eat out at a cheaper price in Fiji if you know where to go.

Outside of resorts, in towns and cities, it’s common to find full meals for around FJ$8 or cheaper from roadside food stalls that sometimes will sell meals for as little as FJ$2! In short, if it’s locals usually selling to other locals, you’re bound to find a cheap meal. And the food’s good too! Fijian food bought by locals is a lot more authentic, usually involving fresh seafood. Indian food is also very popular (and very good), due to many of the locals being Indo-Fijian.

Finally, when doing homestays or village stays, you will often get the option to pay for meals. This might be your best option, as carrying and storing your own food would be very inconvenient. Homestay meals are usually very reasonable, expect to pay around FJ$15 per person per day (that’s three meals!)

For more information on what to expect when eating out in Fiji, see our Complete Guide to Fiji Food.

Author

Laura 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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