Rarotonga Food: 5 Local Cheap Eats to Try
A list of interesting, local, delicious, and cheap foods to try in Raro.
What's better than delicious food?
Cheap and delicous food! 😛
Even better that that? Cheap, delicious, and local foods!
Here are some delicious, and (mostly) cheap eats I tried while in Rarotonga. It includes some interesting traditional/local foods, as well as some typical Western favourites:
- Flying fish with tapioca @ Punanga Nui Market
- Ota (arrowroot cake) @ KAPS
- Curried greens and meat lunchbox @ Corner store
- Ika Mata and seafood curries @ Muri Night Market
- Cheap burgers @ Palace Takeaways
Read on for detailed description and photos of each!
Flying Fish & Tapioca @ Punanga Nui Market
This was the most memorable thing I ate while in Rarotonga.
It was my first time eating flying fish, and my first time eating straight-up tapioca.
And, you know what? It was delicious!
There's a coconut sauce that you pour over everything (I forgot to take a picture). Then, you just dig in.
Literally.
No fork or chopstocks. You eat it with your bare hands. (Just make sure you wash your hands first).
The locals had a nice laugh watching us foreigners navigate our way aroud this dish. 😅
Location
The shop/stand is located at the far west side of the Punanga Nui Market. It is right on the corner.
The owner is super friendly, and inviting.
I think the shop is only open in the morning / lunch time. It is not open during the evening (at least when I was there).
Cost
It cost around $10 for a fish. The rice and tapioca are self service, so you can technically eat as much as you want.
I just remember feeling extremely full and satisfied afterwards. Probably the best deal on the island.
Ota (Arrowroot cake)
Ota (not sure about the spelling) is a delicious steamed cake thing made with arrowroot.
It has a sweet, slightly smokey flavor that is super addicting. It would pair great with some coffee or tea.
Ota is definitely one of my favorite foods that I had while on the Cook Islands.
Where to buy it
I first tried some on Aitutaki, and had been looking everywhere to buy some more without much luck.
They don't seem to sell it in the supermarkets. One day, I wandered into a gas station / convenience store to buy some water, and saw them selling it at the counter. The store is called KAPS. Here's a map:
One morning, I also saw a guy selling some off the side of a street 😂.
Lunchbox @ Convenience store near school
Huge portions. Good taste. Cheap price.
The perfect combination.
This lunchbox included green vegetables in a curry sauce with some sort of raw-looking meat (or was it fish?) served over rice and bananas.
Honestly, I am not completely sure what I was eating, but it was delicious! 😂
The same store also had some other standard looking choices like fried rice, and basic chicken curries. Of course, I opted for the most interesting looking one.
Location
The small shop is located right across from St. Joseph's School.
We were actually on our way to the Lazy Trout Cafe, when we came across the shop. The cafe was too expensive, and just your typical Kiwi style food, so we decided to try the lunchbox instead. Great decision!
They also have a nice little outdoor seating area so you can enjoy your lunchbox right there.
Cost
It cost around $10. Portions are huge. Different lunchboxes have slightly different prices. I think there was a discount if you buy two.
Ika Mata, Seafood Curries & More @ Muri Night Market
If you only have one night to try a bunch of local foods, then Muri Night Market is the place to go.
You can get all sorts of local dishes like ika mata (i.e. marinated raw fish), various island curries, fresh coconut drinks, and more.
There's also typical favorites like pizzas, fried noodles, etc.
There are plenty of options, and the food we tried was all decent. My favorite was the stall called "Seafood Man".
The only downside of the market is that it is mainly made for tourists, so prices are a bit expensive, and portions not so generous. ☹️
Location
Muri Night Markets is located near Muri Beach on the east coast of the island:
Price
Food at Muri Night Market is not cheap. Most dishes cost about the same as they would at a standard restaurant or cafe – around $15 to $20.
Cheap Burgers @ Palace Takeaway
Sometimes, you just want a burger. 🍔
The place to go for burgers in Rarotonga is Palace Takeaways.
Prices are cheap, portions are good, and taste is delicious.
You can also get ridiculously, humungous burgers beyond your wildest imagination (see above photo).
If you're lucky to time your trip, there are "Happy Hour Burgers" on Wednesdays where basic burgers (i.e. hamburger, cheeseburger, etc.) only cost $3.50!
Location
Menu & Price
Regular priced burgers are all under $10, unless you opt for the ridiculous ones.
Here's a photo of the menu that I pulled off of Google Maps. Photo is from 2022, so prices may have gone up since then:
Rarotonga Food FAQ
What is the traditional food in Rarotonga?
Traditional food in Rarotonga includes a lot of fish and seafood dishes such as ika mata.
There are also many dishes that make use of the local tropical fruits and vegetables.
Check out this article by Cook Islands Tourism for more descriptions.
Is there Mcdonald's in Rarotonga?
Nope, there's no McDonald's in Raro.
There are many other fast food/takeaway places that serve burgers, fries, etc. Palace Takeaways (listed above) is a great cheap choice.
Does Rarotonga have a supermarket?
Yes, there are supermarkets in Rarotonga.
The biggest one is CITC Supermarket. For slightly fancier options, you can check out Prime Foods. There are also various convenience stores scattered around the island.
Can I take KFC to Rarotonga?
Yes. You can take KFC from Auckland Airport (or wherever else) to Rarotonga.
The other passengers on the plane might not appreciate it though. 😂
Summary
Trying new, interesting foods is one of the best parts of travelling.
In Rarotonga, you can get all your typical Western / Kiwi foods like fish & chips, burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, etc.
You can also get some interesting local dishes that are not found anywhere else in the world.
Let me know:
What is your favourite local food or restaurant in Rarotonga?
Did I miss any major ones on my list?
Leave a comment below, or send me a message!