The majority of guests staying at Nadi stay in the resort for all three meals. It’s understandable. The buffet is just over there, and the kids are hungry, and no one wants to go back and forth about a taxi at 7 p.m.
However, resort meal plans range from FJ$150 to FJ$200 per adult per day, and a 10-minute drive will bring you a curry for FJ$10. The difference is vast, and the food on the other side is better.
Here are 10 restaurants in Nadi, Fiji, that you shouldn’t miss. Several are located within minutes of Denarau. Others require taxi transportation into town.
Nadi Town: Your Money Will Go Further!
Nadi Town is not a tourist area; it is a working town. The dining rooms are simple, and there’s AC available. It’s often better when it’s cooked.
Tata’s Restaurant
An institution that has fed people on Nadi Back Road for more than ten years. Small curries range from FJ$10; larger curries are around FJ$15. Goat, fish, and country chicken are the highlights; the roti is made fresh, and the owner works the room.
Sentai Seafood Restaurant
Chinese seafood in the heart of the city on Sagayam Road. They strive to use sustainable ingredients, and there are vegetarian options available for about 50% of the menu. Ask — there are a few different dishes that are vegan.
Bulaccino Café
They have two locations, one in Nadi Plaza on Queens Road and a second near the Sheraton on Denarau. Good espresso, wraps, salads and baked goods – a lot of it from their own farm. Around FJ$20 to FJ$30 a head. Everything is baked to order, causing service to be slow.
Mama’s Pizza
Wood-fired pizza with branches on Main Street and in Namaka. 8-inch pizzas are less than FJ$20. It’s not Fijian at all, but it saves a lot of family arguments.
Daikoku
On the corner of Northern Press Road and Queens Road, it’s teppanyaki, prepared on a hot plate at your table. Beware of prices of FJ$30 – FJ$60 per person. It’s a theatrical performance, more than it is dinner, and it’s perfect for groups; just be sure to reserve teppanyaki tables in advance.
Ikkyu
In the International Hotel Tanoa in Martintar. Curtained booths, food in a small room, sushi, sashimi and udon. The popular dishes are selling out, so be sure to arrive early (before 7 pm) and reserve where possible.
Port Denarau: Nearer, Dearer, Still Better
Port Denarau is approximately 10 minutes’ drive away from Denarau resorts and acts as their overflow dining room. Landings is more expensive than Nadi Town but less than your hotel. It is also a convenient place to park after an outing, as boats dock directly there.
Nadina is an Authentic Fijian Restaurant.
If you want Fijian food, you’ll want to make a reservation at this one. Lots of coconut, plenty of whole fish and plenty of whole prawns. This is a true exception when compared to most restaurants that are labeled “Fiji” that serve Indian, Chinese, or Western cuisine.
Indigo
At the marina since 2007, serving Indian and Southeast Asian dishes. The signatures are the Fiji duck curry and masala mudcrab, ideal for groups on the sharing platter. This is a true vegetarian menu and not one of the token options.
Cardo’s Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar
New Zealand steaks, large burgers and marina views, and live bands on certain nights. The breakfast is at around FJ$15, and it’s much more affordable than the dinner options as locals rate it highly.
Lulu Bar Café & Restaurant
Right next to the boat terminal, where it is the most logical place to land after a trip to the island. Freshly roasted coffee, fresh burger and fresh sushi. Open early (other places do not).
Some Things to be Aware of Before You Travel
- Carry cash. Multiple Nadi Town eateries refuse to accept cards or claim to accept and then don’t. Take Fiji shillings out of the bank before you enter.
- Sundays are quiet. Many of the roads in Nadi Town shut down. The marina is reserved for Sunday, but don’t forget to keep trading at the port of Denarau.
- Separate the taxi. Before you get in, agree on a fare or ask for the meter. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to reach Nadi Town from Denarau.
- Prices move. All of the above are approximate and in Fijian dollars.
FAQs About Restaurants in Nadi Fiji
Is the restaurant in Fiji less expensive than the resort I stay at?
Considerably. The price of a resort meal plan is approximately FJ$150 – 200 per person per day for adults. A curry house main is FJ$10 to FJ$15, a mid-range dinner is FJ$25 to FJ$40, and a filling plate at market stalls is less than FJ$10.
Can I use a credit card at Nadi, Fiji restaurants?
Nearly always at Port Denarau. Nadi Town, patchy. If you assume cash in town, you won’t be caught out.
Can one be safe eating in Nadi Town?
Yes. Nadi’s tap water is treated and safe to drink, although most visitors drink only bottled water because they are accustomed to it. As in any place, busy places with a high turnover are your friends.
Do I need to book?
Not a curry house or café. Book teppanyaki tables at Daikoku, dinner at Ikkyu, and Marina Restaurant during July to September peak season.
What is the best place to get authentic Fijian cuisine?
Nadina is the surest thing when it comes to a sit-down. In addition, check out a lovo night at a resort or a village visit – traditional Fijian cooking is more than just food at a restaurant; it’s home and ceremony food.
What’s there to eat for vegetarians?
A great deal. Cooking in Indo-Fijian cuisine is predominantly vegetarian-dhal, paneer, chana (chickpeas), and vegetable curries are almost ubiquitous and are not a second thought.
Worth the taxi fare?
The truth is that it’s a modest effort for Nadi’s food scene. It’s only one taxi ride and a few pennies worth of money that gives you a much improved week’s eating than the buffet queue, and at a lower price than what you’re already paying.