Vanuatu Food Guide
Content Information
Recently updated🔥Current Food Trends 2025
What's happening in Vanuatu's culinary scene right now
Vanuatu cuisine in 2025 blends Pacific island traditions with French colonial influences. Port Vila's restaurant scene is recovering post-earthquake with contemporary dining mixing local ingredients with international flavors. Kava culture remains central with nakamals serving the Pacific's most potent kava from fresh roots. Coconut crab conservation efforts have led most restaurants to stop serving this delicacy despite its legendary taste. Lap Lap variations showcase island-to-island cooking techniques, with Malekula's sosor method gaining recognition. French-influenced pastries and coffee culture thrive alongside traditional earth oven cooking. Santo beef from Espiritu Santo gains international recognition for nutrient-rich grass-fed quality. Tanna coffee from volcanic soils becomes a specialty export. Sustainability focus on local markets like Port Vila Market House and Luganville Market promoting 100% local ingredients. Papaya Loco Cooking School offers fusion cuisine classes combining traditional and modern techniques.
Food Safety Tips
Essential food safety information to help you enjoy Vanuatu's cuisine safely and confidently.
Drink bottled or treated water
Tap water is not safe for drinking in most areas of Vanuatu. Use bottled water or treat water before consumption.
Choose busy vendors at local markets
Street food at Port Vila Market House and Luganville Market is safe when vendors have high turnover. Women selling tuluk at Mele village entrance are reliable daily vendors.
Avoid coconut crab to protect endangered species
Most restaurants have stopped serving coconut crab as the species is at risk of extinction. Choose sustainable seafood alternatives.
Dietary Options
vegetarian
MEDIUM AVAILABILITYVegetarian options available including simboro, coconut-based dishes, and taro preparations. International restaurants in Port Vila offer more variety.
vegan
LOW AVAILABILITYVegan options limited but possible with root vegetables, tropical fruits, and coconut-based dishes. Communicate dietary needs clearly at restaurants.
gluten-free
MEDIUM AVAILABILITYMany traditional dishes based on cassava, taro, and yam are naturally gluten-free. French-influenced breads contain wheat.
Common Allergens
Coconut
VERY HIGH PREVALENCECoconut and coconut milk are fundamental to Vanuatu cuisine
COMMONLY FOUND IN:
Shellfish
HIGH PREVALENCESeafood including crab and various shellfish are common
COMMONLY FOUND IN:
Gluten
MEDIUM PREVALENCEFrench-influenced breads and pastries contain wheat
COMMONLY FOUND IN:
Essential Food Experiences
These iconic dishes represent the must-have culinary experiences that define Vanuatu's food culture for travelers.
Lap Lap
Vanuatu's national dish - a baked pudding made with grated yam, banana, manioc, or taro mixed with coconut milk and salt, wrapped in banana leaves and baked in an earth oven or on hot volcanic stones. Available at Mangoes Restaurant in Port Vila.
Tuluk
Grated cassava wrapped around spiced beef or pork, then steamed or baked. Soft and chewy texture contrasts with rich spiced filling. Found at street stalls and markets, especially at Mele village entrance daily except Sunday.
Coconut Crab
Large crustacean feeding on coconuts, giving meat a rich, sweet, nutty flavor. Considered one of the best-tasting crabs in the world but now endangered. Most restaurants no longer serve to protect the species.
Lap Lap Sosor (Malekula Style)
Special version of lap lap from Malekula island where a glowing hot volcanic stone is placed in the center with chicken wings, onion, and tomato on top. Coconut milk is squeezed over before baking.
Simboro
Traditional island dish available at Luganville Market, featuring local ingredients cooked with coconut milk. A staple at market stalls offering authentic flavors.
Santo Beef
High-quality grass-fed beef from Espiritu Santo, where cows enjoy nutrient-rich diet giving the meat exceptional flavor. World-renowned for quality.
Fresh Coconut Pastries
Available at markets including Luganville, these pastries blend French baking techniques with coconut and tropical ingredients.
Taro Pastries
Sweet or savory pastries made with taro root, popular at Luganville Market and street vendors.
Grilled Meat Skewers
Popular street food at markets, featuring grilled beef, pork, or chicken with local spices. Best found at Luganville Market on Espiritu Santo.
Port Olry Seafood
Fresh lobster, crab, and various fish cooked on the spot with feet in the sand at Port Olry. Catch-dependent menu showcasing ocean-to-table dining.
Regional Specialties & Local Favorites
Discover the authentic regional dishes and local favorites that showcase Vanuatu's diverse culinary traditions.
Fresh Tropical Fruits
Port Vila Market House offers abundant fresh fruits including papaya, mango, pineapple, passion fruit, and bananas. Essential to local breakfast and daily diet.
Island Fish
Freshly caught fish prepared in various styles - grilled, steamed, or in coconut milk. A daily staple showcasing Vanuatu's coastal bounty.
Allergens:
Cassava
Root vegetable prepared boiled, baked, or as the base for tuluk. A dietary staple across all islands.
Yam
Traditional root vegetable central to island cuisine, prepared in earth ovens or as ingredient in lap lap.
Coconut-Based Soups
Inspired by Tanna island, flavorful soups mixing beef, chicken, or seafood with fresh vegetables and coconut milk.
Allergens:
French Baguettes
Colonial legacy bringing fresh-baked baguettes to Port Vila and main islands, perfect with local jams.
Allergens:
Banana Preparations
Bananas cooked in various ways - baked in lap lap, fried, or as dessert with coconut cream.
Island Vegetables
Fresh island-grown vegetables including taro leaves, local greens, and root vegetables sold at markets.
Regional Cuisine Highlights
Explore the diverse culinary landscapes across different regions of Vanuatu.
Port Vila (Efate Island)
Capital city blending traditional Melanesian cooking with French colonial influences. Contemporary dining scene with casual and fine dining options. Home to cooking schools like Papaya Loco offering traditional and fusion cuisine classes.
Signature Dishes:
Key Ingredients:
Espiritu Santo
Largest island famous for Santo beef and seafood. Luganville Market offers street food including grilled meat skewers, fresh coconuts, and simboro. Port Olry provides beachside seafood dining with fresh daily catch.
Signature Dishes:
Key Ingredients:
Malekula Island
Known for unique lap lap sosor technique using hot volcanic stones placed in center of pudding with chicken, creating distinctive cooking method and flavor.
Signature Dishes:
Key Ingredients:
Tanna Island
Famous for Tanna coffee grown in volcanic soils and traditional coconut-enriched soups. Lenakel Market offers culinary walk through island-grown products. Source of world-recognized beef.
Signature Dishes:
Key Ingredients:
Sweet Delights & Desserts
Indulge in Vanuatu's traditional sweet treats and desserts.
Coconut Cream Desserts
Sweet dishes featuring thick coconut cream over fruits or baked preparations, showcasing island's coconut abundance.
French-Style Pastries
Colonial influence brings croissants, pain au chocolat, and tropical fruit tarts to Port Vila bakeries.
Banana and Coconut Cake
Traditional sweet combining ripe bananas with coconut, sometimes baked in banana leaves.
Traditional Beverages
Discover Vanuatu's traditional drinks, from locally produced spirits to regional wines.
Kava
Traditional drink made from fresh kava root with calming effects. Ni-Vanuatu pride themselves on making the most potent kava in the Pacific. Served in coconut shells at nakamals with earthy, slightly bitter taste.
Soft Beverages
Discover Vanuatu's traditional non-alcoholic drinks, from local teas to refreshing juices.
Tanna Coffee
Coffee grown in rich volcanic soils of Tanna Island, famous for its rich and smooth flavor. Becoming a specialty export.
Fresh Coconut Water
Refreshing water from young coconuts, available throughout islands and at every market.
Tropical Fruit Juices
Freshly squeezed juices from papaya, pineapple, passion fruit, and mango available at markets.