Maldivian food is built on three staples: tuna, coconut and starch such as rice or roshi flatbread. Signature dishes include garudhiya fish broth, mas huni for breakfast, and moreish short eats called hedhikaa. Resorts serve international buffets, but local islands are where you taste the real thing.
Here are the dishes to seek out and where to find them.
What are the must try Maldivian dishes?
| Dish | What it is | When to eat |
|---|---|---|
| Mas huni | Shredded tuna, coconut, onion and chilli | Breakfast with roshi |
| Garudhiya | Clear tuna broth with rice, lime and chilli | Lunch or dinner |
| Hedhikaa (short eats) | Fried snacks like bajiya and gulha | Tea time |
| Fihunu mas | Grilled fish rubbed with chilli paste | Dinner |
| Saagu bondibai | Sago and coconut milk pudding | Dessert |
What is Maldivian cuisine based on?
With islands scattered across the Indian Ocean, seafood dominates, and skipjack tuna is the national favourite, eaten fresh, dried or smoked. Coconut appears in almost everything, from curries to sweets, while rice and the roshi flatbread provide the carbohydrate. Flavours lean toward chilli, lime, curry leaf and onion.
What should you try for breakfast?
Start the day like a local with mas huni, a mix of shredded smoked tuna, grated coconut, onion and chilli, scooped up with warm roshi. It is simple, protein rich and found on almost every local island guesthouse table.
Where can you eat authentic local food?
Resorts focus on international buffets and fine dining, so for authentic Maldivian meals head to guesthouses and cafes, known as hotaa, on inhabited local islands. Tea shops there serve trays of hedhikaa short eats such as bajiya, gulha and fried fish cakes at very low prices.
What about drinks and desserts?
Try raa, a sweet palm toddy, and strong local tea. For dessert, sample saagu bondibai, a sago and coconut milk pudding, or bondi coconut sticks. Alcohol is served only at resorts, so on local islands stick to juices, tea and fresh coconut water.
For more planning, read our Maldives travel guide, our list of things to do in the Maldives, and the best time to visit the Maldives.
To combine resort comfort with local island food experiences, explore our curated Maldives holiday packages.
Frequently asked questions
What is the national dish of the Maldives?
Garudhiya, a clear tuna broth served with rice, lime, chilli and onion, is considered the national dish, though mas huni is the most famous breakfast.
Is Maldivian food spicy?
It can be. Chilli features in many dishes, but heat is adjustable, and resort kitchens happily tone it down. Local island cafes may serve spicier versions.
Is vegetarian food available?
Yes. While seafood dominates, resorts offer extensive vegetarian menus, and local dishes with vegetables, lentils and coconut can be found. Vegans should ask about fish paste, which is used widely.
Can you drink the tap water?
Most resorts provide filtered or desalinated drinking water. On local islands, stick to bottled or filtered water to be safe.
'/%3E%3C/svg%3E)