Traditional Food and Meals from Tonga
What are the Tongan dishes to try when visiting Tonga? What are the staple meals of The Kingdom? We go over some popular Tongan foods in this list of foods in Tonga you have to try!
Now, the Tongan dishes listed below are traditional foods with a modern twist. Traditional Tongan food is made from staple ingredients such as taro, banana, breadfruit, coconut, fish and more which are creatively combined for a multitude of tastes and experiences. You’ll also find that contemporary Tonga has a few modern ingredients thrown into the mix, such as their fascination with corned beef – just in case you were wondering why the supermarket shelves are full of it!
The best place to try traditional Tonga food is at a cultural show with an umu buffet allowing you to taste a bit of everything. On the other hand, many local restaurants, roadside stalls and markets also feature Tongan staples on their menus. So, scout out the dishes you’d like to try in Tonga using this list of traditional Tongan food!
1. Umu
First things first, a must-try in Tonga is not a specific dish but a cooking style known as umu. Umu is a traditional Tongan cooking method where food is slow-cooked in a hot-rock oven and covered with banana leaves (or nowadays, metal sheets and some old carpets). You’ll experience umu food at cultural shows and cultural tours, while the odd accommodation may also host an umu night. See the 10 Best Cultural Shows in Tonga to learn more about experiencing umu buffets.
Where to try: Katea Retreat (Tongatapu), Oholei Beach Resort, (Tongatapu), Tina’s Workshop (Nuku’alofa), Ancient Tonga (Nuku’alofa), Teta Tours (Tongatapu), Beautiful Ofu Island Backpackers (Vava’u), Mystic Sands (Vava’u), ‘Alakoko Tahi Moana Guest House (‘Eua), Blue Water Retreat (‘Eua), Fanga ‘o Ipu Lahi Resort (Ha’apai) and Sandy Beach Resort (Ha’apai, high season only).
© TongaPocketGuide.com2. Lu
A staple of the umu and a semi-common dish you’ll find on restaurant menus in Tonga, lu combines coconut cream, taro leaves and meat, whether it’s puaka (pork), pulu (beef/corned beef) or sipi (lamb). These ingredients are then wrapped in aluminium foil (or banana leaves if done traditionally) and baked in an oven or umu for around two hours. The dish is eaten hot and typically served with a side of yams, rice or something else.
Where to try: Any umu night (see the list above) or Waterfront Restaurant & Lodge (Nuku’alofa), Maleitaha Cafe (Nuku’alofa), Mum’s Cafe (Nuku’alofa), Ofeina Restaurant (Tongatapu) and Keli’i and Rose Restaurant (Tongatapu).
© TongaPocketGuide.com3. ‘Ota Ika
The easiest dish to find on restaurant menus in Tonga is ‘ota ika, which is raw fish marinated in coconut cream and citrus juice. The concoction may also have tomatoes, onions, cucumbers and/or chillis. It’s a light meal, which is good for either lunch or an entree to an evening meal.
Where to try: Waterfront Restaurant & Lodge (Nuku’alofa), Maleitaha Cafe (Nuku’alofa), Mum’s Cafe (Nuku’alofa), 12 Seafood Restaurant (Nuku’alofa), Friends Cafe (Nuku’alofa) Billfish Bar & Restaurant (Nuku’alofa), Ngutulei Restaurant (Nuku’alofa), Tupu’anga Cafe (Nuku’alofa), Ofeina Restaurant (Tongatapu), Keli’i and Rose Restaurant (Tongatapu), MJ Seafood (Vava’u), Tongan Beach Resort (Vava’u), Mango Cafe (Vava’u), Matafonua Lodge (Ha’apai) and more.
(c) tongapocketguide.com4. Feke
Feke or lo’i feke is grilled octopus or squid prepared in a coconut sauce. The octopus is cooked by simmering in a pot with coconut cream and usually onions and chilli for extra flavour.
Where to try: Humpback Lodge (Vava’u), MJ Seafood (Vava’u), Seaview Lodge (Nuku’alofa), Mum’s Cafe (Nuku’alofa), 12 Seafood Restaurant (Nuku’alofa) and Keli’i and Rose Restaurant (Tongatapu).
© TongaPocketGuide.com5. Faikakai
And for a sweet treat, look out for faikakai, which are locally grown vegetables or fruit cooked in sweet coconut syrup. For instance, try faikakai mei (breadfruit in coconut syrup), faikakai ngou’a (taro leaves), faikakai malimali (ripe bananas) or faikakai manioke tama (tapioca or cassava). Learn more about the different types of fruit in the 10 Exotic Fruits in Tonga You Have to Try.
Where to try: Vuna Road stalls (Nuku’alofa), Saturday morning Pangai Market (Ha’apai), Andrew Havea Junior’s Store (‘Eua) and Pepe Mahe Store (‘Eua).
© TongaPocketGuide.com6. Topai
Topai is a more simplistic version of faikakai; simply dumplings (flour and sugar) in sweet coconut syrup. It’s commonly made in Tongan homes as an easy quick treat to make. Otherwise, you can find it for sale at the occasional roadside or market stall, sold in peaked banana leaves or aluminium foil parcels.
Where to try: Vuna Road stalls (Nuku’alofa) and Saturday morning Pangai Market (Ha’apai).
© TongaPocketGuide.com7. Kelevi Ika
One that you’ll see on the menus of many Tongan restaurants, kelevi ika is fish, usually fried, served in a gravy-like sauce. It’s the ultimate Tongan comfort food!
Where to try: MJ Seafood (Vava’u), Talei’s Restaurant (‘Eua), Mum’s Cafe (Nuku’alofa), Ofeina Restaurant (Tongatapu) and Keli’i and Rose Restaurant (Tongatapu).
© TongaPocketGuide.com8. Pele
This is another Tongan dish that’s relatively easy to find on restaurant menus! The main ingredient is lau pele, which is a Tangan variety of edible hibiscus, otherwise known as Tongan spinach. Like many Tongan dishes, it is cooked in coconut cream and the chef’s preferred meat, whether it’s lamb to make pele sipi or turkey tails to make pele mui’ipipi.
Where to try: Siva’s Dream Cafe (Tongatapu), Keli’i and Rose Restaurant (Tongatapu), Mum’s Cafe (Nuku’alofa) and Lucky Pot Restaurant (Ha’apai).
© TongaPocketGuide.com9. Mei Chips
The classic potato fries will seem pretty boring after you’ve tried Tonga’s take on the classic; mei chips. In other words, breadfruit that has been deep-fried into irresistibly crispy goodness. Some Tongan restaurants also deep-fry bananas and cassava. So give it a go as an alternative side dish!
Where to try: Mi-Chef Cafe (Nukuy’alofa), Mum’s Cafe (Nuku’alofa), Garden Cafe (Tongatapu), Ofeina Restaurant (Tongatapu), Keli’i and Rose Restaurant (Tongatapu), MJ Seafood (Vava’u) and Tongan Beach Resort (Vava’u).
© TongaPocketGuide.com10. Keki
And another naughty treat worth trying is keki, which are Tongan-style doughnuts. They are round deep-fried dough balls that you can try from bakeries or Tongan homes.
Where to try: Matuku-ae-tau Bakery (Ha’apai).
(c) tongapocketguide.com[BONUS] ‘Ofato
Locals on Niuafo’ou have a special delicacy that you may or may not want to try. ‘Ofato is a large native grub only found on the trees of Niuafo’ou that locals collect to eat! Hardcore islanders will just pick them off the trees and eat them raw, while others prefer to fry, grill or roast them on an open fire. If you spend any good amount of time on Niuafo’ou, you will inevitably try it, so be mentally prepared!
Where to try: Niuafo’ou – one of the islands in The Niuas.
© Teta ToursMore About Tongan Food
That’s it for our list of the best Tongan food and foods to try in Tonga. For more food talk, take a look at the following:
- 10 Drinks in Tonga You Have to Try
- The Guide to the Food in Tonga
- 15 Best Foodie Experiences in Tonga
Finally, plan your trip around dining experiences in the Tonga Food Itinerary: 14 Days, Tonga Food Itinerary: 7 Days and Tonga Food Itinerary: 5 Days.
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