🍔 Rarotonga - Budget Food Guide 🍍

🥪 Cafe Ariki

📍 Location: Avarua town.

🍛 Why Go: Popular with locals for generous portions at affordable prices. A great place for a hearty dinner without spending big. This is our go-to restaurant!

🍔 Palace Burgers

📍 Location: Avarua waterfront.

🍟 Why Go: Legendary cheap burgers in Raro! Even better, every Wednesday they have $3.50 all day burgers (and often Fridays too). We can't count how many burgers we've had from here!

🚚 The Food Caravans

📍 Location: Scattered mostly around Avarua.

🍽️ Why Go: These little roadside food trucks serve up mostly yummy fresh (fish) burgers, fries etc and you can find other types of food also in caravans.

🌮 Muri Night Markets

📍 Location: Muri Beach.

🥘 Why Go: A must-do for budget travelers. You’ll find everything from island-style curries to fresh seafood, desserts, and smoothies—all reasonably priced and full of flavor

🍉 Punanga Nui Market

📍 Location: Avarua, Saturday mornings.

🥥 Why Go: Beyond crafts and souvenirs, you’ll find stalls selling affordable local food like coconut donuts, poke bowls, tropical fruit smoothies, and more.

🍗 Annie’s Fried Chicken & Vietnamese

📍 Location: In town near Avatiu.

🍗 Why Go: A no-frills small locals shop, tucked away on a side road. Very popular with the locals. Their chicken is fresh & cheap! and their Vietnamese dishes are the best!! We went almost everyday once we discovered it.

🍕 Trader Jack’s

📍 Location: Avarua Harbour.

🍕 Why Go: Great value for generous pizzas. Ideal for sharing with friends—big portions for a budget-friendly price and all with a beautiful view.

🐟 The Pacific Fish & Chip Shop

• 📍 Location: Arorangi, Rarotonga.

• 🍽️ Why Go: The locals fish & chip shop - so you know it's good! The menu has all your normal go-to's and offers unique island-style sides such as taro and cassava fries, and indulgent treats like deep-fried Moro bars and our favourite banana donut. yum!

🥖 Affordable Bakeries We personally like

🥐 Rima’s Bakery Cafe: Great value pies, sandwiches and cheap meals.

🍞 Bread and Butter Bakery Shop: A reliable local spot for fresh bread, pastries, and local pies

🥖 Rarotonga Bakery: Affordable, simple baked goods that hit the spot when you need an easy snack or picnic supplies.

🛒 Grocery Shopping Tips

🥑 Support Local Where You Can: You can bring food from New Zealand (following biosecurity rules), but buying locally supports the island and gives you a real taste of the tropics.

🧀 Dairy is Expensive: Cheese, milk, yogurt, and other dairy products are imported and cost noticeably more—budget a little extra if you need them.

🍭 Sugar Tax: Sugary snacks and drinks are taxed, so processed treats are pricier than you might expect.

🛍️ Smart Shopping: Main supermarkets like CITC, Prime Foods, and Wigmore’s are well stocked, but roadside produce stalls and Punanga Nui Market often have cheaper and fresher fruits and veggies.

See our Full Guide below with over 120 locations/tips, its the best Rarotonga planning guide out (in our humble opinion 😁) www.rexby.com/NZ_Adventures/cookislands

Happy Travels 🌴🌞