Posted by on 26 Mar 2025 , in Islands

While French Polynesia is mainly known for being a jaw-dropping tropical paradise, it also entices food lovers with mouth-watering culinary delights.

Marked by a distinct Polynesian culture and brimming with fresh seafood, juicy fruits and exotic spices, Tahiti makes food lovers and adventurous eaters feel right at home. French classics mix with Polynesian favourites—many locals cycle around Papeete with baskets full of baguettes and even a few buttery croissants, thinly sliced deli meats and some cheeses. But if you seek local food, there’s breadfruit (‘uru), coconut, bananas, taro, umara (sweet potato), papaya, pineapple, fish, pork and more to feast on.

Whether you dine in one of Tahiti’s world-class restaurants, join a traditional tamara’a (banquet) or eat at Papeete’s humble roulottes (food trucks), delectable culinary specialties and full-bodied local drinks await. Never leave the island without trying some highly recommended Tahitian dishes and beverages we’ve listed below.

Traditional Tahitian Food: 4 Must-Try Dishes

Start your gastronomic journey in Tahiti with these traditional dishes.

Poisson Cru

Poisson cru is considered Tahiti’s national dish.

If you’re a sashimi lover, consider adding Tahiti’s unofficial national dish to your must-eat list. Poisson cru (is ota or e’ia ota) contains coconut milk, raw fish, lime juice and vegetables. Many chefs choose tuna for this intriguing dish.

Cooking poisson cru starts with marinating the raw fish in fresh lime or lemon juice, which produces acid that changes fish proteins and “cooks” the fish. Once that’s done, chefs sprinkle tomato, onion, peppers or other crunchy raw vegetables on top of the marinated fish. Since the juice tastes sour, coconut milk is poured into the fish and vegetable mix.

Even if you aren’t too fond of raw fish (or anything raw), poisson cru is a dish worth tasting. Also, avoiding this Tahitian cuisine staple is quite challenging, as it’s on most hotel, restaurant, food truck and snack bar menus.

Ahima’a

Locals cook fresh, delicious meals in an ahima’a.

Ahima’a is the traditional Polynesian earth oven used during joyful celebrations and family meals. If you get to dine in a Tahitian home on a Sunday, you may see your hosts cooking a ma’a Tahiti (Tahitian meal) in this oven.

The meal usually includes fish, pork, taro, fe’i bananas and ‘uru, all wrapped in banana leaves and slow-cooked on red-hot stones until tender and ready to eat.

Breadfruit

Breadfruit or ‘uru can be cooked and eaten in several different ways.

Another must-try local delicacy, ‘uru comes from the breadfruit tree and is always included in Tahitian meals. It can be eaten raw or cooked in an open flame, in an ahima’a or with oil.

Biting into a piece of ‘uru gives you a starchy, bread-like flavour, and the fruit tastes delicious when dipped in sweet coconut milk. Locals also wrap breadfruit in banana leaves and cook it on open fire, with the leaves adding tremendous banana flavour.

Sometimes, ‘uru is eaten instead of potatoes or bread, so don’t be shocked if you see residents eating it with hot corned beef. You can even pair breadfruit with pâté or, for an indulgent meal, foie gras.

Fafaru

This Polynesian favourite isn’t for the faint of heart, and you’ll need some courage to try and digest it.

Fafaru contains raw tuna or marlin marinated in fermented seawater, made by soaking crushed shrimp in the water for two to three days. During this time, chefs expose the mixture to sunlight. They strain the liquid afterward and soak slices of raw tuna in it for three to eight hours. In turn, you get a fresh-tasting yet strong-smelling dish served with miti hue (fermented coconut milk).

The main challenge to eating fafaru is its powerful smell that makes stomachs turn at a mere whiff. But once you’ve mustered enough courage to savour it, you may find it delicious and want another serving.

3 Sweet Tahitian Treats to Enjoy During Your Stay

Po’e

If you’re after a truly sweet treat, you’ll love Po’e.

This is one dessert you’ll save some room for. Po’e, with a sugary flavour and jelly-like texture, can be made from manioc, banana, pumpkin or papaya. Chefs mash their chosen fruit into a pulp, mix it with starch (arrowroot flour) and cook it in an in-ground or earth oven. When preparing the pulp, it’s wrapped in banana leaves, cooked until it bubbles and looks like pudding.

This Tahitian dessert can be served in cubes with coconut cream drizzled over it. Most locals make banana po’e, but you can also enjoy versions made from mangoes, papayas or pineapples.

Firi Firi

Eating firi firi is a great way to start your day in Tahiti.

A Tahitian breakfast won’t be complete without firi firi, a dessert made with coconut-flavoured flour. Served as a figure-eight-shaped donut, this snack is deep-fried for a brown, crunchy texture. Sugar is then added to each cooked piece of firi firi.

You can enjoy this Tahitian dessert with coffee, hot chocolate or fruit jam. If you’re trying firi firi downtown, locals dipping one into their morning coffee is a common sight. Each piece brings a hint of coconut and a crispy, appetizing texture to your taste buds.

Freshly cooked firi firi is available at many Tahitian street food stands and kiosks.

Tahitian Sweet Bread

Tahitian sweet bread stands out with its heavenly dough full of fruits

This Tahitian dessert isn’t your typical piece of bread. It has a sweet dough made by mixing yogurt and orange juice. Dried mango, pineapple bits and whipped egg whites are also added to the dough. You can enjoy Tahitian sweet bread any time of the day, whether it’s your dessert after breakfast or a delicious mid-afternoon snack.

Refreshing Local Drinks for More Relaxing Holidays

After indulging in delicious Tahitian food, wind down with one of these refreshing beverages.

Tahiti Drink

The Tahiti Drink is sold in three coloured cartons.

For a cocktail that will remind you of Tahiti’s tropical vibe, try the aptly named Tahiti Drink with its distinct combination of delightful fresh juices and flavours. It contains pineapple and passionfruit juices mixed with orange zest, vanilla and fruit liquors or cane spirits.

Locals have loved this sweet and refreshing cocktail since it was introduced in the 1980s. Interestingly, the Tahiti Drink is packaged in three distinctively-coloured cartons.

The original flavour comes in a red carton, while the Daïquiri Fraise mix has a pink carton.
There’s also a mojito-flavoured version of the Tahiti Drink. Packed in a bright green carton, the cocktail combines mint and lime from the Marquesas Islands for a marvellous, fragrant punch.

Hinano Lager

When it comes to beer, the iconic Hinano Lager is a must-try.

If you’re more of a beer lover, this next Tahitian beverage is for you.

The Hinano Lager has been a mainstay in Tahiti’s restaurants, bars, and banquets for nearly 70 years. It’s a deluxe, bottom-fermented lager with a light, golden colour and distinct bitterness.

Moreover, the drink is brewed in the Punaruu Valley, where you’ll find the most modern production site in the South Pacific Islands. This gives the Hinano Lager exceptional quality, earning it international recognition over the years. Notably, the beer was awarded a Gold Medal in Luxembourg in 1990 and in Brussels in 1993.

Note: While the Hinano Lager has only 5% alcohol content, we encourage you to drink moderately. The same goes for the other alcoholic drinks you’re trying during your stay.

Taste Tahiti’s Culinary Delights on Your Next Holiday

Beyond incredible natural landscapes and fascinating experiences, Tahiti and its islands have a thriving culinary scene. Be sure to try the many scrumptious dishes and refreshing drinks offered around the archipelago the next time you visit.

For more travel inspiration, visit Entire Travel Group’s blog today.