OK, so Solomon Islands cuisine might not exactly be setting the world alight, but is very Pacific, very hearty, has a lot of great fish and BBQ and will not leave you hungry.

And that is without even getting into the street food and local beer scene, both of which are also pretty epic. Here’s all you need to know about eating in the Solomon Islands.

What the Solomon Islands Cuisine

Solomon Islands cuisine is simple, filling and very much based around what comes out of the sea and the garden. Fish is king here, usually reef fish grilled, baked or wrapped in leaves and cooked over coals. Root crops do most of the heavy lifting, with cassava, sweet potato and taro appearing at pretty much every meal. Coconut is everywhere, either grated, cooked down into sauces or used in rice.

Meat is less common outside of celebrations, but when it appears it is usually pork or chicken cooked low and slow over a fire. There is very little spice, no fancy presentation and absolutely no nonsense. Food here is about fuel, community and practicality, not Instagram likes. When done well it is excellent, when done badly it is still edible and filling, which is half the battle when travelling in the Pacific.

5 Must try Solomon Islands foods

5 Grilled reef fish with coconut

Fresh fish grilled whole, usually brushed with coconut and served with root crops. Simple and very good.

4 Cassava and sweet potato

Boiled, roasted or cooked in coconut, these form the backbone of most meals.

3 Coconut rice

Rice cooked with coconut milk rather than water. Heavy, filling and perfect with fish.

2 BBQ pork

Usually saved for weekends or events, cooked over open fires and eaten communally.

1 Fish cooked in leaves

Fish wrapped in banana or similar leaves and cooked over coals. Proper island food done right.

Street Food Honiara

Street food in the Solomon Islands is limited, particularly compared to Asia, but what exists is decent. In Honiara you will find grilled fish, BBQ meats and fried snacks sold near markets and busy roads, especially later in the day.

That said, there are far more betel nut shops than actual food stalls, with most people chewing rather than eating on the street. When you do find food it is usually cooked fresh and cheap, if a bit repetitive. This is not Bangkok or Penang, but for the Pacific it holds its own and beats relying on hotel food every night.

Drinking in the Solomon Islands

Unlike other Pacific nations that are all about the kava, in the Solomon Islands they love a drink. This though can be a good and bad thing as, much like in PNG, there are issues with drunkenness. This is also linked with another thing they have in common with Papua New Guinea and that is a love of home brew, firewater and paiawara, known locally as kwaso. Alas it is not as good as steam from Port Moresby and can be genuinely dangerous.

Bar wise there is a real pub scene in the country, particularly in the capital, with pool tables, loud music and Aussie style pokies being the rule of the day. Be careful in these environments, especially late at night. If you want something more high end, go to a resort or better still the Honiara Hotel, which is still the classiest drinking spot in town.

5 Must Try beers of the Solomon Islands

I will later go all out and include other drinks like the moonshine, but for now we will stick to the five best beers to try.

5 Solbrew Dark

A heavier option that is surprisingly drinkable in the heat.

4 Solbrew Premium

Slightly stronger and fuller than the standard lager.

3 Solbrew IPA

A rare attempt at something different in the Pacific and worth a go.

2 Solbrew Lager

The standard beer of the Solomon Islands and found everywhere.

1 Solbrew Fresh Draught

Cold, simple and exactly what you want after a long day in Honiara.

Conclusion

So, while the Solomon Islands is not exactly king of the crap when it comes to global cuisine, you will get good, decent, hearty meals that are some of the best in the islands. Street food is ace when you find it, the beer is solid, and the few resorts that do exist will look after you if you need something more high brow. You will not come for the food alone, but you will leave well fed.

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