Cuisine & Must Try Dishes

Food & Local Delicacies

The Andaman & Nicobar Islands offer a unique culinary experience, blending Indian, Bengali, South Indian, and tribal influences with fresh seafood and tropical flavors. Being a coastal paradise, seafood is the star, but the islands also cater to vegetarian and North Indian palates.

 Must-Try Local Delicacies & Seafood Specialties

1. Grilled Lobster

✅ Why Try It?

• Freshly caught lobsters, marinated with island spices, grilled over open flames.
• Best enjoyed with garlic butter sauce or coconut-based curry.

 Where to Eat? New Lighthouse Restaurant (Port Blair), Full Moon Café (Havelock)

2. Fish Amritsari

✅ Why Try It?

• A crispy deep-fried fish dish marinated in a spicy North Indian-style batter.
• A popular starter or snack across the islands.

 Where to Eat? Ananda Restaurant (Port Blair), Something Different Café (Havelock)

3. Crab Curry

✅ Why Try It?

• Freshly caught crabs cooked in a spicy coconut-based curry with island herbs.
• Best served with steamed rice or Malabar parotta.

 Where to Eat? SeaShell Resort Restaurant (Port Blair), Barefoot Bar & Restaurant (Havelock)

4. Coconut Prawn Curry

✅ Why Try It?

• Succulent prawns cooked in creamy coconut milk with traditional island spices.
• A mild yet flavorful dish, perfect with rice.

 Where to Eat? The Bayview (Port Blair), Fat Martin’s Café (Havelock)

5. Tandoori Fish

✅ Why Try It?

• A classic grilled fish dish, flavored with tandoori masala and slow-cooked in a clay oven.
• A must-try for seafood lovers!

 Where to Eat? Lighthouse Residency (Port Blair), Red Snapper (Havelock)

 Local Vegetarian & Tribal-Inspired Delicacies

6. Chilli Curry

✅ Why Try It?

• A spicy, tangy tomato-based curry made with either vegetables or seafood.
• A tribal-inspired dish, perfect for those who love bold flavors.

 Where to Eat? Local home-cooked meals in Port Blair

7. Nicobari Chicken Curry

✅ Why Try It?

• A traditional dish of the Nicobarese tribe, featuring chicken cooked in coconut milk and indigenous island spices.
• Often served with steamed rice.

 Where to Eat? Tribal kitchens & special food festivals

8. Banana Leaf Wrapped Fish

✅ Why Try It?

• A local tribal dish, where fresh fish is marinated with spices and wrapped in banana leaves before being steamed or grilled.
• Retains a natural, earthy flavor.

 Where to Eat? Eco-resorts & tribal-themed restaurants

9. Dhungar Paneer (Smoked Paneer)

✅ Why Try It?

• Soft paneer cubes smoked with coconut husk for a deep, smoky flavor.
• A rare vegetarian delicacy in Andaman’s seafood-heavy cuisine.

 Where to Eat? Vegan & vegetarian cafés in Havelock

 Must-Try Beverages & Desserts

10. Coconut Water & Coconut-Based Drinks

✅ Why Try It?

• Fresh coconut water is a natural energy drink.
• Try coconut toddy (mild fermented drink) or coconut smoothie for a tropical twist.

 Where to Drink? Street vendors, beach shacks

11. Mango & Pineapple Shake

✅ Why Try It?

• Fresh island-grown mangoes and pineapples blended into a chilled, refreshing drink.
• A perfect beachside refreshment.

 Where to Drink? Cafés in Port Blair & Havelock

12. Tropical Fruit Salad

✅ Why Try It?

• A mix of fresh Andaman fruits like papaya, pineapple, guava, and bananas, drizzled with honey & lime juice.

 Where to Eat?