The Top Cheap Eats in Samoa 🍦 [2024]

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Cheap Eats in Samoa – $10 and Under

Do you know what ST$10 is in your own currency?! It’s cheap! Yet, here in Samoa, you can grab full meals for ST$10 and under. Admittedly, most of it is in the form of deep-fried takeaway food, but if you head to markets, you can sample authentic Samoan dishes.

Cheap Markets in Samoa

A congregation of cheap eats await at Apia’s monthly Night Market (Samoa Tourism Information Centre, Apia), happening on the last Friday of the month from around 4 pm. Aside from cotton candy, popcorn, cupcakes and cookies for a couple of bucks, feast on nachos, hot dogs, kebabs, palusami, fai’ai elegi and oka typically for around ST$5-$6 each.

Otherwise, Fugalei Market (Fugalei Street, Apia) is your all-day everyday market except, ya know, Sundays. Although hard to find between the mounds of fresh fruit and vegetables, you’ll find stalls selling hot local meals like palusami and fai’ai elegi (see 20 Foods to Try in Samoa) for less than ST$10. Additionally, there’s a food court section to the market selling deep-fried and barbecue chicken meals for ST$5-$10.

Those exploring Savai’i’s main town have a few options for cheap eats, including the small food court area of Salelologa Market (turn left off the ferry then right past Lusia’s Lagoon Chalets), located in the commercial centre to the south of town. Try local snacks, like pork buns, fried chicken and chips and more – many for under ST$10.

Learn more about Samoa’s markets in the 8 Best Markets in Samoa.

Deep-Fried Takeaway Food

If you’re willing to put that diet on hold, then you’ll find no lack of cheap deep-fried takeaway options across Apia. Kardenia’z (Faipule Road, Fa’atoia, Apia), Mr.Chicken (Convent Street, SNPF Plaza, Apia), Chick-a-licious (Cnr Vaitele and Lalovaea Street, Apia) and Mr Chippy (Lotopa Road, Apia) are just a few takeaways offering deep-fried delights, kebabs and burgers between ST$5 and $20. Raynims Fast Food (Lepea, Apia) is famous across Apia for its ST$5 fish/chicken/sausage and chips!

Samoan $10 BBQ!

If you’re feeling adventurous and are not too fussed about “menus”, try one of Samoa’s famous roadside barbecues. Most can be spotted on the roadside leading in and out of Salelologa on Savai’i or Apia on Upolu but you might be lucky to see large signs propped up outside of family homes in other villages too. What do you usually get for these “$10 BBQs”? Expect something along the lines of marinated chicken drumsticks with either taro, banana, rice and/or chop suey. A drink is not usually included.

Something Sweet

And for a cheap and cheerful treat or dessert, try one of Apia’s ice cream parlours like Chillz (Faatoia Road, Leone, Apia) whipping up real fruit ST$6 cones and ST$8 smoothies – approximate prices, of course. They also do very reasonably priced hot meals like chicken wings and spaghetti for around ST$12 and combos like two waffles or a waffle and a thick shake for ST$20.

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Cheap Eats in Samoa – $11-$20

Increasing your budget to ST$11-$20 (still very cheap) opens you up to a few more dining options across Samoa but particularly in Apia and Savai’i. If you’re just sticking to the capital, make sure to read The Top Cheap Eats in Apia & Upolu.

Cheap Asian Food in Samoa

With many Samoans also of Chinese descent, not to mention the abundance of fresh seafood making Japanese-style meals like sashimi and sushi all too easy, you’ll find plenty of value when it comes to Asian cuisine.

Ok, so Bella’s Kitchen (Beach Road, Apia) does a bit of everything for very reasonable prices, but some of the best options are the “small” noodle boxes and Chinese-style soups for ST$12-$15. They also do very reasonable and tasty Mexican staples like quesadillas and chilli cheese fries for a similar price.

For all your bubble tea needs, LJ Cafe (Lotopa, Apia) offers the best value with drinks for ST$12-$15. Otherwise, Chada Cafe‘s (Vaitele Street, Vailoa, Apia) bubble teas are a little pricier but they also do Thai food like ST$15-$20 som tum Thai and peek kai tod.

Craving Chinese? Fried rice and fried/soup noodles at Yummy Fast Food (Apia) are also very reasonable at ST$11-$16 each. If Indian is more your style, there are plenty of vege and meat curries on the menu of Tifaimoana Indian Restaurant (Fugalei Street, Apia) for around ST$16-$18 with adding rice for just ST$4. Otherwise, Cafe 1962 (Salenesa Road, Apia) does a butter chicken curry with rice for approximately ST$20, as well as six sushi rolls for around ST$10.

Cheap European Food in Samoa

When it comes to European food, such as Italian cuisine and kebabs, the cheapest meals can surprisingly be found on Savai’i. For instance, Adria’s Cafe (Lalomalava, Savai’i) delights with coffee, cake and meat-lover meals to see you through your morning or afternoon. Enjoy eggs or pancakes (vegetarian) for breakfast or opt for a hearty beef and eggplant lasagne or teriyaki bowl for lunch – there’s only one thing on the menu above ST$20!

Alternatively, Harbourside Cafe & Pizza Bar (Salelologa, Savia’i) is a reliable yet affordable dining option. Most of the breakfast, lunch and about half of the dinner menu is under ST$20 with the likes of chicken salad, chicken kebabs, sausage/chicken/fish and chips, sashimi and poke. Learn more about the restaurant in The Top Cheap Eats on Savai’i.

Cheap Burgers in Samoa

Burgers aren’t exactly hard to find in Samoa, but some of the best-priced can be found at Kilo’s Shack (Saleufi Street, Apia), selling cheeseburgers and fries for only ST$10! You can double up or get some more insane creations, like the chilli burger or “Big Boss Burger” for ST$15-$18.50. Skippys Restaurant (Mulinuu Road, Apia) is also very cheap with burger meals for ST$10-$16.

For something more gourmet but still well-priced, we like Jojo’s Diner (Mapuifagalele Road, Vailele, Apia) for ST$12-$24 – cheaper prices burger only; higher with fries. Kofe Hous (Vaitele, Apia) also does decent burger meals for ST$18-$22.

Fast-Food Chains in Samoa

Homegrown fast-food chains also offer cheap eats in Samoa, such as DMC and Hungry Franks of the Frankie Supermarket chain. DMC can be found in SNPF Plaza, Vailoa, Motootua and Fugalei in Apia, as well as Salelologa Wharf on Savai’i. They boast meals like burger-fries and-drink combos and fish/chicken-chips-and-drink combos to range from ST$17-$25 each, while large sharable meals and buckets of chicken are in the realm of ST$38-$56.

Hungry Franks has branches in Lotopa, Vaitele and Fugalei where you can get a burger, fries and a drink for ST$14-$17.50.

Although Apia has a McDonald’s (Cnr of Togafu’afu’a Road and Vaea Street), note that it definitely one of the more expensive fast-food options in Apia.

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Free Food in Samoa?!

That’s right, we’re letting the cat out of the bag; there is a place you can go to get free food in Samoa but that’s only part of the experience.

The Samoa Tourism Authority hosts the Samoa Cultural Village at the back of the Samoa Tourism Information Centre (Beach Road, Apia) from Tuesday to Friday, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. Amazingly, this experience is free.

You’ll be formally welcomed with an ‘ava ceremony before seeing how a traditional umu feast is prepared. While your lunch is cooking, you’ll move between various fale to see how ‘ava bowls are carved and even witness a traditional pain-staking Samoan tatau (tattoo) being performed. Finally, sit down with your freshly prepared umu lunch while watching a fiafia cultural performance including fire dancing.

For more freebies across the islands, check out the 50 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Samoa.