ExploFood · Oceania
What to eat in Samoa
Five dishes to try in Samoa, the most typical first. Three are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Samoa
Oka
Raw fish marinated in lime with coconut cream, onion and chilli.
How to have it: Order it at lunch in Apia cafés or the fish market; the Samoan version of Polynesian raw fish.
Palusami
Young taro leaves wrapped around coconut cream and baked in an umu.
How to have it: A Sunday umu staple; eat it with baked taro and breadfruit.
Sapasui
Samoan chop suey of glass noodles, soy sauce and chicken or beef.
How to have it: Served at nearly every Samoan family gathering and buffet, usually with rice.
Ulu
Breadfruit roasted in the umu or over coals, starchy and filling.
How to have it: Comes with most Sunday umu meals; try it with coconut cream.
Koko Samoa
Hot drink of locally grown roasted cocoa beans, often sweetened.
How to have it: Served at breakfast and gatherings; try koko alaisa, a cocoa rice pudding, if you see it.
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Questions
What food is Samoa famous for?
Oka (raw fish marinated in lime with coconut cream, onion and chilli) comes first on our list, followed by Palusami, Sapasui, Ulu and Koko Samoa.
What is the national dish of Samoa?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Samoa is Oka: raw fish marinated in lime with coconut cream, onion and chilli. Order it at lunch in Apia cafés or the fish market; the Samoan version of Polynesian raw fish.
Which dishes in Samoa are vegetarian?
Three of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Palusami, Ulu and Koko Samoa. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What do people drink in Samoa?
Koko Samoa: hot drink of locally grown roasted cocoa beans, often sweetened.
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Tick off every dish you try in Samoa
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.