The Top Cheap Eats in Majuro & the Marshall Islands

What can US$5 buy you in the Marshall Islands? A surprisingly satisfying amount, provided you look beyond hotel restaurants and focus on bakeries, roadside barbecues and local takeaway counters.

Note that prices are subject to change, while informal food stalls may only operate when ingredients and vendors are available.

Delap Park BBQ Plates

One of Majuro’s best-value local meals can be found at Delap Park (Lagoon Road, Delap), beside The Food Truck 692. Vendors sell barbecue plates for around US$5, usually consisting of chicken slathered in sauce, a generous serving of rice and a local vegetable side.

Supermarket Hot Dogs

For one of Majuro’s simplest cheap eats, head to the deli counters at Payless Supermarket (Lagoon Road, Uliga) or K&K Island Pride Supermarket (Lagoon Road, Delap).

Payless sells a hot dog for around US$2, including a complimentary drink, while K&K Island Pride charges approximately US$3. Both supermarkets also have deli and hot-food sections where you can find other inexpensive takeaway meals.

Stopping for a supermarket hot dog after church is something of a local rite of passage, so do not be surprised if Sunday brings a steady queue.

$5 Plate Lunches

A “US$5 plate” usually means a simple, filling plate lunch served at local diners, takeaway counters and roadside stands.

Expect rice topped with fresh yellowfin tuna, chicken or barbecue, sometimes with a small vegetable side. Good local places to look include Yokwe Grab ’n Go (Lagoon Road, Batkan) and DTK Gas Station (Lagoon Road, Uliga) at Riwut Corner.

Annie’s Bakery

For inexpensive breakfasts and snacks, Annie’s Bakery (Marshall Islands Resort, Delap) has one of the largest selections under US$5.

A plain doughnut costs around US$1, while banana cake, chocolate doughnuts and chocolate cream buns are approximately US$1.50. Tuna corn buns, red bean buns, taro buns and pork floss buns are around US$2.

More substantial choices include cinnamon twists, malasadas, cream cheese bagels and bacon cheese buns for approximately US$2.50. Spam and egg buns, blueberry custard buns and blueberry bagels are around US$3, while a croissant costs approximately US$4.

Anmarwut Gas Station

Anmarwut Gas Station (Rita Back Road, Rita) is more than a place to refuel your car. Its inexpensive takeaway food makes it a useful breakfast or snack stop.

A serving of seaweed and egg soup, curry, fried chicken, poke, sashimi and whatever else is available on the day costs around US$3.50, while a bag of 10 mini donuts is approximately US$4. The freshly made doughnuts are popular and may sell out before 8 am, so this is one breakfast where sleeping late has consequences.

Mon LiSaitem

More fresh donut bags can be found at Mon LiSaitem (Rita Back Road, Rita) for US$4, as well as chicken or ham ramen, and namonamo (hot dog wrapped in a pancaked) for approximately US$4.

An ice cream cone costs around US$1.75, making this a handy stop for a quick snack while travelling through Majuro.

Moving into the US$5-$10 range opens up considerably more choice, including ramen, sandwiches, local platters, Filipino dishes, burgers and fresh tuna.

These are generally casual cafés, bars and takeaway restaurants rather than fine-dining venues, which is precisely why your wallet may leave in a better mood.

The Flame Tree

The bright green The Flame Tree (Lagoon Road, Delap) is known for inexpensive comfort food, with several filling meals costing less than US$10.

A hotdog costs around US$6, while grilled cheese, ham and cheese, or grilled tuna and cheese sandwiches are approximately US$8. Ham and egg costs around US$9, while fried chicken is approximately US$8.

Ramen is another budget-friendly option, with chicken ramen around US$4 and beef, seafood, ham, vegetable or teriyaki varieties typically costing US$6-$8.

Toeak Bar & Grill

Toeak Bar & Grill (Lagoon Road, Uliga) has one of the largest selections of casual meals below US$10, served with views from the upper floor of Majuro’s tallest building.

A set of three fish tacos costs around US$9.50, while grilled fish, ham and cheese, chicken and fish sandwiches generally range from US$8 to US$9.75. Hamburgers start at approximately US$9.50.

Fresh seafood choices include Hawaiian or spicy mayonnaise poke for around US$7.50, sashimi for US$8 and sushi rolls for approximately US$8.50.

Other inexpensive options include wraps, quesadillas, ramen, fish and chips, fries, onion rings and chicken nuggets, mostly priced between US$6 and US$9.50.

To learn more about the bar side of things, check out The Ultimate Guide to the Marshall Islands Nightlife.

Happy Tummy

For affordable Filipino-style comfort food, Happy Tummy (Lagoon Road, Uliga) is one of Majuro’s strongest options.

Mongo bean soup and fish soup cost around US$6, while pinakbet is approximately US$7. Chicken adobo, fried fish, garlic chicken, creamy chicken with mushroom sauce and pork rib steak are around US$8.

The food is uncomplicated and the portions are huge, making it particularly useful when you want a proper meal rather than another bakery snack.

Tide Table

Located at Hotel Robert Reimers, Tide Table (RRE Complex, Uilga) has several breakfast and ramen choices below US$10.

A short stack of pancakes costs around US$5.50. Pork or chicken ramen is approximately US$7, while beef and seafood ramen cost around US$8.95.

The waterfront setting feels more polished than many budget eateries, so it is a useful option when you want an inexpensive meal without giving up the lagoon view.

Tide Table is also the only joint in town with vegan options, as listed in our guide, Marshall Islands for Vegans & Vegetarians + 10 Best Restaurants.

A budget of US$10-$15 covers full restaurant meals across Majuro, including chicken, pork, seafood, noodles, curries, barbecue plates and local-style comfort food.

This is the price range where you can sit down for a substantial lunch or dinner without drifting into the more expensive hotel and resort menus.

Riwut Restaurant

Riwut Restaurant (Lagoon Road, Uliga) has an extensive selection of complete meals between US$10 and US$13.

Options around US$10-US$12 include hamburgers, chopped steak, beef stew, beef curry, beef teriyaki, loco moco, fish and chips, chicken katsu, grilled garlic chicken, sweet and sour chicken, chicken wings and tuna pasta.

Pork dishes, fried chicken and quarter chicken generally cost around US$11, while chow mein, chicken Alfredo, spaghetti, fish katsu and roasted chicken breast range from approximately US$12 to US$13.

With so many meals sitting close to US$10, Riwut is one of the easiest places to order without conducting advanced mathematics at the table.

Island Star

For Chinese food and large shared dishes, Island Star offers a substantial number of options below US$15.

Dishes around US$10.95-US$12.95 include sweet and sour prawns, crispy tempura prawns, mapo tofu, sautéed eggplant and potato, fried tofu with vegetables, crispy squid, kung pao chicken, chicken curry, chicken katsu, beef with broccoli and seafood tofu casserole.

Larger dishes such as Sichuan spicy chicken, beef stew, pork slices and steamed garlic prawns cost approximately US$14.95.

Many dishes are well suited to sharing, particularly when ordered with rice, which can make the final cost per person even lower.

Enra Restaurant

At the Marshall Islands Resort, Enra Restaurant (Lagoon Road, Delap) provides several hotel-style meals without pushing beyond US$15.

Orange chicken, chicken à la king, chicken katsu, stir-fried pork and chicken wings cost around US$10.20-$10.80. Pork chops, fish and chips, chopped steak, beef bulgogi and loco moco generally range from US$10.50 to $11.95.

Beef pepper steak, spaghetti and meatballs, sweet and sour fish fillet and garlic seafood cost approximately US$12.50-$12.95.

These are useful prices for travellers staying at the resort, particularly when the alternative is paying for transport to another part of Majuro.

The Food Truck 692

The Food Truck 692 (Delap Park, Delap) is a dependable choice for large takeaway meals around US$10-$12.

Six fish tacos cost approximately US$10, while burritos, burrito bowls and mixed plates are around US$12. Mixed-plate combinations may include chicken katsu, garlic chicken, rice, quinoa or other rotating sides.

Portions are generally designed as full meals rather than light snacks, making this one of the stronger takeaway options in the US$10-$15 range.

DAR Coffee Corner

Despite the café-style name, DAR Coffee Corner has a broad menu of proper meals below US$15.

Burgers generally range from US$10.50 to US$13, including fish, mushroom, cheeseburger, teriyaki and chicken katsu options. Loco moco starts at approximately US$10.25.

Garlic chicken, bibimbap, noodle dishes and chicken, beef, pork or seafood plates typically cost around US$11.25-$12.75.

The variety makes DAR particularly useful for groups who cannot agree on whether they want a burger, noodles or a rice plate, which is most groups after a long day in the sun.