Popular snacks in the Maldives

The majority of hotels and restaurants in Malé offer a combination of Eastern and Western specialities. Cafés in Malé are known as ‘hotaa’ and are a great place to get some local food and drink. Traditional Maldivian food is spicy, although not quite as spicy as in its neighbouring countries. They usually contain rice, fish broth, or garudhiya, and side dishes such as chilli, onions and lime. Curries are called riha and are quite popular, and eaten with both rice and roshi, which is unleavened flat bread similar to the Indian roti. Snacks are called hedhikaa and are usually deep fried fish-based items that are commonly found in Maldives restaurants.

- mas huni – smoked fish that is shredded and mixed with onions and grated coconuts. (This is the most common Maldivian breakfast dish)
- fihunu mas – barbequed fish marinated with chilli
- bajiyaa – stuffed pastry with fish, onions and coconut
- gulha – stuffed pastry balls with smoked fish
- keemia – fish rolls that are deep fried
- kulhi boakibaa – a spicy fish cake
- masroshi – mas huni which is wrapped in a roshi bread and then baked
- theluli mas – fried fish with garlic and chilli