Updated: 26-03-2025
Author: Ashritha Pendkar and plus100years Team
If You are planning a trip to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, then you can try all the delicious Andaman And Nicobar Food.
Andaman and Nicobar Food
Andaman and Nicobar Cuisine
Discovering the Flavours of Andaman and Nicobar: A Culinary Journey to the Emerald Isles
Renowned for its immaculate beaches, rich jungles, and vivid marine life, the intriguing archipelago known as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is tucked away in the Bay of Bengal.
Beyond the amazing beauty, however, is a distinctive and delicious gastronomic scene shaped by the many civilizations that have called these islands home.
Let’s explore the pleasures of Andaman and Nicobar cuisine by way of a gourmet journey.
Menu of Foods from Andaman and Nicobar
Here is a larger list of cuisine items you could find on the menu in Andaman and Nicobar outside the top 13.
- Vegetarian Main Courses: Vegetable Jalfrezi, Navratan Korma, Baingan Bharta (mashed eggplant), Mushroom Masala, Palak Paneer (spinach and paneer), Vegetable Kofta (vegetable balls in gravy).
- Lentil and Bean Dishes: Dal Tadka, (tempered lentils), Rajma, (kidney bean curry), Lobia, (black-eyed peas curry).
- Rice Dishes: Plain, jeera, cumin rice; curd, lemon rice, biryanis, etc.
- Breads: Roti, chapati, naan (plain, butter, garlic), Paratha (plain, aloo, gobi).
- South Indian Delights: Vada – fried lentil doughnuts; Upma – semolina porridge; Puttu, steamed rice flour and coconut, Dosa, are the best South Indian delights.
- Snacks and Appetizers: Vegetable Pakora (fritters), Samosa, Spring Rolls, Bread Pakora are among the snacks and appetisers.
- Desserts: Fruit Salad, Coconut Pudding, Gulab Jamun (milk-solid-based sweet balls), Rasgulla (spongy cheese balls in syrup).
More Food List of Andaman and Nicobar
Although complete recipes are somewhat broad, here are some additional vegetarian dishes that accentuate the local gastronomic inspirations:
- Khichdi: Made with rice and lentils, khichdi is a basic and consoling meal often seasoned with a few spices.
- Vegetable Stew with Appam: Made from mild and creamy coconut milk-based vegetable stew presented with Appam, a kind of lacy pancake created from fermented rice batter.
- Vegetarian Version of Bamboo Shoot Curry: Although meat is often used, a vegetarian version made from locally grown bamboo shoots combined with spices and coconut milk is readily available.
- Coconut Curry: Made with fresh coconut milk, and vegetables like potatoes, carrots, beans, and spices, coconut curry is a mainstay meal. Usually served with rice or roti, it’s creamy and savoury.
- Tapioca Dishes: Grown nearby, tapioca finds use in both sweet and savoury dishes. You may come across delicious tapioca pudding or tapioca curry.
- Banana Flower Curry: Made from the fruit of the banana plant, banana blossom curry is a distinctive and healthy meal with native tastes highlighted by spices and coconut cooking methods.
- Local Fruit-Based Foods: Expect fresh fruit salads, drinks, and sometimes even prepared meals combining tropical fruits like pineapple and banana in their abundance.
Where are the Andaman and Nicobar Islands located?
Comprising the union territory of India, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are located in the Bay of Bengal.
They are closer to Myanmar and Thailand than the Indian mainland; they are around 1,200 km (750 miles east).
With more than 572 islands, islets, and rocks—of which only around 37 are inhabited—the archipelago is Port Blair’s capital, on South Andaman Island.
How to reach the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Usually, one arrives at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands via plane or boat. Here are other modes of transport:
By Air: Major Indian cities like Chennai, Mumbai Kolkata, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad are conveniently located near Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ) in Port Blair.
Many airlines are flying routinely to Port Blair.
By Sea: Passenger ships run between Port Blair and the mainland ports of Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Visakhapatnam. The sailing trip takes two to three days.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ cuisine has a pleasing mix of tastes to suit both vegetarians and non-vegetarians.
Non-vegetarian food in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Top 7 non vegetarian food in andaman and nicobar islands
Seafood is famous in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. You can get almost all types of main seafood. Including,
- Macher jhol
- Crab masala
- Fish curry
- Chicken tikka masala
- Tandoori lobster
- Prawn Pakora
- Coconut Fish Curry
And more variety of non-veg dishes are available at local restaurants
Discovering the rich culture and natural beauty of these magical islands is mostly dependent on exploring the native food.
Thus, make sure you start a gastronomic adventure and enjoy the varied and exquisite cuisine as you arrange your travel.
