Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Cheap eats in Port Vila

Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Vanuatu

Hi Guys

I just spent a week in Santo and I absolutely loved those 400vt steakes, stews and other meals served by the local ladies next to the market in Luganville. Is there a similar place in Port Vila? I am not too keen to pay 700vt for a burger in a touristy restaurant...

Thanks
Magda

You can get such cheap local meals at the market in Vila as well, but I don't remember "steaks" - just rice and stew.
And they only cost 200Vt when I was there! :-)

You can also get the traditional ni-Van food "laplap" on the same market.

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Gollygosh Laszlo you must be getting old.

Most meals at Vila market are 400. All veggie costs 350. "steak", I use the term loosely, costs 500. The "steak" will be a sandwich sized piece of 5mm thick beef cooked up to one grade short of charcoal. Not recommended unless you prefer it well done. There are about 10 women cooking only 2 or 3 dishes each. Walk around and see what looks good. Lots of men eating is always a good sign. They shut at 2 pm.

There is a good cheap Chinese almost opposite the market and down a small arcade near the patisserie. 500 for a huge serve of anything with rice. They shut at 6pm.

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Uncle, I'm pretty sure you are not getting younger, either! ;-)
I was there 5 years ago.

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Old enough to know better but too young to resist.

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