Christmas Island Cuisine

Christmas Island's cuisine is a genuine multicultural melting pot, reflecting the rich mix of its people, who are largely of Chinese, Malay and Australian-European descent, a legacy of the island's history. This diverse community gives the small island a surprisingly vibrant and varied food scene for its size. Fragrant Chinese noodle and rice dishes, dim sum and stir-fries sit alongside spicy Malay curries, laksa, satay and sambal-laced dishes, and Australian favourites, all enlivened by fresh local seafood from the surrounding reefs. Communal celebrations, from Chinese New Year to Malay festivals, bring lavish spreads and street food. Flavourful, spicy and diverse, the food of Christmas Island is a delicious reflection of its unique cultural blend.

What you actually see

• The Chinese dishes - the fragrant noodles, rice and dim sum.
• The Malay curries - the spicy laksa, satay and sambal dishes.
• The fresh seafood - the local reef fish and seafood.
• The festival food - the lavish spreads at cultural celebrations.

When to go

Year-round; Christmas Island's multicultural food is enjoyed across its small settlements, with cultural festivals like Chinese New Year bringing especially lavish spreads and street food. Fragrant Chinese and Malay dishes and fresh local seafood are the signatures to seek out.

Honest expectations

The island is small and remote, so its dining scene is modest, though surprisingly varied and flavourful thanks to its multicultural community. As a genuine melting pot of Chinese, Malay and Australian flavours, from fragrant noodles and spicy curries to fresh reef seafood, though, Christmas Island cuisine is a genuinely delicious and characterful reflection of its people.

Nearby

The eateries and festivals of Flying Fish Cove and the settlements serve it.