20 Best Places to Eat in Palau: The Ultimate Culinary & Dining Guide

Palau's culinary scene is a flavorful reflection of its rich island environment and diverse global history. Heavily influenced by traditional Palauan seafood roots, as well as Japanese, American, and Filipino culinary traditions, dining in Palau centers around ultra-fresh catches from the Pacific Ocean, root vegetables like taro and tapioca, and vibrant tropical fruits. From casual waterfront fish shacks to high-end international dining in Koror, eating in Palau is a delightful experience.

Must-Try Traditional Dishes

Fresh Coral Reef Fish: Red snapper, grouper, or parrotfish served grilled whole with soy sauce, garlic, and calamanzi lime.
Ulucham (Taro Soup): A comforting traditional soup made from pounded taro root, coconut milk, and fresh seafood or chicken.
Palauan Fruit Bat Soup: A famous local specialty soup cooked with ginger, garlic, and whole fruit bat in coconut broth.
Poke & Sashimi: Ultra-fresh yellowfin tuna and skipjack sashimi delivered daily from local fishing boats.
Tapioca & Coconut Sweets: Steamed cassava cakes infused with shredded coconut, coconut milk, and palm sugar.

20 Best Places to Eat in Palau

1. Elilai Restaurant

Cuisine: Fine Dining Seafood & Pacific Rim Fusion
Location: Meyuns, Koror
Must-Try Dish: Pan-Seared Local Red Snapper with Coconut Risotto
About the Place: Palau’s premier fine dining spot, perched high on a hill offering sweeping sunset views across the Rock Islands alongside gourmet seafood creations.
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2. Drop Off Bar & Grill

Cuisine: Casual Seafood & Pub Fare
Location: Malakal Harbor, Koror
Must-Try Dish: Fresh Tuna Poke Bowl and Grilled Poke Tacos
About the Place: Situated right at the boat docks, this high-energy outdoor bar and grill is popular with divers returning from full-day ocean trips.
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3. Taj Palau

Cuisine: Authentic Indian Fine Dining
Location: Central Koror
Must-Try Dish: Tandoori Fresh Coral Fish and Butter Chicken
About the Place: An elegant restaurant serving rich, authentic Indian curries, tandoori bread, and fresh local seafood seasoned in Indian spices.
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4. Kramer's Cafe

Cuisine: International & Palauan Seafood
Location: Malakal Island, Koror
Must-Try Dish: Garlic Butter Mangrove Crab
About the Place: A relaxed waterfront restaurant overlooking Malakal harbor, famous for generous portions of local mangrove crabs and fresh sashimi.
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5. Tori Tori Restaurant

Cuisine: Japanese Izakaya & Sushi
Location: Central Koror
Must-Try Dish: Yellowfin Tuna Sashimi Platter and Yakitori Skewers
About the Place: Authentic Japanese izakaya spot serving ultra-fresh local tuna sashimi, tempura, and grilled skewers in a cozy setting.
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6. Canoe House

Cuisine: American Bistro, Pizza & Craft Beer
Location: Main Road, Koror
Must-Try Dish: Wood-Fired Seafood Pizza and Craft Ales
About the Place: A lively open-air sports bar and bistro decorated with local surfboard and canoe art, serving artisan pizzas and cold craft beer.
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7. MogMog Seafood Restaurant

Cuisine: Fresh Seafood & Local Palauan
Location: Koror City
Must-Try Dish: Traditional Palauan Fruit Bat Soup or Steamed Grouper
About the Place: Famous among brave food travelers as one of the authentic spots in Koror serving traditional Palauan fruit bat soup and reef fish.
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8. Jungle Bar

Cuisine: Casual Asian & Western
Location: Malakal Island, Koror
Must-Try Dish: Grilled Pork Ribs and Fish & Chips
About the Place: Tucked inside tropical greenery near dive shops, offering a laid-back outdoor deck vibe, hearty meals, and ice-cold beers.
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9. Rock Island Cafe

Cuisine: Classic American Diner & Family Restaurant
Location: Main Road, Koror
Must-Try Dish: Hearty Pancakes, Burgers, and Local Fish Specials
About the Place: A beloved local family diner serving generous portions of American breakfast staples, burgers, pies, and local daily specials.
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10. Coconut Park Restaurant

Cuisine: Traditional Asian & Seafood
Location: Airai State
Must-Try Dish: Stir-fried Calamari with Ginger and Garlic
About the Place: Set near the KB Bridge, providing quiet outdoor garden seating and fresh seafood prepared with traditional ginger and soy glazes.
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11. Bemas Grill

Cuisine: Island BBQ & Local Comfort Food
Location: Central Koror
Must-Try Dish: Grilled Chicken & Pork Ribs BBQ Combo
About the Place: A popular local roadside BBQ joint serving smokey grilled meats, rice, and potato salad at budget-friendly prices.
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12. JAS Marine Cafe

Cuisine: Japanese & Pacific Rim
Location: Malakal Harbor
Must-Try Dish: Fresh Tuna Poke and Teriyaki Chicken Rice
About the Place: A cozy harbor-side cafe favored by divers, offering quick lunch bowls, bento boxes, and views of diving boats.
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13. Palm Bay Bistro

Cuisine: International & Steakhouse
Location: Palasia Hotel, Koror
Must-Try Dish: Grilled Ribeye Steak and Pasta Carbonara
About the Place: Situated inside the Palasia Hotel, offering full air-conditioned comfort and a diverse international menu of steaks, pasta, and seafood.
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14. Kingfisher Cafe

Cuisine: Island Cafe & Breakfast
Location: Ngerkebesang Island
Must-Try Dish: Tropical Fruit Smoothies and Fresh Fish Wraps
About the Place: A tranquil open-air cafe offering healthy smoothies, espresso, fresh fish wraps, and quiet views of tropical foliage.
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15. L'Amarena Gelato Shop

Cuisine: Italian Gelato & Desserts
Location: Main Road, Koror
Must-Try Dish: Homemade Mango and Soursop Artisan Gelato
About the Place: Run by authentic Italian expats, crafting fresh daily artisan gelato using local tropical fruits like coconut, soursop, and mango.
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16. Yokohama Inn Restaurant

Cuisine: Japanese Comfort Food
Location: Central Koror
Must-Try Dish: Pork Katsu Curry and Tonkotsu Ramen
About the Place: A classic Japanese diner serving comforting bowls of hot ramen, bento sets, and crispy pork cutlet curry to hungry locals and travelers.
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17. Carp Island Restaurant

Cuisine: Island Seafood & Japanese
Location: Carp Island Resort, Rock Islands
Must-Try Dish: Catch-of-the-Day Whole Grilled Reef Fish
About the Place: Situated on Carp Island in the Rock Islands, serving ultra-fresh ocean catches and Japanese set meals to day-trippers and overnight guests.
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18. Fisherman's Cove

Cuisine: Waterfront Seafood Grill
Location: Palau Royal Resort, Malakal
Must-Try Dish: Grilled Lobster Tail and Seared Ahi Tuna
About the Place: An upscale waterfront dining pavilion set inside the Palau Royal Resort, offering romantic seafood dinners overlooking the private marina.
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19. Sea Passion Restaurant

Cuisine: Chinese Seafood & Asian Fusion
Location: Malakal Island
Must-Try Dish: Steamed Ginger Garlic Sea Bass and Fried Rice
About the Place: Known for traditional family-style Chinese dining featuring fresh live seafood aquariums cooked to order.
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20. Peleliu Island Club Cafe

Cuisine: Island Home Cooking
Location: Peleliu Island
Must-Try Dish: Fried Mahi-Mahi with Rice and Taro Chips
About the Place: A simple, hospitable island cafe on Peleliu Island serving hearty fish meals, local taro chips, and cold drinks to day-tour visitors.
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Fresh Pacific Seafood Grill