Food of Northern Mariana Islands

The Northern Mariana Islands have Chamorro and Carolinian traditions of rice, fish, coconut, and breadfruit, plus Filipino, Japanese, and American influences. Barbecue, red rice, and kelaguen are party staples, and coconut and tropical fruit are widely used.

Kelaguen
National dish

Kelaguen

Chicken in lemon, onion, and coconut.

Staples

  • rice, fish, chicken, coconut, breadfruit, taro

Signature flavors

  • lemon, finadene, coconut milk, achote, chili

Main dishes

Chicken kelaguen
Chicken kelaguen

Chicken in lemon, onion, and coconut.

Key ingredients: chicken, lemon, coconut
Red rice
Red rice

Rice colored with achote.

Key ingredients: rice, achote
Chamorro BBQ

Marinated meat on the grill.

Key ingredients: chicken, ribs
Fish with finadene
Fish with finadene

Fish with soy-lemon sauce.

Key ingredients: fish, soy sauce, lemon
Tinaktak

Beef in coconut milk.

Key ingredients: beef, coconut milk
Pancit
Pancit

Noodle dish for gatherings.

Key ingredients: noodlesFull guide →

Breakfast

Titiyas

Coconut flatbread.

Key ingredients: flour, coconut
Eggs and rice

Island breakfast.

Key ingredients: egg, rice

Street food

Lumpia
Lumpia

Fried rolls.

Key ingredients: pork, vegetablesFull guide →
Empanada
Empanada

Filled pastry.

Key ingredients: flour, fillingFull guide →

Desserts and sweets

Latiya

Custard cake.

Key ingredients: eggs, milk
Kalamai

Sweet corn pudding.

Key ingredients: corn, coconut milk
Coconut candy

Chewy.

Key ingredients: coconut, sugar

Drinks

Coconut water

Fresh.

Key ingredients: young coconut
Lemonade

Fresh.

Key ingredients: lemon

Fruits and produce

Coconut
Coconut

Staple.

Key ingredients: milkFull guide →
Breadfruit
Breadfruit

Roasted.

Key ingredients: roastedFull guide →
Banana
Banana

Many kinds.

Key ingredients: eaten freshFull guide →
Papaya
Papaya

Sweet.

Key ingredients: eaten freshFull guide →

Dish guides from Northern Mariana Islands

Banana
BananaFruits
Breadfruit
BreadfruitFruits
Coconut
CoconutFruits
Empanada
EmpanadaStreet food
Lumpia
LumpiaSnacks and dips
Pancit
PancitMain dishes
Papaya
PapayaFruits
Explore Northern Mariana Islands on Geographical EffectMaps, capital and cities, population, climate, landscapes and landmarks.

More cuisines of Micronesia

About this page

Descriptions written by Intercontinental Chef. Dishes are listed as commonly eaten today; many are shared across neighbouring countries.

Photo credits
  • Kelaguen 1534 (14529937155): photosbybonbon671, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Rice, red-rice, AIVANAM-like: Sengai Podhuvan, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Must have fina'denne! (3914403469): Janine from El Paso, TX, United States, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Pancit Ilonggo Style - 12110747826: pulaw, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Loenpia Semarang: Midori, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Tapa de empanadillitas: Tamorlan, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Cocos nucifera - Köhler–s Medizinal-Pflanzen-187: Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Artocarpus altilis (fruit): Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • 14-QWSTION-BANANATEX-STRIPPING-LAUSCHSICHT: BANANATEX, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Carica papaya - Köhler–s Medizinal-Pflanzen-029: Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)