4 Best Restaurants in Viti Levu, Fiji

Of the many branches of this Suva staple, this one's upstairs seating—open 11–3—is the most relaxing place to enjoy one of the chain's 17 kinds of vegetarian curries. The corner real estate offers a fantastic view of the impressive Sacred Heart Cathedral from comfortable, cushioned wicker chairs. The air-conditioning doesn't hurt, but there are also plenty of cream and milk shake flavors to cool you down. Curries are served cafeteria-style by friendly, hair-netted staff, and there's a large array of toffees downstairs as well as all-day, un-air-conditioned seating.

Its minimalist, open-plan dining room and imported Italian chairs make this Suva's slickest Indian restaurant. And while the scene may be Sydney-esque, the cuisine is classic Indian. Highlights include the spicy Kadai chicken—pieces on the bone cooked with capsicum, tomato, and onions in an array of spices—and Bhindido Pyaja—okra (Lady's Fingers) cooked in an aromatic sauce with spices, mushroom, and onions. You may even find a crowd around the central, shiny rectangular bar early on a Friday or Saturday.

Raj's isn't much to look at with its iron gate, but it's a local favorite for good reason: Kamlesh Lata and her husband have been making delicious curries here for more than a decade. There's a disconcerting mix of Chinese and fast-food options geared to the quick-lunch local trade, but you should take a seat in the air-conditioned, dimly lighted room and skip right to the seafood curries. The plastic placemats don't do much for the atmosphere, but let your tastebuds judge. The restaurant is beside the first roundabout in town if coming from Nadi.

A favorite among 9–5'ers for its spicy, cafeteria-style south Indian fare, some luck may be required to find a seat here at lunch hour. Spices from Singapore and India give the curries a more authentic flavor than much of the competition. Food is served cafeteria-style and the intense reds of the booths and yellows of the walls are in line with the hotter dishes. The patrons' sink, complete with liquid soap and paper towel dispensers, is beside a booth in the dining room, but it's all part of the fun—at least for you, who doesn't have to be back at work in 45 minutes. There's a second location in the Morris Hedstrom City Center mall.