Cafe de Orze’s ¥30 Fried Rice, Cheap Enough to Visit Daily 🍚

Wandering around Fulidhoo, I’d always worried that local island restaurants might be "cheap but tasteless"—until I stumbled upon Cafe de Orze. Tucked around a corner on the main street, this little shop has no fancy decor, but with its "¥30 per person to fill up" affordability, it became our go-to whenever we struggled to decide "what to eat." 🌴 Ambiance: A "homely vibe" on the local island, no need to be formal The restaurant is like a local "canteen"—plastic tables and chairs outside 🪑, handwritten menus (a mix of Chinese and English, barely legible) on the wall, a fan spinning slowly. Islanders in boardshorts and tourists with backpacks sit together, no awkwardness. When ordering, the smiles and asks, "More or less spicy?" 😊, like eating at a neighbor’s house—totally relaxed. 🍳 Dishes: "Edible enough," winning by being ridiculously cheap Chicken/beef fried rice: ¥30 a serving, portion big enough to fill even a guy up. The rice is fried to separate grains, not clumpy. Chicken and beef are diced 🥩🍗, seasoned lightly with a hint of soy sauce, but the meat is indeed a bit dry (probably marinated in advance) 😐. The standout is the fresh chili flakes sprinkled on top, with a unique island spiciness. If you don’t eat spicy, definitely say "less chili" in advance—otherwise, you might get a shock. Freshly squeezed juice: Who can resist ¥15 a cup? 🥤 We tried pineapple and mango juice 🍍🥭, both freshly cut and squeezed with no added water. Pineapple juice has a hint of tartness, mango juice is rich and sweet, with ice beads on the glass. One sip, and the dryness of the fried rice is instantly washed away—its cost-effectiveness leaves resort islands in the dust. A neighboring table said the burgers and pizzas are "okay"—the bread is freshly baked, pizza has a thin crust with plenty of toppings. We ate fried rice for two days straight and didn’t have room to try them, but just looking at the prices (¥40 for a burger, ¥80 for a large pizza) makes it half the price of other island spots. 💡 Practical tips: ❶ Paying in Rufiyaa is better value: The restaurant only takes cash (USD or Rufiyaa) 💴. Using local currency Rufiyaa is more cost-effective than USD conversion—¥30 fried rice is about 75-80 Rufiyaa. Remember to exchange some small change in advance. ❷ Don’t expect "amazing" taste: Given the price, it’s not "mind-blowing," but definitely "edible"—great for budget travelers wanting to save money for resort meals. ❸ Avoid peak hours: It gets busy around 12pm and 7pm ⏰, with a 10-minute wait. Go off-peak and you’ll get your food almost instantly. On our last day leaving Fulidhoo, we had our final meal here. Sitting at the little table outside, shoveling fried rice and sipping mango juice, watching locals at the next table chatting in their native language, it hit me: "Delicious" in travel isn’t just about "taste buds amazed"—this kind of "cheap, filling, and full of life" is a unique flavor of local islands too 🌴😌. #Maldives #MaldivesTravel #MaldivesIslandSelection #LocalFoodInTravel #MaldivesTourism #MaldivesLocalIslands #fulidhoo #fulidhooFood #MaldivesGuide