Setting the record straight for Maldivian dining❗️
Before coming to the Maldives, I was brainwashed by the idea that "you can’t eat well on the islands"—so I stuffed two packs of instant noodles into my suitcase. By the first night at Sheraton Full Moon, I regretted it: the lobster in the seafood platter still dripped with juice, the Thai mango sticky rice was wrapped in gold leaf, and even the squid by the pool tasted fresh enough to dance on my tongue. Who says Maldivian food is bad? Clearly, they just didn’t find the right spots! 🌴 Let’s debunk the myth: 7 restaurants to rotate through, your stomach won’t keep up Sheraton Full Moon hides 7 restaurants. Except for Kakuni Hut, the Mexican spot by the beach bungalows, the rest cluster in the central area—you’ll stumble into deliciousness while wandering. Staying 3 nights in a Water Bungalow with Pool, we tried a new place daily, and by the end, I admitted: bringing instant noodles was totally unnecessary. 🌟 Top 1: Sea Salt Seafood Restaurant—Dine by the sea, with baby sharks and herons as neighbors Calling Sea Salt my "favorite" is no exaggeration. It’s built right over the water, with wooden decks hovering above the waves. While eating, you can spot baby sharks gliding under the railings, and herons with half-meter wingspans perching on the . The sea breeze carries the sound of waves, more soothing than any background music. What touched me most was the detail: after dark, the menus they handed over light up! (Last photo) Fluorescent letters glow bright in the dark, no need to hold up a phone flashlight to read. As a total newbie seeing this for the first time, I instantly felt the thoughtfulness 😊. The must-order seafood platter is a game-changer: the menu says "serves 2" (lobster + grouper + crab + squid + shrimp), but the portion easily feeds 4—no doubt about it 👌. At first, we thought 2 people would definitely not be full, but the portions were so generous we over-ordered and couldn’t finish 😂. The ingredients are fresh, the flavor hits the spot for Chinese palates, and even the veggies and pasta we ordered were delicious. By the end, we waddled out stuffed. (PS: Sea Salt is closed on Fridays—don’t make a wasted trip!) 🌟 Top 2: Baan Thai—Thai restaurant with gold leaf mango sticky rice, sweet to the core Run by a Thai head chef, Baan Thai makes Thai food refined and authentic. As soon as we sat down, they brought out appetizers with edible gold leaf (fried shrimp cakes with sweet chili sauce)—shimmering, instantly upping the vibe. The mango sticky rice is the most "luxurious" I’ve ever had: glistening coated in thick coconut cream, topped with mango slices cut like flowers (sweet as honey), and a piece of gold leaf pressed on top! A spoonful of mixed with mango, coconut cream richness, mango sweetness, and fragrance burst in my mouth—heaven for dessert lovers. What stands out: anywhere coconut cream or milk is used, it’s richer than other places. For sweet tooths, this is pure joy! The tom yum soup has coconut aroma without greasiness, with shrimp and straw mushrooms soaking up the umami; green curry chicken clings to the meat with thick coconut cream, spiciness is "gentle fresh heat," perfect with jasmine rice. (PS: Baan Thai is closed on Mondays—no wasted trips!) 🌟 Top 3: Anchorage Bar—Mediterranean surprises by the pool, squid with hummus is a winner An open-air bar by the pool, great for daytime meals in the sun or evening drinks with a breeze. It specializes in Mediterranean flavors but hides unexpected deliciousness. The most memorable is the grilled squid : whole squid charred to perfection, tearing to reveal snowy white flesh, served with hummus mixed with olive oil. The hummus is creamy with a nutty hint, the squid chewy and fresh—dipping them together creates a "salty-savory harmony" that even my friend who usually hates squid fought over. The Mediterranean salad, with tomatoes, cucumbers, olives tossed in lime juice, is as refreshing as mixing sea breeze into a bowl; grilled chicken skewers with rosemary, juicy and tender, paired with iced beer by the pool—pure vacation laziness. In summary: You really don’t need instant noodles in the Maldives From fresh seafood to sweet Thai desserts, from the thoughtfulness of light-up menus to the romance of dining with sharks nearby, Sheraton Full Moon’s restaurants have perfectly figured out Chinese palates. Over 3 days here, I (fretted happily) over "which restaurant to eat at today," leaving with a round belly. To those who say Maldivian food is bad—you just haven’t tried these! Next time, I’ll be back at Sea Salt waiting for baby sharks to swim by, and at Baan Thai for another serving of gold leaf mango sticky rice. #MaldivesHotels #MaldivesRestaurants #SheratonFullMoonMaldives #IslandGetaway #HoneymoonTrip #MaldivesFood
