Saipan, being colonized by Japan and currently a multi-ethnic country, is a place where you can taste global flavors in terms of food.

First of all, there's the hibachi, Himawari Sunflower Hibachi, one of Saipan's most popular Japanese restaurants, nestled in an alleyway on the east side of Garapan, which is known for its authentic and inexpensive Japanese cuisine. It's best for enjoying tapas in the evening with a glass of shochu to melt away the day's labor. The Sunflower Restaurant is also famous for its takeaway bento.

open.06:00-22:00, Add.Garaban Tel.+1670 233 1530

Get the avocado salmon skin salad, assorted sashimi platter, grilled salmon roll, Saipan-produced cloudy grouper sushi roll, and matcha ice cream snapper yakitori, which is only $40, but it's all good!

Country House

The log cabin exterior with cowboy murals and authentic country music creates a pioneer-era atmosphere. The premium charcoal-grilled Angus steak is a dinnertime crowd-pleaser. With its rich meaty texture and thick flavor, it is a delicious meal that will always excite your taste buds. At lunchtime, the restaurant serves prime rib, hamburger steaks, and a variety of seafood dishes, as well as a selection of wines to pair with the grilled meats, which are available for take-out.

Open 11:00-22:00, Add.Garapan Tel.+1670 233 8223

This place feels like the USA, with a 450g chewy rib-eye Ribloin Steak, and a grilled lobster with tartar sauce that will satisfy two stomachs.

Korean food is also readily available, and you can enjoy a full Korean meal at a very ordinary Korean restaurant.

At the night market on Thursdays, you can sample some of the local snacks. Apiqiqi, which everyone recommends, is banana leaf wrapped in coconut meat with sticky rice, and it's very flavorful and delicious.

Saipan's Currency, Prices, Tipping, Outlets, Internet Environment, and Other Travel Tips

Currency and Payment Methods

The US dollar is circulated in the Northern Mariana Islands, with banknotes in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 dollars, and coins in denominations of 1, 5, 10, and 25 cents. Credit cards (VISA, MasterCard, JCB, Dynasty, American Express) are accepted at most hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers. Some stores or restaurants have Bank of Hawaii, Bank of Guam, and Bank of Saipan ATMs available 24 hours a day, and some merchants accept UnionPay cards.

WeChat and Alipay are available at the larger local shopping malls, but are not as widely used as in China.

The Northern Marianas has some experience programs and service tips that require cash, so it is recommended that visitors change their US dollars well in advance of departure. Currency exchange services are available at major local hotels, DFS Global Duty Free, and some stores, as well as for emergencies.

Prices

Due to the fact that the Northern Marianas relies on external imports for most of its supplies, daily spending is high. The average price of a full meal is typically in the mid to high $20s.

Tipping

Being a U.S. territory, the custom of tipping wait staff has been retained. Tipping in restaurants is typically 15% of the cost of the meal, in taxis it is also 15% of the fare, hotel rooms are $1-2 per bed per day, and tipping for baggage handlers is roughly $1 per bag, with tipping offered as a voluntary act.

Voltage and outlets

The universal voltage in the Northern Mariana Islands is 120V, 60Hz, and 110 volt appliances can be used. Outlets are universal || word plugs.

How do I find an address on the Northern Mariana Islands?

Saipan, Tennyson, and Rota do not have definite house numbers street numbers. Only major roads have street names, and there are many roads without names. Addresses of stores and restaurants are mostly identified by postal codes. But because the islands themselves are small, the routes are relatively supervised and you don't have to worry about getting lost as long as you have a map handy.

I heard to watch out for coconut trees?

In the Northern Marianas, especially in Rota, where the coconut groves are thick, there is some danger in standing under the subtrees. The wildly growing coconuts can fall freely at any time and could injure you if they hit someone. Especially those mature coconuts are highly likely to fall, so be extra careful.

What is the cell phone and internet environment like?

Most places in Saipan have cell phone and 3G network signal coverage, but some mountainous areas have poor network signals; Tannen and Rota have relatively poor network environments, and Roaming Bao can only be used in hotels and inhabited places, and most of the time, only cell phones used by locals can guarantee calls. Therefore, traveling in the Northern Mariana Islands is perfect for completely forgetting the chaos of the city and enjoying nature in peace.

Are there discounts for restaurants, shopping, activities and other experiences?

Collect the various maps and brochures available at airports and hotels, which often advertise the latest discounts or specials, as well as in the brochures, some of which include coupons in the back.