Rum shop on Nevis (Textor)
It can be difficult to suss out authentic Aruban cuisine, especially in the high-rise hotel district along Palm Beach, which is littered with a chain restaurant selection that includes Benihana and Hooters—we kid you not!
Those seeking authentic Aruban cuisine will be best served by the snack bars and stands labeled "take-away" dotting the inland streets. These spots are particularly well-represented in Noord and downtown Oranjestad. These are also generally the cheapest food options. For sit-down dining, meals at small local restaurants away from the tourist zone generally cost less than $15 per person. There are also a fair number of Chinese restaurants around Aruba.
If it’s fine dining you crave, consider approaching your meals the Aruban way and enjoying the day’s largest meal at lunchtime. This approach allows diners to advantage of less expensive lunch menus at upscale restaurants.
Another way to save money is to take advantage of a Dine-Around package from the Aruba Gastronomic Association, which allows diners to purchase packages of meals at more than 20 restaurants on the island, including several restaurants focused on local cuisine.