Market Snack · Fried Dough
Keke (Tongan Doughnuts)
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The yeast-raised version is called keke 'isite, from the English word 'yeast,' and it's a standard snack alongside a cup of tea.
Keke are small balls of fried dough sold at simple snack stalls throughout Tonga, especially at Talamahu Market in Nuku'alofa, alongside filled buns and pre-packed lunches. They're cheap, portable, and best eaten warm, straight from the fryer.
Why it's made this way: Like its Samoan cousin, keke turns basic flour, sugar, and oil into a fast, affordable snack that needs no refrigeration — ideal for an open-air market that runs from morning to late afternoon.
Roughly what's in it
270kcal
5gprotein
38gcarbs
11gfat
Estimated per typical street-vendor portion — not lab-tested.
More from Tonga
Part of World of Street Food — 3443 dishes from 118 countries.
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