Restaurants in Jamaica

If you are a fast food fan, try the Jamaican favourite, spicy "patties", which is basically ground meat in a pastry shell. If you are looking for goat curry, burgers and yam chips, King Burger and Mother's are the places. Then of course you have the American joints of, Pizza Hut, McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Shakey's Pizza and TCBY.

When you have reached the end of an exciting day in shopping in Jamaica; wandering the bustling marketplaces until your feet hurt, sit down and enjoy a meal at one of the many Jamaican Restaurants that line the streets of the shopping districts. For information about Caribbean food & cuisine see our Caribbean Restaurant Guide.

Food & Cuisine in Jamaica

Food forms an important part of the Jamaican lifestyle. Restaurants in Jamaica display the unique diversity of its people. African, Asian, European and Middle Eastern influences make Jamaican food and cuisine very special. Both haute cuisine and down-to-earth homemade dishes are also available in most restaurants across the islands, in the resorts and in some mountainous areas too. Of course, the prices vary in each place. ‘Authentic' Jamaican food consists of grilled meat, spicy seafood dishes, and smoked fish generously sprinkled with ‘jerk' (a Jamaican spice). Many restaurants in Jamaica serve food to customers on outdoor terraces so that visitors can enjoy both the delicious cuisine and the beautiful Jamaican landscape.

After a long day at the beach soaking in the colour of the place, the best thing to do is to indulge in the variety of delicious foods. There are many eateries and restaurants giving you inumerable choices for eating out in Jamaica. A visitor could dine in one of the finest 5-star resorts or have a whale of a time in an open-air Jerk shack where specialities are cooked in oil drum grills.

Jamaica is one of the cheapest places to dine in the Caribbean. However, the prices of some imported dishes are quite high as the ingredients need to be shipped in from outside the country. In fact, the prices are considerably higher when compared to the prices of certain dishes in the United States and in Canada. So those wanting to stay within one's budget as far as dining is concerned can stick to the local specialities that include seafood and fresh local produce.

Tax

Most Jamaican restaurants add a general consumption tax of about 15 percent to their bills. Apart from that, certain dining establishments add a 10 to 15 percent service charge to bills. Do remember, though, that a small tip is expected for efficient service.

Drinks

After a hard day of shopping for souvenirs or dining on oxtail, rice and peas you may feel the need for great refreshments. You can try Ting, which is a great local citrus drink. Desnoes and Geddes (D&G) provide an array of drinks like kola champagne, ginger beer and cream soda. Traditional flavours like fruit punch, orange and pineapple are also available.

Apart from popular drinks, restaurants in Jamaica also serve drinks thought to have healing properties. Sorrel is one such drink made from a potted herb, which turns into a deep red cooling drink when prepared well. Coconut water is another drink that is served in a cup or in a coconut shell. Other beverages are the natural energising fresh fruit juices like guava, soursop and tamarind, which reflect the fresh and invigorating attitude of the country. Visitors need not worry about the local water. It is safe to drink.

Those desiring a stronger concoction can go for excellent quality beer and liquor. Some of the favourite local brands of beer are Red Stripe and Dragon Stout. Heineken and Guinness are some of the imported beers available. A cheap, sweet and strong ‘overproof' rum is made by Wray and Nephew. This kind of drink needs to be had carefully as it is rather strong! The crest on its yellow label easily identifies Wray and Nephew. Those not very fond of strong liquor have plenty of other options like Tia Maria, Appleton Estate rum and others. All of these drinks complement the delicious Jamaican food and cuisine and make dining an enjoyable experience on the island of Jamaica.

Jamaican Food

Jamaican cuisine has a rich and varied taste and is sure to tickle your taste buds. The culinary styles of Jamaica are a unique blend of various ethnicities. Every dish, its preparation and its ingredients are generally influenced by countries such as Great Britain, Africa, China and India.

Jamaican food is very healthy as it comprises dishes made from fresh meat, vegetables and seasonings. Fruits and vegetables like ackee and callalloo are food essentials and usually make tasty dishes when prepared properly. Ackee, especially when mixed with salt fish, gives you Jamaica's National Dish.

‘Jerk' is one of the most popular staple foods among the natives of Jamaica and tourists too. ‘Jerk' is actually the technique of cooking wherein meat, poultry and vegetables are spiced and grilled. The word ‘jerk' has its origin in the Spanishword ‘charqui', which means ‘jerked or dried.' Beef jerky is another example of the drying method. In fact, it is said that the ‘jerk' technique originated during the time when Jamaican slaves or Maroons escaped British rule and came out with a superb preservation method. They poked holes into meat with sharp tools and then filled the holes with jerk seasoning.

Jerk pork goes back to the Cormantee tribe hunters in Western Africa, much before the Jamaicans were brought as slaves to the Caribbean. Jerk dishes are now a delicious treat, whether served from a roadside vendor, an oil drum grill or in a restaurant. Boston Beach, near Portland, with its jerk huts is said to be one of the best on the island. If you are interested in jerk food, Chelsea Jerk Centre in Kingston is the best place to go for jerk products.

The Indian influence on Jamaican cuisine originates from the immigrants that landed on the island between 1845 and 1921. The Indian immigrants not only brought their culture with them but also their culinary skills. One of the most dominant influences is curry, which is still used in goat, chicken and seafood preparation, and is an exotic blend of different spices.

The health conscious diner also has something to satiate his taste buds in Jamaica. There is the Rastafarian I-tal cuisine, which excludes salt from its recipes and strictly follows the guidelines of the Rastafarian sect. The vegetable and soy dishes are extremely delicious. The best way to identify these restaurants is to look for the red, gold and green bands or a picture of a lion.

For a quick munch or a pick-me-up, meat patties are also available with coco bread. This is one of the many light meals available throughout the country. Bammies, ‘mackerel rundown' and ‘stamp and go' are some of the nutritious and tasty assortments of food and cuisine in Jamaica to be found.