ExploFood · North America
What to eat in Jamaica
Five dishes to try in Jamaica, the most typical first. One is vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Jamaica
Ackee and saltfish
Salt cod sautéed with ackee fruit, onion, peppers and Scotch bonnet.
How to have it: The national dish, eaten for breakfast with fried dumplings, boiled green banana or breadfruit.
Jerk chicken
Chicken or pork rubbed with allspice and Scotch bonnet, smoked over pimento wood.
How to have it: Roadside jerk centres like those in Boston Bay and Kingston sell it by the pound with festival bread.
Jamaican patty
Flaky turmeric-yellow pastry filled with spiced beef, chicken or vegetables.
How to have it: Bought from bakery chains like Juici and Tastee; locals eat it inside coco bread.
Curry goat
Goat meat stewed on the bone in Jamaican curry with potatoes and Scotch bonnet.
How to have it: A must at parties and Sunday cook shops; served with rice and peas.
Rice and peas
Rice cooked with kidney beans, coconut milk, thyme and allspice.
How to have it: The standard Sunday side for brown stew chicken, oxtail or curry goat.
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Questions
What food is Jamaica famous for?
Ackee and saltfish (salt cod sautéed with ackee fruit, onion, peppers and Scotch bonnet) comes first on our list, followed by Jerk chicken, Jamaican patty, Curry goat and Rice and peas.
What is the national dish of Jamaica?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Jamaica is Ackee and saltfish: salt cod sautéed with ackee fruit, onion, peppers and Scotch bonnet. The national dish, eaten for breakfast with fried dumplings, boiled green banana or breadfruit.
Which dishes in Jamaica are vegetarian?
One of the five on this page is vegetarian as usually made: Rice and peas. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Jamaica?
Jerk chicken (chicken or pork rubbed with allspice and Scotch bonnet, smoked over pimento wood).
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Tick off every dish you try in Jamaica
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.