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What's the food like in Jamaica?

Find out what’s on the menu in Jamaica.

Beyond its white-sand beaches, Jamaica’s probably best known for rum punch, reggae music and of course, jerk chicken. This spicy and sticky dish is one of the island’s signature meals, marked by its fiery marinade and accompanying rice and peas. Jamaica brings way more to the [dinner] table than just jerk chicken, though. Read on to find out what’s in store food-wise when you visit…

Once you’ve had a read, find your foodie escape with Dine & Discover.

Salt fish

The lion’s share of Caribbean countries have a staple seafood dish – and it’s no different in Jamaica.  This place’s pick is salt fish – AKA cod – and you’ll find it plastered all over restaurant menus around the island. Wondering why it’s called salt fish? Great question. Up until the 19th century, salting was the only widely available method to preserve freshly netted fish, and it’s an age-old tradition that’s still used today. This tasty meal is made with sautéed cod, scotch bonnet peppers and fresh tomatoes. Then, it’s seasoned with sizzling spices, like black pepper and pimento. It’s usually eaten at breakfast, and served alongside ackee – a fruit that’s from the same family as lychee and tastes like scrambled eggs when cooked. You’ll need to try it to believe it.
Salt fish on a wooden table with ingredients

Curry goat

Curry goat is one of Jamaica’s best-loved dishes . Normally, it’s served with rice, potatoes and fried plantain – more on that later. It’s usually slow cooked for a couple of hours, so you can expect a super tender texture. And, if your usual spice level sits at the milder end of the scale, you’ll be pleased to hear it's not too spicy, either.
Goat curry served in a clay cookware

Fried plantain

Side dishes tend to take just as much of the spotlight as the main when it comes to dining in Jamaica. And that’s definitely the case when fried plantain's on the menu. Never heard of it? You’re missing out – these things look like a banana that’s had a growth spurt, but they’re more starchy than sweet, and taste great when fried. For this dish, slices of plantain are drizzled with oil, seasoned with salt, and fried until they’re crispy and golden brown.
Fried Plantain

Jerk chicken

We’ll finish up with the dish Jamaica’s best known for – jerk chicken. The key ingredient here is chicken thighs – no prizes for guessing that one. The meat’s marinated overnight in a paste made from spices, onions, chillies and salt. Following that, it’s grilled over a fire for around 40 minutes, which gives it a smoky-meets-spicy flavour. Choose a hotel with a beach barbecue under its belt, and you can almost guarantee jerk chicken will be plated up at lunch and dinnertime. Top tip – it goes great with a coconut-infused cocktail, and it’s best enjoyed with a side of rice and peas.
Jerk chicken with black beans

Fancy tucking into Jerk chicken in Jamaica?

Browse our holidays to Jamaica.

Want to find out more? Check out how Jamaican rum is made, or why Jamaica is one of the best Caribbean islands.

Pssst. Head to the Discover homepage for our latest articles.

Author: Olivia Hunt and Karl Taylor

Last updated: 04.10.2023

Holiday Type

Destination

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