Taste Jamaica, one plate at a time

Explore jerk spots, local cookshops, seafood restaurants and farmers’ markets. Make time for a relaxed meal and the people behind Jamaica’s food traditions.

Jamaican food blends African, Taíno, Indian, Chinese and European influences. Start with jerk chicken or pork cooked over pimento wood, then try ackee and saltfish (the national dish), curry goat, escovitch fish, oxtail and a fresh patty.

The best meals are often the simplest: roadside jerk pits, cookshops serving Sunday dinner, and fish cooked to order on the beach at places like Hellshire or Little Ochie.