Belizean Eats

*This post will speak to Belizean Dollar (the conversion at the time was $1 USD = $2 BZD).

Belize, like any other country, has different vibes depending on the city you’re in. With different vibes, comes different cuisine, and we always find that a great way to immerse yourself within a culture is trying new food.

This post will help explain the different tastes you’ll notice from mainland San Ignacio, to the Islands (Caye Caulker & San Pedro). We also share some thrifty finds we discovered as we ate our way through Belize!

Read About:

• San Ignacio
• The Islands (Caye Caulker & San Pedro)

San Ignacio

San Ignacio, like most cities in Belize, have very affordable restaurants and eats. One of our favorite spots was the Mercado (“market”) at the San Ignacio Town Center. Here, you’ll find fresh fruits and veggies (caution: test your digestive system by eating fruits and/or vegetables without a peel– we advise against it though!) There are plenty of street vendors you can buy local treats from. $2BZ for empanadas?! Who can beat that?

Not into the street food? Check out the local restaurants and refrain from dining at your resort. At our resort, an average lunch cost $40BZ…okay for a resort, but why not pay almost half the price for tastier, more authentic meals? $40BZ could cover a FULL DAY worth of meals. Since San Ignacio is located mainland, you will find more “comfort” meals like burritos, tamales, plantains, and the local cuisine staple: rice and beans. Rice and beans will be offered mostly anywhere and will typically be the side dish on any restaurant menu. Several restaurants we would recommend in San Ignacio are Eva’s, Hannah’s, and Ceneida’s.

If you’re looking for a fun activity involving food, we highly suggest doing the Ajaw Chocolate tour for $24BZ. You get to learn all about cocoa beans, make chocolate, and keep a sample for later. The owners are very friendly and can answer any questions you have about the chocolate making process.

The Islands (Caye Caulker & San Pedro)

Once you travel from inland San Ignacio to the islands, you’ll start to notice a “fresher” cuisine. Being next to the ocean provides the locals and tourists an abundance of seafood option. Word for the wise, you won’t find lobster in May as it is conch season (huge let down since no one warned us). Let this be our warning to you! If you want lobster, head out to the islands in June. For May though, taste some deep fried conchs.

One of our favorite breakfast spots in Caye Caulker was Errolyn’s House of Fry Jacks. Fry jacks are a traditional dish in the Belizean cuisine, which consist of deep fried dough pieces and is typically served for breakfast. You can eat it plain, with butter or jam, or do what we did and accompany it with refried beans, sausage, bacon, and eggs. This dish can actually be found both mainland or on the islands, and we would highly recommend it.

At Errolyn’s, the menu consist of different type of stuffed jacks. When stuffed, the fried jacks are similar to a pizza calzone. So tasty! They stuff the deep fried dough with eggs, refried beans, vegetables, sausages, and many other combos. We love our McDon’s, but this has to beat out the golden arches at being our new favorite fast food restaurant. Plus, it was no more than $5BZ for an egg and cheese stuffed fry jack. Can’t beat the price and taste!

Need your daily dose of caffeine? The Beachfront Cafe in Caye Caulker is the best! The owners are funny and serve iced coffee with a side of mini donuts…MMmmM. They also sold coffee beans here, which makes a great souvenir gift for someone back home (or for yourself).

Another refreshing part of the islands is finding fresh squeezed juice and coconut water on every corner of the island. Very Instagram worthy 😉 Snap a picture, leave a comment, and share your thoughts on the Belizean cuisine!