The cayes 🏝️ can be expensive compared to the 🌳 mainland, but it doesn't have to be. Small & local food stalls are cheaper, more authentic and even healthier.
Caye Caulker is more touristic than most places offering solid choices for foodies. In this post, I'll list out exactly what locals eat, where you can find it and as a bonus include some cafes.
What To Eat
The most popular dish on the island is definitely seafood. Fried and grilled fish & lobster are on top of the list with the Caribbean coconut shrimp curry being a close second. Try the local snacks like coconut crust, banana cake and coconut tart.
Where To Eat
I highly recommend eating at small street food shacks and from the street food cards. Homemade food is the best in Belize. The list of places below are mostly locally-owned and sell local dishes but a few others have been added for uniqueness.
Here's a short list of my favorite places to eat: 👇
Street Food
Errolyns Fry Jacks
- $1.50 USD
Before this small shack was famous on trip advisor, only locals bought food here. I ate here because it was the cheapest place to eat at the caye. It has the Belizean staple of fry jacks stuffed with refried beans and other goodies. It's very oily and calorie-dense but tastes really good!
- 🏆 What To Try: Beans & egg fry jack
- 🌱 Vegan Option: Beans only fry jack
Chef Kareem's
- $12.50 USD
The guy that runs this small food stall on the main road on the island. He barbecues just about everything on his homemade grill. Unfortunately it's not the cheapest for street food but the experience is authentic.
- 🏆 What To Try: Curry coconut shrimp
- 🌱 Vegan Option: Veggie coconut curry
Pupusas Lady
- $1.50 USD
The lady vendor sells pupusas and burritos. Hell, she'll also sell you huge handmade tortillas for $0.50 each in case you want to make your own burrito at home. I don't think there's anything tastier than fresh flour tortillas.
- 🏆 What To Try: Mixed pupusas
- 🌱 Vegan Option: Beans only pupusas
Jenny's To Go Food
- $1.50 USD
During covid, lots of little food stalls open and I think Jenny's Food To Go was one of the. They serve breakfast food like stuffed fry jacks, burritos and other local staples like garnaches and tostadas.
- 🏆 What To Try: Stuffed fry jacks
- 🌱 Vegan Option: Bean veggie burrito
Restaurants
Chef Juan's
- $12.50 USD
For a small unassuming place, this shack of a restaurant packs a lot lot of flavor. The chef takes pride in every dish. The menu includes lots of local dishes, seafood and even deserts.
- 🏆 What To Try: Key lime pie
- 🌱 Vegan Option: Veggie coconut curry
- 🌮 Similar Food: Maggie's Sunset Kitchen
Il Pellicano Cucina Italiana
- $12.50 USD
As the only Italian restaurant on the island, this is a place you for a special occasion like a wedding dinner. The atmosphere, food and service is excellent.
- 🏆 What To Try: Lobster pizza
- 🌱 Vegan Option: Penne Vegana
Cafes
Namaste Cafe
- $10.00 USD
This was the first cafe that caught my eye when I arrived the caye. It's not the cheapest, but it offers good plant-based options including puddings, sandwiches, salads and even hummus! As a bonus, they are eco-friendly and even offer donation-based yoga classes daily.
- 🏆 What To Try: Local smoothies
- 🌱 Vegan Option: Hummus
Caribbean Colors
- $10.00 USD
This little cafe is one of the few places that actually serve vegan food. So why not eat healthy while on vacation? As a bonus, they have an art gallery at the cafe.
- 🏆 What To Try: Huevos rancheros
- 🌱 Vegan Option: Vegan burrito & crepe
Cake Lady
- $1.50 USD
While at the caye, you'll see many vendors selling pastries on bicycle. A famous vendor is Cake Lady, and it's even marked on trip advisor that way. If Cake Lady doesn't have coconut products, you'll find other vendors on bikes selling banana cakes and other sweet treats.
- 🏆 What To Try: Coconut Crust
- 🌱 Vegan Option: Coconut tart
About Author
Everything written on this blog is based on first-hand experience or knowledge as a local living in Belize. No fluff, just honest information.
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