Traditional Jamaican Food Near Me
Food of Jamaican Culture in Hampton Roads, VA
Taste Vacation Best Jamaican Food Near Me Open Now with Menu Information.
One of the greatest joys in life is eating something truly delicious such as unique and easily accessible traditional Jamaican food near me and Caribbean products online. If you have ever had a craving for something you could not find, you know what it is like to be a fan of Jamaican dishes! Despite being one of the most dynamic culinary spots in the tropics, it's hard to find their treats close to home in the United States and other parts of the world. Before delving into the sweet scoop on Jamaican treats, continue reading for information on the traditions of J'cans foods.
When you search for "best Jamaica food near me," you can usually get anything from oxtail and beans to beef patties. Furthermore, satisfy your yearning for West Indian and Jamican food that soothes your soul with hot curried chicken or any of the foods described below.
What is Jamaican food?
Welcome to the flavors of Jamaica cuisine, the sunshine island. Jamaica is known for its beautiful settings, influential music, and mouthwatering dishes.
Jamaican food recipes are identified for having very creative flavors and authentic taste. Some of the most popular recipes found on the island are achieved with the fusion of spices and herbs to create pronounced flavors that are unique to Caribbean cooking. Influenced by the indigenous Indian, the British, Spanish, African, and Chinese, Jamaican recipes are famous for exciting the palates.
The fertile land makes it easy to gather the ingredients to make savory meals, drinks, and desserts. Large, branched trees such as ackee bear their fruit to create Jamaica's national dish, is an example of the island being fertile. An abundance of herbs is available and used in most ingredients. The nature of this plentifulness is referred to as a transfer of ground food provisions from the farmland to the kitchen table.
Jamican food dishes ingredients are available internationally in Caribbean stores. Explore our food resort desserts, main dish recipes, supermarket goods, and snacks for a once in lifetime taste vacation experience.
If you want to bring home that delicious authentic Jamaica food and West Indian goodies to satisfy your cravings, head to Islsnac online Caribbean resort to get your hands on high-quality Jamaican desserts, pastries, and sweet snacks! Furthermore, islsnac took it a step further, by introducing West Indian's popular schoolyard snack crate and a variety of Caribbean grocery store items ready to be delivered to your doorstep.
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4 Popular Jamaican Restaurant Food Near Me
As islsnac Caribbean food resort work to transition into the next phase of our development with the addition of our restaurant amenity, we have decided to share three of my best Jamaican food near me in Hampton Roads Virginia. Also, while you navigate this savory information, I will provide a quick overview which discusses the question you have always asked, and that is, "is Jamaican food healthy?" Please continue reading to discover the answer revealed in the next section.
Whether you're living in Hampton Roads, VA, or traveling to this bustling place, you may find arguably a few of the best Jamaican restaurants that you must try. As a city resident, I often search online for things to do with kids near me to beat the family weekend Sunday blues. As a result, you will encounter a vast list of eateries to explore in the city. Having visited many restaurants that specialize in Jamaican cuisine over the last five years, now I know where to go without a second thought if I crave the most delicious and authentic dishes.
If you are wondering why I am sharing my experiences with you all, my purpose for writing this post is to help you narrow down your search and have a great experience over these places, which I liked the most. Am I a food blogger or an explorer? Well, your opinion ultimately depends upon your experience if you follow this post. All I can say is that I want to dedicate this post to all the knowledge seekers and foodies alike.
So, without any further ado, let's explain why these are my favorites and what you can expect from these top four Jamaican restaurants in Hampton Roads, VA.
MP International Cafe and Restaurant:
This Caribbean soul restaurant and Jamaican food near me have taken authenticity to a new level as they serve a full-course lunch and dinner menu. As you enter this place, you will observe a friendly atmosphere that's perfect for families, friends, and couples. The warm and eclectic decor makes it a go-to place for people of all ages. The hosts are cheerful and will make you feel comfortable if you visit one of their locations for the first time.
When it comes to the menu, you will get plenty of options to choose from. Jamaican patties stuffed with veggies, chicken, or mild beef can be a great starter. Fried chicken is another attraction over here, which is crusty on the outside and succulent on the inside. They use either leg or thigh pieces. So, if you have any preference, you can mention that. My favorite seafood section includes yummy whiting, red snapper, and shrimp preparations.
They have a specialty section that includes unique dishes like callaloo and saltfish, ackee and saltfish, butter beans, and saltfish- to name a few. These are served with two sides, which you can choose from. Rice and peas, yellow rice, white rice, mixed vegetables, mac and cheese, and cabbage are some excellent options among the sides.
Here comes the most attractive section in the menu- Caribbean dinners. I go to this place quite often because of the jerk chicken dark meat, which is served with two sides. You can also try the oxtail, curry chicken, stew chicken, and curry goat, which are equally delicious. If you go for lunch, their lunch buffet will please you.
Also, this place won't disappoint the sweet tooth people because they have a wide section of cakes, puddings, and desserts. All of these dishes are priced quite nominally. Hence, if you wonder how to spend less money and give your colleagues a luxurious treat, look no further than this 200-seat restaurant. This place also has some drooling beverages that you can try. The MP Island Cafe has three outlets in Norfolk, Newport News, and Portsmouth, VA.
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Palm Tree Caribbean Restaurant:
Palm Tree Caribbean-themed restaurant near Hampton University has stuck to its quality for many years now. So, whether you are a true lover of Jamaican food or want to taste the classic cuisine for the first time, this place is where you should be heading to. They have a casual dining atmosphere with a bright yellow interior that opens at 9 am and serves everything from breakfast and lunch to dinner. The restaurant is quite spacious and has an authentic vibe cafe, where you get a vast option to choose the best zone and enjoy your meal.
First, let me talk about the most popular items here. Jerk chicken, curry chicken, and oxtail are the three most famous Jamaican dishes in this restaurant and the favorites of the localities. These come alongside plantains and two sides. They have medium and large portions so that you can choose according to your appetite. Curry goat and stew chicken are also quite famous and flavorsome if you search for dinner menus.
Though I stay a little far from this restaurant, I keep visiting here when I have no fun things to do near me. The main advantage of this restaurant is that they have an all-day menu, which includes patties, sandwiches, appetizers, baskets, sides, roti, salad, and snack box apart from the mains. In addition, they have a wide variety of soulful soups with chicken, fish, cow foot, oxtail, and other ingredients, which keep on changing daily. So, if you drop by on a weekday afternoon from 11am - 2pm, you will surely enjoy the lunch special, whereas they serve soulful specials only on Thursdays and Saturdays.
Mystic Jamaica Restaurant:
Another fantastic restaurant where you can fill your taste buds with a little bit of Jamaican cuisine, Mystic Jamaica Restaurant, is undoubtedly one of my favorites. They have a casual dining vibe along with a bar section where you can unwind and enjoy some lip-smacking and authentic Jamaican food. And when it comes to the food, they have a very sorted menu that combines all the best dishes from the land of wood and water.
When I visited this restaurant for the first time, I ordered jerk chicken with rice, peas, and mac and cheese. I kept on raving about this meal all week. Since then, lunch at Mystic Jamaica has been one of the happiest things to do with kids near me. I'm obsessed with their oxtail, potato salad, and vegetables these days. If you're a seafood lover, you can also try their ackee and saltfish, salmon, and prawn preparations. You can choose two sides among plantain, boiled dumplings, yellow yam, cornbread, garden salad, green banana, and mixed veggies with every dish.
Now that you know where to go when craving some authentic Jamaican food, go ahead and make the most of it. I'm sure you'll like these places and their food. Also, it would also be in your best interest to understand the health benefits, or know at the least, if Jamaican food is healthy before you try its various dishes.
Is Jamaican food healthy?
Jamaican meals are healthy and often involves cooking techniques such as baking, steaming, and grilling, which reduce its fat content. In addition, Jamaican cuisine is prepared using the freshest ingredients. Many Jamaicans have a small backyard garden that supplies them with mangoes, ackees, and other freshly grown organic ingredients for popular breakfast dishes, beverages, or snacks. While powdered seasonings are convenient, Jamaicans still like to add fresh thyme, onions, ginger, and other spices to their food. All of these have medicinal properties and help to keep colds and other illnesses under control.
Explore a list of famous Jamaican food names and dishes near me in VA local West Indian Cuisines.
Below is a short list of the best Jamaican food near me menu selections, along with product information online, that are narrowed down into categories. They are entrees, sided dishes, vegetables and salads, desserts, Jamaican pastry, beverages, and Jamaican soups/appetizers. The list comprises a combination of breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner that are found in many Jamaican soul food restaurant and cuisines.
ENTREES
Jamaican Jerk Chicken
Say the word "Jamaica", and the first thing that comes to mind is Red Striped Beer, Usain Bolt, and Jerk Chicken. Smoked Jerk Pollo is a favorite not just for locals, but for vacationers who visit the island. The raw poultry is soaked in spicy jerk sauce for hours and then grilled on an outdoor open flame. In Jamaica, a makeshift George Forman grill is created using a galvanized barrel known as a drum pan. A rectangular portion of the drum is removed, and then a lower flamed coal section is created.
Jamaican Oxtail Stew
Jamaican Stew Oxtail is a flavorful popular entrée is normally eaten for lunch or dinner. It is a traditional dish that is popular in Jamaica. It is made by slow-cooking oxtails, which are the tails of cattle, in a flavorful stew made with a variety of spices and seasonings. The stew is typically made with ingredients such as onion, scallions, garlic, ginger, thyme, allspice, and scotch bonnet peppers.
The oxtails are first browned in a pan to create a rich, caramelized flavor, then simmered for several hours until the meat is tender and falling off the bone. The stew oxtail recipe is often prepared and served over rice, with a side of steamed vegetables, and sometimes with fried plantains. The oxtail is a very rich and flavorful meat that is high in protein and is known for its tender and juicy texture.
Jamaican Escovitch Fish
Traditionally served during the Easter holidays with fried festival Jamaican food dishes. Jamaican Escovitch Fish is a traditional Jamaican dish that is made from deep-fried fish that is marinated in a spicy and flavorful sauce. The fish used in this dish is typically a whole red snapper, but other types of fish such as kingfish and cod can also be used.
The fish is first cleaned, scaled and then seasoned with a blend of spices such as allspice, black pepper, thyme and scotch bonnet pepper. The fish is then deep-fried until crispy and golden brown.
The marinade for the escovitch sauce is made with a combination of ingredients such as onions, bell peppers, carrots, and scotch bonnet peppers. The sauce is typically made with vinegar, which gives it a tangy taste and is flavored with allspice, cloves, and bay leaves. The sauce is poured over the fried fish, and it is then left to marinate for a few hours to absorb the flavors.
The dish is typically served with a side of fried festival dumplings or hard-dough bread, and it is often garnished with fresh herbs such as parsley or cilantro. It's considered to be a popular Jamaica seafood dish that is often served as a main course, and it is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike, usually eaten as a lunch meal.
It's also worth noting that escovitch is a Spanish-derived word and the style of cooking is said to have originated from Spanish Jews who were living in Jamaica during the colonial period.
Jamaican Stew Chicken
Brown stewed chicken is normally served with boiled ground provision food such as yellow yam, green bananas, and dumplings. For a breakfast option, it is served with fried dumplings, crushed green plantains, and banana fritters.
Curry Goat, also known as Mutton
A favorite for many Caribbean's. Curry goat is served at most celebrations alike ram goat soup. Jamaican Curry Mutton is a popular traditional Jamaican dish that is made from tender pieces of mutton (goat meat) that are cooked in a flavorful curry sauce. The dish is known for its bold and complex flavors, which are a combination of Indian, African, and Jamaican influences.
The mutton is first marinated in a blend of spices such as curry powder, cumin, turmeric, and ginger, which gives it a rich and aromatic flavor. The meat is then browned in a pot with onions, garlic, and scotch bonnet peppers, which gives it a nice, caramelized coat.
The curry sauce is made with a combination of ingredients such as coconut milk, tomatoes, and various vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, and okra. The sauce is thickened with a flour-based roux and flavored with additional spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and bay leaves. The sauce is then simmered with the mutton until the meat is tender and the sauce is thick and flavorful.
The dish is typically served with a side of rice and peas or dumplings, and it is often garnished with fresh herbs such as cilantro or parsley. It's considered to be a popular dish that is often served as a main course, and it is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. It's also worth noting that the dish has its origins in the Indian indentured servants who were brought to Jamaica during the colonial period.
Jerk Pork
Jerk is the method of rubbing the parts of pork meat with a mix of spices and leaving everything to marinate overnight before cooking. Originally it was a smoking process but today pork or chicken are usually simply cooked slowly on the grill. It is prepared by mixing Grace Scotch Bonnet pepper sauce, olive oil, a dash of vinegar, onion, garlic, pepper, thyme, cinnamon, nutmeg spice, lime juice and allspice. This is the name of a spice widely used in Caribbean cuisine and obtained from the dried fruits of Pimento.
Curry chicken
Curry chicken reflects Jamaica's motto and comes from the Indian subcontinent. Seasoned well with pimento, curry, thyme, garlic, onion, and other traditional spices, this goes well with white rice or boiled dumplings, green bananas, and Irish potatoes. This delicious chicken dish has a savory sauce that you'll enjoy at any time.
Steamed Snapper Fish
Recommended for maintaining your strength and stamina, steamed fish combines the brain-boosting power of fish with other healthy ingredients like pumpkin, scotch bonnet pepper, tomatoes, garlic, onions, and escallions. Okras and water crackers complete this dish, which goes down well with a nice Red Stripe Beer or Stone's Ginger Wine bottle.
Saltfish and baked butter beans
A simple and easy to prepare Jamaican dinner recipe. It is generally served with white rice or boiled green bananas, boiled dumplings, and yellow yams or potatoes.
This is the national dish of Jamaica. Goes well with side dishes of boiled or fried ground provisions and festival fried dumplings. For those of you who doesn't know what is ackee, click here for more information on this topical fruit.
Beef stew
Slow cooking, tender, boneless beef chuck is stewed to perfection with allspice, tomatoes, thyme, garlic, and onions. Beef stew is made slurried with carrots and diced Irish potatoes. Delicious with rice and peas or white rice, it's also good with breadfruit.
Run down
A favorite for generations, run-down combines the slightly sweet flavor of coconut milk with the saltiness of pickled mackerel and salted codfish. In the past, this dish was also frequently called Dip and Fall Back. The coconut milk, thyme, tomatoes, scotch bonnet peppers, and other seasonings form a custard-like liquid, which is delicious with boiled green bananas and sweet potatoes.
Stewed Peas and Beef:
Is a high protein dish eaten for either lunch or dinner? It is normally served with plain white rice. Most of the ingredients used to make stewed peas are similar to what is used when cooking red peas soup.
SIDE DISHES
Roast Breadfruit
Roasted on an open fire, roast Breadfruit tastes great with ackee and saltfish. The tree grows only in warm climates throughout the Caribbean, the Pacific Islands, and South Asia. It resembles Jackfruit and can also be boiled and fried after it has been roasted. Five popular breadfruit recipes include fried, roast, boil, stewed, and with rundown.
Cassava Bammy
Prepared using sweet, not bitter cassava, fried or steamed bammy is excellent with steamed fish or Jamaica national dish, Ackee. Cassava, also known as yucca or manioc, is a woody shrub that is native to South America. The root of the plant is the part that is commonly consumed, and it is a staple food crop in many parts of the world, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
The root is elongated and tapered, and has a rough, brown, scaly skin. The flesh is white, yellow or purple, and has a starchy, slightly sweet taste. It is typically boiled, fried, or made into a flour, tapioca, or garri. Cassava root can be toxic if not prepared properly, as it contains a compound called linamarin which can release hydrocyanic acid, a potentially fatal poison. But it can be made safe by peeling, washing and then grating, squeezing, or drying the root.
Fried Sweet plantains
While not having the crunchiness of crushed green plantains, fried sweet plantains are a must for anyone who has a sweet tooth. Try these at least once, especially with salty or fried dishes like ackee and saltfish, bacon, or escovitch snapper fish.
Boiled Green Bananas
Excellent at breakfast, lunch or dinner, boiled green bananas are a good source of complex carbohydrates for people with diabetes. They complement curried chicken, oxtail, and even stewed pork.
Rice and Peas
Jamaicans traditionally have rice and peas on a Sunday, with Sunday dinner being served at around three in the afternoon. It's seasoned with thyme, pimento, escallions, and many other ingredients. The red kidney beans are cooked in coconut milk before the rice is added, and this helps to give the dish its distinctive taste.
Plain White Rice
Plain white rice goes well with a variety of meals that aren't complemented by rice and peas. Curried chicken, stewed peas, and vegetable stir fry dishes which showcase the Asian aspect of Jamaica's culture, all go well with white rice. Both long and short grain rice can be steamed with a pinch of salt to make this dish.
Boiled Yellow Yam
Boiled yellow yams are rich in nutrients and are enjoyed at every meal. These tuber vegetables are peeled carefully to remove the bark-like skin before boiling them in water with a bit of sea salt. They're popular in many Caribbean countries, including Haiti, and while they are starchy and pleasantly dry, they're rich in copper, manganese, and antioxidants.
Boniato, also known as Cuban sweet potato or white sweet potato, is a variety of sweet potato that is native to the Caribbean and Central America. It has a white, tan, or purple skin and a white or yellow flesh. Compared to the more common orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, boniato has a drier, less sweet, and more starchy texture.
It is often used in Latin American and Caribbean cuisine, and can be cooked in a variety of ways including boiling, baking, frying, or mashing. Boniato is a good source of carbohydrates, fiber, and vitamin A.
Boiled Cassava
When boiled for about 20 minutes, this root vegetable is a great gluten-free compliment to curried chicken, stew beef, and coconut run-down.
Boiled Flour Dumplings
Boiled dumplings are one of the most popular dinner recipes in Jamaica and throughout the West Indies. Dumplings are known for being a versatile side dish. They complement many entrées. Entrees served with flour dumplings are, ackee and saltfish, stewed chicken, steamed spinach callaloo, and many more.
Made with wheat flour or cassava flour, salt, and baking powder, this crispy fried flour dough is delicious with ackee and saltfish.
A popular staple at Prendy's and Hellshire. Fried festival Jamaican food near me in local West Indian cuisine, are made with coconut milk, yellow cornmeal, brown sugar, and other ingredients. They go well with steamed fish.
Roti
Roti is a type of flatbread that is popular in many parts of South Asia, including India, Pakistan, West Indies, and Bangladesh. It is made from wheat flour, water, and sometimes oil or ghee. The dough is rolled out into a thin circle, then cooked on a hot griddle or skillet.
Roti is often served with curry dishes, as well as pickles, and chutneys. It can also be used to wrap around fillings such as meat, shrimp or vegetables. Roti is a staple food in many parts of South Asia and is also popular in other parts of the world where South Asian communities have settled.
VEGETABLE AND SALADS
Cho cho
Steamed Cabbage
A good milk stimulant for nursing mothers, steamed cabbage is also included in many Ital dishes. This vegetable is often also steamed with carrots or stir-fried with pak choi.
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It is Jamaican breakfast favorite but can also be eaten for lunch or dinner. Callaloo is popular with vegetarians as a spinach option for its many health benefits.
Okra
Okra, also known as lady's fingers, is a vegetable that is commonly grown in warm climates. It is a green, elongated pod with a slightly ridged surface and a pointed tip. The inside of the pod is filled with small, round seeds.
Okra is often used in soups and stews, and is also a popular ingredient in Southern, Caribbean, and Creole cuisine. It is known for its slimy texture when cooked, which can be reduced by proper cooking techniques such as frying or roasting. Okra is a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, and folate.
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DESSERTS AND PASTRIES
This Caribbean black cake is the staple dessert during Christmas and thanksgiving, paired well with nonalcoholic sorrel wine. It is a dense, moist, savory delicacy made with fruits soaked in white rum, red label wine, and grace browning molasses.
This Jamaican yam dessert is made of grated Boniato sweet potato and other delicious spices. It is very similar to the America's sweet potato pie thanksgiving treat. Sweet potato puddin is served well with a cup of blue mountain coffee for a midafternoon treat.
Is a popular Caribbean dessert served warm by itself or with vanilla ice cream. It is a great way to use bread that has become slightly stale or more that is a few days old.
Coconut Drops
Is a vegan sweet coconut snack made of fresh caramelized brown sugar with diced husk coconuts, grated ginger root, nutmeg, and pure vanilla extract. It is also known as is a sweet tooth picker upper enjoyed during long outings or trips. Coconut cut cake, the name used in Trinidad for Jamaican drops, is a popular traditional treat for those in need of a quick nibble. Coconut drops may be stored in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag.
Peanut Drops
A soft bite crunchy treat available at almost every bus park in Jamaica, this snack is made with fresh ginger root, freshly roasted peanuts, and spices.
Gizzada
Jamaican gizzada is a small pie shell filled with sweet ginger grated coconut flakes. It is one of Jamaica's popular sweet snacks. The perfect pastry for lunch or brunch.
Toto
This is one of the easiest Jamaican pastry to prepare. The recipe for Toto is usually past down from Jamaican grannys. The main ingredients are flour and coconut. Toto is very similar to Rock cake, but has a softer consistency.
Jamaican Schoolyard Bulla
Delicious with pear (avocado), cheese, or butter. It is made of ginger root, nutmeg, cinnamon, molasses, brown cane sugar, and self-rising flour. Bulla cake pastry has been a favorite Jamaican schoolyard snacks for children for over 40 years.
Easter Bun Jamaican Cheese Sandwich
This sweet pastry bread is not only made during the Easter season. It's packed with raisins, fruit mix, sweet dessert wine, dragon stout lager beer, and spices. Easter bun sandwich with cheese or butter spread makes a perfect picnic basket selection.
Rock Cake
Rock bun the other name for Rock cake. It is a sweet scone like pastry bun, infused with coconut flakes, spices, and raisins or chocolate chip .
Grater Cake
Red and white colored coconut grater cake is sweet, sticky, and creamy. This candy features grated coconut with almond essence and cane sugar.
Police Button
This fun children's treat is a circular, yellowish, brown-baked snack that will satisfy your sweet tooth. Its shape looks like an actual police uniform blouse button.
They are prepared using coconut milk and spices, including nutmeg and cinnamon. Donkey corn snack is intentionally tough in texture and is also known as Jackass Corn.
Jamaican Bun and Cheese
Jamaican bun and cheese is the premier lunch snack during the Easter holiday throughout the Caribbean. Easter bun sandwich is prepared with Tastee cheese and yummy slices of sweet loaves.
JAMAICAN SOUPS
Mannish water or Goat head soup
Jamaican goat head soup, also known as mannish water, is a traditional bouillon that is made from the head of a goat, it is a hearty and flavorful soup that is popular in Jamaica.
It is made by simmering the head of a goat in a flavorful broth along with a variety of vegetables and spices. The soup is typically made with ingredients such as onion, scallions, garlic, ginger, thyme, allspice, and scotch bonnet peppers, and is seasoned with salt and pepper to taste.
It is considered a delicacy and is usually served on special occasions or holidays. Click here for mannish water recipe.
Cock Soup
Enjoy Jamaican food bouillon, freshly served, hot, spicy grace cock soup with chicken and ground provisions that will open your appetite.