Food · Montego Bay · Jamaica
What to eat in Montego Bay
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Montego Bay, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Don Ramey Logan, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Jerk chicken and pork, Ackee and saltfish and Curry goat. Order jerk by the pound from the smoking pits at a roadside jerk centre and eat at picnic tables with festival and a cold Red Stripe. Some restaurants add a 10–15% service charge; check the bill before tipping.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Jerk chicken and pork
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 6
- Tipping
- Tip about 10–15% in restaurants where service isn't included, tip tour guides, drivers…
- Food experiences
- 4
11 foods to try
Dish
1.Jerk chicken and pork
Meat marinated in scotch bonnet pepper, allspice (pimento), thyme and scallion, then slow-smoked over pimento wood. It is served with festival, roast breadfruit or hard-dough bread.
Where: Jerk centres along the coast road east of the airport and stands on the Hip Strip; roadside drum-pan grills across town at night.
Breakfast
2.Ackee and saltfish
Jamaica's national dish: the buttery, scrambled-egg-like ackee fruit sautéed with salt cod, onions, tomatoes and peppers, eaten for breakfast with fried dumplings or boiled green bananas.
Where: Breakfast at local cafés and resort buffets.
Dish
3.Curry goat
Goat slow-cooked in Jamaican curry with potatoes and scotch bonnet, served with rice and peas; a celebration and Sunday dish.
Where: Local cookshops downtown and in residential areas.
Dish
4.Escovitch fish
Whole fried snapper topped with a vinegary pickle of onions, carrots, scotch bonnet and pimento, eaten with bammy (cassava flatbread) or festival.
Where: Seafood restaurants and beachside cookshops.
Street food
5.Jamaican patty
A turmeric-yellow flaky pastry filled with spiced beef, chicken, vegetables or callaloo; the island's go-to snack, often eaten inside coco bread.
Where: Bakeries and patty chains across town.
Dish · Vegetarian
6.Rice and peas
Rice cooked with red kidney beans, coconut milk, thyme, scallion and whole scotch bonnet; the standard Sunday side.
Where: Every Jamaican restaurant and cookshop.
Bakery · Vegetarian
7.Festival
A slightly sweet fried dumpling made with cornmeal, served alongside jerk and fried fish.
Where: Jerk centres and seafood restaurants.
Dish · Vegetarian
8.Callaloo
Leafy greens steamed with onion, tomato and scotch bonnet, served at breakfast or as a side.
Where: Local cafés and breakfast buffets.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Rum punch
Jamaican overproof or aged rum mixed with fruit juices, lime, syrup and nutmeg; every bar has its own recipe.
Where: Beach bars on the Hip Strip and resort bars.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Blue Mountain coffee
Mild, smooth coffee from the Blue Mountains near Kingston, one of the world's most sought-after coffees.
Where: Cafés, resort coffee bars and duty-free shops.
Drink · Vegetarian
11.Sorrel
A deep-red drink of hibiscus sepals steeped with ginger and spices, often spiked with rum; traditionally made at Christmas.
Where: Restaurants and street sellers, especially in December.
Food experiences
Jerk centre lunch
Order jerk by the pound from the smoking pits at a roadside jerk centre and eat at picnic tables with festival and a cold Red Stripe.
Rum tour
Visit a rum estate such as Appleton Estate in the Nassau Valley or Hampden Estate near Falmouth for distillery tours and tastings.
Sunday dinner
Sunday is the day for a big lunch of rice and peas, curry goat or stew chicken; local restaurants often have special menus.
Street food at night
After dark, drum-pan jerk vendors and roast-fish stands set up along roadsides in and around town.
Quick bites and street food
- Ackee and saltfish — Breakfast at local cafés and resort buffets.
- Jamaican patty — Bakeries and patty chains across town.
- Festival — Jerk centres and seafood restaurants.
Vegetarian options
Of the 11 foods in this guide, 6 are usually vegetarian: Rice and peas, Festival, Callaloo, Rum punch, Blue Mountain coffee and Sorrel. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Some restaurants add a 10–15% service charge; check the bill before tipping.
- Scotch bonnet peppers are very hot; ask for sauce on the side if you are unsure.
- Prices in tourist areas are often given in US dollars; paying in Jamaican dollars can be cheaper.
- Drink bottled water outside resorts and hotels if you are unsure of the supply.
- All-inclusive à la carte restaurants often need booking on arrival.
Tipping
Tip about 10–15% in restaurants where service isn't included, tip tour guides, drivers and raft captains, and leave something for housekeeping. Some all-inclusives have a no-tipping policy, but small tips are commonly given.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Wah gwaan? | What's going on? / Hello |
| Respect | Greeting or sign of appreciation |
| Soon come | I'll be back shortly (eventually) |
| Irie | All good / fine |
| Likkle more | See you later |
| Mi deh yah | I'm here / I'm doing fine |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Montego Bay famous for?
Jerk chicken and pork, Ackee and saltfish, Curry goat and Escovitch fish. Meat marinated in scotch bonnet pepper, allspice (pimento), thyme and scallion, then slow-smoked over pimento wood.
+Is Montego Bay good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Rice and peas, Festival and Callaloo.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Montego Bay?
Tip about 10–15% in restaurants where service isn't included, tip tour guides, drivers and raft captains, and leave something for housekeeping. Some all-inclusives have a no-tipping policy, but small tips are commonly given.