Having a Jamaican Lunch

Patty, the preferred fast food option for Jamaicans

Finding really delicious lunch in Jamaica is never an issue, for there is a rich array on offer.  This comes from the island’s multi-cultural history, where streams of African, European, Chinese, Middle Eastern and Indian heritages blend together to create a unique Jamaican take on food. 

If you find really spicy food too hard on your system make that known to the chef.  However rest assured that it isn’t as spicy as true Thai cuisine where hot peppers are often an essential ingredient. 

Jerk seasoning is probably most well known as a Jamaican specialty.  You can go to several restaurants or jerk joints and have jerk dishes for lunch. 

However if you want to have a truly Jamaican lunch it is the patty.  In the UK the average worker has a sandwich for lunch, in Jamaica it is the patty. 

Patty is a pastry that contains various fillings and spices baked inside a flaky shell, often tinted golden yellow with an egg yolk mixture or turmeric. It is made like a turnover but is more savoury.  

The fillers vary from minced beef, pork, chicken, shrimps, lobster, cheese, mixed vegetables and ackee, a fruit that is cooked before eaten.   There is virtually no limit, but by far beef patties are the most popular. 

If you are really hungry and a bread lover, add coco bread (white bread with coconut and slightly sweet) to the menu.  Here are some of my favourite places to buy patties:

Golden Krust Bakery (island wide)

Tastees (island wide)  

Juici Patties (island  wide)  

Devon House Bakery (Kingston)  

The Brick Oven (Kingston) 

Also visit our art gallery for contemporary art by Jamaican/Caribbean artists:  EJ Gallery 

Updated October 2021

June 2020