Food of Cayman Islands

Caymanian food features fresh seafood, cassava, breadfruit and coconut, with heavy cake and conch stew as cherished classics. Fish rundown and lobster, simmered in coconut milk, are comfort foods. Meals are seasoned with thyme, pepper and lime.

National dish

Fish rundown

Fish simmered in coconut milk.

Staples

  • conch
  • snapper
  • cassava
  • breadfruit
  • coconut
  • lobster
  • rice
  • plantain

Signature flavors

  • thyme
  • scotch bonnet
  • lime
  • coconut
  • allspice

Main dishes

Fish rundown

Fish simmered in coconut milk.

Key ingredients: fish, coconut milk, yam
Cayman-style beef

Beef cooked low and slow.

Key ingredients: beef, onion
Conch stew

Conch in thick gravy.

Key ingredients: conch, potatoes
Cassava and breadfruit

Starches boiled or fried.

Key ingredients: cassava, breadfruit
Lobster

Grilled spiny lobster.

Key ingredients: lobster
Jerk chicken
Jerk chicken

Spicy grilled chicken.

Key ingredients: chicken, allspiceFull guide →
Rice and beans
Rice and beans

Coconut rice with beans.

Key ingredients: rice, beans

Street food

Fish tacos
Fish tacos

Local fish in tortillas.

Key ingredients: fish, tortilla
Conch fritters
Conch fritters

Fried conch bites.

Key ingredients: conch

Desserts and sweets

Heavy cake
Heavy cake

Dense cassava cake.

Key ingredients: cassava, coconut, sugar
Coconut tart

Sweet pastry.

Key ingredients: coconut

Drinks

Fresh limeade

Limeade.

Key ingredients: lime, sugar
Coconut water
Coconut water

Fresh.

Key ingredients: coconut

Fruits and produce

Mango
Mango

Seasonal.

Cassava
Cassava

Starchy root.

Breadfruit
Breadfruit

Roasted.

Dish guides from Cayman Islands

Jerk chicken
Jerk chickenMain dishes
Explore Cayman Islands on Geographical EffectMaps, capital and cities, population, climate, landscapes and landmarks.

More cuisines of Caribbean

About this page

Descriptions written by Intercontinental Chef. Dishes are listed as commonly eaten today; many are shared across neighbouring countries.

Photo credits
  • BBQJerk Chicken: OUTography.com from Gilbert, AZ, USA, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Rice and beans, Hotel in Itatiaia: Henrique Dante de Almeida, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • 001 Tacos de carnitas, carne asada y al pastor: Larry Miller, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Queen Conch (Lobatus gigas): Daniel Neal from Sacramento, CA, US, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Tesenhevva: Gwikor Frank, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Young Coconut Drink: Shameelnurani313, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Mangos - single and halved: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Manihot esculenta - Köhler–s Medizinal-Pflanzen-090: Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhlers Medizinal-Pflanzen, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Artocarpus altilis (fruit): Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)