Local Eats In Caye Caulker Belize: Vegan Friendly

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 carts. 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.

More About Caye Caulker

Here's a short list of my favorite places to eat: 👇

Street Food

Errolyns Fry Jacks

Price

$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

Price

$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

Price

$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

Price

$1.50 USD

During covid, lots of little food stalls open and I think Jenny's Food To Go was one of them. 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

Price

$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

Price

$22.50 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

Price

$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

Price

$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

Price

$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.