Top 10 places to eat in Jamaica: jerk and local food

Skip the hotel buffet. These ten spots serve the food Jamaicans actually drive out for: jerk pork and chicken, fried fish, festival and roast breadfruit. Prices are local, and most are cash-friendly.

Updated November 2026. Prices and opening times change, especially after storms, so confirm before you go.

1 Boston Jerk Centre
Food Portland Easy access
Why it made the list: The birthplace of jerk. Smoke, pimento wood and a row of stalls by Boston Bay.
Cost
Pay for what you eat.
Getting there
Easy. This is a cluster of stalls, not one building, so the pin marks the centre of the area. Stalls vary, so look for the busiest smoke.
Best time
Lunchtime, when the pits are full.
Navigate Open on the map More in Portland
2 Scotchies
Food St. Ann Easy access
Why it made the list: A well-known jerk stop at Drax Hall near Ocho Rios for jerk pork and chicken.
Cost
Pay for what you eat. Local prices.
Getting there
Easy, on the main road. Listed hours are 11am to 10:30pm daily; check before you go.
Best time
Lunchtime or early evening, when the grills are going.
Navigate Open on the map More in St. Ann
3 Little Ochie Seafood
Food St. Elizabeth Easy access
Why it made the list: Lobster, curry and fish on the beach at Alligator Pond, with other seafood shacks close by.
Cost
Pay for what you eat. Local prices.
Getting there
Easy. Roadside parking, and it is open late. Ask the price for fish and lobster before ordering. The parish line is close here, so some maps list this area under Manchester.
Best time
Lunchtime or early evening, when the grills are going.
Navigate Open on the map More in St. Elizabeth
4 The Pork Pit
Food St. James Easy access
Why it made the list: A Montego Bay classic on the Hip Strip for jerk pork, chicken and festival.
Cost
Pay for what you eat. Local prices.
Getting there
Easy. Right in town on Gloucester Avenue. Check current hours before you go.
Best time
Lunchtime or early evening, when the grills are going.
Navigate Open on the map More in St. James
5 Murray's Fish and Jerk Hut
Food Clarendon Easy access
📍 Reggae Beard was here
Why it made the list: A busy roadside spot at Toll Gate on the A2. Visitors rave about the curry goat.
Cost
Pay for what you eat. Local prices.
Getting there
Easy, right on the A2 at Toll Gate. Opening hours vary between listings, so call or check the website before you go.
Best time
Lunchtime or early evening, when the grills are going.
Navigate Open on the map More in Clarendon
6 Grants Jerk
Food St. Catherine Easy access
Why it made the list: Roadside jerk on the A1, a handy stop between Kingston and the north coast.
Cost
Pay for what you eat. Local prices.
Getting there
Easy, on the main road. Check hours before you stop.
Best time
Lunchtime or early evening, when the grills are going.
Navigate Open on the map More in St. Catherine
7 Prendy's on the Beach
Food St. Catherine Easy access
Why it made the list: Seafood boil, steamed fish and lobster on the Hellshire beach strip.
Cost
Pay for what you eat. Local prices.
Getting there
Easy. Right on the beach strip near Portmore. Busy on weekends. Ask the price of seafood sold by weight before ordering. Phone numbers are listed in several ways, so use the Instagram page if one does not connect.
Best time
Lunchtime or early evening, when the grills are going.
Navigate Open on the map More in St. Catherine
8 Border Food Village
Food St. Elizabeth Off the beaten path
Why it made the list: Open-air seafood stalls on the A2: fried lobster, escovitch fish with bammy, conch soup.
Cost
Pay for what you eat. Local prices.
Getting there
Easy. Roadside stalls on the A2. Prices and hours vary by stall, so ask before ordering seafood sold by weight.
Best time
Lunchtime or early evening, when the grills are going.
Navigate Open on the map More in St. Elizabeth
9 Oshea's 876 Kitchen
Food Portland Easy access
Why it made the list: A small Portland kitchen with jerk, escovitch fish and curry goat.
Cost
Pay for what you eat. Local prices.
Getting there
Easy to reach. It is a small kitchen, so confirm that dine-in is available before you go, and order ahead for larger groups.
Best time
Lunchtime or early evening, when the grills are going.
Navigate Open on the map More in Portland
10 Lyming at Walkerswood
Food St. Ann Easy access
Why it made the list: Jerk, curry goat, rice and peas and sweet potato pudding in a relaxed St. Ann setting.
Cost
Pay for what you eat.
Getting there
Easy. Right on the main road. Hours differ by day, so check before you go.
Best time
Lunchtime or early evening, when the grills are going.
Navigate Open on the map More in St. Ann