Although it's not among the worlds greatest, Belizean food is one of Central America's best cuisines. Staples include tasty treats -- like the fryjack, beignetlike dough fried to a golden crisp and served at breakfast -- rice and beans, fried chicken, and tasty creole "stew chicken." Added to these are such acquired tastes as iguana, known as "bush chicken" or "bamboo chicken;" gibnut, a small rodent dubbed the "royal rat" after Queen Elizabeth dined on it during a state visit; and oddities of the British culinary heritage, like bread-and-butter pudding and cow-foot soup. With the world's second-largest coral reef running along its coastline, Belize whips up some of the Caribbean's tastiest seafood. Belizean chefs have learned to prepare fish for a lighter northern palate (not everything's deep fried), and at their best dishes like grilled red snapper in a papaya-pineapple sauce, shrimp coated with coconut, or blackened shark steak squirted with fresh lime can be sublime. Meals are washed down with delicious fresh-squeezed juices, like lime, watermelon, and mango. However, you may decide that the national drink of Belize is orange Fanta or Belikin beer.

Belize Restaurants Suggestions

Blue Water Grill – Seafood, BZ$15 to over BZ$35 – Located at Ambergris Caye.

Capricorn – Eclectic, over BZ$35 – Located at Ambergris Caye.

Casa Picasso – Eclectic, from BZ$15 to BZ$25 – Located at Ambergris Caye.

Elvis’ Kitchen – Belizean, Seafood – from BZ$15 to BZ$35 – located at Ambergris Caye.

Estel’s Dine by the Sea – Seafood – from BZ$8 to BZ$15 – located at Ambergris Caye.