When traveling to any destination, eating is always part of the adventure. San Pedro Town, the central hub of Ambergris Caye, is well known for its diverse international cuisine, but one of our favorites is the Belizean street food. Ready-to-grab, budget-friendly choices are spread across town and popular with locals and tourists alike. Are you ready to seek out some of the best places on the island with amazing street food? Here are some popular street foods to try in San Pedro, Belize.
Tip: Street food in San Pedro can practically be found from the moment the sun is up, considering the island begins its busy, daily routine quite early.
Tacos for Breakfast
Enjoyed as early as 5:30 am, tacos are a go-to breakfast choice in Belize. Among the many spots in town, a popular one is the taco stand at the corner of Blake and Coconut Drive in the south of town. This corner eat near the southern gas station is a popular stop for those heading to work or traveling early to the mainland. The tacos, primarily wrapped in fresh corn tortillas, are filled with well-seasoned chicken or pork.
Order like a Belizean and say, ‘slight pepper‘ or ‘gimme everything‘, the latter referring to a combination of shredded cabbage, tangy habanero pepper sauce, and pickled chopped onions. Usually, the servings are three tacos for $1, but any variation will cost you more, like a pork pibil filling or switching the corn tortillas for flour. Coffee and natural juices are also available.
BBQ Rice and Beans
This is an easy and filling option for lunch, especially on the weekends. The smell of a grill loaded with chicken, pork, and spicy Italian sausages on the street side is practically irresistible. The most common spot to buy this Belizean street food is downtown near Central Park, where you can enjoy a hearty lunch as takeout with delicious homemade Belizean rice and beans along with your choice of meat. The prices range from US$5 up to US$7.50 for a combination of chicken and sausage, or pork and sausage.
Pupusas
Located almost at the end of Pescador Drive, or Middle Street, in the heart of San Pedro, Pupuseria Salvadoreña is the place for a delicious homemade pupusa for dinner. These small round corn cakes stuffed with either pork, beans, cheese, or a combination of all attract hungry travelers daily. The griddle is always covered with fresh pupusas being cooked, from as early as 5 pm. This budget-friendly deliciousness comes at a price of US$1.50 each, and you can also get other options like chicken, shrimp, pumpkin, spinach for vegetarians, and even lobster once it’s in season.
Central Park Specials for Late-Night Eating
Central Park is always a busy place during the day, but at night, one is still guaranteed to find the area just as heavily trafficked, with a variety of options to eat on display. In the evenings, find vendors selling burritos with fillings of chicken, beef, and even pork. Burgers are also a favorite on the menu along with tacos, and hot dogs.
Photo by the Belize Tourism Board
Plus, there are even plates of rice and beans for those looking for something heavier. The prices start at US$3 for a burrito or burger and around US$6 for a full meal.
Salbutes
Heading farther south on Seagrape Drive and right across from the well-known Marina Store, there is a food stall offering a variety of good streetside snacks. One of the most popular items on their menu is salbutes. These fried, puffed-up corn dough discs are topped with shredded chicken and cabbage slaw. Undoubtedly, this is another street food snack that will not disappoint. Servings of three salbutes go for US$2.50 or six salbutes for US$5.
The no-frills favorite in San Pedro: Briana’s Food Place. Image via Hey Ciara
The options of food choices on the island are endless. And if your go-to is exploring the hidden delicacies of street cuisine, San Pedro has plenty of that. These different places offer a variety, of fresh and delicious street food snacks that won’t break the bank.
All images courtesy Dion Vansen unless captioned otherwise. This article was published in May 2022.
