What to Eat for Breakfast in Belize

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The most typical Belizean food for breakfast consists of stew chicken, refried beans, and flour tortillas. Plus habanero onion sauce, of course. However, similarly popular is replacing the tortillas with fry jacks and having it with refried beans and eggs (sometimes scrambled with Chaya).

Meat Pies and Johnny Cakes are also popular, especially as on-the-go street food breakfasts in Creole communities such as Belize City. Finally, rolled Tacos are another go-to meal in Mestizo communities such as Orange Walk Town. Here are 6 Belizean breakfast items you should try when in Belize.

Fry Jacks

Fry Jacks is deep-fried dough that is served as a breakfast side item. It can be found at most restaurants in Belize, typically, served with refried beans, eggs and bacon. You can also find it at street food stalls, where it is stuffed with refried beans or ground beef. At this point it’s called a Stuffed Jack.

Flour Tortilla

A flour tortilla is a soft, thin flatbread made from finely ground wheat flour. Along with fry jacks, it is very popular for breakfast in Belize. However, unlike fry jacks which is typically only eaten for breakfast, flour tortillas are also very popular as a dinner item. Flour tortillas can be found at restaurants throughout Belize and it’s used in many other foods such as burittos.

Chaya and Eggs

Chaya, also known as Maya spinach, is a large, fast-growing leafy evergreen shrub that is popular in Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Its leaf is steamed and commonly used in many dishes, including scrambled with eggs for breakfast. Scrambled eggs with chaya can be eaten by itself or with sides such as flour tortillas and fry jacks. You can easily find Chaya at restaurants in Mestizo and Maya communities such as San Ignacio in Cayo and San Pedro on Ambergris Caye.

Meat Pie

Popular for breakfast in Belize City and other Creole communities, meat pies are a delicious combination of onions, peppers, chicken or beef meat, and spices inside a warm crust. It is typically sold by bicycle food cart vendors and streetfood stalls at market squares.

Johnny Cake

Johnny Cake is a popular bread made with flour, coconut milk, baking powder, salt and sugar. When eaten, it is usually sliced like a sandwich and filled with either refried beans, cheese or stew chicken. Similar to meat pies, Johnny Cakes are a traditional Creole food that are often sold by bicycle food cart vendors and street food stalls.

Street Tacos

Street Tacos (also known as Orange Walk Tacos or Rolled Tacos) are popular in Mestizo communities in Belize, especially in Orange Walk and Cayo. Consisting of fresh corn tortillas that are rolled with a filling of chicken, minced cabbage, and a bit of habanero onion sauce, Street Tacos are commonly sold for breakfast but also eaten for lunch and dinner. It is typically sold by street food vendors at high-trafficked areas in downtowns and market squares.

How much is breakfast in Belize?

Breakfast is one of the best meals of the day to eat in Belize since it’s delicious, filling, and often the cheapest. At a typical Belizean restaurant, breakfast costs $5-$10 USD. Streetfood items are much cheaper ranging from $1-$3 USD.

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