Guyana’s multicultural people and colonial heritage give the foods from Guyana a blend of Indian, African, Amerindian, European (particularly Portuguese), and Chinese influences.

Traditional foods in Guyana include aromatic curries, hearty stews, delicious rice dishes, and enticing sweet treats, all capturing the essence of Guyana’s diverse identity. 

Our list of the most popular foods in Guyana includes unique ingredients, bold flavours, and memorable dishes.

20 Most Popular Foods in Guyana

1) Bake and Saltfish

Bake and saltfish is a popular dish in Guyanese cuisine. It consists of salted codfish (saltfish) that has been boiled or soaked to remove excess salt, then sautéed with onions, chillies, tomatoes, and other seasonings. 

The dish is served with fried dough called “bake,” like a flatbread. 

The bake is typically soft on the inside with a slightly crispy shell. In Guyana, bake and saltfish are eaten as a hearty breakfast or brunch dish.

Bake and saltfish are two of the most popular foods on Grenada’s beautiful Caribbean island, and we enjoyed eating them for breakfast.

Read more about this dish in our fantastic food tour experience in Grenada.

2) Guyanese Pepperpot

Guyanese Pepperpot is one of the most traditional foods from Guyana and is typically made with meats such as beef, pork, or chicken. 

The key ingredient that gives pepperpot its unique flavour is cassareep, a sauce made from cassava juice that is boiled until it thickens and caramelizes. 

Additionally, pepperpot often includes spices like cinnamon, cloves, and chillies for heat and depth of flavour.

3) Doubles

In Guyanese cuisine, doubles are a popular street food from Trinidad and Tobago. 

They consist of soft, fried bread called bara filled with curried chickpeas (channa). Bara is made from flour, baking powder, and ground split peas, while the channa is cooked in a tasty curry sauce. 

Doubles can be topped with cucumber, mango chutney, tamarind sauce, or pepper sauce.

They’re one of the most delicious street foods in Guyana, so don’t miss them!

4) Gojas

Regarding quick snack foods in Guyana, gojas are a traditional fried pastry made from a batter of ground split peas, flour, and various spices. 

Gojas are typically filled with grated coconut and sweetened with sugar or molasses.

They are deep-fried until golden brown and crispy, resulting in a delicious, sweet, savoury snack for long car or bus journeys.

5) Curry and Roti

In Guyanese cuisine, curry and roti are staple dishes that reflect the diverse cultural influences in the country.

Curry is a beloved dish in Guyana, influenced primarily by the Indian community. 

It typically consists of meat, such as chicken, goat, or fish, cooked in a lovely aromatic sauce made from a blend of spices, including turmeric, cumin, coriander, and chilli powder.

The curry sauce is often based on onions, garlic, ginger, and tomatoes, creating a savoury and hearty dish.

Curry is served with rice or roti, the perfect accompaniment to soak up the delicious sauce.

6) Fishcake

Fish cake is a popular snack made from salted fish (often codfish), mashed potatoes, onions, garlic, herbs, and spices. 

These ingredients are mixed to form a thick batter, which is then shaped into small patties and deep-fried until golden brown. 

Fish cakes can be served with chutneys or sauces for dipping. 

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7) Cassava Bread

Cassava bread is a traditional food in Guyana that is made from cassava root. 

The cassava root is peeled, grated, and pressed to extract the juice. The resulting pulp is baked or toasted to create flatbread. 

Cassava bread is dense and chewy with a slightly sweet flavour. It can be eaten alone or with toppings like cheese or butter.

8) Peas and Rice

Peas and rice is a classic dish made from rice and pigeon peas cooked with coconut milk and a blend of herbs and spices. 

Peas and rice are a staple in Guyanese cuisine, often served as a side dish to accompany main courses such as curries or stews.

They’re cherished for their comforting taste and cultural significance. They represent a fusion of African, Indian, and Caribbean culinary influences and are a very popular food in Jamaican cuisine.

9) Coconut Choka

Coconut choka is a traditional food in Guyana. It is made from roasted or grilled coconut flesh mixed with various seasonings. 

To prepare coconut choka, the flesh of mature coconuts is grated and then roasted or grilled until it becomes slightly charred and fragrant. It is then mixed with onions, garlic, and chillies. 

The result is an aromatic, tasty condiment or side dish served alongside bread, rice, or roti. 

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10) Dahl

Dahl is a thick and tasty lentil soup or stew. It is made by simmering split peas or lentils with onions, garlic, and spices such as turmeric, cumin, and chillies. 

Dahl is a staple food in Guyana, often served with rice, roti, or bread.

11) Chicken Curry

Chicken curry in Guyana is a unique blend of spices and seasonings, reflecting the country’s rich cultural diversity.

Guyanese chicken curry often combines aromatic spices such as turmeric, cumin, coriander, ginger, garlic, onions, and chillies to create a flavourful and complex sauce.

Additionally, using coconut milk in some recipes adds richness and depth to the curry.

12) Metemgee

Metemgee is one of the more traditional foods in Guyana. It is a hearty one-pot meal made with boiled root vegetables such as cassava, sweet potatoes, plantains, and salted meat or fish. 

The dish is cooked in coconut milk and seasoned with various herbs and spices, resulting in a satisfying Guyanese stew. 

13) Cook up Rice

Cook-up rice is a popular and hearty one-pot dish in Guyana that combines rice, beans, meat or fish, and various vegetables and seasonings. This is one of the most comforting foods from Guyana, a local favourite for sure.

To prepare, rice is cooked with beans (such as black-eyed peas or red beans), meat or fish (commonly chicken, pork, or salted beef), and vegetables like carrots, squash, and spinach. 

Aromatic herbs and spices, such as thyme, garlic, onions, and pepper, are added to this dish to enhance its flavour.

14) Chow Mein

This dish consists of stir-fried noodles cooked with various vegetables, meat, and sometimes seafood. 

The dish often includes capsicum, cabbage, carrots, onions, celery, and protein choices like chicken, shrimp, or beef. 

The noodles are commonly stir-fried in a sauce made from soy sauce, oyster sauce, garlic, and other seasonings. 

15) Pholourie

Pholourie is a popular street food snack in Guyana made from deep-fried balls of seasoned split pea flour batter. 

The batter typically contains ground split peas, flour, baking powder, garlic, spring onions, chillies, and various spices like cumin and turmeric. 

The mixture is formed into small balls and deep-fried until golden brown and crispy. 

These delicious snacks are best for dipping with tangy tamarind or mango chutney. 

16) Fried Fish and Bread

This popular food in Guyana consists of fresh fish, such as snapper or tilapia, seasoned with herbs and spices, then coated in flour or breadcrumbs and fried until crispy and golden brown.

This is not one of the traditional foods in Guyana, but it’s certainly popular with locals.

The bread portion of the dish is fried or baked dough, similar to a roll or bun, served alongside the fish to soak up any juices or sauce. 

Fried fish and bread are served with side dishes like salad, fried plantains, or cassava chips.

17) Egg Balls 

Egg balls are a popular snack in Guyana made from hard-boiled eggs coated in seasoned mashed potatoes and deep-fried until golden and crispy. 

Egg balls are one of the most comforting snack foods in Guyana, and readily available from small shops and street food vendors.

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18) Plantain Chips

Plantain chips are a popular snack made from thinly sliced plantains deep-fried until crispy and golden brown. These chips can be seasoned with salt or other spices for added flavour. 

Plantain chips offer a delightful combination of sweetness from the ripe plantains and saltiness from the seasoning.

19) Bounjal Shrimp

Bounjal shrimp is a spicy dish in Guyanese cuisine, and one of my favourite foods in Guyana. It comprises shrimp cooked with onions, garlic, chillies, and aromatic spices such as cumin, coriander, and turmeric. 

The dish is typically stir-fried or pan-fried until the shrimp has cooked perfectly.

20) Black Cake

One of Guyana’s most traditional dessert foods is “Black Cake.” Also known as “Christmas Cake” or “rum cake”, it is a rich and dense fruitcake made with a blend of dried fruits (such as raisins, currants, prunes), cherries, and nuts soaked in rum or wine for several weeks or months. 

The cake batter is typically spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves and sweetened with molasses or brown sugar. 

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That’s it! We’ve reached the end of our summary of the most popular foods in Guyana! Have you tried this cuisine? Tell us your favourite Guyanese food in the comments below.

Are you ready to discover Guyana? Check out this range of group tours available with Tourradar; find tours here to suit every budget!

If you plan to travel here independently, like we did, we’ve got some helpful tips for you! We recommend you visit Kaieteur Falls in Guyana; read more about why this place is unmissable.

You may need our complete guide for how to visit Kaietiur Falls, as it’s not as straightforward as most may assume.

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Delicious cuisine can be enjoyed across South America. There’s Colombian cuisine, Venezuelan food, the food in the Dominican Republic, and even Guyanese cuisine to inspire you on your culinary journey.

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Do you want some suggestions for packing for your South American adventure? Our ultimate packing list for travellers has you covered for the essentials. 

These top 6 travel hacks to save money are great to read when planning your travels, try these 5 popular foods in South America; they’re very tasty!

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