12 Best Restaurants in Belize

Next door to the Hibiscus Hotel, Corkers is run by the husband-and-wife team of Geoff Hatto-Hembling and Sam Buxton from the United Kingdom. You can choose to dine in the covered, open-air patio, or inside the cozy air-conditioned dining room. The menu is eclectic, ranging from classic English fish-and-chips and a grilled American cheeseburger with fries to Indian curries, plus pasta, steak, pork ribs, fried chicken, and a nice variety of salads.

Located in a remodeled colonial framehouse on the far end of Burns Avenue, Guava Limb Café serves an eclectic mix of delicious soups, seafood, salads, and local and American dishes that have given it a reputation as the best restaurant in San Ignacio. Run by the owners of The Lodge at Chaa Creek, there's open-air seating and a bar on the first level, while a second-level veranda overlooks Macal River Park. You'll enjoy fresh, artful dishes like herb and garlic pan-seared shrimp with butternut squash bisque and jasmine rice, or glazed spare ribs with potato croquettes.

From the Mayan language, Ko-Ox Han-Nah roughly translates to \"let's go eat.\" It's far from fancy—you eat on simple tables in what is essentially a large open-front building on busy Burns Avenue—but service is cheerful, and the food is inexpensive and well prepared. Much of the food is raised on the farm of the Zimbabwe-born owner. In addition to the usual Belizean beans-and-rice dishes, Ko-Ox Han-Nah serves fusion food influenced by Mexican, Southeast Asian, and North and South Indian cooking, with salads, sandwiches, burritos, Burmese dishes, Cambodian and Korean chicken dishes, and Indian lamb curries.

Want to treat yourself? Head up to the magnificent Matachica Resort and dine leisurely on its tropical-chic veranda. You can enjoy the all-day \"light fare\" and casual ambience of Mambo Bistro, as well as the more sophisticated Mambo Restaurant (which is dinner-only and has a \"resort casual\" dress code). Both options are outrageously stylish, splurgy, and delicious---we're talking an in-house mixologist and a prix-fixe weekend brunch. At the Bistro, people clamor for the chewy sourdough breads and pizzas, while seafood mains, like the banana leaf snapper, are the highlight of Mambo Restaurant. The kitchen uses ingredients grown at Matachica's sister property, the jungle lodge Gaia. Breakfast and lunch are less pricey. Note that only guests 10 and up are allowed at Mambo Bistro, while only guests 16 and up are allowed at Mambo Restaurant: it's not your place for multigenerational occasions. Call ahead to see if a complimentary boat can be arranged to pick you up in town. 

A hip, LA-style restaurant of local renown, Red Ginger enlivens the island's food scene—no sea views here, but the gorgeous teal palm-leaf motif anchors you in the Caribbean. At dinner, start with ginger punch and chipotle shrimp salbutes, then accompany your entrée with a hand-selected wine. (Co-owner Mukul Kanabar might just be the only Belizean-certified sommelier in Belize!) Breakfast and lunch are superb, cheaper, and more casual. Our favorite time to go is weekend brunch, when you can sip a mimosa over an elaborate chilaquiles. Dishes at Red Ginger can at times slump under creative ambition (seafood ceviche doesn't always need a modern twist, for instance), but it's still great for a splurge. A bonus: the owners have done excellent public service projects in Belize, including giving about 80 full high school scholarships to the children of employees. 

This upmarket place serves sophisticated international meals at dinner in an open-air, palm-lined, romantically lighted garden. Enjoy the friendly service and an eclectic mix of dishes including ceviche, jerk chicken, black bean soup, and bacon-wrapped steak. The chef can do vegan and gluten-free dishes. Save room for the delicious key lime pie.

On the lagoon side, the hip-to-the-max Truck Stop pulses as the social hub of North Ambergris. Five shipping containers with different owners dish up \"Nuevo Latino\" food, New Haven--style pizza, trendy ice cream, a host of drinks, and other goodies. Out back, a deck sits over the lagoon (the \"Warning: Crocodiles\" signs are not just decorative) where folks gather in the pool for sunset. There's something for everyone: play cornhole with your kids, sunbathe with a few Belikins, or bring your big group of friends for dinner. At first blush it looks touristy, but San Pedranos love this spot, too. The Truck Stop knows entertainment: there is a film shown by the lagoon every Wednesday, trivia and adult spelling bees, and live music on the regular.

Black Orchid is named for the delicate national flower of Belize, but the gorgeous food here ranges from Belizean to global fusion. Vibrant dishes include ginger pork egg rolls and teriyaki chicken cooked over a lava rock broiler. This island-elegant dining room has thatch accents, a fountain tiered like a Maya temple, and starched tablecloths. Swing by for a popular happy hour starting at 3 pm, but make a reservation if you plan to stay for dinner. 

San Ignacio's take on gourmet dining serves up elevated fare, such as lamb chops in a chocolate balsamic glaze and short ribs risotto, in a quiet and intimate setting. Chef Alejandro cooks the steaks so they melt in your mouth but his chimichurri sauce is the real MVP. For foodies, this quaint little spot is not to be missed. 

Near Cahal Pech, you'll find this appropriately named spot overlooking the city. Elevated bar food---think wings and pizza---is joined by unique takes on regulars, such as chimichurri sliders served on tostones and mouthwatering mofongito with creamy chicken. It's a laid-back, friendly place to spend an evening listening to music and noshing on tasty food after a busy day of sightseeing. 

Cheesy name aside, Magic Grill is a delightful, breezy perch where you can dine on treehouselike levels of a palapa overlooking the Caribbean. Okra snapper, sesame-seed shrimp, and Belizean comfort food are on offer, but the real draw is the dreamy setting. 

The engaging German owner here makes use of locally sourced and the best of in-season ingredients to whip up an eclectic menu of European and American food at this thatched-roof restaurant in the center of town. He’s quite proud of the large pork chops they serve. Fresh salads, seafood, cakes, and a good wine selection round out the menu selection here. You’ll find secure parking, too.