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Blending African, Caribbean, and American flair and vibrancy with fresh, quick comfort, St. Thomas street food promises rich flavors and island vibes you won’t soon forget.
Take a walking street food tour with a local company or do your own research and go it on your own, but this curbside cuisine won’t let you down.
Genip: Also known as Spanish lime, these small, yellow-green fruits with thin, stiff skin typically appear in late summer in local markets and on roadside trees. To eat them, crack the fragile shell with your teeth and squeeze the fruit out. The fruit has a sweet, tangy flavor, and you eat it off the pit, sort of like a peach or plum. Avoid swallowing the seed.
Roti: a Caribbean delicacy of an aromatic, savory curry stew wrapped in a soft, chewy flatbread adored by locals and visitors alike. Indian servants brought it to the Caribbean after slavery ended. This Indian inspired bread is commonly made with chickpeas mixed into the flour. The stew often contains potatoes and chicken, beef, goat, shrimp, conch, or even mixed proteins. Over time, local cooks have customized the treat with local hot sauces, fruits, spices, and proteins to suit Caribbean palates. Look for it at popular St. Thomas stands and storefronts like Ideal Roti and the Tuck Shop Downtown.
Conch Fritters: These deep-fried, bite-sized balls of delight are made with minced sea snail meat, Caribbean-spiced flour, peppers, and onions. Spices include paprika, curry powder, or cayenne, and they are served with a cocktail or calypso sauce (mustard and pickled Scotch bonnet peppers). Enjoy them at local hubs such as Duffy’s Love Shack or The Shack at Hull Bay (a beachside eatery).
Jerk Chicken: Fresh chicken is marinated in a rich paste of Scotch bonnet peppers, allspice, garlic, cinnamon, thyme, ginger, and scallions, then slow-cooked or grilled over charcoal or wood-smoked to enrich the meat with fragrant, vibrant flavors. This method leaves the chicken juicy inside and charred on the outside, with a deliciously robust taste. Pick some up at beachside mobile grills such as Vinny’s Food Trucks and Local Carts and local favorite, Glady’s Cafe.
Oxtails: Stewed oxtail is a delicious Caribbean comfort food of rich beef cooked to perfection. Cooks start by searing the meat on high heat in a pan, then gently simmering it over several hours. This creates soft, tender meat that is seasoned with garlic, thyme, onions, and peppers. You can find it at Brooks Bar and Restaurant or Glady’s Cafe.
Johnnycakes: In St. Thomas, johnnycakes are small, deep-fried disks of dough: soft inside, lightly crispy, and a little salty and sweet. Sometimes people eat these little goodies on their own, as a side with a meal, and sometimes even filled with meat or jam. Find delicious johnnycakes at Lucy’s Specialties in Charlotte Amalie and Jr’s Cakes and Bakes.
Fish and Fungi: The official national dish of the U.S. Virgin Islands. According to https://www.food.com/recipe/fish-and-fungi-virgin-islands-style-287080, this recipe dates back to slavery in the Danish West Indies, when weekly rations of cornmeal and salt fish were distributed to enslaved Africans. The fish used is usually a local variety such as snapper, seasoned with tomato, butter, garlic, and herbs. Taste the dynamic flavors at the Petite Pump Room Bar & Restaurant and Dushi’s by the Sea near Coki Point Beach.
Paté – This U.S.V.I. street food staple is a golden fried pastry pocket filled with spiced meats and veggies, similar to an empanada or a British pasty, but featuring a crisp, browned outside and a soft, lightly chewy inside. Fill it with your choice of beef, chicken, conch, or saltfish, seasoned with peppers and herbs. This bold comfort food is available as a to-go treat for breakfast, lunch, or snacks. Enjoy these tasty pleasures beachside at Kimbas Food Truck or Karen’s Place in Charlotte Amalie.
If you want to try your hand at making these delicacies yourself, here are some great recipes.
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