Every year, tourists flock to the Bahamas to enjoy the warm sun, sandy beaches and crystal clear water. When you're not lounging in the sun or enjoying the islands' tourism attractions, get a taste for the nation's cuisine by sampling its food at local restaurants. Given the Bahamas' proximity to the ocean, many varieties of seafood are common, but the country is known for several other types of food.


Like many Caribbean nations, seafood is prevalent in the homes and restaurants of the Bahamas. The country's national food is conch, a mollusk with a chewy texture and fishy flavor. It's often served breaded and fried, formed into balls or added to salads. Bahamians eat a wide range of seafood that includes grouper, rock lobster, bonefish, crab and turtle. Cooks prepare these in a number of ways, including fried, sauteed and curried.

Johnny Cakes

Johnny cakes are a doughy starch that Bahamians eat alongside a variety of dishes. The dish's roots date back to the nation's settlers and early fishermen, who blended flour, milk, butter and spices into what they called "journey cakes" and cooked them on their boats. Islanders eventually shortened the food's name to Johnny cakes, and the name stuck. Today, Bahamians cook Johnny cakes in their ovens.

Fruits and Vegetables

Many Bahamian dishes include simple vegetables such as peas, which people cook in a number of ways. Common preparation methods include mixing with salt pork and spices or tossing with hot sauce. Many people combine peas and rice to make the island dish called "peas n' rice." Fruits such as papayas, guavas, mangoes, pineapples and passion fruit are common in the Bahamas. Residents and tourists alike enjoy fruits added to ice cream and made into puddings.


When you visit the Bahamas, expect to see side dishes of macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, coleslaw and potato salad with many meals. Bahamian food is often well seasoned, and commonly spicy due to ingredients such as the Bahamian bird pepper. Coconut is also a common ingredient in dishes from soups to desserts, while alcohol beverages that combine fruit juices and rum are extremely common throughout the islands.

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