As Notting Hill Carnival returns for the first time since the pandemic, Just Eat research found that Brits are huge Caribbean food fans, with London crowned the Caribbean cuisine capital of the UK. This is followed by Plymouth (26 per cent), Cardiff (21 per cent), Cambridge (18.4 per cent) and Brighton (17.4 per cent), with residents citing their love for it.

While a third of Brits (32 per cent) claim to eat lots of Caribbean food, the majority (80 per cent) often opt for jerk chicken. In fact, 16.8 million Brits have NEVER even tried any other Caribbean dish, despite more than four in ten (41 per cent) believing they are adventurous when it comes to trying new food.

The key barriers preventing diners from broadening their repertoire include not knowing what to order on the menu (26 per cent), nearly a quarter (21 per cent) are worried they wouldn’t like something they aren’t familiar with, and nearly two in 10 (18 per cent) said that they’d be worried to order something that was too spicy.
In response to the nearly nine in 10 (88 per cent) of Brits keen to try a wider range of Caribbean food, Just Eat has teamed up with The Caribbean Food Collective, a platform which connects, promotes and supports Caribbean food and beverage business in the UK. What’s more, the food delivery app is offering a tasty 25% discount on Caribbean restaurants across London with the code Carnival25, between 25th-30th August.

The Caribbean Food Collective’s top jerk-alternative dishes, which pair perfectly with sides such as Rice & Peas, Plantain, Roti and Dumplings, are:

Escovitch Fish
This is a traditional way that fish is served in Jamaica. Crispy fried and topped with a spicy pickled vegetable medley. Vibrant and colourful just like the Caribbean!

Callaloo
Callaloo is a popular Caribbean vegetable dish which can be made vegan, but some countries such as Trinidad and Tobago include crab meat. There are many variations across the Caribbean, depending on the availability of local vegetables. The main ingredient is an indigenous leaf vegetable, traditionally either amaranth, taro leaves or Xanthosoma leaves (a bit like spinach).

Pepperpot
The national dish of both Guyana and Antigua, this beautiful chunky stew varies hugely depending on where the recipe is from. It is often made with callaloo or leafy greens, sweet potato and meats like beef, pork or oxtail, cooked low and slow.

Curried Goat
A rich and spicy, flavourful curry with chunky pieces of goat meat that has been slowly simmered until it melts in the mouth. With variations from island to island, the choice is up to you but we love the Trinidadian dish, often served with a roti.

Patties
Flaky crusted golden pastry, filled with a spicy savoury meat or vegetable filling – What’s not to like?

Pineapple Cake
If there’s one dessert that truly packs in the Caribbean flavour it’s this. An upside-down cake packed with pineapple and a dash of rum

Marsha Barnett and Dawn Burton, Directors of the Caribbean Food Collective said: “While Jerk chicken is ‘King’ at Notting Hill Carnival, there are many more dishes to explore. The Caribbean is a melting pot of different cultures, and each island will have their own version of popular dishes. So whether you like fragrant curries, veggie-packed stews, a bit of chilli heat or crispy fried fish, there really is something for everyone”.

Matt Bushby, UK Marketing Director at Just Eat adds: “After two years away, it is so exciting to see Notting Hill Carnival return to the streets of West London. It is a true celebration of Caribbean culture, and nothing says celebration like delicious food. With over 400 Caribbean restaurants serving hundreds of different dishes on Just Eat, there’s no better opportunity to step out of the jerk chicken comfort zone and try something tasty today.”

To discover more authentic dishes from independent Caribbean restaurants near you, visit Just Eat. Top rated spots, many of which are family-run, include Ochi, Survivor, One Stop, and vegan Eat of Eden.