st. mary

The parish you drive through on the way to Portland. Your loss.

Signature DishJanga Soup

Food Culture

St. Mary is the drive-through parish. People pass it on the way to Portland and miss everything. The north coast between Annotto Bay and Port Maria has some of the best roadside food in Jamaica. Jerk stops, fish fries, fruit vendors selling things you've never seen, all of it priced for people who live here, not visit.

Signature Flavors

Dishes

Janga Soup

★

River crayfish soup. Peppery, fragrant, and only found where the rivers run clean — which is here.

Key Ingredients

Janga (Crayfish)

Year-round

Freshwater crayfish from St. Mary's rivers. The basis of one of Jamaica's most unique soups.

Annatto

The parish takes its name from Annotto Bay. The seed gives Jamaican food its golden color.

Must-Visit Spots

Robins Bay Fish Fry

street food

Community fish fry right on the water. As local as it gets.

Robins Bay

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