Cayman’s best… BBQ & Smokehouse joints

If you are looking for BBQ and smokehouse restaurants that are finger-licking good, then look no further! This collection of roadside vendors and indoor restaurants, are #CaymansBest places to visit to get your fill of ribs, barbecue chicken, pulled pork and smoked meats.

Big Tree BBQ

Get your fill of hearty barbecue in East End when you visit this family-run restaurant underneath a shady, big tree in their front lawn. This casual spot is a favourite to visit whether you’re driving up for the day or staying in the eastern districts. The Harris family make everything from scratch, so you can expect mouthwatering barbecued meats with an abundance of homemade sides, including rice & beans, potato salad, coleslaw, mac & cheese and corn bread. They are currently running at limited hours due to the border closure, but they’re open Friday to Sunday from 11am. They are currently listed on my East End & North Side District Guide if you want to learn more, or head straight to their page by clicking here.

Caboose

Located in Cricket Square is Caboose, a casual smokehouse that is one component of The Brasserie restaurant group. This popular lunch spot has a cafeteria-style layout and offers a selection of smokehouse style meats, including smoked turkey, pulled pork and probably the best brisket on island. They even target the pescatarians and vegans by offering local fish and barbecued tofu. Once you choose your protein you can opt to have it solo, put in a bun or get it in a bowl along with hot and cold sides. Caboose is also on my Cayman’s Best Quick Lunches list, which proves that even though they are busy they are also very efficient.

Chef John’s BBQ

Chef John’s was created by the late Brother John Jefferson and is considered the original barbecue joint in Grand Cayman. The family has multiple roadside barbecue locations across Grand Cayman, including Crewe Road, Spotts Dock and Seven Mile Public Beach. The prices are affordable, the secret BBQ sauce is delicious and the portions are massive, so you will leave knowing that you got your money’s worth . Their menu may be limited to BBQ chicken, pork ribs and steak, but they serve each of them with potato salad, rice & beans, corn on the cob and a bread roll. They are always worth a visit and a great way to support a small local business. Learn more about them by visiting their social media pages - Crewe Road for Island Flavour BBQ by Amy Parchment (Chef John’s granddaughter) and Seven Mile Public Beach / Spotts Dock for Chef John’s sons locations.

Lloyd’s Smokehouse and Grill

Lloyd’s is located along the Seven Mile strip and offers the largest menu of barbecue and smokehouse dishes on island. Their grill is hit with seafood, burgers and steaks, while their smoker is regularly filled with St. Louis spareribs, chicken, sausage and more. Choose your main, add a few of their sides and drizzle one of their 6 homemade sauces on top of it all. I guarantee you’ll be leaving full! Take advantage of their weekly specials to fulfill your BBQ cravings even more, such as their Smoked BBQ Beef Rib on Thursdays and Smoked Suckling Pig on Sundays.

Peppers Bar & Grill

Along Seven Mile Beach is Jamaican restaurant Peppers who are known for serving the best jerk chicken and pork dishes along the Seven Mile strip. Not only do they serve these flavourful, smoked meats found our neighbouring island, but Peppers have made it to this list also for their American-inspired barbecue dishes as well. Order their fall-off-the-bone BBQ ribs and classic BBQ chicken, or try some fusion dishes in the form of their BBQ Jerk Chicken and Jerk Sausage. Choose from a lengthy list of American and Caribbean sides to ensure you have a complete meal.