Queen Bean — Restaurant in Stann Creek District

Serious chowhound always on the hunt for deliciousness who typically doesn’t bother w writing reviews (mostly out of laziness) but had to make an exception for this place.

This is our second visit to Belize and I’d come to the conclusion that while we’ve had good food here, we were unlikely to find anything exceptional. That was until we pulled up here on a kayak for lunch. First it was the ICY cold Belikin that impressed, chunks of ice still clinging to the bottle. The perfect accompaniment to Garifuna fried chicken and grilled fish. The chicken was a rec from our kindly server, Gaspar, whose mom is the chef. Excellent and unique spices coating a perfectly fried (aka NOT greasy) quarter chicken. Fish was equally great (missed a good photo opp on that piscine beauty). The accompanying fry jacks were outstanding in both taste and more fried perfection.

Of course many chefs can hit one meal out of the park but can that greatness be replicated on a subsequent visit? Only one way to find out and so we returned for dinner 7 hours later. Ordered the last lobster of the season in the recommended curry style along with the Garifuna shrimp which Gaspar said was another of his mom’s original recipes. Both were so exceptional that an hour later I found it difficult to wash the briney spice aromas from my hands. All this simple culinary wonder enjoyed w our feet in the sand and the lapping lull of the Carribean. As my dad was fond of saying after a great meal, “like dying and going to heaven”. Indeed Dad, and...

We just came back to Hopkins in Dec/Jan 2021/22 and were so happy Queen Bean is still here. Lovely people and GREAT food. We love us some Queen Bean fry Jack's! Had breakfast here 3x's and dinner 1x. For the dinner we were lucky enough to get our order in for the Garifuna shrimp with rice and steamed broccoli and cauliflower before they ran out. DO NOT MISS THIS PLACE.

What a wonderful find! They are located at the far north end of Hopkins. We saw a little sign around lunch time saying it was on the beach. It was hot, so that sounded like it would be a little cooler with the ocean breeze. We drove down a little dirt path and found a small, very colorful restaurant. There were no customers when we arrived and they jumped to take care of us. After ordering some cold Fanta cherry and pineapple sodas we ordered our food. We ordered the Garafuna shrimp, shrimp and pasta, veggie quesadilla and the special of the day rice, beans and chicken. All of it was delicious and the price couldn't be beat. It proved to us that spending more didn't necessarily mean it would be better. This was the best meal we had had so far and it was about 1/3 the price. And what a view. Our little one played with some local children while we waited for our food and has begged us ever since to go back for the play time and the food. Don't let the look of the place deceive you and don't miss it if you...

It was quiet with no one around when I arrived. After speaking with the owner and checking the menu, I ordered the cheapest item on the menu, the burger ($6) to which she replied she didn't have any beef patties... or something to that effect. I get the feeling she didn't want to serve me something so cheap and was forcing me to order something else. So I ordered the special of the day... turkey wings, rice, and pasta salad for $12. First, the food was cold so it is really difficult to judge the quality of the taste... but I will try. The turkey wings were chopped into smaller pieces which caused the bone to splinter and made it difficult to eat without getting jabbed. But it was tender and juicy. The rice was an atypical saffron rice, sans beans... a nice change from the regular rice and beans in Belize. The pasta salad was ok... seashell pasta in mayonnaise with some salt and other spices.

The ambience is quite amazing... on the beach facing the water with palm trees swaying overhead and providing shade. Rustic picnic tables inside the shack of a building or some tables outside on the beach... I preferred outside.

It was one of only a few places open at that time of day so I didn't have a lot of choice... I think tomorrow I will try some place else... this didn't...