Where to Find Guyanese Food in NYC, Toronto, Miami & London

You do not need to book a flight to Guyana to experience the country's extraordinary cuisine. Thanks to a vibrant and passionate diaspora, Guyanese food is thriving in cities across North America and the United Kingdom. From the roti shops and bakeries lining Liberty Avenue in Queens to the Caribbean grocers of Scarborough, the flavours of Guyana have travelled across oceans and taken root in new homes while staying remarkably true to their origins.

Whether you are a homesick Guyanese expat craving pepperpot, a curious food lover looking to try something new, or a traveller researching Guyanese cuisine before a trip, this guide will help you find the best Guyanese food in New York City, Toronto, Miami, and London.

A Quick Primer on Guyanese Cuisine

Before we dive into the city-by-city guide, here is a quick overview of the essential Guyanese dishes you should know. Guyanese cuisine is a fusion of Amerindian, African, East Indian, Portuguese, Chinese, and British culinary traditions, creating a flavour profile that is wholly unique in the Caribbean.

• Pepperpot — Guyana's national dish. A dark, slow-cooked meat stew made with cassareep (a cassava-based syrup), cinnamon, cloves, and hot peppers. Rich, complex, and utterly unique.
• Curry and Roti — Chicken, duck, goat, or vegetable curry served with dhal puri (split-pea stuffed flatbread) or paratha roti (flaky, buttery flatbread). A daily staple in many Guyanese homes.
• Cook-Up Rice — A one-pot dish of rice cooked with black-eyed peas or pigeon peas, coconut milk, and whatever protein is available. The Guyanese equivalent of comfort food.
• Pholourie — Deep-fried split-pea dough balls served with tamarind or mango chutney. A beloved snack and appetizer.
• Metagee — A hearty stew of ground provisions (cassava, plantain, eddoe, sweet potato), dumplings, and fish, all cooked in coconut milk.
• Chow Mein (Guyanese style) — Noodles stir-fried with vegetables and meat, reflecting the Chinese influence on Guyanese cuisine. Distinctly different from Chinese-American chow mein.
• Garlic Pork — Pork marinated in vinegar, garlic, and thyme, then fried. A Christmas staple of Portuguese origin.

New York City, and specifically the borough of Queens, is home to the largest Guyanese community outside of Guyana. The neighbourhood of Richmond Hill has been called "Little Guyana," and for good reason: walking down Liberty Avenue between Lefferts Boulevard and the Van Wyck Expressway, you could close your eyes and, judging by the aromas alone, believe you were on Regent Street in Georgetown.

Richmond Hill, Queens

Liberty Avenue is the undisputed main street of the Guyanese diaspora. This stretch is packed with roti shops, bakeries, grocery stores, and restaurants serving authentic Guyanese food. The area is so densely Guyanese that you will hear Creolese spoken on the street, see Guyanese flags flying from storefronts, and find every ingredient you need to cook Guyanese food at home.

Other NYC Neighbourhoods

Beyond Richmond Hill, you can find Guyanese food in other parts of Queens, including Ozone Park and South Ozone Park, which also have significant Guyanese populations. Flatbush in Brooklyn, while more associated with Jamaican and Trinidadian food, also has Caribbean restaurants serving Guyanese-style dishes.

Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) are home to Canada's largest Guyanese community. While the Guyanese population is more dispersed than in NYC, several neighbourhoods have become hubs for Caribbean and Guyanese food, particularly in Scarborough, Brampton, and along the Eglinton corridor.

Scarborough

Scarborough's Lawrence Avenue East and Markham Road corridors are the heart of Caribbean and Guyanese food culture in the GTA. Here you will find roti shops, doubles vendors, bakeries, and grocery stores catering to the Indo-Caribbean community.

Eglinton Avenue West and Other Areas

The Eglinton West corridor (sometimes called "Little Jamaica") and parts of Jane and Finch also have Caribbean restaurants where Guyanese dishes appear on menus. Brampton and Mississauga, with their growing South Asian and Caribbean populations, are increasingly home to Guyanese eateries as well.

South Florida, particularly the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area, has a growing Guyanese community and an increasing number of Guyanese food options. The Caribbean population in South Florida is diverse, and Guyanese restaurants often exist alongside Jamaican, Trinidadian, and Haitian eateries.

Fort Lauderdale and Broward County

Broward County, and Fort Lauderdale in particular, has a larger concentration of Guyanese residents than Miami-Dade. Caribbean restaurants in areas like Lauderhill, Lauderdale Lakes, and Plantation serve Guyanese dishes. Look along corridors like Oakland Park Boulevard and Commercial Boulevard for Caribbean eateries.

Miami

Miami's Caribbean food landscape is heavily influenced by Haitian, Cuban, and Jamaican cuisines, but Guyanese options can be found with a little searching. Caribbean grocery stores in areas like North Miami and Little Haiti sometimes carry Guyanese products, and a few restaurants serve Guyanese-influenced dishes.

London has a smaller but historically significant Guyanese community, particularly in South London. The Guyanese arrived in the UK in larger numbers during the post-war period and especially in the 1960s and 1970s. While dedicated Guyanese restaurants are fewer than in North America, Caribbean eateries in London often serve dishes familiar to Guyanese palates.

Key Areas

Essential Guyanese Ingredients to Look For

Whether you are shopping at a Caribbean grocery in Richmond Hill or an online retailer, here are the essential Guyanese ingredients to stock your pantry:

• Cassareep — The thick, dark cassava syrup essential for pepperpot. Without it, pepperpot cannot be made authentically.
• Green Seasoning — A blended herb mixture of scallions, thyme, garlic, hot pepper, and culantro (shadow beni). The base seasoning for most Guyanese cooking.
• Wiri Wiri Pepper Sauce — Made from Guyana's signature small, round, intensely hot pepper. Essential for authentic heat.
• Masala / Curry Powder — Guyanese curry powder has a distinct blend that differs from Indian or Thai curry powders. Look for brands imported from Guyana or Trinidad.
• Demerara Sugar — The raw, golden-brown sugar that Guyana is named after (Demerara being a region of Guyana). Used in baking and beverages.
• Split Peas — Essential for dhal, dhal puri filling, and pholourie batter.
• Coconut Milk — Used in cook-up rice, metagee, and various curries. Fresh or canned.

Guyanese Food Events and Festivals

The Guyanese diaspora hosts food-centric events throughout the year in major cities, offering opportunities to sample a wide range of dishes in one place.

• Guyana Day (NYC) — An annual celebration in the summer featuring Guyanese food vendors, music, and cultural performances in the Richmond Hill area.
• Caribbean food festivals — Events like the Jamaica Jerk Festival and various Caribbean cultural festivals in NYC, Toronto, and London often feature Guyanese food vendors alongside other Caribbean cuisines.
• Phagwah celebrations — Holi celebrations organized by Guyanese community groups often feature food stalls with traditional Guyanese dishes and sweets.
• Church and temple fundraisers — Guyanese religious organizations frequently host food sales and fundraiser events that are open to the public and offer home-cooked Guyanese food at reasonable prices.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: April 2026. Details may change; verify before visiting.