Flavors of Belize

First of all, I'd like to recommend this place to EVERYONE! If you have never had Belizean food you are required to check this place out! Click here to visit their YELP page.

Flavors of Belize
1271 S La Brea Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90019
(323) 931-4840

Belize is a Central American country that is sandwiched in between Mexico and Guatemala. I lived in Belize from 1997 to 2000 and they have some of the most unique flavors! Think Caribbean!

I've been craving Belizean food for a few weeks now... I blame the Food Network for airing this episode of Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives featuring Garifuna Flava in Chicago... all I wanted was rice and beans... panades... tamales... no Mexican food can substitute this craving... I had to do a Yelp search on Belizean restaurants in LA... :)

FLAVORS OF BELIZE is a new restaurant opened right off the I-10 freeway and La Brea... with it's 5 star reviews I couldn't resist!  I had to get my fix...

My TOP 3 Belizean Dishes.

Rice and Beans - this is the basic carbohydrate component in Belizean cuisine. It is basically rice cooked with red beans and coconut milk... works perfect with Belizean stew chicken, fried plantain and potato salad!





Panades - Deep fried empanadas filled with either chicken or fish. I actually attempted to make some panades of my own during Super Bowl XLV... but it was not nearly as legit as the one's here... it was sooo good!



Tamales - move aside Mexican style tamales... make room for the all mighty Belizean tamales... it's THAT good! Trust me, tamales wrapped in banana leaf is way better than wrapped in corn husk!



We also ordered...

Salbutes - Belizean twist from the Yucatan version... it was really good, but I have to be honest... not really what I remembered from the salbutes I used to get from San Ignacio, Belize... Beth seemed to enjoy the dish a lot!



It was a successful Belizean food-venture! Everything was delicious and true to its original recipe! The only tiny complain about this restaurant is the fact that they don't have Marie Sharp Hot Sauce :( Instead they have a house hot sauce... not the same... Number 1 hot sauce rule to Belizean Cuisine is... must comsume with Marie Sharp Hot Sauce... just ask ANY Belizean!

Never heard of Marie Sharp Hot Sauce and would like to try a bottle? click here to purchase one!

Note to self: bring my own bottle of Marie Sharp Hot Sauce next time :)