Location: Benque Viejo del Carmen
Top Restaurants in Benque Viejo del Carmen
Top Things to do in Benque Viejo del Carmen
Top 10 restaurants in Benque Viejo del Carmen, Belize
Benque Viejo del Carmen ("Benque") is the westernmost town in Belize, 130 km (81 mi) by road west and south of Belize City, at the Guatemalan border. San Ignacio lies 13 km to the east and Melchor de Mencos just across the border. The Mopan River runs along the town's north and west edges.
Things to do in Benque Viejo del Carmen
1. Hode's Place Bar & Grill
Overall Ratings
4 based on 439 reviews
Reviewed By Travelbounce - Winnipeg, Canada
The food here was ample but just okay, not fabulous. It looked like a local hangout even though it was pretty empty early on a Friday night. The pork steak and fries were good but the chicken fajita I would pass on. The tortilla was folded in 4 and the chicken piled on top. Almost impossible to try and roll it all up like it was supposed to be. Also, the chicken was like a honey BBQ flavour which was all wrong. But, it did taste okay so I guess that is all that mattered.
2. Erva's
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 477 reviews
Reviewed By MT5700 - Hamlin, New York
The food and service at Erva's is fantastic. I have dietary restrictions and upon speaking to Nolan, backtender/host/waiter he brought me right to the kitchen to speak with the chef Karim. Karim explained the many options and was in the process of making ribs which he pointed out I would eat. I ordered ribs with mashed potatoes - fantastic! So delicious I got them again during our trip. My husband had pizza and said it was great. You cannot beat the friendliness of both Nolan and Kairm. Nolan see to your every need and provides outstanding service. Highly recommend Erva's.
3. Running W Steakhouse & Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 188 reviews
Honoured as Restaurant of the Year 2016, the Running W Steakhouse & Restaurant is the San Ignacio Resort Hotel’s all-day dining restaurant. The restaurant offers an air-conditioned dining hall and outdoor Seating area where guests can enjoy a selection of appetizers and entrées that feature meats from the family ranch, family recipes, Belizean cuisine, vegan and vegetarian options. The restaurant also boasts exceptional views of the hillside property where diners can often spot resident birds, including toucans, that come to feed on nearby trees-- making for a unique "dining with the birds" experience.
Reviewed By kevoltMassachusetts - Massachusetts
Great for people staying at the hotel, but not so exceptional that people in town should bother with (it is up a steep hill from town). My favorite dish is the house pasta with wine sauce (comes with shrimp) - that was exceptional, but be warned it is rich (so you need to like that sort of food).
4. Cenaida's
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 302 reviews
Reviewed By nurserehab - Pennsylvania
During our stroll through the small town a shopkeeper recommended Cenaida's restaurant to us. The restaurant is family owned and are very friendly and welcoming. My husband and I had a tasty fish platter with salad and rice and beans. The food was fresh and tasty. Would recommend during your stay in San Ignacio
5. Ko-Ox Han nah
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By txchic - Houston
I wish we had found this place on the first day we arrived instead of the day before we were to leave San Ygnacio. If you like simple home cooking, this place is perfect. We wanted authentic Belizean fare, so my husband ordered the rice and beans with chicken, and I had the rice and beans with beef. Cole slaw and half a large baked/fried plantain accompanied each dish, and the portions were so large that we could have shared just one dish. The chicken was US $5 and the beef was US $6, a bargain anywhere. Fresh juice including orange, watermelon, and lime was US$2 for a 12 ounce glass with ice. The watermelon juice was so refreshing I ordered one to go without ice. The entire bill was US$17! Entrees with lamb, chicken, pork, or beef are more expensive, upwards of US $12 - $25, but we like trying local specialties when we travel. Usually the food is cheap and good. We were not disappointed. Service was friendly and prompt.
6. Sanny's Grill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 55 reviews
Reviewed By out4goodtimes - Cochrane
We wish we had found Sanny's earlier on our holiday. It was our last night in San Ignacio and we went to this wonderful establishment. What a treat. This quaint, family run restaurant is Gourmet food at Fast Food prices. We had the cilantro and lime fish and the pina colada fish. Both were mouth watering delicious. The open atmosphere and soft enjoyable music playing made this our most memorable meal on our month long vacation. We were treated like close friends by the staff. Sanny's is a bit off the beaten path but it is more than worth the effort to get there. It is on the west end of San Ignacio. My wife and I were staying by Victor Galvez stadium and it was about a 15 minute walk past many friendly people to get there.
7. Sweet Ting
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 116 reviews
Reviewed By hannahle0nard - San Ignacio, Belize
My friend and I stopped by this little cafe after a tiring afternoon and it was the perfect fix! Reasonably priced and a lovely friendly atmosphere. We were politely greeted upon arrival and the selection of cakes and sweet treats made it extremely difficult to choose. Sweet things also sells a range of teas, which I regret not trying! A great place to indulge and relax.
8. Serendib
Overall Ratings
4 based on 272 reviews
Right next to the mall and by Polly? Pizza restaurant. I am Indian and not a huge fan of Indian food -- but randomly this was the BEST SOUTH INDIAN food I have ever eaten!!
Reviewed By romyntheigorot - San Jose, California
I have never had Sri Lankan food before so I did not really know what to expect. My partner and I met one of the people who worked there and he was knowledgeable in telling us about things to do in San Ignacio (he told us about Cahal Pech and such). So the service here is great and the people are friendly as well. As for the food, we ordered a chicken curry type of dish and it is a portion for one person but we shared it. The food needed a bit of salt so that explains the four star review. If you just want something to eat then you can definitely eat this, it wasn't bad, just needed salt. As for price, it's similar to other restaurants in the area. There was a dog that hung around the area as well and it was friendly, I think it was just waiting for food scraps.
9. Pop's Belize Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 529 reviews
You may feel like you're in a Seinfeld episode at this friendly six-booth, hole-in-the-wall diner. Best omelets in town and bottomless cups of coffee make this San Ignacio's worst-kept breakfast secret and a great place to meet other diners. Good burritos at lunchtime.
Reviewed By TenaciousLD - Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Great service and coffee. Our server was prompt but didn't rush us, and we got to try our first fry jacks as well as our first johnny cakes in Belize. All around great food at a good price.
10. Benny's Kitchen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 311 reviews
Reviewed By Travelpages33 - Silver Spring, Maryland
Like many Trip Advisor reviewers - we stopped here after seeing the Mayan ruins based on the recommendation of our guide who told us that it was authentic Belizian cuisine. It was crowded with both locals and tourists on a Sunday afternoon. We weren’t terribly hungry so we just ordered a few things off the appetizer menu. Tostadas and empanadas are things that you wouldn’t expect to be that special but at Benny’s Kitchen - they were! Tasty, warm and flavorful- we could have ordered more.
The only drawback was the service - we definitely felt like we weren’t top priority and after waiting about 20-25 minutes for our food (ostensibly items that were prepped already) we finally asked a passing waitress - it seemed as though it hadn’t occurred to anyone that we had ordered food. After that our meal came quickly but it was frustrating to wait so long.
