One of the best parts about vacationing in The Bahamas is all the yummy food you get to eat. From grilled mahi-mahi and rock lobster dinners to delicious coconut desserts and tropical fruit, you’ll love our island favorites. But out of all the tasty dishes available to you during your vacation in Nassau Paradise Island, there is one local delicacy that you really must try when you’re here.

Conch (pronounced “konk”) is the national food of The Bahamas and a true Bahamian specialty. Similar to calamari, conch meat is firm and white with a somewhat chewy texture. It can be eaten steamed or deep-fried, or served raw with citrus juices and fresh vegetables. While there are many kinds of conch around the world, queen conch is the most common type found and served in The Bahamas.

Here are four of our most popular conch dishes:

Conch Salad
Prepared fresh with chopped tomatoes, onions, green peppers, and lime and lemon juice, conch salad is an island favorite. This salad is great to enjoy as a light (but still filling) lunch before heading to the beach for the afternoon.

Conch Fritters
The best appetizer around town! These bite-sized balls are made with fresh conch that is mixed with finely diced peppers and onions, battered with flour, and then deep-fried. Conch fritters usually come with a side of hot sauce.

Cracked Conch
Cracked conch is deep-fried conch served with fries (and sometimes rice), and a spicy dipping sauce. Although it looks a bit like deep-fried calamari, cracked conch has a lot more flavor—and is the perfect afternoon snack to go with a local Sands beer.

Cracked Conch Sandwich
Great for lunch or dinner! A cracked conch sandwich is made from deep-fried conch, layered with lettuce, onions, and spicy mayo. Pair an ice-cold Kalik (local Bahamain beer) with your sandwich, and that’s a meal made in paradise.

These are just a couple of ways conch is served at restaurants around The Bahamas. Other popular conch dishes include creamy conch chowder, conch burgers, and conch gumbo. You can’t say you’ve had true Bahamian fare until you’ve had conch—and there’s no shortage around the island, so eat as much as you want!

Have you tried conch? If so, which tasty dish did you try? Share your favorite photo of you eating local conch in and around Nassau Paradise Island with us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram using the hashtag #InstaParadise.