Espee Chicken: Suriname's Homegrown Poultry Powerhouse
Fresh-off-the-grill rotisserie chicken straight from the country's biggest local producer
Why Go
Everyone in Paramaribo knows the Espee name ΓÇö it's stamped on chickens and eggs in supermarkets nationwide ΓÇö but the Livorno outlet on Ramnarain Oemrawweg is where locals go to grab a whole bird still hot from the roaster, no middleman required.
The Experience
This isn't a sit-down destination restaurant; it's a working poultry counter attached to Espee's operations on the industrial edge of Paramaribo, a short drive south of the city centre. Expect a busy, no-frills local vibe: order at the counter, watch chickens turning on the rotisserie, and walk out with a warm foil-wrapped bundle within minutes. Cars queue at lunch and again in the early evening as families pick up dinner. The staff is briskly friendly, the smell of garlic-and-spice roasted chicken hangs in the air, and prices are the kind that make you wonder how anyone charges more elsewhere. It's a slice of real Surinamese daily life ΓÇö practical, cheap, and delicious.
What to Try
Order a whole roasted chicken (hele gebraden kip) ΓÇö Espee's signature ΓÇö with a side of bara or fried plantain if available. Half chickens and quarter portions are on offer for smaller appetites. Grab a bottle of Fernandes soda (a Surinamese classic) to complete the takeaway. If you're self-catering, the attached shop sells raw cuts, wings, and eggs fresher than anything you'll find in a supermarket.
Insider Tip
Espee is takeaway-first, so plan to eat elsewhere ΓÇö grab your chicken and picnic at the Palmentuin or take it back to your guesthouse. Go before 12:30pm or after 6pm to skip the office-lunch and after-work rushes. Bring cash in SRD; card machines can be unreliable at neighbourhood outlets like this one.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Ramnarain Oemrawweg 1a2, Livorno, Paramaribo. Location is roughly 10ΓÇô15 minutes by taxi south of the historic centre ΓÇö easiest reached by car or rideshare rather than on foot. Cash (Surinamese dollar) is your safest bet. This is a poultry counter/quick-service outlet rather than a dine-in restaurant, so expect fast, functional service and takeaway packaging. Halal poultry (Espee is Suriname's largest local producer, established 1986).
Pair It With
- Palmentuin (Palm Garden) — Grab your Espee chicken to go and picnic under the towering royal palms in the centre of Paramaribo ΓÇö a classic local move.
- Fernandes Bottling Company drinks — Pair your chicken with a bottle of Fernandes' iconic green apple or ginger ale soda for the full Surinamese takeaway experience.
- Central Market (Centrale Markt) — Combine a stop at Espee with a wander through Paramaribo's bustling waterfront market for a fuller taste of everyday Surinamese food culture.
- Warung-hopping in Blauwgrond — If you're on a food tour of the city, follow Espee's chicken with a Javanese-Surinamese warung dinner across town for a two-cuisine day.