The 13 Best Caribbean Restaurants in Los Angeles

You’d be forgiven for thinking that finding authentic Caribbean food (you know, the kind that is well-seasoned, flavorful and makes you dream about a tropical getaway) can be a bit of a task in LA, but the truth is that there are plenty of excellent restaurants dishing up Jamaican, Belizean, Cuban, Trinidadian and other Caribbean cuisine around the city—you just have to know where to look. That’s why I did the legwork and compiled my picks of the best Caribbean restaurants in Los Angeles, from pop-ups to diners to celeb-favorites, whether you’re searching for traditional dishes, inventive twists on the classics or just a refreshing glass of Ting.

• Neighborhood: Valley Glen
• Address: 13009 1/2 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood 91606
• Price Indicators: $$
• Delivery/Takeout: no/yes

This new North Hollywood spot has been celebrated as the first brick-and-mortar Dominican restaurant in Los Angeles, and rightly so—a crispy spiced beef empanada and a small salad followed by the caramelized sweetness of fried plantains is expertly prepared and the perfect take out lunch. But you're remiss if you don't hit this place up for more distinctly Dominican fare, such as the shrimp sauteed with garlic, onion and bell peppers in tomato sauce or the sancocho Dominicano, a three meat stew prepped with starchy yautia root, squashes and slices of corn on the cob, served over rice. It's served only Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and so flavorful and filling that it's worth planning your week around.

• Neighborhood: East Hollywood
• Address: 858 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles 90029
• Price Indicators: $$
• Delivery/Takeout: yes/no

The fact that this business first garnered raves before it even had a brick-and-mortar establishment of their own—I first sampled the fare like other curious L.A. foodies by picking up my rotis order at the front gate of Chef Rashida Holme's Boyle Heights home during pandemic. Fast forward to a few years later, and not only has the family-run operation moved to a proper storefront in East Hollywood, but Chef Rashida has been a James Beard Award finalist. It's well-deserved for these renowned patties—and the rest of their menu items—inspired by the chef's signature rolled sandwiches which are a staple street food of Trinidad and Barbados. The red pepper goat roti with peanut sauce has a little bite thanks to the turmeric-spiced slaw, and the little curry chana chickpea boats in bara bread really sing with the accompanied tamarind cucumber chutney.

• Neighborhood: Santa Monica
• Address: 5920 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90038
• Price Indicators: $$
• Delivery/Takeout: no/no

With mouthwatering jerk salmon, jerk chicken and goat roti on the menu, this restaurant is an easy favorite among locals who are looking for an authentic Caribbean experience. Helmed by celebrity chef Bernard James who is originally from Guyana, A Taste of the Caribbean originally started as a food truck in 2014 but now has a brick-and-mortar location in Hollywood. Planning a special event? Get it catered—trust us, your guests will thank you.

• Neighborhood: Manchester
• Address: 159 West Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90047
• Price Indicators: $$
• Delivery/Takeout: no/yes

Serving traditional Trinidadian staples such as roti, bake and shark, and pholourie (spiced spilt pea dough balls fried and served with chutney), Trini Style Cuisine offers true Indo-Caribbean that can sometimes be hard to find in the city. Never had bake and shark before? This delicious, traditional Trinidadian fast food dish consists of fried flatbread and crispy shark meat, here dished up with avocado, tamarind sauce and mango chutney. It’s packed with flavor and is a must-try menu itme. Located in a strip mall in Inglewood, enjoy tucking into Trini Style’s spice-laden dishes on the outdoor patio or take ‘em to go.

• Neighborhood: Wilshire Vista
• Address: 5545 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90019
• Price Indicators: $$
• Delivery/Takeout: yes/yes

Serving Creole food, the late L.A. Times food critic Jonathan Gold proclaimed Stevie’s Creole Café had “the best gumbo on this side of New Orleans.” So you’re definitely going to want to order one of those (in addition to the seafood gumbo, they also have a veggie version), but don’t sleep on the tacos, po’boys or soul food picks like short ribs and oxtails. Just make sure you save room for dessert—their peach cobbler (and their peach cobbler ice cream) reigns supreme among customers.

• Neighborhood: Little Tokyo
• Address: 243 San Pedro St. Los Angeles, CA 90012
• Price Indicators: $$$
• Delivery/Takeout: no/no

Located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles in Little Tokyo, A Beautiful Life infuses Jamaican cuisine with Asian and Indian influences. The result? Mouth-watering dishes such as their rasta pasta—lobster stuffed ravioli with homemade marinara topped with jerk chicken—or their jerk chicken and curry combo which comes with rice and peas, sauteed cabbage and fried plantains. The vibe here is just as tantalizing, with loud music playing on the patio, music videos playing on screens inside and a hooka lounge in the back.

• Neighborhood: Burbank
• Address: 916 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank, CA 91506
• Price Indicators: $$
• Delivery/Takeout: yes/yes

If you’re looking for delicious cocktails, flavorful Cuban cuisine at reasonable prices and a restaurant full of ambiance in Burbank, then this family-run operation is the place to go. Menu favorites include empanadas, oxtails, ropa vieja, sandwich Cubano and more, all washed down with a fresh mojito and finished off with a cafe con leche, of course. This place is legit—it's been family-run since 1982, and the owners have replicated the vibe of a bodega in Old Havana, albeit in a Valley strip mall across the street from a Costco.

• Neighborhood: Crenshaw
• Address: 4371 Crenshaw Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90008
• Price Indicators: $$
• Delivery/Takeout: yes/yes

Located on Crenshaw Boulevard, this restaurant has customers the likes of Tiffany Haddish coming in to sample their delicious cuisine, so you know it’s going to be something special. This is the spot to check out for all the Jamaican classics (oxtail, rice and peas, fried plantain etc.) made with family recipes that have been passed down for generations.

• Neighborhood: Santa Monica
• Address: 1906 Ocean Ave. Santa Monica, CA 90405
• Price Indicators: $$
• Delivery/Takeout: no/yes

Jerk chicken lovers, this one’s for you. Cha Cha Chicken’s famous jerk sauce “strays from the traditional, incorporating more exotic ingredients such as fresh mango, pineapple and habanero pepper.” That means in addition to the heat and spice you get from traditional jerk sauce, you also get to scintillate your taste buds with sweet fruit flavors. Sample this tasty dish on the colorful patio with your choice of beverage—incredibly, Cha Cha’s is BYOB.

• Neighborhood: Fullerton
• Address: 217 E. Nutwood St, Inglewood, CA 90301
• Price Indicators: $$
• Delivery/Takeout: yes/yes

If you’re looking for a cozy and quiet spot to enjoy a decadent meal, this quaint restaurant in the heart of Inglewood is the place to go. Renowned for their yummy plantain, A Taste of Belize offers more than just savory Caribbean cuisine. Their restaurant also doubles as an event space where they host Friday night karaoke as well as mimosa reggae brunches every Sunday, perfect for the days you want to go out without doing too much.

• Neighborhood: Gardena
• Address: 14008 Crenshaw Blvd., Gardena, CA 90249
• Price Indicators: $$
• Delivery/Takeout: yes/yes

Another Belizean restaurant, this family-run business in Gardena pays homage to its homeland in name (it’s named after the giant marine sinkhole off the coast) and in cuisine. With fresh ingredients and food made from scratch, you’ll want to start with the chicken tostadas, then move on to the spice chicken in brown gravy, or possibly the stew beef and oxtail, but also definitely order the salted white fish. Your best bet? Head here with friends and share everything.

• Neighborhood: Leimert Park
• Address: 4305 Degnan Blvd. Suite 100 Los Angeles, CA 90008
• Price Indicators: $$
• Delivery/Takeout: yes/yes

Whether you want some hearty ackee and salt fish for breakfast or some brown stew chicken for dinner, the Jamaican Ackee Bamboo has got you covered. And that includes beverages as well, as you’ll find tangy and refreshing Ting, Calypso and Kola Champagne on the menu.

• Neighborhood: San Gabriel
• Address: 264 S Mission Dr., San Gabriel, CA 91776
• Price Indicators: $$
• Delivery/Takeout: no/no

Owned by Guyanese chef Yonette Alleyne, Caribbean Gourmet found a home in at San Gabriel’s Blossom Market Hall after having been a popular pop-up for some time. Aside from their decadent entrées (like oxtail stew and curried vegetables served with rice, peas and channa), the restaurant also offers an array of drool-worthy pastries like cheddar cheese scones, currant rolls, pineapple tarts and more.

Caribbean cuisine is not a monolith, just like the people of the Caribbean diaspora in the U.S. are not. According to the Migration Policy Institute, immigrants from the Caribbean come from 13 countries and 17 dependent territories stretching across the region, but 90 percent of them come from four countries: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Haiti. In Cuban cuisine, popular dishes include Cuban Vaca Frita (shredded fried beef flavored with garlic, lime, and onions)) and flan (extra special when paired with guava). Dominican fare includes chicharrón de pollo (friend chicken marinated in lime) and guisados (meat, fish, beans or vegetables cooked in a tomato sauce with Dominican seasonings including sour orange and sugar). Popular Jamaican dishes include spicy jerk chicken, smoky-flavored with allspice and peppers and "rice and peas" made with pigeon peas or kidney beans. Haitian dishes to look for are griot (fried pork) and riz et pois (rice and beans).

What grows on the island? What fish is caught in the local waters or animals grown on sometimes hilly and rocky land? And finally, who were the native, enslaved and colonial people who have made this land their home? All of these influences are what propels the flavors of Caribbean dishes. For example, the bacalao guisado contains salt cod (a popular way to preserve fish caught and eaten by exploring Spanish seafarers) and sofrito, the mix of veggies like tomato and bell pepper with spices such as garlic, oregano and cilantro grown in the islands. Spices include hot Scotch bonnet peppers (no Jamaican jerk recipe is complete without it), citrus juices such as lime and orange, cumin, oregano and ginger. Ingredients include coconut, root vegetables like cassava, plaintains, molasses and rum.