Caribbean Soul Kitchen LA

My favorite Caribbean food spots in Los Angeles. Love love love the jerk chicken and jerk shrimp bowls and the jerk mac and cheese! 1000/10!! The juice is great and love that all spices and hot sauces are homemade by the chef. Great food and an amazing family business.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Jerk Mac and Cheese, Shrimp Bowl, Jerk Chicken Bowl, Rice and Peas

I really wanted to like this place because I'm Panamanian. First off, they are closed on random days and don't always warn anyone through their IG or anywhere else. I had friends visit me and we drove all the way there for nothing. I called like 5 times before leaving, and even DMed but they didn't respond until the next day. They SOMETIMES warn that they are going to close but not always.

2. I tried again another day. I waited at least 10 minutes to order. The female owner was talking to 2 girls outside. She saw me walk in and just glanced at me then even saw me waiting through the door. Nothing. Again, I stayed because I had been waiting over a year to try this place.
I told her how excited I was to be there cause I was Panamanian. No response.
I tried to order but they didn't have 3 of their most popular items... at 2:30pm.
I asked if they had carimanolas. She seemed annoyed I asked and said that's what yuca balls are. I'm Panamanian and they are called carimanolas.
Anyway, I ordered arroz con pollo, 2 empanadas and a drink.
The portion was tiny for the price. I'm a small woman, I don't eat much and I left hungry. I usually take home leftovers for the price I paid. The drink delicious but it was mostly ice. The food was good though.
The service... Rogelio was the one who came out to tell me about the drinks and it was night and day. He was very friendly. He literally saved my experience there. I'm from NYC so I have thick skin and I'm not sensitive by any means but the vibe was weird.
Lastly, I would categorize this as a Jamaican-Panamanian restaurant. I've been to many Panamanian restaurants in Panama and NYC and the menu and flavor is different. I've also been to many Jamaican restaurants and the flavor is more Jamaican than Panamanian. Even though there are a lot of Jamaicans in Panama, Panama still has their authentic flavors.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 2

Very tasty Caribbean food 😋. I am a vegetarian and I really liked the jackfruit dish that I ordered. The owner and her husband hand make all the dishes everyday so the food was very fresh!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great Food and Friendly service!! Be sure to try the Jerked Mac'n Cheese & Rum cake!!! #ChefsKiss 🍴 😋

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Jerk Chicken Bowl, Beef Oxtails Bowl

10/10 so glad this place is nearby! The jerk chicken is so tasty and has a good kick! The beef empanada was seasoned so dang good, I could literally eat 10 of them / drool

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Veggie Patty, Jerk Chicken Bowl

We had the worst plantains and jerk wings in the world! Jerk wings were huge (I suspect it’s your gmo chicken from Costco or somewhere), covered in layers of spice sitting on top of the chicken skin. No flavor and no salt.

Plantains were dry, not sweet at all.

They were out of everything the snapper, empanadas. Man I just don’t know where these 4-5 stars are coming from.
They can do better with their food

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 2

Recommended dishes: Jerk Chicken Bowl

I came in after seeing an Instagram post regarding the opening. I was excited to go because I am Panamanian American and I wasn't gonna pass up an opportunity to eat the delicious meals I grew up eating. I'm so grateful to the owners for representing the influence of Jamaican culture on Panamanian dishes and culture. There is a history there that isn't well represented or known.
The atmosphere is relaxed and has a nice vibe with some classic Caribbean tunes to make you wish you were on vacation.
Food was hot and fresh. Nothing is leftovers from yesterday! Also well seasoned and flavorful but not salty. I like that you can ask for spicy jerk sauce if you want to customize your heat. If you wanna take a nap after you eat, come here! LOL you're gonna finish it. I sopped up my stew sauce with that fresh fries Hojaldre and I was ready to be knocked out. Haha
The owners are welcoming for conversation and visible. They really care about how and what they are feeding customers and that the culinary history in Panamanian cuisine is well represented. 🇵🇦🇯🇲🇵🇦🇯🇲

Entrees: Stew Chicken & Oxtail
Sides: Rice &Peas , Plantain, Greens, Hojaldre

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Caribbean Sunset, Rice and Peas

The food was amazing! True to their Caribbean roots, the oxtails were fall-off-the-bone tender and the Panamanian jerk chicken was spicy, tender and juicy. We loved every bite and can’t wait to come back 😍😋

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Red Peas and Rice, Jerk Chicken Bowl, Yuca Fries

Excellent food and wonderful people!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The food was excellent and had the best type of heat. Perhaps the only thing better than the food was the service. I was greeted with a huge smile and lots of good vibes. If you’re in the Miracle Mile area then for sure check out CSKLA. They’re the best Panamanian Caribbean food in LA!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The owner was awesome I love how warm and kind they were. The amount of food you get is alot. Everything is so good and tasty. Please go and get some food you won't be disappointed.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Veggie Patty, Jerk Chicken Bowl, Oxtail

Delicious food and drinks! Highly recommend the stewed chicken and the jerk macaroni. My boyfriend loved the oxtail…spicy shrimp is spiiiiiiiicy (buyer beware) but so so good. Tamarindo lemonade 💯

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Jerk Mac and Cheese, Side of Plantains

The chicken and rice had mostly bone and no chicken and the yucca fries had no seasoning. The cook was nice and apologize that they ran out of chicken but when I told the owner she was irritated I brought it up. Also pretty pricy

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 3

Service: 1

Food poisoning. Stay away

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Delicious and great portion sizes! You will not leave hungry!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Veggie Patty