5 Best Caribbean Restaurants near Monroe

“After a long day of shopping and hiking, we were torn between Peruvian and Puerto Rican food. We came across Taino Kitchen, saw the 4.1-star rating on Google, and decided to give it a try & and we are so glad we did.

From the moment we walked in, Allan, the owner, made us feel welcome. He was cleaning tables when we arrived, immediately told us to sit wherever we liked, and was incredibly kind and attentive throughout our meal. Once he realized we wanted to try a little bit of everything and share, he helped us put together a fun mix of dishes.

And we definitely tried a little bit of everything! We ordered the alcapurria, carne guisada, arroz con gandules, habichuelas, yuca, tostones, maduros, and churrasco with chimichurri and garlic sauce. Allan also generously brought us chicken cheese and beef cheese empanadas to try.

Everything was delicious. Sometimes Caribbean Latin food can lean a little salty, but the seasoning here was incredibly well balanced. The beef was cooked perfectly, the carne guisada was flavorful, and the tostones were crisp without being overly oily. Even with such a large variety of food on the table, each dish stood on its own.

They also make their juices in house, with passion fruit, tamarind, and lemonade available; all generously offered to us by Allan. I chose the tamarind, and it was excellent, refreshing and full of flavor, without being overly sweet.

And just when we thought we were finished, Allan ended our meal with a perfect tres leches.

What made the experience even more special was learning just how much of a family operation Taino Kitchen really is; right down to the dinnerware. Allan told us that the plates were made by his niece, while his sons and nephews help cook in the kitchen, and Allan seems to fill in just about every other gap needed to keep the restaurant running.

You can feel the family behind this place. It wasn't just a great meal; it felt like being welcomed into someone's home and being encouraged to try everything they were proud of making.

If you're in the Monroe area and looking for authentic Puerto Rican food served with genuine hospitality, Taino Kitchen is absolutely worth a visit. We came in simply looking for dinner after a long day and left very happy that we chose this place.“

“We are visiting from Colorado and staying in Greenwood lake area. We tried the burgers first number 12 and number 14 in both were amazing the next day we got the burgers again for lunch and then try the jerk chicken beans and rice in the sweet plantains dish and all were excellent. I would highly recommend this place if you’re looking for some good food and a great price“

“Every. Meal. Is. Amazing. Talented chef supported by an equally amazing front of house and back of house staff. The fried Turkish branzino with cilantro like rice was killer. *chefs kiss.*“

“I went to the taco feast and I really enjoy your food. Thank you 🙏“

“The owner is very friendly and the food is delicious“