42 Best Caribbean Restaurants in Philadelphia

“A very good restaurant featuring the cuisine of Trinidad.“

“I love Zion's Cuisine. It is a neighborhood gem and I will miss it if/ when I move out. I usually get brown stew chicken, beef stew, or pepper steak. The food is affordable, delicious, and healthy, and a large platter is good for 2-3 big meals (I do use rice from home to stretch it). Zion's is my go-to when I don't have the time or energy to make something decent for myself.No restaurant review is complete without a criticism, so: I wish they made it clear what is available each day. This goes for all Jamaican spots, but it seems like every day there is something they don't have. Knowing what's available with an updated list (instead of an interrogation at the order counter) would also give me the opportunity to try dishes I haven't before, such as their soups and breakfast items.Also, although their cabbage is the best Jamaican cabbage I've ever had, when I get cabbage and greens as sides I wish they would put my greens in the little slot for sides instead of always the cabbage. I end up with enough cabbage for two meals but only one meal worth of greens. Maybe greens are more expensive for them.. I will ask to pay extra for this next time and see what they say.Overall, Zion's is my favorite restaurant in the area and I am already looking forward to the next time I fall woefully behind on my food prep.

Dietary restrictions: Easy to eat gluten- and dairy-free“

“Is a Great place to be, but needs better bartenders, it takes Forever to get a drink!! Other than that is fun to be around!“

“First time at this restaurant...Food was on point definitely be back soon..“

“5 Starsss

I recently ordered the Oxtail and Rasta Pasta from Solange Caribbean cuisine, and I can't express how incredible the experience was!

The Oxtail was tender and full of flavor, cooked to perfection with a rich, savory gravy that had just the right balance of spices. Each bite melted in my mouth, and the portion size was generous.

The Rasta Pasta was equally impressive, featuring a vibrant medley of peppers and a creamy sauce that perfectly complemented the pasta. It was bursting with fresh flavors and had a delightful kick.

Both dishes showcased authentic Jamaican cuisine at its finest. The service was friendly, and the atmosphere was inviting. I can’t wait to return for more! Highly recommend to anyone craving genuine Jamaican flavors.“

“When I tell you this food is so good. I had the oxtail platter. I have never taste anything like that before. Now I had oxtails before, but these were so tender and seasoned so well. They fell off the bone. So tender. I didn’t even get to pull off. My plan was to take them home and enjoy. I snuck a bite and couldn’t stop. I’m a customer for life. I’m not going anywhere. Y’all are great. This is my first time. I’m sending some more people yall way.“

“The food has such an authentic taste I love the oxtails they're so meaty and very tender with lots of flavor. Customer service is always superb and the prices aren't too bad. I remember them from before the relaunch and even then it wasn't too bad, ,but now it's even better I hope they continue to serve such delicious food I really do enjoy visiting this spot“

“Great music, food and atmosphere! Tvs are set in place so you can watch your favorite sport that's playing live!“

“At the first moment you step in that place the personel give you a pleasant feeling. Very hospitable hosts, it is a good place to go out with your friends or with your date. Great food, talented chef, comfortable cost and generous service. Warmly recommended.“

“Delicious Jamaican food! We had the jerk chicken and curry chicken. Both were fall off the bone tender with the right amount of spice. The service was pleasant and the portions were plentiful! The patties were the tastiest I’ve ever had! Be sure to try Ms. Georgiana’s homemade pineapple ginger juice too! You won’t be disappointed!“

“Calabash is another one of our frequent favorites! We stop in regularly for their Sunday brunch and BAY-BEE…They NEVER disappoint! The staff are attentive and check in throughout your dining experience to ensure you have everything you need and everyone is always so friendly.The dining and food areas are always clean and well organized. The space is large and decor is simple. This is a great open space for dining during COVID as all the tables are well spaced out allowing parties to social distance. All staff wore gloves and masks today. We loved to see Calabash doing their part in keeping their customers and staff safe.One thing about Calabash, they are always going to offer a variety of options to choose from. Choosing what to eat is the hardest part because literally everything looks so amazing. It’s all about how much space you can save in between plates. From home fries to oxtails, EVERYTHING is amazing and satisfies that Island food craving! Sunday brunch also includes bottomless mimosas and I absolutely LOVEEEE mimosas!The pancakes are fluffy and remind me of funnel cake; thy are made so perfectly every time. THIS PLACE DOES NOT MISS! The fish is always fried to a perfect golden brown and very dish is flavorful and savory.Calabash will continue to be on my list of repeats! Check them out and be sure to make it to next Sunday’s Brunch!“

“Overall the food is tasty. I have had their Chicken Curry, Stewed Chicken, Rice and Peas, String Beans, Mac n Cheese. Definitely more of a "hole in the wall spot." The space is dark, quiet and not particularly welcoming, but you can order food and you can tell they can cook. It is defintiely better than other spots in the city. Id recommend folks get it "To Go." They have Caribbean drinks to buy too.“

“My date and I checked this restaurant put after craving for some Latin food. Friendly staff and waitress at the door to start our dining experience on the right foot.

Our appetizers were the Empanadas and a Sopa de Pollo(chicken soup). Soup was delicious and I recommend getting the chicken empanadas over the beef due to more flavor.

My date had the Ropa Vieja, a stewed flank steak, while I had the Churrasco Colombiano with garlic shrimp, which is a grilled ribeye steak in medium temperature. Excellent dishes and the spices were great with both the meats and shrimp.

Definitely check this place out for a filling Latin dinner experience!“

“City Wide responded promptly to my repair request. Honest reasonable work. Very knowledgeable about gates and gate repair.“

“Yesterday I got the Oxtails, rice & peas, mac & cheese and steamed cabbage. Every bit of it was delicious!!! the good there never disappoints! Kudos to the chef!!! Irie!!!!“

“Food is REALLY REALLY Good. Super Great Experience All Around“

“Best Jamaican restaurant in Philly“

“Yum yum good. They pile it high with flavorful food. Pays to buy it vs trying to make it yourself. Would give 5 stars only negative is little salty but that's because I need low salt diet“

“We had visited this place because we were craving soul food, and they did not disappoint. The jerk chicken cheesesteak was so flavorful and cooked to perfection. We also order the jerk chicken platter with collard greens, Mac and cheese, and yams and it did not disappoint. By far the best Mac and cheese I’ve ever had from a take out place. The yams were so tender and the greens were perfect. The food was a tad pricey but it’s so worth it for the quality of the food. I definitely will be back for more. The customer service was also amazing as well!“

“I’m Dr Momoh and I cure different types of diseases and virus with my herbal medication which I normally prepare from natural roots and herbs. My herbal medications prevent and cure Cancer, herpes, Diabetes, High-Blood Pressure, Kidney Diseases, Prostate, Gall Stone, Myoma, Cyst, Paralysis, Stroke, Leukemia, Dengue, Anemia, Primary Complex, Gout, Arthritis, Migraine, Sleep Disorder, Dysmenorrhea, Goiter, Heart Problem, Hepatitis, Psoriasis, Vertigo, Low Sperm Count,Sexual Impotence, parasite and other serious problems.Get back to me if you need my help on getting any disease medication.“

“The food is amazing. I ordered a small pepper steak with a side of Mac and cheese and candy yams. I thought my platter was going to be little… it wasn’t! The mac is good, the steak strips were tender, and the yams were cooked perfectly. I paid $14 even. Service was fine! He greeted us as we walked in and was helpful. 5 stars!

Kid-friendliness: Clean atmosphere, friendly staff

Wheelchair accessibility: Easy to enter“

“Mt friend recommended this place to me. I am Jamaican and I love Haitian cuisine and culture. The flavors and spices blended together is amazing. This place never fails me authentic carribean food. I love the fried goat and stew chicken. Most of the time I am eating and enjoying my meal. I don’t have time to take pictures because the food is soo good.“

“First time ordering here I ordered the large curry chicken with white rice cabbage and two jerk rolls...Portion nice amount of meat no complaints about the platter. Nowwww the jerk rolls my fiancee swallowed his he said it's spicy I was into the second bite I said ohh no I can't do it lol leave that to the spicy eaters lol“

“Haven’t been here in a while but today I had 2 snapper platters and a pepper steak platter ? omg can u say delicious fish was made to order my greens I think I’m addicted and those peppers were everything I’m not a big fan of the Mac but everything else was great oh and the gentleman that took my order was handsome and polite can’t wait to go back!“

“Omg I’m amazed by the fish here !! It’s the best fish I’ve ever tasted and in the WHOLE city I swear by this place !! They have the most nice and caring customer service as well !! Will always b my go to restaurant!! Customer for life THANK YOU !!“

“Found this treasure place when I was looking for Dominican/ Mexican food for lunch at work. Really really good slow cook ribs. I really want to know how they seasoned it even there might be some recipes online. When you chewing the chicharrones the juice/fat just come out and it taste really really good.Ribs/ chicharrones(crispy slow cook pork belly), rice and beans, salad, and maduros(sweet fried plantains) for $13.Do not go to Applebees, TGI Fridays, McDonald’s, meals from local tea like this gives you better and healthier choices, and they deserved more customers.Part of ribs and chicharrones(the part doesn’t include much fat) became too hard/too dry to eat after long time cook, some of them are not eatable anymore since it’s too hard. There should be a way to avoid this problem. As I know the Cantonese type Chinese BBQ restaurant has slow cook ribs and crispy pork belly too (with different seasoning of course) , but theirs doesn’t have this problem, and pork belly are perfectly brown. I don’t know how they do it. Maybe cover meat with aluminum paper and be more accurate at the timing and temperature by cooking them not as long as Latin chicharrones(chicharrones taste harder/crispier). If you try pork belly from both restaurants you will know what I meant“

“Food was fantastic and the order was on time for the requested pick up, I even got a call back to confirm my order was ready. I didn't get platters this time, I ordered everything a la carte, by the pound. We got Pernil, chicharron, tostones, arroz con gandules, stewed beef, guineo, beans, and white rice with extra gravy. Online ordering was also a breeze, the layout was straight forward and very intuitive. It gave you options and even a small section for special requests. Definitely one of my new favorite spots to drop in to for a hearty meal. I'll be back again to try the rest of the menu and looking forward to grabbing some pastelillos.“

“Some of the best Dominican food you're gonna find anywhere outside the island.Spectacular food made fresh every day and a wide variety of dishes and drinks. They used to be cash only, but have an ATM inside and now accept card payments.Definitely my favorite place in the city. Try the mofongo with roast pork. It's extra garlicky and packed with flavor. The rice and beans are always perfect, and so is their pernil (pork shoulder). The appetizers are also worth checking out.Small place, and it gets crowded quick. Totally a place to visit if you're in the city or curious about Dominican food.

Vegetarian options: Not many options, but the few that are available are great.

Parking: Really depends on time of day.“

“I love this place. If you are ever in philly you must try this Ghanian spot! If you like spicy this is the place. If you like rice get the jollof! My favorite is light soup with fufu. The peanut litter soup is bomb! Matter fact just eat everything. Only come if you have time to enjoy. Service is not typical of most American dinner time standards. Call ahead to ensure they are open that weekend! I wish they delivered via an app. But still worth going for the experience.“

“The food is great and worth the price.“

“The food was generally good, but I was not impressed with the red beans and rice. The pepper steak was tasty, though the portion size was a bit on the smaller side.
Overall, for the cost, I expected more generous servings, especially of the pepper steak. Overall, it could have been better value for the price.“

“This place may seem a little off but don’t be afraid because inside is flavor like no other. The food was super yummy and the price was surprisingly reasonable. But the true gem was their homemade juice. We tried the watermelon juice and it was like biting into a fresh slice of watermelon. For food we tried the curry goat with rice and peas and cabbage, and the oxtails with sweet potatoes and collard greens. The portions were a lot for the price all together we spent 37 for the food we also had two Pepsi and two waters and 8 for the homemade juice“

“This is the best Ackee & Saltfish, Callaloo, Plantains and fried dumplings I've had since I 1st ate it over 30 years ago. They will be seeing me for lunch close to dinner and at least 2 or 3 times a week.“

“This is prob my 2nd or 3rd review ever and after eating this food I had to come on here and say something. I’ve had Jamaican food in many different places (Atlanta and Cali), but this was without a doubt, probably the best I’ve ever had. The oxtails had a Smokey but traditional flavor that was cooked to perfection, along with the jerk chicken that was not dry at all and had good spice. Well done guys. It’s all I’ll be eating while visiting here. For a hole in the wall with 200 reviews and authentic grandma cooking in the back I give 11/10.“

“Easily the best oxtails I’ve had & you can’t beat the price point. The food is so delicious time and time again. I consistently order on DoorDash and delivery is always fast. The food is fresh and they’ve never let me down. I want to try other options one day, but the oxtails got me hooked.“

“the ox tails with the beans and rice. yes sir“

“I stopped in because I found the restaurant on Phillyblackowned.com, a map for black owned businesses in Philly. I'm so happy that I found this business. The owner is very friendly, made me feel welcomed, and the food is delicious. I ordered the lamb with rice, and it was so tasty, I had to share my experience. I'll definitely be back.“

“I was searching on this app doordash. It's the first time I've even seen this place. The Extra Large Fried Shrimp reviews made me give them a try. I cook, I have catered and I'm a foodie. This platter was so d*mn GOOD I had to give them 2 reviews. The shrimp and EVERYTHING was seasoned PERFECTLY. Highly recommended.“

“If you are looking for a good Island Vibe this is the place to go to . Wide selection of Inland beers and food . No need to go to NYC“

“Today, I had a taste for delicious Jamaican food. I live in NE Philadelphia, but I have no problem jumping in the car and traveling to Wharton Street in South Philly to see Mr. Rich and get his curry chicken, rice and peas, yams and greens. My wife likes the rice and peas, yams and Mac n cheese. It is so worth the time and travel.

The owner is caring and personable also. I'm trying to get him to have a location in the NE. I'm sure it would do well, ya'mon. God bless him“

“Excelente...“