🌴 Best Caribbean Food in New York City

New York City is home to one of the largest Caribbean communities outside the islands themselves. From the jerk pits and roti shops of Flatbush to the curry houses of Jamaica, Queens, NYC's Caribbean food scene is deep, diverse, and unmissable.

Find Caribbean Food in NYC

New York City is home to one of the largest Caribbean diasporas in the world, and nowhere is that more delicious than in Brooklyn's Flatbush and Flatlands neighborhoods — known collectively as "Little Caribbean" — where Jamaican, Trinidadian, Haitian, Guyanese, and other island communities have built a food scene as vibrant as the music pouring out of every storefront. Head east to Jamaica, Queens and you'll find another dense cluster of jerk pits, roti shops, and curry houses. Whether you're craving smoky jerk chicken, slow-stewed oxtail, a flaky Trinidadian doubles, or a plate of Dominican mangu, NYC's Caribbean restaurants deliver the real thing.

Top Caribbean Restaurants in New York City

Peppa's Jerk Chicken

Crown Heights, Brooklyn • Jamaican

Cooking up jerk chicken, escovitch fish, and stewed oxtail over coconut rice since 1995. The smoky, perfectly grilled jerk is what keeps regulars coming back.

Bamboo Walk

Flatbush, Brooklyn • Jamaican

An upscale take on authentic Jamaican cuisine in the heart of Little Caribbean. The oxtail, escovitch fish, and jerk chicken consistently draw praise.

Ali's Trinidad Roti Shop

Flatbush, Brooklyn • Trinidadian

A Brooklyn institution serving generations of doubles, pholourie, and roti. Real-deal Trini flavors that have earned a devoted following.

Trinciti Roti Shop & Restaurant

South Ozone Park, Queens • Trinidadian

A no-frills counter spot turning out everything from oxtail doubles to goat roti — widely regarded as some of the best Trinidadian food in the city.

Zanmi

Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Brooklyn • Haitian

One of Brooklyn's standout Haitian kitchens, serving griot, legim, and other island staples in a warm, welcoming space.

Malecon Restaurant

Washington Heights, Manhattan • Dominican

An uptown fixture for over 30 years, dishing out mofongo, mondongo, and pollo al carbon in the heart of the city's Dominican community.

🏆 Our Picks

Best Jerk Chicken: Peppa's Jerk Chicken — smoky, grilled-to-order jerk since 1995

Best Upscale Jamaican: Bamboo Walk — a refined take on Flatbush classics

Best Doubles: Ali's Trinidad Roti Shop — Brooklyn's beloved Trini institution

Best Dominican: Malecon Restaurant — Washington Heights' 30-year uptown favorite

Best Neighborhoods for Caribbean Food in New York City

Flatbush

The heart of Little Caribbean

Jamaica, Queens

Jerk pits and roti shops

East Flatbush

Roti, doubles, and jerk stands

The Bronx

Dominican and West Indian kitchens

Find Caribbean Food Near You in New York City

Use ChooseMy.Food to find top-rated Caribbean restaurants in New York City right now.

Find Caribbean Food in NYC

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Caribbean food in New York City?

The best Caribbean food in New York City includes highly rated Jamaican, Trinidadian, Haitian, and Dominican restaurants concentrated in Brooklyn's Little Caribbean, Jamaica Queens, and Washington Heights. Use ChooseMy.Food to find the top-rated Caribbean restaurants near your location in New York City right now.

What dishes should I try at a Caribbean restaurant?

Classic dishes to try include jerk chicken, oxtail, curry goat, roti, and doubles. Also look for mangu, escovitch fish, and callaloo — each island brings its own spices and techniques, from Jamaican jerk seasoning to Trinidadian curry to Haitian griot and Dominican mofongo.