The Tastiest Caribbean in New Orleans

The Rum House

★★★★☆ 4.3 • $$

"We are regularly here on a many given weekend. The Rum House is an absolute gem! From the vibrant atmosphere to the incredible food and drinks, this spot hits all the right notes.Their menu is a delicious mix of Caribbean-inspired dishes with bold and fresh flavors. The tacos are a must-try--so creative and packed with flavor--and their sides, like the coconut rice and sweet plantains, are the perfect additions. And let's not forget the drinks! Whether you're craving a classic mojito or one of their unique rum cocktails, the bar menu is top-notch.One of the things I love most about The Rum House is that it's dog-friendly! As long as you sit outside, your furry friend is welcome to join you while you dine. It's such a fun and laid-back spot to enjoy with your pup by your side.The service is always friendly and attentive, and the outdoor seating adds to the relaxed, tropical vibe. Whether you're stopping by for a casual lunch, date night, or just to enjoy some time with your dog, The Rum House is the perfect spot. Highly recommend!"

Yawdi Food

★★★★☆ 4.1 (88) • $$

"I was craving some delicious Jamaican food, after searching Yelp and reading reviews, I ended up at Yawdi Food. They have a wonderful menu from breakfast to dinner choices. I went with the oxtails. They were tender and flavorful. The rice and peas was perfect, and the macaroni and cheese was yummy. Only thing missing was some good scotch bonnet style pepper sauce and fried plantains, they were out. Orders are prepared to go. You can dine in or take to go. Public parking lot is right behind the restaurant Delicious Jamaican food in a chill ambiance."

Jamaican Jerk House

★★★★☆ 4.3 (174) • $$

"Service was out of this world good. Imagine this, a small building filled with people most of them in for the Superbowl. When I say filled I mean filled. But it was great at the same time. One might think with so many people in such a small space that would be tempers or some attitudes. There were none. They were even a couple of guys who were comedians on TikTok and YouTube in the building who were as funny as everybody else in the building cracking jokes. The young lady behind the counter which I'm sorry now I didn't get her name was as funny as anything. She and I went back and forth crack and jokes on each other all in good fun. I ordered the jerk burger which was spicy yet probably the top two hamburgers in the city. I also ordered two oxtail plates and if there was something to be said the only reason I would give was because they were out of mac and cheese. Besides we had the potato salad which was very good cabbage which was very good as well as brussel sprouts with a sauce that was sweet and spicy and I would definitely order that again. The hamburger the family cut into fourths and I didn't get an opportunity to take a picture lol. Needless to say every time I come home to visit New Orleans this is on my list of places to go. I honestly wish that I just had more pictures. No problem I leave Thursday but I'll probably be there for lunch tomorrow on Tuesday I'll take care of that. If y'all in New Orleans do yourselves a favor and try some of the best Caribbean food in the city. Y'allhollaatchaboy!"

14 Parishes - Algiers Point

★★★★☆ 3.9 (24)

"Great new restaurant in the Point. A little expensive but it hits the spot. You can also find it on Uber eats."

Karibu Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.1 (12)

"My previous review still stands, so please feel free to sit down in your comfy chair with a handkerchief to dab at the drool; a common side effect of reading this review (so I've been told).Updated notes:Karibu Kitchen is no longer tailgating outside at Tchoup Yard but has nestled into their new home inside of Zanzibar (the indoor swankier part of Tchoup Yard in the back). I believe they serve 'til 12:30pm (this was a Friday night). I like to get good and buzzed to enjoy my Cruchwrap Supreme so this works out really well for me. BTW, the Crunchwrap Supreme is now $9. STILL worth it. It's one of those things I don't have to add anything to. I even get on the struggle bus about 80% of the way through it 'cause my belly is full but it's sooo good. I got uber lucky because this last time they had carnitas, my fave. They also have a few seats right up at their food station so if you want to solo cram your Crunchwrap Supreme into your pie hole, no one's going to judge you right there while you make the "mmmmm" noises. Sidenote: If you see me hunched over my Crunchwrap Supreme around 11:30pm on a Friday night, you should probably just wait 'til I'm done to approach. I uploaded a picture of their menu (current as of 9/29), and maybe I'll dibble dabble into those Tater Totchos (but only if the future hubs gets the Crunchwrap Supreme), ya heard?"

Mayas

★★★★☆ 3.9 (331) • $$

"Beautiful, light-filled ambiance with lots of colorful art. Really strong service. Johana was friendly, attentive and quick.Food was amazing. Huge portions! Lovvvveeeedddd the tortilla soup. The sweet plantains and original guacamole have me dreaming of having them again. Highly recommend!"

Jamaican Homestyle Grill

★★★★★ 4.8 (13)

"The food was fantastic here. I had the jerk chicken with rice and peas. I had the cabbage medley and mac and cheese. The jerk chicken was so tender and juicy. The mac and cheese and cabbage medley were also delicious. The lady that came out the back was so nice and gracious. The young lady who took my order didn't provide outstanding customer service. She gave basic straight to the point service. I love the vibrant look of the restaurant."

Jamleans Jamaican & Creole Cuisines

★★★★★ 5 (13)

"As a tourist of New Orleans, I expected my favorite food of the trip to be from a Cajun/Creole or Po' boy restaurant, but hands down, this was THE BEST food I had; and I ate out two or three times a day for 5 days!Our Lyft driver, Heather, suggested this place to us after I asked about Jamaican food recommendations. At the time, Jamleans had only been open for about 3-4 weeks, but she said it was worth it and I'm so glad we went with her recommendation.There is a small parking lot out front with free parking, but this is shared with 2-3 other businesses, so be prepared to find another area to park, but I tell you it's worth it!The restaurant is large and open and perfect for big groups, a nice date, or a solo visit where you can sit at the bar. There's a cute photo backdrop flower wall and a huge art wall which gives this place a unique character. We had a group of 7 and between our group we ordered so many dishes and it was a great opportunity to shout from the rooftops on how amazing this place is. While I haven't been to Jamaica (yet), I've been to numerous Carribean and Jamaican restaurants so I feel confident knowing that this was the best one I've been to.I WISH THERE WAS MORE THAN 5 STARS!!!!!Appetizers:- Jerk Wings: Honestly, best part of the meal. The sauce was so complex, rich, and full of spices. There was heat, but it was complimenting the variety of spices. The chicken was tender and perfectly cooked. Thankfully there was an extra side of sauce; the wings didn't need it because they were perfectly marinated and tossed, but I ended up adding it to other side dishes - I couldn't get enough.- Beef Patty: a flaky crust surrounding a moderately spicy mixture of beef. This is a perfect start to your meal - best eaten immediately. The flakes left on the plate (if there are any left) can be added to your main course!Entrees:- Oxtail: Tender, fatty, amazing! Everyone at the table was slurping out the marrow and we weren't shy about it. Perfectly cooked dish!- Curry Chicken: Bone-in dish perfectly coated in a mild curry sauce that you can tell was thoroughly marinated. The chicken was so tender!- Brown Stewed Chicken: Again, perfectly cooked chicken that was coated in a sauce that I can only described as delectableSide Dishes:- Collard Greens: They were stewed/sauteed to perfect soft bites that we bitter/sweet/savory all at once.- Cabbage: Wonderfully sauteed and seasoned - Sweet Potato: Tender squares of delicious potato. You can tell this was not a canned dish- Mac n Cheese: Sooooo Freaking Good! We had to order an extra side dish because we all wanted more.- Coco Bread: Soft bread with a slightly sweet smell yet mild flavor, turned out to be the best vessel to scoop up the leftover sauces from your entrees! - Red Beans and Rice: A great base to be paired with all of the entrees!The service here was that of close friends or family - we felt welcomed and taken care of. The owner/chef came out a couple times to check on us and we couldn't stop praising her for the amazing food she created. She was so humble yet appreciative of our presence. This is exactly the type of family business I want to support. After we left we told all of our Uber/Lyft drivers and any local people we could. I really hope that the community of New Orleans hears about this place because it was delicious and made by amazing people and they deserve all of the success. Not only was the quality of the food impeccable, the attention to detail and care put into each plate was evident. This restaurant could easily make it in New York, Los Angeles, or as a Michelin Star place right here in Louisiana. I'm sad that I live on the other side of the country, but I will definitely be back next time I'm in town!"

Hype Eatz

★★★★★ 5 (3)

"Don't walk, run to try this place. Genuinely, pleasantly surprised by my meal here. We landed at St. Roch Market by happenstance like most happy accidents. I saw a couple eating something that looked so good it peaked my interest so I asked them what it was. It was some sort of taco, with Mac&cheese, and chicken. The couple highly recommended it, but when I saw the menu I got excited to see oxtail. (Being the good Latina I am, I had to try it.) Thank goodness I did!! It came with two sides, and was a huge dish. I also didn't expect the oxtail to be in like a little yummy bun that you had to pull apart. It was cheesy and flavorful. The sauce Chef B serves it with, just ties it all together. This place is a must try."

Boswell's Jamaican Grill

★★★★☆ 3.9 (264) • $$

"Boswell's is always a hit, never a miss. I had the BBQ jerk chicken. It was saucy and oh so good. Mac and cheese was flavorful as well. Service was courteous and warm. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal."

14 Parishes Jamaican Restaurant on Oak

★★★★☆ 4.1 (100) • $$

"I've never been to 14 Parishes before, so it was great that I got to try! This is a fairly new location for them and I hope more people find out about it. This was a cute casual restaurant, quite spacious and with plenty of seating. It was pretty quiet around 6:30pm on a Friday, but it was starting to pick up more after sitting for a little while. I think they get a decent amount of pickup orders.I tried their jerk chicken plate ($20) which comes with 2 sides of your choice. I chose the plantains and their mac and cheese (which was +$2 plus). For $20, this plate is really filling with very hearty portions! You'll be full and satisfied with this meal. The sides were great, the mac and cheese was amazing! It was super flavorful and you could tell they use quality cheese to make this side. SO worth an extra two bucks! The plantains were good too, soft, sweet, and plentiful. They do NOT skimp on the protein here! You won't be leaving hungry for sure. The chicken was tender, juicy, and well-cooked. The skin was crispy and browned perfectly. Yum! My only wish was that the seasoning for the chicken would be stronger. I wished more of the jerk seasoning was used to give it a little more oomph! The jerk chicken plate is a great deal and very satisfying! Just needs a little more of that famous Jamaican jerk seasoning! I'll have to come back to try out their other menu items! I'm so happy that I got to check out a new spot!!"

Rob’s Rum Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4 (115) • $$

"Great service, great food, and fun environment!!! Would definitely come here again! Mango rice is awesome!"

Jamaica Honduras

★★★★★ 4.8 (12)

"Tried this location today, and I tell you it was so delicious. There was enough food to eat twice.It was seasoned perfectly, and my goodness, it was so good. I have no complaints.The restaurant was clean, and I love the setup. I took my food to go to I can't really talk about the service, but the guy at the counter was friendly and patient. Will definitely be back!"

Pot & Paddle

★★★★★ 5 (5)

"Tasty and flavorful pastalaya and they serve huge portions! Also convenient to order in bulk to take to events."

Afrodisiac

★★★★★ 4.8 (76) • $$

"Visited about 2 times. Hidden gem restaurant in Gentilly. Loved the oxtails, anything with rum punches are good the wings are ooh and always looking for updates to menus. Great outside patio area."

Cane and Table

★★★★☆ 4.2 (642) • $$

"Excellent service, very good food served quickly and with a friendly attitude. 20% service gratuity disclosed up-front, which is the way it should be done. Server made excellent suggestions, kept us watered, heard and immediately rushed over a fork when we dropped one (despite the restaurant being fairly noisy at the time). Cocktail: their take on a hurricane. Good, but not remarkable.Appetizers: crispy Brussels sprouts were more crunchy than crispy... much firmer and less roasted than expected, but still very tasty with a nice sauce and very generous portions. Heirloom tomatoes with onion, avocado and heart of palm were a nice contrast to the Brussels sprouts.Mains: Fried drum over jasmine rice and a tomatoey, medium heat curry sauce was well prepared. Could've used a vegetable like bell pepper, but was tasty. Coulotte steak was perfectly trimmed and seasoned, extremely flavorful (rivaling a good hanger steak) and exactly the requested temperature. Dessert: flan was thick, a little cheesecakey, and sprinkled with a little finishing salt -- an excellent addition I had never encountered before, giving it a salted caramel bite. Superb.Highly recommended."

Johnny's Jamaican Grill

★★★★☆ 4.3 (44) • $$

"Was craving oxtails, this did not disappoint, was exactly what I was looking for. Everything was fresh and delicious."

Bar Redux

★★★★☆ 4.3 (126) • $

"I just want to acknowledge that Bar Redux serves some of the best veggie burgers in the city. The black bean one with grilled pineapple is just *chef's kiss.* And the portobello burger is just as delightful, and feels healthy as well. They are always well dressed, never dry, and they come with a side of crispy, satisfying fries. On nights when they're out of burgers, I order the grilled veggie tacos, which are also delicious. They are a bar, yes, but they take pride in their food and it shows. I've never once gotten a bad meal there, nor a weak cocktail."

Sabor Catracho

★★★★☆ 3.9 (16) • $

"We stayed with some friends who live in the area and they are regulars here. Don't be deterred by the outside, as it's in a strip mall and looks like a hole in the wall! We came for Saturday breakfast and all enjoyed delicious meals! In our group we had someone who ordered the seafood soup, the fried chicken, and then two breakfast plates, mine was with bologna! Everything was amazing! I loved all the components that came on the plate, like plantain, beans, cheeses and tortillas! Their horchata was tasty as well! The waitress was quiet, but very sweet and helpful."

Coco Hut

★★★★☆ 4.3 (99) • $$

"The smells coming out of this place was calling me. I was already looking for a bite to eat, and that awesome aroma made it easy. I was not disappointed at all. I opted for the spicy jerk chicken. The lady preparing the food asked if I was sure I wanted spicy because it was not the typical American spicy. I opted in to take the plunge. My nose did run, yes. However, the flavors of the chicken were intense and good. So the spiciness was worth it.  It was served with plantains, green salad,  yellow rice, and cabbage, all of which were good. The lady taking my order and the lady preparing the food were both dynamic. They provided excellent customer service."

Compère Lapin

★★★★☆ 4.3 • $$$

"I am a big fan of Top Chef since the very first season. Compère Lapin is owned by Nina Compton, who was a runner up for Top Chef. I really wanted her to win that season so I've had her restaurant bookmarked as soon as I heard she had her own spot. I was in NO on vacation, perfect time to finally try. I came here by myself. I ordered the Jerk pork belly to start, the curried goat as my entree and bread pudding for dessert. It took a long time to get my entree after I finished the appetizer and it was not even busy. My server, Byron, was nice but I must say his service left a little to be desired. He could have been more attentive. The pork belly was ok, it was not as tender as I expected it to be. The curried goat was delicious. I found the bread pudding to be ok, as well, but I am admittedly picky when it comes to bread pudding, it's one of my favorite desserts. All in all, I have to say I unfortunately did not enjoy Compère Lapin as much as I thought I would. Not bad whatsoever, but not great. With so much amazing food in NO, I doubt I'd return."

Island Paradise Restaurant & Grill

★★★★★ 4.5 (91) • $$

"I finally arrived at the highly referred dining place. I had read Yelp and talk to folks who highly recommended Island ParadiseOxtails are so tender and seasoned to perfection. I am always in search of great oxtail and this place is tops. Cabbage is tender and still has a crunch too it. Dem oxtails falling off the bones. The gravy makes you wish you had a slice of bread to sooo it up. Peas and rice were different from a lot I have tried. Almost like my mothers gravy and rice. Sooo goodAnthony, one of the owners stopped by my table to allow me to interview him for yelpers. I told him we are a force in the food world...lolHe shared some daily specials that are not on the menu. You must dine in or drive through to take advantage of the deals. See photosI ordered the jerk chicken meal to go, but I am confident I will enjoyAs I sat there dining in a a Carribean atmosphere, I sipped on a Shandy Carib Sorrel. Alcohol so watch it. And I enjoyed some good music. Tell them Lynn sent you because I loved dem."

Island Flavor Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 4.4 (8)

"My first time visiting and I'll definitely be back! I had the blackened shrimp salad with a side of steamed cabbage. Both are full of flavor. Not too overpowering. The salad was made with nice dark green lettuce, which is refreshing since most places like to use iceberg as a filler. The place a nice and clean. I'm satisfied!"