The Most Flavorful Caribbean in Virginia Beach

Cutlass Grille

★★★★☆ 4.4 (797) • $$

"The service was like family. The live music was like a family reunion. The food was like being back in Jamaica and made w love. Only sad thing was they ran out of chicken! the crab stuffed salmon was buttery good, the best cabbage I've had in my life, fresh bread, and my babe said the chops almost made his eyes role into the back of his head- I aint having that! Can't wait to be back!"

Goombays Grille & Raw Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (549) • $$

"Great food and service! The drinks were great and the place is so cute. Definitely get the Goombay smash and a t shirt to commemorate the occasion!"

Island Krave

★★★★☆ 3.8 (410) • $$

"I hope this review is taken in the constructive spirit that it is given and I hope this feedback can be helpful going forward. My bf and I stopped by and the food was ok I guess. We ordered jerk chicken and brownstew chicken. The cabbage was just awful, it was oily and unseasoned. The rice was just plain rice. The jerk chicken tasted like barbecue chicken. The brownstew chicken just tasted like chicken and gravy. The employees are nice but the food could be prepared better, much better."

Flip Flops Grill + Chill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (294) • $$

"You'd never guess that this good of a place is tucked away in a strip mall. We were greeted and sat right away, even on a busy weekend afternoon. It's mostly booths and tables in the back with high top tables and a bar as soon as you walk in. Tons of seating, surfing vibe and decor along with the menu. Very kid friendly."

Desmond's Island Soul Grill

★★★★☆ 4.3 (184) • $$

"I had the jack fruit and mushrooms Rasta pasta. It was good. The veggie Mac and cheese was good however if you not use to the cheese you may not like it. But I quite enjoyed it. The service was a tab bite slow, compared to the 20 mins she stated the food will be ready. The ambiance and decor was great. I will be back to try other items on the menu."

Montego Island Grill

★★★★☆ 3.5 (205) • $$

"I've always enjoyed Montego Grill, the food never disappoints and always tastes great. Last night, we called in to place an order for two Jerk Chicken Dinners. Since my boyfriend doesn't eat pork, we inquired if pork was in the Greens and they told us that they don't put any meat in their vegetables so he ordered the Greens and Mac & Cheese with his dinner and I ordered the Candied Yams and Mac & Cheese with mine. When we arrived to pick up our food, the restaurant was very clean and had a few people dining in. Our food was ready as soon as we arrived. Their Beef Patties were on display and looked very appetizing so we ordered two of them. The cakes also looked mouthwatering so the lady suggested we try the Carrot Cake. We spent about $45 for everything which wasn't too bad.Since we wanted a light amount of jerk sauce, they provided the sauce in separate containers for us to pour on our chicken. My meal came with about two legs, a thigh and another smaller piece of chicken but my boyfriend's dinner seemed to have mostly chicken backs which included more bones than meat, he was not very happy about that. The Jerk Chicken tasted amazing though. The Jerk sauce wasn't too spicy and the chicken was juicy and flavorful. The Mac & Cheese wasn't all that great and I didn't enjoy the Candied Yams, they needed more sugar. The Greens also weren't that great and had a sweet taste to them. The Beef Patties were a 10/10 and even though the lady said they were mild, they still had a very slight level of spiciness to them. The Carrot Cake was also pretty good but it included raisins, which I hate, so I had to eat around them.When we return, we will definitely be checking our order if we decide to do "take out" to ensure the pieces of chicken are sufficient but overall, the chicken was wonderful!"

Happy Times Food Mart

★★★★☆ 4 (106) • $$

"This place is the most recommended Carribean spot in the 75. So when I pulled up I was expecting greatness. The place was small and homely. I really appreciated the fasted pace and welcomedness the people were. I got the stew chicken rice and peas and some cabbage on the side. Everything was decent I wouldn't say it's the best I've ever had but if you looking for something solid I would try it."

Mystic Jamaica Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 (77) • $$

"I went with a co-worker to eat because he wanted some Jamaican food. The service was good as we were greeted as we walked in and had our order taken. I got the jerk chicken with a salad and mac and cheese. The food had good flavor, but my chicken had a good bit of bones in it. My co-worker got the oxtail with cabbage and mac and cheese. He said his food was good as well. The ambiance was casual. The restaurant is located inside a strip mall and wasn't too big, but had several tables."

Island Jerk Hut

★★★★☆ 4.2 (57) • $$

"I went once at their old location and it was too far for me to go back so I was ecstatic to learn that they opened a new location- which is a breath of fresh air compared to the literal hut they once had. The new restaurant is brighter and bigger and yes they have indoor seating! (The old place had a picnic tables outside). I went during lunch and was welcome with a warm friendly greeting. I'm not a fan of jerk chicken but theirs is the only place I would get it from. Not only did I order the jerk chicken to share but I also decided to get another Caribbean favorite of mine which is the brown stew chicken. I ordered the small size and it still comes with 2 sides just as the large does. The small is a really nice portion. The prices here are much more reasonable than some of the other Caribbean spots in the area. And IMO, tastes a whole lot better too! Another note to add: they also offer military discounts!"

Jam Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.7 (71) • $

"Best Jamaican in the CITY -- nothing compares.. EVERY SINGLE ITEM IS DELICIOUS. you cannot go wrong here, at all. I stamp this beyond words, i'll meet you here personally & refund your purchase if you don't like it, that's how confident. SPEED HERE"

Canvas Social Cuisine

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (97) • $$

"We came here for brunch on a Saturday, and we had a good time. The wait wasn't long. Customer service:Phenomenal. Our waitress was so attentive and amicable. She was very good at making recommendations, checking in with us, and keeping up with refills.Food:My meal was a 10/10. I got the Steak N Eggs. My steak was cooked to my liking and well seasoned. The scrambled eggs were creamy and delicious, and the potatoes were seasoned well.Drink:I got the "pull out," and it was so good. Very strong but good. One drink was more than enough.Atmosphere:They had excellent music playing, and the vibes were incredible. The music wasn't too loud where you couldn't talk. It only got loud when they came out with signs for people's birthdays and celebrations. I will definitely come back. I had an amazing time."

Palm Tree Caribbean Cafe

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (96) • $

"Always good! I usually get fried chicken wings with rice and gravy on the rice and peas with cabbage and a pineapple soda!"

Caribbean Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.1 (54) • $

"FYI this place is carry out only. We drove 35 min to eat inside and it is not open for dine in. Other than that, the jerk chicken was so moist and delicious. The only issue we had was there were little bone fragments in the rice and it was very hard to pick out. Definitely going back to try the curry chicken next time. So good."

Thyme On The River

★★★★☆ 3.5 (65) • $$

"Before I begin I would like to say that this review is based solely upon my personal experiences and my personal experiences alone, so with that being said let's get to it!. My wife and I came here to celebrate her birthday and we decided to invite a bunch of our close friends and family to join us on this special occasion!.We arrived and were then quickly led over by to the reservation area where tables were set up for us. As the guests started to arrive everyone started ordering their food and beverages. At first we only had one waitress and it was a lot for her because the waiting time to put in our orders was a little lengthy. But we spoke with the one of the owners and he kindly provided us with another waitress. The food and beverages were flowing nicely at this point and we all enjoyed each other with conversation and laughter. The night ended with the infamous happy birthday song. My wife enjoyed herself and we plan to return for other events. Let me add that this restaurant is in a great location in the Old Towne neighborhood of downtown Portsmouth. Right by the water. If you're ever in the area please stop by and check them out!.Before I go I would like to add, try the jerk chicken egg rolls.. ( a must try )they come with a spicy dipping sauce. The sauce is a little spicy depending on your spice tolerance level."

Jerk Sauce

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (72) • $

"Stopped by for some ox tail and some goat. The food is good, portions aren't bad, but the interior needs a lot of help/revamp. Would be nice to see some lovely indoor plants, comfortable seating, and maybe some beautiful prints of Jamaica, OR tropical prints of some kind. The lack of ambiance is off putting, but if you take your food to-go .... No biggie. I'm hoping that post covid this place really kicks off. They have the food, they just need to bring some love/passion into the restaurant."

Sunsplash Carribean Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (41)

"Sun Splash is my favorite food truck that lightens up my weekday! The guys are friendly and the food are delicious. Their lunch special from their food truck are between $12-14(comes with a canned drink) before tax but the portions are fair. So far I've tried the Curry Chicken, Jerk Chicken, Oxtail and Beef Patty. Never had I ever had a bad meal from them. The portion is generous and I always have leftovers for dinner or the next day. Their dishes are flavorful and have a kick to them, and the meat just falls off of the bones! The cabbage are a little overcooked but it was very buttery."

Jerrrk Time

★★★★☆ 3.5 (39)

"This is our go-to spot when we're craving oxtails and beef patties. The oxtails fall off the bone and have great flavor. My mother-in-law is from Jamaica and she said the oxtails taste just like her mom used to make. We recently tried their Rasta pasta and also fell in love. It has a little spice but we loved it! Dexter, the owner, is super nice and is always working hard around the clock. All the staff is super friendly everytime we stop in. This is a to-go place and parking is tight but they are always quick to get your food ready. Highly recommend!"

Delights Carribbean Restaraunt

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (33) • $$

"I stopped by on a Saturday evening specifically for the Jerk Chicken. I haven't had any since I moved out to VA and have been craving it for a while. As previous reviews have stated, the jerk chicken isn't as hot as I'm used to it. That might be the only downside to my meal. I loved the rice and plantains. I would return if I was in the area!"

Billy D's Seafood

★★★★☆ 4.1 (17)

"I had She Crab Soup, Fried Crab and a Fried Fish dinner. I have just returned home from Durham, NC where they haven't heard of Fried crabs, so I have been CRAVING some! Billy, you didn't disappoint! Your version arrived via Uber Eats delivery....it was piping hot, fresh out of the fryer, and oooweee, it made me feel like I was HOME! I'm accustomed to having some additional hot sauce and vinegar shaken on mine, but I didn't mind not having any this time. The batter is actually spicy enough that you don't have to have the extra, but I love that "bite" of the vinegar.The She Crab Soup arrived in a nice sized container, had a delicious flavor, but wasn't hot enough for my taste. It was also oddly white. I would have liked to visibly seen more of the female crab roe that gives the soup it's orange color as well as more crab meat. I also missed the sherry.The filets of fish were beautifully filleted, nicely seasoned and perfectly fried. I had requested additional tartar sauce for my fish, thinking it was made fresh on the premises, and I received several packages of it instead. The Cole slaw was really good, I don't know if it's made on the premises or not, but it is really tasty. Lastly, his hush puppies are wonderful little fried pockets of cornmeal that you definitely want to try! They're the right size, sweet enough, and I don't think he uses onion in his recipe. Either way, make sure you add a order to whatever you're ordering, you won't regret it. I would Definitely recommend Billy D, a fellow Spartan's seafood restaurant as a go to for fresh seafood! Please accept my apologies, I started eating before I took my pictures!"

The Blue Lagoon

★★★★☆ 3.6 (19)

"First, let me say I'm glad there's a full service Caribbean restaurant downtown Portsmouth. It's been a long time coming. from what I was told the owners of this establishment used to own hummingbird in Norfolk. so like any other spot you got to go with Old faithful. jerk chicken rice and peas with cabbage. now I wanted the chicken patty but they didn't have any so I got a beef patty. all I can say is they will have and see a big chunk of my money every week. The jerk Chicken was perfect. nice heat even though I'd like a little bit more. the rice and peas were top notch I can't complain at all. I'm happy with what they did with this particular spot especially if you knew what it was prior. it looks real nice on the inside. they have a nice bar and plenty of seating... I think the next thing I'm going to try is the Escovitch Snapper..."

Mp International

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (18)

"3 stars for the Grocery section.The restaurant section gets a -2 stars... this is far from authentic. My background is west-Indian (Trinidadian) and the restaurant is just a no, any Caribbean person I met in VA had a clear warning of not to eat here. Now I'm not saying it's horrible food (restaurant) but it is far from a authentic home cook Jamaican/Caribbean restaurant. On the other hand if you personally can't cook this part of the world food then it maybe to your liking.If the grocery was by itself I would give it 5stars. Simple things for cooking chief curry/golden ray even a few vegetables local to the Caribbean is hard to come back in Virginia. That part is what I personally use and enjoy."

Tropics Island Grill

★★★★☆ 3.7 (7)

"Food was tasty! Soup on point, ice chill atmosphere and service with a smile. Definitely recommend a visit."

Caribbean Castle

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (7) • $$

"When will this place be up and running again? Somebody let me know!Got off the interstate at Armistead one day in 2013 or 14 and saw this truck parked outside a car shop. Curiosity made me stop.The food was AWESOME and I was looking for it around town when I stopped seeing the truck parked on Armistead. I saw it again at a festival at Buckroe Beach and made a point to stop there. Then I heard they were located at lunch time at the Net Center in Newmarket. Visited them there as well. Saw the truck on the road just the other day, first time in a long time, so I guess they are still in business somewhere..."

T&B's Cuisine

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (5)

"I ordered the Jerk Chicken Rasta Pasta and Beef Patty w/ Cheese . Both dishes were well seasoned and flavorful and the beef patty was fresh out the oven. This was my first time having Rasta pasta and I loved the spice and peppers"

Caribbean Vibes

★★★★☆ 3.7 (3)

"Great place to curb the craving for Caribbean food. We have had just about everything on the menu many times over. I am happy to report that it is all very tasty. The portions are generous and the food is fresh. They sell Caribbean juices made in store and D&G sodas that taste like home. The service is always friendly and exceptionally polite. The area needed a restaurant that provides fresh authentic flavors of the Caribbean. Don't forget to get a beef patty for the ride home. CC is take out only. There is ample parking here. Happy Eating Yeeps!!!"

Reggae Jamaican kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.7 (3)

"WONDERFUL FOOD!!! Customer service is excellent and extremely knowledgeable. I don't go anywhere to get my Jamaican food."