Where to Find Boston’s Most Amazing Caribbean Food

Must-Try Dishes

Greater Boston’s most transportive tastes of the Caribbean

Ropa Vieja at Gustazo Cuban Kitchen & Bar

Gustazo’s ropa vieja lives up to its cozy name—“old clothes” in Spanish—with tender, melt-in-your-mouth shredded flank steak simmered in tomato sauce. This faithful take on the Cuban classic comes with rice, smoky black beans, and sweet fried plantains (maduros) that make it the ultimate comfort dish. Juxtapose tradition with modernity by adding one of the award-winning restaurant’s creative small plates, such as corn fritters with goat-cheese mousse, and enjoy a fun date night at either location. Each is colorfully decorated and offers a wide range of cocktails.

2067 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge; 240 Moody St., Waltham, 855-487-8296; gustazo-cubancafe.com.

Curried chicken at Flames. / Photo by Joe St. Pierre

Curried Chicken at Flames

Don’t let the name Flames fool you—this local Jamaican mini chain offers plenty beyond the heat. We often go for the mild curried chicken, a simple, soothing dish with a subtle coconut flavor. It’s served with yellow or white rice, vegetables, and, optionally, plantains. (You should take that option.) A D&G soda—try pineapple or cream—completes the meal. In a rush? Not to worry: The brisk counter-service spot will have you on your way in no time.

663 Morton St., Mattapan, Boston, 617-296-4972, and other locations; flamesjamaicanrestaurants.com.

Mofongo with chicharrón and cheese at Guira y Tambora. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Mofongo at Guira y Tambora

First order of business: Do you want green plantains, sweet plantains, or cassava as the base of your mofongo? Either way, the starch will be mashed, fried, and served in a garlicky, savory mound studded with your choice of meat and/or cheese; we recommend crispy chicharrón, a.k.a. fried pork skin. There are an astounding 18 mofongo options in all, plus plenty of other Dominican delights, at this lively spot in Roslindale, where the beer is cold, the music is hot, and the bar is stocked.

4014 Washington St., Roslindale, 617-327-7555, guiraytamboraboston.com.

Mariel’s fufú gnocchi. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Fufú Gnocchi at Mariel

Crispy on the outside and pillowy soft within, these luscious gnocchi have earned their keep on Mariel’s menu since day one. They’re the perfect example of the restaurant’s fusion-laden homage to Cuba and its immigrants from around the globe: The fufú (boiled, mashed plantains) is a Cuban staple, but turning it into gnocchi draws a line straight to Europe. Pair the dish with a guava mojito and unwind in the high-ceilinged space (a former bank), another stunner from COJE Management Group. Also give lunch or brunch a try: The Cuban sandwich is a must.

10 Post Office Square #120, Downtown Boston, 617-333-8776, marielofficial.com.

Oxtail at Only One Jamaican Restaurant

No cut of beef tastes quite as, well, beefy as oxtail, and the rich cut is perhaps at its tastiest in Jamaican cuisine, often braised low and slow to yield fall-off-the-bone results. Only One Jamaican Restaurant—which is ironically a local chainlet of three restaurants—does it right, serving hefty portions of the tender, flavorful meat (with rice and peas on the side, this’ll net you some leftovers). Looking to dine in at one of the counter-service spots? Try the Hyde Park location, which has a good amount of seating.

1345 Hyde Park Ave., Hyde Park, Boston, and other locations; instagram.com/onlyonejamaicanrestaurant.com.

The counter at Singh’s Roti Shop. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Roti at Singh’s Roti Shop

It’s hard to pick a favorite on the enormous menu at Singh’s Roti Shop—but the namesake roti, Trinidadian wraps stuffed with flavorful curried meats, are a good place to start. Whether you choose goat, boneless chicken, shrimp, or another filling, you’ll want to turn up the heat with the scorching house hot sauce and cool down with a fresh mango lassi. Grab a table and stay a while: These hearty, messy portions are best enjoyed sitting down, and a move to a larger space a few years back did wonders for this counter-service neighborhood favorite, which now has room to sell some Caribbean goods.

554 Columbia Rd., Dorchester, Boston, 617-282-7977, singhsrotishop.net.

Mangú 3 golpes (mashed plantains with fried cheese, eggs, and Dominican salami) at Mangú Dominican Bistro. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Mangú Tres Golpes at Mangú Dominican Bistro

The namesake dish at this small counter-service Dominican restaurant is a breakfast superstar, jam-packed with everything you need to start the day off strong. Mangú—mashed plantains—serve as a mild base for a trio of salty, fried treats: cheese, salami, and eggs. This is largely a takeout spot, but there are a handful of tables should you wish to sit down and relax by the wood-paneled wall decorated with colorful shutters.

264 Hyde Park Ave., Jamaica Plain, Boston, 617-522-2455, instagram.com/manguboston.com.

Lalo with crab and paté kode from Sister’s Caribbean. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Lalo at Sister’s Caribbean

At first glance, lalo looks a bit like stewed spinach, but one bite in, and you’ll quickly discover the rich, bold flavor of the more assertive jute leaf. Cooked with a blend of spices that yields a slow-build heat, it’s considered a national dish of Haiti for a reason, equal parts comforting and nutrient-packed. Sister’s Caribbean—a casual, cheery nook optimized for takeout and delivery—serves it on Wednesdays and Fridays, amped up with beef and crab; we like to get it as a side dish alongside an enormous paté kode (fried patty) stuffed with beef, but it’s also available as a main with rice, beans, and plantains.

83B Broadway, East Somerville, 617-616-5270, instagram.com/sisterscaribbeanrestaurant.

Chimis at Alex’s Chimis

The Dominican Republic’s tasty take on a burger is the chimi, a saucy sandwich made with a variety of meats and topped with crisp cabbage. This counter-service Jamaica Plain staple has been slinging them since 1998, inspired by the post-baseball snack that founder and Dominican Republic native Alejandro Castillo would share with friends. Alex’s chimis are served on soft, sub-style rolls and drizzled liberally with salsa golf (a ketchup-mayo combo) with green tomatoes adding an extra punch of sour crunch. Visiting again and want to try something else? Alex’s is also known for its juicy rotisserie chicken.

358 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, Boston, 617-522-5201, alexschimisrestaurant.com.

Chuleta Kan Kan at Vejigantes

Each dish is a piece of art at this eye-catching South End destination from the team behind Merengue and Doña Habana (both also worth a stop). That certainly applies to the chuleta kan kan, one of several forms of crispy pork highlighted on the 12-year-old restaurant’s menu. Make the enormous fried bone-in pork chop the centerpiece of your evening—with an over-the-top cocktail alongside it, like the flaming margarita for two.

57 W Dedham St., South End, Boston, 617-247-9249, vejigantesrestaurant.com.

Jerk Chicken at Blue Mountain Jamaican Restaurant

Perhaps the most recognizable culinary style of the Jamaican diaspora, jerk is a centuries-old tradition from the island’s indigenous population. Its smoky-spicy essence is on delicious display at Blue Mountain, which recently relocated within Mattapan and looks more inviting than ever with its bold blue walls and floor. Try the jerk chicken with rice and plantains or steamed vegetables to be instantly transported to warmer climes, and be sure to save room for a scoop of soothing gelato at the end.

1301 Blue Hill Ave. C, Mattapan, Boston, 617-533-7255, bmjrestaurant.com.

Samaná pescado frito at La Fábrica. / Photo by Nick Surette

Samaná Pescado Frito at La Fábrica

From fusion-y “Latin sushi rolls” to Puerto Rican–style plantain lasagna, the menu at this Central Square restaurant and nightclub dances through many expressions of Spanish-Caribbean cuisine. There are choices aplenty, but don’t miss the showstopping Samaná pescado frito, a whole fried red snapper in coconut Creole sauce that nods to the Dominican Republic’s beachy Samaná province. Throw in a mojito or two, and you’ll be ready to party the night away.

450 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge, 857-706-1125, lafabricacentral.com.

Coconut shrimp at Jamaica Mi Hungry. / Photo by Joe St. Pierre

Coconut Shrimp at Jamaica Mi Hungry

Even if you’re just tucked into a banquette adorned in Jamaican flag colors at this laid-back J.P. counter spot, the coconut shrimp—golden-crisp and paired with a sweet dipping sauce—feels like a Caribbean escape. You certainly won’t leave hungry: Choose two sides from options such as classic mac ’n’ cheese, charred corn on the cob, and sweet plantains.

225 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, 617-708-0465; 289 Devonshire St., Downtown Boston (opening early 2025); jamaicamihungry.com.

Jibarito at Maná Escondido Café

While its exact roots are debated, the jibarito—a sandwich that swaps bread for fried plantains—emerged from Chicago’s Puerto Rican community in the 1990s, inspired by Venezuela’s similar patacón. What luck that it’s made inroads into Boston’s Puerto Rican dining scene, too, including at this tiny spot, which has been charming the South End for more than a decade. On offer is the standard version made with green plantains or the sweet version (dubbed jibarita) made with riper plantains; we prefer the latter for contrast with the savory fillings, such as steak and cheese or roast pork.

68 Aguadilla St., South End, Boston, 617-266-0900, manabostoncafe.com.

Fritay from Highland Creole Cuisine (pork on the left, beef on the right). / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Fritay Griot at Highland Creole Cuisine

Craving crunch? This platter of fried foods hits all the right notes. Meat takes the lead role in fritay; we love the shredded and lightly fried griot (pork) at this three-decade-old cornerstone of Greater Boston’s Haitian dining scene. But among the sides (also fried!), it’s the malanga fritters we can’t stop thinking about, with their soft, doughy interior and an exterior generously spiced with hot pepper and black pepper.

2 Highland Ave., Somerville, 617-625-8333, highlandcreolecuisine.com.

Sweet Treats

Three can’t-miss Caribbean bakeries in and near Boston

Grêp Kafé & Sweets Bakery serves a variety of Haitian patés, stuffed with fillings like beef or herring. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Grêp Kafé & Sweets Bakery

Come for the fresh Haitian patés (patties) with delicately laminated, buttery crusts and fillings such as beef or herring; stay for the Caribbean and American sweet treats, from pain patate (sweet-potato pudding) and dous makos (Haitian fudge) to red-velvet cookies and corn muffins. House-made drinks like foskao, a spiced chocolate beverage, also delight.

466 Salem St., Medford, 781-327-6526, grepkafebakery.com.

Guava cake from Santia’s Bakery. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Santia’s Bakery

Steps from the Green Street T station, this Dominican bakery layers fluffy cakes with luscious tropical fillings of guava and pineapple and serves up other tropical desserts, including flan and buñuelos (syrup-soaked fried dough balls). Stock up on savory picaderas (appetizers), too, including quipes, beef-and-bulgur snacks akin to Middle Eastern kibbeh.

3381 Washington St., Jamaica Plain, Boston; 366 Essex St., Lawrence; santiasbakery.com.

Sug Sug

Flavors run deep when it comes to Virgin Islands native Tyrishma Allen’s tarts and cakes, an ode to her roots in St. Thomas and to her late mother, who’d cook dinner while Allen busied herself with her Easy-Bake Oven as a child. An assortment of mini tarts—guava, coconut, and pineapple—is the best way to taste everything. Allen bakes out of the Dorchester-based food-business incubator CommonWealth Kitchen; her treats are available for pickup there, in Canton, and at various farmers’ markets, with shipping and Canton-area delivery options available, too.

Various locations, sugsugbakery.com.