Caribbean Grill is a small, local spot serving tasty, Caribbean-inspired food with a clear Latin American fusion twist. You would only know this if you were brought up on Caribbean seasonings. The beef empanada was a standout--unlike any I've had before--with a subtly sweet dough wrapper and a rich, stew-style filling inside. The rotisserie chicken (the most popular order) was freshly cooked, juicy, and well-seasoned, though it could use just a bit more punch. The Masitas de puerco (pork cubes) were moist and not overcooked, and the veggies--broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower--were fresh and thoughtfully prepared. Worth noting: the staff isn't Caribbean, so expect a Latin American interpretation rather than strictly traditional Caribbean flavors. Still, solid food, honest execution, and a worthwhile neighborhood stop. read more

I hadn't eaten at Caribbean Grill in a while, but I have good memories of it. So I thought I'd give them a try again today. I ordered the ropa vieja sandwich and asked for lettuce, tomato, and mayo on it. The response: "No! No! No! Bread and meat only!" This inflexibility and near rudeness was really disappointing. I left and walked down the shopping center to another restaurant that was happy to make my shawarma wrap the way I wanted it. Too bad. I used to really like this place. New owners, maybe? read more

Run, don't walk, to The Caribbean Grill! I just discovered this gem yesterday and enjoyed it so much, I had to order it again for lunch today--and it did not disappoint. The food is fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. The chicken is perfectly seasoned, the yellow rice is light and fluffy, the beans are rich and well-spiced, and the plantains are just the right level of ripeness. Pure comfort and flavor in every bite. read more

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Chicken was very well seasoned and tasted good! Loved the sauces that came alongside it. read more

Caribbean Grill - Caribbean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I don't what the fuck this is, but it's definitely not cuban food. I had the picante de pollo, and it was unseason chicken parts, boilded in water. The only seasoning on it was a fuck-ton of paprika and.......water. The empanada was a friggin Samosa. I do don't know where these people are from, but they aint Cuban. The clerk was nice tho. read more

Needed this spark as I was completing move into the city. Great food just wish for authentic Cuban bread and some Bahamian conch

Great food. Try the salteñas, ropa vieja, chicken, or anything else. Coming back next week.

The food was just "okay". I tried items that others recommended, but nothing tasted flavorful. I've been to Cuba and Jamaica, but the items at this restaurant did not hit the mark. The spice cabinet was apparently locked. I tried the jerked roasted chicken, Cuban rice, and baked yuca con mojo. I think the sandwiches may be a winner because many regulars ordered them. read more

I'm giving this review based on what it is, a very casual restaurant. You order at the counter then they bring you the food when it's ready, no frills. I had the masas de puercos ( fried pork) with black beans, white rice and an order of plantains. The only two complaints that I had were, the white rice was way over cooked and two of the pork chunks (yes I know pork can be fatty) were solid fat and inedible they should not serve that in this manner. They could have used those pieces and made chicharonnes out of it. Decent Cuban food for the area and the value was good, the cost was $22. read more

Caribbean Grill - Caribbean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

There are several other posts about how great the Cuban Sandwich is, and believe me, it was excellent, but the star of my meal was the fried yuca. If you're a yuca fan, this is the best yuca I've ever had. Despite it coming straight from the fryer, there was zero residual grease or oil on these things. They didn't even need salt which blew my mind. Of course, using the green/yellow dipping sauce made them even better, but I ate most of them on my way home without dressing them up with anything. I had issues with calling ahead and ordering, but the food made up for that and I will 100% be back to try more. read more

Caribbean Grill - Cuban Sandwich - Caribbean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Not sure why the stars are so low here. Been going here forever for family takeout and it's cost effective and GOOD! Quick service, fair prices, and very tasty. Parking lot is a bit tricky but that's not their fault. The half chicken, Cuban rice, black beans, steamed veggies (love the carrots), and yuca are delicious. The chicken is always juicy and has some spice. I love the dipping sauces too. I never eat inside the restaurant but there's plenty of seating and you order at the counter and grab your meal. read more

Great Ropa Vieja!! We ordered a platter for 10 without the rice and it was superabundant and tasty! My Cuban mom and family lived it!!

This place has the best food. Everything we have had here is so delicious!! When we lived in NoVA, we would come here regularly.

I love their food !!! I've been coming here since the early 1990's . The food is delicious and good read more

Caribbean Grill - 1/4 Chicken with rice and yuca - Caribbean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Glad to have this place as another Latino option in the scarcity of cultural food in Northern Virginia. We were promptly greeted at the counter, where you order your food and pay. Moments later our food was brought to us by one of the friendly chefs that resembled all of our mothers. Food was good, the two sauces helped give it a spicy kick, if you need that, like I did. Will need to come back to try the jerk chicken. read more

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Love the place been coming here for years cuban sandwich and pork sandwich is my favorite

The staff was great however the food itself wasn't all that good. Jerk chicken was different then expected just a hint of jerk, white rice was extremely sticky, fried plantains had no flavor. Only thing that was good was the drink. Very nice people here though l. read more

Caribbean Grill - Jerk chicken Fried Plantains - Caribbean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Amazing dipping sauces. I have been going here all my life. When I'm home, I always grab lunch or dinner here. Great yucca and yellow rice with black beans. The chicken is always juicy! read more

{Ambiance} Relaxed {Service} The Cashier is super friendly! Extremely quick in taking your order. The food comes out in no time. {Food} Curry Chicken (4 stars) Cuban Rice (4 stars) Fries- Fresh and Crisp (5 stars) Yellow Rice (4 stars) Roasted Chicken (3 stars) {Price} $3.00-$9.50 {Note} Parking can get a bit tight in some areas. The lot is also inclined. Bring CASH! read more

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I love the rotisserie chicken!! and the saltenas and empanadas. I usually get salad, or Cuban rice , or mixed veggies ( broccoli , cauliflower, carrots). I mix the two sauces and put on everything or just the white sauce.. Fried yucca or the baked mojo yucca are good too! My friend likes the Cuban sandwich . I haven't tried stews/sandwiches. read more

Great service great food great time I would definitely recommend or go back thanks again guys

Small and unassuming location on 29, similar to other old establishments which line that road. Food was hit or miss - the Masas De Puercos were 5 stars all day long. Pork was juicy and tender, while crispy on the outside and super flavorful. Ropa vieja was a 4 star - stewed with tomatoes and onions, it had good flavors but could have used a little more depth. Cuban sandwich was 2 stars - I've made better at home. Spinach and cheese empanada was a 3 - huge for the price, but a bit soggy and simultaneously dry. Rice and beans were the most disappointing- 1 star there. No flavor whatsoever. Fried yucca was good - 4 stars. Nice and crispy and not overcooked. All in it was $50, so the prices were reasonable for the amount of food, but it's not a steal. I would definitely come back for the pork. read more

This restaurant is SLEPT ON. Their rice, beans and rotisserie chicken is incredible. Although the interior may be a little dated- the food speaks for itself and I have never waited longer that 5 minutes for my food to be ready. read more

This is a low-key amazing place for jerk roasted chicken. Inside the walls are colorful and the vibe is tropical. I would definitely order the jerked roasted chicken and then add whatever sides you want. The chicken is so juicy and flavorful - never dry and doesn't need to be eaten with anything else. You can choose from a variety of sides but make sure to get the yuca. It's even better when dipped in their homemade sauces! The yellow dipping one perfectly balances the yuka while the green one is a spicier. The place is perfect for takeout for the entire family. Will definitely be back. read more

Caribbean Grill - Menu - Caribbean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Nothing like jerk chicken very nasty and they don't like black people an everything was dry an over cooked

Casual and very colorful counter-serve restaurant. They take your order and bring the food out to your table. Lots of quirky art in the dining area such as a statue of a chicken. *Masitas De Puerco: One of my favorite of the two entrees. They give you chunks of crispy pork with a tasty bowl of black beans on the side, as well as white rice. Portion here isn't as generous as many comparable Latino holes-in-the-wall in the area though, even despite what looks to be a good price. *Estofado De Carne: Not bad. This is a stew with beef chunks, and we ordered it with a side of Cuban rice which was delicious with the beans mixed in. However there seemed to be something a tad "boring" and "basic comfort food" tasting about the stew itself which is why I would prefer the pork as above. Then we had a problem. I had ordered the two above entrees along with a Cubano when I walked in, and they did warn me that the Cubano would take "ten minutes". However they brought us the two entrees first, which my party finished, and then proceeded to give them the benefit of the doubt that the sandwiches took time to perfect. After probably 20-30min after ordering, I finally got up to ask them what was going on - it turns out they completely forgot to make it. *Cuban Sandwich: This place did well with the baguette bread which is pressed properly. However I wasn't a huge fan of the awkward Swiss cheese which didn't seem to match the flavor of the meat, plus the way they sliced everything felt cumbersome to the bite, and not delicately arranged. And definitely NOT worth the extra wait after they forgot to make my order. Two stars. Why? Because if you're going to be a hole-in-the-wall and have shaky service (i.e. forgetting customer orders) you better have huge portions and knockout taste in order to compensate. I've forgiven restaurants in that way before, but unfortunately Caribbean Grill leaves little to praise to make up for their faults. They need to watch out or else competition will crush them, and in a place like NoVA there's plenty of that. read more

The food here is really great and the prices are very reasonable. I have been eating here for about 2 years now and have never had a bad experience. The fried fish is made fresh to order and so is the pork dish. They also serve the national dish of Cuba which is very good. Try this place and you'll find it delicious. read more

Wonderful food, been going here for years. Deserves far more stars than it currently has. Absolutely delicious and always makes me happy. Very nice atmosphere. read more

Hands down... one of the most delicious and affordable spots to eat in the DC area. You'll smell their savory roasted chicken before you even get there. You can feed a family of four for $20 and everyone feels satisfied. I return every time I'm back in DC. read more

Missing Miami, C.G. hits the spot to get your Cuban fix... FYI-- :::CASH ONLY::: Ordered and LOVED: ::: Ropa Veija w/Cuban rice and potatoes ::: Fried Tilapia fillets w/fried yuca and plantains ::: Chicken--- The chicken is moist, well seasoned... different from Pollo Rico and Super Chicken, which I appreciated. Everything was fresh, authentic, generous portions and reasonably priced. I will be back... I want to try to whole menu. :o) Ambiance: ::: Very casual... a few tables are available for patrons to dine in, but C.G. seems to be more of a carry out. Random-- They cater... This is definitely a place to keep in mind for the next venue/event that I host. read more

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El Pollo Rico say what? Super Chicken say who? Crisp & Juicy say when? Out of those super giants of pollo a la brasca joints in NOVA, Caribbean Grill is definitely a contender among them. What stands them out and makes them different is that their rub birings a little island flavor with their jerk seasoning. Say WHERRRRRRRRRRRE? Okay that didn't make sense, I was trying to use up all the dubyas. This is a Peruvian chicken style place that uses jerk seasong? How dare them? But it turns out to work well for them. What is also great about this place is that they have many many sides....like bubba gump said: fried yucca, baked yucca, mixed veggies, yellow rice, white rice...etc...shrimp toast (maybe i fibbed on the last one) Like most of these places, bring cash money only. yo mama! P.S. The decor is pretty cheesy, but no edible cheesy. read more

Caribbean Grill - It was a good bird. - Caribbean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Finally made it back here after at least a dozen years. This report is strictly for the chicken and yuca -- outstanding! Breast/wing was big and juicy, and the yuca was cooked perfectly. Glad I stuck with the tried and true. read more

Curry chicken was the best. Jerk Chicken reminded me of more Spanish style of jerk that was more citrusy and subtly sweet than peppery. The Baked Yuca and Mojo was good. The rice was more sticky than it should have been and the white rice was a little too al dente for some palates. Still a pleasant place at a nice price point with good service and nice staff who serve the food in good time. read more

A great cheap-eat! Caribbean Grill recently expanded so now, there's double the space. And they accept credit cards now! The employees are friendly and they bring the food to you promptly. We tried the cuban sandwich and half of a chicken with fried plantains on the side. CUBAN SANDWICH: it's panini-style and very crispy with plenty of ham and pork... probably the best cuban sandwich I've ever had CHICKEN: roasted in a brick oven, the skin is moist and juicy, but the meat itself was a bit dry for my taste. Even half of a chicken was a large portion for two people! FRIED PLANTAINS: delicious and melts in your mouth Overall, I'd return if I had a chicken craving. However, I'd get my order to-go b/c the inside is not nice enough for a date! read more

Caribbean Grill - half a chicken and fried plantains - Caribbean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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I have been coming here since the 90s. I know things will change but, today was a disappointment! Everything was much spicier than before, the yuca con MOJO was missing the MOJO! The ropa vieja was missing the onion and peppers and the sauce was not like before which is not an improvement. The rotisserie chicken was too spicy, this kind of pollo a la brasa is not meant to be spicy. The guy behind the counter was not very friendly, no greeting, no thank you etc. The bathroom needed to be cleaned and was missing soap. When you're disappointed everything makes an impact! read more

Yummy! I'm a fan of their chicken. It's not Pollo Rico.... but it's some good tasty chicken. I think their prices are pretty reasonable and the portions are good. I just got the thigh with yellow rice. They gave me a lot of yellow rice so I appreciate that. Their Saltanas are spicy (for me) so watch out (probably not spicy for people who can take spice). One of the best things about them is that they don't limit their yellow chicken sauce. They have it on the table and you can have as much as you want. I dunked everything from chicken to yuca fries to rice in there. Other places make you pay for the extra sauce.... but the sauce really makes it so I appreciate them not holding out on me!! read more

We did (COVID curbside) takeout this evening... Ordered dinner for family, plus two extra chickens to have leftovers. Additionally, we ordered 4 Cuban sandwiches to enjoy for lunch tomorrow. Phone ordering was super easy... Pulled up outside at specified time, and called from car to let them know of our arrival. Gloved and masked staff came out and put the food in the back of our car. We handed over credit card, they went in and processed it, came back out to the car and handed us our card. We did not have to sign. Unfortunately, that also meant we were unable to tip! Had we known that opportunity would not be given, we would have brought cash with us to tip. Meantime all that is to say the food was spectacular! The chicken is tender, moist and perfect! There are no better black beans and yellow rice! And we love both the white (mild) and green (spicy) sauces for the chicken! Looking forward to dipping our Cuban sandwiches in the leftover sauces for lunch tomorrow! read more

Fast and friendly service. Food is on point, it can be hard to find authentic Cuban food, but this place crushes it. Prices are very fair for the portions. Highly recommend for a quick lunch! read more

Caribbean Grill - Caribbean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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The best chicken on Lee Highway - case closed. Consistently cooked well, season is flavorful but not too much. This is some of the top charcoal rotisserie style chicken in the area (with some heavy competition). Beloved restaurant for this section of Arlington. Value: Outstanding food/money ratio value here. The half chicken meal is about $10.50. I have picked up 1/2 chicken and saved one of the pieces for a later meal. Seems that the the 1/4 chickens are a bit bigger than the many Peruvian chicken places in Northern Virginia (which I am also a fan of many). Staff and service: Friendly, locally owned and they will help you pick up sides (recommendations and questions) and your meal. They care. read more

Best rotisserie chicken in Arlington. I always get with black beans and rice but also have other sides.