This place is truly a vibe! Previously I only stopped by for takeout, which I enjoy. Their jerk chicken is good! The customer service is excellent. I know there's a running joke that if a Jamaican restaurant has good service, the food isn't good or vice versa. That is not true here! The service is good and the food is good. I recently stopped by on a Saturday night to check out "Limin' Saturdays." Yes there's a bar on the side. There's even an outdoor space with an igloo set up. How cool! The DJ was great. Shout out to DJ Fyah Oats for the chunes! Service at the bar by Dominique was excellent. I like that they feature local places like Shmidt Spirits! Woot! read more

CaribeExpress - Caribbean Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

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Tried CaribExpress because every time I pass by it's always jumping so I had to see what it was about. The vibe is definitely a nice set: great Jamaican music , good energy, and a perfect local spot to grab food (and a rum punch). Service was solid, fast and pleasant. The food is set up buffet/express style, but there's seating available if you want to eat in. I ordered the oxtail plate and it was pretty good, but I wasn't overly impressed. The meat wasn't as tender as I expected. My partner, however, loved the baked salmon, so I wouldn't mind circling back to try that. It's located in downtown Laurel, so street parking is available. Also, it's a Jamaican spot, so expect the music to be LOUD. Overall, a solid local spot with a fun atmosphere. read more

CaribeExpress - Baked Salmon plate - Caribbean Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

I've always seen this shop on Main Street & to find good Jamaican spots around this area can be tricky, but this place was good. It's actually bigger than I thought. When you enter there's a 'To Go' area then the sitting down area and it's a nice ambience. The service was great! Not sure who served me, but she was stunning and so sweet! The cocoa bread was good and not dry with a sweet flavor. The patty had a nice slight kick and was good. It's giving I'll stop by for those fried wings that were having a staring contest with me I'm giving this a 7.5/10 I'll go back & try more food! read more

CaribeExpress - Coco Bread Patty - Caribbean Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

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Finally tried CaribeExpress. Can't believe it took so long. I've been driving past this location on main street for months. Walked in and saw a variety of classic Jamaican dishes behind the glass. Everything looked fresh and yummy. I went with the curry chicken meal which came with two sides. The gentleman behind the counter was kind enough to allow me to swap my cabbage for channa. I can honestly say this was one of the better curry chicken dishes I've had in my recent travels to local Caribbean restaurants. It's bone in chicken which is hard to find these days. It had just the right amount of kick to it and wasn't overly salty. I found out they have various events during the week/weekends on the other side of the carry out section. I will definitely be back to check out the vibe. read more

CaribeExpress - Curry chicken meal w/channa - Caribbean Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

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My usual go to for Jamaican food. Very rare they'll not have something or it's not ready. If they are out of something or something isn't ready, they usually try to compensate and offer something else. But service is pretty good and the prices are a bit steep but I splurge from time to time. Never have an issue with parking. The main space inside is just enough to order but they have a side space with tables - sometimes it's open and you can dine there and sometimes you can't. read more

The service was quick, food was hot and cashier was quite friendly. Not an eat in establishment. Ordered the jerk chicken hand pie, was seasoned very well and not too much dough. Will be returning to try the chicken sandwich. read more

Main Street seriously has some gems. I caught up with a friend that lives in the area and we wanted to try this place out. I had been hearing about it for a while, but I had the opportunity to find out about the new lounge / dine-in area and wanted to experience it myself. My friend and I met up there around 6:00 on a weekday, and a few people were in line to order food. The bar / lounge / dine-in side was completely dark though. When it was our turn to order, we asked about the bar side, and the owner (I think) turned out the lights, let us sit at the bar, and he came to check on us regularly. To handle a to-go line and customers at the bar simultaneously in a timely manner is appreciated! They have a happy hour that offers various $5 things, like rum punch and wine. For my entree, I wanted the ackee & saltfish, but it was out, so I got the brown stew salmon. I thought it was delicious! The rice & peas and veggies were good. Let's talk more about this dining area though. It's... spacious. And there's an outdoor area too -- when it's summertime, you could totally have a party! I can't wait to see what it looks like during that time. read more

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(3.5 stars) Overall, a good experience with good food. I came at the end of the day, which I knew meant I probably wouldn't be getting the freshest jerk chicken. It wasn't juicy, but it was still good for an evening meal. I wanted more rice and peas than I got, though. And you can never go wrong with plantain from a Jamaican spot, in my opinion. The cabbage was overcooked. I like a little crunch in my veggies, but again, it was late at night so they might have been sitting for a bit in the hot line, steadily cooking. The beef patty was good, and I think that was actually the freshest thing I got. I had to wait an extra 20 minutes for it to cook. There are a couple of tables and chairs outside, no seating inside. I was standing inside waiting for my food and they told me to wait outside and they'd bring my food out to me. Another customer came for his order and they told him to wait outside, too. I was fine waiting inside so I'm not sure why they wanted me out. The service was very friendly. I want to try a couple more things on the menu, so I'm sure I'll be back at some point. read more

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The hot honey wings, the jerk wings and the garlic mashed potatoes were simply delicious, the tacos shell broke apart as soon as we picked them up, causing a mess. I strongly recommend you change the soft shell brand. Service was good, and drinks was excellent, the ambiance is beautiful. I definitely recommend read more

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I keep returning here because they are consistent! 1. Callaloo: wow, flavorful, little too dairy, but so freaking good 2. Mixed vegetables: cabbage and peppers are still really crunchy, which I enjoy, but my husband cares for it to be cooked a little more. Personal preference.... So good to me. Not your typical cabbage but it's flavorful. 3. Fried chicken....TUH! Only had it once but man, I went the next day just to get more. They didn't have anymore, and they're closed on Sundays, so best believe I'm going tomorrow. Seasoned and cooked perfectly. 4. Plantains: perfect, no complaints, not super sweet and candied, there's a place for both types. Loved it. read more

CaribeExpress - Fried Chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

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I stopped in one day to grab lunch. I ordered the oxtail. It came with rice&peas paired with cabbage. The meal was very good. It was well-seasoned, and the portion was generous. The staff were great and greeted me walking into the restaurant. I will definitely visit again soon. read more

CaribeExpress - Caribbean Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

Extremely delicious food! I had the curry chicken, curry shrimp and the oxtails meal... (always washing it down with ginger juice which is freshly made). The owner is the kindest, most friendly person... very welcoming and so is the staff. I can't rave enough about this location. Will be returning again and again and again! read more

The food is decent and the place is nice and clean. The patty was okay and could have had a tad bit more meat in it. The coco bread was missing a little flavor and was a little crunchy on one end. The soup and food was tasty. The sorrel was excellent. It's just as pricey as every place else these days. Give them a try if you are in the area. The service was friendly. read more

CaribeExpress - Caribbean Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

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First time at this restaurant. The food and service are very good. I ordered jerk chicken and a side of ackee and salt fish, it was all vey good. I'll definitely go back. read more

Had the pleasure of hosting a small group of 10 yesterday in Caribe's newer addition. While I did try to coordinate with ownership in advance, I caught management by surprise upon arrival. Despite a few bumps in the service, I must say first. .. the space is so very cute and perfect for happy hour and small gathering (seated capacity is 87ish, more for standing events like cocktail hour). Capacity is sure to increase in the spring and summer when the patio is open extending available event space. While coordination of service for the table was challenging, the food was an absolute hit!!! I was nervous because the group is filled with tough customers but they loved everything!!! They loved it so much that a few ordered a second entrée...which brings me to a small recommendation... I understand that items like goat, oxtail & salmon are pricey but perhaps adding the option of paying extra for larger portions should be offered. Each of the men in my group had to order a second entrée (to go) because the portions weren't filling. The good news is that they loved the food so much that they didn't mind but it would have been more convenient to offer larger sizes initially so they could be eaten with the group. Finally, the space seemed to fill with a growing group of regulars both for togo food and at the bar and I am here for it! Unfortunately, I cannot report on their drinks as I am currently practicing 'Dry January ' none the less the growing number of regulars implies that they are indeed worthy of kudos. SN: Management shares plans to add a roof top with completion anticipated in late summer early fall making this a Laurel hotspot!! read more

Nothing was good. The oxtails were warm and very stringy. I had two chunks of meat and the rest was fat, bone, and hard stringy muscle fibers. The rice was brown and didn't taste like the authentic rice I've come to know. It's usually tinted dark from the beans but this was completely brown and I don't know what kind of flavor or sauce they put on it but I was not happy with it. Almost all of it was left. The cabbage was crunchy. I dummy like my cabbage overcooked with a little crunch to it but this was almost like I was eating coleslaw. The flavor was there and that's about the only thing I ate all of. I'm sad read more

CaribeExpress - Extremely brown rice and crunchy cabbage - Caribbean Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

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This place was recommended to me by a co-worker. I ordered jerk chicken it was really cold and had no spice it had a side of bbq sauce that came with it. The cabbage wasn't not cooked all the way .The rice and peas were dry . Also the plantains weren't good. The beef patty was ok oddly it was warm and the rest of the meal was really cold. I arrived to the restaurant before my order was suppose to be picked up too. The best part of this restaurant is the customer service outside of that they have got to do better. read more

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This place is definitely a BLESSING to have near my home...you're greeted with smiles, phenomenal smells, and warm personality...the food looks FRESH, smells DELICIOUS! I got Curry Chicken Platter(Rice & Peas, Cabbage) & a Beef Pattie CoCo Bread! Everything that I got was packed full of flavor...everything taste fresh...this place is 5 STAR for sure! read more

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Went there as a first time visitor. Food and service were great! Really liked the Jerk Chicken! Very tasty!

Caribe Express is a local, small-business owned Caribbean eatery located in Laurel, MD. Here you will find many of your typical Caribbean dishes such as jerk chicken, oxtails, curry chicken, red snapper, brown stew chicken and curry goat to name a few. THE JIST The location is small and mostly considered a carry-out spot for the most part. There are a few stools at the storefront's main window where you can sit and eat but due to COVID-19, all orders are for "to-go" and "delivery" only. To be honest in this review, the food was just okay. Unfortunately, my pics look waaaayy better than the taste and food experience itself. Read on to understand my point.... I tried a mix of menu items and dishes: 1) Oxtails w/ Cabbage & Peas n' Rice 2) A combo platter of Jerk Chicken & Curry Goat w/ Cabbage & Peas n' Rice. THE GOOD - Fast, Friendly Service - Very Clean Establishment - Great Business Hours - Notice I haven't really said anything about the food tho'..... - The Jerk Chicken was good although I only received 2 pieces of chicken (a small drumstick and thigh cut in 1/2 )....thanks for the sample! See pic. THE BAD - A bit pricey for the small amount of food you get (see my pics). - With the exception of the Jerk Chicken, both the Curry Goat, Oxtails, Peas n' Rice, and Cabbage was BLAND!....No Depth, Flavor, Spice or that Kick that you are very familiar with when you have had good Carribean food. - The Curry Goat was the biggest dissapoint of all the dishes. Not seasoned at all and a bit on the tough side; not tender enough. - The Oxtails, although looks delicious, are small...barely 1 inch thick cuts! Can you at least give a brother thicker cuts of the oxtail for the price!?? They were cooked well, but too thin and not enough meat. Also, I ordered a "large platter" and there were only about 4 bones of oxtails! Are you kidding me? I hate to see what is on a small platter. Not worth it. OVERALL FEELING Not impressed. Roughly 2 1/2 to 3 Stars...at best!! I've definitely had better Caribbean eats elsewhere around the DMV....with better portions and flavor for the price. They really need to rethink the price to portion ratio. The price point doesn't match the portions. It's just a bunch of rice at the bottom of the container and cabbage, with small amounts of the main dish --the meats--the proteins! Although, the customer service was great, the staff was friendly and the establishment was very clean......I will not be back!! read more

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I love jerk chicken and this place came highly recommended, so I had to give them a try! Caribe express is located in Laurel. I haven't spent much time on Main Street but it seems like a really cool place to visit..lots of restaurants and some shops. I ordered the jerk chicken and 2 patties! I really enjoyed the chicken, it reminded me of my trip to Jamaica. They really have the spices down. The patties were just okay in my opinion. I ordered 1 beef and 1 shrimp and I don't think I'd get them again. I have had a lot better from other places. I did really enjoy the jerk sauce and they also have quite a few juices to choose from. I ordered the pineapple ginger and it was very refreshing. It seems like they do a majority of carry out business but they do also have a small area where you can dine in. I'll definitely be back to try some other dishes. read more

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I've been here before but I've never been more disappointed. I open to eat my food and I'm like wth is this!! Look at the oxtail..dry with no gravy!! These oxtails are basically just fat barely any meat. The pieces are small. This is insane! For twenty-five dollars! No way I'll be coming back! And the cabbage is undercooked! Idk if they changed their recipe but this the worst oxtail I've had!! Smh!! Its unacceptable that they would sell this to a customer. They should be ashamed of themselves. read more

CaribeExpress - Oxtail - Caribbean Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

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Just updating to say that , although I love the food here, they don't put any spice in their food. They also charge $1 for hot sauce . Its good , just be aware. Still the best cabbage out there though! read more

Finally a Jerk Chicken location in the area! Well, don't get too excited because I am about to smash your hopes for this location. I actually visited this spot on two different occassions. The first visit included a Curried Goat selection that was pretty much on par with other venues that I have come across throughout the DMV. The next visit was to try their Jerk Chicken AND Brown Stew Chicken. As you can see from the pictures these had to have been the smallest chickens in the coop and a small came with these three NOT EVEN whole pieces except the leg and a wing. The other piece was the most bone part of I think was the breast with hardly any meat on it. I asked for a little extra gravy on the rice, but was denied that. As you can see the whole meal was pretty dry and unfullfilling. I was told that a Large comes with one more piece of chicken for both meals. Needless to say, I will be looking for another spot to fulfill my Jerk and Stewed Brown Chicken liking. read more

CaribeExpress - Stewed Brown Chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

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They are not dog friendly. It was Saturday night and I just wanted to go into the front part of the restaurant to get a beef patty with Coco bread. And I was told I wasn't allowed in with my dog. I have a service dog. Papers tags, and all. I wasn't on the restaurant side. I was on the takeout side. read more

Great quick lunch food--I especially recommend the jerk chicken. The rice and beans stand out as well. Take-out only (which was fine because I work close by). I've eaten there three or four times now during business trips to the area. The service is fast and professional. read more

I'm not sure if they have changed their chef but food here use to be amazing now it's just okay. I stopped going to another Caribbean restaurant to come here but not it's not even making a difference anymore. read more

I happened to find this place on Main St visiting a local tea shop. I smelled some flavorful food from the street and decided to stop by. Thankfully I did. They're fairly new so they don't have any menus yet buut they have a full buffet of food. Fresh and hot, not food sitting waiting on a customer. I decided to try the curry chicken and rice and peas. It was delicious. I believe the food was fairly priced around $12 for a very large portion I ate for lunch and a snack. I will definitely be returning to try the jerk chicken, and oxtail. read more

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Yelped food by me and lucked up on this gem. Called for directions because I couldn't find it. The young lady directed me and was so friendly!! No on to food!! One word......DELICIOUS!! I'll definitely be back when I'm in Laurel again. read more

CaribeExpress - Coco Bread Jerk Chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

Love the jerk chicken and cabbage. The owner is very friendly and helpful. We also have had the curry chicken and enjoyed that as well.

Update: I have to drop a star from my original review. The first time I went, I wanted oxtails, but they weren't ready and they weren't going to be ready any time soon. Last week, I wanted curried goat but it wasn't ready yet. Apparently, it wasn't even seasoned yet. The food is still good, but they lack consistency of availability. So you can't go with a taste for something. You just have to go see what they have. read more

Found this place while I was driving by and decided to give it a try. It was just ok. I ordered the curry goat which didn't have any gravy on it (I usually ask for extra gravy but forgot to when I ordered and the meat and rice could've really used it). I also got a spicy beef patty which wasn't that spicy and coco bread (which was dry and not soft how I like my bread). I don't know if I'll be back because there are other items on the menu that I could try, but we'll see. read more

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While I have only been once, the food was awesome and I have been wanting to go back. The owner was so welcoming and brought a happiness to the atmosphere! I love how you can just go in and order exactly what you want and it only takes a couple minutes. I would definitely come back again read more

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! . Honestly, I use to like coming here, but now it's not it. I use to go in and order vegetarian options but they never had it. I would come at different hours and they still do not have it. I started to call, I barely get anyone on the phone. On their menu, they have stated that they carry vegetarian options, but it's only when they want to. If you decide to come be mindful. They continuously do not provide everything on the menu. read more

CaribeExpress - Old soggy Callaloo. - Caribbean Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

Pros: Great pineapple ginger juice, customer service, clean establishment, decent flavor. Cons: Small portion sizes for the price, small protein portions, and gives very little sauce with food. Overall: it's just okay. I'd come back if other locations were closed. I will say their cabbage is beautifully flavored, but the cook can be inconsistent at times; however, it is awesome. My experience was very meh because I receive 3 small pieces of meat and ver little cabbage. Try it for yourself. read more

Like drake said, "the best I ever had". When you see a grown man moaning while he eat, that mean it's good. I just can't put into words how good this meal was. I even told my wife it was so good I didn't wanna poop it out because I want to keep it inside my body. I have nothing negative to say about this place, and that's nobodies problem. Pull up, it'll change your life. read more

CaribeExpress - Oxtails - Caribbean Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

I have left the restaurant ordered $40 worth of food and it fell on the floor as I left the restaurant. The worker did not separate the bag of orders which consisted of Small oxtail with sides and Brown Stew Chicken. I can back immediately and told the worker this, I was offered no assistance or apology. I was told as stated "I told you to hold the bottom of the bag, and you were on the phone". No acceptance or responsibility or do over the order. The bottom of the brown paper bag busted open. I will not eat here ever again, this is the one in laurel. Buy at your own risk! No customer service friendly. Sincerely, Latasha Duncan read more

CaribeExpress - This is the bag they provided. - Caribbean Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

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Yesterday, I stopped at the small carry out on main Street in Laurel. I was welcome as soon as I came in and the gentleman who was serving the food help me pick up a dish. I settled for the stewed snapper with rice and peas and sauteed cabbage. I didn't want the plantains, but I was curious about trying the ackee. The young man gave me a sample and I decided to add it to my order. For less than $30 hubby and I had a mouth watering dinner and had some left over (mostly the rice). I will definitely , return to order the chicken curry or my hubby. This is a place to visit and support during this covid 19 crisis. Support a small business. read more

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10/10. The people who work there were amazing. All the foods look delicious and I had a hard time choosing one. Finally order some oxtail and chicken. I enjoyed it a lot and my dad enjoy it a lot as well. Will definitely come back for more and definitely recommend it. read more

CaribeExpress - Oxtails - Caribbean Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

I spent almost $30 on food and was charged .20 cents for a PAPER bag. The food was a little salty but edible.