I cannot express enough how amazing this place is, how much love and passion Abel puts into his food and his restaurant Modesto is blessed to have this man and our stomachs and taste buds are eternally grateful to Abel for sharing this succulent, decadent, wonderful food. Oxtails and jerk chicken to die for, don't skip the Mac n cheese, some of the best around and the Corn Festivals will be your favorite easily. If it's not apparent, service here is top tier, the best in Modesto and Abel makes you feel like you are at home in his kitchen as his guest, you can't beat that kind of ambiance. read more

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This review is LONG overdue. I met Abraham, the owner, and from the moment I walked in, he made me feel welcome. I'd only had Caribbean food once before, so I wasn't really sure what to order. Abraham took the time to explain the menu. The ox tail and chicken is amazing! He shared the story behind the restaurant and even sat with me while I ate. I came in alone, but I left feeling like I had lunch with a friend. The food was absolutely delicious and definitely worth the drive from Lodi. read more

Y'all need to get yourselves here!!!! This is real deal DELICIOUS HERBACEOUS AMAZING CARIBBEAN FOOD right in the heart of 209. I got the oxtail and jerk chicken combo, not only was everything so fresh and hot that it steamed off the plate, but it stayed hot the entire time I was eating! Absolutely delicious oxtails, the best I have ever had!! Abel is such a sweet, kind, and awesome owner, he really made sure I was taken care of and he is an amazing cook!! Love the ocean vibes it is super relaxing in there :) I will definitely be returning to try the jerk tofu, curry goat, chipotle ribs, and everything else on his delicious menu! read more

Cariblue Restaurant - Oxtail - Caribbean Near Me - Modesto, California

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Was very excited to try this place gotta say did not disappoint seen advertised on tic tok...hands down if your looking for Ox tail and some authentic Jamaican food this place is a must try...food portion is amazing and for the price,corn fritter is must try fresh and hot,Ox tail was so tender and goat curry is very well flavored.Owner is the chef he was very nice and is very passionate about his cooking.place is very clean love the reggae music on the TV very good island vibes....this place is a hidden gem must try and support our local small business restaurant I will definitely be going back for more good food.Best Jamaican food in valley hands down read more

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Stopped by this little spot today after my husband had been telling me for a while that he wanted to try it. I have to admit, I can be pretty picky when it comes to food, and I had never tried Caribbean food before, but I am so glad we came. First off, the restaurant was very clean, and the owner was incredibly kind friendly and welcoming. We let him know we had a larger group and he quickly put some tables together and got us seated right away. I also liked that you order and pay at the front. For me, it is a much faster and easier process. I ordered the BBQ Chipotle Shrimp and wow, it was amazing. The shrimp were perfectly cooked, and the vegetables were flavorful fresh and still had a nice crunch to them. Nothing was overcooked or mushy. The dish had great flavor with just the right amount of spice. They also have a homemade hot sauce available on the side and let me tell you, it definitely was spicy. As someone who loves spicy food, I enjoyed it and definitely sweating by the end of the meal lol. My husband ordered the oxtail and jerk chicken, and both were incredible. The jerk chicken was tender, juicy, and falling off the bone. The oxtail was something I was hesitant to try, but my husband convinced me and I am so glad he did. It was unbelievably tender had so much flavor. The rice was delicious and perfectly cooked. The plantains were another surprise. I had never eaten plantains before and they were absolutely delicious and for sure came in for the save when my mouth was spicy lol. The owner came by our table to check on us, and when we told him it was my first time trying Caribbean food and how much I enjoyed it, he was genuinely happy to hear it. You can tell he truly cares about his customers and takes pride in his food. He brought us a small piece of cake to try before we left. It was incredibly moist and delicious, the perfect way to end a fantastic meal. To the owner thank you for the amazing food, excellent service, and warm hospitality. We will absolutely be back, and I look forward to bringing more friends and family. If you have never tried Caribbean food before, take it from a picky eater, you need to give this place a try. read more

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Today was my first time at Cariblue. I want to come back for lunch tomorrow, and would make the 45 minute drive in a heartbeat again if I could. We ordered the veg plate of rice, sweet plantains, jerk tofu and polenta. I've always been intrigued by jerk chicken but went vegan years ago and never had the opportunity to indulge in this particular regional flavor. To say my tastebuds were partying in my mouth would be an understatement. Man. This plate was incredible. The plate was well balanced flavor wise: zingy--yet somehow also so satisfying and comforting. The service was kind and fast. We got a takeout order but it was so nicely decorated and clearly there is a lot of love and care that goes into that place. I could taste it. read more

Cariblue Restaurant - Vegan plantains, rice, polenta and jerk tofu the best flavors - Caribbean Near Me - Modesto, California

Wow! Didn't have time to sit in so we ordered to go. The food did not disappoint. It's a little out of the way but so worth it. We got 2 combination plates. The goat curry & jerk chicken and the oxtail & jerk chicken. Both come with a side of rice and plantains. The goat curry had a little spice but it was so good! Fall off the bone and so much flavor. The oxtail was delicious. Also super tender and fall off the bone. The chicken thigh was cooked really well. Service was great. Owner is very friendly and kitchen looked immaculate. Looking forward to going back and trying other things. read more

Cariblue Restaurant - Oxtail & Jerk Chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Modesto, California

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My daughter and I have been going for a few months now, and I love the oxtails and pork ribs--everything has amazing flavor. I tried the jerk chicken, which falls off the bone and is very tender. He makes sure to check if you need anything else. Great service read more

I got one order of goat curry and jerk chicken and another order of oxtail and jerk chicken. EVERYTHING was excellent. The oxtail was melt in your mouth tender. Goat curry had tons of flavor and just the right amount of heat. Jerk chicken was done to perfection. I am glad I finally decided to stop here. I can't wait to go back! read more

Cariblue Restaurant - Left = goat curry and jerk chicken combo. Right = oxtail and jerk chicken combo. - Caribbean Near Me - Modesto, California

Restaurant was a bit hard to find but nestled in a nice corner. Upon entry it was empty but I wanted to try several things on the menu. I ordered oxtails&ribs combo with mac and cheese and also the pineapple upside down cake. I ordered the jerk chicken to go. I'm going to be completely honest. The Mac & cheese looked appealing to the eye but it was not that good. Cheesy yes but lacking that homemade flavor. The oxtails were tender, and tasted great. And for the price it was a decent portion. Now the ribs did not taste great to me. No char so I know they were not grilled and they were a bit dry and the sauce was overbearing. Good ribs do not need sauce. The pineapple upside down cake was delicious. A+ for that. I ordered the jerk chicken to go but I gave that to my mom to try she didn't complain so I guess it was good. Overall I'd rate my experience a B-. I'll definitely stick to the oxtails and jerk chicken and dessert if I return. read more

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CariBlue is a hidden gem in Modesto. I came here after reading some solid reviews and I'm so glad I did. Let's get into it... Ambiance - The inside of CariBlue can accommodate groups large and small. It's decorated nicely and gives off vacation vibes. It's cute what they've done with the interior. Service - The service here is great. The owner makes you feel like you're an extension of family and I've always found that's a recipe for success. Whether you're going for the first time or the 100th time, you know you'll be treated like family. Our food came quick and the owner was very attentive. Food - The food was great! It kinda felt like you were getting a home cooked meal. The oxtail was the star of the show for me. They were so good and the meat was so tender. The jerk chicken was great too. My wife got the Chipotle BBQ pork and that was great too. The rice and beans were great too and I've never met a plantain I didn't like. The helpings are very generous. Overall, between the awesome owner and the great food this is definitely a spot I will be returning to. There's so much good looking stuff on the menu that I'd love to try. They're located near Claus/Yosemite next to the Starbucks and Little Caesars. Check it out! read more

Cariblue Restaurant - Chipotle BBQ pork...delicious! - Caribbean Near Me - Modesto, California

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4 out of 5 the. Chicken was really good it was spicy the coconut rice was good with the chicken sauce I would have just wanted more rice with rhe dish one less star because the plantains were over ripe I know plantain it was over ripe and mushy at the time of cooking I placed a phone order and it was ready when I arrived read more

Cariblue Restaurant - Chipotle chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Modesto, California

Cariblue took over the spot that George's Gyro's used to be. I would have never imagined Caribbean in Modesto, but it's a welcome addition to the restaurants in the area. For service, it's order at the counter and they bring food out to you. Being my first time here, I asked for a recommendation and they recommended Oxtail & Jerk Chicken. We also tried the Corn Festival. My favorite thing by far is the Oxtail. Fall off the bone tender, super meaty, complex warm spices - the comfort food of all comfort foods. Plaintain and rice were great sides with the meal. The jerk chicken was ok. My piece was a drum and was a little overcooked. My friend had a thigh and they were happy with their portion. Corn festival was interesting. It reminded me of an Old Fashioned Buttermilk Donut. A bit of an odd pairing with the food, but I ate it all nonetheless . read more

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Service was fine & ambiance was standard. We were meeting a friend in the middle between us. We were all really excited to try this, but TBH, we were disappointed. ORDER: Jerk chicken & curry pork Oxtail & BBQ ribs The food tasted like it had been cooked earlier in the week, refrigerated & then lightly microwaved to bring it back to life. It wasn't vaguely hot or fresh, but actually rather cool to the touch. Plus, way too much sauce. Oxtail was the tiniest part of the tail w/barely much meat in the order (many bones & sauce, but little meat). The rice was ok-ish, but not good enough to eat much of it. Corn fiesta was the best thing there. Maybe others have had a different experience. They get great reviews. Maybe this was just an off day for them? Anyway, still, I wish them well & hope they continue to reach their target audience. read more

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Fantastic local Caribbean food. Reasonable priced, clean, friendly staff. Love the BarBQue ribs, ox tails, rice and plantains. Fast service, always hot. Kinda an obscure location, but well worth the visit. A hidden gem. read more

We saw a TikTok and had to try them out. We got oxtail, jerk chicken, jerk pork cubes, chipotle ribs, the rice and beans, plantains, corn festivals, and mac and cheese to try. For me i like everything but the mac and cheese. My husband liked it but I felt it could use more cheese? I dunno. Just not my fave. But man everything else was so delicious! The jerk flavors were amazing; the rib meat fell off the bones, and the corn festivals were delicious. I had one for leftovers and added melted butter and honey. Ooo so good. Recommending this place to everyone I know in the area and definitely going back again! read more

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This was my first visit to Cari Blue. I went during lunch. We ordered the oxtails, jerk chicken, and curry goat. I was with a friend so we got two plates and shared. We also got the corn festival. I thought everything tasted great and the flavors melded well together. I'm not a fan of overly spicy food, so the spice level was perfect in my opinion. The meat was fall off the bone tender. I ended up getting a plate to go for my mom (pictured: oxtails with jerk chicken) and she said it was amazing as well. I also ordered a side of macaroni and cheese, which had a nice non-traditional flavor profile. Abel the owner is very nice and openly shared how the restaurant came to be. It was fun hearing his story. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for something different here in Modesto. read more

Cariblue Restaurant - Top: plantains and rice, bottom right: oxtails, bottom left: jerk chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Modesto, California

We had lunch today and also picked up food for tomorrow's holiday dinner. The food is delicious as ever. We are so very thankful to have Abel here in Modesto! We've been customers for years before he moved here so when he told us he had moved, we were delighted. Looking forward to many more years of delicious food! Thank Abel! read more

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This tasted like Indian curry NOT Jamaican curry. The plantain tasted like it was old/reheated. I would not recommend if you want Jamaican food! read more

Oh man!! 2024 best restaurants huh. Not going to lie. It was my first time having Caribbean food in a proud authentic Caribbean Restaurant. My take away was Caribbean food uses spices like Silk Road spices. If that makes sense. For example I think the rice and beans had cinnamon. With that being said, all the meat was fall off the bone. My favorite was the oxtail. The plantains also tasted better than most I have had in my life. I was expecting to love the jerk chicken but I did not. I think I know why they call it Jerk Chicken. Had my coughing. All in all, I respect the place, the owner and the food. Very clean, great service, and good food. Cariblue is something everyone should try at least once. read more

Cariblue Restaurant - Ok Oxtail & Jerk Chicken. Smells good - Caribbean Near Me - Modesto, California

Abel the owner is amazing. He's kind and personable, makes you feel like family. The food is 10/10. Everything on the menu is delicious. I highly recommend the oxtails and jerk chicken. They are cooked to perfection :) read more

I went to Cariblue today for the very first time. Service was fantastic and the food was amazing. The bbq chicken was tasty and fell off the bone. The beans and rice and macaroni and cheese were both very flavorful. I am looking forward to my next meal there. read more

Delicious food! Amazing service! The gentlemen working the front was very sweet and accommodating to a larger group at lunch time. The ambiance was clean and relaxing. Bob Marley music playing to set the vibe for a great meal! Food was served quickly and it's big portions! Will be coming back! read more

Cariblue Restaurant - Oxtail and Jerk Chicken combo - Caribbean Near Me - Modesto, California

I have Been looking for Jamaican food in the area for a long time and am very impressed by Chef Abel's Cuisine. read more

Cariblue Restaurant - Caribbean Near Me - Modesto, California

This place is a gem! I don't publish reviews like ever- but I thought Cariblue really deserves a review as the food was phenomenal! Meat was cooked to the T! Thank you and cannot wait to come back again! read more

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There isn't many places in the 209 area, neighboring counties that have Jerk Chicken. Coming from the East Coast, I was very thrilled to find this spot. Friendly staff, quick to cook up, had it to go, definitely hit the spot with flavor. It was around $18 for the meal which I found for the portion to be a little steep as you see in the to go box pic. I understand the time and love that goes into it, just was expecting more sides tbh. Will be back :) ~more portion of the sides. There was only 3 plantains and maybe a little more rice and beans read more

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This was my second time at Cariblue, and once again, the food and service were top-notch! I ordered the Oxtail and Goat Curry with a side of Corn Festival everything was packed with flavor and cooked to perfection. It was my first time trying the Corn Festival, and the owner was so confident in it, they even guaranteed my money back if I didn't like it. Safe to say... I kept it and loved it! That kind of confidence and hospitality goes a long way. Great food, great service definitely one of my favorite spots! Highly recommend. read more

Cariblue Restaurant - Oxtail and goat curry - Caribbean Near Me - Modesto, California

The food was amazing! If you haven't tried this place yet, it's a must everything is flavorful, tender, and cooked perfectly. The ambience was great, and the service was so kind and welcoming. 10 out of 10 I'll definitely be returning! read more

Cariblue Restaurant - Oxtail and goat curry - Caribbean Near Me - Modesto, California

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I have been craving caribean food and I stop by my favorite place!!. As always food is on point, such a consistency in flavors and hospitality, highly recommend this place as I loved supporting our local mom and pops places. Thank you! read more

Cariblue Restaurant - Jerk Chicken and Oxtail - Caribbean Near Me - Modesto, California

Decided to try this place out and let me tell you we were NOT disappointed!! The food was absolutely amazing. We got 4 meals and had enough to share. Super fresh, hot & so much flavor. We can't wait to go back and try more items on the menu. (We wanted to dig in so quickly we forgot to take a pic) read more

Let me start off by saying that I would eat here alone based off the excellent customer service I have experienced every time. Items I have tried: Jerk chicken, jerk pork, curry shrimp, curry goat, plantains, pineapple cake. Curry goat melts in your mouth. Great recommendation by the owner. All combos come with rice and plantains. Everything was delicious. As an islander myself, these meals definitely hit the spot. I have only Doordashed so I cannot speak for the interior. Let's be real, every restaurant has an off day. This food is so yummy that even on an off day I will eat it and choose it every time. Glad to have you here as an option for those craving some Caribbean food or simply missing a piece of home. read more

Great location, the food was wonderful and the owner is so nice , he helped me to my truck because I had my little one . it's a cute vibe in this small location . It's a lil vacation from all the other things going on . read more

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So good! I got the goat curry and jerk chicken. Both were so good. The chef also brought out a hot sauce that was super spicy. Large portions, fast service, overall great experience. read more

Cariblue Restaurant - Goat curry and jerk chicken combo - Caribbean Near Me - Modesto, California

I ordered the jerk chicken, it was delicious! The owner was very friendly and accommodating, and the food came out quick as well. I can't way to come back and try different food. read more

Cariblue Restaurant - Jerk Chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Modesto, California

First time visiting and I highly recommend! The food was so good-great flavor, tender meat, and good sized portions. The service was impeccable-fast, courteous, and so nice. The restaurant was clean and friendly with a good vibe and music. Would definitely come back! read more

Cariblue Restaurant - Goat curry and jerk chicken combo - Caribbean Near Me - Modesto, California

Service - Excellent. I parked in front of the restaurant with metered parking but the meter was not working. After I ordered, I told the staff that I'll wait in the car in case a meter person comes. He was so kind to actually brought the food out to find me. This is what I called service. Food - 5/5. I ordered the oxtail with rice and fried plantains. The oxtail was very tender and flavorful. I wish there was a bigger scoop of rice for me to soak up all the sauces. read more

Cariblue Restaurant - Oxtail with rice and fried plantains - Caribbean Near Me - Modesto, California

Serving up delicious Oxtail rice & peas with plantain. And the curry goat is so tender, you can request a little bit of spiciness but go easy cause they have the heat. My husband enjoyed both plates. Oxtail for dinner Curry for brunch I had the bbq ribs rice & peas and I added a side of their festival's. 3 big pieces fresh out the fryer. The Best!! Place is clean and comfortable. Service is excellent always enjoy stopping in for a plate or 3. Those Oxtails keep us coming back! read more

Food was so good. Ox tail and goat curry were highlights. Highly recommend. Great service and good ambiance.

I couldn't wait to try the food at Cariblue because I had read two articles raving about the tasty food and the amazing chef that cooks it. We were not disappointed, the chef was very welcoming and knowledgeable about gluten free diets. The food came out fresh and steaming. My family tried 3 dishes all were so delicious, I can't wait to go back! read more

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This was honestly one of the worst restaurants I've ever had. As someone who has had real jerk chicken/fish this was not jerk. I don't even know what it was. It was incredibly overcooked to where it makes me wonder how many times it had been reheated. Chicken was crumbly and dry and rice tasted like the inside of a refrigerator. The ribs were horrendous as well, very old tasting and slathered in nasty barbecue sauce. The ox tails were okay but also tasted extremely overcooked and probably reheated a dozen times. I'm very confused at the pretty good reviews of this place because it was absolutely awful. Obviously the people in these reviews have never tasted how Caribbean food is actually supposed to taste. If I could give this zero stars I would. read more

Cariblue Restaurant - Jerk Chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Modesto, California