One of the first places I experienced when I moved here from Florida back in 2018 Recently came back eight years later & it tastes just as I remembered it. When I first moved to California, I didn't have stable income so I often avoided places that had servers to save money on tipping. This was one of those places. You order at the window, seat yourself, a runner will bring you your food but you have to get your own water, refill your own cup, fetch your own sauce at the counter, & also go up and ask for how many boxes you need to-go. While this could be seen inconvenient for some, it was a pro for me LOL It's not your "omg I'm going on a date, let me impress them" type meal. It's your "wow, I was out by the beach all day & I want something filling.. like rice + chicken" Think el pollo tropical but not a chain. I got the coconut fried chicken, yum. Great price for the portion you get, given everything in Santa Monica is really pricey. The space is dog friendly. I recommend taking your food to go & walk to the beach 5 minutes away. read more

Cha Cha Chicken - We dined in the patio & it's dog friendly ofc. They also have water bowls for the pups if you ask - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Monica, California

We lived near here in a rent-controlled dump in Santa Monica when this place first opened. We loved it then and we love it now. I just went yesterday with 2 other people on a Sunday afternoon and it was fairly empty. The decor is singularly vivacious, fun, and welcoming. The staff are warm. The food is delicious and not terribly expensive, and it comes out of the kitchen pretty quickly. We got a variety of dishes but we all got the nearly-candy caramelized plantains and rice. I also loved the fresh melon-guava agua fresca, which complemented the food perfectly. This is a great spot for a quick bite, a group meal, a gathering of friends, a post-beach meal, if you have little kids. It's just as delicious as a higher end place, but less precious, faster, and easier if you're sandy, casual, or spontaneous. They can also produce takeout quickly if you just want to pick up and eat at home. Keep them in business! Buen Provecho. read more

Yes it's double price of El Pollo Loco but it's twice as good! And I love El Pollo Loco for the simplicity and value. You're next to the beach, there's plentiful sauce and the chicken is succulent and spicy. Get the medium if you like HOT and if you like really hot get the hot! read more

Cha Cha Chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Monica, California

If you're anywhere near Santa Monica and craving something that hits you with bold flavor, laid-back vibes, and a little tropical escape on a plate--Cha Cha Chicken is absolutely the spot. This place isn't just a meal; it's a whole experience. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with a cheerful, colorful energy that instantly puts you in a good mood. The vibe is casual, funky, and full of personality--think beach shack meets Caribbean street food with a California twist. Now let's talk about the star of the show: the Coconut Fried Chicken. Honestly, this dish alone is worth the trip. The first bite is pure magic--Crispy coconut-battered golden-brown crust with juicy chicken inside served with sweet mango and jerk dipping sauce. It's crunchy and flavorful without being overwhelming. The coconut adds this unexpected tropical note that elevates it far beyond your typical fried chicken. Pair it with their sides (the dirty rice and potatos are a must), and you've got a plate that's comforting, exciting, and totally unforgettable. What makes Cha Cha Chicken stand out is how consistently it delivers on flavor while keeping things relaxed. The portions are generous, the spices are on point, and everything tastes like it was made with care--and a little bit of island-inspired love. It's the kind of food you find yourself craving again way too soon. Whether you're a local or just passing through Santa Monica, Cha Cha Chicken is a must-visit. It's fun, it's flavorful, and that Coconut Fried Chicken? Straight-up legendary. Only Downside - Pricey! read more

See all

Finally made it to cha cha chicken and can only say I wish I had come sooner. If your want a chill vibe, some outdoor seating, good chicken, and byob, then look no further. Their jerk chicken had good seasoning and their coconut fried chicken had good fry and was moist, even if the coconut flavor was very faint. Prices are fair given Santa Monica and the portion sizes and no charge to bring in your own drinks/beer. Service was nice. Public parking right outside which will be better since their own lot fits 2-3 cars. read more

Cha Cha Chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Monica, California

After a work conference, headed to Santa Monica for some R&R! A short walk away, through Yelp, found this pretty little gem. Walked right in and snagged a chicken enchilada and tostada combo! Sat on the patio and listened to reggae for a late solo lunch. Omg so good. I inhaled the enchilada, stuffed full of pulled chicken with a lovely citrusy spicy sauce that took me back to the island, mom. Don't sleep on the watermelon guava juice! So good! No alcohol but that's ok! Come here. Get some. Life is too short for boring food! Relax a moment and let the flavors take you on a little adventure. read more

Cha Cha Chicken - Chicken enchilada and tostada combo! So good! - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Solid Cuban / Latin / Caribbean spot in ocean park. Fun, colorful ambiance. Friendly and fast service. Good food but nothing special. Standard west LA prices (~$20 per entree). read more

Cha Cha Chicken - Chicken plate - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

This review is for an UberEats order. I rarely order delivery, but after failing at intermittent fasting, I had to order something. I work on Wilshire in Santa Monica, so I'm relatively close to Cha Cha Chicken. I appreciate that they used foil to keep the food warm, but there were no utensils included. Luckily, I had a fork at work. I ordered from Cha Cha Chicken specifically because I had a major chicken craving. I ordered the 1/4 Chicken with 2 Sides ($14.50) and chose the mixed mild and hot jerk sauce, which was quite nice. I think it leaned more towards mild, being sweeter than spicy, but I enjoyed it. It had a hint of spice, so I also ordered a small side of hot sauce ($1), which had a nice, smoky flavor without being overly hot. I'd definitely order this dish again, but next time I'd get 1/2 a chicken, as it wasn't very filling on its own. The dirty rice and beans were just okay, to be honest. Ordering rice and beans with plantains is a must when you order Caribbean food. The rice was a bit crunchy, almost undercooked, and the beans were hard, not tender at all. It could have been a bad batch. The plantains were excellent - I could have eaten a dozen! However, they were on the smaller side. I'm looking forward to visiting in person and trying some of their other dishes, especially the famous coconut fried chicken. read more

Cha Cha Chicken - 1/4 Chicken with 2 Sides $14.50 - UberEats Order - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Monica, California

The atmosphere is a mix of Caribbean and Latin vibes, exactly like the cuisine! They have big lotería cards on the table tops with Virgin Island/Bahamas license plates and colorful details all over the restaurant. It's not overdone, the colors and details are just right :) We were greeted and helped promptly. Although it was our first time and we had many questions, the lady was patient and had all the answers. We got the coconut fried chicken (1/4) and the cha cha chicken (1/4). Bathroom is around the back. The covered outdoor eating area has total island vibes. I will be back any time I'm in the area. So delicious! read more

See all

I was looking forward to trying this however it was very mid. We ordered the whole cha cha chicken à la Cart with sides- plantains, rice and beans, slaw and corn bread. The portion sizes for the sides were fairly small. They food comes out fast! Plenty of seating and street meet parking. Staff is friendly. read more

See all

Caribbean chicken and rice right by the beach. How can you go wrong? Small hole in the wall.

Love this happy funky beach restaurant. The homemade ginger beer is delicious as are the chocolate bananas ( frozen) the chicken and plantains, salmon, fish tacos - everything is so good!! Supper tho great restaurant read more

Cha Cha Chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

Delicious food at a reasonable cost in a primetime location near Santa Monica beach! Watched the sunset and walked over for dinner - the Ropa Vieja was tender, spicy, and delicious! The Cha Cha chicken was flavorful and juicy to the bone. Rice and beans were decent and plaintains were decent. The coconut chicken is nothing special but the jerk sauce helps add flavor. It's BYOB with Caribbean music and vibes. Highly recommend Mango guava and cucumber mint juices! read more

See all

Such a good little escape spot. The whole place has this ocean, getaway vibe with a nice breeze coming through, which made hanging out here feel effortless. The chicken was insanely juicy and flavorful. I went with the coconut breaded chicken and it hit perfectly, especially paired with the plantains. We also got a plate of chips to start, which was a solid move, and the smoothies were bomb and super refreshing. Service was great. The guy up front was really friendly and helpful and even jumped on video to welcome everyone into the shop, which was such a nice touch. The ambience really makes this place. Great location, relaxed coastal energy, and food that matches the vibe. One of those spots where you end up staying longer than you planned because you're just enjoying it. read more

4 stars for the ambiance, location to beach & great vibes! Absolutely love the location near the beach. Service was very quick. Order at the window & the food comes out fairly quick. There is only one bathroom, but the line moves quick and there is a changing table - huge win!!! Ordered the cheese quesadilla for my toddler. Pretty tasty. It usually comes with jerk chicken. I think I enjoyed the quesadilla more than my toddler. The jerk chicken enchiladas were pretty good. My husband inhaled his spicy enchiladas. They were SPICY! I could've used a pinch of salt or seasoning in my jerk chicken enchiladas. The plantains were great! We tried our friend's cha cha chicken. Pretty good & seasoned well!!! Would definitely go back and order the cha cha chicken. We also ordered the banana smoothie with chocolate. Excellent choice!!! Highly recommend!! read more

See all

This is hands down one of my favorite places to eat in Santa Monica. The space is cozy and outdoors, you can place your order at the register and the waitress will come out and give you the food. The restaurant is definitely self service vibes. They have a wide variety on the menu, my go to dish is the pepper shrimp with dirty rice and sweet plantains. The shrimp is cooked to perfection and the sauce is sweet with pieces of pineapple. The food is sooo good and totally worth checking out! read more

The food is very unique from any other place i have tried it's very good i do recommend the plantains the service is quick and the staff and friendly Ambiance is well themed and right next to the beach read more

Went here yesterday. Drove 40 minutes to get to Santa Monica and it was a huge disappointment. I ordered the salmon. My lady order the cha cha chicken and we shared a jerk chicken fajita. She also ordered a Ting(drink) this came out to nearly 70 dollars. The price would've been fitting if the portions were bigger and the food tasted better. Suffice to say I won't be going back. The best thing about th place was the music‍. I recommend avoiding cha cha chicken read more

Cha Cha Chicken - Her plate is the cha cha chicken. Mine is the salmon. You see how small my portions are - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Every dish I've tried on the menu is a 10/10. Jerk Chicken and Coconut Fried Chicken are stand outs. Been coming here for a decade and this place has never disappointed. Highly recommend. read more

Such a tasty spot, and a great place to go with a group! You order at a window and each person takes a number to the table. Food comes out very quickly. I ordered the jerk chicken combo which came with an enchilada, tostada, and plantains. The tortillas were fine, but the chicken was so flavorful! The plantains were the perfect balance on the side. I felt the food wasn't quite balanced, because certain aspects were fairly plain and the chicken was very spiced. Over all, it was an enjoyable meal and I felt very satisfied after. The prices include a cash discount, so be prepared to pay a little more with a card. After tax and tip, my plate was $22. Parking was fairly easy since there are tons of meters down the block. read more

See all

My daughter and I stopped in to Cha Cha Chicken after living in Los Angeles our entire lives and driving past it every day. I decided it was about time and I'm glad I did! I was very impressed by the colorful wall designs and the incredible service. I love that the owner, Elvira, stops by to ask how everything is. I could tell how much she cares about customer service which seems to be a bit of a lost art today. We ordered up at the counter and sat on the back patio. My daughter had the Cha Cha Chicken-oven roasted chicken with mildly spiced Jerk sauce with rice. The chicken was tender and flavorful and she really enjoyed it. I had the Mulato Cubano Sandwich with shredded chicken breast, cheese, lettuce, pickles, and mustard on a pressed Cuban baguette. The chicken was pull-apart tender. I also had a yummy grape soda. I'm so glad that we decided to stop in today. We will definitely be back to celebrate Cha Cha Chicken's 30th year in Santa Monica! read more

See all

Very cool shack vibes, felt like I was really transported to somewhere else. Portions are big. Tried 1/2 a chicken each of the cha cha chicken and coconut fried chicken. While good, I didn't think it was addicting enough to try again but it's a nice change of cuisine than most places in the Santa Monica area. The aquas frescas were truly refreshing I could taste 100% real fruit with no artificial flavoring. What stood out the most was the excellent service. Taking orders past their closing periods, despite customers giving them a hard time. They also didn't kick out people who were overstaying past closing either read more

See all

I had not had carribbean food in a while, saw this restaurant which looked like it had a really good vibe so decided to try it. I should have known we were in trouble when we were told when ordering they were out of plantains. My husband had the cha cha chicken, I tried the ropa vieja, and we had a side of empanadas. All three dishes were void of any flavor, very bland. Portions were also small. Flavorless food + small portions = $80+. Not worth the money. read more

I visited with my "restaurant class" from the Santa Monica Emeritus program. About 20 of us filled the colorful patio. I am a very plain and non adventuresome eater. I ordered three sides, chicken Empanada, potato coquette and side of sweet potatoes. I totally enjoyed all three of my choices. Around me was coconut chicken, lots of plates of dirty rice and plantains as part of the main dishes. The surroundings are so fun, sitting outside with bursts of Caribbean colors all around you. Even a Spanish bingo game of some sort under the glass on the table. I believe everyone had a good experience. read more

Drove by this place and was 100% taken in by the name and decor. Ordered the coconut fried chicken and it was fried to crispy, angelic perfection. It came with 2 sauces for dipping and I found myself cleaning those little cups not wanting to leave a single delicious drop behind. Rice and beans were light and fluffy with the rice cooked perfectly. Plantains were expertly fried and well caramelized. My friend got the black pepper shrimp and cleaned their plate as well. The worst part of the experience was having to decide what delicious thing I wanted to eat and not being able to try everything all at once. Absolutely going back so I can try the enchiladas. read more

Cha Cha Chicken - Heavenly coconut fried chicken and devilishly spiced shrimp - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I used to love this place. Yesterday was gorgeous outside, so I thought that the Caribbean vibe would have been perfect. The food is under seasoned and overpriced. We ordered the spicy shrimp with black beans and rice. The sauce was a 4 out of 10 for flavor and 2/10 for spice. Almost couldn't even taste the sauce outside of a little sweetness from the pineapple or mango or whatever those bits were. There were only five medium sized shrimp in the dish. We also got a 1/4 chicken with the mango sauce. I would give that flavor of 2/10 and the chicken thigh was rubbery. (They did give us a different thigh when I brought it back.) We only pull about two small bites off of the leg. The quantity of protein there was ridiculously small. They filled the plate with about $.75 full of rice, beans, shredded cabbage, and plantains. Check was $55 and we left hungry and to go get another lunch. I hope this was an off day for them, but definitely won't be going back anytime in the future. read more

As someone who has been coming to Santa Monica for decades from NYC, I can't go to the beach without first eating at Cha Cha Chicken. Food is fantastic, reasonably priced and the restaurant is still family-owned. An institution as far as I'm concerned. Go, enjoy the vibes and food, and most of all be happy. read more

Amazing food, lovely decor and seating area, reasonable prices for LA. Food came out within 5 minutes of ordering. We got the ropa vieja and the chicken enmoladas. UPDATE: Do not eat anything with Mole sauce if you are allergic to peanuts. We didn't know it had peanuts in it and had to ask two separate times to find out there are peanuts in the sauce (this information was only obtained by speaking in Spanish to the chef. the lady at the counter originally told us there were no peanuts in it the first time we asked, which is untrue) read more

Cha Cha Chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Definitely a unique experience. The line was long. That's how I noticed this eatery in the first place. There is a lot of "chicken" on the menu, but there are other items, too, if you look. I had the salmon special and chicken gumbo soup. Both turned out better than I expected. read more

We went on 6/18 and didn't realize that it was minutes before closing time we ordered the coconut fried chicken and ropa vieja plate which were delicious but the service was just as good. Jose our server was amazing and extremely attentive when we realized it was so late we immediately asked for our plates to be made to go and Jose offered to stay back so we could eat there, we will definitely be going back for such amazing food and service. read more

My friend and I stopped by for a quick last minute meal right before they closed at 8:30pm. Pretty solid and flavorful food and the outdoor patio was exactly what we wanted. Low-key & pretty. read more

Cha Cha Chicken - Jerk Combo - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

Great place! Cute design, awesome location and delicious food. I would definitely go back there!

The decor was so bright, colorful and happy. I was so excited upon seeing this place on a road trip that I made a U turn back and took on the mission of finding parking (quite difficult in the area.) All to get some coconut fried chicken, jerk turkey burger, plantains and sweet potato fries... Not sure if it was worth it. Maybe my expectations were too high from living in 'Little Carribean'. It was nice to try this out but whoever the chef was, was not using enough seasoning/spices. read more

I had heard a lot about this place beforehand, and I think it didn't quite meet the expectations set out by others. I had a quarter of medium spice cha cha chicken and I thought it was pretty good, but the sides were just ok. Honestly, the basic chips and dip were the second best thing I ate. I did really enjoy the cantaloupe agua fresca. Service was great! Cashier was nice and food came out very quickly. No complaints here. The ambiance is unique. Felt fun for our casual group lunch, but I think it would've been a little more of a party vibe at dinner. Overall, solid experience but not quite as amazing as others had pitched it to me. read more

3.5/5 The ambiance and decor was the only thing that really sold me about Cha Cha. It gives off a cute bungalow vibe, but other than that the food was mid. I liked the pieces of coconut that were mixed into the batter, but the dish was lacking in spice. The corn was not sweet at all and tasted mushy. The pricing is also quite high for the portions they give. read more

Cha Cha Chicken - outdoor patio seating - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

Taste was ok.I went here for lunch and it would be nice to place the price for dishes up on the posters in the restaurant.I did ask to see a menu due to being gluten free and they did have enough items on the menu that were gluten free, which was nice. The price on the menu handed to me and what I was charged was different though and I did mention that and it was unclear why but I just paid it as I wasn't given a clear explanation.Maybe due to inflation ‍.I would have expected a bit more in my plate for the $18.95 that I paid for.I ordered the Ropa Vieja read more

The food is delicious and the strawberry mint lemonade is to die for. The coconut fried chicken is always very tasty and served with black beans, rice, plantains, and purple cabbage cole slaw. Support your local family business.... Whenever I am in Santa Monica I go to this restaurant for some delicious food. The location is beautiful too...it is only a block away from the beach boardwalk and the views are beautiful. read more

Tasty food fast . Right between the beach and main street. Super friendly window staff.

Fun and flavorful spot! The jerk chicken is always tender with that perfect kick, and the coconut fried chicken is a must-try crispy, sweet, and addicting. The portions are big, the sauces are amazing, and the outdoor colorful setup just adds to the vibe. Service is friendly, the food comes out fast, and everything tastes super fresh. Great place for a casual, flavorful meal near the beach. read more

Came here right after surfing at Santa Monica beach and loved the tropical, beachy ambiance of the restaurant. The chicken was cooked perfectly and was very tender and juicy. Order at the counter and then the food gets delivered to your table. Wide array of sides you can choose to come with the cha cha chicken platter, and they let me get fruit as one of the sides which was so refreshing. read more

Cha Cha Chicken - Cha cha chicken, chicken hash, coconut fried chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Monica, California