A recent evening while wanderlusting in Chicago, I suggested Garifuna Flava because I'd heard amazing things about it. My fellow traveling house heads trusted my foodie instincts, but there was a little skepticism until our rideshare driver gave it his enthusiastic vote of confidence! Garifuna Flava is a Black-owned restaurant celebrating the rich flavors and traditions of Belizean, Caribbean, Latin, and Indigenous Garifuna cuisine. The restaurant isn't fancy, yet it is warm, welcoming, and one of the owners even took time to share the history of the Garifuna people with one of my friends. And making the experience even more authentic was the soundtrack of Caribbean and reggae music, which had us swaying, singing along, and feeling right at home like a spot in the Caribbean or Brooklyn. As for the food, it was DELISH! I enjoyed tender oxtails with yams, fried sweet plantains, rice, and stew beans. It was comfort food that tasted like a home-cooked meal. A nice cold Ting was the perfect pairing. I couldn't resist sampling a dining partner's shrimp dish, which was also flavorful. Garifuna Flava is located in Chicago Lawn, often referred to locally as Marquette Park on Chicago's Southwest Side. The neighborhood is home to the beautiful 323-acre Marquette Park, designed by the Olmsted Brothers (sons of the designer of Central Park), and holds an important place in the city's civil rights history. Thank you, Garifuna Flava, for a delicious meal and a cultural experience I'll remember. I'll definitely be back. But don't just take my word for it, go experience the yummyliciousness for yourself! Mmmm... #BonAppetit! Cheers! read more

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I finally had the chance to visit Garifuna Flava in Chicago Lawn, and it was an amazing first experience with Belizean cuisine! Everything was packed with flavor. The oxtails were tender, the jerk chicken was delicious, and the rice and plantains were the perfect sides. I also really enjoyed the fish empanadas--they were a pleasant surprise. The only thing that wasn't my favorite was the potato salad, but that's just because I'm very picky about potato salad, so that's no fault of the restaurant. The restaurant has plenty of seats, and is great for a date night. Considering how much goes into cooking this food, the service is quite fast. If you're in the Chicago Lawn area and looking to try something new, I definitely recommend stopping by Garifuna Flava. I'll definitely be back! read more

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Years ago, Garifuna used to have a pop-up in the lobby of the building where I worked. I liked the offerings and the food was always a hit. I had never been to the brick-and-mortar location until now. I stopped in one Sunday afternoon to a restaurant that was not busy on the inside. I noticed there was a steady stream of individuals coming in for carryout. Nevertheless, I had a sit-down so that I could try a few items. I ordered the Belizean appetizer sampler. This came as panades, garnaches, and conch fritters. I liked the panades, which were corn patties stuffed with buffalo fish. They were nice and flavorful. The garnaches reminded me of Venezuelan tostadas. I think that what was a miss for this dish was the drizzle of ketchup. Since I stopped using condiments from grocery stores, the flavor of such tends to ruin dishes for me. I liked the conch fritters. I would order those by the bagful just to have for snacks. My main dish was the stew chicken with rice and beans and a side of plantains. Surprisingly, this was more like baked chicken. There was no hint of cumin, cloves, or garlic. There were no tomatoes. There wasn't a sauce or a gravy. There was flavor, of which I give them that, but the same stew that I've had in Belize and in my Belizean friends' home was not served here. It very well may be that the dish prepared here simply differs from that which I have had before. It wasn't a bad thing. Not everyone prepares every dish the same way. read more

Garifuna Flava - Belizean Appetizer Sampler - Caribbean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Today was one of those days where I needed a GOOD meal. I'm talking it feels like love is in the food and I am so happy that I chose Garifuna! I grabbed the 2 meat, 3 side special which included: stewed chicken, jerk chicken, rice and peas, cabbage and plantains. There's a solid amount of food and I'm going to be eating on this over the next two days. There's rice and peas were incredibly flavorful, moist and had a hint of spice. The stewed chicken's skin was falling off! That's how tender it was and I love anything with bell peppers and onions. The cabbage was solid with great crunch. Sometimes it can get too mushy, but this didn't. The plantains were just right!! Great palate cleanser as I transitioned to the jerk chicken! And the jerk chicken was a hit!!! Good amount of spice and flavor! And juicy! I also had extra jerk sauce on the side. Hmmmm I honestly enjoyed both chickens and would say if you're unsure of which to get, just get both... you'll definitely order from here again lol I ordered through uber eats and naturally was PRAYING that my order was correct and it was. A nice hefty serving and of course I also have a slice of the caramel cake. Mannn this slice of cake is so dang delicious. The two miles that I run tomorrow for this will be so worth it! This hit the spot and was the meal I needed after the day that I've had! read more

Garifuna Flava - Caramel Pound Cake - Caribbean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ordered delivery through Uber Eats and everything was well packed with Saran Wrap to ensure nothing spilled. I have know of this place for years just have not been able to go and didn't live in the delivery zone until now. I got the oxtail with 3 side meal (rice n beans, split peas n white rice, and plantains). I also got a large mac n cheese, candied yams and an order of the Belizean stewed chicken. Delivery came earlier than expected and the food was great. Can't wait to come in person to try a lot of other items. Little pricey but great quality, great tasting food. read more

Garifuna Flava - Caribbean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food is amazing. I've had them catered at UChicago. I was glad to return and try new menu items read more

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Amazing food, nice little place to sit and eat. Parking is on the side or on the street. I have always experienced good, friendly service. Call first to see if they are open, the hours seem to fluctuate a little bit. read more

Garifuna Flava - Jerk Chicken Special - Caribbean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I like this restaurant a lot, and we often get it for lunch at my job. I will say we have noticed that the food tastes better on Thursday for some reason. I'm not sure who the cook is on that day. I have had the dark jerk chicken, the beef patty, and the plantains. The food is good. The sauce for the jerk chicken is spicy! The service depends on how busy they are. At times, the food would be ready when I came to pick it up, but other times I would have to wait a few minutes. The lady at the pickup counter is always really nice. There is space inside to sit down inside, but I always order take out. I believe they serve liquor as well. read more

I was in town for a few days and I wanted some good Caribbean food. Saw this restaurant had hundreds of good reviews so my friend ordered us delivery but I ended up extremely disappointed. The jerk chicken I received was completely undercooked, actually raw in the middle. Because it was delivery, it was even more frustrating to discover once it arrived. For the price and the reputation, I expected much better. I hope they improve their cooking standards but even so, I won't be ordering again. read more

Garifuna Flava - Caribbean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Nah! I thought this was a great choice. I had seen the reviews and pictures before ordering and thought this was a great choice. I ordered my regular Stewed chicken and was disappointed when I received baked Chicken read more

I wouldn't say best in Chicago, more like it got the job done. The mashed potatoes taste like they may have come from a box & the yams might have been from a can. Very mid IMO. read more

The restaurant is humble and unassuming, but the food is incredible. I had never had food from Belize before. As the sign explained you can see and taste the mix of Caribbean and African inspiration. I got the chicken stew and my boyfriend got the jerk chicken. The flavors were so well balanced. You can tell lots of time and love went into the food. I also had a delicious pineapple coconut smoothie that was a like a perfectly balanced sweet virgin pina colada. The side of rice and beans reminded me of arroz con gandules and was one of my favorite parts. The potato salad was also really good with the perfect amount of mayonnaise. So glad I discovered this gem! read more

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This food is so disgusting. The jerk chicken was good but this stew and rice and cabbage was nasty. Is this possum stew??? The cashier was extremely nice. The restaurant is clean and there is a lot of space to sit. This particular meal is a no for me read more

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This is an excellent place to eat and cater. A relative loved them and we had them cater his memorial and they came thru with flying colors. They delivered to the far south suburbs, in Friday rush hour traffic, set up and the food was superb. It was great and everyone loved it. They also supplied the napkins, flatware and dessert, which was a hit. My relative wasn't wrong and I wish he was alive to have had some. A must establishment to eat at. Don't miss out. read more

We ordered for Mother's Day. The food was delicious. We did a carry out. The staff is very polite. I would give it. 5 stars

Great food, drinks and service. Food is fresh. hot and perfectly seasoned; and, you get a lot. I tried their Belize Long Island and I found me a new drink. This is a business that cares about their products (food) and service. You don't see much of this today. read more

Garifuna Flava - Jerk chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've eaten at the Garifuna Flava restaurant and loved the food and vibes in the past, so when I needed to cater an event for work, where we were inviting a Caribbean writer, I reached out to them. The service was excellent. Ordering online was a breeze, they arrived on time for delivery and setup, and the food was delicious! I came with Tupperware hoping to take some food home, but the guests gobbled it all up. Really fantastic all around. I will bring my mother next time. read more

BELIZE/CARIBBEAN FOOD HEAVEN. My friend lived near Southside for years and on a return trip to Chicago this was the only restaurant he really wanted to go to. Owner Hussein Castillo opened GF during 2008 and despite those years of recession and all the difficult times since it's survived and grown because of the excellent quality and absolute passion they put into every dish. Normally I would say a couple things are must orders but everything we got was a must order. Panades: Corn patties packed with sauteed buffalo fish and garnished with a sweet (or spicy) cabbage slaw. Super delicious, loved it with spicy slaw, fish quality very good. Conch Fritters: The first time I've ever had conch and it was delicious, it was like a more mild abalone. Tasted great in the crispy fried batter and special spice blend. Jerk Chicken: Known as Chicago's best and I can see why. It's slow roasted with real flame giving it a distinct smoke taste that a lot of jerk chicken places is lacking. Stewed oxtail: Super good, can be cut with a spoon and the difficult to render cartilage is soft and pleasant and not hard and chewy. Interior has a very cozy home kitchen, humble vibe that made dinner with friends more intimate and relaxed, I will be back. read more

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One of the best Belizean restaurants in the city, consistently since it opened over a decade ago. I absolutely love their stew chicken! Definitely a gem on the south side. read more

When you've been raised on Belizean food by your Monma and got a restaurant that is just as good like you are back in her kitchen, that is as good as it gets! read more

Food was pretty good, I would definitely give them a return visit if in ever in the area again

The first time I've had them my friend ordered large pans for an event. I remember it being some of the best jerk I'd ever had. This past Thursday I ordered pick up. I ordered the jerk wings, rice and peas, plantain, 1/2 jerk bird, Mac and cheese, sweet potatoes, and 2 beef patties. The food was all ready and packed when we arrived for pick up. The restaurant was very clean. There was no indoor seating available due to a Covid. When we got home we immediately opened the food. The chicken and rice and peas were our favorite along with the beef patties. The chicken had a really good spiced heat and flavor. The rice and peas were very tasty as well. I feel the food was a good amount for the dollar value and delivered in quality. read more

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Wow..... been eating here off and on for years and the quality and taste of the food has been really subpar recently. Literally nothing on my recent order tasted anything like their normal quality and the Mac and cheese was just horrible. What happened here? I had the food about a month ago and it was decent not the best but still acceptable. Unfortunately they seem to be on a decline. This makes me sad. read more

Garifuna Flava - Caribbean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been hearing about this place for months and kept saying I was going to go here and today was the day. I can say I am glad I did! Let me start off by saying the lady at the counter was nice and very welcoming. I ordered the Panades which were full of flavor, I just wish they were a little crisper but super good, I also ordered the jerk chicken, stew chicken with rice and peas, mac and cheese and cabbage. Both jerk and stew chicken was really really good along with the rice and peas. The Mac was just ok and the cabbage was so so, it was lacking flavor . The star of the show is definitely the jerk chicken, I wait to go back because I really want to try the oxtails which I heard was phenomenal. read more

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Good food , great location, great environment people friendly overall fantastic Will be back read more

Tender, fall off the bone jerk chicken was super flavorful. The jerk sauce was great. Rice and peas were good also but would personally get something other than the fried plantains next time. Will definitely be coming back next time I'm in Chicago. read more

Garifuna Flava - Jerk Chicken (Plus 2 Sides) - Caribbean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My first time trying this restaurant and not the last. I ordered the conch fritters, jerk chicken with rice & peas, plantains, mac & cheese and caramel cake. Everything was smoked perfectly and seasoned well. The fritters were delicious I've never had them before, but the sauce was too spicy for me. My cake was a bit dry, but overall I was very happy with my meal. read more

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I wanted to like this place since I spent a lot of time getting it, but at the same time I'm sort of relieved that I did not. It's quite far out of the way and the wait adds even more time. I tried the following: - Chicken quarter: texture felt like it was a bit overcooked - Jerk wings: overly salty, possible bad batch (?) Sides: - jerk sauce: kind of strange, seems like it's homemade and has a consistency of a salsa. Not as sweet and spicy as I'm used to - rice and beans: rice was a tad soggy not bad - fried plantains: was okay - candied yams: was okay - potato salad: first time trying this style potato salad, it was interesting - Mac and cheese: it was terrible, the Mac was a bit soggy and the cheese seemed powdery Like I mentioned, the service was a bit slow since there seemed to be a lot of orders and only 2 people working. We placed our order online and came about 30 mins after (per order ready confirmation). Once we got there the employee asked for our order and then began to work on it. This added about 20 mins more. I don't mind waiting extra for good food but today was not my lucky day A bit disappointed in my meal, but glad I do not have to go so far to stop by my favorite jerk place. read more

Randomly stopped here and was not disappointed. I got the jerk white white meat dinner with Mac & cheese and cabbage. Also got a veggie patty (wouldn't try again), caramel pound cake (so good) and we got two cocktails to go and they were pretty good. The food took about 15-20 minutes but we didn't mind and the employee was very nice. I do wish the jerk sauce was spicier but I'd easily come here again. read more

Garifuna Flava - Jerk Chicken (Plus 2 Sides) Mac & Cheese Steamed Cabbage - Caribbean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Super delicious Caribbean and Belizean cuisine. The food is always fresh, and there are some inside tables for dining in. A Black-Owned business and the community loves this restaurant. read more

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My first taste of Garifuna was when they had catered our lunch. I had the Jerk chicken, stewed chicken, beans and rice and Caribbean steamed cabbage! It was all very flavorful and melt in your mouth! Hold up! I didn't even get to the real star of the show which was the caramel cake! Omg! I didn't want a slice, give me the whole freakin cake! If you have a sweet tooth, make sure to save some room for dessert! read more

Garifuna Flava - Caribbean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I had seen this place pop on a variety of "best xyz restaurants in Chicago", and finally got the chance to try it out recently through Uber Eats. It did not disappoint! I ordered the 1/2 Jerk Chicken with 2 sides. The Jerk Chicken was absolutely perfect- it had that complex intense smoky, spicy flavor that makes jerk chicken so addicting. The meal also came with extra jerk sauce on the side, which added extra kick to the whole meal. The chicken was cooked perfectly; the inside was tender and juicy, and the outside was crispy but not too overcooked. For my sides, I ordered the fried plantains and the rice&beans. You definitely have to try the rice&beans- it's a classic side and compliments the heat of the jerk chicken. It also comes with a savory gravy like sauce on the side. I loved the fried plantains, another classic item. They were crispy on the outside, and had that irresistible caramelized sweet taste. Overall, this place has great bang for buck, and the food itself is really good. They've been featured on a number of websites/videos (including Chicago's Best), and it's really cool to read about the story of the owner's family and the Garifuna people. This place is definitely a true gem on Chicago's South Side! read more

Garifuna Flava - 1/2 Jerk Chicken with 2 sides (Rice&Beans, Fried Plantains). Great value and the best jerk chicken I've had! - Caribbean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

There's a lot of stuff on the menu I haven't tried, because for me the jerk chicken, the beef patties, and the fried plantains are so delicious and satisfying that it's hard to risk it by ordering anything else. (You can order online for delivery too.) read more

Food was amazingly delicious! Well seasoned and cooked to perfection! The cake was thick and light at the same time!

The food ridiculously good Omg I order 3 jerk chicken with 3 sides cabbage yams and macaroni not a fan of Mac But everything else was excellent I arrived it a gentleman solo but straight handling it Either your food was ready or bring packaged hot and fresh Love it read more

My husband has been wanting to check out this place (a few Sundays ago, they weren't open), so tonight we finally ordered takeout from Garifuna. I ordered the 3 jerk tacos, and he ordered a vegetable plate with 2 sides (rice & beans, and fried plantains). He also had a beef patty, and the food was good. The jerk sauce was a bit too spicy for me by the time I was done with my second taco, and also they use styrofoam packaging. I ordered a strawberry smoothie not pictured here because it actually broke and spilled all over my floor after just 1 sip. I was so disappointed. The lid didn't even have a hole for me to insert my straw, so I had to remove the lid completely. If we were to come back, we'll just have to dine in, so we don't have to deal with styrofoam packaging failing us. read more

Garifuna Flava - Vegetarian Plate (2 Sides) and Beef Patty - Caribbean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I love Caribbean food and have been searching for a go to place since relocating to Chicago from Atlanta. In my neighborhood (south loop/printers row) the places are overpriced and ehh. I found this place while making a Uber eats delivery. On the outside, it looked like a quaint little hole in the wall and something told me that the food was hitting so I drove the 20 mins back to give it a try. Mannnnnn. That food was so good! I ordered the whole jerk wings with rice and peas, cabbage, candied yams, and plantains. The rice and peas was different than I'd had before. It had this really great flavor and the beans were indistinguishable from the rice, like a beany rice, not mushy, but It would have taken a lot of effort to separate them. YOU KNOW the chicken is good when you don't need any sauce. It smelled so good that I had to taste everything in the car so here I am, tearing apart those juicy whole wings, and my lips were on FI-YA but they were so good that I gladly accepted the heat. The cabbage was cool, and the candied yams were pretty good and the plantains were on the less sweet side. I would definitely go back! It was also really cool reading the history of the Garifauva people while waiting in line. I was curious where the name of the restaurant came from so it was nice to get that effortlessly answered read more

Garifuna Flava - Jerk Wings (6 - Whole) Plus 3 Sides - Caribbean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Take me to Belize! This Belizean food spot is a gem hidden in the Chicago lawn area and apparently the only spot in Chicago offering Belizean food. Stopped in for lunch on a thurs and was not busy. Lady at the front was informative, she said popular dish was the jerk chicken and that her fav was the Belizean chicken stew. Decided to go with the 1/4 jerk chicken plus 2 sides, chose plantains and Mac n cheese for sides. And decided on coconut tarts(3) for dessert. Portions were huge, bang for ur buck for sure. Got the dark meat and it was so flavorful and cooked to perfection. Meat literally slide off the bones. The jerk sauce on side was a nice addition of spice to the dish. Plantains were tasty as well, nice and soft inside, were missing a crunchy exterior if that's what ur into, overall added nice sweetness to the overall plate. Mac and cheese was good but a bit too oily. Coconut tarts were amazing! Seemed like they baked them fresh per order, came out nice and hot. Filling had true coconut. Would pair perfectly with some ice cream or coffee. I'll be back to try the stew and other items. Def give this Caribbean joint a try, u won't regret it! read more

Garifuna Flava - 1/4 Jerk Chicken (Plus 2 Sides) - Caribbean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I ordered an Oxtail plate with 3 sides it came out to $36.00 and some change . The portions are so small . And no gravy on the oxtails . Just dry oxtails over rice . No side sauces included either . I will not be ordering again. If someone is going to pay almost $40 for food with no drink , no sauce on the meat, I do not think it was worth the drive or the hype. It said stew oxtails but where is the stew sauce gravy ? Very small pieces too . Extremely disappointed. read more

Garifuna Flava - Oxtail plate with Stew Oxtails Plus 3 Sides . It says stew oxtails but where is the stew ? - Caribbean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

From the rave reviews, I just knew I wouldn't be disappointed...no I feel like I must have missed something. Although my friend was very pleased with her food, the jerk chicken (very spicy, be aware), the plantains (sweet and succulent), and the yams (excellent). I was less pleased with the King fish (very dry & tough) and the mac & cheese (cheesy and tasteless mush). BUT!!! The potatoes salad was to die for, and the long island iced tea...the best I've had. Ended the meals with the infamous carmel cake...it was ok too. The service was excellent and while I probably don't have to go back, I'm sure all the great reviews are an honest opinion. My opinion and taste buds are apparently different... read more

Garifuna Flava - The Bill - Caribbean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois