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    Island Express

    4.4 (218 reviews)
    InexpensiveCaribbean, Bakeries
    Open 9:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Order Island Express Takeout or Delivery

    Island Express Photos

    Business Info

    ISLAND EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - Island Express

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    Reviews With Photos

    Sandy L.

    My husband was in the neighborhood and picked up some patties: chicken & beef and some pastries with pineapple & currants. I really enjoyed the pastries especially the pineapple flavored because it reminds me of the Taiwanese pineapple cakes. It's not as much pineapple as a Taiwanese pineapple cake but just as good!

    Jamaican Beef Patty
    Thecookingchapter

    Our first of trying Guyanese flavors and we are so glad we chose the right place. Absolutely loved the beef and chicken patties. Next was Roti wrap with chicken curry. It was so delicious we couldn't wait to capture it. Flavorful, just the right consistency. Their Service is quick, place is neat and clean. Totally loved the food here. I would travel one n a half hour again to have food here. Delicious!

    Jamaican Chicken Patty
    Reema S.

    We popped by here yesterday to get some food and were greeted promptly. They were out of a lot of things we wanted to try but we still managed to snag some jerk chicken patties and a guava tart. Female cashier was not as friendly but the rest of the staff was super helpful and kind. The jamaican chicken patty was so delicious! The crust was buttery and crispy and flaky, and the filling was ample and generous and well seasoned. Chicken tasted fresh and moist and the flavors were OUTSTANDING!! I will definitely be back to try more of their stuff!

    Powdered Milk Fudge... it's delicious!
    Cassie C.

    This is Sybil's 2.0! I was absolutely disappointed when Sybil's closed its location on Church And Flatbush Avenues but was elated to see the grandkids open up Island Express. I have only purchased the bread and a few pastries which have always been on point. The shining star is their bread especially Plat Bread which is solid while still being moist. It remains soft for several days after purchase and goes great with Pepper Pot around Christmas. I occasionally get a bag of Tennis Rolls or Salara just to change it up. A honorable mention goes out to their Pine Tart aka Pineapple Tart for being the perfect balance of a flaky crust and fresh pineapple filling. I must admit that I definitely don't visit here as much as I would like. I also never had their cooked food either because I'm very particular about my Guyanese food. Here are the items that I highly recommend: Any of their breads; Fudge; Pine Tart; Guyanese Patties; Cheese Roll.

    Peas and Rice
    Bloss C.

    I organize a weekly lunch for my office and the lunch from Island Express was the most popular so far. Many people asked where the food was from and/or told me how good it was. As a pescatarian I appreciated how many dishes I could try: shrimp curry, vegetable curry, peas and rice, and veggie curry cocktail patties. For the omnivores we had beef cocktail patties, oxtail, and jerk chicken as well. The only dish we ordered that wasn't a universal favorite were the fish cakes. 10 out of 10 would recommend Island Express, especially if you are looking for a crowd-pleaser.

    Wesley K.

    I used to live by here and one day felt the need to try the lunch special. It was filling for me as the portion size was perfect. Some people think the portion is small, but for the price it is fair. I got the curry stewed chicken which came with rice and channa masala. I also ordered a Jamaican beef patty ($2.50) which also hit the spot. I would come back if I was in the area as the food was delicious. Also the workers were super nice which is not always the case. I was overcharged ($6.90) for the lunch special, but I think the menu board was just not updated with the correct price.

    Oxtail with Rice and Peas
    Ga Hing C.

    Was craving Caribbean food and saw this place online. Placed an order for delivery and the food came super fast and warm. The food was very flavorful and hit the spot. Cravings satisfied! Ordered the oxtail with rice and peas and plantain and the jerk chicken with rice and peas and channa (chickpeas). Both were very delicious, but my favorite was the oxtail, fall-off bone oxtail pieces! The jerk chicken was also very good. I also tried their beef patties. I love beef patties and this has to be one of the best beef patties I've ever had! I am definitely coming back for those patties and the oxtail!!

    Goat curry Pouri Wrap

    This is my new favorite lunch spot in Brooklyn. I've been coming in for goat roti with okra on my lunch break and it's the best part of my day. I seriously woke up this morning thinking about this curry. All the staff are warm and attentive, the food is reasonably priced with generous portions, and everything is so flavorful. The interior and seating areas are spacious, clean, and comfortable. The salt fish and fish cakes are great too! I'm gonna try everything here before long. Gina, the owner, is a gem and incredibly kind. This is a family business with a lot of history that you can feel great about supporting. I always leave happy and full. Can't say enough positive things about Island Express.

    Shrimp curry pouri
    Kiana M.

    Was here yesterday (9/4/21) for a day shopping trip to NY from Boston... Had to stop and get some Caribbean food cause I'm Trini and I'm in BROOKLYN! This spot was nice and clean. Loved how they still follow the COVID guidelines whether you're vaccinated or not (6ft markers + mask requirements). I ordered the shrimp curry pouri roti and my kiddo ordered the beef patty with coco bread (she wanted it with cheese but they don't have that way... maybe it's a Boston thing?!) My curry shrimp pouri roti tasted good, but honestly, didn't have much filling for the price so I deducted a star. It was good tho, just dry. I would say if you're visiting for the first time, definitely try this spot out. I'll definitely be back to Brooklyn, but want to try other spots!

    Goat Curry roti

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    8 months ago

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    Gina M.

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    We love island express. We get it for all our events. Decent and dependable but weirdly closed on sundays now.

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    Gina M.

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    2 years ago

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    Gina M.

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    4 years ago

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    Gina M.

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    3 years ago

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    Gina M.

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    3 years ago

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    Gina M.

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    Gina M.

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    1 year ago

    SO GOOD! Nice service, delicious food, and all at an affordable price! Yum! Would eat here every week if I could.

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    Gina M.

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    1 year ago

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    Gina M.

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    1 year ago

    Food tastes great every time. Very good customer service. Small place for eating in but I believe most people takeout.

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    Gina M.

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    2 years ago

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    Gina M.

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    Gina M.

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    7 years ago

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    Gina M.

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Food was amazing. Very friendly staff. Got the chicken curry. Would going again, and again!

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    Gina M.

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    5 years ago

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Island Express

    Are the beef & chicken patties made in house, or frozen?

    Supposedly it is made in house. I gotten the beef patties last time, and I thought they were just average.

    Do you offer any vegan options?

    Yes. Absolutely.

    View All 4 Questions

    The Islands - Oxtail

    The Islands

    (834 reviews)

    $$

    Prospect Heights, Crown Heights

    Something about Caribbean food when the winter weather's frigid sounds dandy to me. Guess if you…read morecan't be somewhere tropical, eating tropical cuisine sure helps. Enter The Islands. It was sort of an odd time so the spacious restaurant wasn't very busy. We studied the menu for too long and after much deliberation, here's what we ordered, in order of spice level: - Oxtail ($35): Not spicy, super flavorful, "Trimmed and sliced chunks of oxtail seasoned freely with fresh spices and simmered to tender perfection." - Curry goat ($29): Mildly spicy, "Goat meat marinated and cooked in curry spices and herbs makes this an exotic dish." - Jerk chicken ($20): Apparently incredibly spicy so I steered clear of it, "A Jamaican delight. Spicy, delicious chicken baked with this unique combination of spices from the island." The dishes I could handle were excellent, with no drop of sauce left unmopped. On the sides front, the rice and beans, roti, steamed vegetables, and plantains were all tasty. The entree sizes were hearty. Our server seemed like a cool dude: easygoing with a sense of humor. It was kind of chilly in the restaurant, not sure if we were in a warmth dead zone or what. The bathroom was frog-themed which was a cute touch!

    "Deep in Brooklyn, hides the Caribbean"…read more Came here on sleepy Tuesday. Not many people in the restaurant but lots of take out going on. The friendly one woman staff helped seat us, recommend the dishes, made the drinks, prepped and served the food. It was all tasty. What's to cheer - Nice not to too sweet homemade rum punch - Solid, flavorful oxtail. Very island spiced and cooked well - Goat was also really strong - Reasonable prices - service with personality What's to jeer - they were out of the jerk chicken unfortunately which I really wanted to try - place is pretty low key and not swimming with ambience

    Kokomo

    Kokomo

    (1.1k reviews)

    $$$

    Williamsburg - North Side

    I will start by saying I love the ambiance of Kokomo. Staff here is always friendly and music is…read morealways great during service and after hours. Food took entirely too long to come out. 40 minutes for an appetizer is crazy... Once they arrived, they were all tasty. I wish I took photos of the food. We ordered the curry crab gyoza which was so flavorful and the ackee and saltfish shumai. The oxtail flatbread is very large and lots of meat. They don't skimp out. Biang biang Rasta noodles is served with oyster mushrooms (so good) and peppers. I added shrimp to mine. Very tasty and filling. But keep in mind that the noodles are not penne and they are I think fettuccine They must do better on their serving time. The restaurant was crowded. But it would be nice to have the expectation set that there will be a long wait.

    Went here for brunch with friends because the vibes looked great and reviews were solid. We had a…read morereservation right when they opened, but they were running about 20 minutes late -- not the best start. Once seated though, the space is beautiful. We were in a sunlit room and it really set the mood. Our server was great, and we ordered family-style. Just a heads up, they have a separate "Sunday drunch" menu so options are a bit limited. For apps, we got the curry crab gyoza which was a very small portion (6/10) and the roasted mushroom truffle flatbread which was the highlight of the meal (8.5/10). For mains, we tried the biang biang Rasta noodles with salmon (6/10) and the sofrino roasted chicken (5/10). Both were a bit underwhelming. I've heard their drinks are great but we didn't try any. Food-wise, I was a little disappointed, but still had a great time catching up with friends.

    Stella's - Rice and Peas

    Stella's

    (182 reviews)

    $$

    Park Slope

    Really yummy food. Great service! And such a lovely Caribbean vibe. I highly recommend the dinner…read morefor two option. There's a great amount of food and everything is presented so beautifully. The oxtail was everyone's favorite. Cooked to perfection. Melt in your mouth. The curry goat was finished first so that'll give you an idea of how delicious it is. The fritters were a great app and pumpkin soup was delicious too.

    We were craving Caribbean food and I've been curious about trying this spot out for a while so when…read moremy husband suggested it was an easy Yes! I had their passion fruit lemonade which was refreshing and not overly sweet. For my entree I ordered their oxtails and rice and peas on the side. Their oxtails were cooked perfectly, the meat was falling off the bones. I would like it to be a bit more spicy and some more Lima bean but maybe thats just my own preference. When I asked for some spice the server brought us some pepper sauce which was exactly what I needed! My sister tried their jerk wings and mac and cheese. Their Mac and cheese is WOW. Definitely recommend! I didn't try their wings but I tried the sauce that comes with the wings and it had a lovely kick to it. For dessert we shared the Plantain Paradise and the ice cream paired so great with the plantains. It was vanilla ice cream but didn't taste like regular vanilla ice cream.. it had a nice rich texture . Service was great, the music was nice and although it was a bit cold in there they had a blanket per table which I thought was a cool concept.

    The Simpson Restaurant & Bar - BK - Mac & cheese

    The Simpson Restaurant & Bar - BK

    (553 reviews)

    $$$

    Fort Greene, Prospect Heights

    The moment we walked in, I knew we were in for an amazing culinary experience. It was my birthday…read moreweekend, and we were in New York for an extended stay. For my hubby, Brooklyn is home - and we always love exploring the new places the city has to offer when we visit. We had reservations, and were seated within 10 minutes, which was reasonable. The place was packed - everyone was in high spirits, and I was ready to taste some of the best Caribbean cuisine in the region. My hubby's best friend - a Brooklyn resident, joined us. He had been to the restaurant a few times - and had good things to say. We were not disappointed. I had the Brown Stew Red Snapper - *chef's kiss*. Hubby had the iconic Jerk Oxtail over Macaroni & Cheese Pie! The English language cannot convey the beauty of that combination! Tender, tender oxtail, falling off the bone with the creamy, cheesy mac & cheese! He wanted to savor that dish another day, so he got a to-go bag and took it back to the hotel! (I couldn't help but clean my plate - I was obsessed with the fish!) Our friend enjoyed the Hennessy Fried Shrimp (not pictured) - one of his favorite dishes at the restaurant. It looked delicious as well. For drinks, I had the Bob Marley cocktail. A colorful drink - flavorful - and effective! There were people celebrating their birthdays throughout the night - and the wait staff goes IN! I was enjoying watching at least 10 people receive the Stevie Wonder "Happy Birthday" song while we were there. Imagine my surprise when it was my turn! My birthday was the day before, and we had already celebrated in Manhattan. Having two special recognition events made the evening that much more special! Shout out to the Simpson crew who came with the song, the rhythm, the sparkling cake, and the good vibes! My 70th birthday was exceptional - without a doubt. The Simpson added the touch I needed. We'll definitely go back next time we're in Brooklyn!

    Initial walk in, the greeting was prompt and warm. We were seated quickly and received water after…read morea short wait. I asked for bottled still water, but the staff member didn't know what they offered, so I decided to wait. Our server came over for drink orders and she was very warm and kind. She took our full order at once. I asked again about bottled water and she confirmed they had Voss, which was perfect. I requested ice on the side. When the water still did not come, I asked a third time. At that point, she told me they only had sparkling water. Ma'am... were you ever going to tell me? Or was I supposed to just sit there guessing and waiting? I was two seconds from going to grab a bottle out of my car. Food: * Cod fish fritters (appetizer): very good, and the aioli really elevated the flavor * Brown stew snapper with veggies, rice and beans, and mac and cheese: the snapper itself was flavorful but not hot, which was disappointing. The veggies lacked seasoning, and the mac and cheese tasted like plain noodles with cheese * Oxtails (my mom): she loved them, but they were just okay to me * Chicken and waffles (my husband): he enjoyed it * Fresh fruit punch: absolutely delicious Service: This is where things went downhill. After the initial interaction, I had to constantly look for our server or any staff member whenever I needed something. Not once did anyone check in to ask if we needed anything or how everything was. That level of inattentiveness is unacceptable. I was extremely annoyed. This is not the experience I expected based on reviews, but then I realized something important. Google and Yelp reviews are very different. Yelp reviewers tend to be more honest and consistent, and I should have listened. Final Thoughts: Traveling all the way from Boston for this experience was a letdown. Between having to chase service and inconsistent food quality, it simply was not worth it. If it were not for how I was raised, the tip would have been 10 percent, and even that would have been forced. Simpson's needs to either hire more staff or seriously retrain their team on customer service. Bostonians: it is not worth the trip.

    Island Express - caribbean - Updated May 2026

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