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T'chaka

4.6 (169 reviews)
Open • 11:30 am - 3:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Order T'chaka Takeout or Delivery

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T'CHAKA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Dogs allowed
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - T'chaka

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Akra
Adrienne H.

I love me some haitian food down. This place has been on my list so glad I stopped by. I came on a Thursday evening there was no wait. They have indoor and outdoor seating and an amazing vibe. To start I tried the ginger sorrel which was perfect paired with the food. I tried akra I never had before and it was such a great starter. To eat I had the jerk shrimp the flavors paired with rice and plantain soooo good. The red snapper was perfectly seasoned and amazing as well. The customer service was amazing the chef even checked in with us and put away the leftovers. I'll definitely be back.

Salad with shrimp and glass of sorrel
Julia V.

Great lunch experience! I hadn't realized we had a Haitian restaurant in this space now. A friend asked if I wanted to meet here for lunch. Sure! We were greeted warmly and seated. The place is really cute. We both ordered the salad with shrimp and a ginger sorrel. The salad was the perfect portion, very fresh, with beets in it and plantain on the side. The dish was well plated. The salad dressing had a high heat note that could have been a little better balanced but it was still really good. We both ate everything. The sorrel was delicious, not too sweet. The table next to us ordered oxtail and it smelled incredible but I knew I couldnt have eaten a lot that day. Our server was able to split the check. I'd be back.

Oxtails
Farhana M.

This place was nearly empty on a sunday evening. We ordered the plaintain basket and empanadas, both gluten free! The empanadas use a corn wrapping. The server warned me that the cabbage that comes with the empanadas will be spicy, but it wasn't at all. Maybe they missed the spice. For the plantain basket, it's not a basket but a plate of 4 fried plantains. There was barbecue sauce on top of it, and a ton of not-deveined mini shrimps. The barbecue sauce was really unnecessary. I just wanted some dry, salted fried green plantains to pair with my saucy grits, or my partner's stewed oxtails. I got the shrimp and grits and didn't know there would be a sweet, orange sauce on top. It was a bit much. The grits is savory and salty, which was great. But the sauce on top over powered it. The shrimp was plentiful and big. Maybe i got the wrong dishes. The service is quick, the place is nice inside and the passionfruit juice was delicious. I would try other dishes, definitely would not try the plantains again though.

Seating area
Jawana M.

I happened upon this place while attending the farmers market. It was almost closing for most restaurants, but this one had no crowd, the outdoor seating was nice, and it looked pleasant. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to sit at the wooden benches outside (because it's for a party of 3 or more), despite the place being completely empty. Ordered: oxtail creole dish. This meal comes with two types of plantain, beans and rice, and slaw. The food presentation was phenomenal. Unfortunately, the oxtail was super fatty and gelatinous. in addition to the oxtail pieces being super tiny, there was hardly any edible meat. I will say the meat came off the bone easily, but it was just gummy. I didn't even care to take photos. The rice and beans were decent. It was just super cold. The only thing worth noting (in my opinion), was the yellow plantain. It was warm and cooked perfectly. The green plantain was not as palatable. The service was OK, although the server was a bit awkward and seemed uninterested in working for the day. Perhaps it was that the location was about to close shortly. Sadly, I left and ordered another meal from across the street after leaving this place. Would not return or be my recommendation based on this experience.

Jerk shrimp
Olivia C.

YUMMM. I came back twice in two days. The crispy fish is sooo flavorful and crispy and absolutely to die for, and the pikilis (not sure I spelled that right but it's a spicy pickled cabbage slaw) had the perfect amount of heat and paired well with the crispy fish. I love that they give you tostones and platanos maduros like yassss gimmie plantain in all forms. The jerk shrimp was savory and tasty, and reminded me a little bit the creamy creole shrimp down in New Orleans as opposed to a Jamaican style Jerk. The only thing I will note is that the fish seemed quite a bit smaller when I came back the second time, and it is a set price as opposed to being priced by the pound. So the portion size might be inconsistent. I'm still gonna come back and get more fish though hahah can't stop wont stop!!!

Jerk Combo (Chicken and Shrimp)
Krupa T.

My fiancé said it was the best jerk chicken he's ever had and he has eaten it in the Caribbean! The food was delicious all around. The taro fritters were incredibly crispy! The legume stew was hearty! The service was attentive! It felt like a family run place that Haitian locals would frequent. We would definitely go back!

Ginger Sorrel
Mika B.

Tchaka Haitian Cuisine? Whew. That food hit like a grandma's blessing and a Sunday nap -- all at once. We came through for a birthday celebration, arranged by two of our special friends who clearly knew where the soul food magic was tucked away. Greatest choice ever. The oxtails? Fall-apart tender like they slow-danced with the pot. The red snapper? Flaky, seasoned, and singing spirituals. The legume stew? Soft, mild, and comforting -- like that one cousin who always brings peace to the family BBQ. And the ginger sorrel? Listen -- that drink brought my taste buds to church, revival, and an afterparty. The vibe? Warm and real. The energy? Rooted and right. The photos? Just finished plates. That should tell you everything you need to know. We're definitely coming back -- like Erykah Badu sang, "on and on..." Tchaka, y'all did it with love, and we tasted every bit of it.

Tiffany S.

We ordered their spicy jerk chicken wings - which were spicy but weren't very flavorful, and didn't have a lot of sauce. For entrees we ordered their shrimp and grits, and oxtail stew. For the price, I expected a larger portion of oxtail, or at least ones that actually had more meat on them. The shrimp and grits were on the sweeter side, and wasn't the flavor profile I was expecting. Overall, glad to have tried this place in the neighborhood. Feel free to try it yourself to make your own conclusions.

Pineapple Ginger Mimosa
Lunell G.

A young lady on TicTock was ranting about this establishment. She was saying how good it was. My curious self lol said let's give it a try. Such friendly folks oh my goodness. Customer service was amazing. The food was amazing!!!! So tasty and flavorful. First time here and they did not disappoint me at all. I had a pineapple ginger mimosa, Whole Red Snapper ohh la la the best I have ever tasted. Crispy on outside and soft inside, did I say flavorful!!!! It came with rice and etc , enough for two people or for lunch the next day. I also had a some fritters that was non meat so good. Nice chic place with great music! The chef , she was so sweet just awesome experience with great food. The pineapple ginger mimosa was different it a good way.Definitely will be back. Go check them out. Great Haitian restaurant.

Oxtail Stew
Heather C.

This was our first visit to T'Chaka and it was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. The vibe walking in to the service to food 10 out of 10!!! We got Akra and Jerk Chicken as appetizers and both were flavorful and fresh. Then we got the Oxtail Stew and Lazo Shrimp for our main courses.... Heaven! The Oxtail Stew was hearty and rich and paired well with the rice. The Lazo Shrimp was great. The chef came and asked the level of spiciness which we appreciated for our first time. We will be back!!!

Griot
Carson M.

Came on a Sunday with a large party for dinner. Luckily, there was quite a few number of parking spots right outside. The service was great and very attentive. This is my first time trying Haitian food as we We started with three appetizers - the wings (4/5), Akra (5/5), and a spicy coleslaw (4/5). The wings were crispy and not dry. They had a slight spice to them. The Akra was also a very interesting texture - similar to mochi and this was also very crispy. The Akra was also seasoned well. Lastly, the coleslaw helped to freshen up the palate and it was actually the spiciest dish out of the appetizers we got. For the mains, I was able to try the oxtail (4/5) and the griot (4/5). The griot was seasoned well but was a tad dry. I'm not sure if it is usually cooked that much but it was crispy. It was also very easy to eat since it was all meat and no bones. There was a slight sauce underneath it and it paired well with the rice. Some pieces had small pieces of fat that was good with the meaty parts. The plantain was also on the crispier side, but was still good. The oxtail was very soft and the sauce was on the thinner side. I do think I prefer a thicker sauce like at Coconuts in Palo Alto. There was a good amount of meat as well on the oxtails.

Akra fritters with spicy cabbage
Dana C.

I LOVE this place! What a gift to have Haitian food on the West Coast! Though I'm not Haitian myself, I grew up in a big West Indian community and have deep appreciation for the culture and the food. My friend and I shared the Akra fritters. So so good! It came with a side of cabbage that had a nice kick. For our mains, I had oxtail stew with rice and beans and my friend had the lamb and rice. Both were delicious and so tender. I also ordered a ginger sorrel and it was PERFECT. I can't wait to bring other folks here. I was hoping there'd be a chicken stew or some Haitian stewed meatballs, but everything we had was delicious, so it makes up for not having those options. Service was great and the space was well decorated. It was a cool vibe inside; soft music playing and nice all around. Can't wait to come back!

The bar
Jacqueline F.

I came by here because I've heard of it. And I've gotten some decent food from places long gone. That being said, I really wanted to like the food. Unfortunately, I didn't. The guy working behind the counter was totally nice and took my order. I asked for a restroom and had to go out into the market to find one. I found it because he gave me the directions and the code. I then returned for my food. I ordered the jerk chicken and the griot. They came with rice (with a smattering of beans, a hot cabbage dish, and a savory and a sweet piece of plantain. I also got a couple of drinks to go with the meals and excitedly told him that I was coming home for lunch. I grabbed the drinks which came in a cute carrier and left. The first problem is that one of the drinks fell on it's side during the ride home. And it leaked, weakening the carrier. It broke on our kitchen floor, so I spent the next 10 minutes cleaning up. My husband hurt his hand and wasn't fast enough for my liking. Then we put the food on plates to eat and it was OK. I don't know what I was expecting from griot since I've never had it before. But the main flavor to me was salt. We rice was OK. The cabbage was spicy. I gave my husband the sweet plantain and he liked it. I ate into the savory one and it was quite flacid. Then I had the jerk chicken, which was not as flavorful as jerk chickens past. It tasted of chicken with a heavy dose of salt. Again, the plain Jane rice, the spicy cabbage, and plantain. I gave him all of mine from this. I will say that I probably won't come back again. I keep reading reviews where people have a fantastic experience. I wish that would have been my experience. Unfortunately, it wasn't.

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11 days ago

Jerk chicken empanadas are incredible Great GF options. Could do without the big tv screen but awesome food.

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2 months ago

Amazing food and excellent service. We drive over 1 hour to get to this restaurant, the flavors are unprecedented in the bay area!!

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The whole package is outstanding, this is the place everyone should at least once experience and after that let your taste take you back

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Ask the Community - T'chaka

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Coconuts Caribbean Restaurant & Bar - Jerk Chicken & Salmon

Coconuts Caribbean Restaurant & Bar

(2.6k reviews)

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Server Axel is the best. Food is very delicious. Nice area is down town Palo Alto:) amazing visit.read more

This was my first time ever coming to this Caribbean style restaurant! My aunt and I wanted to try…read moresomething different and we both like things with good flavor and a little bit of spice!! I suggested Caribbean food since I just had Peruvian food the weekend before. You should look for my review of Límón in downtown Mountain View. Since there's construction going on in the area, I didn't realize there was a parking lot adjacent to the entrance of the restaurant! Lol I circled back around and parked in the underground parking. It smelled really bad as I walked up, but I guess whatever they were cooking in the City Hall is what made the parking garage smell? It didn't matter because from the street I could hear the joyous Caribbean beats and I really like that music. It just makes you feel happy and want to dance even if you don't know how!! Apparently, just before me was a giant catering order so the four employees were quickly getting things set up and chefs were moving back-and-forth and saran wrapping and packing up this big order. I asked if I could do takeout and they handed me a menu! I ended up ordering two different dishes. I ordered: *chicken jerk- dark meat * 2- Jamaican patty; chicken * vegetable stirfry * side; mac & cheese and coleslaw * rum cake * pineapple upside down cake My aunt had never had Jamaican jerk before and she loved the spice of the chicken! My three-year-old niece, however thought it was too spicy, but she really liked the plantains! We picked off the chicken skin for her and she ate the meat underneath. We ate the spiced Jamaican jerk!! Lol my niece also loved the macaroni and cheese, and the vegetables! My aunt loved the coleslaw as did I since it had a delicious crunch and the vegetable had a good spice mixture and I was really surprised with how filling the vegetables were since I got that as my dish! I wasn't hungry for any meat, but I ate a Jamaican patty, which is more like an empanada and that thing was freaking delicious!! My three-year-old niece also loved the empanada, Jamaican patty! Both of the cakes we got were delicious and had so much flavor!! I actually didn't eat my cake till later that afternoon with a cup of coffee, but goodness that rum cake was just as tasty as my grandma used to make but a different style. I can't wait to go back there again and I'd love to eat at the actual restaurant since there's definitely a vibe! I like the idea of their different cocktails and they had a cute little sports bar area so I wouldn't mind watching a game there! Can't wait to go back!!

Carmen & Family Bar-B-Q - Jamaican Food Special Oxtail Dinner (choice of 2 sides) - 4/5 stars

Carmen & Family Bar-B-Q

(548 reviews)

$$

Customer service: I had an issue with door dash saying they…read morepicked up my order but never brought it to me... I was staying around the corner so it wasn't too much trouble for me to go pickup my food but I was already comfortable at home... so to make a long story short... the worker (I think maybe the owner not sure) she ended up accommodating my meal that the door dasher took and didn't make me pay again and even gave me some extra corn bread for the inconvenience. The worker that day was super sweet and I really appreciate good customer service now a days. A little kindness can make someone's day !! The food: corn bread 10/10, Mac n cheese 3/10 (it was very watery and not much flavor) hot links 6/10 they have a weird texture I think because they are home made... but the overall taste was decent... also in there defense I got the last batch of the day... I went when they were 10 minutes to closing... banana pudding 4/10 basic banana pudding nothing special

This is one of those times where I hope the owner reads the review and understands that the writer…read moreis coming from a good place. I truly believe that there is potential here, but a lot of things would have to change. When you walk in, BBQ is not the first thing you smell. I'm the type that if you can smell the BBQ when you get out of the car, it's probably about to be pretty dang good. I got all the way into the restaurant and it was just a vague smell... not necessarily bad, but not necessarily food, either. * The Mac n' Cheese recipe needs to be re-thought and revised. It was watery, tasteless and not what you would expect from a black owned business. * The cornbread is expensive and not given as sidecar to your sides. I'd rather pay a little more for food overall when I buy a plate and get cornbread than have to ask for and purchase a side of cornbread. As far as taste, if I wasn't eating it with the greens, it wouldn't have been very good standalone. * I had the rib plate.... No rub in sight, not even the slightest hint of salt and pepper coating. It was almost like the ribs go straight from package to smoker, no process in between. They seem to take the angle of drowning them in sauce, which is overly tangy seems like a bulk purchase sauce, rather than a house made sauce. BBQ sauce is too simple to make to not hone in on your own sauce recipe. The ladies who plate the food chop the ribs in half as a means to fit them into the carton, but to be honest, I don't wanna see or taste pigs marrow when I'm eating my ribs. Ribs were also very dry and over-charred... a few pieces. * The greens were the best thing on the whole plate to be honest. * Lastly, the hot sauce packets were puffy and swollen, which is never a good sign. Never seen that before until I came here. Also, I asked for extra BBQ sauce and was told that would be an extra charge..... this was already a tip off that they don't get a lot of business and now they're at the "nickels & dimes" point of their day-to-day operations. All in all, it just seems like the labor of love has been lost on this place, as it was recommended to me by someone who says it was good years ago. While that might be true, it seems the family has gotten too comfortable with their neighborhood regulars to keep the doors open and the quality is slipping as the month and years pass. If you're reading this as the owner, I hope this is a motivator for you to restructure and re-brand so that you become a "line out the door" business, because in today's climate, it only takes one influencer to enter your doors and call your food "certified" or "trash" for YouTube, IG, Twitch etc.. Be brave and make changes.

T'chaka - seafood - Updated May 2026

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