As a Haitian food connoisseur I went to visit this restaurant not once but twice so I can give it a fair shot and review. I initially didn't expect much since every Haitian restaurant on the west coast seems to flop pretty bad except for the one in Moreno Valley, CA. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Things to consider about Haitian food. Oxtails and anything jerked (jerk chicken) are NOT typical Haitian dishes. Leave those to the Jamaicans that's their specialty. I would NOT order that at a Haitian restaurant. If you order these we know you don't know anything about that culture. Now that we got this out of way. I've ordered the legume (stewed veg with no meat), fritay griot (fried pork shoulder) akra, fried green plantain, kremas, pikliz to go. Pros: Located in a vibrant part of Oakland this restaurant is very cleaned and spacious with arts displayed throughout showcasing the Haitian culture and spirt. There's even a huge outdoor seating. The service was fast and I am not talking by islands standards. Before i can blink was food was in front of me. To my surprise, I really enjoyed my food and ordered some to go. I thought to myself maybe I was really hungry hence the reason it tasted so good. So I went back a 2nd time the very next day, you could tell the food is made fresh because they don't have the same thing on the menu. Oh boy was I surprised again about how delicious the food was. Subsequently, I am giving this restaurant a 5 Cons: There's only street parkings which can be hard to find and it's not the restaurant's fault. I agree with some of the comments that the greeting might need some improvement. Then again this is a family owned business, where their young son is in charge of greeting & seating folks down. He may not have an inviting smile but he was not rude per se. Overall: I have travelled to over 65 countries there are certain things you can't except from people. Not every business is ran based on American expectations. This is a small family owned business with delicious & authentic Haitian dishes. What people want to know is "does the food taste good?" Yes or no. Also, while I was eating there I saw many Ubereats and/or Doordash couriers coming in and out, that might be an option for those who don't want to dine in. I would absolutely go back whenever I am in the Bay area. Lovely family and I wish them the best. I hope they open a restaurant here in Los Angeles. read more

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Finally got a chance to slide up in here. The vibe is on point. The service was good. And the food was amazing. I'm a big fan of oxtails, and this serving was perfect. Meat falling off the bone, seasoned just right. Spicy but not over powering. Just a hint of that caribbean heat. So good and the gravy flavor was an extra bonus .. The rice & kidney beans, perfect.. I cleaned my plate .. T'chaka was all that... read more

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UPDATED REVIEW: Your response as the owner is extremely unprofessional and disrespectful. Instead of addressing the issues with my order, you chose to insult a paying customer and make accusations about my "DNA," which is completely inappropriate. Everything I wrote in my review was based on my actual experience. I specifically asked for only rice and oxtails, yet my plate still came with watery, runny vegetables that made the whole meal messy. As you can see in the PHOTOS, that is clearly slaw sitting in watery liquid. Slaw is made of cabbage and carrots, which are vegetables. So either you're being dishonest about it, or you genuinely don't know what vegetables are. The oxtails were mostly bone and fat with very little meat and almost no flavor, and the rice was dry and hard. On top of that, I asked for flats only with my jerk wings and still received drumsticks. Those are simple instructions that were not followed. Customers are allowed to share honest experiences. Attacking people personally instead of responding professionally only makes your business look worse. A respectful response and willingness to improve would go much further than insults. The PHOTOS speak for themselves. Original review: Tried Tchaka Food Restaurant and had a very disappointing experience. I ordered the oxtails with rice and plantains and specifically asked for only rice and oxtails, but they still added vegetables to the plate. The vegetables were watery and runny like soup, which made the whole plate messy. The oxtails were horrible! Mostly bone and fat with barely any meat, and they had almost no flavor. The rice was just as bad. It was dry, hard, and tasted like nothing. I also ordered jerk wings and asked for flats only, but they still gave me drumsticks. Overall the food quality was very poor and they didn't follow simple instructions on the order. I definitely wouldn't order from here again. read more

T'chaka - A close up picture of the soupy veggies the owner lied and said they don't have. - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

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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. read more

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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. read more

T'chaka - Salad with shrimp and glass of sorrel - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

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. read more

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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. read more

T'chaka - Seating area - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

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

The oxtail meat was very tough, the gravy was good but overall a subpar dish. Tried the restaurant several times and haven't had any luck with the quality of the food. The restaurant decor really is beautiful , but unfortunately we don't literally eat with our eyes. read more

TL;RD: stop your life and eat here Full story: as a Haitian, I have only ever been to a restaurant once ever before in my life (NYC) because I can get it for free from the best cook in the world, my mother. But this Was a great spot. I got griot of course and rice and peas. Overall delicious. Highly recommend read more

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!!! read more

T'chaka - Jerk shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

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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! read more

T'chaka - Jerk Combo (Chicken and Shrimp) - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

I had a really wonderful dinner here with my family on me years day. The service was pretty slow but there appeared to be 3 employees and it was a holiday. Once the food came out we were all very impressed with what we ordered. My family is mostly Panamanian but has a spri klibg of Jamaican and Philipino. We all agreed Carribean food is all the same, we just use different names, so everything that we ate tasted familiar to us even if we didnt recognize it when we ordered. Everything was delicious (and one of us was vegan). The restaurant is cute and cozy. Its good for a date night but maybe too casual for an extra special date night. The prices were reasonable for how much food costs these days. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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!!! read more

T'chaka - Oxtail Stew - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

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. read more

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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! read more

T'chaka - Akra fritters with spicy cabbage - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

Excellent Haitian food! Beautiful place and nice location . Easy to park and I felt safe compared to what the news reports about this area. Oxtails were delicious but the two types of plantains were the better ones I've tried anywhere. read more

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. read more

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This is the most delicious food in oakland!!! I had the oxtails which is my favorite food and this is the BEST ive ever had! This food felt like family and I am so excited to bring everyone I know here! Came on a Friday, they had live music and the service is TOP TIER... theres some food that you can just taste the love and tradition in. Oh and the plantains were cooked to PERFECTION read more

T'chaka - THE BEST OXTAILS OF ALL TIME - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

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Came here with a friend of mine and had the oxtails with rice and plantains and they didn't disappoint one bit! The spicy sauce is amazing to add on the rice and oxtails too, it's a vinegar based hot sauce with some good kick! Customer service was top tier and the place was very clean. Definitely recommend it if you're in the mood for some Haitian/Carribean spice. read more

T'chaka - Oxtails with rice and plantains - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

My wife, daughter and I ate there for the first time and it was amazing. Great flavor. You can tell the food was made after we ordered it. The chicken wings were above what I expected. The empanadas had great flavor. And our main course meal blew us away. This place is a gem. I will be coming back. read more

I must say that I was pretty blown away by the food, it was my first time having Haitian food, and every single dish was absolutely delicious!! The legume and the appetizers were all SO delicious! The service was also great here. All the waiters and waitresses were Haitian and super friendly! The environment is also so vibey and decorated very well! Love this place so much will definitely come back. read more

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Service was friendly but not fast. We were there in their first anniversary and they gave us complimentary champagne. That was nice. Nice to sit outside. Would have been nicer if the dirty table had been wiped off for us. Tostines appetizer was good. Slightly spicy. The Goat curry and fried goat were both good. Not a ton of meat in the curry-- probably 50% bones and fat. The fried goat was better-- and the "fry" treatment is more like pan seared. With both were served yummy plantains. Our friends had a whole fish and vegetable stew. Both were nicely presented. Bathroom Grade B it's the shared public restroom for swans market. Not my favorite kind of food so I'm not sure I'll return but I would recommend if others want Haitian or a restaurant in the area where talking, eating and drinking are easy and the menu marked with dietary restrictions read more

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Excellent food,ambience and service! Would highly recommend dining here. We enjoyed taro fritters, jerk wings, oxtail stew, red snapper and the pork bites. Everything was fabulous. read more

Of course I had to come to the only Haitian restaurant up here, duhhh! The lady welcomed me immediately and I just sat at the bar for a quick lunch. The place is nicely decorated with pieces from Haiti. There's plenty of table space inside and out. There's street parking available and you just pay the meter a small fee. I ordered legumes with beef. Waited about 15 minutes. I ate some there and took the rest to go. The meat was tender and juicy. Vegetables were great; a bit salty at first but it paired well with my rice. Passionfruit juice was A1 so I doubled up on it for the ride out. The price is a bit different than what I'm used to in Florida for the quantity but I understand the Cali charges so no biggie. I was only in the area briefly and had to run to an appointment. Next time I will swing by for dinner and chat more with the folks there. My next try will be the oxtail. I heard great things. Antouka, loved being able to support my people. I'll see them again I'm sure. Go check them out. read more

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The food was so good I was dreaming about it WHILE I was still sitting in the restaurant, right after finishing my meal! We had lamb chops and goat curry... I haven't had lamb that good in my life! Everything (literally everything!) was cooked, seasoned, and served perfectly. Servers + staff were also super rad and super lovely to talk to. Vibes were immaculate! The kind of place you'd take someone out to eat if you genuinely love them. Thank you!! read more

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

DO NOT PATRONIZE THIS PLACE When I walked in, I was not greeted by anyone, and the host or server who approached me was noticeably rude in their demeanor. This left a very negative impression, and as a result, I decided to leave and dine elsewhere. I'm disappointed because I had been looking forward to visiting, but the lack of basic hospitality made me feel unwelcome. I hope this feedback is helpful and that steps can be taken to ensure better service for future guests. I always hear good things about your establishment so I decided to give it a try this evening. I then talked to the owner/manager who promised he would take care of me if I came back. He never did read more

The most delicious Haitian food I've ever had. The pikliz is out of this world. I literally go out of my way to grab it on my way home. They use real scotch bonnets which means they are the real deal. Finally tried their famous curry goat. Fall of the bone delicious. Amazing chef and incredible food. read more

T'chaka - Curry goat - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

Look no further this has been Haitian approved. My dad and I visited this weekend. The food was delicious. The service was outstanding. The place had beautiful art work and designs. Looking forward to going back! Thanks (: read more

T'chaka - Griot, legumes, ox tail - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

We stopped in on a Wednesday night. The jerk shrimp and chicken was very good. Servers were quick. The location in Swan's Market is very nice and the atmosphere is relaxed. I like that you can hear each other talk! The fried calamari was a little overdone, but that is a minor note. read more

T'chaka - Jerk shrimp and chicken plus fried calamari. - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

When I heard a Haitian restaurant made its way to Oakland, I HAD to try it out. I visited for Oakland Restaurant Week. I ordered the jerk chicken combo for dinner. The chicken was so tender and well seasoned. As for the ambiance, it's such a nice interior and they played Haitian music which was a plus. I would have liked to see Diri Djon Djon and the pikliz with more heat but overall it was a good dining experience. The owner checked in on me which was nice and made the experience better. There's also a patio if you're in the mood for outdoor dining. See my TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRTfoef1/ read more

T'chaka - Jerk chicken and shrimp combo with a side of rice, pikliz and plantain - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

I took a trip to Oakland and I found out about T'chaka. Yay, Haitian food to the rescue! When I travel to other cities, I'm always curious to know if there's a Haitian Restaurant around. I guess that was my lucky day for a taste of Haiti. It was good to know that it's in the heart of Oakland and opened last year. As soon as I entered the restaurant, I felt at home...smelling the pleasant appetizing aroma of Caribbean spices. Oooh yeahhh! I received a warm welcoming from staff. Oooh niiice! I was in a veggie mood and ready for a home cooked meal. I ordered my favorite traditional Haitian dish, legumes. While I waited, I enjoyed listening to the Kompa music and enjoyed looking at the decor. When my server approached me, I was delighted to see the presentation of the food. Look at that deliciousness! I can tell they put a lot of effort into it. So fast forward - The flavors were on point...jasmin rice and green/yellow plantains were on point. And lo and behold, the beautiful chef behind this fresh delectable masterpiece walked out the kitchen to check on me. I was all smiles at that point. She immediately knew I was a happy customer. Merci beaucoup! I'll be back. :-) FYI - To those who are unaware, Tchaka or Chaka is a nutritious Haitian stew associated with family time and festivities. read more

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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

I ordered the Ox Tail--highly recommend! Very tender and nicely paired with the rice. read more

T'chaka - Ox tail - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

My daughter brought me here for Mother's Day and what a delight. It's a small restaurant in Swan's Market. The fried fish was delicious. I'll definitely be back. Service was a tad slow but in all fairness, it was Mother's Day. read more

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The food was delicious!I had the goat curry. It was incredibly tender with a nicely spiced sauce, fried plantains, and red beans and rice. A few friends ordered the oxtail stew, which they also enjoyed. All the food was amazing. Great relaxing atmosphere and nice servers. read more

T'chaka - Oxtail stew - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

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