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T'chaka

4.6 (171 reviews)
Closed • 11:30 am - 3:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Order T'chaka Takeout or Delivery

T'chaka Photos

T'CHAKA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Dogs allowed
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - T'chaka

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Reviews With Photos

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.

A close up picture of the soupy veggies the owner lied and said they don't have.
Lynnell C.

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.

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

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2 years ago

The food is good and flavorful. The customer service is good as well. Overall it makes for a good atmosphere.

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3 years ago

Terrific new spot! Ordered the goat curry and oxtails and will definitely be back. Very friendly staff and a cute patio too.

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2 years ago

Best Haitian food in the Bay. Wife is Haitian, 100% approves. Service was fast, and environment was great.

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

Jerk wings were fall-off the bone tender & delicious. Passion fruit juice was perfectly tart. Service was great.

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Ask the Community - T'chaka

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Amazing food and service. New favorite Caribbean spot in San Jose. Every time I have ordered it is…read morethe same great taste. Shoutout to the Chef and all the employees. Had the What A Gwaan plate and patties!

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Oyo - Oyo Paella

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Coconuts Caribbean Restaurant & Bar - Jerk Chicken & Salmon

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

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3.1(551 reviews)
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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

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T'chaka - seafood - Updated May 2026

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