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Visited T'chaka for dinner while on a trip to Oakland. My wife and I shared the Jerk Wings and the Oxtails. The Jerk wings were tender, juicy, and had the perfect amount of seasoning. They were a great appetizer but could easily be order as a lunch or light dinner item if you paired them with a side. The oxtails were "everything" if I could have them daily I would. The fall of the bone tender and cooked to perfection. Every bite was amazing. I would highly recommend them to anyone who is trying to decide what to try.
The Beauty found this Haitian spot so we had to go taste & see. They were short staffed so service got off to a rocky start. I wanted to give the host/bartender/server a hi-five for asking a patron to get their dog off the table! We were seated next to them but thankfully they were on their way out. I love dogs but there's a time & place for everything. This was our first time having Haitian cuisine and we enjoyed it! Everything was seasoned perfectly & tasted great. The Akra was our favorite. The lamb, chicken & shrimp were delicious! The cocktails were pretty good. Different flavors but pretty refreshing. Hopefully they can get another speaker in their side section so the Caribbean music can be enjoyed by all. Overall 4outta5 #GoTaste&See
After the Jollof Festival the honey and I ended up stopping into T'chaka for lunch. We started with the delicious Akra as an appetizer which was quite tasty, and the honey ordered the Jerk Chicken combo and I the Lazo Shrimp. The shrimp was a bit on the spicy side for me, but the quality was good and I enjoyed the side of fried potato and plantains quite a bit. The service was helpful and friendly, if not a bit on the slow side from being busy due to the festival, but there was plenty of outside seating. The inside seating looked so cozy and comfortable and with the ambiance being a bit of "welcome home" vibe. All on all, it was delicious and we would definitely come back.
Holy Moly! What a beautiful experience I had over at Tchaka! Such a beautiful and welcoming introduction to Haitian food. Walked in for the 7:45pm reservation and were immediately greeted by Chris, who was the highlight of the evening. After being sat and some perusing of the menu, some winners were snagged! Steamed Clams and Mussels -So delicious, so garlicky, perfectly spicy. This was so incredibly good. Im a huge fan of steamed shells like this and this was delicious. If I wasn't so polite I would have easily drank the broth of this dish. Insanely magical. Tostones - This was comfort in a dish. Fried plantains topped with pork and bbq sauce. The flavors here were unreal. 10/10 this was so delicious and comforting. Oxtail - WOW just WOW, this was sooooooo good. Only grabbed this as a side portion snd regretted not getting more. Tender, juice, falloff the bone with excellent flavor. The little portion of rice and plantain paired perfectly. T'chaka is one of those places you definitely write home about! The service was so great and everyone there was so kind. I even got to meet the owner via facetime and Chris' wife (who grew up in the same part of LA as me - cute little moment). Luckily for me, T'chaka is right down the street from my place which means I will be back here again very very soon.
My Haitian friend just moved to the bay. We searched and found her SPOT! Family owned - casual feel - owner went out of her way to make us a fresh batch of "pikliz" (spicy pickled cabbage). We tried the Legumes with Chicken - Griot (pork) and Oxtail. What a great tasting menu. Awesome spices with plantains / beans & rice compliments. This might be in our monthly rotation :)
This was my first time trying Haitian food and T'chaka was the right spot. It was a little busy when I entered and I chose to sit outside. Chris was the only person on the floor at that moment and he was busy running around to various tables who were paying the bill and asking for service. I was patient and Chris eventually got to my table. He was very hospitable and sat down with me to help me order. I ordered the tradition Griot plate with Passion fruit juice in the side. Chris was literally running from table to table handling different orders, a real hard-worker and tried to give everyone his best attention. Most appreciated. The dish was vibrant in color and beautiful in presentation. They definitely pay attention to detail. The pork was tender on the inside and crispy on the outside, a flavor I've never tried before. I really liked the spice in the dish, even the salad had a nice flavor. The portion size was great, well balanced. This was worth the wait, and I look forward to trying a new dish next time. Haitian hospitality is one of a kind and they treat everyone like family.
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.
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...
Hello everyone, I have great news, I found the best Haitian Restaurant in the land, T'Chaka. This place is amazing, the walls are filled with what i can only assume is Haitian art, the service good. Don't expect a conversation from the young man, he seems to be about business. This particular day the chef came out to greet me and one of my employees who i was rewarding for a job well done. she noticed I had a bottle of her homemade hot sauce on my table, she smiled, a smile that would light any dark room, with glee she asked, do you like hot spicy food. I smiled back and oh yeah, she shook her head in delite, and said I have something for you to try. When she came back with our order, she also included a small taste cup of the hot sauce, the same as i was buying and a coleslaw for me to try, I wouldn't call me a regular there, however, I have been there about 5-6 times, (it is that good, everytime) The coleslaw i didn't give it a any thought, UNTIL, we split it between my friend and I, wow! Spicy coleslaw, to some coleslaw should be refreshing, not spicy, as a Mexican, we put chilly powder and lemon on fruit. So this was delightful spicy, sweet and still refreshing yum yum gimme sum! Let's talk chicken, the jerk chicken is what I always order, it has never let me down, spicy, juicy oh so tender falls right off the bone (literally) cooked to perfection , I didn't do a review before because I almost didn't want to share my favorite place, but, I guess I will, the rice and beans (rice and Pease) amazing flavor! Together it's magic, the hot sauce was great and my kids love it as ofcourse do I, but not for this meal, what this chicken didn't have, it didn't need (4real) the plate also came with a plantain, ( love plantains) and a Griot (I think) a fine meal for sure, enjoyed it sooo much just typing about it wants to make me go and get more, as a matter of fact once I'm done with this review, I am going to go back and get a "to go" plate for my boys, If you like spicy, and you like Great food, T'Chaka is the place to be. Location in the city of Oakland, but it's the good side of Oakland don't be fooled by the internet it is safe and friendly and worth the drive. 5 out of 5 CheeHoos
Food: five stars Service: five stars Ambiance: five stars I ordered the oxtail and my vegetarian friend ordered the legume. The oxtail was so tender and fell right off the bone. Perfectly cooked and deliciously flavored. My friends' legume tasted like a comfort dish you get at someone's home. The rice and beans were perfect. I also got the ginger sorrel which is jamaica and ginger and it was so refreshing and *not too sweet*! The servers and workers were so wonderful and kind. Even everyone inside was sweet and asking one another what they got, was it good, etc... vibes were immaculate. The interior decor is cozy and cultural. I'm already looking forward to coming back and trying what everyone else around me got! Doesn't seem like you can go wrong with the menu. This was my friend's first time trying Caribbean/Haitian food and this was the perfect place to take him to. Thank you T'chaka for your hospitality and yummy food!
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.
First time going to T'Chaka. Ordered the Jerk Chicken with rice, plantains and tostones. The chicken was fall off the bone tender. Rice and peas were delicious. The service was welcoming. We will most likely return.
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.
4 months ago
Delicious food that is perfectly seasoned. Excellent service and a nice relaxing atmosphere inside. Gluten free friendly options. I got the shrimp and oxtail, and separately got the griot with ginger sorrel. read more
2 years ago
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
1 year ago
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
3 months ago
5 months ago
Amazing food! Every single dish I've tried here has been incredible but I keep coming back for the griot! The sauce that the oxtails are cooked in is just phenomenal as well. read more
5 months ago
4 months ago
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
4 months ago
Decor was beautiful. Food was fast and delicious, we had the oxtail, griot, and jerk chicken after I asked for recommendations that would fit our schedule before an event. We'll be back for the oxtail stew! read more
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
2 years ago
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
2 months ago
2 years ago
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
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
4 months ago
Recently took my mom out to dinner at T'chaka. This was my second time here, so it was an opportunity to try a few new dishes! I ended up going with the jerk combo (includes chicken and shrimp), as well as rice & peas and plantains. We also ordered some calamari to start. The chicken was very moist and flavorful and the sauce added a great kick. The calamari was fried crispy with plenty of flavor in the batter. I was also picking up some spice with the calamari, but I'm not sure what they put in there. The ambience is solid and the staff are very friendly/attentive. The owner regularly came by to refill our water and ask how the food was. Top marks for both food and service. Excited to visit again to try the goat! read more
8 months ago
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
1 year ago
3 years ago
The food was amazing. If you're going with a group, I suggest you do family style! Every meal was a hit! The service was also great which and efficient. Would definitely be back! read more
4 months ago
1 year ago
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 opened where Miss Ollie's was. Interior upgraded with subdued lighting, aquarium with live fish, music in background. Lotsa dining choices inside and out. Haitian food their specialty. Was given menu, seated upon entry. Know what i wanted from perusing same on window. Offerings (lunch): jerk chicken, pork sandwich, jerky's, T'chaka salad, vegan legume, griot, creole oxtails, jerk wings, cocktails, drinks, desserts.. Eats: creole oxtails (18) lunch, medium heat -didn't taste spicy at all. Not complaining, just saying. - small salad of cabbage, carrots, etc. yum! -plantains so smooth. Rice similar to "dirty rice" amaze.. -oxtails were chopped into smaller pieces than usual. Had to use tongue to discover bone bits. Meat was slightly dry, needed more heat? Meat was semi-juicy. My tummy really enjoyed the eats, great comfort food! Drink: passed since all have high levels of sugar. Wasn't in mood for alcohol. 4.5 stars- staff was helpful answering questions. Came in 2ish. Was able to finish in time for my 3 o'clock appt. Note: Haitian food has some similarities with U.S. creole style food . Would order Griot if i came again. read more
2 years ago
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
What a wonderful addition to the Oakland food scene! Growing up in Oakland there was never much Caribbean food, fortunately that's changing a little bit but I don't know if many, if any, Haitian spots, I'm glad that's now changed. My friend and I came here on a Saturday night around 8pm. The restaurant was fairly full and they asked if we had a reservation, they sat us in a spot where they said a reservation hadn't shown up so it's possible a reservation for next time would be helpful. The restaurant is brightly decorated with vibrant colors and nice but somewhat casual atmosphere. The man who greeted us noted they had one cocktail, and no other hard liquor but the drink was a punch with passion fruit, ginger, lime and rum, we both decided to get it, it was addictive and almost too easy to drink. We also decided to share two entrees, the menu had many Haitian staples so it was hard to. choose just two things! We ended up getting the griot (fried pork bites), and stewed oxtail. Both were delicious but the oxtail was utterly heavenly, with the meat fall-off-the-bone tender and perfectly seasoned. Each dish was paired with a little pikliz, rice and beans, and both sweet and savory plantains, which were all wonderfully executed, flavorful and went perfectly with the main courses. read more
Come for brunch a few weeks ago.. Brunch turned into lunch.. they didnt open at one so I had a drinks next door.. no problem my friend was running late so it was perfect Once we came in we sat at a table and someone let us kno were drink menu and the specials.. mimosas with fresh fruit juice soo yummy.. the waitress was so nice and gave us great service. We shared the jerk wings which I will request to add some extra spicy next time.. i ordered the oxtails they were soo good falling off the bone good.. my friend ordered the shrimp and grits it was ok.. could have had more flavor.. after talking to the staff I definitely need to go check out there other location for more hatian dishes.. this location offers a smaller menu which is fine.. can't wait to come back once they get comfortable in this location.. definitely could come just to sit at the bar or with a big group.. read more
8 months ago
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1 year ago
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
2 years ago
Walked past T'chaka for past year and the night I tired it, it happened to be during their 1 year anniversary weekend! The restaurant was very busy, but the service was good. I sat at the bar and enjoyed the passion punch, which packed a little punch. For dinner I ordered the jerk shrimp, which was good and very flavorful! I appreciated how one of the chefs came to check to make sure I enjoyed everything and made sure I had the correct plantains! Overall great experience and I will be sure to go again! read more
1 year ago
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
9 months ago
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2 years ago
I came here for lunch one day. I thought it was delicious! I ordered the vegetable stew with rice, plantain and tostones and it was hearty and savory. It tastes like a well presented home cooked meal. The service was okay and the vibes inside were vibrant. read more
1 year ago
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
2 years ago
I'm skeptical of any Caribbean food in the bay area, but this was the best I've had by far. The is the first time jerk chicken gave me hiccups from the heat. The entire plate was very flavorful and spicy. I'll be back! Only minor drawback was the lunch menu is more limited than the dinner menu, so we weren't able to try everything we wanted. read more
More info about T'chaka
901 Washington St
Oakland, CA 94607
Old Oakland
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(510) 380-2094
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http://www.tchakaoak.online
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