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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.
After Kingston 11 closed down it was discouraging that Oakland had lost such a great Caribbean dining experience. This hole is now being respectfully filled by T'chaka (pronounced Chaka). The Haitian cuisine offered here was excellently prepared and features several stewed and slow cooked proteins that melt off the bone and loaded with complex flavors. The tostones (crispy plantains) are the excellent choice to pair with the different sauces and proteins for a superfood experience. You'll be surprised with what your taste buds are exposed to on every bite, the side salad has a little kick! I will be coming back soon. read more
6 months ago
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The food was fantastic here. Very relaxing environment with 90's R&B playing in the background. We had: - Jerk wings - very flavorful with a spicy kick. - Griot - Haitian fried pork bits, very crispy - Oxtail - succulent, falls off the bone. Highlight was the salad (substituted for rice and beans), which was very fresh and had a tangy dressing with tropical fruit flavors. read more
3 years ago
I absolutely love this restaurant. My husband is Haitian and I'm a good cook but I can't cook like they do here. The food is so authentic and delicious. The first time my husband tried it, his eyes watered a bit. The service is warm, kind of like you're eating at your families house. The restaurant has an authentic feel, really takes you to a different place. If you're new to Haitian food like me or missing a taste from home like my husband, I highly recommend this place! read more
3 years ago
I finally had the pleasure of trying T'Chaka last night- and WOW. I ordered to-go - my dish was ready and packaged within 20 minutes of ordering. The gentleman I ordered with was extremely friendly and pushed my order through even though it was 30min to closing. I ordered the jerk combo and the Griot- both were amazing. Extremely flavorful, authentic and the perfect amount of spice - not too much & not too little. If you're unable to travel to Haiti to explore the cuisine there, this is your next best option. They are truly that good and you can tell the food is made with passion and love. A warning however - this place is so good (& rare), it can very well become addicting. We are so lucky to have this type of restaurants in Oakland. I highly, highly recommend visiting this place at least once- the chances of being disappointed are slim to none. I'll be back, over & over. read more
7 months ago
2 years ago
Soup Joumou for new years is a must for Haitians and diaspora... didn't disappoint. Happy surprise that they have Prestige, it's hard to find in the Bay Area. read more
1 year ago
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3 years ago
My family and I visited this restaurant this Haitian restaurant for the first time. The food was fantastic! Everything was so delicious. The drinks, the presentation, the service. I truly give them a five stars as far as Haitian restaurants go. Thank you for a nostalgic experience! read more
1 year ago
So delicious, the chicken literally fell off the bone. The service and ambiance were great. I'm already excited to come back and try the oxtail. read more
1 year ago
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10/10 - I went into T'chaka this afternoon for a late lunch with a friend. I've been eyeing this place for months - I think this is the areas only Haitian restaurant and I crave some Haitian food every now and then. Starting with service - it seems like a family run restaurant and this adds to the charm of the restaurant. Feels like family. The host/server was patient and kind, the chef also sweet! The decor is also nice - nice Haitian art, bright colors it's very warm and inviting. Now the food - so I am the daughter of a Haitian parent who cooks amazing food... the griot was sooo good. And the rice and beans. It tasted like home. 10/10. I also got the voudou cocktail - it was very good not too sweet and very refreshing. Can't wait to come back! read more
10 months ago
1 year ago
Don't know why it took me so long to try this place but so happy I finally did! The snapper was the star of the show - seasoned BEAUTIFULLY and had so much flavor. Jerk shrimp was good too, I absolutely loved the sauce! The rice that comes with it wasn't anything to rave about but I'm not much of a rice eater anyway so I didn't mind. The chicken empanadas also were great but they were out of the beef ones when I came. An excuse to go back to try the beef ones and to have that snapper fish again! read more
10 months ago
1 year ago
what a fantastic find! i ordered the oxtail, and it was cooked to perfection ~ melt-in-your-mouth tender. the accompanying coleslaw was a delightful surprise; it's genuinely delicious, but do be aware it carries a subtle spicy kick. for me, it was ideal, but those sensitive to heat might want to note it. beyond the amazing food, the service was excellent. my server was attentive, and despite being a saturday lunch, our meals arrived quickly. highly recommend and will certainly be returning! read more
1 year ago
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2 years ago
I love Jamaican food, and now I love Haitian food. The flavors were amazing. Had whole snapper and wife tried oxtails. We had fried goat on the side. T'Punch to wash it down. I wasn't even done eating and I was thinking about coming back the next day with more family. You gotta try this food. Amazing!! read more
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First time trying this place and was very pleased! Until today, I wasn't aware there was a Haitian restaurant in the East Bay. I had the Jerk Chicken w/Rice & Peas, and plantain's. For my appetizer I tried the Lazo croquettes. Very delicious and reminded me of the stuff back east. Very good food, service, and ambiance overall. I definitely recommend this place. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
I'm Haitian american, so believe me when I tell you these folk spot in Marin was fantastic...and then the next Haitian restaurant was in maybe Boston, Brooklyn or Miami. But now you don't need to cross a bridge or the Mississippi to get great Haitian food...they are now in Old Oakland. The yumminess is extreme. The griot (fried pork) is one of the Haitian national dishes. The rice and beans is unlike most of what you'll get in California. The plantains, especially the green ones, are just scrumptious. The service is attentive and effective. Food comes fast. And the place is nice, especially having enough outdoors for those of us not trying to get the 'Vid again. So go there early and often. And then again. And seriously, if you know any Haitian folk, or people who have been to Haiti, they will love you even more if you tell them about it. read more
2 years ago
The food was . Amazing customer service and tons of flavor in their jerk chicken . Definitely coming back. read more
More info about T'chaka
901 Washington St
Oakland, CA 94607
Old Oakland
Directions
(510) 380-2094
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http://www.tchakaoak.online
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