I visited Tropical Diner in Katy intending to support a Black-owned business, but unfortunately, I left without being acknowledged or served. When I approached the counter, the gentleman working there did not greet me, ask whether I needed assistance, or acknowledge my presence. He handed food to customers seated in the restaurant, returned to the counter to retrieve more orders, and then began having a full conversation with another customer all while I stood there waiting. After being completely ignored, I walked out. He looked directly at me as I was leaving and still said absolutely nothing. That confirmed that he was aware of my presence but chose not to acknowledge me. This was extremely disappointing. Every customer deserves basic courtesy, acknowledgment, and respect. We are constantly encouraged to support Black-owned businesses, but that support must be met with respectful and attentive customer service. I cannot support a business that deliberately makes me feel invisible. read more

Nope. Overcooked rice. Undercooked cabbage. If i wanted coleslaw i would've got that. The rice was mushy and yet it was a hard piece in there like it was scrapped off the side of the pot. Definitely will NOT return. read more

Save your money in time! Ordered at the register and tipped 20%. The woman that took our order acted like we were infringing on her time. We were the only table in there on this Sunday afternoon at 4:30. My food came out first and it was barely warm. We waited 10 minutes for the rest of my parties' ordered to come out and there were only three of us. I ordered a glass of water with my food that I never got and it was the only free item that we had. The oxtails were small and fatty and seemed like they were the last of the bottom of the pot. The curry chicken was boiled and coated in the sauce. Nothing was hot on our plates. We ordered plantain that was never brought to us and I had to ask for it on the way out in and got it in a to-go container. It was our first time there and we won't be back. read more

Everything was very fresh, the service was good. This was my first time trying Jamaican oxtails. Didn't taste as flavorful as I imagined but that's okay. read more

Tropical Diner - Caribbean Near Me - Katy, Texas

I enjoyed the jerk chicken plate so much that I've eaten here two nights in a row. I regret not taking photos but I was so excited to eat that taking a picture was the furthest thing from my mind. If you are looking for authentic Jamaican food in Katy look no further. Their homemade juices are a non negotiable in addition to the delicious food. read more

I looked at a lot of the reviews and it was 50/50....some ppl didn't like it or something wasn't to their liking and some ppl love the food and thought it was good....well I went (last minute decision) and ordered the curry goat for myself and jerk chicken for my Jamaican husband (he was mad it went without him ) also ordered the beef patty and coco bread...the place was cute full of Carribean things and very colorful...think because i went with about an hour before they closed there werent anyone dining inside.....all I can say when Jamaicans feed you they feed you...plate was a big plate...the lady was nice and so was the guy that fixed the food...brought it home and my husband critics every Jamaican place that I have found for him and he didn't find it bad...he must have liked it cause while I get full easily he makes a happy plate every time...lol...overall the food was good the staff was nice and I will go back because I want to try the cow foot... read more

Tropical Diner - Curry goat steamed veggies and rice n peas - Caribbean Near Me - Katy, Texas

I can't even begin to give this place enough high praises! I've eaten at a few Jamaican spots in town and this place is by far the BEST. I got the curry goat/jerk chicken combo plate and got my dad the oxtail/brown stew chicken plate. All the meat was tender, they have plenty gravy and those plates were PACKED. Everything was very flavorful. No complaints and I will definitely be back. read more

Order Stewed chicken and the chicken looked and tastes old as if it was leftovers from a few days ago

This place is legit! Might look like a whole in the wall, but the quality of the food is authentic. Great service too and they show you the food to make sure it's to your liking before you head off. Both dishes I ordered came out hot and fresh and delish just like I was hoping for. Highly recommend read more

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My husband and was thrilled to give them a try! I ordered the brown stew chicken and the hubby had the curry chicken with white rice. The brown stew 8.5 the flavor was great just wish there was more meat. The cabbage 4 needs a little more flavor and cooked a little longer. Plantain 7.5 -for the portion but sweet tender just how I like it. Curry Chicken 7.5/8 Hubby said flavor was good not bland and not overwhelming with curry powder . He'll definitely order it again if he's in the area. Wish Tropical Diner success read more

Well hubby and I couldn't resist trying this little Magical Jamaican Diner out again! Once again they did not disappoint! The food was immaculately divine and the customer service was of royalty! This go round we decided to try appetizers. We ordered the beef meat pie and the curry chicken meat pie. Let me just say this, they are very fulfilling and a meal all by themselves and the flavor, OMG! We enjoyed every delicious and flavorful bite! For our entrees, I tried the Jerk Chicken with cabbage and rice and peas. My husband tried the brown stew chicken with cabbage, a side of white rice, and rice and peas. It was so yummy guys! We even ordered a side of coco bread to eat with our meal and it was a great match as we enjoyed dipping the bread in the jerk sauce and the brown stewed gravy. We also ordered a side of fried plantains which were so warm and soft in the middle but golden crispy brown around the edges. Hubby and I were in Jamaican Island Heaven! I didn't get any pictures of the coco bread, the meat pies, or the plantains because we went in, lol. If ever you are in the greater Katy area and you're in the mood for some scrumptious Jamaican cuisine, stop by and give The Tropical Diner a chance to take you on a magical Jamaican Culinary experience! You won't be disappointed! You will leave feeling Irie Irie! Ya Mon! read more

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Please review the quality of your food. Please realize that some of your customers are actually Caribbean and just want a good meal to remind them of home. Honestly, three stars is generous, and I really wanted to give more stars. I have myself to blame because I knew I wouldn't like this place. There is only one good Caribbean restaurant in all of Houston, and they charge for the quality. You know, now is a good time to say that it should be an honor to present our food to others. How it is made with quality ingredients and made with love and passion. They should know the sweetness of the grandmother's and grandfather's who prepared these dishes with memories passed down. This is not a bell pepper and pineapple cuisine but complexity in the simpleness. Readjust and raise prices, believe in your food. The well known secret to hard times and hard economies is that people will still spend money on food and beauty. Right now there is a lady making a lot of money on candied pig lips!!!! I want to know, first of all, why the there is no plantain served with the meal? Here, lately, restaurants only give two anemic pieces anyway, so follow suit. Brown stewed chicken was tasty enough. Rice and peas were gummy and laced flavor. Furthermore, it lacked peas. I should have just got white rice. However, if that would have been gummy it would have been a crying shame. Plus, I asked for gravy on the rice and it was lacking. I'm glad I didn't buy plantain. Next, I bought boiled dumpling just for nostalgia sake. Mushy dumplings, horrible. Just horrible! I can't make good dumplings at all. No matter how hard I try but I am not selling them. I want my calories back for those bites I took out of all dumplings looking for the right true. They were not done right. Who are you all cooking for? Ask yourselves. Cook good food please. read more

If you're looking for authentic Jamaican food this is. The. SPOT! The jerk chicken was absolutely delicious and we loved the plantains!

I love this place. The owners are so welcoming and sweet. The food is outta this world. I've been coming here for over 5 years. read more

Tropical Diner - Jerk Chicken (large) - Caribbean Near Me - Katy, Texas

I read the reviews before coming and thought I'd give it the benefit of the doubt... Terrible. We got oxtails and curry chicken. No flavor at all read more

My mom and I had large oxtail dinner, and my son had the jerk chicken dinner. The food was oh so good. I haven't had good Jamaican food in a while. This different brought back good times. read more

Tropical Diner - Jerk Chicken (large) - Caribbean Near Me - Katy, Texas

The brown stew snapper 10/10 Plantains when ripe 10/10 Beef patty cool 6 Oxtails 5 Rice&Peas 5, but 10 with brown stew gravy Shrimp Curry 5 needs more flavor Cabbage 7 I literally only order the brown stew snapper it's the best on the menu! read more

The Food is amazing. I love getting the oxtail! That is my favorite dish and it has not disappointed. Always cooked to perfection! read more

Food was great and price was reasonable. I love Jamaican Food. Great customer service also. Will definitely go back.

Saw a sign one day about Jamaican buffet so we decided to try after church Buffet is $22 Sunday's only Buffet has almost the whole menu minus a few items like oxtail. But there's plenty to choose from. The decor is typical for a Jamaican spot . You seat yourself and serve yourself .the buffet line is small but fresh . Service is non existent but it didn't matter Took off one star because they gave us a cup that had lipstick on it. I know it happens but that's gross Overall the food was really good and my husband wants that to be our Sunday spot read more

Delicious authentic Jamaican food and service! Welcoming vibes. I enjoyed my jerk chicken and curry chicken. Definitely coming again when I am in the area. read more

The oxtails were tasteless.The worst Jamaican food I've had.And it was like 31$.Wasted my money

Very tasty vegan plate with coconut milk and curry. I couldnt eat it all. Took me 4 tries. read more

Tropical Diner - Veggie plate with coconut milk and curry. - Caribbean Near Me - Katy, Texas

Omg I am from nyc and I have been missing authentic Jamacian food I always get their half Oxtail and half curry chicken with rice here and it's so delicious. I like their sweet plantain too! This brooklynite gives this restaurant 10/10! read more

Tropical Diner - Half oxtail half chicken and rice and peas - Caribbean Near Me - Katy, Texas

I almost passed on ordering from here because of my bad experience from Island Spice. But I am here to tell you that this is an awesome place the food is delicious and nice portion. read more

Meh. The service was a little slow, but the ladies were very nice. The food wasn't bad, just bland. It seems like it's catered to people who are not Caribbean. read more

Tried this place for the 1st time and ordered 2 orders of oxtails and 2 beef patties $53 no drinks! I love Jamaican style oxtails more so than soul food style! And I hadn't had them in a while so i was craving them! Ordered to go and i will say we got alot of food the portions was a large amount ( enough to share) The oxtails could have used more flavor and i had too much gravy that covered my rice and cabbage! I prefer to add gravy as i eat and my rice needed a little more flavor as well and not enough peas ( beans) i really couldn't enjoy my cabbage because it was smothered in gravy! I was oh so disappointed because it didn't come with plantains which I'm use to getting with my oxtails rice & peas. The beef patty was ok! I understand that some places have they good days and bad days depending on the cooks! Im willing to try them again but not the oxtails maybe something different and that will determine the rest! read more

Tropical Diner - Caribbean Near Me - Katy, Texas

Yvonne the owner..is awesome! Cooked my food just like I liked it..love the ackee and salt fish...my son loved the jerk chicken also. I have eaten there already twice in one week. My go to go a great dinner‼ Retia B. read more

Oh Yes! I love this place. The owner is so sweet and the food is authentic and delicious . I keep coming back and even had them cater at my wedding. The guests were multicultural and really enjoyed the food. They are my go to for events and when I want some yummy Caribbean cuisine. The escovitch fish is my favorite, but I also love the pudding and pretty much everything else. I would definitely recommend to someone wanting to try authentic Jamaican food. read more

Good Caribbean international fusion with generous portions and friendly service. Parking is easy and free and the location has many complimentary business in the strip. **** read more

My grandson turned us on to Tropical Diner and we fell in love the owner and the incredible food. The owner was so friendly and nice and you could tell that she was very passionate about the food she prepared. We haven't been to Tropical Diner in a few years so today I decided that I wanted to order food from Tropical Diner. I ordered the curry chicken with rice and peas and cabbage and plantain. It was not what I expected. Some parts of the cabbage was undercooked. The rice had very few peas and sort of gummy. I will give credit to the curry chicken. It was the only thing sort of tasty. I am very disappointed because I am familiar with the quality of food that is produced in this restaurant. I don't know if she's no longer preparing food and she has turned the kitchen over to others to make food but I was left with some disappointments and didn't have any desire to eat the food anymore. ‍ read more

This is my favorite place to get island food! I always get the half curry goat and half jerk chicken. Never disappoints. read more

Tropical Diner - Curry Goat and Jerk Chicken (large) - Caribbean Near Me - Katy, Texas

The gravy taste like gumbo filet. Didn't have that authentic Jamaican flavor. The people were very nice, but not a fan of the flavor.

This was my first and last time trying Tropical Diner. I ordered curry goat and oxtail plate. The goat was full of bones, my vegetables had a long string of hair in it, and my oxtails were actually tender with lots of flavor. read more

Tropical Diner - Curry Goat and Oxtail - Caribbean Near Me - Katy, Texas

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Two stars only bc the food has potential but very lack luster. Curry chicken with no potatoes or carrot, that's a problem for me lol! I've had the jerk, curry chicken and brown stew chicken (brown stew also no potatoes or carrot) so, yes I've given the restaurant a few tries. It's just basic nothing worth talking about. Not nasty but blah. And the plantains are always old and dry. Which means they don't take pride in what they serve. Charging extra for Plantains just for them to be old and dry (3x)!!!!! read more

I was wanting some curry goat and decided to try this place. Ordering was quick and easy on the phone. I picked up the order excited to dive in and noticed very small pieces of goat with a large amount of rice and peas. First the order comes large and small. The pictures don't really show what the portion is so I opted for the large. The "large" is a large amount of rice and peas with a small amount of curry goat. The pieces were mostly bone and underwhelming. The curry had good flavor and spice but I didn't get curry goat I got mostly bone. And for $18 I didn't receive what I expected. I give it three stars on flavor alone but really one star due to the -amount of curry goat received. read more

Tropical Diner - Small pieces of goat and bone in the "large" - Caribbean Near Me - Katy, Texas

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Jerk chicken was a 10 out of 10, cabbage was an eight out of 10 a bit too crunchy for my liking , and rice and peas was a five out of 10 flavorless without the jerk gravy... overall good experience, and the best prices in the city!!! read more

I am not certain what the portion size is for lunch plates or dinner plates. Heck, I am not even knowledgeable about their menu overall. Seeing that this place is merely feet away from my gym, it was only a matter of time before the word "buffet" would get the best of me! Who can I get to go with me to this buffet in only hours notice? After the bomb was dropped, and the smoke cleared, only 2 stomachs were not defeated by the time crunch! Eddie S. and Myra S., it was a pleasure dining with you both. Let me clarify one thing. I can't truly call this a buffet. This is an all you can eat set up. This is not a mass quantity of food getting pumped out from the kitchen at alarming rates. I know this because I was there from the beginning of the buffet, and while I ate, other foods were getting added to the set up. This food is actually from Jamaican origin people taking time to season their food with love to ensure you have something that your taste buds can remember. When you come here, this is not a place that will have 50 troughs for you to dig through. You will have a couple of these and a couple of that's...that is it! When I went, there was a cole slow salad, regular salad, 2 dressings for the salad, 2 types of curry chicken, jerk chicken, fish, soup, white rice, rice with beans in it, fruit salad, homemade cake, water and homemade lemonade...I think that is it...check the pictures to verify that! Keep in mind that you can do all you can eat with all those dishes, and the drinks are included. There are some local alcohols and other drinks that you can buy, but water and lemonade does me quite well!!! If you can't tell, I think the food was excellent tasting and quality. Everything I tried had taste to it. These people were really personable as well, and they hired plate ninjas. Every time that I got up to get a new plate of food, that was several times trust me, all my dirty dishes were gone by the time I got back to the table. Get a clean set of utensils each time because these folks don't play. I can go on and on about this place, but I will not. Just know that the buffet is from Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 2pm, and is around $8 with drink included. That is great value for great taste. Give this place a try. read more

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This is one of those places where after you've eaten and left the restaurant you think to yourself "Wow, what did I just eat? That was pretty good" if you have never eaten Jamaican food before (or at least I don't recall ever eating this ethnic food group) then you most likely not be able to identify the ingredients in most of these dishes that are set out on the buffet. You will notice the plantains, the curry chicken, the red beans n rice, the green iceberg salad and the cut fruit. Do not expect to be wowed by a vast buffet gleeming with rounds and rounds of quantity food thrown in a pan but instead be prepared to keep it simple with an array of six Jamaican fixings. Now that we got the obvious past us let me tell you about the other items which I ate but could not identify. ## There was the Jerk Chicken (the seasoning I believe is what makes this dish called that name) that was placed in one of the inserts of the buffet. I was already 3/4 full by the time I got to this and plus it resembled a texture of like dry bbq seasoning that you find on Kansas Style dry rub brisket, but was on chicken. ## The curry chicken had a smooth gravy consistency cooked till the meat almost fell off the bones. Only fork needed for this dish and be prepared to go back possibly for thirds on this dish. ## The fish that was put out a little later on the buffet had the visual of a thin fish, pan/skillet fried with seasonings then carefully placed in a waiting container of light juices accompanied with wedged tomatoes and onions that kept me pondering and coming back for a third serving. ## The red beans and rice is not like your typical Popeyes style, it is served with less moisture but with the same great flavor that you would expect anytime a recipe of beans is fused with rice. You will recognize it immediately when you see it. ##The soup they had that day consisted of a base broth I would suspect to be of chicken since I found a whole leg in it. Other characters in the field were carrots, potatos, cabbage and my favorite for that texture ooomph for your knawing pleasure was duplings. I'd swear I was eating a different form of Gnoche and if you like Tapioca, then you will love the hidden treasure of this that is placed in there. ## There was this chicken that looked and had the consistency of Mexican mole but still could steer your pallet into remembering that you are eating Jamaican food with Jamaican manner in which they add their own dark sauce that is different than mole. This meat also just fell off of the bone as I touched it with my fork. ## Salad, leaf lettuce with a few cuts of fresh tomatoes and that's it. No onion, no olives, no cheese, what you see is what you get, plain Jane with two condiments of dressings placed behind it. One was ranch and I do not know what the other dressing was but I can tell you that the lettuce was fresh, very dark green. ## Plantains, shallow fried till soft a little past al dente, just right. Only thing I miss that Jamaicans probably do not use for their plantains is creme. ## Fruit medley, cutlets of fruit consisting of watermelon, cantaloupe and pineapple mixed into the container ready for your consumption. ## Lemonade, fresh squeezed, slightly sugary but not overpowering. Did not have the tart that you sometimes expect but still good to reset your pallet from the spices consumed on the buffet. ## On most of the tables sit about 3 or 4 Jamaican bottles of hot sauce. They were scottish bonnet, green tomatillo and your regular red sauce that resembeled Tabasco but not as vinegary. Service: Very personable owners that naturally make sure your plates are removed from the table in a prompt manner as well as asking if you need anything. This is what everybody loves about mom and pop businesses, you get treated like a guest, not a number walking through the door. Parking: Ample, in fact for the amount of business that we saw here a little over kill. It shares spaces with adjoining businesses but still not a problem. Vigilante threat low. I cannot put my finger on the outside atmosphere here but this is one of few places where I feel pretty much safe and not having to look around for any bad elements awaiting my exit and entrance back to my vehicle. Price of the buffet for 3 people was $25, that is about $8 per person. Ambience, after experience a power outage for a minute, things turned on and went back to normal. What is a Jamaican restaurant without the haunts of Bob Marley voicing over the speakers "....everything's gonna be all right". His pictures are placed over many spots of the walls and for more culture submersion, as you walk towards the door to leave on your left is a show case of Jamaican movies and CD's. A special shout out to Myra S and Alexander W for the company venture on this wild Jamaican food tour and because it was a special yelp moment for me it deserves to be my 500th review. read more

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My wife and I have been here before but this is my first time doing a review. Its the only Caribbean food spot that I'm aware of out here in Katy. What we like about this place is that the jerk chicken is always on point. When we entered the restaurant it very much shows traditional Jamaican culture and the servers are all Jamaican. There's nothing worse than going into a culturally based establishment only to find cooks that are usually of Hispanic origin. Not that that's necessarily a problem but nobody should be cooking Jamaican food except Jamaicans I'm just saying. They have a buffet special during the week and on Sundays. One thing I do not like about the buffet was the availability of food. They only bought a few items out of the time and the portions they cooked did not fit the amount of people in the restaurant so people always devoured it mere moments after the cooks brought it out. All in all my wife and I do enjoy this restaurant for traditional Caribbean cuisine any time we leave the gym right next door and we have our stomachs growling for a good meal at a good price. Get the lunch portion if they offer it because its a huge portion for one person and you'll save money in the process. read more

Tropical Diner - Great artwork in the restaurant - Caribbean Near Me - Katy, Texas

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