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Tropicala Taste

4.9 (12 reviews)
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TROPICALA TASTE ATMOSPHERE

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Golden fried fish
J M.

This was definitely a solid food experience! I couldn't help myself an I ordered the Number 5 and was quickly told that it's the number 1. This meant that the dish was the most ordered entree in the restaurant. I was very pleased by the presentation and the flavorful taste. The whole fried tilapia accompanied by rice, beans , and fresh plantains was well balanced and flavored well! I loved having the option of adding chili oil to add my desired level of heat to the entree. But here is what absolutely needs to happen when you go to Tropicala Taste. You have to order plantains and spoon some of the coleslaw on top with a dash of chili oil to finish. Taste...close your eyes and take a trip to the Caribbean by way of Africa

Kania M.

This restaurant is a hidden gem with wonderful service and excellent food. The restaurant is small, but was perfect for my husband and I. Many people ordered pick up and had their meals brought to their cars. We enjoyed the jerk chicken as an appetizer. The Amazing Potato Flavor with Green Bean meal, the Golden Fried Fish Talapia with Plaintain and Rice was our main course. We topped off the experience with Mandazi for dessert. If you are looking for an Afro-Caribbean experience, this restaurant comes highly recommended!

Island Chicken Pasta Meal
Joe F.

This is the best chicken in the city! Especially with a little of their chili oil hot sauce. Wow. Really glad we tried this place. I can't wait to get back and try something else. The sweet and savory plantains were both terrific, and the savory came with a dipping sauce that was delicious. The plantains were cooked to order and were very crispy. Out of the dishes we had, I didn't enjoy the pasta as much as the other things, but it was unique. Creamy sauce with cloves, unique flavor. Looking forward to getting back as soon as possible to try some of the other dishes, like the rice, fried turkey and the "amazing potatoes with vegetables." The papaya and mango juice also were great. They make them in house and rotate the selection. The staff was also very friendly. I'm excited to get back soon!

Carly H.

This is my new favorite spot in GR! The owner Nick is a Swiss Army knife kind of guy - he cooks, he greets, he answers the phone, he runs the register...truly everything!!! His restaurant is located in a strip mall that is never busy, which is great for parking options. The GPS might direct you to McDonalds, but it's located in the strip mall right behind McDonalds. The restaurant itself is bright and always clean (including the bathroom!). There are a few tables and a couch to eat inside, but I've also ordered to-go and the food travels well down the street. Now for the FOOD! Ummm I have tried nearly everything on the menu at this point and haven't found anything I dislike. The Samosas are a great appetizer (deep fried ground beef in a thin pastry dough) and the super super spicy chili oil is perfect on them...but just one drop for me! The tilapia is epic. For being a whole fried fish, it is super meaty, juicy, and flavorful. I've found that sometimes this method makes it harder to eat, but unlike a red snapper, there isn't a whole lot of effort to avoid bones. Make sure you get a side of rice and beans, because it's not your average staple. And the plantains are amazing as well, I like to dip them in the green sauce. The fried turkey is delicious, but I try to eat it first because it can dry out a little bit if it sits awhile, but that is typical for anything fried. The Caribbean pasta and chicken are not my favorite of all the things I've tried, but I wouldn't classify them as bad. Let me start a new paragraph in honor of the star of the show: THE CHICKEN WINGS. Listen people, these are the best chicken wings in Grand Rapids. No, you can't choose among 100 flavors like at a 'wing spot', but in terms of tenderness, this meat doesn't just fall off the bone...it plummets off. The flavors are hard for me to pinpoint but I get a lot of garlicky, salty, herby, buttery vibes. They don't need a morsel of sauce, but if you must, the green sauce is great. Nick is so warm and welcoming and genuinely gets to know each of his customers and makes sure you are happy with your food. Even when I get takeout, he insists on showing me inside each to-go box to confirm my order. Even if you don't think Caribbean-African fusion cuisine is your thing, I promise this food is worth trying and Nick is a joy to support!

Best fish north of the gulf coast! Everyone was super friendly and the food was freshly prepared. Absolutely recommend this place! :)

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Jamaican Daves - Jerk Chicken

Jamaican Daves

3.8(48 reviews)
5.3 mi
$

asoline. Probably my favorite meal I've ever had in Grand Rapids. I'm sick of people always try…read moreto spice it up. This was delicious spicy with the coleslaw with the crispy this of that doughnut thing, bro it was delicious. I even got to hear the gentleman say Wahgwaan

We were excited to find this place. We drove 30 minutes from Wayland…read more We arrived at 12:15 pm; found a handwritten sign: "I'll be back by 1:00pm" Ugh. We left and came back an hour later. Store was open on 2nd try. First impression: Empty. Lights are off. Dark inside. One friendly man running the show. Smells delicious. Greeted promptly. Store quiet, except for quiet talking among clientele. There were other customers already ordering. I ordered jerk chicken and curry chicken. $16 each meal. Chef disappeared into the dark kitchen. Order took about 10 minutes. Jamaican trinkets were on sale in a glass case. Bob Marley earrings, etc. Huge airbrush mural on the wall was nice. *Some quiet reggae music would have added to the ambiance. I took my food home and split the 2 orders 3 ways with my 2 teenagers. The CHICKEN was very tender, almost too tender. Nice flavor. Dryer than I expected. Jerk flavor was preferred, but curry was also good. (Better cold) COLE SLAW was great with a fresh citrus taste. The RICE was thick and pasty like oatmeal, and had some fruits in it. It took up half the tray, and most of it landed in the trash. Even The donut or CARNIVAL, is interesting, as were the plantains. We are not familiar with Jamaican cuisine, so can't judge it for authenticity. The flavor was a nice experience, but not really our thing. Good luck. Nice guy! I'm probably just too Caucasian for this place. ;-)

Photos
Jamaican Daves - Monday photo.

Monday photo.

Jamaican Daves - Curry Chicken

Curry Chicken

Jamaican Daves

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Tropicala Taste - african - Updated May 2026

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