13 best Caribbean restaurants around Charlotte for jerk chicken, patties & more
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Charlotte hosts a growing array of Caribbean eateries from Haiti to Jamaica.
- Restaurants offer fusion dishes, traditional staples and vibrant island decor.
- Multiple locations feature live music, tropical drinks and diverse lunch specials.
Between heatwaves and tropical storms, Charlotte’s weather can sometimes give tropical vibes without the sandy beaches and umbrella drinks.
While we might not be able to fly you to a Caribbean island for the real experience, we’ve got 13 recommendations for dishes that can transport your taste buds to the tropics and maybe even cause a shimmy or two. Whether you’re in the mood for fried plantains, oxtails, fried snapper or tostones, our team has you covered.
We have curated a list of Caribbean eateries that will take you from the lands of Cuban cigars and salsa music to the homes of reggae and rum punch. Expand your palate with foods representing Haiti, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Guyana and more.
Azucar Cuban Restaurant
Location: 14825 Ballantyne Village Way Suite 150, Charlotte, NC 28277
Location: 15906 Old Statesville Road, Huntersville, NC 28078
With two locations in the Charlotte area, Azucar Cuban Restaurant offers Cuban style and flair in Huntersville and Ballantyne. Whether you’re looking for paella, a Chinese-Latino mashup of Havana Peking or a classic mojito, its menu has a sophisticated blend for most palates. It also offers daily lunch specials, catering, and special events.
Caribbean Hut
Location: 9605 N. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28262
Location: 200 W. Woodlawn Rd., Charlotte, NC 28217
Location: 13016 Eastfield Road, Unit B100, Huntersville, NC 28078
Location: 2924 E Franklin Blvd, Gastonia, NC 28056
For almost two decades, Caribbean Hut has delivered the succulent tastes of Jamaica to the Charlotte metro. With four locations to choose from, its menu and background music make guests feel Irie. With staples like curry goat, escovitch red snapper, beef patties, and coco bread, tasty bites await.
Crav’n Caribbean
Location: 2200 Thrift Rd, Charlotte, NC 28208
With the motto “Spice Mek Everything Nice,” one can expect bold flavors at Crav’n Caribbean. Viral videos of its oxtail cheesesteaks have made this takeout spot a trending sensation.
Other fusion dishes include oxtail lo mein, jerk bourbon chicken lo mein and oxtail fried rice just to name a few.
Don’s Jamaican Kitchen
Location: Charlotte Premium Outlets, 5428 New Fashion Way, Charlotte, NC 28278
From food truck sensation to a new location in Charlotte Premium Outlets food court, Don’s Jamaican Kitchen promises to set your tastebuds in motion.
Check out its jerk chicken roll filled with carrots, cabbage, onions, cheese and jerk mayo; or try the jerk chicken wings and sides of rice and peas, plantains and cabbage. You can’t go wrong by adding a serving of mac and cheese, or quenching your thirst with a refreshing pineapple ginger juice or Ting — a grapefruit-flavored soda.
El Cilantro Restaurant
Location: 4709 Margaret Wallace Rd #109, Matthews, NC 28105
Authentic Puerto Rican flavor is just a short drive away at El Cilantro Restaurant in Matthews. Order from a menu filled with mouthwatering dishes such as grilled pork loin over white rice and beans, or mofongo served with beef, chicken, octopus, shrimp and more.
Try hot sandwiches (jibaritos) made with tostones rather than bread and jibaritos (hot sandwiches made with tostones), or a plato tipico (typical Puerto Rican plate) featuring grilled pork, yellow rice with pigeon peas, potato salad and tostones.
Havana Carolina Restaurant & Bar
Location: 11 Union St S Suite, 108, Concord, NC 28025
Just outside of Charlotte, in the heart of Concord is Havana Carolina Restaurant & Bar, a family owned favorite along Concord’s Main Street. Enjoy appetizers of beef or chicken empanadas or cool off with a refreshing mango or soursop smoothie.
Sculpted fried plantains and artfully carved vegetables accessorize traditional plates of ropa vieja, vaca frita and fried fish, all with a backdrop of scenes from Havana and live entertainment to accompany your lunch or dinner. For live bands and dancing in the city try its sister restaurant, El Puro Cuban Restaurant, in South End. Plenty of parking is available but reservations are recommended to avoid a long wait.
Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant
Location: 3011 West Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28208
Feel right at home on Saturday mornings with a Lawrence Caribbean’s traditional Jamaican breakfast of ackee and saltfish.
An alternative choice: Fill up on one of the restaurant’s curry, stew or jerk combo platters, load up on shrimp or oxtails, or grab a roti.
MaBí Cocina Tropical
Location: 416 E 36th St, Charlotte, NC 28205
Step into NoDa on 36th Street and be transported to the Dominican Republic at MaBí Cocina Tropical.
The owners of Sabor Latin Street Grill honor their roots with tasty dishes like ceviche de chicharron, calentao fried rice — consisting of moro rice, sweet plantain, avocado and eggs — and the refreshing mabi drink made from the native seybo tree. A tropical escape is just a light rail stop away.
Mama’s Caribbean Grill
Location: 1504 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
For 25 years, Mama’s Caribbean Grill has been a staple in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood. Try a curry chicken pattie, sweet plantains or oxtail and goat combo.
Venture on the vegan side with a callaloo roti or veggie plate option, or try the callaloo and saltfish. Another option is to sample the king fish platter — curried, stewed, or fried. Jam to live music weekly for a quick trip to paradise.
Ms. DiDi’s Caribbean Kitchen
Location: 2120 Kilborne Dr, Charlotte, NC 28205
Experience a taste of Haiti’s revolutionary flavors with Ms. Didi’s Caribbean Kitchen on the road or at its new East Charlotte location.
Get up close and personal with staple delicacies such as Mama’s Rice Bowl filled with one rice and one protein, stewed chicken served over rice and beans with plantain, or its pate kòde of the day (fried dough filled with various proteins and vegetables). Enhance your meal with delectable sides including djon djon (black rice).
Ms. Elsie’s Bed and Breakfast
Location: 334 N. Sharon Amity Rd., Charlotte, North Carolina 28211
While Ms. Elsie’s Caribbean Bed & Breakfast is a bed and breakfast oasis in southeast Charlotte, its popular breakfast deserves a mention. Inspired by chef Cheryl Watkins’ own roots from Anguilla, St. Maarten and Aruba, guests enjoy a gourmet-style breakfast of tropical treats and delectable island presentations that blend Southern and Caribbean flavors to satisfy your inner foodie.
You’ll have to book a stay to enjoy her custom creations, but word on the street is, it’s worth it.
Quidley’s Delight
Location: 10901 University City Blvd #106, Charlotte, NC 28213
In University City is Quidley’s Delight, off Route 49. In addition to classic Jamaica staples, its menu features crowd-pleasing jerk specials and Quidley’s Pasta — a sumptuous meal cooked with coconut milk, potatoes, carrots and other vegetables.
Try one of the restaurant’s daily lunch specials, or sub its cabbage for savory collard greens.
Rasin Haitian Restaurant
Location: 5630 N Graham St., Charlotte, NC 28269
With refreshing drinks like passion fruit lemonade, hibiscus infusion and soursop lemonade, your tastebuds are sure to do a happy dance at Rasin Haitian Restaurant.
Its specialty menu blends Haitian cuisine and American favorites with oxtail and griot pizzas, Haitian pasta and stewed chicken.
This story was originally published September 16, 2025 at 6:30 AM.
