Sigh... so close, and yet so far....... In Belizean: Me wan gih Garifuna Flava da 5 star, but ah can't yet. Yah man, dey cook authentic, but da no de bes' belize food i evah git. Eh good, doh! Ah mi get di rice an' beans wih stew chicken, plantain, deh potato salad, deh panades, an' deh conx flittas. Alla deh tings look good an' taste good, buh sumtin' jus' a lee bit off wih each plate fram wha' ah grow up wit. Stew chicken mih good, buh ah guess ah' git tuh use tuh dah way ah mek it ah home. Dat potato salad wih deh english creme good, man! Dih panades wih deh hot peppah onions - yuh can't beat dat! Even dah few fish bones noh botha' me none! Conx flittas.... now dat dah mih mistake. Ah grow up eatin' it fresh fram dih watah an' cook rite deh on dah key... so how Chicago gwen match dat when eh gat no beach an' noh fresh conx.... Flava try hard, doh! Ah mi drive ovah wan hour just fu do wan pickup.... su far weh... bu' yuh no find wan belizean restaurant in deh states often, so grab wen yuh can!. In English: I really want to give Garifuna Flava 5 stars, but I just can't yet. Yes, they cook authentic, but it's not the best belizean food I've ever eaten. It is good, though! I ordered rice and beans with stewed chicken, fried plantains, belizean potato salad, panades, and conch fritters. All the dishes looked and tasted good, but there was something just a tiny bit off on each dish compared to what I grew up with. The stew chicken was good, but I guess I'm too used to the way I make it at home. The belizean potato salad with the english creme was good! The panades with hot pepper onions... you can't beat that! Even the few fish bones I encountered didn't bother me. Conch fritters ... now that was my mistake. I grew up eating them fresh from the sea and cooked right on the beach (cays).... so how could Chicago match that when there's no beach and no fresh conch.... ? Garifuna Flava tries hard, though! I drove over an hour just to do a pick-up order... so far away.... but you don't find a Belizean restaurant in the US very often, so grab it while you can! read more

I used to come on here and blast them for poor service, but I stand forever corrected. I don't care if I wait two hours this food is worth the wait. My mainstay is the white meat jerk chicken dinner. I've come here about 5 times in a row and if nothing else this food is consistently delicious. For the sides I have cabbage which is sweet a little sour. My other sides were beans, rice and plantains. All were skillfully prepared. On a whim I tried the panades. Fun fact = I abhor fish. The panades were magnificent crispy fried with yummy sauce and sadly they didn't make it home. I would highly recommend this place. Yes, service is slow, but it is family run with a whole lotta love. The staff is friendly, so be patient and kind. Lastly, please try the Belizean Long Island, it will make your night magical. read more

I have a problem. After visiting Garifuna Flava, I became so obsessed with Belizean cuisine that I bought a small boat, have a bride to be, 200 acres of Belizean coastal property, a dog, and 500 shares of a sugar company. What the HELL did that jerk chicken do to me?!?! Where to begin? I guess I'll start with the food. We had their Panades and Conch Fritters. Both uniquely fantastic. The Panades could have used a little more fish, but the corn patties (empenada looking) were so tasty, it didn't really matter. I liked the sweet vegetable salsa or relish they served with it. Mostly consists of cabbage. A mere taste of the Conch Fritters would convert an atheist to a fully committed Christian. Yeah, that good. They serve them with a very similar vegetable sauce as the Panades, but this ones got habanero suckaaaaaas!!!!! For entrees, we had their Jamaican Jerk Chicken and their Oxtail Stew. The Jerk Chicken was great, full of spice and came with a jerk sauce that kicked it up a notch. Plus I like how they chopped the chicken into large chunks. I got that with some red beans and rice that were accompanied by some delicious gravy and their potato salad. The potato salad was one of a kind, nice texture balance and the mayo mixture had a lot going on. The oxtail stew was phenom. Tender like the heart of an angel. It was suggested to have this with their steamed cabbage. GREAT suggestions, the steamed cabbage reminded me of soulful greens. Very good. While I waited, I was given a sampling of their Belizean Long Island. WOW! Those suckers would have you floored in no time. But I bet for dinner they'd be a lot of fun to put down with a crew of good friends. Being open till 2AM on Fri and Sat, I could see it getting really fun in here. Garifuna Falava rules. GIT yo ASS in here and taste da flava! read more

Garifuna Flava is a winner. Im a big fan of everything about this place from a food point. The food has so many flavor notes that you'll crave later. The Jerk Tacos are a big stand out with just enough spice and energy to easily remind me of my time in MoBay. The service is wonderful and the staff here is more than willing to offer locations based on your hunger level The look of the place is the only reason why I am giving it 4 stars. not that i expecting a super fancy location because island food is always at REALLY SIMPLE PLACES but this space is just visually appealing. I felt like my table wasn't the cleanest either but that could just be me With a robust menu and great food is a must visit! read more

Great Caribbean food! The chicken was just right and the rice perfect. The drinks and the desserts go well with the meal. You have to try and be Irie as I was. Glad my coworker turned me onto this slice of paradise. read more

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4 words - Yummy in my tummy! It's been nearly a day since our visit and I'm still thinking about all the yummy food my husband and I had. It was about noon when I looked at my husband and asked what he wanted to do for lunch. It was a great day so we decided to venture outside of the same old choices we always go to in Lincoln Park and went for Garifuna Flava. I've been wanting to go here for FOREVER, ever since I saw it on Check, Please but it never worked out until now. (Shame on me for waiting so long!) Don't be put off by the location, it's a quick drive from the LP and they had a lot next door to the restaurant for easy parking. We ordered the panades and conch fritters for apps. Enjoyed them both but loved loved loved the conch fritters. I'm allergic to shellfish so when I ordered it I thought, oh crap. But I'm glad I was adventurous anyway (the allergy never did rear it's ugly head) because it was so delish. Yum yum. I got the Belizean stew chicken and my husband ordered the hudut baruru (it's somewhat like a stew with kingfish). Both were very tasty and flavorful. The portions were big and plentiful. They also served like a plaintain mashed potato type thing (sorry, that's the best description I could think of) with the hudut baruru and it was soo awesome. I LOVE plaintains so I was in heaven when I learned something like this existed. For dessert, we ordered a slice of the pound cake with caramel sauce. O.M.G. it was to.die.for. I am so grateful to the other reviews who suggested getting this. It was warm and fluffy and light and just the right amount of sweetness. That poundcake was downright sinful. My only regret? That I had to split that one slice with my hubby. I mean, come on, man, get your own piece! I can't wait to go back and try the other dishes and get me some more of that poundcake. read more

Okay-side note...per review of another yelpper's review, Garifuna Flava was on Check Please! SOOOOOO excited because this place needs more hype..... My cousin and I tried this place about 3 weeks ago, on a Tuesday afternoon for lunch, actually, when they just opened. We shared everything. Appetizers- Panades, Chicken Tamales, beef patties and plantains. The Panades were excellent, a perfect amount of fish filled pockets fried, crunchy an perfect sized to get the hunger monkey off your back. The Chicken Tamale was yummy as well. It was different, the chicken was unbelievably tender and this was home made, a tamale as wide as your hand. And the Beef Patties, although, not on the appetizer menu, we had this as an appetizer. This is identical to a meet pie, in African cuisine, it was yummy. Great flavor. The plantains, also not an appetizer, we ordered an extra serving of these and they were simply perfect. Nice and crispy on the outside, soft and sweet inside. Delicious. Entree- My cousin and I shared the Chicken Stew...it was great, beans and rice were great and the chicken fell off the bone! Very enjoyable. Dessert - We had the pound cake with caramel sauce...enjoyed it a great deal. Drinks- My cousin had the Bahama mama...we didn't like it very much, but if that's your drink of choice, go for it. I had the Caribbean long island....AMAZING. The thing with long islands is many people have no idea how to make them, didn't have the issue with this. Full of alcohol but delicious nonetheless. (Hey, it was happy hour somewhere!) Please visit this place, the prices are extremely reasonable and the food is amazing. read more

This restaurant is a hidden gem. The food was out of this world! We had the guacamole and plaintain chips, tamales, penadas, and a few other appitizers. I highly recommend the chicken tamales - so amazing. The jerk chicken, snapper, fish stew....all great. The service was good, Hussein was a sweetheart and put up with us all night long. Have them make you a Belize Long Island!!! Will go back for sure! read more

So this place is seriously awesome. So awesome that I'm going to write my first Yelp review just to give props to this place. After taking a tour of the neighborhood of Chicago Lawn, I dropped by because my car was parked there and stopped in, having less than half an hour to eat and expecting to just grab a snack and take out. But the waiter assured me fast service (and I was not disappointed, food was out in less than 10 minutes), so I stayed, enjoyed the jerk chicken lunch special and some carrot-guava juice. The jerk chicken was superb, falling off the bone and just the right amount of spice (+ sauce on the side when you feel like making it spicier) but I was even more delighted to find that the rice and beans were some seriously high quality rice, also well-spiced with some tasty gravy that you could add to taste. And of course the plantain and fruit juice that came with it were the perfect complement. Basically, I haven't had food that delicious, at a place that homey and friendly in a long time, anywhere. read more

I'm Catracho, which is to say an Honduran. There are NO good Honduran restaurants in the city of Chicago, period. Not on the north side, not used to be good, not used to exist, never. Garifuna Flava, they are the brothers from the Garifuna people who exist in Honduras and gave our people the Punta style dance, the soup dish "sopa de caracol" and beautiful women. Garifuna Flava moved onto 63rd street which has other Caribbean styled restaurants as well--Jamaican for example. But none offer what Garifuna Flava has. I used to actually live in Marquette Park and dined in a few times. The staff are friendly. The liquor selection is good, and they actually serve great liquor to compliment your dish. La sopa de caracol takes me back to eating the same dish in honduran restaurants in Miami and also to the first time I ever had sopa de caracol in Honduras, on the beach when I was 8 years old. Its a big portion, priced well and if you have the chile sauce they supply, it goes well with it. The stew is served piping hot and you'll want more--if it doesn't leave you feeling stuffed. Go to Garifuna Flava!! Tip generously. read more

Excellent jerk chicken. I've only dined here, however, each time I've been. Customer service was on point and the food was excellent. I can only speak on the jerk chicken dinner, however, the overall presentation and quality of food was too notch! Great neighborhood gem! read more

I took away one star because I've never physically been to their restaurant location so I can't vouch for that but I have, however, had their food items several times when my employer does Fooda Pop-Ups. Every time I see the announcement that Garifuna Flava will be in our lobby, no matter if I brought my lunch that day, I get so excited I run down there!! -Stew chicken is my absolute favorite. It is so, so flavorful; absolute perfection. -Coming in as a close second favorite is the jerk chicken. The flavor is also great but it's not as moist or tender as the stew chicken. As well all know, MOIST is always better (lol) so I almost always go with the stew. Also, I'm not a huge fan of spicy food and this is some spiiiiiicy shiznit. Caution! -Rice and Beans are good but I'm Hispanic and have definitely had better, more flavorful rice. I'd still get it though on my high-carb days because it does hit the spot! -Their cabbage is my favorite side dish - very, very flavorful, cooked to perfection, and a little better on your waistline compared to the rice and beans. -Plantains are also top-notch. Good, authentic, well-prepared Caribbean plantains are hard to come by in Chicago and this place takes the award for being the best in this department. If I was ever in the area, I would definitely visit their restaurant but that ish is far and this girl doesn't ever think that'll happen. Hopefully they just continue coming to our Fooda PopUps! read more

Soooooo I plan on going to the actual restaurant location very very soon. For those that work downtown definitely take advantage of Nosh Market at Block 37 (extended through March). I stumbled upon Garifuna and ordered the jerk chicken plate (jerk chicken, red rice and beans, and plantains) Every item was delicious. The jerk chicken was flavorful and whatever green sauce that was on the side was good! I like the red rice and beans had a spicy kick to them. The plantains were sweet and not overdone. I cannot wait to bring my mom to the actual location. That caramel pound cake is calling my name! read more

Garifuna Flava - Jerk chicken, red rice & beans, plantains - Caribbean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My husband and I were feeling like something different and wanted to stay on the south side (we live in Hyde Park), so we did a little research and came across Garifuna Flava here on Yelp. It had rave reviews, so we decided to check it out. The restaurant is just a quick drive west from Hyde Park. The neighborhood is a bit rougher around the edges than what some folks may be used to, but we parked in the lot right next to the restaurant and never felt uncomfortable or unsafe. We went on a Friday night last month at 7ish and the place was completely empty except for one other group. I always feel a little uncomfortable going into a restaurant that's near empty, especially when I've never been there before or I'm not that familiar with the cuisine (I worry it'll be too obvious we don't know what we're doing...). The server we had, though, went out of his way to make us feel comfortable, explaining the menu, telling us a little about the Garifuna culture, and giving us recommendations about what to try. We ordered conch fritters (which were really fresh and flavorful) to start and then both got the jerk chicken which is, hands down, the best jerk chicken--maybe even the best chicken, period-- I have ever had. The seasoning was on point, the meat was juicy, and it was spicy but not so hot that we couldn't taste the other complex spices. It comes with a delicious gravy/hot sauce that was so tasty I could drink it (according to the waiter, the kid at the table next to us did, in fact, drink a few little cups of it...) The jerk chicken I've had in the past often seems to have an artificial liquid-smoke taste to it, but this just tasted really fresh and tangy, with a rich natural smokiness. We had TONS of food (and Belizean beer) and, considering the quality of what we got, it was extremely affordable. read more

After seeing this place on the news, and being featured on that Guy Fieri show I just had to take a trip to check this place out. This place isn't too far from midway airport, and the neighborhood is a little sketchy looking. There were people fighting where we parked, and a lot of boarded up homes in the neighborhood. But still I wanted to give this place a fair shot. Upon entering I felt a little awkward because everyone was just sitting at a bar area when you walk in, and they kind of just stared at us until we said we had called in a reservation. We were seated, and the server disappeared for a bit. I flagged her down to take our order. There were only 2 tables, but it took about 20 mins just to get served a drink. I had a belizian Long Island which just tasted like they added pineapple juice to a Long Island and called it belizian. #StopIt It was good, but nothing special. The boy and I ordered appetizers- conch fritters, jerk wings, and plantain chips with guacamole. The conch fritters were soooooooooooo good. My mouth had sex!! The jerk wings were good, but I've had better in Jamaica! I loved the fried plantain chips with the guacamole! They were delicious okay! #2SnapsUp For Dinner I had the king fish with white rice & chicken gravy, fresh plantains, & cabbage. The fish was okay. It was kind of dry in pieces, but the red sauce had a very nice flavor. I needed some bread for that sauce! The white rice with the chicken gravy was sooooooooo good. The spices were awesome! I don't know what made me order cabbage because I don't usually go for it. I'm glad I did because the cabbage was so good I wanted to get in my car, go to the cemetery, dig up my great great great grandma and slap the shit out of her lol! The ripe plantains were amazing!!!!! My desert was very disappointing. I had looked at the menu a few weeks in advance and I wanted this cassava cake, but I was informed that the guy that makes it was sick?? No cassava for me. Instead I opted for the caramel pound cake. The server told me it was good. I seriously could've karate chopped her for that recommendation. The flagship cake was dry as all get out. The caramel was good, but there wasn't much caramel on the cake. Next time #I'LLPassOnThat I will definitely go back for some fritters, and I wanna try the panades, and belizian tamales. The service was very slow although my server was very nice. I heard a guy from the table next to me ask when was his food coming. I read that in the review ahead of time so I planned accordingly. There seriously is just one lady cooking in the kitchen. The staff allowed me to say hello to her. I will definitely go back to this place! Until Next time y'all!! read more

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This place serves the best Jerk food I've eaten in Chicagoland. Today was my second visit and i got the King Fish with Cabbage. Generous portions bursting with flavor. I'd also urge you to have the Long Island if you dine in as it is worth the experience. read more

So saw this on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and I had to go. 5 of us made the trek to the southside to check out this gem. It was a Thursday night and we called and tried to make reservations for 8PM....well they close at 8PM during the week. They said to be there at 715 and we would be fine. Of course, gettin 5 girls together and on time is never going to happen so we got there at 730....not to bad. The great thing, there is a parking lot so no need to stalk around for a parking spot. BONUS! The space is nothing to look at but we were seated promptly and the service was a little slow in the beginning but I think it was because they thought there were more people coming. Alas, the server came over and we just started spouting out what we wanted to try. Also, we asked her for suggestions. The one complaint I have with Garifuna Flava was that we wanted the Hudut Baruru w Tikini....BUT the cooks said it takes 45 mins to cook so they wouldnt make it for us :( BOOO. But what we had was all PHENOMENAL!!!!! Panadas, Conch Fritters (my favorite), salsanaches, King Fish, Jerk Chicken, Ox tail stew, plantains, rice and beans, cabbage and the BEST hot sauce I have tasted! For dessert we had the pound cake with caramel (GREAT!!! It would have been perfect with a little side of ice cream) and the coconut tarts (least favorite, but I dont like pastries that much). The drinks were great. The staff was so nice! The portions were HUGE! I definitely had a food baby when we left. read more

Oh man this place was incredible! I highly suggest raiding the appetizer menu because that was the mind blowing stuff. We got an order of the chicken wings that come with sauce, my oh my those wings were sensational and packed with grilled jerk flavor, but be cautioned they are small in size, there now you know the size so do not cry and bitch if you think they are too small. We also had the panadas which were really damn good too and the sauces, which kinda reminded me of really good sour kraut, were amazing. We also had salsanachas which was very flavorful; however, the sauce on top was a tad sweet for my taste, but all I had to do was grab their fiery hot habanero sauce they have at each table and put a little on and it balanced the flavor out perfectly! The corn fritter, oh my god, they were f*#@ing amazing! They were some of the best things I ever tasted in my life! No kidding though these were so soft and moist on the inside and packed with flavor, the outside had a very subtle fried taste, and..... Oh my, just go and try it! For the main entree we had the King fish, which I was not real blown away by and that is probably because all the appetizers we got were so damn good it was hard to top. The rice was pretty good, the king fish was alright and had some kind of slightly sweeter sauce but not real sweet. It was alright but I would suggest other things on the menu. I will return here for sure, especially for those fritters! read more

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#TripleD It's the flava that you savor! The positive yelp reviews don't lie. The food at Garifuna Flava is AWESOME! So many choices and very affordable for the amount of food you get. I ended up getting the Jerk Chicken, Panades, and washed it down with some kind of "Breeze" drink. The Jerk Chicken is not like Jamaican Jerk. This is food from Belize. So, it's not as spicy. One order is about half a chicken...so, I couldn't finish it. The chicken has this smokiness with each bite that makes your mouth water for another bite. I would recommend ordering this chicken with a friend or two and then getting some other dishes. The sauces were awesome too! The panades were excellent as well. The fish inside was very delicious while the deep fried outside shell wasn't drenched in oil. Habanero slaw (& the mild) were EXCELLENT! I could put that stuff on hotdogs, hamburgers, tacos, sushi, cake... Every around me was ordering the Conch soup that looked so good. That may be the better way to go if you're with a smaller party. I also appreciated my waiter giving me a "BELIZE" tourist guide, just in case, I wanted to visit the country of Belize. That was another first for me. This is #56 on my quest to eat at all the Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives in America! read more

Took the trek over to Garifuna Flava on a Friday night with some friends. We had previously made reservations but we were only one out of three groups here. I agree with most of the other reviews, order all the appetizers! They are all great and really cheaply priced. The guacamole wasn't great, but the conch fritters and panades made up for it. The entrees were good as well but I'm pretty sure we could've just ordered the rice and beans and been satisfied. We had the stewed beef, shrimp, and conch soup. We ordered some of the signature cocktails and even being Caribbean styled, they were tasty and not too sweet. Our waiter was friendly enough but wasn't super knowledgable about the menu and couldn't answer some of our questions about the menu. Overall, it's a great place to stop if your in the neighborhood. read more

They came to my job today, and after reading such great reviews, i was eager to try it. I had the following: Stew Chicken: I really loved the stew chicken. Extremely flavorful and the meat would fall right off of the bone. Will definitely be my 'go to' dish when i visit their actual restaurant. I've never liked stew chicken from other restaurants i've tried, but they hit it right on the nail with how they prepare it. Jerk Chicken: It wasn't bad, but i've had better in Chicago. As mentioned in a previous review, the jerk chicken isn't spicy at all and almost tasted like normal bbq chicken...but what made me like it, is when i dipped the chicken in the side of green sauce they give you. Once i did that, then the jerk chicken had a chance. Rice and Beans: Extremely good, great texture, and especially loved the gravy that they pour on top of it. Was the best rice and beans i've ever had. Would definitely order this again. Cabbage: The cabbage was good, it had a hint of spiciness to it which i loved about it. No complaints here and would order this side again. Overall the food was great. I almost feel like i was charged a premium for the fact they were bringing the food to my company vs. me picking the food up at their actual restaurant. Paid $25 for all of the food above, and each were in very small containers. Hope when i visit the restaurant the portions are a bit bigger for the cost, but overall good! It was great to see a restaurant thats located on the south side of chicago, come downtown to participate in the FOODA program. Keep up the hard work! read more

This place was crazy delicious. I went with two friends and took a very expensive cab ride from the loop out to this place while we were in town for a conference, and it was WORTH IT. we started with the appetizer platter and conch fritters, which came with the most amazing habanero slaw. also had the belizean long island cocktail which was TO DIE FOR. We then went overboard with the help of an incredibly, incredibly friendly staff, and ordered a whole jerk chicken, the whole red snapper, cabbage, rice and beans, and plantains. We basically licked the plates it was so insanely good. The jerk chicken is an incredible blend of spices and comes with a fantasitc sauce, the rice and beans sounds like it wouldnt be that exciting but it comes with this FANTASTIC gravy and was really special, plantains were perfectly cooked and that red snapper. OH THE RED SNAPPER. it was tender, flavorful, and perfect. we were fighting over it. just when we thought we had no room left we were talked into the sweet potato cake. it was light and airy and really incredibly special. it might look humble but it was one of the best restaurant desserts ive had in quite a while. the staff was really helpful and kind, made the trip out super fun, and the food was absolutely to die for. i cant wait for my next trip to chicago! read more

First off let's address the location. Sure it's not like some neighborhoods in the city. It has diversity, culture, people outside of their homes. In no way does that translate to me feeling unsafe at.all. On a Friday night there were several families in the place and even if I was by myself would have felt right at home. The staff was very friendly and worked their tail off to bus, seat and serve all customers. We ordered the conch fritters and panades which were both amazing. I think I preferred the fritters but you can't go wrong with either. For our main dishes we had the jerk chicken and the king fish. The chicken was amazing, smoked and seasoned perfectly. The fish was solid, a bit over cooked, but the sauce was very good and cabbage and rice and beans that came with it were bomb.com/wow. If you are looking for a great atmosphere and food that is not your "usual" cuisine please give this place a try. read more

Garifuna is fantastic. There are some dishes which are outstanding, and some which are 'merely' good. Outstanding list: 5: that stew-oxtail. "Our meats are marinated with bell pepper, onions, vinegar, paprika & black pepper, then slow stewed and baked to perfection. Very tender and packed with flavor. All entrees are served with choice rice & beans, stew beans or split peas, fried ripe plantains and choice salad." KILLER. I can't phrase it better than them. Good list: 4: Appetizer 331 platter. Those wings were killer, probably better than Nandos in seasoning and tenderness. I straight recommend getting just the wings over this, because the other 2 elements were just a-ok. 4: Conch soup and Hudut Baruru I recommend as well. 4: Red Snapper "This very popular white fish is delicate to the core. Served whole, it is deep fried & garnished in a sweet pepper, tomato, purple onion & garlic based creole sauce." Whoaw. Extremely fresh and well cooked, still lacking the extra oomph to reach oxtail level. 2: Pigtail, it's an acquired taste. We were too full to try dessert, especially after the coconut-rice, stew beans, and fried plantains. WOW. read more

My husband and I honeymooned in Belize and came back googling where we could find Belizean food in Chicago. GF is so far away from us, it took their appearance at a taco fest where they brought jerk tacos to kick our butts into gear to get down there. The jerk chicken and the stew chicken are so flavorful and the meat falls off the bone. The cabbage looks unassuming, but it's incredibly flavorful and the plantains are soft, sticky and sweet. The wait staff are always lovely as well. I just wish it was closer to home so I could eat it more regularly! read more

The food here is beyond amazing. They carry a small menu but that's all you need. Slow cooked anything is the way to go! And they also carry authentic beverages from Belize which makes this place even better. The area its in is shady, but they have parking next door which makes it a bit safer. read more

This place is great! A hidden little gem their jerk chicken is amazing. So juicy and full of flavor. You will not be disappointed and their portions are generous. read more

Outstanding. My stomach's happily rumbling with memories as I write this. Headed here with a friend and got a ridiculous amount of food for not a lot of cash. Started off with two appetizers: the guacamole and the conch fritters. The guacamole itself was really good, but nothing out of the ordinary... the accompanying plantain chips, though, were fresh out of the fryer and delicious. And the conch fritters were mighty tasty and satisfying. Gotta remember to try the panades the next time. For mains, went with the stewed ox-tail and the hudut baruru with falumou (a fish/coconut soup served mashed plantains). The ox-tail is amazing. Seriously. The meat is fall-off-the-bone and perfectly flavored, and the stew/curry is mind-blowing. Just the right balance between thin/soupy and thick/stewy, and perfectly complements the beans and rice served on the side. I'm still dreaming about this dish. No, I'm not kidding. The hudut baruru wasn't quite as good (not quite as flavorful as I was hoping for), but was still damned tasty. The mashed plantains served with the dish kinda remind me of Puerto Rican mofongo. Beyond the food, the service was extraordinary. We were seated immediately (on a Saturday night), and the servers checked back frequently to check on how we were doing. And they were able and willing to happily answer any questions we had about the food. Can't say enough good things about this place. read more

Love this place! Absolutely the best food for flavor, quality, and service. Worth the trip! read more

Garifuna Flava - Thursday special - Caribbean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Just had a fabulous lunch here. Jerks chicken, stewed chicken, rice, cabbage... all of it was excellent. read more

I dont know what I would do without my YELP.I'd be lost.Was in the area last night and was looking on Yelp to see what was around me.I DISCOVERED Garifuna Flava!!!! I would have NEVER KNOWN otherwise.Had a wonderful meal as well as learned a little about the Garifuna people as well as a little geography.lol.I looooved their creole sauce!!!!! Im definitely going to be coming back.Service was friendly,prompt and informative!!! Loooved it!!! read more

Garifuna Flava - Red snapper - Caribbean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'll preface this review by saying the 3 stars is not for the food, but for the service. The food was 5-star but we didn't plan on it taking two hours to get it! Popped in on Saturday night at about 7:30. A large party of 20 was taking up most of the restaurant. No problem, me and the bf sat at the bar for about 45 minutes until the staff put out a few more tables to seat us and another group. He had a long-island which he really liked. We listened to a band rehearsing in the space next to the restaurant. We got seated, ordered an appetizer and entree right away (we'd had nearly an hour to check the menu), then we proceeded to wait...and wait. After 45 minutes we stopped the first waitress we saw and asked about the appetizer. We were told that the appetizers would arrive at the same time as the meal. Huh? The point of an appetizer is to hold you over until the real food comes. By this time it was close to 9pm and we were starving. Appetizer finally came out and the waitress explained that they serve table by table. So each table will be fully served before they move on to the next table. Our food finally came about 10 minutes after the appetizer. He had the kingfish and I had stew chicken, we enjoyed the food but we were also pretty cranky and ready to leave by the time it was served. Overall it was a cool vibe, definitely a family place, I'm sure we'll eat there again, or maybe call our order in. Think we just picked the wrong night, they don't seem equipped to deal with crowds yet. Hopefully I can update this review with more stars. read more

When I first heard about Garifuna Flava around the time that it was being opened for the first time, there were a lot of speculations. My very first visit almost two years ago definitely put all that speculation to rest. I really enjoy everything about Garifuna Flava, especially the food. However, the warm and friendly welcome is greatly appreciated. The host and his team are always busy, but I view that as very good for their business. Among the food that I enjoyed at Garifuna Flava are the conch soup, conch fritters, hudut and the rice and beans. I've actually created a bucket list to make it a mission to sample their entire menu and I am sure that it'll be satisfying. I'll be going back from time to time and as long as I can. I think you should too... read more

I got a jerk chicken dinner from here and it was really good. The chicken was moist and spicy, the mac and cheese was really good (it's a different flavor from American style, more spices), and the rice and beans were good. I also had the pigtail, which was nice and salty. Everything was cooked to order, so obviously there was a little bit of a wait, but I prefer that so my food is nice and fresh. I can't wait to order from here again and hopefully dine in after Covid dies down. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in the city. Very flavorful food that you won't find anywhere else and run by one of the nicest families you'll find in the business. I've been there several times now and have been working my way through the menu and have not been disappointed once. The stewed chicken falls right off the bone and is complemented by a generous plate of rice and beans and plantains. There is a great lunch special, but I usually skip it and get the dinner portion so that I'll have leftovers. The fish has always been fresh and prepared with some great sauces. Sauteed shrimp was the latest dish to make the all-star list. Be sure to start with the panades, and order the guacamole and plantain chips if that's your thing. Desserts might be the weakest part of the menu, but I always end up getting one since they're more unique than the monster chocolate whatever you'll get at other soulless places. I haven't been there during peak hours, but service has always been attentive and most of all friendly. Hussein remembered us after only one visit, and we've met several other family members who are just as helpful with recommendations. It's a very clean place, and has free parking right next door. Explore the city a bit - the experience is worth the trip down there if you're not in the neighborhood. read more

You get unexpected flavors real nice I didn't expect much but wow sure glad I gave this place a spot one of my favs

Okay let me start by saying I've " NEVER "written a review before. Even though I am always reading them. Lol But this restaurant SO deserves it's props ( do people still say props???) Me and my husband had ordered some to go food last year and have been meaning to go back. Well yesterday we decided to go for lunch. For starters they have their own parking lot which was a plus.. When you walk in, nothing fancy, very clean. We're off to a good start. For starters we had the conch fritters and the panades. OMG the panades were SOOO delicious as were the fritters. They came with a "cabbage like salsa"??? Whatever it was one was VERY hot and the other was mild. The hot one was so good though I just wanted to keep eating it even though my mouth was on fire because it was SO good. Now mind you it was lunch, my husband ordered the "lunch"serving of jerk chicken and I had the "dinner" serving of ox tails. The ox tails were served with rice and peas, cabbage, and 2 plantains. EVERYTHING was excellent, The oxtails were cooked perfectly and the gravy was so good. Not only was I licking my fingers but sucking the bones (like the old folks do haha) It was that good. My husband said the chicken was prob the best jerk chicken he's had (sorry grandma) All in all I highly recommend this restaurant. Oh and the waiter said his mother does ALL the cooking (hats off to mom) New Favorite Spot :) read more

Best tamale I've had EVER. So soft and flavorful was the chicken tamale. I didn't know a tamale could be so good. Chicken wings appetizer was also super good. Oxtail stew was fantastic, meat falling off the bone. Wasn't a huge portion, but decent. Beef stew was good, but the choice of meat was too fatty I thought. The chicken stew was also really good. Snapper was just so so - had bones in it, which I didn't like. All in all, this place is amazing if ur willing to make the drive. I thought it was getting such high remarks b/c it was in the boonies and relative to the nearby alternatives - but no, this place is some of the best home cooking i've ever had. They have a small parking lot area in the back/side, but i wouldn't bring a super nice vehicle as i see chips of broken car window glass littering the street. Well worth it if u can convince friends to make the trip! read more

I just experienced Garifuna Flava through Fooda and the food was absolutely delicious! The jerk chicken was tender, moist and soooo flavorful and the plantain was the best I've ever had. I will definitely be visiting the restaurant on 63rd St. to experience more of these delicious delights! It totally made my day. read more

Totally awesome food!!!! I had the Chicken Jerk. The chemistry with the Jerk Sauce and the seasoning on the chicken... oh. my. god!! Amazing :) I thoroughly enjoy the beans and rice too, especially with the gravy it came with! Nom nom nom :) Would definitely go back and recommend it to others! read more