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    Island Express

    4.4 (221 reviews)
    InexpensiveCaribbean, Bakeries
    Closed 9:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Order Island Express Takeout or Delivery

    Island Express Photos

    Business Info

    ISLAND EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - Island Express

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    Reviews With Photos

    Oxtail
    Tamara B.

    I came to Island Express in Brooklyn really craving Caribbean food, especially the more common Jamaican dishes I'm used to. I didn't realize this was more of a Guyanese-style spot, so the flavors were very different from what I expected. Unfortunately, I personally didn't enjoy the curries :( they just weren't to my taste. The oxtail was much better in comparison, very tender and cooked well, though it leaned more on the sweet side than I prefer. The beef patty was pretty average, nothing particularly flavorful. I ended up not finishing my meal simply because it wasn't what I was hoping for, but I do want to highlight that the staff was genuinely wonderful!! They are super nice, helpful, and very sweet when taking our order. I really appreciated their kindness. If you enjoy Guyanese flavors, this may be a great spot for you, but for me it wasn't the right fit since I was looking for more traditional Jamaican-style dishes.

    Menu
    Alysha J.

    I came for a chicken Jamaican patty. It was perfectly baked and warmed to perfection. It made it out the front door and into my mouth within seconds!! The ambiance is inviting. Stay for a minute but not awhile. Nice takeout location.

    Inside of veggie patty
    Bernice N.

    The food was ok. The service was ok. This place has no ambiance because although it's supposed to be freshly made food that is prepared her, it stills gives off fast food vibes. My daughter purchased a lunch special here, and it was good pricing. My veggie patty, I did not like. It was filled with beans, and, corn, chickpeas, and other things. This should have been called a vegan patty. I'm used to the Jamaican kind, with some fresh filled cabbage or callaloo as it's filling. This is a Jamaican/Guyanese restaurant, so I guess all the patties may be of the guyanese style. I wish they would let you know this is advanced. Anyway I would not return here, but I wouldn't say if you went the result would be the same.- Happy Yelping

    Sandy L.

    My husband was in the neighborhood and picked up some patties: chicken & beef and some pastries with pineapple & currants. I really enjoyed the pastries especially the pineapple flavored because it reminds me of the Taiwanese pineapple cakes. It's not as much pineapple as a Taiwanese pineapple cake but just as good!

    Jamaican Beef Patty
    Thecookingchapter

    Our first of trying Guyanese flavors and we are so glad we chose the right place. Absolutely loved the beef and chicken patties. Next was Roti wrap with chicken curry. It was so delicious we couldn't wait to capture it. Flavorful, just the right consistency. Their Service is quick, place is neat and clean. Totally loved the food here. I would travel one n a half hour again to have food here. Delicious!

    Jamaican Chicken Patty
    Reema S.

    We popped by here yesterday to get some food and were greeted promptly. They were out of a lot of things we wanted to try but we still managed to snag some jerk chicken patties and a guava tart. Female cashier was not as friendly but the rest of the staff was super helpful and kind. The jamaican chicken patty was so delicious! The crust was buttery and crispy and flaky, and the filling was ample and generous and well seasoned. Chicken tasted fresh and moist and the flavors were OUTSTANDING!! I will definitely be back to try more of their stuff!

    Powdered Milk Fudge... it's delicious!
    Cassie C.

    This is Sybil's 2.0! I was absolutely disappointed when Sybil's closed its location on Church And Flatbush Avenues but was elated to see the grandkids open up Island Express. I have only purchased the bread and a few pastries which have always been on point. The shining star is their bread especially Plat Bread which is solid while still being moist. It remains soft for several days after purchase and goes great with Pepper Pot around Christmas. I occasionally get a bag of Tennis Rolls or Salara just to change it up. A honorable mention goes out to their Pine Tart aka Pineapple Tart for being the perfect balance of a flaky crust and fresh pineapple filling. I must admit that I definitely don't visit here as much as I would like. I also never had their cooked food either because I'm very particular about my Guyanese food. Here are the items that I highly recommend: Any of their breads; Fudge; Pine Tart; Guyanese Patties; Cheese Roll.

    Peas and Rice
    Bloss C.

    I organize a weekly lunch for my office and the lunch from Island Express was the most popular so far. Many people asked where the food was from and/or told me how good it was. As a pescatarian I appreciated how many dishes I could try: shrimp curry, vegetable curry, peas and rice, and veggie curry cocktail patties. For the omnivores we had beef cocktail patties, oxtail, and jerk chicken as well. The only dish we ordered that wasn't a universal favorite were the fish cakes. 10 out of 10 would recommend Island Express, especially if you are looking for a crowd-pleaser.

    Wesley K.

    I used to live by here and one day felt the need to try the lunch special. It was filling for me as the portion size was perfect. Some people think the portion is small, but for the price it is fair. I got the curry stewed chicken which came with rice and channa masala. I also ordered a Jamaican beef patty ($2.50) which also hit the spot. I would come back if I was in the area as the food was delicious. Also the workers were super nice which is not always the case. I was overcharged ($6.90) for the lunch special, but I think the menu board was just not updated with the correct price.

    Oxtail with Rice and Peas

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    9 years ago

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    Gina M.

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    10 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    9 years ago

    This place is very loud for a daytime spot and their beef patty wasn't that good. Eh.

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    8 years ago

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    Gina M.

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    6 years ago

    Service has changed dramatically. Great service and even better food , hoping it stays that way .

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    Gina M.

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    10 years ago

    This place is the bomb! Love the pourri roti with the hot sauce and the okra and plantains! The people who work here are the nicest people.

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    9 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    9 years ago

    We were in a bind for something quick. Got the rice and peas with vegan curry. It was delicious, fast, fresh and cheap.

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    Gina M.

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    10 years ago

    Really friendly service and the food is great! Try the Jamaican Chicken Patties, they're SO good!

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    7 years ago

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    Gina M.

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    7 years ago

    The food is phenomenal and consistent . I'm addicted to the chicken curry patties . I recommend this place without hesitation

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    9 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Wonderful food, great prices and plenty of vegetarian options! The veggie patties are unbeatable. Love it.

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    10 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Order never came. Grab hab had to cancel it. Not even curtesy call or email. Lack of service is profound.

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    Gina M.

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    8 years ago

    Juicy jerk chicken, sweet plantains, great seasoned rice and peas, what more can you ask for in Caribbean food.

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    Page 5 of 6

    Ask the Community - Island Express

    Are the beef & chicken patties made in house, or frozen?

    Supposedly it is made in house. I gotten the beef patties last time, and I thought they were just average.

    Do you offer any vegan options?

    Yes. Absolutely.

    View All 4 Questions

    The Islands

    The Islands

    4.2
    (834 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    Something about Caribbean food when the winter weather's frigid sounds dandy to me. Guess if you…read morecan't be somewhere tropical, eating tropical cuisine sure helps. Enter The Islands. It was sort of an odd time so the spacious restaurant wasn't very busy. We studied the menu for too long and after much deliberation, here's what we ordered, in order of spice level: - Oxtail ($35): Not spicy, super flavorful, "Trimmed and sliced chunks of oxtail seasoned freely with fresh spices and simmered to tender perfection." - Curry goat ($29): Mildly spicy, "Goat meat marinated and cooked in curry spices and herbs makes this an exotic dish." - Jerk chicken ($20): Apparently incredibly spicy so I steered clear of it, "A Jamaican delight. Spicy, delicious chicken baked with this unique combination of spices from the island." The dishes I could handle were excellent, with no drop of sauce left unmopped. On the sides front, the rice and beans, roti, steamed vegetables, and plantains were all tasty. The entree sizes were hearty. Our server seemed like a cool dude: easygoing with a sense of humor. It was kind of chilly in the restaurant, not sure if we were in a warmth dead zone or what. The bathroom was frog-themed which was a cute touch!

    "Deep in Brooklyn, hides the Caribbean"…read more Came here on sleepy Tuesday. Not many people in the restaurant but lots of take out going on. The friendly one woman staff helped seat us, recommend the dishes, made the drinks, prepped and served the food. It was all tasty. What's to cheer - Nice not to too sweet homemade rum punch - Solid, flavorful oxtail. Very island spiced and cooked well - Goat was also really strong - Reasonable prices - service with personality What's to jeer - they were out of the jerk chicken unfortunately which I really wanted to try - place is pretty low key and not swimming with ambience

    Photos
    Jerk chicken
    Jerk chicken
    Upstairs dining area at The Islands
    Upstairs dining area at The Islands
    Stew chicken.  so good, craving it now

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    Stew chicken. so good, craving it now
    Kokomo

    Kokomo

    3.9
    (1.1k reviews)
    5.2 mi
    $$$

    Visited Kokomo to celebrate my college graduation, and overall I had a nice experience. The…read moreatmosphere was definitely a highlight, the music was great, the vibe was lively, and it feels like a nice lounge spot for hanging out with friends. They also offer hookah, which adds to the social atmosphere. The food was okay. I ordered the oxtails, but they were a bit spicier than I prefer, so I didn't enjoy them as much as I hoped. One thing I really appreciated was the thoughtful service. Since I was still wearing my cap and gown, the staff surprised me with a complimentary ice cream dessert to celebrate my graduation, which was a very kind gesture and made the experience feel special. Overall, I'd return more for the ambiance, music, and lounge experience than for the food. Congratulations to the staff for creating such a fun and welcoming environment!

    I had an absolutely horrible experience here. Before the rest of my party even arrived, I put in an…read moreorder for 2 chicken bao buns. A full hour passed, my party arrived, ordered their food, and received their meals before I ever saw mine. When I asked our waiter what was going on, he was confused and said he would check with the kitchen. Fast forward to the 90-minute mark: everyone at my table had received their food and completely finished eating. Finally, the kitchen brought out my order--except they only brought ONE bao bun instead of the two I ordered, and it was completely cold. At that point, I told the waiter I didn't even want it anymore. He apologized and insisted they would make 2 fresh, hot bao buns for me quickly. I gave them one last chance, but another 20 minutes went by and nothing ever came. After 2 full hours of waiting and watching everyone else eat, I had to cancel my order entirely. I ended up having to leave my own party hungry and find a local pizza shop just to get a meal. The lack of communication and complete failure in service was unacceptable. I will not be returning. Oh and mind you my friends pointed out on the receipt it said customer didn't like food to cancel out the order rather than. Food never arrived.

    Photos
    Koko Happy Hour
    Koko Happy Hour
    Kokomo
    Good Guice Every Thursday

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    Good Guice Every Thursday
    Stella's

    Stella's

    4.6
    (182 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    I can't express how much I enjoyed my dining experience at Stella's. The staff were wonderful and…read moreinviting from the moment we walked in. The drinks were perfectly made nice, strong, and flavorful. The food was fresh and absolutely delicious. The codfish fritters had to be my favorite, perfectly fried without being oily, just pure deliciousness. I ordered the Stella's Tasting, and it was more than enough food for two. My friends enjoyed their meals as well. Since it was my birthday, the staff came out and surprised me with a very delicious carrot cake. Moist, not overly sweet, and the perfect way to end the meal. To top it all off, we were vibing to a really great playlist the entire time we ate. I will definitely be back!

    We were craving Caribbean food and I've been curious about trying this spot out for a while so when…read moremy husband suggested it was an easy Yes! I had their passion fruit lemonade which was refreshing and not overly sweet. For my entree I ordered their oxtails and rice and peas on the side. Their oxtails were cooked perfectly, the meat was falling off the bones. I would like it to be a bit more spicy and some more Lima bean but maybe thats just my own preference. When I asked for some spice the server brought us some pepper sauce which was exactly what I needed! My sister tried their jerk wings and mac and cheese. Their Mac and cheese is WOW. Definitely recommend! I didn't try their wings but I tried the sauce that comes with the wings and it had a lovely kick to it. For dessert we shared the Plantain Paradise and the ice cream paired so great with the plantains. It was vanilla ice cream but didn't taste like regular vanilla ice cream.. it had a nice rich texture . Service was great, the music was nice and although it was a bit cold in there they had a blanket per table which I thought was a cool concept.

    Photos
    The inside
    The inside
    Rice and Peas
    Rice and Peas
    Jerk Salmon

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    Jerk Salmon
    The Simpson Restaurant & Bar - BK

    The Simpson Restaurant & Bar - BK

    3.8
    (560 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$$

    9.5/10 for the vibe, ambiance, and service -- and a full 10/10 for the food…read more I'm not a picky eater, but I've had some really disappointing oxtail lately, so I was hoping for the best here. I'm Dominican so I know oxtail pretty well and have made it myself. Thankfully, this place absolutely delivered. The oxtail was perfectly slow-braised, tender, and falling right off the bone -- exactly how it should be. Absolutely amazing. Of course I had the rice and peas, plus some veggies. A few of the veggies were slightly overcooked, but still flavorful and enjoyable. The drinks looked incredible, but I went with the rum punch and loved it. It was a little sweet, but super flavorful, strong, and definitely worth ordering again. For dessert, I had the Hennessy cheesecake, which was rich, decadent, and unbelievably delicious. There were three of us dining, and we all left completely satisfied -- with take-home containers because the portions are VERY generous. The only thing that bothered me a bit was that our server seemed to focus most of her attention on my friend. She is Jamaican, and because I look like a white American woman, I felt a little overlooked at times, even when I had several requests myself. We also had to look for her a couple of times while she was sitting with a group nearby. That said, everyone overall was very nice and welcoming. The bussers especially stood out -- they checked on us often, kept everything clean, and even greeted me in Spanish, which I appreciated. Overall, I really enjoyed my experience and will definitely be back with more people next time.

    The moment we walked in, I knew we were in for an amazing culinary experience. It was my birthday…read moreweekend, and we were in New York for an extended stay. For my hubby, Brooklyn is home - and we always love exploring the new places the city has to offer when we visit. We had reservations, and were seated within 10 minutes, which was reasonable. The place was packed - everyone was in high spirits, and I was ready to taste some of the best Caribbean cuisine in the region. My hubby's best friend - a Brooklyn resident, joined us. He had been to the restaurant a few times - and had good things to say. We were not disappointed. I had the Brown Stew Red Snapper - *chef's kiss*. Hubby had the iconic Jerk Oxtail over Macaroni & Cheese Pie! The English language cannot convey the beauty of that combination! Tender, tender oxtail, falling off the bone with the creamy, cheesy mac & cheese! He wanted to savor that dish another day, so he got a to-go bag and took it back to the hotel! (I couldn't help but clean my plate - I was obsessed with the fish!) Our friend enjoyed the Hennessy Fried Shrimp (not pictured) - one of his favorite dishes at the restaurant. It looked delicious as well. For drinks, I had the Bob Marley cocktail. A colorful drink - flavorful - and effective! There were people celebrating their birthdays throughout the night - and the wait staff goes IN! I was enjoying watching at least 10 people receive the Stevie Wonder "Happy Birthday" song while we were there. Imagine my surprise when it was my turn! My birthday was the day before, and we had already celebrated in Manhattan. Having two special recognition events made the evening that much more special! Shout out to the Simpson crew who came with the song, the rhythm, the sparkling cake, and the good vibes! My 70th birthday was exceptional - without a doubt. The Simpson added the touch I needed. We'll definitely go back next time we're in Brooklyn!

    Photos
    Bar
    Bar
    Jerk Oxtail Over Macaroni & Cheese Pie
    Jerk Oxtail Over Macaroni & Cheese Pie
    Slow Braised Oxtail and Butter Beans

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    Slow Braised Oxtail and Butter Beans
    Flamingobaby Kitchen

    Flamingobaby Kitchen

    4.3
    (280 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    I am still thinking about this food. It was so good, flavorful and fresh. We cleared those plates…read more We were full, but not sluggish at all..just completely satisfied. This is an intimate and cozy space, great to sit and talk without the noise of a loud space. Music was played, but not obnoxious and there is a tv. Service was great, food was tasty, no complaints at all! Quick heads up, this is a cash only spot, but so worth it. Will definitely be back!

    I scoured the internet and my old photos trying to find this restaurant again. It had been about a…read moreyear since our first visit, so it took some digging but we eventually found Flamingobaby Kitchen and off we went! For the table, we ordered the oxtail stew, fried chicken, yams, collard greens, and mac & cheese. I also had a Peach Bellini for a little bubbly. Everything was exactly as I remembered -perfectly cooked and well seasoned, large portions with more than enough to take home. The chef stopped by our table which was a nice touch. Service overall was great. They also make great use of such a small space. It is indeed well worth the visit. Side note, we ordered the same exact items off the menu as we did a year ago...only one thing was missing which was the biscuits with the flavored butter jam. We were told the biscuits were replaced with cornbread. I didn't order the cornbread this time around but would like to see the biscuits return at some point.

    Photos
    Flamingobaby Kitchen
    Catfish strips
    Catfish strips
    Oxtail Stew

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    Oxtail Stew

    Island Express - caribbean - Updated June 2026

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