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    King Barka

    3.3 (124 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    Yasmine B.

    TRASH SERVICE. DISAPPOINTING SERVICE. RUDE SERVICE. IGNORANT SERVICE. I've dined at this place many times, but unfortunately, this recent experience was incredibly disappointing and overshadowed the quality of their food. We preordered our meal, took a rideshare to pick it up, and arrived prepared with our order confirmation. Despite providing all the necessary details--confirmation number, name, address, phone number, order contents, and time placed--the staff made it unnecessarily difficult for us to receive the food we had already paid for (at an overpriced rate, no less). To make matters worse, I ended up waiting over 40 minutes for my preorder while watching numerous people, who ordered after me, walk in and out of the store with their food. Adding insult to injury, I was hit with an overcharge from the rideshare service due to the delay. This wasn't a one-time issue, either--I've had a similar frustrating experience at both of their locations. The food is undeniably good, but the lack of organization and poor customer service make it hard to justify the hassle. If they can't improve their service, it's hard to imagine continuing to support this establishment!

    3:30 on a Sunday, almost nothing available. 20 minute wait for Mac and other items.
    Simone H.

    You must be joking...This can't be the "must try" Jamaican food spot in Harlem? Absolutely not. The food was not fresh, they were out of a lot of things, it did not taste good and had little to no flavor and even though it was cheap, it still wasn't worth the the price for the taste. I do not recommend this place at all. As a Jamaican, I've experienced and had some great Jamaican Food, some mid Jamaican Food, and some awful Jamaican Food. This is less than mid, closer to awful if you ask me. No. The line? Makes no sense. These people literally have the most vanilla taste buds ever if they think this is good and authentic.

    Shrimp Rasta pasta
    JoAnne C.

    The workers were very nice and kind. We got five different meals for $6 and most of it tasted bad & cheap. Rice and Peas with cabbage was okay. I think the cooks are African and not Jamaican. The food doesn't taste like authentic Jamaican food at all. I wouldn't go back again. My family didn't like the food at all. Tik Tok really hyped this place up.

    Oxtail
    Messiah T.

    Was around the neighborhood and was craving the delicious, tender, sweetness of some oxtails. This place popped up on google maps and onward I went. The location is absolutely tiny and you can surely expect to wait outside on the line that forms out there being that the location is so small. Service wise King Barka is decent, you can definitely tell that the employees there are overworked. I heard later on that social media gave this restaurant some visibility; so you can definitely imagine how busy it can get. Onto the oxtails. I am a bit of an oxtail connoisseur and I've developed an eye test skill that tells me whether or not im about to have good tails or not. With that being said these oxtails passed my eye test; I've grown to learn that the darker they are the more savory they are. Upon first bite the oxtail was falling off of the bone and was just so flavorful. After I finished my order of oxtails with rice and peas I was licking my face like scooby-doo and licking the aluminum plate the food came in. This is my go-to oxtail spot from now on. If I could give 20 stars I would

    Tonya H.

    Good every time and all the time. You need oxtails come here Asap! You need Jerk? Come! You need snapper? Come! You need some good Jamaican meal??? Come!!!!

    chicken and rice
    Miranda F.

    When I found myself in the neighborhood for the NYRR 5K, I knew I didn't need to look for the next hipster gentrified pizza slice, like my peers. No, I was looking for one thing and one thing only: good eats. And if anywhere *in manhattan* is going to have good Caribbean, specifically Jamaican eats, maybe this area would have it. Alright, let's just get one thing straight. I am not trying to be your typical white girl. I have *some* humble *authentic* history with the Caribbean. My husband went to Med School in Grenada, and I went once a month for 2 yrs. And yes, I know, Grenada is NOT Jamaica, they each have their respectable differences, unique qualities & intricacies and cuisine... BUT, I was craving Caribbean food. And boy, did I get it. I was greeted in the sweet, sweet dialect that brought me right back to Yesteryear. The ladies came out the kitchen schlepping huge pans of what I can't call anything other than soul.food. Service was kind and prompt, quick and easy with the added touch of social graces I crave (being from the South, as much as I pretend not to be). The Nitty Gritty: - Chicken Curry- perfectly cooked, spice=mild, sauce proportions=just enough to slop over your peas & rice, which were equally as heart-warming - This is a grab & go joint; either wait till home (if you live around the corner), but please don't make my mistake and stall too long, it's best hot! Just go.

    The brown is the burnt cheese

    I went to get mac & cheese and before I left, I was feeling grateful to the hospitality and offered a tip. it wasn't until I reached back to my destination that I realized I was served a burnt piece that was barely edible. Upon my discovery I decided to go back to get an exchange for a better piece. It was shared with me that all the pieces were the same, and I wouldn't get a piece without any burnt areas.

    Yams, Mac and cheese, red velvet cake with butter cream frosting

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    3 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Good food, good prices and nice girls working there, no attitude. Wish there was one in queens

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    2 years ago

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    9 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Fantastic Jamaican food to go only. The place is small, but the food is great. The service is good. The folks are considerate.

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    11 months ago

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    7 months ago

    best authentic jamaican cuisine. jerk chicken always gone quick so if it's available get it with the jerk sauce.

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    3 years ago

    Awesome. Got some curried chicken with cabbage & rice and some macaroni. Super flavorful, legit food, and good service. Highly recommended!

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    4 years ago

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    Ask the Community - King Barka

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    S'Aimer

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    4.5 miMidtown West, Theater District, Hell's Kitchen

    We were able to get a last-minute reservation at 7p on the Sunday before Memorial Day and entered…read morewhat was a pretty empty establishment. There were only 2 other parties seated and we were seated immediately upon arrival. It's fairly dark inside and the decor reminds me a bit of New Orleans. I enjoyed the ambiance. The drinks were great! I had the cocobella while he had margaritas. The table bread was hot and fresh, so make sure they bring it to the table for you. We had the mussels for an appetizer, lamb chops and bass. EVERYTHING was excellent! The flavor of the broth for the mussels was Devine, so much so my husband used his bread to sop up all he could. The bass had great flavor and came with sautéed spinach that was well cooked. It initially looked like a small portion but turned out to be plenty. The lamb chops were cooked to the requested temp and seasoned well. We left no crumbs. This one is definitely worth a try!

    I came here to leave a review and am so distraught over learning that this place has closed! It was…read morehands down one of the best restaurant experiences I've ever had - from the service to the drinks and the food. I dined there back in March and to this day I rave about the dish I had. The owner was extremely accommodating, pleasant and friendly. I hope they reopen somewhere else! He told us that he had another restaurant close by, I'll have to try that one if I can figure out the name of it.

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    S'Aimer - Set up for private event at S'Aimer NYC.

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    Havana Central - $25 Girl Dinner, available every Tuesday featuring a Classic Mojito, Avocado Salad & Yuca Fries

    Havana Central

    3.9(3.3k reviews)
    4.5 miTheater District, Midtown West
    $$

    I've must of passed Havana Central so many times and never realized it was there I have to say,…read morecolor me impressed. Arriving for our reservation the place was packed. It's a loud and vibrant atmosphere. They have a pre-theater prefix menu which we decided on. Empanada app was 3 large empanadas and each one was flavored and yummy. Also opted for the guac and chips app just to have something a little lighter. Entrees are served with rice and beans. The pernil was excellent. Super tender and garlicky. The ropa vieja was also very good, with deep flavors. Dessert was the course that was disappointing, which was such a bummer after a great meal. The flan was definitely overcooked, so the texture was off. The cafe con keche was decent. The prefix is a great deal which included a drink and it was a lot of food All in all, Havana Central offers some wonderful Cuban flavors and a great choice for a pre-theater dinner. Bonus, if you are seeing Buena Vista Social Club, show your tickets and you get 15% off the bill.

    The food was great! I got the maple glazed pork ribs, which was juicy and delicious! The ends of…read morethe ribs were crunchy too! The empanadas (beef and chilly cheesesteak) were great too! The fried pork appetizer was really dry. The sample plate was really good! The plantains were great. Plantain chips were very hard.

    Photos
    Havana Central - Interior of the restaurant

    Interior of the restaurant

    Havana Central - Lightly dusted, crispy Calamari

    Lightly dusted, crispy Calamari

    Havana Central - Blackberry mojito

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    Blackberry mojito

    Margon - Cuban sandwich

    Margon

    4.2(907 reviews)
    4.5 miTheater District, Midtown West
    $$

    Sometimes you don't need a fancy reservation... you just need a tiny spot, loud kitchen, and food…read morethat hits like a heavyweight champ. Walked into Margon Restaurant in Midtown and instantly felt like I found one of NYC's secret cheat codes. Small space, big flavors, zero nonsense. The kind of place where you're elbow-to-elbow with strangers but everyone's united by one thing... serious hunger. Ordered the Cuban sandwich -- pressed, crispy, loaded with roast pork, glazed ham, Swiss, pickles, and mustard. One bite in and I stopped talking... which never happens. This thing didn't just deliver... it showed up early and over-prepared. Then came La Bandera Dominicana Braised beef swimming in savory gravy, yellow rice piled like a mountain, black beans doing their thing, and sweet maduros sitting on top like the victory flag. Simple. Comforting. Dangerous... because now I want it every week. Place gets busy, gets loud, gets chaotic... but it moves like a well-oiled machine. Years of experience and zero attitude. Just good people making great food. In a neighborhood full of tourist traps, this hole-in-the-wall is throwing haymakers. Sometimes the best escape in NYC isn't a rooftop... It's a Cuban sandwich and a plastic tray. And honestly... I'd pick that every time. #nycfood #hiddennyc #midtowneats

    The Food is pretty good overall. The beef stew falls apart nicely. The rice and beans are pretty…read moregood fillers too. Plantain is always good. My main complaint is that they are really stingy on portions. They always give 1 plantain and when I ask for more, the lady gives me a dirty look and says 1 is the limit. Took 1 star off since the meal is not filling enough for me, but I keep coming back because of the flavor.

    Photos
    Margon - People lining up to get their food

    People lining up to get their food

    Margon - Maybe mold on corner piece of Flan. Something go me ill an hour later.

    Maybe mold on corner piece of Flan. Something go me ill an hour later.

    Margon - Closeup of the Cuban Sandwich.

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    Closeup of the Cuban Sandwich.

    King Barka - caribbean - Updated September 2026

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