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King Barka

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

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A$6 fried chicken plate with cabbage, rice and peas
Teddy S.

I saw this on Instagram recently and knew I had to try it. Lo and behold I found myself in Harlem one day and I made a bee line! There was a short line in front of this take-out only spot. It truly is the definition of no frills. There is barely enough room for two customers to stand side by side. A menu is available above the counter otherwise everything is behind plexiglass. The cuisine is Jamaican - Caribbean. Stew peas, brown-stew chicken, curry goat and chicken, oxtail and more are on deck. I asked for the small curry chicken, but they were out! I panicked and got the fried chicken. It looked she was about to tell me they were out of that as well. But she went in the back and in about 5 minutes I was walking out the door with a nice heavy plate. I was shocked at how heavy it was considering I got the small $6 famous plate. No wonder Instagram was going crazy for this! I got three pieces of drums, a healthy amount of rice and peas and a smaller but equally healthy portion of steamed cabbage that also included corn and green beans. It was absolutely delicious. The chicken was moist and succulent, the cabbage was seasoned well and the rice and peas didn't have as much coconut flavor in it, which was pretty nice. I went back a second time and got curry chicken plate. To be honest I was not impressed at all. It had the right elements and the right colors but there is practically no flavor to it at all. I think it was rushed and didn't have much time to simmer. It was a little disappointing! I'm still giving it five stars for the fill up Factor alone. I'll update when I try the oxtail!

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!!!!

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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8 years ago

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Ask the Community - King Barka

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Jasmine's Caribbean Cuisine

Jasmine's Caribbean Cuisine

4.2
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Minority-owned & operated
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Hey Foodies, If…read moreyou're ever in the Times Square area and looking for some great Caribbean food and vibes.. this place has exactly that. They check off all the boxes. Friendly welcoming smiles as soon as you walk in, clean, great music, tasty drinks, and the food?! ..A1! No misses! I will definitely be coming back to dine again. To the owners.. whoever you are, you did your thing w. this restaurant! Fellow Foodies, you won't be disappointed if you give this place a try.

I've been wanting to visit Jasmine's Caribbean Cuisine for some time, and I finally got a chance to…read moredine in. My sisters and I stopped by after watching a Broadway play. The restaurant was packed, so we waited about 10 to 15 minutes, even with a reservation. Thankfully, it was a beautiful day. Once seated, we ordered a few drinks. My Strawberry Basil Lemonade was refreshing and their Virgin Pina Colada with Strawberry was perfect. Our waitress, Queen, recommended a few items, and they were a hit. The Coconut Shrimp were crispy and flavorful, and the sweet chili dipping sauce complemented them well. I was nervous that the Jerk Chicken was going to be too salty, but the seasoning was outstanding. The spice level was fine, not too spicy at all. And the Coconut Rice & Peas were great. I'd happily return and recommend this spot to family and friends.

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Front Entrance at Jasmine's Caribbean Cuisine
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S'Aimer

S'Aimer

4.6
(81 reviews)
4.5 mi

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!

If you're going to see a Broadway show, plan on stopping here to enjoy some delicious food. This…read moreplace has such a smooth, sexy vibe. Staff are lovely. Decide is classy cool. The food is perfection. The pulled oxtails are delicious. Gave me goosebumps. The fish was cooked to perfection. The sweet plantains were perfect. The drinks were done very well too. It's a bit expensive, but you get what you pay for! YUMMY

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The Garden at S'Aimer NYC. A place for quiet conversation in the heart of Restaurant Row.
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Set up for private event at S'Aimer NYC.

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Margon

Margon

4.2
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4.5 mi
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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

Got here just before the lunch crowd - this place is a hole in the wall in the middle of Times…read moreSquare. There were lots of choices available - we chose the fried chicken chunks and the Cuban sandwich. All were very tasty - would have been awesome if the chicken pieces were boneless but it was still good regardless. We were able to sit down and ate the food there to keep it nice and fresh.

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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.
Closeup of the Cuban Sandwich.

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Closeup of the Cuban Sandwich.

King Barka - caribbean - Updated July 2026

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