Tropicala Taste is located in a strip mall in Kentwood near Horrocks. I made plans to meet my friend Carly H there for dinner and took Nate with me. We were greeted right away when we walked in by Nick, the owner. He is so friendly, kind, and his smile is infectious! He told us about some of the popular menu items and we planned what we wanted to order. Nate and I got the whole tilapia, jerk wings, and a side of plantains. Carly got the same thing as well as some other items to-go to take home for her husband. We sat down and enjoyed the bright and cheerful space as Nick started on our food. He was the only one working so we figured we'd have time to catch up which was nice. Nick asked if we eat beef, and we said yes so he said something about making us a traditional dish - ok! We're all adventurous foodies so we were excited. Nick's energy was infectious and he was so excited that we were open to trying new things. He brought out some flaky pastries stuffed with ground beef - sort of like an empanada. They were so tasty! The meat was flavorful and he encouraged us to try adding some of the spicy chili oil to the accompanying coleslaw and then eating it all together. The chili oil totally added a kick of spice that lingered but wasn't overpowering. Just a drop or two was enough! Our wings came out next - Carly said they might be her favorite wings in all of GR! They were spiced but not spicy hot, and perfectly fried. The jerk rub was a little salty but the flavors were great. I would definitely get them again. The plantains were some of the best I've had! Sometimes they can be dry or tough, but these were crisp on the outside and tender inside, slightly sweet and delicious! The fish came out last and it's a show stopper - the whole fish is deep fried to perfection and a huge portion to share between two people. It was juicy and not overcooked, with beans, rice, and an herbaceous green sauce to drizzle over everything. I loved trying this fun hole in the wall spot with delicious food - I encourage you to try it too! It's unique and interesting, with flavors you don't find everywhere. Plus, Nick is so wonderful and truly made me feel like I was an old friend dining at his home. I can't wait to try the chicken and pasta dishes! read more

One of the best new restaurants to open in quite some time! I'm so excited I finally came to visit Tropicala! Let's start with #1: the food! Everything we tasted was outstanding! We ordered the tilapia, the fried turkey, and were also sold of the chocolate cake for dessert (definitely not a mistake). The tilapia was really great. The batter was well spiced but not spicy. (If you like spicy ask for the spicy drops and he will bring a house made oil to the table.) The turkey was equally delicious! Turkey is often dry but they did a great job with it. Both entrees came with plantains and rice and beans, both delicious. The plantains were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, just perfect! And the rice and beans were well seasoned and perfectly fluffy. Both dishes also came with Tropicala's amazing signature sauce. Bright green and bright flavor, this sauce pairs well with everything! Once this place takes off I wouldn't be surprised if it was bottled. #2 the service: the front man of the restaurant is charming, charismatic, and makes everyone feel welcome. It's obvious he has a real passion for his food and seeing his customers' enjoy themselves. I couldn't say enough good things about him! #3 atmosphere: they have done the best they can with a small space. Tucked away in a strip mall off Kalamazoo, they have done their best to transport the patrons into a comfortable colorful space. Bright walls and on-theme decor compliment the mood of the restaurant. Though there isn't much seating, especially with covid precautions, they are hoping to include some outdoor seating for the summer. I hope everyone gets a chance to check out this new spot! It will not disappoint! read more

Tropicala Taste - Fried tilapia, fried plantains, rices and beans. - African Near Me - Kentwood, Michigan

I nice place to visit, if you have a hankering for fried foods. Great chicken, fish, especially the tilapia is my fav. The owner was friendly. I felt as if we have been friends for years. The feel was inviting. Only downside was it was a bit greasy. read more

This was definitely a solid food experience! I couldn't help myself an I ordered the Number 5 and was quickly told that it's the number 1. This meant that the dish was the most ordered entree in the restaurant. I was very pleased by the presentation and the flavorful taste. The whole fried tilapia accompanied by rice, beans , and fresh plantains was well balanced and flavored well! I loved having the option of adding chili oil to add my desired level of heat to the entree. But here is what absolutely needs to happen when you go to Tropicala Taste. You have to order plantains and spoon some of the coleslaw on top with a dash of chili oil to finish. Taste...close your eyes and take a trip to the Caribbean by way of Africa read more

Tropicala Taste - Golden fried fish - African Near Me - Kentwood, Michigan

This restaurant is a hidden gem with wonderful service and excellent food. The restaurant is small, but was perfect for my husband and I. Many people ordered pick up and had their meals brought to their cars. We enjoyed the jerk chicken as an appetizer. The Amazing Potato Flavor with Green Bean meal, the Golden Fried Fish Talapia with Plaintain and Rice was our main course. We topped off the experience with Mandazi for dessert. If you are looking for an Afro-Caribbean experience, this restaurant comes highly recommended! read more

Tropicala Taste - African Near Me - Kentwood, Michigan

This is the best chicken in the city! Especially with a little of their chili oil hot sauce. Wow. Really glad we tried this place. I can't wait to get back and try something else. The sweet and savory plantains were both terrific, and the savory came with a dipping sauce that was delicious. The plantains were cooked to order and were very crispy. Out of the dishes we had, I didn't enjoy the pasta as much as the other things, but it was unique. Creamy sauce with cloves, unique flavor. Looking forward to getting back as soon as possible to try some of the other dishes, like the rice, fried turkey and the "amazing potatoes with vegetables." The papaya and mango juice also were great. They make them in house and rotate the selection. The staff was also very friendly. I'm excited to get back soon! read more

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This is my new favorite spot in GR! The owner Nick is a Swiss Army knife kind of guy - he cooks, he greets, he answers the phone, he runs the register...truly everything!!! His restaurant is located in a strip mall that is never busy, which is great for parking options. The GPS might direct you to McDonalds, but it's located in the strip mall right behind McDonalds. The restaurant itself is bright and always clean (including the bathroom!). There are a few tables and a couch to eat inside, but I've also ordered to-go and the food travels well down the street. Now for the FOOD! Ummm I have tried nearly everything on the menu at this point and haven't found anything I dislike. The Samosas are a great appetizer (deep fried ground beef in a thin pastry dough) and the super super spicy chili oil is perfect on them...but just one drop for me! The tilapia is epic. For being a whole fried fish, it is super meaty, juicy, and flavorful. I've found that sometimes this method makes it harder to eat, but unlike a red snapper, there isn't a whole lot of effort to avoid bones. Make sure you get a side of rice and beans, because it's not your average staple. And the plantains are amazing as well, I like to dip them in the green sauce. The fried turkey is delicious, but I try to eat it first because it can dry out a little bit if it sits awhile, but that is typical for anything fried. The Caribbean pasta and chicken are not my favorite of all the things I've tried, but I wouldn't classify them as bad. Let me start a new paragraph in honor of the star of the show: THE CHICKEN WINGS. Listen people, these are the best chicken wings in Grand Rapids. No, you can't choose among 100 flavors like at a 'wing spot', but in terms of tenderness, this meat doesn't just fall off the bone...it plummets off. The flavors are hard for me to pinpoint but I get a lot of garlicky, salty, herby, buttery vibes. They don't need a morsel of sauce, but if you must, the green sauce is great. Nick is so warm and welcoming and genuinely gets to know each of his customers and makes sure you are happy with your food. Even when I get takeout, he insists on showing me inside each to-go box to confirm my order. Even if you don't think Caribbean-African fusion cuisine is your thing, I promise this food is worth trying and Nick is a joy to support! read more

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The brightly colored menus and wall coverings in this space are right out of an African novel. But it is the delicious food which will keep you coming back to explore! Opened during the COVID era, this young man has a lot of guts. And one would like to see him succeed! I had their Jerky chicken wings with sweet potato fries and gravy. They were very delicious. And seasoned to perfection. The flavor of the food is good and caters to the Western palette. The restaurant is bold on flavor and provides its own unique hot sauce which you can order or take out to go. I would love to see more West African/Caribbean cooking on menus in Michigan and this is a step in the right direction. (Sorry that there are currently no pictures - my order was eaten right away) read more

Best fish north of the gulf coast! Everyone was super friendly and the food was freshly prepared. Absolutely recommend this place! :) read more

Tropicala Taste - African Near Me - Kentwood, Michigan

My wife and I were down the street, at Horrock's contemplating a sandwich (which is always excellent) when we decided to check Yelp for new restaurants in the area. We found Tropicala Taste and gave it a go. We split the fried turkey dinner, which was very flavorful. The plantains were especially delicious. Fresh ingredients + yummy flavors = we'll be back. read more

Tropicala Taste - African Near Me - Kentwood, Michigan

I could not have asked for more. Great food, great service! We showed up 30 minutes before closing on a Sunday. The owner had the doors locked, but he saw us and still let us in. He cooked an amazing meal (fried tilapia and salmon) for my partner and me and was very engaged with making sure we felt comfortable. He even gave us extra plantains for free because I said I really liked them. Large portions, and the food was great as leftovers. I will definitely be going back! read more

My wife wanted to find a new restaurant to try and googled this one. The service was excellent and the food was delicious. We bought my sister and brother in law with us. The turkey was very tasty. Our server, owner was very personable. We would highly recommend this restaurant and will be back. read more