Where to eat Caribbean food in London

Housed in railway arches, like so many other great independent London businesses, Buster Mantis is named after Jamaica’s first Prime Minister, Sir Alexander Bustamante. The owners split their time between the local area (Deptford) and said island, and the food menu mixes Jamaican classics like jerk chicken and saltfish fritters, with anything they feel like cooking, including Sunday roasts with a Caribbean bent.

One of the finest restaurants in the hugely popular foodie destination of Brixton Village - as well as one of the best Caribbean restaurants in London – Fish, Wings & Tings was founded by Trinidadian chef Brian Danclair and his wife in 2012. They describe the food as 'Nouvelle Caribbean', with much of the ingredients sourced from the market on their doorstep. Expect delicious and colourful curries, roti, jerk and stews, washed down with plenty of rum, in an always lively – or should we say rum-bunctious – atmosphere.

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It’s all about the fresh dhal puri roti wraps – Trini flatbread made with ground split peas – at Mama’s Jerk, which has several locations across the city. These satisfying bundles are stuffed full of delicious jerk meats and/or veggies cooked using the owner’s grandmother’s secret recipe, fried plantain, and hot pickles that will envelop you. As with Fish, Wings & Tings, Mama’s picks up on Trini cuisine’s Indian influences with the ‘biriyardi’, a take on classic biryani, using rice and peas. [Various locations].

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Head to London’s Southbank to Limin for a taste of Trinidad and Tobago. A party atmosphere prevails here, with the Thames lapping just a few metres away. Okay so it’s not quite a beach in the Caribbean, but with music pumping and rum punch flowing, you’ll soon get into the island spirit. Make sure to order the doubles (flatbreads with chickpeas and hot sauce) and the Trini puri (a version of Indian pani puri) for that authentic taste.

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Those looking for Caribbean food in Soho should head to The Rum Kitchen in the oasis of perfectly serviceable food offerings that is Kingly Court. Serving up pan-Caribbean-inspired dishes, The Rum Kitchen is a loud, colourful Caribbean restaurant for the masses, with regular DJs and a strong emphasis on cocktails. Indeed, time your visit for happy hour and you may end up staying all night, as this restaurant puts on quite a party. Branches can be found in Brixton and Shoreditch too.

These Caribbean food lovers have been delighting with their imaginative take on the food of the islands through a series of pop-ups for a while now. Now firmly established in South London pub Prince of Peckham, their style is pure Caribbean fusion, with one eye on the hungry pub goer: expect jerk chicken and fries, fully loaded jerk burgers and plenty more delicious, sauce-drenched snacks like cauliflower poppers to make your tastebuds tingle.

This map was updated on 3/7/2023.