Hampton Roads, VA
For Caribbean in Hampton Roads, the local food press points to Carib Shack - Caribbean Food Virginia Beach, De Rican Chef Holland, and Island Jerk Hut. Picks from Coastal Virginia Magazine, updated July 2026.
Editor’s picks
Press picks, until locals rank their own Top 5s. Sourced from the local food press. As seen in Coastal Virginia Magazine. Updated July 2026.
Carib Shack - Caribbean Food Virginia Beach
Coastal Virginia Magazine's Global Eats coverage sent Virginia Beach eaters to Carib Shack for Granny's Curry, the house curry that headlines a menu of island staples. Sitting on West Great Neck Road, it plays the casual Caribbean lane with jerk, curries, and sides. Order Granny's Curry to see what the magazine flagged. A relaxed Beach spot for a plate with real island seasoning.
De Rican Chef Holland · Virginia Beach
De Rican Chef brings Puerto Rican cooking to Virginia Beach's Holland Road, and Coastal Virginia Magazine's Global Eats survey singled out its mofongos rellenos, the fried-plantain mounds stuffed with meat or seafood. That dish is the reason to come. Order a mofongo relleno and pair it with the day's stews. It fills a specific island niche the metro's broader Caribbean spots often skip.
Island Jerk Hut · Chesapeake
Coastal Virginia Magazine profiled Island Jerk Hut and owner Richard Downer, who relocated the Jamaican spot from South Norfolk to Chesapeake. The magazine highlighted jerk pork ribs alongside jerk chicken, curry chicken, and oxtails. Those slow-cooked, heavily seasoned plates are the point. Order the jerk pork ribs and the oxtails to cover the range. A Chesapeake anchor for proper Jamaican cooking.
Thyme On The River · Portsmouth
Coastal Virginia Magazine's Hot Plates feature framed Thyme on the River, on Portsmouth's High Street, as a fusion of Caribbean and Cajun cooking. On the island side, the kitchen turns out jerk chicken, oxtail, and Rasta Pasta. The waterfront setting and the cross-cultural menu make it a distinctive stop. Order the jerk chicken or the oxtail, and note the gumbo if you lean Cajun that night.
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