Browse all 5 Caribbean restaurants in the Outside Eats dining guide to the San Francisco Peninsula. Select any restaurant for photos, hours, directions, reviews, and the full profile.
- Back A Yard Caribbean Grill Menlo ParkAuthentic Caribbean kitchen near Willow Road with jerk chicken, beef oxtail, curried goat, plantains, and rice plates that draw a loyal following to this Bay Area institution since 2004.
- Coconuts Caribbean Restaurant & Bar Palo AltoJerk chicken, curried goat and oxtail bring island flavors to Silicon Valley in a lively full-bar setting.
- Cuban Kitchen San MateoFemale and family owned business serving authentically flavored Cuban cuisine.
- Flavas Jamaican Grill South San FranciscoAuthentic Jamaican cuisine featuring jerk chicken, braised oxtails, and curry goat with reggae music and warm island hospitality.
- La Bodeguita del Medio Palo AltoMultiple Palo Alto Weekly Best Ambience and Best Latin American winner with Cuban ropa vieja, rum cocktails, and a heated California Avenue patio.
Specialty Cuisines on the SF Peninsula
Only a handful of spots serve these, but each one is worth seeking out.
- Argentine Restaurants
- Brazilian Restaurants
- Burmese Restaurants
- Cafés
- Cantonese Restaurants
- Dessert Spots
- Food Trucks
- French/Italian Restaurants
- Georgian Restaurants
- German/Austrian Restaurants
- Greek/Mediterranean Restaurants
- Guatemalan Restaurants
- Halal Restaurants
- Hawaiian Restaurants
- Irish Restaurants
- Middle Eastern Restaurants
- New Zealand Restaurants
- Salvadoran Restaurants
- Sandwich Shops
- Singaporean Restaurants
- Spanish Restaurants
- Turkish Restaurants
- Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurants
About Caribbean Restaurants on the SF Peninsula
Caribbean restaurants bring bright, sun-warmed flavors to the San Francisco Peninsula, spanning the islands from Jamaica and Cuba to Puerto Rico and beyond. The guide's Caribbean category is a smaller but flavorful find, built on bold spices, tropical ingredients, and generous, comforting plates.
Jerk is a signature, chicken or pork marinated in a fiery, aromatic blend of scotch bonnet, allspice, and thyme, then grilled until smoky. Alongside it you will find rice and peas, oxtail, curry goat, fried plantains, and hearty stews, plus Cuban classics like ropa vieja and pressed sandwiches where those influences appear. Coconut, citrus, and warm spices run through the cooking, balancing heat with sweetness.
The food leans hearty and satisfying, meant to fill you up and lift your mood, and portions tend to be generous. Many spots keep a casual, welcoming feel, and tropical drinks or house sodas round out the experience. Because the category is not on every corner, it offers genuine discovery for diners looking to branch out.
Heat levels can run high with jerk and scotch bonnet, so it helps to ask, and there is usually a milder path for those who want it. Vegetarians can find plantains, rice and peas, and vegetable stews, though the menus lean toward meat.
Use the list below to browse Caribbean restaurants by city, then open a profile for hours, photos, and directions. Whether you crave smoky jerk chicken, tender oxtail, or a Cuban sandwich, the Peninsula's Caribbean kitchens deliver a taste of the islands.
