In the second meeting of Country Club, wherein we are eating through the alphabet, this time the letter "B" lead us to "Belizean" cuisine, we ended up here on a friday night at 8.
Since it was totally empty, they had no problem accommodating our group of 8.
The staff was friendly, funny and easy going. It is a family-run place where our waiter was the son, his mother the chef, the father chilling at the bar.
Our table had a lot of questions about the menu, which were answered in great detail. And with passion, that is one thing this place has a lot of is passion along with love of sharing the food of their homeland.
the food was above average and also very authentic, just the type of place that you would want to go for Country Club. Not like the time we went to Ñ on Elston for Argentine food, that was a waste of time and was not authentic.
After dinner we headed over to Karolinka Club, which was a big disappointment.
On the word of a good friend of mine we visited Garifuna Flava about 2 weeks ago. I am a big fan of Caribbean cuisine, so it's an understatement to say I was excited about visiting this place.
While the area and decor of the place is not my cup of tea, the food hit a definite bull's eye. This is some of the best Caribbean food I've had the pleasure of putting into my greedy mouth. I'd never had Belizian food before, but from this moment on I will always have a special place in my heart for the local good eats of the small Caribbean country.
I had the jerk chicken lunch special which was good, but slightly different from Jamaican jerk ,in a good way though ( you'll have to try it yourself, it's hard to describe what's different about it...lol.). My date had the brown stew which was very good, so good in fact I got food envy.
The service and decor were adequate.
Next time I go I'll be trying a few choices from the drink menu, I predict a rollicking lunch...lol.
Today, I went with a Belizean friend of mine to this restaurant all the way from the North Side of Chicago. Howard St. to be specific. I thought it would be a nice adventure because my friend raved about this place so....so  I thought it would be a good idea to go on a little adventure. Well, I'm glad that I did. Even though the trip took forever and a day when we finally got to the restaurant the service was friendly, prompt and satisfying. I had the jerk chicken appetizer and beef stew while my friend had the chicken dinner. Both dinners came with rice and beans, fried plantains (which I LOVE) and potato salad. The food had a nice aroma and the seasoning was just right on everything. The price was good for all of the food we ordered and we left with leftovers. Everything about this place was cozy and welcoming. From the pictures on the wall to the maps that displayed some of their customers homes in Belize only added to the great atmosphere of the restaurant. I would definitely go there again.
Review Source:My friend flew in a day after I arrived, so when I picked her up I was happy to find out that Garifuna was near. They opened at noon and we had an hour to kill. There's nothing really going on in the immediate area, so we drove around until 11:45am. The gate was down around the building, so we thought we should make sure they were open that day. My homegirl called and the guy that answered said they would open at noon.
We waited until 12:10, called again and he said they were opening in a few minutes. 12:20, someone finally opened the doors. I read a lot of people talking about them not opening on time and to be honest, I was so pissed off and ready to write a shitty review about it and was sure I would hate their food and service. I was totally wrong.
Everything on the menu looked amazing! And this is one of the first times in 10yrs that I wish I ate meat.
Panades and Conch Fritters appetizers were sooo good! It came with some super spicy sauce that we just kept requesting extra of. I got the Jerked Catfish for an entree and I wanted more. My homegirl got the Jerk Stew and said it was amazing. You can tell they make everything there and, as cheesey as this sounds, they really put love in their food.
Unfortunately, they only had one dessert and even though it wasn't something I would typically order the Coconut Tartes were bomb!
On top of that, the place was packed by 1pm. Everyone must know what time they really open. And the staff was really great!
I'm Catracho, which is to say an Honduran.
There are NO good Honduran restaurants in the city of Chicago, period. Â Not on the north side, not used to be good, not used to exist, never. Â
Garifuna Flava, Â they are the brothers from the Garifuna people who exist in Honduras and gave our people the Punta style dance, Â the soup dish "sopa de caracol" Â and beautiful women. Â
Garifuna Flava moved onto 63rd street which has other Caribbean styled restaurants as well--Jamaican for example. Â But none offer what Garifuna Flava has. Â I used to actually live in Marquette Park and dined in a few times.
The staff are friendly. Â The liquor selection is good, and they actually serve great liquor to compliment your dish. Â
La sopa de caracol takes me back to eating the same dish in honduran restaurants in Miami and also to the first time I ever had sopa de caracol in Honduras, on the beach when I was 8 years old. Â Its a big portion, Â priced well and if you have the chile sauce they supply, it goes well with it. Â The stew is served piping hot and you'll want more--if it doesn't leave you feeling stuffed. Â
Go to Garifuna Flava!! Â Tip generously.
It is wonderful to find a belizean restaurant that means BUSINESS! Â All to often I find a spot that makes a great panades but when I am ready to go back again they've been shut down for one reason or another. Enter Garifuna. It is a well run establishment with consistency. On our last visit we brought friends who were visiting from Atlanta. This gave us a wonderful opportunity to try a little of everything. We started the meal with conch fritters and panades which were perfectly fried and served with belizean pepper onion sauce. The panades were extremely small which is unfortunate because you really don't get any tuna filling. For dinner we had ox tails(I drank the sauce at the end, I couldn't get enough), stewed chicken (perfectly tender and hearty portions),and snapper. Everything was delicious and the coconut rice and stewed beans is caribbean comfort! Â My husbands family is belizean and he swears that the only person who cooked this well was his grandmother!
Review Source:Maybe we were there on an off day or at an off-time, but Garifuna Flava was just a-ok. I wouldn't go out of my way to return.
Our service was just so-so. I wish we had the opportunity to meet the owner that other reviews have talked about. Having spent some time in Hopkins, Belize and feeling that I really got a good dose of the Garifuna culture (including having a traditional Garifuna meal in a private home in town), I was excited to talk about it and was hoping for the full experience. Our waitress approached our table with "so, are you ready to order, or..." Boo. Â She was pretty stand-offish for the entire evening, and I felt a little let down.
Our food was ok. We too had the conch fritters, which were good. I loved the cabbage side which had a texture of cole slaw without the mayo and a flavor of awesome. The panadas were sub-par- fishy and old tasting. Gross.
I ordered the jerk chicken with the rice and beans, which reminded me of a meal we had on a visit to the Mayan Ruins, so I was happy. I loved that they had Marie Sharps, the Belizian hot sauce that my husband stocked up on our trip. They also had Belikin beers, which was another piece of Belize that you can't get just anywhere in Chicago. Husband had the Hudutu which he loved and I thought was ok.
The parking lot is convenient and safe. All in all, a fine meal, but I'd sooner take another trip to Belize than drive the few miles to Garifuna Flava.
Fantastic food.
From the seafood fritters to the guac to the jerk chicken I have nothing bad to say.
Sure the neighborhood feels rough but they have parking AND the TV is always tuned to the parking lot channel so you can watch your own car.
They serve good beer out of Belize and if you happen to try the post-meal bitters these two are fantastic
lastly the people are fantastically friendly and helpful.
Thank you Garifuna Flava for making a foodie night out.
this was my first intro to this kind of food and I loved it.
I got a wide variety of items on the menu and they were all great
Long Islands were out of this world, but be careful cause they will knock you on your ass
Pass on the meat pies.. they do not make them in house
casual dining experience brought to a new level with the flavors
WIN WIN WIN
Best oxtail stew I've ever had an the first time I was introduced to oxtail was in Africa!
I ordered the Long Island with a carribean twist which was strong accompanying my meal perfectly. The sauce that came with the rice&beans made them soooo delicious.
Panades were excellent, Tamales were good(could've been warmer).
Can't wait to have some more at the Taste of Chicago, I want to try the pig tail and split peas!!
Icing to the cake- our server!! He was so warm, welcoming and helpful motto mention ethnic!
We had seen the spot on Check, Please! and had been meaning to try this place for some time. Â We had an early dinner there on a Sunday evening. Â The place was quiet, so we had plenty of friendly service, and none of the slowness in food delivery described by one or two of the other reviewers. Â The bartender and server were nothing short of completely charming, offered us samples of things we might not have otherwise tried, and turned us on to a fantastic neighborhood bar for after-dinner drinks (Club 6601, which I would also highly recommend).
My favorite part of the meal, though all of it was great, was the appetizers, flavorful and beautifully cooked. Â The spicy cabbage "sauce" (more like a very finely grated slaw) that comes with the conch fritters and panades appetizers is one of the most delicious condiments I've ever had. Â My fellow diners also enjoyed the garnaches, though I found them a little bland. Â I did not try them with the recommended ketchup accompaniment, but that may be the way to go. Â
For my main meal I had the oxtail stew with rice & beans and cabbage, and all three were outstanding -- the texture of the rice and beans was addictive, and I've never tasted anything quite like the cabbage. A relative of Southern style collards, but with a spicy kick. Â I also had a chance to try the hudut baruru with falumu (aka Serre, we were informed by our very charming server), the king fish in coconut broth -- delicious. Â We finished with the caramel pound cake and the coconut tarts, which were fine, though not amazing enough for me to spend the calories on them again. Â
I can also highly recommend the drinks -- we didn't have the much touted Belizan long island, though the bartender provided us with a sample, and it was delicious -- tropical flavors perfectly balanced. I had the lemon margarita which was 100% perfect  for my taste -- as tart as you could hope for if you prefer your cocktails on the sour rather than the sweet side. Â
We'll definitely be back!
I don't live in Chicago. Â And I know very little about Belizean food. Â But I do know that for the rest of my life, any flight into Chicago-Midway Airport will be immediately followed by a trip to Garifuna Flava.
This place is a gem. Â It is a sanctuary of good feeling and good food. Â The quality of the cuisine is matched only by the warmth and friendliness of the staff and ownership. Â It's one thing to leave a restaurant satisfied that you've had a good meal. Â It's entirely another when you leave feeling that you've just spent the last hour or so in the company of good people who were genuinely interested in the quality of your experience. Â But enough fuzzy stuff...
Like I said, I am unfamiliar with Belizean food and culture but I am very partial to what limited experience I've had with Jamaican/Caribbean cuisine. Â I perused the menu before I arrived and realized that I recognized very little and had actually tried even less. Â Thankfully, the bartender/waiter/general manager (Hussein) was more than happy to guide me through the Belizean wilderness and select several outstanding choices.
I enjoyed two appetizers, the Panades and Conch Fritters, which were both delicious. Â And each came with a green salsa/sauce that served as a perfect compliment to their flavors. Â For my main meal, I had to test out their Jerk Chicken, and I was rewarded with the choice. Â Not only is the chicken succulent and flavorful, but it comes with several incredible side dishes which make its placement on the lunch-special menu a steal. Â The chicken came with beans & rice, a fried plantain and a side bowl of stewed cabbage. Â The beans & rice also came with an amazing sauce to pour over them which couldn't have blended better. Â Everything was so on point that my only wish was that I had more time (and a larger stomach) to enjoy more.
One final note...you're robbing yourself if you don't try their signature drink, the Belizean Long Island. Â An original concoction of secret ingredients, it is basically a pineapple juice-based mixed drink that resembles a Long Island Iced-Tea. Â But it is hot fire. Â It is the kind of drink that makes you wish you were sitting on a beach. Â It is the kind of drink that you hope all other "island drinks" taste like when you order them. Â It is smooth and sweet and it still packs a punch. Â Proceed with caution, but definitely proceed...
I don't know when I will be in Chicago next, but I do know it will involve a return trip here. Â It was an outstanding experience, from start to finish, top to bottom. Â Great food. Â Great drink. Â Great people. Â Do yourself a favor and check it out.
I have a problem. After visiting Garifuna Flava, I became so obsessed with Belizean cuisine that I bought a small boat, have a bride to be, 200 acres of Belizean coastal property, a dog, and 500 shares of a sugar company. What the HELL did that jerk chicken do to me?!?!
Where to begin? I guess I'll start with the food. We had their Panades and Conch Fritters. Both uniquely fantastic. The Panades could have used a little more fish, but the corn patties (empenada looking) were so tasty, it didn't really matter. I liked the sweet vegetable salsa or relish they served with it. Mostly consists of cabbage.
A mere taste of the Conch Fritters would convert an atheist to a fully committed Christian. Yeah, that good. They serve them with a very similar vegetable sauce as the Panades, but this ones got habanero suckaaaaaas!!!!!
For entrees, we had their Jamaican Jerk Chicken and their Oxtail Stew. The Jerk Chicken was great, full of spice and came with a jerk sauce that kicked it up a notch. Plus I like how they chopped the chicken into large chunks. I got that with some red beans and rice that were accompanied by some delicious gravy and their potato salad. The potato salad was one of a kind, nice texture balance and the mayo mixture had a lot going on.
The oxtail stew was phenom. Tender like the heart of an angel. It was suggested to have this with their steamed cabbage. GREAT suggestions, the steamed cabbage reminded me of soulful greens. Very good.
While I waited, I was given a sampling of their Belizean Long Island. WOW! Those suckers would have you floored in no time. But I bet for dinner they'd be a lot of fun to put down with a crew of good friends. Being open till 2AM on Fri and Sat, I could see it getting really fun in here.
Garifuna Falava rules. GIT yo ASS in here and taste da flava!
The food is great!!
Garifuna opens at 11:30. However I arrived at 11:40 to find the restaurant closed. I called the number and the employee stated they would open in 10minutes. I waited in the parking lot for 25 minutes and finally attempted to enter the restaurant again at 12:05pm. Only to find the restaurant closed. Â I called the number (again) and surprise the same person stated they would be open in ANOTHER 15 minutes. To bring my total wait time to 40 minutes...just to go inside and order.
I'm sorry but there is NO food worthy of a 40 minute wait on a Sunday afternoon when there are thousands of other options in Chicago. Â So buyer beware. The service is atrocious. ( I came to this conclusion after having waited upwards of 35 minutes for takeout during a previous visit).
Best tamale I've had EVER. Â So soft and flavorful was the chicken tamale. Â I didn't know a tamale could be so good.
Chicken wings appetizer was also super good.
Oxtail stew was fantastic, meat falling off the bone. Â Wasn't a huge portion, but decent.
Beef stew was good, but the choice of meat was too fatty I thought.
The chicken stew was also really good.
Snapper was just so so - had bones in it, which I didn't like.
All in all, this place is amazing if ur willing to make the drive. Â I thought it was getting such high remarks b/c it was in the boonies and relative to the nearby alternatives - but no, this place is some of the best home cooking i've ever had.
They have a small parking lot area in the back/side, but i wouldn't bring a super nice vehicle as i see chips of broken car window glass littering the street.
Well worth it if u can convince friends to make the trip!
Arrived at 5:30pm on Friday night (we had an event in the neighborhood at 7pm) and the place was empty. A bit disconcerting on our first visit, but it didn't matter as we were greeted warmly at the door, chose a seat by the window, and then enjoyed the Caribbean music in the background.
Based on previous Yelp reviews, we went with the popular dishes of Panades and Conch Fritters for the appetizers, Jamaican Jerk Chicken for the entree, and the Pound Cake with Caramel for dessert. Every bite, from beginning to end, was incredibly flavorful and delicious! My wife loved the rice and beans, we didn't even use the Jerk Sauce because the marinade was so incredibly good, and even the cabbage salad had me enthusiastically reaching for more.
Our waitress (Thanks, Angela!) was extremely nice and helpful. Her excellent suggestion of the grapefuit soda went well with the flavors and helped to offset some of the heat. We also split a Long Island Iced Tea that was excellent, but beyond that, they split the drink into two glasses at the bar having known we were sharing. Now that is the kind of thoughtful service for which I'd gladly return.
Since food and service are my top criteria, followed by reasonable prices, I couldn't think of any other rating than 5 stars.
I've always wanted to go to Belize. Â My friend, Iris, boasted about how beautiful it was. Â Looking at the official website and setting the nice beaches, beautiful (women), and warm weather made me want to go, even more. Â After the meal I had the first time I visited Hussein Castillo's restaurant on Chicago's south side, Â I decided I MUST take that journey.
Garifuna Flava: a Taste of Belize is wonderful. Â "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" was right to visit and feature this restaurant. Â From the "Panades" and "Conch Fritters" appetizers to the wonderful fish dishes and fall-off-the-bone Stewed Ox Tail, after a number of visits, I have yet to be disappointed in the slightest. Â (Oh, and let's not even mention they have some of Chicago's finest Jerk Chicken!!!) Â The atmosphere is wonderful with the smells of Caribbean food cooking and Caribbean music constantly playing (and on the digital jukebox).
Garifuna Flava: a Taste of Belize deserves a perfect rating! Â It deserves your business and you deserve to be blown-away and have your stomach filled with "a Taste of Belize".
Pleasantly surprised! Â
We live maybe 2 miles from here and I have been passing it up for way too long. I think what first caught my attention was that it has a parking lot in an otherwise over LAZ(ed) ticket hungry area.
Started out of course with two appetizers; The Conch fritters (oh my, minced conch seasoned just right with spices of the carribean, they give you 4), and 3 fairly large (think of mexican tostada size)Garnaches. Fried round tortillas topped with refried beans (hmmmm almost Mexican), a lettuce sauce (yes you heard right)shredded cheese and a swirl of (can you believe this) a ketchup sauce. Which by all taste and look seems to be ketchup. But what you taste is really something nice. The blending of the ingrediants does take you out of the Mexican tostada quickly.
Of course, I keep hearing of this "Belizian Long Island Iced tea" so of course I had to try it for myself. Not bad for an Iced tea but it did put me in the mind of a carribean bahama mama. The glass served was okay, but I would think it would be delivered in a massive glass, but still it was good. Gave me a little buzz while I waited for my meal. Â Oh and today was Sunday (Bears were playing) so the place was empty, YES!
So anyhow, its time for the main entree and of course the menu is not packed with things so this is not that hard. Although I did notice there were alot of fish recipes, and I am so not a fish person. So I ordered the Stew Beef (pot roast)which come with rice and beans (the rice was coconut infused) and the beans were black beans. The rice really took it over the top for me, in a really good way. I thought the serving was really nice and the beans set it off. Â I did appreciate the fact that the stewed meat was in a seperate dish so that you can add as much as you want to the rice. Oh, how I am savoring it again right now!
We also ordered the Jamaican Jerk Chicken which is basically a half chickjen marinated with Jamaican spices and slow cooked on the grill. So the waiter told us that his mom is the cook and this is exactly what they eat at home, so of course that made me realize: "This is real down home cooking", that was the clincher for me. Although we ended up taking some chicken home, I personally do not eat chicken that often so tasting it was nice for me.
So the end of the night was creeping towards dessert for me. I had to have the cassave cake but changed my mind when the waiter told me that the pound cake with caramel was really good. And it was, no regrets here.
I was reminded by the waiter (but I was ready beforehand) that I could use my YELP coupon to save 10% on the meal. That my friends is what it is all about, saving and tasting and of course tipping for  a wonderful meal. I would go back for sure.
I saw this place featured on Tripe D and was there for lunch.
I had the Jerk Chicken - YUM! It was served with rice/beans and plantains (sp). Â Everything worked well together on the plate. Â For dessert I had the poundcake with caramel - nice way to end the mean! Â The Conch Fritters were well seasoned and had a great crunch - def would go back!
So saw this on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and I had to go. Â
5 of us made the trek to the southside to check out this gem. Â It was a Thursday night and we called and tried to make reservations for 8PM....well they close at 8PM during the week. Â They said to be there at 715 and we would be fine. Â Of course, gettin 5 girls together and on time is never going to happen so we got there at 730....not to bad. Â
The great thing, there is a parking lot so no need to stalk around for a parking spot. Â BONUS!
The space is nothing to look at but we were seated promptly and the service was a little slow in the beginning but I think it was because they thought there were more people coming. Â Alas, the server came over and we just started spouting out what we wanted to try. Â Also, we asked her for suggestions. Â The one complaint I have with Garifuna Flava was that we wanted the Hudut Baruru w Tikini....BUT the cooks said it takes 45 mins to cook so they wouldnt make it for us :( BOOO. Â But what we had was all PHENOMENAL!!!!!
Panadas, Conch Fritters (my favorite), salsanaches, King Fish, Jerk Chicken, Ox tail stew, plantains, rice and beans, cabbage and the BEST hot sauce I have tasted!
For dessert we had the pound cake with caramel (GREAT!!! It would have been perfect with a little side of ice cream) and the coconut tarts (least favorite, but I dont like pastries that much).
The drinks were great. Â The staff was so nice! Â The portions were HUGE! Â I definitely had a food baby when we left.
Dine-in Date: Â Fri Aug 20 2010
Garifuna Flava is the restaurant that catered the baby shower I attended some months ago. Â For some reason, I thought it was Jamaican Jerk, but......anywho.
My red snapper fish was overfried. Â I didn't particulary care for the cabbage and rice/beans either.
Check Total: Â $34.67
So this place is seriously awesome. So awesome that I'm going to write my first Yelp review just to give props to this place.
After taking a tour of the neighborhood of Chicago Lawn, I dropped by because my car was parked there and stopped in, having less than half an hour to eat and expecting to just grab a snack and take out. But the waiter assured me fast service (and I was not disappointed, food was out in less than 10 minutes), so I stayed, enjoyed the jerk chicken lunch special and some carrot-guava juice.
The jerk chicken was superb, falling off the bone and just the right amount of spice (+ sauce on the side when you feel like making it spicier) but I was even more delighted to find that the rice and beans were some seriously high quality rice, also well-spiced with some tasty gravy that you could add to taste. And of course the plantain and fruit juice that came with it were the perfect complement.
Basically, I haven't had food that delicious, at a place that homey and friendly in a long time, anywhere.
4 words - Yummy in my tummy! Â
It's been nearly a day since our visit and I'm still thinking about all the yummy food my husband and I had. Â It was about noon when I looked at my husband and asked what he wanted to do for lunch. Â It was a great day so we decided to venture outside of the same old choices we always go to in Lincoln Park and went for Garifuna Flava. Â I've been wanting to go here for FOREVER, ever since I saw it on Check, Please but it never worked out until now. Â (Shame on me for waiting so long!) Â Don't be put off by the location, it's a quick drive from the LP and they had a lot next door to the restaurant for easy parking.
We ordered the panades and conch fritters for apps. Â Enjoyed them both but loved loved loved the conch fritters. Â I'm allergic to shellfish so when I ordered it I thought, oh crap. Â But I'm glad I was adventurous anyway (the allergy never did rear it's ugly head) because it was so delish. Â Yum yum.
I got the Belizean stew chicken and my husband ordered the hudut baruru (it's somewhat like a stew with kingfish). Â Both were very tasty and flavorful. Â The portions were big and plentiful. Â They also served like a plaintain mashed potato type thing (sorry, that's the best description I could think of) with the hudut baruru and it was soo awesome. Â I LOVE plaintains so I was in heaven when I learned something like this existed. Â
For dessert, we ordered a slice of the pound cake with caramel sauce. Â O.M.G. Â it was to.die.for. Â I am so grateful to the other reviews who suggested getting this. Â It was warm and fluffy and light and just the right amount of sweetness. Â That poundcake was downright sinful. Â My only regret? Â That I had to split that one slice with my hubby. Â I mean, come on, man, get your own piece! Â
I can't wait to go back and try the other dishes and get me some more of that poundcake.
I have to say this was my first time having food from Belize. And I have to be honest I was kinda iffy about going there but my sister and
brother-in-law are such big fans of this place I had to give it a try.
Before we ordered anything the manager ( I think) came to our table and asked us if we ever had been there and in our case we had not so he kindly said if we needed anything explained he'd be more than happy to help. Which I thought was very helpful. Considering my Hubby and I had never had this kinda food.
So our waitress comes and also had a great attitude about helping out and so we started out by ordering the panadas, the tamales, and the granashes for appetizers. And with my first bite I was like HELLO where have you been all my life...I think I've just fallen in love !!! All the appetizers were awesome and for my entree I ordered the jerk chicken and my hubby ordered the ox tail soup witch he absolutely loved !!! Also the dishes came with rice and plantains that just go so good together. I definitely will be back for more and can't wait to introduce my friends to such a great find !!!!
And don't skip out on desert the pound cake with warm carmel was heaven!!!!
Okay let me start by saying I've " NEVER "written a review before. Even though I am always reading them. Lol But this restaurant SO deserves it's props ( do people still say props???)
Me and my husband had ordered some to go food last year and have been meaning to go back. Well yesterday we decided to go for lunch. For starters they have their own parking lot which was a plus..
When you walk in, nothing fancy, very clean. We're off to a good start. Â
For starters we had the conch fritters and the panades. OMG the panades were SOOO delicious as were the fritters. They came with a "cabbage like salsa"??? Whatever it was one was VERY hot and the other was mild. The hot one was so good though I just wanted to keep eating it even though my mouth was on fire because it was SO good.
Now mind you it was lunch, my husband ordered the "lunch"serving of jerk chicken and I had the "dinner" serving of ox tails. The ox tails were served with rice and peas, cabbage, and 2 plantains. EVERYTHING was excellent, The oxtails were cooked perfectly and the gravy was so good. Not only was I licking my fingers but sucking the bones (like the old folks do haha) It was that good. My husband said the chicken was prob the best jerk chicken he's had (sorry grandma)
All in all I highly recommend this restaurant. Oh and the waiter said his mother does ALL the cooking (hats off to mom)
New Favorite Spot :)
Outstanding. Â My stomach's happily rumbling with memories as I write this.
Headed here with a friend and got a ridiculous amount of food for not a lot of cash. Â Started off with two appetizers: the guacamole and the conch fritters. Â The guacamole itself was really good, but nothing out of the ordinary... the accompanying plantain chips, though, were fresh out of the fryer and delicious. Â And the conch fritters were mighty tasty and satisfying. Â Gotta remember to try the panades the next time.
For mains, went with the stewed ox-tail and the hudut baruru with falumou (a fish/coconut soup served mashed plantains). Â The ox-tail is amazing. Â Seriously. Â The meat is fall-off-the-bone and perfectly flavored, and the stew/curry is mind-blowing. Â Just the right balance between thin/soupy and thick/stewy, and perfectly complements the beans and rice served on the side. Â I'm still dreaming about this dish. Â No, I'm not kidding.
The hudut baruru  wasn't quite as good (not quite as flavorful as I was hoping for), but was still damned tasty.  The mashed plantains served with the dish kinda remind me of Puerto Rican mofongo.
Beyond the food, the service was extraordinary. Â We were seated immediately (on a Saturday night), and the servers checked back frequently to check on how we were doing. Â And they were able and willing to happily answer any questions we had about the food.
Can't say enough good things about this place.
Three words. Mmmmm Mmmmmm Mmmmmmmmmmmmm
On my list of  new favorite places. It took me a while to venture to the southside to get that taste of Belize everyone has been talking about, epic fail on MY part for waiting this long!
Scenario: My best friend from NY is in town and I am attempting to think of a family friendly restaurant that will accommodate a 17 month old and four hungry, eclectic LOUD old college friends. It has to be extraordinary, we are all a little restless with the traditional "downtown" fare and  just want something different! I hop on the Internet and one of those stubborn pop up ads tells me that I can win a free trip to the Caribbean if I click here!
Ummm no thanks but dammit spam you may be on to something! You are all bad for downloading malicious material onto my comp but ALL GOOD for reminding me that I needed to make a trip to Garifuna Flava because I've heard nothing but great things.
Inside and Out: First off, quick easy parking outside. Large tables to accommodate the big groups. Brightly lit with awesome artwork adorning the walls capturing candid moments in Caribbean culture. I instantly feel welcome and comfortable.
Choices: I'm personally overwhelmed by the menu. I want to eat it all, the pictures look delicious - give me page 1 please. We decided to taste a little bit of everything. 3 appetizers and 4 main dishes. Girl's gotta have variety to write an accurate review!.
Quenching my Thirst: Â Belizean Long Island was ON POINT! The liquor was not overbearing, I could taste a little bit of ginger and something citrus like, but I knew that this one was a silent, lethal mix. You gulp down one because it's so refreshing and make your way for the 2nd and start to realize your B.A.C. level is off the chain. Slow it down, I know it's good, but gotta make room for the food. Designated driver? You might want to steer clear of the long island and go with the Belikin brew (a nice light Belizean beer that apparently you won't find anywhere else in Chicago).
Starters: jerk wings, conch fritters and Panades. Yum yum yum. The only time I've had Conch was in the Bahamas, glad it's making an appearance in Chicago. The jerk wings were packed with flavor enough to stand alone, but should you need that extra spicy dose it comes additionally with a jerk sauce. The vegetable sauces that came with the Conch and Panades had two different variations. I think one was habanero? WARNING: pay attention when the waiter points this out. Inferno in my mouth....I just wasn't ready. So if you are a heavyweight in the spicy department, this might be for you. Â ***unloosing first belt buckle***
Main Course: Again, the best way to get a restaurant's true experience is to try everything. So we did! A lot of plate passing at my table with the Belizean stew chicken, Conk Soup, King Fish and Sauteed Shrimp. Â All entrees came with rice, beans and plantains. The Belizean stew chicken literally fell off the bone and melted in my mouth. The Conk Soup was a massive bowl of at least a two day supply of hearty veggies, potatoes, conch fish, and lots of spices. A winter time "go-to" for me in the future. The King Fish had an amazing tomato based sauce and the sauteed shrimp had an equally flavorful sauce and veggie mix.
***unloosing 2nd belt buckle***
The Ending: "Milk Cake" - a soft, warm, moist taste of sugary heaven with a caramel icing.
***Ditching the belt....opening up pants top button.***
Extras: Reasonably priced for the amount of food you receive. I will be eating Garifuna Flava for the next 3 days and I'm looking forward to going home to my leftovers! I love this place not just for the delectable food but for the sense of Caribbean pride that exudes from the walls, the family that runs the business and most certainly the food. There is that certain "home" feeling you get and can relate to, whether you share the same heritage or not. The feeling that some member of the family took a lot of love, time and pride in the preparation of your meal.
Overall a great experience and I will be coming back again soon... probably wearing stretch pants.
One of my favorite restaurants in the city. Â Very flavorful food that you won't find anywhere else and run by one of the nicest families you'll find in the business.
I've been there several times now and have been working my way through the menu and have not been disappointed once. Â The stewed chicken falls right off the bone and is complemented by a generous plate of rice and beans and plantains. Â There is a great lunch special, but I usually skip it and get the dinner portion so that I'll have leftovers. Â The fish has always been fresh and prepared with some great sauces. Â Sauteed shrimp was the latest dish to make the all-star list. Â Be sure to start with the panades, and order the guacamole and plantain chips if that's your thing. Â Desserts might be the weakest part of the menu, but I always end up getting one since they're more unique than the monster chocolate whatever you'll get at other soulless places.
I haven't been there during peak hours, but service has always been attentive and most of all friendly. Â Hussein remembered us after only one visit, and we've met several other family members who are just as helpful with recommendations.
It's a very clean place, and has free parking right next door.  Explore the city a bit  - the experience is worth the trip down there if you're not in the neighborhood.
Was there with a school class and we were in the back room with an appetizer tray buffet. Â
We had plantain chips, panades, garnaches, salsanaches, and the conch fritters. Â Loved them all but those conch fritters were outstanding!!!
Absolutely great experience. This was my first taste of Belizean cuisine and I really enjoyed the food.
I'll be bringing some friends back here. :)
This was my first time trying Belizean food and my family and I enjoyed our meals. Â We especially enjoyed the Conch fritters (very spicy) and the Conch chowder. Â We also tried the Panade and Garnache's but didn't think they were special. Â My wife enjoyed the Hadut Bararu (King Fish Soup) but I thought it was too "fishy" tasting. Â The rice, which was cooked at least partly in coconut milk, was tasty but way overcooked. Â Service was kind of slow as well. Â I learned pretty quickly that we would starve if we waited for our server, so I grabbed anyone nearby for what we needed.
Normally all this would have earned a restaurant 3 stars but I bumped it a star because of the fabulous time we had talking with some of the patrons.  The  place was packed with Belizeans and Hondurans.  How's that for authentic.  I felt transported from Chicago to the Caribbean and would happily go back.
Is it wrong that I went to GF yesterday and I'm awake at 7AM and thinking about going again and possibly just moving in so I can eat 3 meals a day there everyday? I have to admit that I hopped on yelp and my gps to look for a close by Harold's Chicken ( i know, i know) and when I found Harold's I looked across the street and saw GF, a place that actually was a bookmark so I decided to go...BEST DECISION EVER!
Walked in and was immediately greeted with a friendly hello. Picked up a menu and was going to order to go then decided what the hell I don't have anything to do so I decided to just stay and enjoy my meal instead of rushing home in traffic on 90 to semi-warm food.
I took a peek at the menu and saw so many good things that I hadn't had since my trip to Belize in 2007 that I first became overwhelmed. But since I haven't been ummm respecting my New Years resolution and  hitting the treadmill I had to calm down. I ordered the appetizer trio of panades, garnache, and wings decided on the jerk chicken with rice and peas with cabbage.
Appetizers came out and the first thing I wanted to try was the panades. they are fried corn goodies stuffed with fish and extra tasty...i inhaled all 3. the next thing was the garnache which is a crispy tortilla with beans and cheese on top...yeah gone in 60 secs is the name of the game...i am like a human vacuum.
I had one of the chicken wings and it was really good just not my fave thing I ate at GF. I have to say that while they are good I actually enjoyed the wings at MBL more. and it was more just to say I ate one of the wings since my food came out shortly after and since I ordered the jerk chicken I wanted to save room for the real meal. The jerk chicken was def a kazillion times better than what I had at MBL. It was seasoned well and didn't just taste like somebody cooked chicken then decided to say hey I'm going to make jerk chicken. This was carefully prepared and every bite was a party. There was a little side of jerk sauce to up the spice.
The rice and peas are served with a gravy that def a kicked up the flavor a notch. I like the way it complimented the chicken and moistened the rice up a bit. Of course I threw on some of the jerk sauce to make it a little spicy...hey, what can I say I like to burn off the taste buds on a regular basis. The cabbage was well seasoned and it was def on and popping once I threw some Marie Sharp on it.
Did I say how much food I ate? The way I was eating, You would think I was a duck in a french restaurant. So you wouldn't be surprised to know that I totally ordered dessert. I'm from the south so I never let the chance to get some good pound cake slip away from me. I saw the cake covered in caramel sauce and went for it. I was brought a very genorous piece of cake and I ATE IT ALL. I was going to scrape the caramel from the plate but had embarrassed myself enough already and restrained myself from doing that but I thought about it...
I also had the chance to sample some of their bitters and the Belizean Long Island...i highly recommend the long island. I would have ordered one but I didn't want to bring back my college nickname (which shall not be mentioned here) so I didn't order a drink but surely when I go back with people...and most likely it will be next weekend...i'm def ordering a drink..
Did I mention that while I was having this awesome meal I had the change to have a very good conversation with the owner about Belize, Central America, Garifuna food and music, and the Afro Caribbean community of Chicago. It's not often you get to talk to the owner and to really see how invested they are in their business but it clearly comes from a genuine place and sharing of culture and his mom cooks everything FROM SCRATCH...seriously, a good home cooked meal is a hard to find commodity these days......def good peoples!
Soooo....what you need to know:
1. AMAZING FOOD
2. GREAT OWNERS
3. LEARN ABOUT GARIFUNA CULTURE
Needless to say, I will be back and I'm bringing friends.
Full disclosure: a college friend's family owns this restaurant. But I promise you I'm not biased in saying it's one of the best places to eat in Chicago.
Try the savory coconut-based hudut baruru (a soup, of sorts, with kingfish and a mix of ripe and unripened plantains), the tamales or the Belizean stew chicken. While the hudut baruru is a personal favorite, you really can't go wrong -- everything on the menu is fantastic, not to mention Garifuna Flava is one of the only places in Chicago you can get traditional Garifuna food. (The Garifuna people have roots in West Africa and the Caribbean, particularly Belize and Honduras.)
My husband and I were feeling like something different and wanted to stay on the south side (we live in Hyde Park), so we did a little research and came across Garifuna Flava here on Yelp. It had rave reviews, so we decided to check it out.
The restaurant is just a quick drive west from Hyde Park. The neighborhood is a bit rougher around the edges than what some folks may be used to, but we parked in the lot right next to the restaurant and never felt uncomfortable or unsafe. We went on a Friday night last month at 7ish and the place was completely empty except for one other group. I always feel a little uncomfortable going into a restaurant that's near empty, especially when I've never been there before or I'm not that familiar with the cuisine (I worry it'll be too obvious we don't know what we're doing...). The server we had, though, went out of his way to make us feel comfortable, explaining the menu, telling us a little about the Garifuna culture, and giving us recommendations about what to try.
We ordered conch fritters (which were really fresh and flavorful) to start and then both got the jerk chicken which is, hands down, the best jerk chicken--maybe even the best chicken, period-- I have ever had. The seasoning was on point, the meat was juicy, and it was spicy but not so hot that we couldn't taste the other complex spices. It comes with a delicious gravy/hot sauce that was so tasty I could drink it (according to the waiter, the kid at the table next to us did, in fact, drink a few little cups of it...) The jerk chicken I've had in the past often seems to have an artificial liquid-smoke taste to it, but this just tasted really fresh and tangy, with a rich natural smokiness. We had TONS of food (and Belizean beer) and, considering the quality of what we got, it was extremely affordable.
Okay-side note...per review of another yelpper's review, Garifuna Flava was on Check Please! SOOOOOO excited because this place needs more hype.....
My cousin and I tried this place about 3 weeks ago, on a Tuesday afternoon for lunch, actually, when they just opened. We shared everything.
Appetizers- Panades, Chicken Tamales, beef patties and plantains. The Panades were excellent, a perfect amount of fish filled pockets fried, crunchy an perfect sized to get the hunger monkey off your back. The Chicken Tamale was yummy as well. It was different, the chicken was unbelievably tender and this was home made, a tamale as wide as your hand. And the Beef Patties, although, not on the appetizer menu, we had this as an appetizer. This is identical to a meet pie, in African cuisine, it was yummy. Great flavor. Â The plantains, also not an appetizer, we ordered an extra serving of these and they were simply perfect. Nice and crispy on the outside, soft and sweet inside. Delicious.
Entree- My cousin and I shared the Chicken Stew...it was great, beans and rice were great and the chicken fell off the bone! Very enjoyable.
Dessert - We had the pound cake with caramel sauce...enjoyed it a great deal.
Drinks- My cousin had the Bahama mama...we didn't like it very much, but if that's your drink of choice, go for it. I had the Caribbean long island....AMAZING. The thing with long islands is many people have no idea how to make them, didn't have the issue with this. Full of alcohol but delicious nonetheless. (Hey, it was happy hour somewhere!)
Please visit this place, the prices are extremely reasonable and the food is amazing.
Another Check Please suggestion, we were eager to try out the joint!
We ordered the appetizer sampler with the 3 panades, 3 chicken wings and 1 garnache to start us of. Â The panades, are similar to little empanadas, but they don't have a ton of filling in there. Â Very forgivable, as they are light, crisp, and packed full of flavor!!! Â It is like a fish empanada. Â The chicken wings were jerk chicken wings. Â I wasn't too crazy about their jerk here, as they were more heat than flavor. Â The garnache was good. Â It was like an open faced single serve baked pita with a dallop of cheese on it. Â It needed a little ketchup, but did okay on it's own. Â I am looking forward to coming back to try the conch fritters
For entrees, I ordered the ox tail. Â The meat was falling off the bone, and they gave a pretty large helping of it. Â The rice and peas were done so nicely, as the rice was fluffy and the beans had a nice consistency, not being a soggy accomplice to the rice. Â The bf had the stewed chicken. Â Again, meat falling off the boat, flavor was powerful, but not obnoxious for consumption. Â Same sides as me
We came on a Sunday night, and they were out of desserts. Â Disappointing, but forgivable, as this may show that they had a busy business day.
Ample parking, and such a great family setting. Â The service was swift, and the staff makes you feel like they are part of your family. Â Didn't go on a music night, but they have events where bands play. Â
Can't wait to go back to try more Belizean food!
Wonderful, friendly, great usual food - try it you'll love it. Â We had plantain chips and guacamole, fish stew and jerk chicken and the price was very reasonable. Â We'll go back again.
Hussein was our server and goes out of his way to explain everything. Â And don't forget to try the Long Island.
Be sure to give a generous tip to the parking lot watchman - parking is free but he looks after your car.
This restaurant is a hidden gem. Â The food was out of this world! Â We had the guacamole and plaintain chips, tamales, penadas, and a few other appitizers. Â I highly recommend the chicken tamales - so amazing. Â The jerk chicken, snapper, fish stew....all great. Â The service was good, Hussein was a sweetheart and put up with us all night long.
Have them make you a Belize Long Island!!! Â Will go back for sure!
This place is awesome. Â Great food and really really cheap prices.
We started off with plantain chips and guacamole. Â Then we had tamales and penadas. Â The tamales were huge, not like the little rolls you expect, but a full plate sized loaf of tamale goodness. Â The penadas were delicious and the spicy vegetable dip that it is served with was out of this world. Â It was like a savory and spicy cole slaw. Â
I had a fish stew, which was served in a coconut broth. Â The fish was crispy with a light fried edge to it, the broth was savory and sweet with a hint of coconut milk and spice. Â It came with a huge bowl of mashed plantains. Â
I would definitely return, one of my friends ordered the beef meal and it looked really delicious. Â Its on my list to try next. Â
Lots of flavor, very little money, good pick.
The whole dinner cost me 24 dollars with tip, thats a meal, alcoholic beverage, and two appetizers.
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