Caribbean Restaurant in Nashville

June 15, 2026

A Caribbean restaurant in Nashville offers something a grocery freezer aisle or a national chain cannot: jerk chicken pulled from a smoky grill, oxtail braised until it falls off the bone, curry goat simmered with Scotch bonnet heat, and sweet fried plantains served by cooks who learned the recipes at home. Nashville is Tennessee’s largest city, with a population of roughly 715,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and its growth has drawn a diverse food scene in which Jamaican, Trinidadian, Haitian, and broader Caribbean kitchens have found a steady audience. For diners craving island flavors, the city’s Caribbean spots range from sit-down restaurants inside the Nashville Farmers’ Market to neighborhood kitchens in North and South Nashville.

Caribbean cooking in Nashville reflects the islands its cooks come from. Jamaican menus anchor most of the city’s offerings, built around jerk seasoning, brown stew, curry goat, oxtail, ackee and saltfish, rice and peas, and beef patties, while Trinidadian roti and doubles, Haitian griot, and Cuban sandwiches appear on menus that draw from more than one tradition. Many of Nashville’s Caribbean businesses began as catering operations or food trucks before moving into brick-and-mortar dining rooms, a path common across the sector, and several still offer catering and takeout alongside dine-in service. Heritage matters to these owners, and the better-known kitchens trace their recipes directly to family cooks in Kingston, Port of Spain, or beyond.

Caribbean restaurants in Nashville operate under the same food-service rules as any restaurant in the state. Each must hold a food-service establishment permit issued under the Tennessee Department of Health framework and administered locally by the Metro Public Health Department of Nashville and Davidson County, which inspects kitchens for food safety before issuing a permit and on a recurring basis afterward. State law sets the annual permit fee by seating capacity, at $210 for establishments with 50 seats or fewer and $360 for those with 51 or more, and the permit year runs from July 1 to June 30. At least one person on staff must complete a Department of Health approved food safety training course. Restaurants that serve liquor, wine, or high-gravity beer for on-premises consumption also need a Liquor-by-the-Drink license from the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), and those sales carry the state’s 15% liquor-by-the-drink tax.

Prepared food sold by a restaurant is taxed at the full combined sales-tax rate rather than the reduced grocery rate, which in Davidson County reaches roughly 9.75% (7% state plus the local option). Diners weighing dine-in against takeout or catering will find the tax the same on prepared plates either way. Tennessee’s consumer protection framework, administered by the Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), handles complaints about deceptive business practices, while food-safety concerns, such as suspected foodborne illness or sanitation problems, are reported to the Metro Public Health Department. Checking a restaurant’s current health-inspection score, posted by the local health department, is a practical step before a first visit.

Top Caribbean Restaurant Providers in Nashville

1. Jamaicaway Restaurant and Catering

Address: 900 Rosa L. Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208
Phone: (615) 255-5920
Website: https://jamaicawayrestaurant.com
Services: dine-in, takeout, catering, daily specials, vegetarian options
Description: Jamaicaway is a Jamaican restaurant operated by Ouida and Dave Bradshaw, who have served the Nashville Farmers’ Market since 2003. The name plays on both the couple’s home country and the Jamaicaway parkway in Boston, where they previously lived, and the business has grown into more than one location around the city. The Farmers’ Market kitchen prepares Jamaican standards including jerk chicken, curried goat, braised oxtail, ackee and saltfish, and curry chicken-stuffed roti, along with johnny cakes, a broad selection of vegetarian dishes, and homemade herbal teas and punch. Much of the menu is made from scratch, and the restaurant blends Caribbean plates with Southern sides in a meat-and-three style. Jamaicaway has been featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and it offers both indoor and outdoor seating plus catering for events.

2. Riddim n Spice

Address: 2116 Meharry Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208
Phone: (615) 953-7121
Website: https://riddimnspice.com
Services: dine-in, takeout, catering, Rum Room and patio rental, in-house island juices
Description: Riddim n Spice is a Caribbean restaurant in North Nashville’s Fisk and Meharry area, created by Jamaican-rooted brothers Kamal Kalokoh and Rashean Conaway as a tribute to their heritage and a broader love of Caribbean culture. Chef Kamal has traveled internationally to develop his cooking, and the menu reflects that range, drawing on Jamaican, Haitian, Puerto Rican, and Trinidadian flavors. Signature plates include oxtails, jerk chicken leg quarters, curry goat, brown stew chicken, and whole red snapper, alongside sides such as rice and peas, macaroni pie, and tostones, plus a customizable island bowl. The kitchen also offers a notable BBQ jerk jackfruit for plant-based diners and fresh in-house island juices including sorrel and mango passion. The restaurant provides dine-in, takeout, and catering, and it operates a Rum Room and patio available for rental.

3. Island Vibes

Address: 1316 Antioch Pike, Nashville, TN 37013
Phone: (615) 454-6085
Website: https://islandvibes615.com
Services: dine-in, takeout, catering, Caribbean entrees and sides
Description: Island Vibes is a Caribbean restaurant on Antioch Pike that opened on May 1, 2014, serving Jamaican and broader island cuisine in southeast Nashville. The kitchen prepares Caribbean staples such as curry goat, oxtail, and jerk-seasoned dishes, paired with traditional sides. Operating from a fixed storefront on Antioch Pike for more than a decade, Island Vibes has built a steady local following in the Antioch corridor, an area of Davidson County with a substantial immigrant and Caribbean community. The restaurant offers dine-in and takeout and supports catering for gatherings, giving the southeastern part of the city a long-running option for island flavors.

Frequently Asked Questions About Caribbean Restaurant in Nashville

Q: What kind of food does a Caribbean restaurant in Nashville serve?

Most Caribbean restaurants in Nashville center on Jamaican cooking, with jerk chicken, oxtail, curry goat, brown stew, rice and peas, ackee and saltfish, and beef patties forming the core of many menus. Some kitchens broaden the range with Trinidadian roti, Haitian griot, Puerto Rican plates, or Cuban dishes, and most offer fried plantains and island juices. Vegetarian and vegan options, such as jerk jackfruit or callaloo, appear at several Nashville spots.

Q: Do Caribbean restaurants in Nashville need a health permit?

Yes. Every restaurant in Nashville must hold a food-service establishment permit administered by the Metro Public Health Department of Nashville and Davidson County under the Tennessee Department of Health framework. The state sets the annual fee by seating capacity, $210 for 50 seats or fewer and $360 for 51 or more, and the permit year runs July 1 to June 30. Kitchens are inspected before a permit is issued and on a recurring basis, and at least one staff member must complete an approved food safety training course.

Q: How much is sales tax on a Caribbean restaurant meal in Nashville?

Prepared food sold by a restaurant is taxed at the full combined rate, not the reduced grocery rate. In Davidson County that combined rate is roughly 9.75%, which is the 7% state sales tax plus the local option tax. The rate applies the same to dine-in and takeout prepared plates.

Q: Can a Caribbean restaurant in Nashville serve rum cocktails or Red Stripe?

A restaurant that wants to serve liquor, wine, or high-gravity beer for on-premises consumption needs a Liquor-by-the-Drink license from the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Those sales carry a 15% liquor-by-the-drink tax in addition to regular sales tax. A restaurant without that license can still serve regular-strength beer if it holds the appropriate local beer permit, while many smaller Caribbean spots focus on house-made juices, sorrel, and ginger drinks instead.

Q: Are there food-truck Caribbean options in Nashville?

Yes. Several Caribbean businesses in Nashville started as food trucks or catering operations before opening dining rooms, and some still run mobile units alongside their restaurants. Food trucks must hold the same Department of Health food-service permit as a brick-and-mortar kitchen and pass inspection. Checking a truck’s current location and schedule on its website or social media before heading out is the best way to catch it.

Q: How can I check a Nashville restaurant’s health-inspection score or file a complaint?

Health-inspection scores for Nashville restaurants are issued by the Metro Public Health Department of Nashville and Davidson County, which also takes reports of sanitation problems or suspected foodborne illness. Complaints about deceptive business practices, such as billing disputes, can be filed with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). Keeping receipts and notes about the visit helps support any complaint.