Jahiti Caribbean Restaurant

Jared Hurst

Ok. I had no expectations about this place. Not good, not bad. I've had lots of Caribbean food before so I have a foundation. This. Place. Is. Fantastic! The Legume was rich and flavorful. Absolutely delicious. Beef was so tender it sang a ballad all the way down. The rice and beans were savory and comforting. Marinated fritters were delicious and crisp. I was so surprised and honestly overwhelmed. Excellent food. Fast service. Chef made us feel like family. Can't say enough! Hidden gem is an understatement. Local treasure!

ryan seufert

Just moved to thonotosassa and this was the first place i tried. On entering, they were very welcoming and they gave me dumplings and Mac and cheese for free! I ordered the jerk chicken wings and all together it was the best Caribbean food in town! Highly recommend!

Vanessa Tony

The customer service here is always A1! The owner is extremely welcoming and pleasant which is important to me. And why I keep coming back. Makes me happy to help support this business. The food is fresh and the portions are very filling. Jonas the owner is phenomenal and always go above and beyond when it comes to delivering world class customer service! I took my aunt who is the biggest food critic from Cap Haitian, and even she was impressed with his service and the food!

Baja Jessopp

This little gem was a great find! My boyfriend has been to Haiti and I’ve been to Jamaica and this place had a nice blend of both. We had the legume stew with rice and beans; the Ke Bef (oxtail) and the chicken pate. Everything was amazing. Nice blend of spices. This was my first time trying oxtail and I will definitely be eating it again. It was so tender and the sauce was incredible. Jonas, the owner, was so nice and chatted with us during our visit. He makes you feel welcomed and takes good care of his customers! We will definitely be back!

Melissa Braswell

First let me just say the hospitality of this restaurant was perfect! I explained this was our first time there and my husband’s first time having Caribbean food. Nadine was so warm and welcoming and patient with all our questions. Nadine explained the dishes with such compassion and provided a few tastings. The food was delicious! I was impressed with the fresh ingredients and the flavor of the dishes. We ordered Oxtails, Haitian fried Chicken, Lugeme and beef patty. We also tried the Hatian Marinade! Omgee!!! It was all cooked to perfection. The oxtail falls off the bone and is seasoned very well. The fried chicken is served with onions and peppers and was very good, we got it with rice and peas and plantains (the plantains are cooked like tostones) all of it was very good. I loved the Legume, it’s sorta like a beef stew but has very distinct flavors that were great. It has chayote in the stew and it’s my favorite! The beef falls apart and is so moist. The beef patties were amazingly and has a little kick to it. Jahiti’s is a hidden gem in Seffner. I would highly suggest giving them some love. I can’t wait to try more! I forgot to take a pic of the patties, they were so good we ate them before I remembered to take a photo. Go check them out!!!

akhilesh pal

Awesome chef and awesome food. This place is a hidden gem. I wish I had taken more pictures of the food, so that I can share them. We had the jerk chicken wings and the meat that was served with rice and plantains. The chef was nice enough to make pasta for my 12-yr old son at no charge.

Devin

Word around town was their food is good. I drove 30 mins to get it. Sat down at a nice clean table, cold air and the food was perfectly cooked. I left saying to myself Thank you Lord 🙏🏼. Will definitely be back again. The portion of food is abundance💪

Karen V

This is a love at first bite experience. Seriously amazing! The last time I had good Haitian food was when visiting Castle Creole in Brandon. It has been years since it closed, and I haven't found flavorful food from Haiti until now. This is a family owned business. There is Jamaican and Haitian (or Jahiti) homemade goodness in this new restaurant in Seffner. I have to say that the restaurant doesn't look like much from the outside. It's in the Parsons Village Square and next door to H&R Block off of Parsons and Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd. Parking is plentiful since it's in a very large plaza. The inside is clean and spacious, and the tables are spread out. It's nothing fancy on the inside. A very casual setting. The music is Caribbean and lively. It kind of made me want to get up and dance. LOL! The menu is small, but has a good mixture of both Jamaican and Haitian comfort food. I knew I wanted Haitian food right away. I saw that they had légume on the menu and I had to try it. They also have many different varieties of bottled or canned drinks. I chose the Jamaican Kola champagne soda. The owner was super friendly and patient. He answered all of the questions I had. He told me that their légume was very popular and that people come in daily for it. Yay, I made the right choice. A few minutes later he brought over a freshly made marinade (fried fritter) that was topped with pikliz, a spicy and pickled relish. I'm not sure if it comes with the meal, or if it was just a sample to taste before the meal. All I can say is that it was fantastic. I love that pikliz! If I had to describe it, it's very close to kimchi but more shredded and colorful. A very tasty treat. The pikliz also comes with the meal. I added it to the fried plantain. Delish! It was all a sign of good things coming. I was so happy when my meal of légume arrived. It was perfect in every way. This stew had tender beef and all kinds of simmered veggies and spices. I can't stop thinking about it. It was also served with white rice and a black bean sauce. I honestly couldn't eat all of it. I could only eat half of the rice, but I ate all of the stew with the rice. It was so tasty and definitely felt comforting. So much so that I can't wait to go back. I haven't tried their Jamaican food yet, but I'm sure it is as tasty and flavorful as their Haitian food. I definitely want to try the oxtail next time. There will be many next times. I'm telling all my friends and family about it. Do not sleep on this place. It gets 5 stars for great service, great value, great portions, and great taste!

Checked out Jahiti last week after hearing about it and was not disappointed. Service was great , food was fresh and delicious. Some of the best jerk chicken I’ve had in the Tampa Bay Area. Check out my TikTok - Reds.mo for a more thorough review on Jahiti as well as other cultural foodie spots I try throughout Tampa bay !

Literally amazing service the second you walk in! This was my first time trying Jamaican and it literally blew my mind! I highly recommend their food especially the oxtail!! There's just so much flavor to everything I ordered! Will definitely be visiting again ☺️🫱🏻‍🫲🏼

The owner is so incredibly kind! He's always friendly when we go in, generous, and makes us feel welcomed. They always have hot fresh food that tastes home made straight from Haiti right here in Florida.

The best Haitian food I’ve had in yearssssss! Hands down. I ordered the griot, with white rice & sos pwa, it came with pikliz & plantain. I also ordered the legume. Everything was fire. Large portions, I didn’t have to wait long & while I was waiting I was given some type of fritter that was so flavorful, excellent texture & had some type of sweet sauce on top. My food was 10/10. Flavor was all there. I’ll definitely be ordering some food to take back home to Dallas with me before I leave town. It’s worth it. And I got so much food and only spent $33 including my drink.

The food here was excellent!! We ordered brown stew chicken and jerk chicken with Haitian black rice and when I tell you it was delicious.... it was soooo good!!! The service was kind and portions were generous. We will be back. Thank you for the hospitality.

I want to truly thank you Nadine for those delicious jerk chicken wings. I love how they had that spicy taste to them just how I like them. Just know you'll be seeing me real soon to get those oxtails 😋

Jahiti Caribbean Restaurant is a hidden gem for anyone craving authentic Caribbean flavor in the Tampa/Seffner area. From the moment you walk in, you’re welcomed with warm service and the smell of slow-cooked spices drifting from the kitchen. The food is the real star here. Every dish tastes homemade and full of rich, layered seasoning — nothing bland or watered-down. The jerk chicken is tender with just the right kick, the legume stew is hearty and deeply flavorful, and the fried snapper comes out perfectly crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside. Portions are generous, making it a great value for the price. Highly recommended for anyone who loves Caribbean cuisine or wants to try something new!

Absolutely delicious food, everything was packed with flavor. The chicken was tender, the jerk had the perfect kick, and the tostones were crispy and fresh. You can really tell the food is made with care!

This is a Haitian/Jamaican restaurant with delicious food in a nondescript strip mall at the corner of Parsons and MLK in Seffner. There is a grandma in the back cooking and she knows what she is doing. They may give you a free sample of an appetizer of some kind of fried bread balls with some delicious pickled spicy cabbage. Do take this and if you are a Caribbean food fan you will be hooked.

Missy Rose

Friendly greeting when you walk in. Very upbeat and lively music playing. Had the jerk chicken and it was delicious! So good! I am looking forward to my next visit!

Ashley C

The owner is so incredibly kind! He's always friendly when we go in, generous, and makes us feel welcomed. They always have hot fresh food that tastes home made straight from Haiti right here in Florida.

Hylton Osbourne

Jahiti Caribbean Restaurant is a hidden gem for anyone craving authentic Caribbean flavor in the Tampa/Seffner area. From the moment you walk in, you’re welcomed with warm service and the smell of slow-cooked spices drifting from the kitchen. The food is the real star here. Every dish tastes homemade and full of rich, layered seasoning — nothing bland or watered-down. The jerk chicken is tender with just the right kick, the legume stew is hearty and deeply flavorful, and the fried snapper comes out perfectly crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside. Portions are generous, making it a great value for the price. Highly recommended for anyone who loves Caribbean cuisine or wants to try something new!

khumoyun Bekov

Literally amazing service the second you walk in! This was my first time trying Jamaican and it literally blew my mind! I highly recommend their food especially the oxtail!! There's just so much flavor to everything I ordered! Will definitely be visiting again ☺️🫱🏻‍🫲🏼

Ramona Shoy

Checked out Jahiti last week after hearing about it and was not disappointed. Service was great , food was fresh and delicious. Some of the best jerk chicken I’ve had in the Tampa Bay Area. Check out my TikTok - Reds.mo for a more thorough review on Jahiti as well as other cultural foodie spots I try throughout Tampa bay !

Chloe Denver

The food here was excellent!! We ordered brown stew chicken and jerk chicken with Haitian black rice and when I tell you it was delicious.... it was soooo good!!! The service was kind and portions were generous. We will be back. Thank you for the hospitality.

Rakiya Braham (Tanny)

The best Haitian food I’ve had in yearssssss! Hands down. I ordered the griot, with white rice & sos pwa, it came with pikliz & plantain. I also ordered the legume. Everything was fire. Large portions, I didn’t have to wait long & while I was waiting I was given some type of fritter that was so flavorful, excellent texture & had some type of sweet sauce on top. My food was 10/10. Flavor was all there. I’ll definitely be ordering some food to take back home to Dallas with me before I leave town. It’s worth it. And I got so much food and only spent $33 including my drink.

Honestly if I could give 0 stars I would. It’s my first time in Tampa and I heard so much great things about this place but what I’ve tasted today wasn’t great. It tasted like straight grease with no flavor. I’m Haitian myself and I know good Haitian food and this wasn’t it. It’s very overpriced for the flavor I received today. And then it was mixed with fried goat that I didn’t ask for. Many fatty pieces and idk I was very disappointed! Will never try again! Highly DONT RECOMMEND! Looks great but taste bad! Don’t even get me started on the pikliz but I will say the rice was okay and the sauce made it easier to eat

Update to Business response. We ordered via Ubereats, and the restaurant was closed after receiving our food. The picture has the hair, I’m Haitian and do not wear color in my hair so it for sure did not come from me. It’s a shame to have to clarify as a person of color that my hair is not the hair in this pic but go off. I do hope your company does better in ensuring products do not contain items other than what was ordered. Thank you & good luck with your business. It’s 09:01 as I write this. Unfortunately I ordered from Ubereats today. My husband had the Kabrit meal, so he opened his plate up later than I did. He told me there was a long piece of dyed blonde hair in his food. Also they had a deal for a free Jupina so I never received it. The pate as you can see in the picture does not look like how it’s usually made. I’m so disappointed now I have to wait til tomorrow to deal with an issue that should not have happened in the first place.

Ordered from uber eats, the OXTAIL meal for $32 and this is what I received. Whoever packed this should shame themselves. NEVER in my life having a Caribbean background have I had bland oxtails nor a portion like this from a restaurant. I hope one of those owners see this because as long as I have been coming here my food has been great until today when I chose to not get my usual meal 🤦🏾‍♀️

Dajha NCLEX

Honestly if I could give 0 stars I would. It’s my first time in Tampa and I heard so much great things about this place but what I’ve tasted today wasn’t great. It tasted like straight grease with no flavor. I’m Haitian myself and I know good Haitian food and this wasn’t it. It’s very overpriced for the flavor I received today. And then it was mixed with fried goat that I didn’t ask for. Many fatty pieces and idk I was very disappointed! Will never try again! Highly DONT RECOMMEND! Looks great but taste bad! Don’t even get me started on the pikliz but I will say the rice was okay and the sauce made it easier to eat

Me Nie

It’s 09:01 as I write this. Unfortunately I ordered from Ubereats today. My husband had the Kabrit meal, so he opened his plate up later than I did. He told me there was a long piece of dyed blonde hair in his food. Also they had a deal for a free Jupina so I never received it. The pate as you can see in the picture does not look like how it’s usually made. I’m so disappointed now I have to wait til tomorrow to deal with an issue that should not have happened in the first place.

Brooklyn

Ordered from uber eats, the OXTAIL meal for $32 and this is what I received. Whoever packed this should shame themselves. NEVER in my life having a Caribbean background have I had bland oxtails nor a portion like this from a restaurant. I hope one of those owners see this because as long as I have been coming here my food has been great until today when I chose to not get my usual meal 🤦🏾‍♀️