BOUKA'S JAMAICAN RESTAURANT — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Let me start by sharing my experience. I ordered the veggie dinner, which was supposed to come with rice and peas, three plantains, and cabbage. According to the menu, the veggie platter ranges from $16 to $20. When I called ahead, the person on the phone told me it would only be $16, but for some reason, I was charged $25.

As a content creator, I wanted to support a Black-owned business and share my experience by showing the food I was receiving. However, when I tried to do so, the gentleman who served me immediately told me not to put him on camera. He even asked to see my phone so he could delete the footage. This was incredibly unprofessional, especially considering that a white couple was doing the exact same thing, yet they were treated with warmth and friendliness.

Unfortunately, this behavior is all too common, especially when Black people treat each other poorly. It’s disappointing and unacceptable. I didn’t even capture him on camera—I simply zoomed in on my food, did a quick 360 of the building, and shared that everyone should come try the food.

After this experience, I will never return to this establishment. I paid $25 for a meal that was barely worth $10-$15, and the cabbage was bland. Being from the East Coast, I know Caribbean food differently, and the quality here was not up to par.

If you want to be treated with respect and appreciated as a customer, I suggest finding somewhere else to eat—somewhere that truly values you, especially people who look like you, instead of...

So I just left. This place is a few blocks from my house saw it and decided to give it a try. I ordered the oxtail pasta, the curry shrimp, 1 curry chicken patty and 1 jerk chicken patty. I also got a ginger pineapple juice. The guy at the counter (David) was polite and understood the menu and was able to explain to me what was what. I ate some of the patties first and the crust on the patties were good but I felt like I was just eating a puff pastry with nothing really inside. I took a sip of the pineapple ginger drink and that thang is SPI-CY. There's way more ginger than pineapple. My ears were burning BUT it was still good. It will be good for a day im feeling I'll. A cap will due lol. The oxtail pasta and shrimp curry were good but with the cost of the plate I expected more pasta. I understand oxtails are forever reason expensive now so that portion was ok but pasta is not expensive. The dishes were also too spicy so much so my kids couldn't eat it and I had to get them some other food and so much so that it wasn't an enjoyable eat for me. I thought I'd get a break with the white rice but the spice was there too because the shrimp and drippings were placed on top. If I order again I'll ask for the rice to be placed on the side. I gave 4 stars because I didn't dine in and I ended up having to find my kids something else to eat and the patties were a miss. I spent $97 for the...

It's rare that I go to a restaurant and enjoy literally everything I tried.

So far I've had the oxtails, curry goat, fish tea, goat head soup, stewed peas with pigtails, steamed red snapper and of course the classic Jamaican patties.

All the mentioned dishes were absolutely delicious but the one that surprised me the most was the steam fish. I've had many varieties of steamed fish (mostly asian) but mann the steamed red snapper they serve here is on another level. It's steamed to perfection and stewed veggies on top perfectly match the flavor profile of the fish. It's simply a symphony of flavors. chef's kiss

Do yourselves a favor, come eat here and try something new every time you come. You will be surprised when you enjoy absolutely everything. This place is a hidden gem and deserves all the recognition.

If Bouka's was in beverly hills or hollywood this place would be packed and the food is definitely worthy of being in a high end area. But also these mom n pop places just have a glow to them that can't be matched by high end restaurants. It's like finding a beautiful woman in the countryside that has more beauty inside and out than the prettiest...