Your spot to relax
Experience King Barka
King Barka, located in the heart of Harlem, specializes in authentic Jamaican cuisine, revered for its rich flavors and hearty portions. The bustling takeout spot offers a no-frills experience, focusing on quality over ambiance. Signature dishes like the tender oxtail, flavorful curry goat, and crispy fried chicken have garnered rave reviews for their taste and affordability. Customers appreciate the perfectly paired sides, like rice and peas, though some dishes, such as the yams, have received mixed feedback. With a reputation for delivering comfort food that satisfies cravings, King Barka is a must-visit for anyone looking to indulge in vibrant Caribbean flavors.
Story & Atmosphere
King Barka
Welcome to King Barka, a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Harlem at 301 W 135th St, New York, NY 10030. This takeout-only spot is quickly gaining a reputation for delivering authentic Jamaican cuisine without the frills, catering to those who appreciate hearty, flavorful meals in generous portions.
As you step into King Barka, you can expect a charmingly minimalist setup. There’s not much room for dining in, but it’s all about the food—where quality reigns supreme. The menu, simply displayed above the counter, showcases a delightful array of dishes that are sure to tantalize your taste buds. The stars of the show include their renowned oxtail, which customers rave about, praising its tender texture and perfectly seasoned rice and peas that accompany it.
Customer reviews paint a vivid picture of the culinary delights awaiting you. Karen Oliver highlights the standout curry goat, although she finds it a tad spicy. She emphasizes the oxtail as a must-try, complemented beautifully by collard greens. Similarly, Pei Huang shares their experience of the large oxtail meal, noting its reasonable price for such mouthwatering flavor, even if the cabbage could use a touch more seasoning.
With a steady stream of customers drawn in by social media buzz, as noted by Teddy Sainphor, it's clear King Barka has quickly become a local hotspot. Even in a space barely wide enough for two to stand side by side, the enthusiasm for the dishes served makes it worthy of the visit.
While some dishes, like the yams mentioned by Karen, may not meet every expectation, the consensus is clear: King Barka is an experience worth having. If you find yourself in Harlem craving a taste of Jamaica, King Barka promises an unforgettable culinary adventure with its range of classic dishes that are both delicious and reasonably priced. Dive into the flavors, and you’ll understand why this establishment is quickly becoming a beloved staple in the community.
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“ Great portions! I had the Curry goat which was good but too spicy for my liking. We also had the oxtail which was amazing with rice and peas and collard greens. We ordered yams - wouldn't order again. They were an unusually bright orangy-red color and did not have the candied effect we expected. Overall I'd recommend and would visit again for the oxtail! ”
“ I saw this on Instagram recently and knew I had to try it. Lo and behold I found myself in Harlem one day and I made a bee line! There was a short line in front of this take-out only spot. It truly is the definition of no frills. There is barely enough room for two customers to stand side by side. A menu is available above the counter otherwise everything is behind plexiglass. The cuisine is Jamaican - Caribbean. Stew peas, brown-stew chicken, curry goat and chicken, oxtail and more are on deck. I asked for the small curry chicken, but they were out! I panicked and got the fried chicken. It looked she was about to tell me they were out of that as well. But she went in the back and in about 5 minutes was walking out the door with a nice heavy plate. I was shocked at how heavy it was considering I got the small $6 famous plate. No wonder Instagram was going crazy for this! I got three pieces of drums, a healthy amount of rice and peas and a smaller but equally healthy portion of steamed cabbage that also included corn and green beans. It was absolutely delicious. The chicken was moist and succulent, the cabbage was seasoned well and the rice and peas didn't have as much coconut flavor in it, which was pretty nice. I went back a second time and got curry chicken plate. To be honest I was not impressed at all. It had the right elements and the right colors but there is practically no flavor to it at all. I think it was rushed and didn't have much time to simmer. It was a little disappointing! I'm still giving it five stars for the fill up Factor alone. I'll update when I try the oxtail. ”
“ Takeout excellent oxtails, curry goat, fried chicken, all amazing. ”
“ Delicious and reasonably priced. I got a large oxtail rice n peas w cabbage for 22 and oxtail is tender. Cabbage is crispy but could use a bit more flavor everything together tho is delicious ”