Tamarind island Introduce
For New Yorkers craving the rich, vibrant, and comforting flavors of the West Indies, Tamarind Island stands out as an essential destination in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens. Categorized primarily as a Caribbean restaurant, this local establishment specializes in a menu deeply rooted in the culinary traditions of the islands, particularly highlighting Guyanese and Trinidadian flavors. It’s more than just a place to eat; it is a cultural anchor, providing the authentic tastes of home for the large Caribbean community and introducing these delightful dishes to the wider New York population.
Located on Sutphin Boulevard, Tamarind Island is a casually-styled Restaurant known for serving a local specialty cuisine that delivers bold, authentic flavor profiles. It's a popular choice for Lunch, Dinner, and Solo dining among Locals and Groups alike, serving everything from the famous street food Doubles and savory Curry Dishes to various Roti types and hearty Stewed Oxtail.
The atmosphere is intentionally Casual, focusing the experience on the quality and authenticity of the food itself. For the busy resident of Queens, Tamarind Island offers a taste of the islands, serving as a reliable source of flavorful Comfort food and quick, satisfying meals, while also ensuring that there are Healthy options and extensive Vegetarian options available on the menu, reflecting the diversity of Caribbean cooking.
Tamarind Island is conveniently situated on a major street in Jamaica, Queens, a highly accessible area of New York City. The physical address makes it a central spot for both local foot traffic and those traveling by car or public transit:
114-48 Sutphin Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11434, USA
Sutphin Boulevard is a key commercial corridor in Queens, which adds to the restaurant's visibility and ease of access. For the local New York user, accessibility features are always a priority, and while full ADA details are not provided, its street-level placement on a major boulevard typically translates to general ease of entry.
A significant convenience for local patrons is the availability of Free street parking in the surrounding area, a highly valued amenity in New York City that removes a common hurdle for drivers. Furthermore, the dining environment is welcoming, featuring Seating and providing High chairs, indicating that the venue is Good for kids and accommodates Groups looking for a family-friendly Caribbean meal.
Tamarind Island understands the dynamic needs of the New York diner and offers multiple ways to enjoy its authentic Caribbean cuisine, prioritizing both convenience and a full dining experience:
- Dine-in: Guests are welcome to enjoy the Casual atmosphere and their meal on-site, with comfortable Seating available.
- Takeout: A crucial service for the fast-paced life in Queens, allowing customers to quickly grab their Quick bite or full meal to go.
- Delivery: Provides the utmost convenience, bringing the flavorful Caribbean dishes directly to homes and offices throughout the area.
- Reservations Accepted: The restaurant Accepts reservations, a useful feature for Groups or customers planning to visit during peak Lunch or Dinner hours.
- All-Day Meal Options: The menu is structured to cater to Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Dessert needs, ensuring that whether a craving strikes early or late, Tamarind Island has an option ready.
The unique appeal of Tamarind Island lies in its menu and its positioning as a dedicated cultural eatery in Queens. Key highlights include:
- Authentic Roti and Curry Selection: The restaurant boasts an impressive variety of classic Caribbean staples. Customers can choose from various Roti types, including Dhal Puri and Buss-Up Shut, paired with popular Curry Dishes such as Goat Curry, Duck Curry, and Boneless Chicken Curry.
- Street Food Delights: Offering authentic street snacks is a major highlight. Items like Doubles (a curried chickpea snack), Aloo Pie, and Pholourie provide genuine Caribbean street food experience right here in New York.
- Diverse Menu Offerings: Beyond the curries, the menu extends to full meals like Stewed Oxtail and specialized rice and noodle dishes, including Jerk Chicken Chow Mein and Shrimp Fried Rice. They also feature specialty Vegetable Dishes like Bhagi, Pumpkin, and Mango Curry.
- Vegetarian and Healthy Options: A wide array of plant-based dishes, including the Potato Curry and numerous vegetable offerings, ensures that Vegetarian options and Healthy options are readily available.
- Flexible Payment Methods: Transactions are made easy with acceptance of Credit cards, Debit cards, and NFC mobile payments.
For the New York local looking for an authentic and satisfying Caribbean meal, Tamarind Island offers several standout choices that represent the best of its Guyanese and Trinidadian heritage:
The Ultimate Roti Experience: It is essential to order one of the Roti options, perhaps a Dhal Puri or Buss-Up Shut Roti, which are the perfect absorbent vessels for their rich curries. Pair this with the deeply flavorful Goat Curry or the tender Stewed Oxtail for a traditional, deeply satisfying Caribbean meal. The Boneless Chicken Curry is a safe and popular choice for those new to the cuisine.
Must-Try Appetizers: No visit is complete without trying the street food staples. The Doubles are an iconic Trinidadian snack—curried chickpeas between fried flatbreads—and the addition of Doubles With Shrimp or Doubles With Chicken offers a unique twist. The Aloo Pie is another highly recommended savory snack.
Vegetarian Excellence: The selection of Vegetable Dishes is a true highlight. Choosing two or three sides, like the Pumpkin, Bhagi (spinach), and Baigan And Aloo (eggplant and potato), creates a delicious and authentic vegetarian plate, affirming the restaurant's commitment to offering Vegetarian options.
Choosing Tamarind Island means choosing authentic flavors, cultural staples, and a full menu designed to satisfy the diverse palates of the Queens community.
Tamarind Island is available for contact at the following address and phone numbers for orders, reservations, or inquiries:
Address: 114-48 Sutphin Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11434, USA
Phone: (929) 275-3072
Mobile Phone (Alternate Contact): +1 929-275-3072
Tamarind island Menu
Curry Dishes with Rice and Roti
- Potato Curry $7.95
Vegetarian.
- Beef Curry $14.95
- Stewed Chicken $12.95
- Shrimp Curry $14.95
- Duck Curry $17.95
- Stewed Fish $15.95
- Stewed Oxtail $17.95
- Boneless Chicken Curry $14.95
- Tripe Curry $15.95
- Goat Curry $15.95
- Chicken Curry $12.95
Vegetable Dishes
- Karila $12.95
Vegetarian.
- Bhagi $12.95
Vegetarian. Spinach.
- Pumpkin $12.95
Vegetarian.
- Okra $12.95
Vegetarian.
- Tomato Choka $12.95
Vegetarian.
- Eddo $12.95
Vegetarian.
- Fried Potato $12.95
Vegetarian.
- Saim $12.95
Vegetarian.
- Cabbage $12.95
Vegetarian.
- Roast Biagan $12.95
Vegetarian. Roasted eggplant.
- Baigan And Aloo $12.95
Vegetarian.
- Mango Curry $12.95
Vegetarian.
Rice and Chow Mein
- Jerk Chicken Chow Mein $17.95
- Chicken Fried Rice $14.95
- Shrimp Fried Rice $17.95
- Shrimp Chow Mein $17.95
- Cook Up Rice With Chicken $13.00
- Jerk Chicken Fried Rice $17.95
- BBQ Chicken Fried Rice $17.95
- Chicken Chow Mein $14.95
- BBQ Chicken Chow Mein $17.95
Appetizers
- Aloo Pie $2.75
- Aloo Pie With Chicken $7.25
- Doubles $6.95
- Doubles With Shrimp $6.95
- Pholourie $2.95
8 pieces.
- Doubles With Chicken $6.95
- Aloo Pie With Shrimp $7.25
Specials
- Bake And Smoke Herring Special $8.95
- Bake And Salt Fish Special $8.95
- Serita’s Special Soup Special $12.90
Home-style chicken soup.
- Chicken Ball Special $12.95
3 pieces.
Lunch and Dinner Meals
- Goat Curry $16.95
- Shrimp Curry $16.50
- Stewed Fish $17.95
- Stewed Oxtail $18.50
- Stewed Chicken $12.95
- Duck Curry $18.50
- Tripe $16.95
- Beef Curry $17.50
Drinks
- Peardox $3.75
- Solo Kola Champagne $2.75
- Solo Cream Soda $2.75
- Solo Banana Soda $2.75
- Canned Soda $2.00
Choice of flavor.
Roti
- Saada Roti $3.95
- Dhal Puri $3.95
Comes with chickpeas inside.
- Buss-Up $3.95
Also known as roti skin, oil roti, paratha roti.
- Whole Wheat Saada Roti $3.95
Tamarind island Details
Service options
- Delivery
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Highlights
- Serves local specialty
Popular for
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Offerings
- Comfort food
- Healthy options
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Vegetarian options
Dining options
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Seating
Atmosphere
- Casual
Crowd
- Groups
- Locals
Planning
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Parking
- Free street parking
Tamarind island Photos










Tamarind island Location
Tamarind island
114-48 Sutphin Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11434, USA
Tamarind island Reviews
rotidoublesfried ricealoo piechow meinbuss upsalt fish and bakeinstagrambake and sharktamarind sauce
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1I've never seen anyone make doubles so bad in my life. It was held together by parchment paper and wide open. Took 20 minutes for 2 doubles and whatever side of shrimp curry we ordered.
May 24 · personDecided to order chicken fried rice from the Bronx location after seeing reviews from “influencers” about this restaurant. I was disappointed with the food quality. Firstly the food came with no pepper sauce, rice was hard and tasteless and the chicken was undercooked to the point where you can see the blood coming out. I’m utterly disgusted with this restaurant and will never be ordering from here again. Stick to Melanie’s, Carrifesta and coconut palm for some decent food.
February 12 · Ricky RMy family and I loved this place. The service / people who worked there were so welcoming and friendly and happy to answer questions as needed. I thought the oxtail curry was delicious, as was the tamarind wings and doubles. My family also loved those things and my mom loved the chicken curry.
December 08 · Michelle GanWhere money matters, they deliver amazing food for a great price. Doubles on point. Flavor for days, just finished BBQ Chicken and Baked Macaroni Pie. Aunty put her big toe in it. Love the food, love the service, always great tunes playing and something to watch on the TV. Sit down or take out, old school vibes.Update: 1/5/25Still yet to find something that doesn't taste good, got the Chicken roti and I must say, this is heaven. Have my lunch for the next 2 days and still got some BBQ chicken and rice for for after. Even after being frozen it taste even better. I love this place, keep up the good work.
January 05 · Rian G (Darkzero0)I loved this place. First stop on my most recent trip to NY, and it did not disappoint in the least bit. I had it saved in anticipation of the trip, so I couldn’t wait to try it. I honestly didn’t know what to get until the woman ahead of me ordered, and I asked “what’s that she got?” It turned out to be Aloo Pie, so I decided to have it with Trini corned beef and pepper sauce. SO. DAMN. GOOD!! So good I ended up getting a second one (Took a pic of the first one that I almost inhaled). We also tried the Oxtail Curry Roti and Buss-Up, both equally fire 🔥. I will definitely be coming back here on my next trip and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND hitting this place up when you’re in the Jamaica, NY area.
September 29 · Tommy King-Marshall
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