The guide to Caribbean cuisine in Glasgow

Get ready to party Cuban style by taking a trip to Revolución de Cuba with the motto ‘discover Havana in the heart of the city’. Latin inspired menus and Cuban cocktails await at Renfield Street. Start your Cuban experience with a ‘sharer’ among friends. Options include nachos topped with cheese sauce, homemade guacamole, sour cream and jalapeños. Enjoy tacos with ginger chicken and pineapple salsa, sour cream, lime wedges and pickled red cabbage and coriander, too! 

For the main event why not tuck into Cuban fish and chips? Expect hake fillet fried in spicy breadcrumbs and served with rum mayo slaw and sweet potato fries. Paella de Cuba is another popular option on the menu and is made with king prawns, chicken, smoky chorizo and topped with pico de Gallo. If you have room left for dessert sample the Rum Affogato, which is a rum and raisin ice cream served with espresso and a shot of Havana Club Cuban Spiced Rum.

The Rum Shack has taken the southside by storm. It’s an authentic Caribbean restaurant, rum bar and live music venue located on Pollokshaws Road in the Shawlands area. As an original Caribbean bar, canteen and venue it serves over 100 types of rum as well as cocktails, Caribbean beers, and delicious food.

For starters, why not sample some Accra, which is salt fish mixed with herbs and seasoning, shaped into a ball, and fried till golden. These delicious balls of goodness are then served with garlic mayo and coleslaw. The spiced haggis bon bons are also highly popular, served with slaw and tamarind sauce. Meanwhile the Jerk Chicken Skewers are two chargrilled skewers of marinated jerk chicken breast, served with slaw and mayo. Dutch Pot is the section of the menu dedicated to more traditional Caribbean dishes. Jerk Okra and Sweet Potato Curry is a vegetarian Jamaican curry with jerk seasoning, okra and sweet potato. It’s served with golden flatbread, rice and peas and a refreshing cucumber salsa. 

Smiling Coast Afro is a Caribbean restaurant that can be found on Westmuir street in Parkhead, which is in the East End of the city. It delivers an extensive menu of authentic Afro Caribbean food, with music that is sure to transport you to the tropical islands. 

Looking for a quick meal? Why not try the quarter peri peri chicken that comes with fries and a drink for £5.99. Caribbean Jerk Chicken is priced at £11.50, which is chicken legs marinated in jerk spices and grilled to perfection – it also comes with rice and peas. Try the Red Jollof Rice “Benachin” Lamb, which comes with a side of vegetables and a can of juice. Another favourite is Okra Soup, also known as ‘soupa kanga’ served with rice or fufu and a drink.

The Calabash African Bar and Restaurant is a West African venue that specialises in a late-night experience. The star of the show is the Caribbean goat curry – marinated flavours of curry powder, chopped onion, garlic, ginger, thyme, and scotch bonnet slowly cooked with chunks of goat meat and potato.

Another star dish is the Jerk Chicken with rice and peas boiled in a tomato sauce and mixed peppers, served with fried chicken or pan-fried spinach. If you opt for the fish soup you can expect fresh fish on the bone cooked in traditional Calabash fish sauce, served with rice or pounded yam.

Bantaba Afro Caribbean Restaurant is a highly popular place that can be found on London Road in the Bridgeton area of Glasgow near both Glasgow Green and the People’s Palace. This down to earth restaurant offers a whole host of Caribbean specialities. Highly acclaimed dishes include Okra Soup with Fufu or Banku – okra, fish, selection of meat, red oil, scotch bonnet and spices – as well as the Reggae Reggae Chicken, which is boneless chicken in a delicious reggae reggae sauce served with plain rice or chips and salad.

Jerk chicken wings with jerk seasoning are also available, served with chips, plantain and coleslaw. For dessert, tuck into fried puff puff, which is sweet fried dough served with chocolate and strawberry dippings. 

At Derby Lane Finnieston, you can expect a fantastic range of Caribbean-inspired cocktails that will transport you to the likes of Havana and beyond. The Banana Reggae is a cocktail made with Cargo Cult Banana Spiced Rum and Lilt. Pinkie in the Bayou, meanwhile, is a delicious blend of Bayou Pink rum and Bon Accord cream soda. If you fancy a coffee-based cocktail then sample the Espresso Rumtini. Priced at £8.50 it’s made with a fusion of Copalli Cacao Rum, coffee liqueur, bitters and Derby Lane’s very own cold coffee brew.