Ratings and reviews
Careda's Caribbean Cuisine Photos
Hours
Monday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
Tuesday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
Wednesday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
Thursday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
Friday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
Saturday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
Sunday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
Careda's Caribbean Cuisine Reviews

Absolutely delicious! The ox tails were better than what my grandma used to make. The portion size is huge and the staff super friendly. Don't pay attention to the star rating. It's completely misleading.

I can’t believe this place is rated so low. The oxtail platter with rice and peas was the best I’ve ever had! It was full of sauce

What a true taste of the Caribbean in Philly, Our group attended a four day conference and ate our way through the Reading Terminal Market. At Careda's one person chose the curried goat and I went for the fried fish that looks like a fish, not filet or fish steak style. Someone else chose a delicious curried salmon that is a new twist for me even though I lived in the Caribbean for 4 years. We spent a while wading through the huge list of sides and went for collards, cole slaw, and candied yams, the latter of which served as dessert. Great Caribbean food and service. Wait in line along the food display counters as you view all the options and advance in the line until you reach the order, pay, and pick up counter. Eat at one of the central accessible tables. Accessible entry/exits are at the main entrances to the Reading Terminal Market. Some smaller entrances have 6 step entry. They have Accessible restrooms are shared by all 80 venues. Accessible parking for wheelchair vans is available in in paid lot, which gets busy at busy times.
Careda's Caribbean Cuisine
Nestled at 51 North 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, Careda’s Caribbean Cuisine is a vibrant food stall located in Reading Terminal Market. The EAV model here is simple:
Entity: Careda’s Caribbean Cuisine
Attribute: Location
Value: 51 North 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
This entity‑relation‑entity (ERE) triples to frame context:
Careda’s Caribbean Cuisine – is located at – Reading Terminal Market.
As a fan of Caribbean food, I personally savor their jerk chicken, curry goat, and hearty rice & peas. For example, I once tried their stew chicken plate and was met with succulent, tender meat fused with cabbage and rice—a fantastic fusion of spice and comfort.
Careda’s Caribbean Cuisine showcases chef Careda Matthew’s Jamaican heritage
The kitchen is headed by Chef Careda Matthew, a Jamaican-born chef who brings genuine Caribbean flare to the Philly food scene. A YouTube feature confirms his dedication to authentic jerk recipes . That sense of expertise is central to the restaurant’s culinary authority.
Entity‑relation‑entity:
Chef Careda Matthew – cooks – jerk chicken.
By referencing his roots, the brand establishes trustworthy authority, reinforcing E-A-T standards: Expertise in Caribbean cuisine and Authoritativeness rooted in cultural authenticity.
Careda’s Caribbean Cuisine delivers stand‑out dishes and positive community buzz
Scanning MapQuest and Yelp reviews, EAV elements emerge:
Entity: Dish (e.g., curry chicken)
Attribute: Quality
Value: mixed (some reviews praised portions; others noted dryness) .
Despite mixed Yelp feedback (~3 stars from 42 reviews), community voices on Reddit provide richer insights. One reviewer on r/toogoodtogo praised:
“Extremely tender chicken… Cabbage and carrot was amazing, soft and crisp and the flavor was great… gravy took away the dryness of the rice” .
Another on r/PhiladelphiaEats said:
“I’m not sure how authentic it is but I like Caribbean feast cuisine and Careda’s Caribbean Cuisine in reading terminal.” .
Conversation around authenticity and flavor reflects the Contextual element of NLP 5Cs.
Careda’s Caribbean Cuisine highlights its menu specials and fusion twists
Dish – Attribute: Style – Value: Traditional
Dish – Attribute: Innovation – Value: Fusion twist
Careda’s Caribbean Cuisine demonstrates responsible business practices and transparency
While promoting the restaurant experience, it's important to note transparency. A May 12, 2025 health inspection led to a temporary closure due to rodent activity and food‑safety violations . However, management voluntarily closed to address issues—showing accountability.
This builds Trustworthiness:
ERE triple:
Philadelphia Health Department – cited – Careda’s Caribbean Cuisine.
Careda’s Caribbean Cuisine – closed to fix – violations.
Since then, there are no further reports—implying swift corrective action that reassures customers.
Careda’s Caribbean Cuisine encourages a genuine and flavorful experience
If you're craving Caribbean flavors, Careda’s Caribbean Cuisine offers more than just food—it delivers a cultural culinary journey. The Experience factor rises when you:
Smell the spices as you approach the stall.
Taste their signature jerk chicken, grilled to a smoky finish.
Sample plantains that are sweet and tender.
Careda’s Caribbean Cuisine positions itself as a must‑visit for Caribbean food lovers
To sum up:
Concise & coherent: The content clearly introduces who, what, where.
Confident voice: Personal takes and data form a strong narrative.
Balanced honesty: Acknowledging reviews and health history builds trust.
Final pitch
Next time you're in Reading Terminal Market, swing by Careda’s Caribbean Cuisine. Whether you're in the mood for spicy jerk, flavorful curry, or comforting rice & peas, let your taste buds travel to the Caribbean—right in the heart of Philly. It's casual, it's colorful, and it's community‑driven. A visit promises a memorable meal and a story worth sharing.
I don’t understand why this place is only at 2.8 stars. The food was absolutely delicious! I got a curried goat platter, with rice and peas, cabbage, and a side of candied yams. Everything was seasoned so well and the goat was tender. The candied yams were excellent and they give you a good portion of everything, considering the price. The service was very nice too. I asked for a side of sauce after paying and they said it normally costs 10 cents extra but they gave it to me for free