Caribbean Tasty: French West Indies Street Food in Lorient
Bokits, boucané chicken, and Creole soul in a sleek little Lorient counter.
Why Go
On an island synonymous with white-tablecloth fine dining, Caribbean Tasty is the joyful outlier — a colorful counter across from the Oasis supermarket where chef Paloma pipes the flavors of Martinique and Guadeloupe into fried-dough bokits, spice-lacquered poulet boucané, and shakes you sip in flip-flops. It's fast, unfussy, and unapologetically French Caribbean, which is exactly what St Barth has been missing.
The Experience
Tucked into the L'Oasis complex in Lorient, Caribbean Tasty (and its takeaway sibling Caribbean To Go) is the anti-bistro: bright, casual, and built around the pan-Caribbean street food traditions that rarely make it onto St Barth menus. Paloma, who cut her teeth in Martinique, runs the kitchen with a light hand and a serious respect for the classics — accras crackle at the edges, bokits arrive stuffed and steaming, and the Colombo sauces taste like they've been simmering somewhere in a Guadeloupean grandmother's kitchen. The vibe is grab-a-stool-or-take-it-to-the-beach, and the price point is a genuine relief after a week of gastronomic splurges. Come lunch, expect a queue of locals in board shorts; come dinner, expect a mellower crowd stocking up before heading back to a villa. Either way, it feels less like a restaurant and more like discovering the island's secret second personality.
What to Try
The Crispy Mahi bokit with Mayo Colombo is the sleeper hit — fried dough, flaky fish, that warm curry-mayo swipe. Order a plate of accras (cod fritters) to start, then commit to the Poulet Boucané, Martinique's smoky, spice-rubbed answer to jerk chicken. If you're not in a fried mood, the wraps and bowls lean lighter, and a passion-fruit or soursop shake is non-negotiable.
Insider Tip
Don't confuse the two sides of the business: the sit-down/takeaway counter you want is Caribbean To Go, while 'Caribbean Tasty' is also the traiteur arm that handles private-chef nights and villa catering. If you're renting a villa in Colombier or Pointe Milou, DM them on Instagram (@caribbeantasty_sbh) a couple of days ahead — Paloma will build a Creole tasting menu or cocktail-piece spread that will spoil you for every restaurant on the island. And if you're just stopping in for lunch, park at Lorient beach and walk — the Oasis lot fills up fast around noon.
The Practical Stuff
Location: Centre commercial L'Oasis, Lorient 97133, across from the Oasis supermarket. Phone: +590 690 31 55 71. Typical hours: Tue–Sat 12:00–14:00 and 19:00–22:30, Sun 12:00–15:00 (closed Mondays — call ahead, hours shift with the season). Price point: budget-friendly by St Barth standards (roughly €12–€25 a plate). Cash and card accepted. Takeaway-friendly, easy with kids, and very beach-bag compatible. For private-chef or catering, email caribbeantasty.sbh@gmail.com.
Pair It With
- Absolute Hot Yoga Guide — Refuel with a passion-fruit shake and a bokit after a sweaty morning class in Gustavia — the walk-up counter is exactly the low-effort meal your post-yoga self wants.
- 6e SENS MASSAGE Wellness Beauty Saint Barth Guide — Book a late-morning massage, then swing by Lorient for a light bowl and a Colombo-spiced snack before heading back to the beach.
- 4 Sea Zone St Barth Guide — Grab a takeaway order of accras and wraps before a boat charter — Caribbean Tasty packs travel-ready containers that hold up on the water.
- Aéroport de Saint-Barthélemy / Rémy de Haenen Airport Guide — A five-minute detour from the runway makes it the perfect last (or first) meal on-island — infinitely better than airport snacks before a St Maarten hop.
