The Best Haitian Restaurants in NYC: Griot, Diri ak Djon Djon, and Pikliz (2026)
New York has one of the largest Haitian communities outside of Haiti, centered in Brooklyn’s Flatbush, East Flatbush, Crown Heights, and Prospect Lefferts Gardens neighborhoods, with large communities in Queens and the Bronx as well. That presence shows up in the food — in Haitian bakeries selling patties and pate kode, in takeout counters serving griot and diri ak djon djon, and in the sit-down dining rooms where soup joumou, the squash-and-beef soup that commemorates Haitian independence, is a Sunday ritual.
Below are five Haitian restaurants in NYC that anchor that scene. Each one is a verified listing on IslandVibes.nyc with address, neighborhood, and notes.
1. Chez Oskar
Where: 310 Tompkins Ave, Bed-Stuy
One of the longest-running Haitian sit-down restaurants in Brooklyn. Tompkins Avenue classic for griot, poisson gros sel, and a French-Caribbean wine list that takes the cuisine seriously.
2. Kombit Restaurant
Where: 654 Flatbush Ave, Prospect Lefferts Gardens
Prospect Lefferts Gardens staple for traditional Haitian plates — griot with pikliz, stewed legumes, diri ak pwa, and the black-mushroom diri ak djon djon on weekends.
3. Lakay Venus Restaurant
Where: 637 Rogers Ave, Crown Heights
Family-run Haitian kitchen on the Crown Heights / Flatbush border. Home-style cooking — soup joumou on Sunday, griot and fried plantains during the week, always served in portions that travel well.
4. Lakou Cafe
Where: 195 Utica Ave, Crown Heights
The neighborhood Haitian cafe — Haitian coffee, patties, griot sandwiches, and a small menu of plates that changes with what was cooking that morning. A cultural anchor for the Utica Avenue corridor.
5. Bistro 1804
Where: 3612 Clarendon Rd, East Flatbush
A Haitian restaurant-bar that takes its name from the year of Haitian independence. Classic Haitian cuisine in a proper bistro setting, with rum cocktails and a weekend DJ program that pulls from the Caribbean community across East Flatbush.
Haitian food and culture beyond the restaurant
Haitian food is only one entry point into NYC’s Haitian culture. The community observes Haitian Flag Day (May 18) every year with parades, fetes, and pop-ups across Brooklyn — often the single biggest day on the calendar for Haitian-owned food businesses. Browse the full Haitian cuisine page, the Events & Fetes calendar, and the Flatbush and Crown Heights neighborhood pages for more.
Know a Haitian spot we missed — especially caterers, home cooks, or pop-ups? Send us a tip. If you run one, you can claim or submit your listing in about five minutes.