Haiti may be 800 miles from the Treasure Coast, but the Caribbean island nation is represented locally, especially in St. Lucie County.
Nearly 50% of the U.S. Haitian-born population resides in Florida. Of them,2.7% liveon the Treasure Coast. Of them, 2.4% live in St. Lucie County.
The U.S. Census population data may explain why there are at least 10 Haitian restaurants locally —five in Fort Pierce and four in Port St. Lucie — but only one in Indian River and none in Martin.
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Haitian food is derived from French and African cuisinewith influences and culinary techniques from the native Taino and Spanish colonists.The country, whichshares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic,was one of France’s wealthiest colonies, producing sugar and coffee that dependedon enslaved Africans for labor.
The Creole cuisine of Haiti is similar to that of its neighboringCaribbean countrieswith a spicy blend of rice, meats and vegetables, except it’s more peppery.
You can find almost every kind of protein in Haitian foodfrom conch, herring and whole fish to beef, goat, oxtail, turkey, guinea fowl, cow feet and other offal. Meats are often fried or stewed with spices such as jerk and curry.Common fruits include citrus and plantains, and vegetables includeokra,lalo (jute leaves), onions and peppers.
Perhaps the most interesting fusion of foods is Haiti's penchant for hot dogs chopped up inspicy spaghetti.
Haitian restaurant owners on the Treasure Coast are natives who hail from the "Pearl of the Antilles," so their food is authentic.
Most said their two most popular menu items, overwhelmingly, are griot and legume. Griot, or griyo, are pork cubes simmered in chiles and citrus and then fried. Legume is a thick meat and vegetable stew, but recipes varyand sometimes includeseafood.
Here’s where to find Haitian food on the Treasure Coast.
Septentrion Market & Restaurant
- Address: 725 Orange Ave., Fort Pierce
- Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday (closed Sunday)
- Phone: 772-882-1557
Chef Joseph Lorrius opened a small market in 1991 where he sold griot (fried pork)and fried chicken. When a larger market opened down the road, he needed to compete by opening a restaurant next door in 2007.
“I’m proud of myself, being there for so long,” said Lorrius, who left Haiti in 1973 and moved to Vero Beach in 1980.“If it wasn’t for the food, I would not be there.”
One of his most popular items is legume, a thick stew of beef and crab served with white rice or black rice and beans.
What sets his food apart? He’s a chef and knows how to cook all kinds of food, he said.
Alabon Haitian Restaurant
- Address: 1409 Delaware Ave., Fort Pierce
- Hours:10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Sunday, and until 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday
- Website: facebook.com/alabonrest
- Phone: 772-882-4983
Belizaire Claufene, who opened the restaurant about three years ago, is known for her savory chicken and rice dishes, said ManagerMarie Marcy.
Regular customer Abdias Joseph, 30, of Fort Pierce, saidAlabon is his favorite Haitian restaurant because the food is not only deliciousbut consistent, andmeals comewith a side salad and plantains.
“They always have nice music, a little bit of a club vibe and it’s a good date night place,” he said.
Check out the menu in the photo gallery below.
JBG’s Restaurant
- Address: 901 Avenue D, Fort Pierce
- Hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
- Website:facebook.com/JBG901
- Phone: 772-882-4067
Ginelle "Gigi" Fils-Aime opened JBG’s Restaurant in November 2020 in the former location of two previously popular restaurants:Lenzi’s Diner, which closed a year ago, andGranny’s Kitchen, a soul food eatery that closed in 2018 after 43 years.
Fils-Aime, who left Haiti in 1992, first living inFort Pierceand now Port St. Lucie,also offers "American" food, including breakfast, cooked by a former Lenzi's Diner employee.
The most popular Haitian dishes are griot (fried pork) with fried plantains, rice and beans, as well as legume (meat and vegetable stew), but she doesn’t use shellfish to avoid food allergies. Other popular items are akra (malanga fritters)and lalo (jute leaf stew).
“It’s the taste” that sets her food apart, Fils-Aime said. “What I’ve heard from people is we’re the best.”
Check out the menu in the photo gallery below.
Peacock Arts Café & Bakery
- Address: 609 Orange Ave., Fort Pierce
- Hours: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday
- Website:facebook.com/Peacock609
- Phone: 772-448-4571 or 772-448-4573
Luna and Santhonax Beausejour opened their restaurant in the Peacock Arts District in 2015.
“If you ever visit Haiti in the Caribbean,” she said, “our delicious cuisines will remind you of the different taste and flavors from each bite you take.”
Theirmost popular dishes are legume (beef and vegetable stew)and griot (fried pork) with fried plantains or rice and beans. The bakery serves hot, fresh bread as well as homemade fish, beef and chicken patties and coconut and peanut brittles.
“Our dishes are different because we put a lot of love and flavor to all our dishes that we prepare for all our customers,” she said, “and your taste buds won’t regret it.”
Check out the menu in the photo gallery below.
Fusion Cuisine Restaurant
- Address: 1721 Avenue D, Fort Pierce
- Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday (closed Sunday)
- Website:facebook.com/Fusion-Restaurant-101667584744527
- Phone:772-774-9755
Schela Toussaint Ocean owns this hole-in-the-wall, which has a dining roombut specializes in takeout orders. There's no menu—just the standard Haitian fare.
Island Twist Take-Out Restaurant
- Address: 1366 S.W. Bayshore Blvd., Port St. Lucie
- Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday (closed Sunday)
- Website:facebook.com/IslandTwistRestaurant
- Phone: 772-905-8856
Thistakeout-only restaurantopened in 2009 and featured oxtail, griot (fried pork) legume (meat and vegetable stew) and pikliz (spicy, pickled vegetable relish).
Dess and Dany Desir,whotook ownership in 2019, addedfried or stewed fish, fried goat, stewed spinach and black rice.
“We represent the Creole culture that consists of cooking traditions and practices from the Caribbean,” Dess Desir said. “What makes us different is the passion and consistency we apply in preparing the food and the connection we have with our customers.”
Check out the menu in the photo gallery below.
Malaika Caribbean Cuisine & Bakery
- Address: 658 S.W. Port St. Lucie Blvd., Port St. Lucie
- Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Monday
- Website:malaikarestaurant.com
- Phone: 772-301-9907
Ballaguel and Magalie Charles opened their restaurant in 2018.
The regular menu features oxtail, conch, goat, fish, turkey, griot (fried pork), stewed okra, legume (meat and vegetable stew), lalo (jute leaf stew)and ragou pye bef (cow feet stew).
Weekend specials include fritters, bouillon, bega, pumpkin soup and macaroni au gratin.
The restaurant includes a bakery featuringpistache griye (roasted nuts), dous cocoye (coconut fudge) andhandmade patties.
Check out the menu in the photo gallery below.
Caribbean Flavors Restaurant
- Address: 690 S.W. Bayshore Blvd., Port St. Lucie
- Hours: 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily
- Website:facebook.com/Caribbean-FlavorsSeafood-484564291980790
- Phone: 772-336-5255
Haitian native George Sylvin opened his eatery in 2018 in a space that includes a walk-up counter to order food and large dining areas with bars.
The menu includes all the Haitian staples: fish, chicken,turkey, oxtail, griot (fried pork), lambi (conch), kabrit (goat), legume (meat and vegetable stew), lalo (jute leaf stew) andbouyon (meat and vegetable soup).
Check out the menu in the photo gallery below.
I&B Restaurant
- Address: 327 Port St. Lucie Blvd., Port St. Lucie
- Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
- Phone: 772-208-8599, 772-224-2378
William and Ismanne Petithomme brought a taste of the Caribbean to Port St. Lucie, opening their restaurant in February around the corner from City Hall. The eatery specializes in Haitian cuisine, but has something for everyone.
The most popular Haitian menu item has been the griot, or fried pork served with fried plantains and a side of rice. Other Caribbean entrees include oxtails; fritaille, a fried meat dish, with protein options that include pork, turkey, chicken, goat and fish; and lambi, or conch stew.
American fare includes hamburgers, chicken wings, spaghetti and meatballs, and seafood entrees such as fish and chips, tilapia, snapper and grouper. They have homemade desserts, including cake and brownies, and sell jars of a hot homemade “salad” that includes pickled cabbage, carrots and peppers.
It has live music 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
Zafè’m Caribbean Restaurant
- Address: 2190 45th St.#105, Vero Beach
- Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday (closed Sunday)
- Phone: 772-584-3886
- Website:facebook.com/Zafem-Caribbean-Restaurant-106092611882794
Ena Jacques opened her restaurant in the Pineapple Palm Plaza in Gifford in October 2021. Zafè’m Caribbean Restaurant, meaning“mine” in Creole, serves traditional island fare.
Jacques is from Haiti but has lived in the U.S.for the past 26 years. She wanted to bring all the flavors of the Caribbean to Fort Pierce or Port St. Lucie, where her parents lived, but saw there was a need north of Vero Beach.
Her most popular dishes have been the fried pork and the red beans and rice.
Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm's entertainment reporter and columnist dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Follow her on Twitter at@TCPalmLaurie or Facebook atfaceboook.com/TCPalmLaurie.
