Cha Cha Chicken

In Short – With banana trees, painted oil drums and tall sugarcane fences, this eatery is a splash of color amid the hulking hotels that line Ocean Avenue. Chatty couples and laid-back surfer types order at the counter, then head to the patio to dine under palm umbrellas. The island-inspired menu isn't huge, but features Mexican, Cuban and Cajun influences. The signature dish is roasted chicken swathed in a fruity, fiery jerk sauce.

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:: Try one of the imported Jamaican soft drinks, such as spicy ginger beer, or a sweet and bubble-gummy "kola champaigne."
Parking:: There's plenty of metered street parking. Meters run for up to five hours and accept only quarters.

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User Reviews (27)

ambiance	100.0% positive	“Great ambiance, food quality sub (tropical) par” “great beach food, if you can find parking”
dessert	100.0% positive	“Try the Aguas Frescas to drink (personal favorite is Mango Guava), the Chicken Enchiladas are great and save room for dessert, they have a yummy guava flan that's a great ending to a perfect (and cheap) meal.”
drinks	100.0% positive	“Add a ginger beer or fresh juice (watermelon and cantaloupe) and a summer meal is complete.” “Try the Aguas Frescas to drink (personal favorite is Mango Guava), the Chicken Enchiladas are great and save room for dessert, they have a yummy guava flan that's a great ending to a perfect (and cheap) meal.”
food quality	98.33000183105469% positive	“If you like jerk chicken this is the spot.” “The chicken at this place is wonderful.” “from their watermelon juice to their plantains and chicken, everything is great!” “The jerk chicken enchaladas are incredible.” “The guys that work there are really sweet, always feel very welcome at this cute little Carribean shack by the beach, and to get such amazing food for such a great price always makes me happy!” “My personal favorite dish is the ropa nueva.” “The jerk sauce is the best, and comes in two different varieties - mild, which is a mango-based sauce, and the hot (very hot!)” “Mainly they have food that sounds mexican, but aparantly is caribbean - for example, their chicken enchiladas are very good.” “had the 1/2 order chicken tostada, which is delicious!” “The food is delicious, apps, entrees, sides, even the flan is absolutely perfect!” “my friends were visiting from the eastside and i took them here bc other than some places on main st, there dont seem to be that many shack, mom-n-papa food places around here that students like me can enjoy.” “Countries in the Caribbean, although unique and different in many ways share many elements of their food in common, and it's great to see that the combination Cha Cha Chicken has achieved is so delicious.” “My favorite menu you item is the j-e-r-k chicken enchiladas, they are inexpensive, tasty, and I love the plantains!” “Great ambiance, food quality sub (tropical) par” “Add a ginger beer or fresh juice (watermelon and cantaloupe) and a summer meal is complete.” “always get fresh watermelon juice.” “They serve a terrificly tasty turkey burger with a real nice Caribbean sauce -if you love turkey burgers, you need to try theirs - it's very moist and flavorful.” “great beach food, if you can find parking” “Try the Aguas Frescas to drink (personal favorite is Mango Guava), the Chicken Enchiladas are great and save room for dessert, they have a yummy guava flan that's a great ending to a perfect (and cheap) meal.” “went to visit my brother when he was living in Barbados, and as stereotypical as it sounds, eating at Cha Cha Chicken reminded me of the beach shacks that had amazing food!” “This place has the most unbelieveably good food!” “Nestled in between so many expensive restaurants in Santa Monica, Cha Cha Chicken is a breath of fresh air.” “but you have to like hippies and jesus like characters shoveling yummy rice'n'beans into themselves.” “The food is fresh - not cheap but not expensive.” “love the ropa vieja (shredded beef with rice and black beans) and ropa nueva (shredded chicken with salad).” “We love the mulato cubano and the jerkchicken enchiladas the best, with rice & beans, plantains and fried potatoes.” “yummy food and prices” “The food is great value and tastes authentic.” “it's good cheap caribbean food what you get here, i don't think it's that great of a place like a lot of people say in their reviews.” “Good prices and the Jrk chicken combo is the one to get.”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“The jerk sauce is the best, and comes in two different varieties - mild, which is a mango-based sauce, and the hot (very hot!)” “My favorite menu you item is the j-e-r-k chicken enchiladas, they are inexpensive, tasty, and I love the plantains!” “This is not going to be your favorite restaurant necessarily, but it should be on your roster of choices, while driving around trying to decide where to pull over.”
overall	91.66999816894531% positive	“This is not going to be your favorite restaurant necessarily, but it should be on your roster of choices, while driving around trying to decide where to pull over.” “The reggae music sets the mood and it is a nice place to have a quick and casual bite on a sunny day!” “the service and environment is great, whether you want to relax or go on a date, i dont see why this would be a bad place” “it's good cheap caribbean food what you get here, i don't think it's that great of a place like a lot of people say in their reviews.”
service	93.33000183105469% positive	“service was also good--they helped recommend us what to get since it was our first time.” “it's good cheap caribbean food what you get here, i don't think it's that great of a place like a lot of people say in their reviews.” “the service and environment is great, whether you want to relax or go on a date, i dont see why this would be a bad place” “The owner is often there in the evenings and he is super friendly and always takes very good care of us.” “Food is really great and the service was pleasant and quick.”
value	95.45000076293945% positive	“My favorite menu you item is the j-e-r-k chicken enchiladas, they are inexpensive, tasty, and I love the plantains!” “yummy food and prices” “The food is great value and tastes authentic.” “Good prices and the Jrk chicken combo is the one to get.” “Try the Aguas Frescas to drink (personal favorite is Mango Guava), the Chicken Enchiladas are great and save room for dessert, they have a yummy guava flan that's a great ending to a perfect (and cheap) meal.” “Their prices are reasonable and their hot sauces are just what I remembered from the island.” “Nestled in between so many expensive restaurants in Santa Monica, Cha Cha Chicken is a breath of fresh air.” “so let's say it's very good price for santa monica!” “The guys that work there are really sweet, always feel very welcome at this cute little Carribean shack by the beach, and to get such amazing food for such a great price always makes me happy!” “it's good cheap caribbean food what you get here, i don't think it's that great of a place like a lot of people say in their reviews.” “The food is fresh - not cheap but not expensive.”
wait time	100.0% positive	“Food is really great and the service was pleasant and quick.” “The reggae music sets the mood and it is a nice place to have a quick and casual bite on a sunny day!”

10/01/11

yuck

by mygirl330

Awful the food was so bad cold and tasted old chicken was covered in grease and had no flavor. Service was worse took my food back and asked for my money back and was refused so I had no option to leave there with nothing I feel like they stole from me. The staff was super rude awful awful awful NEVER EVER EAT HERE

Disliked: Food, Service, Atmosphere, Value

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06/15/11

Delicious

by SUPERSTEW

I had the jerk enchiladas and they were so yummy and tasty. I husband had the cuban plate with delicious platanitos and black beans. I reccommend for you to try this place. It's really good.

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05/03/11

Colorful atmosphere and flavors

by Meat Me in the Middle

Tried out Cha Cha Chicken last night after living blocks from it for years. Not sure why I waited so long. I like the colorful atmosphere and easiness of going up to the counter and ordering and paying first. I ordered the Jerk Chicken Enchiladas – and one veggie one for my husband, which they were nice enough to do, as well as, the Vegetarian Stew and black bean soup – all really good. The enchiladas were their signature dish and were smothered in the sweet, yet spicy mango pineapple jerk sauce. We sat outside and enjoyed the warm weather while we ate. The girl at the counter also told us that besides getting drinks there, you can BYOB your own – wine, beer, whatever. So, definitely doing that next time to save some money. Definitely going here again, can’t wait to try out the some of the brunch specials next time.

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03/01/09

I love this place SO MUCH!!!

by Punchie77

This is the most amazing little place ever!!! The food is delicious, apps, entrees, sides, even the flan is absolutely perfect! We love the mulato cubano and the jerkchicken enchiladas the best, with rice & beans, plantains and fried potatoes...always perfect! The guys that work there are really sweet, always feel very welcome at this cute little Carribean shack by the beach, and to get such amazing food for such a great price always makes me happy! Thanks Cha Cha, love you!!!

Pros: It is all perfect :)
Cons: not a one!

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11/24/08

best everything

by casualcat

from their watermelon juice to their plantains and chicken, everything is great!! the service and environment is great, whether you want to relax or go on a date, i dont see why this would be a bad place

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Editor's Tips

10/01/11

yuck

by mygirl330

06/15/11

Delicious

by SUPERSTEW

05/03/11

Colorful atmosphere and flavors

by Meat Me in the Middle

03/01/09

I love this place SO MUCH!!!

by Punchie77

11/24/08

best everything

by casualcat

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