Cha Cha Chicken is a vibrant Santa Monica spot serving up Caribbean classics like jerk chicken and coconut fried chicken, and it's totally BYOB—perfect for beach days!
"While we’re on board for anything that starts with the words “cha cha,” not only is the name of this Caribbean restaurant a fun time, they also serve a great jerk chicken at reasonable prices. A single serving (¼ of a chicken) only costs $9.95, but if you’re like us, and trying to meal prep for the week, get the whole chicken. For just $27.75, you’ll get a gigantic meal, smothered in their signature jerk sauce and served with two sides. Oh, to be an entire, whole chicken smothered with jerk sauce. Takeout and delivery available at both locations, Santa Monica and Northridge." - kat hong
"To be clear, Cha Cha Chicken is not a bar. It’s an order-at-the-counter jerk chicken joint a block from the Santa Monica beach that has one of the only BYOB policies on the Westside. Skip the aggressively lame bar situation that dominates most of Santa Monica, and head to Cha Cha instead. Pick up a 12-pack of your favorite beer, order some spicy wings from the counter, and spend the day on their fantastic patio. This is what drinking by the beach is supposed to look like." - brant cox
"Full-on BYOB restaurants are hard to find in LA, let alone in Santa Monica. So part of the allure at Cha Cha Chicken is that you can bring a six-pack (or a whole handle of tequila) to sip after soaking up some rays down by the ocean. This beach-y shack serves Caribbean dishes with a Latin twist, like ropa vieja, coconut fried chicken, and jerk salmon taco in a tropical setting that's especially great for big group dinners. You can also keep it in mind for early-in-the-game dates or lunches near the Promenade that won't make you cringe when the bill arrives." - brant cox, garrett snyder, sylvio martins
"In a part of town where a full BYOB policy is basically a myth, Cha Cha Chicken stands out. At this Caribbean restaurant, you can bring a six-pack (or a whole handle of tequila) to enjoy after the beach. You shouldn’t really need a reason to eat spicy jerk chicken in a tropical setting, but Cha Cha is especially great for big group dinners, early-in-the-game dates, or lunch near The Promenade that won't make you want to die inside." - arden shore, brant cox, nikko duren, sylvio martins
"Unless you plan on paying a lot of money for a very average meal, Ocean Avenue is basically a restaurant dead zone. Cha Cha Chicken is a little walk from the center of the action, but totally worth it. There’s a huge patio, lots of space if you’re with a group, and some very tasty jerk chicken. Also: it’s BYOB. " - sylvio martins, jess basser sanders
