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Kabawa

Name: Kabawa
Address: 8 Extra Pl, New York, NY, United States, 10003
Telephone: (646) 790-8747
Price range: $50 and over
Rating: 4.8

Visa Dining Collection

$50 and over

Caribbean

8 Extra Pl, New York, NY 10003

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 14, 2025

11:00 PM

Booked 37 times today

About this restaurant

Good for special occasions
Innovative
Lively

Kabawa, a deeply personal restaurant from Chef Paul Carmichael and Momofuku, offers a nuanced and distinct perspective on Caribbean cuisine. Built around a set menu with plenty of choices, it’s a place to take your time, enjoy a meal, and discover something new each time you visit.

Kabawa’s menu is a three-course, $145 prix fixe experience, exclusive of beverage, tax, and gratuity. The restaurant is divided between kitchen counter seating, an immersive experience with direct chef service, or more secluded table seating.

Structured to showcase the depth and diversity of Caribbean cuisine, our ingredients are thoughtfully procured, fusing local produce from neighborhoods right here in New York with specialty items sourced directly from the Caribbean.

Every touch point — from the custom mosaics to the ingredient sourcing to the instrumental music — is intentional, tapping into Chef Paul’s upbringing in Barbados to reflect the vibrant, welcoming spirit of a Caribbean home.

Why they're an Icon

Executive chef: Paul Carmichael

From the OpenTable editors: Momofuku's first new NYC restaurant in years is reason enough to get excited. Another is internationally celebrated chef Paul Carmichael, who runs the show here by showcasing his Barbadian heritage through a three-course menu with dishes like jerk duck sausage and braised goat with spicy scallop creole. Custom mosaics, the open kitchen with counter seating, and a welcome roti platter set the tone for a relaxed, Caribbean home-like experience.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Caribbean
Phone number
(646) 790-8747
Website
http://kabawa.com/
Dress code
Resort Casual

Location
8 Extra Pl, New York, NY 10003
Neighborhood
East Village
Cross street
E 1st St
Parking details
None
Public transit
2nd Ave: FBleecker St: 4 & 6Broadway-Lafayette St: B, D, F & M
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Wine

What 56 people are saying

Kabawa reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.8Service
4.8Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

New York City
Caribbean

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Kabawa offers an exceptional dining experience with "amazing food" and "phenomenal flavors" that honor Caribbean heritage. Guests rave about the "wonderful people" and "stellar staff," making each visit memorable. The goat curry is a standout dish, and the service is both warm and attentive. A must-visit for adventurous foodies!

56 Reviews

J
Jill VIP
New York City10 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Given the prices, this is most likely a special occasion, dining experience. However, I will say it was worth every penny! I haven’t had service this good in a restaurant in a long time. Kudos to the entire team behind the counter.
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k
kristin VIP
San Francisco Bay Area6 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Absolutely loved the whole experience. Great service, great ambience and fabulous food. Can’t wait to go back.
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J
Juliet
New York City1 review
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Delicious and exciting food; great vibe; excellent service. Loved it.
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J
Jeff
New York City14 reviews
3.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Enjoyable experience, but the value isn’t there. We ordered their Chuletas Can Can and our cut of meat simply had too much fat. I’d wager it was something around a 60% to 70% fat to meat ratio. I love fat, but this is simply just simply too much.
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p
philip
New York City1 review
3.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Food was tasty but almost ridiculously overpriced. And there was a surprise extra fee for my dessert. Desert was supposed to be for three courses but when i switched desserts there was an extra fee i want aware of. And tip calculated with tax included. Had to advice that isn’t legal
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A
Allison VIP
New York City1 review
5.0
Dined on June 7, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Incredible food and service. Only negative was the appetizers. They lacked flavor. Everything else was phenomenal. Sit at the counter and you get to interact with the chefs throughout.
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I
Isabella
New York City2 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 7, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Absolutely loved the food, drinks and service. 100% get the goat and upgrade for the coconut roll (you won’t be disappointed and it’s perfect to have with breakfast the next day). Service was attentive but not overpowering. We really enjoyed our selected foods but honestly the bonus food items the kitchen gives the tables were the highlight of the meal, especially the bread with pepper jelly/butter and the salad was one of the best I’ve had. Make sure you come hungry!
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T
Tom VIP
New York City5 reviews
2.0
Dined on June 6, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
Old Momofuku Ko space repurposed as counter style prefixe Caribbean restaurant. The staff was great. Informative but not pushy. The decoration was kind of odd with the old Ko space haphazardly repainted in bright colors. The food is WAY over priced. We spent almost $600 for very average food. The pork steak (described to us as an iconic dish) was bad. I do not recommend and won’t go back. It’s insane to me how Ko went from being a leading three star restaurant to this. David Chang needs to get his sh*t together. There is no way this place makes it after the novelty burns off.
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S
Shanice
New York City1 review
4.0
Dined on June 6, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
Food was delicious and inventive while honoring the intended heritage of the restaurant. The time between each course was a little inconsistent which created some void and then rushing at times. The staff was kind.
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J
John VIP
West Palm Beach7 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 5, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Such a fun and amazing experience, the joy and high level of craft comes through in. It only the food but also through the absolute joy of the service!
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FAQs

Kabawa is rated 4.8 stars by 56 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 14, 2025

11:00 PM

Booked 37 times today

8 Extra Pl, New York, NY 10003

Additional information

Cross street
E 1st St
Neighborhood
East Village
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Caribbean
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Resort Casual
Parking details
None
Public transit
2nd Ave: FBleecker St: 4 & 6Broadway-Lafayette St: B, D, F & M
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Wine

Website
http://kabawa.com/
Phone number
(646) 790-8747

Kabawa

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Why they're an Icon

Additional information

Menu

What 56 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Kabawa restaurant rated?

Is Kabawa currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information