How perfect it would be, on a hot summer day, to be somewhere in the Caribbean, sipping on a cocktail and enjoying a great lunch outdoors while listening to soothing local tunes. That would be great, until of course you had to return to a city or town with limited infrastructure under oppressive heat. That lunch outdoors would become pretty redundant pretty fast.

Fortunately for Angelenos, the world has brought its food to us, and the Caribbean is no different. While not necessarily famous for its cuisine, the region nonetheless has much to offer the culinary world. In an area of the world that is nearly constantly under the blazing sun, the food naturally reflects a summer’s sensibilities. That means light, tropical dishes based around an island’s most common meat: chicken.

Cha Cha Chicken in Santa Monica is as close to an island replica as you’re bound to find. Just a hundred yards from the beach, near the pier, Cha Cha Chicken is an outdoor eatery modeled after a Caribbean island hut. This is not fancy dining, but rather a very laid back and relaxing spot perfect for a midday meal. Just order at the counter, then grab a plastic table on the thatched roof-covered patio to escape the sun.

The main food is, not surprisingly, chicken, prepared in a variety of ways. The signature dish is the Cha Cha Chicken, a roasted chicken breast covered in a Jamaican-style jerk sauce, served either mild, medium, or hot. Other fantastic dishes include Arroz no pollo, a plate of vegetable covered rice in a garlic onion sauce, and the jerk chicken enchiladas, a nice Mexican-style fusion of Cha Cha’s great jerk chicken.

While there are always take out and catering options, there really isn’t a better alternative to sitting in the garden patio: Cha Cha Chicken is BYO, so grab a six pack of Red Stripes and a few friends and spend an afternoon escaping the heat with great food and a very relaxing atmosphere. At just a short walk from the beach, it is really the perfect summer time destination.

Cha Cha Chicken Restaurant
1906 Ocean Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310)581-1684

By Chris Boyd