Kizin Creole Restaurant

Kizin Creole is the best Haitian restaurant in Chicago! One of your classic Haitian cuisine serving restaurants. The food here is to absolutely die for you. There are so many options to choose from that, this will allow you to try every dish on the menu. They have the classic white rice with black beans in the side, diri djon djon, brown rice and red beans. All made so fresh and delicious to eat. They have many options from griot, kabrit, turkey, chicken sauce and fried. All are fresh and clean, seasoned to perfection and cooked with love. With delicious plantains on the side with some spicy pikliz. You can add your classic Caribbean sodas, lemonade or passion fruit as well. They also have Soup Joumou every New Year and it’s so delicious!! They also have Bouyon! Another great traditional Haitian soup. With it being winter time now is a great time to go to Kizin and grab some Bouyon. It’s so rich with great flavors and they definitely serve it to perfection. I have a huge appetite so I’d order two if I were you. You’ll feel that Haitian pride after taking a sip of this fantastic soup! Patricia one of the owners is so amazing and very caring loving women and also her husband! I love coming here it’s home and they are family! The food here is truly to die for and you won’t be disappointed. Customer service is wonderful here and the owners and staff are all very respectful and welcoming.

Wow. What a great meal! I love Haitian Creole food. This was one of the best Bannann Peze(Fried Plantain) and Marinad (fried spiced fritters), Griyo (braised and then fried pork belly) with rice and beans all were amazing. In particular, the marinad is such a simple sounding side/app - but is a flavour-packed ball of fried dough! So good in fact, that our table ordered seconds of this dish to go with our dinner! I loved also the griyo (aka griot in French)! Because they braise then fry the pork belly, it is tender and juicy while crispy! The rice and beans are a lovely pairing with it. And the pikliz (spicy coleslaw) provides an amazing sharp vinegary spice to contrast the savoury umami notes of the dish! The Turkey Creole Stew is misleadingly full of flavour. It is hearty with a generous portion of turkey along with the fried plantains and the spicy slaw. To wash it all down, I recommend getting the passion fruit drink as a sweet refreshing contrast! Chef Patricia was doing double duty as front and back of house. No easy task to manage! She made our table feel welcomed and took lovely care of us to explain the dishes to us. The dine-in area is very much set up as a banquet event space. I rather enjoyed the larger tables - especially since our table shared numerous dishes together. This will be a return place for me to try other dishes! I'll update this review when I return!

We drove 2 hours from Indiana and were not disappointed. It was so good! My daughter is a very picky eater she was planning on eating somewhere else but I ordered for her and she enjoyed it. I do wish i could of tried the oxtail or foj but they were out. My boyfriend is from haiti and was so happy to finally get a taste of home. Owner was so cool. Thank you.

We came as soon as they opened and we felt welcome. The hostess was attentive to our needs and the food…Very delicious 🤤.

This was an absolutely amazing experience!! This is probably the best Haitian food we've ever had at a restaurant. I ordered the curry goat with red beans and rice with the sides. I don't typically order goat because of how easy it can be to mess up a dish for me if the smell is not properly taken care of. I was not disappointed and the food was amazing and we both are until we were full and took leftovers. They have some of my favorite Haitian drinks that tested like they used really fresh fruits. Unable to pick one, they combined the passion fruit and soursop for me to create an incredible drink. They informed me they don't normally mix those two and they didn't know how it would come out, but that was a very successful mix and experiment on my part. Just added a little water to it to decrease the bitterness and it was delicious. Next time we are in Chicago we will definitely be back! Highly recommended!

As someone with immunocompromised loved ones I've gotten takeout from here many times to enjoy on picnics with family and friends (who hadn't tried any of the dishes before), and everyone loves it! Delicious and nutritious, something for everyone, highly recommend! The appetizer sampler is a fun start, I'm obsessed with the diri djondjon, the oxtail and goat are fantastic; tender and so flavorful.

I’m speechless! This was one of the best meals that I ever had in my ENTIRE LIFE! The chicken was succulent and full of flavor as was the peas and rice. Thank you for allowing me to try your amazing cuisine and introducing me to your culture. 🙏🏽

$22 tassot goat 🐐 never seen haitian restaurant serve people's like that. The rice was terrible and very small. The goat was salted. The atmosphere was great... very clean. Look like small size they make me paid for a large one. No bannann peze

SO GOOD! Amazing goat curry, perfect red beans and rice. They were doing construction during the meal so not sure about that but the food rocks.

This food is BUSSIN!!! My family went for my brother's birthday and we ate good. I have the Diri Djondjon and steamed veggies and akra and pantains because I dont eat meat. You can be vegan and eat GOOD. My brothers had the Griyo which is a fried pork dish he said it was the best he had , the mac and cheese reminds me of Trinidadian Macaroni Pie ,but more flavorful ...like a baked mac and cheese with a mild pepper flavor . My sister had the chicken stew and she ordered a second one to go because it was so good. The service was incredible . The people were so sweet , I think marketing might be why they are a bit empty , but they shouldn't be at all. If you all live in Evanston or Skokie or Chicago you MUST come here!

Stopped by here in a whim to grab a meal to take home after a long day. All we can say is wow! Everything was soooo good! The boulet, chicken in sauce, plantains and rice were outstanding. The chicken was falling off the bone so tender. We can not wait to come back!

I really wanted to like this place but it was a bit of a disappointment. Its quite hidden, I've lived on Evanston for like 20 years and never knew this place existed. They need to invest in a better sign and some lights to let patrons knows they're there. I ordered over the phone but when I got there only half the order was ready and I felt the front person could have been more hospitable especially since I was the only person there and it was her error. The food was too dry. The meat was over cooked but flavorful. You get decent quantity but lacks the quality. They also had limited items on the menu. No goat or snapper or oxtails. They offer non alcoholic drinks and traditional Haitian drinks which was nice. There was plenty of street parking available. They currently only accept cash and zelle, I thought this would have been helpful to know when I orders over the phone. Overall disappointing but would give them another try, because I've had their food before and I know it can be really good.

Please more rice in the veggie plater ! Jon Jon is lovely here , been here over 10 times ! 9/10

I was so happy to find a Haitian restaurant in Chicago to take my Haitian Bae to. If I'm not mistaken, this is the only one. We hurried into a Uber and sped across town to enjoy this genuine food. It's located in the Irish/Polish part of town and has a warm feel to it. It's like eating from home. Teresa, our waitress, was a thrill to converse with and very helpful through our dining experience. We were served Griot, Djon Djon, Plantains, Pikliz, Legueme, and more. The food is very authentic and plated beautifully. I wasn't sold on the Pikliz but everything else was divine. The guava juice was fresh and tasty. The restaurant is clean, lively, and has lots of seating. I imagine this will be a place we can visit every time we're in Chicago.

Clang wait to go back. Service was great, staff were kind, food was delicious. If you want to eat and run don't go here. It's an experience, sit down, relax and take your time to enjoy your family or friends and savor every bite. Don't pass on this restaurant... it's amazing Haitian food.

I'm always seeking out new cuisines I've never had, so I was glad to find this place. I picked up food, as I'd eaten at an African place down the street already but wanted to get the food from here too while I was in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, it took a long time for me to get any attention after entering. I stood awkwardly at the counter while a large family was loud and chaotic, their children pushing a baby around in a stroller and the kids opening the restaurant door over and over. A woman who worked there finally emerged from the back and seemed frustrated with the table of people, but she didn't give me any attention at first either. I don't know whether she had said anything to them about the behavior before I got there or not. Once she did take my order she was pretty nice. It was then awhile wait to get my food too. Menu-wise, I was pleased that there were a few vegetarian sampler meals and multiple sides, which I didn't expect to find. I had trouble deciding which I wanted. I decided on one with mac and cheese, rice (I chose the mushroom rice), fried plantains, and a cup of cole slaw. Granted, these are rich foods, and I refrigerated them first before reheating the next day. But everything seemed especially greasy- the rice moreso than any chinese fried rice. The flavors were pretty good, but it was hard to really enjoy with all the oil. The coleslaw may have been my favorite part. While takeout took as long as it did, I wouldn't suggest eating in. Of course conditions could be much improved without the obnoxious family with kids left to run around, but the place had a strange unfinished feel with few tables and an odd stage area in the back. I would have felt uncomfortable sitting and eating there too.

The food is good however the place says it opens at 12 and the doors were closed until 2pm very disappointing

Bonswa! Kizin was recommended to me by one of my Haitian friends. I was starving and looking for something from the islands to divulge on. I was in the mood for plantains. I happened to be in the Evanston area, so Kizin it was! I actually drove by a couple of times before I realized where it was so keep an eye out. Plenty of parking, so there are no worries there. When I got inside, I actually had to wait for someone to even appear to wait on me; a good 5 mins or so or just of just standing around and admiring the wall art. Then someone finally showed up. The wait for the food was about 15 mins; not too bad. I ordered the fried chicken - Poul Fri with creole sauce, plantains, and Diri ak pwa - haitian rice and beans. The rice was a little dry, but the chicken was great. The creole sauce was perfect and not too spicy. By the time I'd finished devouring my food, I realized I hadn't taken a breath in like 20 mins. I inhaled it all. All gone. During lunch from 12 - 3 there are lunch specials but even outside of then, the prices are reasonable. Kizin is definitely a go to for good Haitian soul food. Bon apeti!

I visited Kinzin a couple of times recently and something has changed, my meals were ok but use to be amazing every time! So unfortunate, I travel over an hour to get there and it use to be well worth the drive. I also have to add... the young lady that takes my carry out orders is very professional and kind, she make sure you're taken care of and I really appreciate that.

I've been here twice. The food is awesome! Probably the best macaroni and cheese period! Had the pork burrito, 2 fruit juices, haitian patties, chicken and meatballs, which were all great. The issue is that I was told it'd take 45 minutes. I got there like 55 minutes later and had to wait another 20 minutes for the macaroni, which I had the remind them that it was 2 orders.

The most important thing here is that the food was so, so good. Additional great things - the service was friendly, and they were careful to check for proof of vaccination. They indicated they didn't have any of the Haitian patties ready to go, but made them! Delicious. Marinad fritters were great, stewed goat was about the best I've ever had, the fried pork was crispy and juicy. Mushroom rice, mac n cheese and pikliz were excellent side options. Support this great restaurant!

Wonderful experience! Great service, they were out of a couple things, but made them fresh for us. Marinad was fried perfectly, almost light, delicious. Fried pork was crispy and juicy and just the right amount of fatty, along with an amazing sauce. Patties in an awesome puff pastry, fantastic! Stewed goat was another highlight! Plus mac and cheese and black mushroom rice, terrific sides. Also BYOB, which is always appreciated. Give this place a try!

This place have the best griyo I've ever had. And so far everything that I have tried from them have been great. So much so I drive here once a month and I live over a hour away. And everyone is so friendly. And presentation on the food is everything! Love them!

Came here with a groupon because we wanted to try Haitian food. We came on a Monday evening around 6 and we were the only customers. They have one tv where we watched Wheel of Fortune while we waited for our food! I was a little disappointed that they didn't have any soups available or guava juice, but we went with fried plantains (3) for appetizers instead. We got 6, and they were really large, fried perfectly, and not greasy or anything. We polished those off pretty quickly along with our house salads, which come with your typical dressing choices- french, italian, thousand island, and ranch. For entrees, we were all about goat! We got the goat stew and fried goat, which were both 13.99. I preferred the fried goat, but the goat stew was good as well. You get a decent amount of meat in both. For sides, we got the black mushroom rice and the mac and cheese. The rice was a little dry on its own, but they provided a little side of stew, which, when poured over the rice, was quite tasty. I loved the mac and cheese/lasagna creation- especially the crispy edges. Overall, the food was delicious! It is a little pricey, but with a groupon it was a great deal. Service is polite, but really slow. I am writing this as we are waiting for them to pick up our card and check... there is no one around! We will probably be back, as it is hard to find places with good goat that isnt too dry and stringy. Oh, and the street parking is free!

Saturday afternoon and I decided to try Kizin Creole Restaurant. So glad that I did. Plantains. Haitian patties with chicken. Nan sos. There were two large communion parties in the back, but that was no problem. Food was prepared to order and I was glad of that. Full of flavour and good use of spices in the recipes. My Caribbean half approved. I will have to return for dinner to see what the atmosphere is like. As to lunch, I was thoroughly satisfied. And for those who may not be comfortable with people speaking languages other than English only, be forewarned that there is a lot of French and Creole spoken.

I was looking for an Haitian restaurant in Chicago since I love haitian food and My friend told me about Kizin Creole. The service was great, they are really thoughtful and welcoming. The food was really tasty especially the black rice and the pastry I even took more to go home ! I will definitely come back !

A bit of a wait but Im Haitian so I wasnt bothered. They were so sweet and with the wait even threw in some stuff for free. The food...... SO BOMB. Just moved from NYC and have been craving Haitian food and now this is my spot. I had the griot which was really tasty and not too much fat, rice and beans was really good as well. I dont write reviews but had to get on here and say something.

The food was good. I'm glad I ignored what people would say about them. The only thing that I found strange was that they didn't have prestige. A Haitian beer. And it was SUPER DEAD INSIDE. I wish I saw more of the culture there on a Friday night.

I could have given 5 stars, but I left room for improvement. However, great place for great Haitian and Caribbean dishes. Good job chef Dan and chef Pat.

I do not even know how I paid $25 for shit tons of rice and some oxtail. Flavors were decent but for 4 oz meat and a distressed waitress I will never go back.

Great, family owned restaurant with authentic Creole Selection Ordered: Tasso Kabrit (fried goat), side of plantains FOOD: Awesome. The goat was very tender and the rice was moist (sorry, if you hate that word) and flavorful. Whatever broth they used to cook the rice is well seasoned. The plantains were fresh and very crispy. ATMOSPHERE: I went on a Thursday afternoon and the place was fairly empty save a few people who had come in for lunch. I feels very nice and homey inside, like sitting in someone's grandmother's house. The restaurant features work by black and Haitian artists, which is an awesome touch. GAME: The owner isn't hard to hard to look at, so that helps. Unfortunately one of the patrons was trying to throw off my game by hitting on me. But no worries, I have my eyes on the prize. OVERALL: Would recommend and will return.

The food was delicious! I had the fried turkey with mushroom rice and mango juice. Patricia, the executive chef, made the experience so enjoyable. She prepared wonderful gift baskets for the birthday women at my table. I'd definitely recommend this restaurant for yummy and authentic Haitian food.

I really really REALLY love this place, but when I order my food at 1230 it shouldn't take 3 hours to make. We were told to pick up at 130 and our food wasn't ready until 330. Again, love this place, but the wait time is so ridiculous. My 3 hour wait today was off putting so we probably won't be back for awhile.

Was really disappointed. Took my Haitian daughter there for dinner and 90% of the menu was unavailable. The server said, "comeback tomorrow, we will have both soups, everything!".went back the next day and nothing had changed. Was even suckered into coming back a third time, when they told my daughter about a special Haitian celebration that would have a full menu. The food was dry, over cooked, and mediocre at best. Disappointed to have paid $20z Fooled me again. Will not be returning.

I have lived in various parts of the country, but my first encounter with Haitian food was when I lived in Boston for five years. I immediately became hooked and this was my meal of choice 5-6 days of the week. Since returning to Chicago back in the mid 90's, I have only found one Haitian restaurant; Carribana Bar and Grill located in Wrigleyville. However, this place closed about 8-10 years ago. I recently went on Yelp to find another Haitian restaurant and came across Kizin Creole Restaurant. While some of the reviews are mixed, I consider myself a Haitian Food Connoisseur and was going to try it out for myself. Décor - It is a typical Haitian restaurant. Not fancy, but nice and cheerful. There is always some good Haitian music playing in the background. Service - The staff is warm, friendly and very courteous. Food comes out in a timely fashion and if I had to wait for anything, it was well worth the wait. Pricing - The pricing is not expensive. I know how long it takes to make some of these dishes and everything on the menu is fairly priced. I think most of the entrées come with a side salad. *Food* - The food is very good! All the dishes I have had are very authentic Haitian cooking and I have been back over 6-8 times in the past month. The Legume, Fried Plantains, White Rice with Black Bean Sauce, Chicken in Creole Sauce, Black Mushroom Rice and Conch (Lambi) are just a few of the items I have tasted already and all of them are excellent! IF YOU LIKE HAITIAN FOOD, YOU WILL LOVE THIS PLACE! AS LONG AS THIS PLACE IS HERE, I WILL BE A LOYAL PATRON FOR LIFE!

Their Marinad Fritters and Pork Wrap Appetizer are delish! Cant' wait to come back to try the meal options!

I came here on night with my wife, who had a strong craving. Since she moved here from Miami, where there's plenty of Haitian restaurants and her moms cooking, hasn't really had any other than what she was able to cook. I can say everything thing we had tasted great, my wife especially loved the food. We even took patties to go as well as they're homemade Haitian peanut butter. We will definitely come back, even though it's almost an hour drive away.

The food was so delicious, the seasons was just dancing on my tongue. It's been a long time since I've had food is good. I can close my eyes and it brings me back to my childhood in Haiti.

Order was 30+ minutes late and so poorly prepared it was inedible. Everything was also covered in soup because the container on top of it had melted/broke through the lid. When contacted with a full refund request, the manager offered a $7 refund on a $43 total when I was delivered a bag of inedible food covered in other food... http://s3-media3.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/cJKd2Swd2v1zGbcyVPnEzw/l.jpg http://s3-media1.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/Q3-JjhVd5yJ5UxqOLcqjhQ/l.jpg

About a few months ago I purchased griot (fried pork & plantains) from this establishment. I was very satisfied with the fried plantain but the pork was horrible, it's like they had used old meat cause it was so hard almost like it had been re fried, needless to say it was not edible and was disposed. I believe I paid about $15-17 for that plate. Over priced and so not worth it. It's a shame because I am of Haitian decent and being from Miami where there is an abundance of Haitian cuisine, I really was looking forward to supporting this restaurant. I was disappointed and maybe it was a bad day, but that's all it took for me.

I don't know for the rest of the menu but I've loved bouyon/bouillon ever since I could hold a spoon on my own and Kizin has the very BEST I've had. Their kabrit is also outstanding

If you're looking for authentic Haitian food in Chicago come to the northside! The gyro (fried pork) with plantains and stew chicken is a fav! They also have vegetarian dishes and the rice is amazing! Beautiful presentation!

Very friendly family oriented restaurant. Patricia and Daniel are so nice and welcoming. Cultural setting with dim lit aesthetics. I've personally tried 3 different meals here (the pork shoulder, fried chicken and meatballs). All of the food is prepared fresh. The paklis is very tasty and I always look forward to the mushroom rice. They also allow you to dine out as well as in. Definitely recommends this as I've had Haitian cuisine in other cities.

we drove four hours and it was worth it. We will be back with our kids in the summer. I was kinda of disappointed because they didn't have Malta and a few other things I asked.... but I understand, these things might be hard to keep with everything going on with supply and demand. Its probably difficult to even get these thing way up there.

An absolutely abysmal level of service. Staff is dismissive and actively priotoritizes some guests over others. If you are given a quote for how long it will take, go ahead and double it. Also, don't bother ordering patties here because they never have any. Other than that the food is pretty damn good, so that's a plus.

went there for dinner last night and loved it! Red beans and rice was on point.

Very good food. Always flavorful. Nice portions. Very nice to dine in because it feels so authentic as an island restaurant. Good music in background.

The food here is amazing! If you do not live in the area, it's worth the travel. The owners are very nice and do a great job of making you feel at home.

The fish fritter was delicious and plantain appetizer. We loved the seasoning on the slaw and the rice and beans were delicious. It may have been a problem with the oven but the meats and baked Macaroni were hard and dry. We couldn't even cut through the macaroni without tearing it apart and leaving behind the bottom. We enjoyed the guava drink as well. I don't think we will return, but it was fun to try something new.

Even though this place is 45min from me I still make the trip! Don't miss the grio or patties.

We live in Indiana where there is no diversity in food other than "Mexican" Atleast that's what it tries to be! I've been plotting on this restaurant for the longest & traveled all the way here to eat Here and it was amazing the food is worthy every penny and cooked to order REAL HAITIAN food. It's so good I took a plate for back home !! This is a must try restaurant forget the deep dish pizza and BBQ ! SN: its best to pay in cash !!!

Delicious veggie soup Joumou on New Year's Day/Haitian Independence Day. Kind servers.

I am glad I came here. The food was wonderful and I enjoyed the staff. They made excellent recommendations

Excellent food. Drove 2 hours to get food for my father-in-law's birthday. He said it was the closest he's been to Les Anglais in 40 years. Thanks for putting a smile on his face.

the food was good I ordered with UberEats and it was late so they had run out of what I wanted and called me to sub items. So don't order too late, maybe I would've had more luck as a walk-in but idk I loved the rice and peas

Great food with a great atmosphere. Nice family owned business. I always leave with food to go.

Kizin Creole is the new incarnation of Chez Violette. Using a Groupon, the bf and I had dinner there on a Sunday night. The restaurant was ~1/3 full between 6-8p, but despite the small number of people the service was on the slower side. I didn't mind, but people in more of a rush probably shouldn't expect to get out of this restaurant quickly. I haven't liked Jamaican food so far, so I wasn't sure how much I'd like Haitian food, but it turned out that both of us loved the food! Here's the breakdown of the dishes we tried: -Chicken and beef Haitian patties: they were fine. -Squash (pumpkin) soup: delicious! Perhaps the best part of our meal. -Meat fritters: also fine. -Salad zaboka: very tasty. -Taso Kabrit (fried goat) with black mushroom rice: the sauce for the meat was wonderfully savory, the meat was tender (although it was an odd cut, maybe the meat along the spine), and the rice was full of mushroom flavor. All in all a very good dish. -Pikliz (Haitian slaw) - extremely spicy! Stay away from this one unless you can handle the heat. The ambiance of the restaurant isn't anything special, but there's plenty of space in the restaurant (the tables aren't crowded together), and the food is great. I saw a handful of people come in and get take out, which I think I'll do in the future.