Top Haitian Restaurants in Rockville & Gaithersburg You Need to Try in 2025
, by Seo Guy , 4 min reading time
Haitian food across Montgomery County
Rockville and Gaithersburg, located in Montgomery County, Maryland, are often recognized for their diversity. Alongside Ethiopian, Salvadoran, and Caribbean food, Haitian cuisine has carved out its own space here. Over the past decade, a number of Haitian-owned restaurants have popped up across these cities, each offering flavors that remind the diaspora of home and introduce newcomers to the richness of Haiti’s culinary identity.
In 2025, these restaurants are more than eateries—they are community hubs. They host cultural celebrations, provide traditional meals for holidays, and help keep Haitian pride alive in the heart of Maryland. Whether you’re craving griot, joumou, or bouillon, Rockville and Gaithersburg have options worth exploring.
Lakay Restaurant Rockville
Carrying the familiar name “Lakay,” this restaurant delivers comfort food that feels like it came from a Haitian household. Its griot is crisp on the outside and tender inside, often served with plantains and pikliz. Lakay also specializes in soups and stews, particularly bouillon, which is a local favorite during colder months. The restaurant’s homestyle atmosphere makes it a welcoming stop for both families and solo diners looking for authentic flavors.
Chez Tatie Gaithersburg
Chez Tatie has become one of Gaithersburg’s go-to spots for Haitian food. Known for its hearty platters, it serves tassot kabrit, fried fish, and joumou with pride. The restaurant’s name, meaning “Auntie’s place,” reflects its family-style cooking and warm hospitality. Many customers note that Chez Tatie feels like visiting a relative’s home, where the food is always plentiful and the welcome genuine.
Creole Flavors Café
Creole Flavors Café blends Haitian classics with light modern twists. While griot and fried turkey remain at the heart of the menu, the café also experiments with presentation and seasonal specials. This balance attracts younger diners who want authenticity with a modern dining vibe. It’s also one of the most photogenic Haitian spots in Montgomery County, making it a favorite for foodies who want to share their cultural dining experiences online.
Kreyol Kitchen Rockville
Kreyol Kitchen offers fast-casual Haitian food without sacrificing authenticity. It’s known for big plates of rice and beans topped with griot, legim, or stewed chicken. Customers particularly love the bold seasoning and the portion sizes, which make it a great value for everyday meals. Its casual environment makes it approachable for people trying Haitian food for the first time.
Port-au-Prince Express Gaithersburg
Named after Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince Express is all about quick, authentic, and delicious meals. From pikliz-packed sandwiches to steaming bowls of bouillon, the restaurant offers convenient ways to enjoy traditional food. It’s especially popular for weekday lunches, giving office workers in Gaithersburg an affordable taste of home during busy schedules.
Spotlight: Lakay Restaurant Rockville
While every restaurant here has its strengths, Lakay Restaurant in Rockville stands out for its cultural depth. Its menu covers all the Haitian staples, but it’s the community vibe that makes it memorable. Families gather here for celebrations, and younger Haitian-Americans come here to stay connected to their roots. For anyone exploring Haitian cuisine in Montgomery County, Lakay Rockville provides the most authentic and well-rounded experience.
Building your food crawl in Rockville & Gaithersburg
If you want to spend a day exploring Haitian food in Montgomery County, start with a morning soup at Chez Tatie, grab a casual lunch at Kreyol Kitchen, and finish with a sit-down dinner at Lakay Restaurant. Along the way, stop by Creole Flavors Café for snacks or desserts. Each stop offers a different angle on Haitian food—from fast-casual to homestyle—and together they paint a complete picture of Haiti’s food culture in Maryland.
Haitian food as an anchor for identity
For the Haitian diaspora in Montgomery County, these restaurants are more than businesses. They are anchors for identity, places where language, music, and tradition meet food. On New Year’s Day, joumou is served across the city as a celebration of Haitian independence. During family gatherings, dishes like tassot and griot connect younger generations to their heritage. In a multicultural region like Montgomery County, Haitian food has become a powerful way to keep culture visible and thriving.
Regional importance of Montgomery County
The Haitian restaurants in Rockville and Gaithersburg don’t just serve locals. They attract diners from nearby Silver Spring, Laurel, and even Washington D.C. Montgomery County has positioned itself as one of the strongest Haitian food hubs outside of Miami and New York. As more people discover the flavors of Haiti, Rockville and Gaithersburg will continue to grow as essential stops for cultural food tourism.
Support Haitian culture beyond the table
Food is one way to celebrate Haitian pride, but you can extend that celebration every day with CreoleSizzle.com. From kitchenware inspired by Haitian cooking to apparel that honors heritage, CreoleSizzle helps you bring Haiti into your home. Every purchase supports cultural preservation and makes Haitian identity part of your lifestyle, not just your dining choices.
