La Reine Chicken Shack
La Reine Chicken Shack is a roadside restaurant in Christiansted specializing in rotisserie chicken cooked slowly over wood coals. The menu also features ribs, pork, and local side dishes such as macaroni and cheese, rice and beans, and Johnny cakes.
The restaurant grew from Saint Croix's tradition of wood-coal grilling and represents decades of Caribbean barbecue culture. Founder and owner Millin Diaz built it into a recognized destination for authentic island cooking.
The name La Reine refers to the historic Villa LaReine, whose remains still stand across the road. The place embodies Caribbean food culture, where grilled meats and smoke-infused flavors are central to daily eating.
The shack sits on North Side Road across from the Villa LaReine shopping center remains and is easy to locate. Visit during lunch or early evening to ensure popular items are still available, as the kitchen cooks hundreds of chickens daily.
The shack's rotisserie system was built from old dryer motors that rotate the chickens over the coals. This homemade setup is a local invention that gives the meat its distinctive smoky flavor.
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