By Jeanni Ritchie
You can almost picture a hammock in the corner and feel the sand between your toes when you walk into The Royal Onion’s new location. The “Caribbean Grill with a Twist” feels right at home in Cajun Country, fusing the taste of the islands with the spices of the Bayou State.
Royal Onion has come a long way since its food truck days. From the truck to a storefront in 2018, and now to an even bigger storefront next to the Alexandria Mall, the Caribbean hotspot is proof that when you consistently serve good food, people keep showing up hungry for more.
The new space offers a great atmosphere, plenty of parking, and the same welcoming service that stood out to me the very first time I visited. Royal Onion still offers dine-in, takeout, and catering, making it just as convenient for a quick lunch as it is for feeding a crowd.
One thing I’ve always appreciated about Royal Onion is that the menu feels both familiar and different at the same time. Caribbean flavors are woven into tacos, burritos, loaded fries, quesadillas, pasta dishes, rice bowls, and more — all tied together with that signature homemade jerk sauce.
Most dishes give you the choice of Caribbean Chicken, Island Shrimp, or a combination of both.
I arrived with my parents on the way to a movie. They were neither hungry, nor too sure they would enjoy Caribbean food. (Do you see where my pickiness stems from?!)
Nonetheless, I ordered both a chicken and a shrimp quesadilla, figuring they’d each taste it and I’d have leftovers the next day.
(Spoiler alert: There were no leftovers!)
They absolutely loved it. Mom and I preferred the shrimp one—though she left the jerk sauce off of hers. Dad preferred the chicken—with extra jerk sauce.
The meat was seasoned perfectly. The cheese was perfectly melted—and plentiful! I wish I’d ordered the Caribbean Corn to go with it. I’d overlooked it on the menu. Next time for sure!
Also ordering next time… the Island Punch. I’m usually a water or a Coke gal—I’m not much on other drinks. But I was looking at this guy’s drink—a signature punch made with fresh lemon, mango, orange, and pineapple—and I wanted to taste it so bad!
I will get it next time. There will definitely be a next time. Not only did I love it, but The Royal Onion made fans out of my folks as well.
Dad’s ready to try other menu items, like the Rasta Pasta, tacos, loaded crab cakes, and chimichangas. While those are longtime menu favorites, the expanded menu also includes items like Rice & Gravy and Oxtail Fried Rice.
Dessert options include deep-fried cheesecake chimis in flavors like Oreo, strawberry, cookie butter, and apple pie — another thing we need to try when not saving room for popcorn!
Whether you’re stopping in for lunch, grabbing takeout, or looking for catering with something a little more exotic, Royal Onion continues to carve out its own flavorful lane in Cenla.
Royal Onion is located at 3601 Masonic Dr., Suite C-2515, Alexandria. Hours are Monday through Friday from 11 AM–3:30 PM and they are closed Saturday and Sunday. Royal Onion offers dine-in, takeout, and catering. For more information, call 318-704-0255.
