West Indian - Caribbean - Jamaican Food

[pablice]

The terb community is usually pretty good at recommending the best best restaurants for various cuisines and cultural experiences, however I could not find anything on west indian and Jamaican food, particularly Oxtail and jerk chicken.

Couple of times a month I would visit Willy's Jerk, however I notice that their quality in not consistent. Sometimes you get very dry and fatty meat, but other times you get tender and juicy suck off the bone meat that melts in your mouth like a perfect DATY...lol I also notice ppl in Willys jerk are rude most of the time. Also some of their locations are pretty ghetto like the one of Jane St. & I am totally stared down by everybody...lol...The attitude is not the most important part, but good food is what I am after. lol ...

For my suggestion, here is a really good BBQ jerk seasoning that I would highly recommend. Be careful as it can get very very spicy if you put too much, but it's far superior to anything I've tried. ( Walkerswood traditional Jamaican jerk Seasoning )

Any suggestions for restaurants, seasonings, or recipes are much appreciated.

 

[lomotil]

There's some good Caribbean restaurants on Eglinton, in between Oakwood and Dufferin. On the weekends, at night, they cook their jerk chicken in large drum-style barbecues. It's not the nicest area as well, and if you're not of that ethnicity, you will be looked/stared at. For the best beef patties (and patties of various fillings), go to Randy's in the same area.

Agreed, the best tasting patties are Randy's. The best jerk pork is from Mr Jerk, although quality control, ie the amount of seasoning varies from location to location for Mr Jerk. They actually roast their jerk pork and chicken over a charcoal fire. On Eglinton near Oakwood, the jerk pork and chicken available from the places with grills going outside often bake the meat first and then just smoke it outside with lots of oil and water so it is not as nice or authentic as the meat cooked over a real charcoal fire like Mr Jerk who does it similar to how it is done in Jamaica.

 

[spraggamuffin]

Alberts is popular but I find it's pricey.

Good value can be had at the place at the corner of Jane and Lawrence.

Chicken is pretty hot in terms of pepper whereas Alberts is not as hot but has more allspice and seasoning flavour.

As far as homemade, I prefer the Grace brand seasoning and Marinade compared to Walkerswood for my jerk wings.

 

[Lyra Hamilton]

The closest one to me is RITZ and I love their Ox tail !!! Meat melting in my mouth ... ummmmm

 

[sauna1701]

GTA West seems to have all the good stuff. Is there anything good for us eastenders ??

How does Mr.Chin Jerk @ morningside and sheppard hold up to west end ?

 

[GEMSHINER]

I drive past this place Tuesday mornings ,and they always have a lineup 1/2 hour before they open...gotta give it a try

The closest one to me is RITZ and I love their Ox tail !!! Meat melting in my mouth ... ummmmm

 

[DELETDrileydaniels]

Learn to make it yourself - http://caribbeanpot.com/

I got the cookbook from the real jerk restaurant - I know it sucks them being closed, but the Hamilton guy from Caribbean Pot dot com is pretty cool.

I've noticed there is just too much inconsistencies with these restaurants out there. I usually go to Ritz but even with them you never know what quality your getting.

 

[good to go]

There is a place at sunrise and victoria park called sansimian. great jerk chicken and other jamaican favorites. For jerk pork I go to allwyn's bakery on york mills east of dvp in the strip mall with the shoppers drug mart.

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g155019-d977721-Reviews-Sansimian-Toronto_Ontario.html

http://www.yelp.ca/biz/allwyns-bakery-north-york

 

[Captain Fantastic]

I got the cookbook from the real jerk restaurant - I know it sucks them being closed, but the Hamilton guy from Caribbean Pot dot com is pretty cool.

The Real Jerk re-opened at Gerrard and Carlaw.

http://www.therealjerk.com

 

[DDay]

PJs at kennedy and huntingwood (plaza with a hastys market). Has awesome oxtail. The curry goat is pretty good too.

 

[pablice]

Thx Riley

Definitely trying this recipe. Thx for the suggesting...will let you know how it turns out, from the reviews looks like you can't go wrong this recipe + looks pretty easy to make.

http://caribbeanpot.com/savory-oxtail-in-a-rich-and-thick-gravy/ + http://caribbeanpot.com/classic-island-peas-and-rice/

...this is exactly how I love it...nice and tender , full of gravy, dripping with juice, like a nice brown, wet, and juicy pussy lips melting in between my lips and tongue..uummmmm honesty you know it's good when it's so tender that you suck the meat off the bone and just melts in the mouth.

[

Learn to make it yourself - http://caribbeanpot.com/ I got the cookbook from the real jerk restaurant - I know it sucks them being closed, but the Hamilton guy from Caribbean Pot dot com is pretty cool. Video Link: http://youtu.be/p6Qnnj2lgWU I've noticed there is just too much inconsistencies with these restaurants out there. I usually go to Ritz but even with them you never know what quality your getting.

 

[Tiger]

PJs at kennedy and huntingwood (plaza with a hastys market). Has awesome oxtail. The curry goat is pretty good too.

Hey thanks for the tip! That is close by to me, I want to check it out
There is a decent fast food place I get dirty rice and beans with gravy and jerk chicken, Birchmount and Finch

 

[jetfuel]

Ideally the best spots will be on Eglinton ave west and the ghetto areas.

Don't let the stares throw you off, they are surprised to see non-blacks in their spots.

Ralph's Bakery in rexdale ain't bad and the Mr Jerk in malton use to be good.

Respect!

 

[pablice]

Just checked out oxtails at the place at the corner of Jane and Lawrence...I assume you are talking about LLoyd's. I agree good value, however I am not impressed with the taste/quality as much. Quantity was good and price + was tender, I still think Willy's is better taste + quality wise. Also their rice and peas could use a little improvement. Not dissing it, but I wouldn't come back.

Have you tried Jerk king just west of Jane on Lawerence or Mr. jerk just east on Lawerence. Which one did u like better + what do you normally get there.

There is also the Jerk Box at S/W corner.

Alberts is popular but I find it's pricey. Good value can be had at the place at the corner of Jane and Lawrence. Chicken is pretty hot in terms of pepper whereas Alberts is not as hot but has more allspice and seasoning flavour. As far as homemade, I prefer the Grace brand seasoning and Marinade compared to Walkerswood for my jerk wings.

 

[spraggamuffin]

Only one I've tried in the area was Jerk Box on the South West corner of Jane and Lawrence.


Just got the $5 special which was 1/4 Jerk or Bar-B-Cue Chicken with rice and beans and cole slaw.

Also comes with a pop,water or small bottled juice.

Not bad for $5 all in.

Normally would get Mr Jerk from Derry and Goreway Drive in Malton.

Again, just rice and peas and jerk chicken. Lots of line up for the pork there though.

I've also bought from miscellaneous places on St Clair and even downtown in Kensington Market.

 

[lazysausage]

I am currently in love with a jamaican beef patty that are sold at a particular place called tinnels, only 4 locations in the gta. It's not very expensive, yet the filling they use is extraordinary.

 

[Tiger]

Try Allan's bakery, Kennedy south of Steeles. The filling is good, but the pastry is amazing, very flaky. I buy the seconds that are frozen to save $$ for hobbying, and bake them for like five or six minutes in the oven. They turn out perfect.

 

[GEMSHINER]

Feel like I just got a belated Christmas present!Fantastic site Riley ,traditional dishes as well as some fusion style recipes!I am having fun with this one!Much thanks
GS

Learn to make it yourself - http://caribbeanpot.com/

I got the cookbook from the real jerk restaurant - I know it sucks them being closed, but the Hamilton guy from Caribbean Pot dot com is pretty cool.

I've noticed there is just too much inconsistencies with these restaurants out there. I usually go to Ritz but even with them you never know what quality your getting.

 

[jackson11]

If you are looking in Scarborough there are a few places I like to go to. I don't get much of the jerk however these places have great curry and rice and roti:

Da Pavilion- Bellamy and Lawerence

Roti Hut- it is on Pitfield Road which is just south of Sheppard and McCowan (just south of Sheppard on McCowan there is a Shell Gas Station- just behind is a small strip plaza across the road from apartment building. In that strip plaza)

Timehri Restaurant- on Sheppard near McCowan (on corner of McCowan and Sheppard there is the big Canadian Tire Store. Behind that is a fire station. Timehri is almost right across the road from the fire station right beside the Cycle World. Or if you know Scarborough it is right underneath La Spot Pool Hall). I think there is a second Timehri Restraint on Middlefield close to Steeles

I also used to get amazing jerk pork sandwiches at a Nigel's Jerk Food Restaurant right on the corner of Middlefield and Steeles. there is a small strip plaza with a Kentucky fried chicken it is right beside KFC. It is mostly jerk food as opposed to West Indie (roti curry etc) and I always liked the sandwiches so if you are looking for jerk food specifically you may want to try there.


And best Jerk Seasoning I have found in stores is Grace's Jamaican Jerk Seasoning. It is in a bottle and labelling almost identical to original post picture (same size and shape bottle etc) just says Grace Jamaican Jerk Seasoning on the bottle. I usually see Grace and the original posted picture almost side by side in grocery stores. Put a bit too much Grace's on your food and it will be hotter than hell.

 

[mrcheeks]

One suggestion is Caribbean Taste near Simcoe/Adelaide a few doors down from Burrito Boyz. They have most Caribbean dishes including some fusion like jerk chicken pasta.