Mouthwatering Caribbean in Houston

Cool Runnings Jamaican Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (932) • $$

"Last few times I came here was before the Pandemic and I absolutely loved it. This time was meh. There were two people in front of us on a Tuesday afternoon so they were not packed at all. I ordered a large Curried Chicken, Oxtails, a veggie chicken patty, a chicken patty and a roti skin and decided to eat in the dining room. I don't eat red meat but heard the oxtails were so good my curried chicken wasn't as good as I remember I am slowly transitioning from chicken and this could be why. I don't ever have to have it again. It was seasoned well but didn't taste the same. I was so excited for the veggie patties because I wanted to try them before attempting to make it. The veggies were cold and you could tell they are frozen veggies. My rice and peas were lumpy and no seasoning. It's almost like they were a forgotten factor in the dish. The cabbage was cold. The roti was ok ‍Food hasn't been fooding for me for a while and I'm disappointed about this experience. Hope you have a better time.Updated: They get another star. Later on after warming my food, it was better. The rice and peas and the cabbage tasted more seasoned‍ and the chicken patty was great as well."

Helen's Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.4 (198)

"I am a huge fan of Jerk Chicken and oxtails. Anytime I'm able to try a new restaurant that serves Jerk Chicken and oxtails. I'm definitely gonna stop in. I am very glad that we stopped in and tried Helen's kitchen today. They're serving up some really good Jamaican cuisine and I'm a tell you what you will enjoy what they have to offer.Food: the oxtails were easily the best dish I had. Full of flavor, full of meat, just a top-notch dish for oxtails. That was a very flavorful tasty oxtail. Jerk Chicken was solid. it wasn't the best Jerk Chicken. It wasn't the worst Jerk Chicken. It was just a very solid Jerk Chicken. I would give the Jerk Chicken three or four stars out of five. Very tasty. Just the oxtails have were very special. I would definitely come back just for the oxtails. If you're a fan of oxtails stop by here ASAP. the customer service was great. We got three plates, and the food came out and a very timely matter. I will be back soon."

Caribbean Hot Pot Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (263) • $$

"Arrived around 8:30pm on Wednesday and found the lights on with all the chairs up. My husband went in and asked if we can sit to eat as we had driven there after calling and confirming that they close at 9pm- they said yes and took down some chairs so we could sit.The lady at the cashier was relatively nice compared to the service and attitude usually given at Caribbean restaurants.The food was food but unfortunately was barely even warm. -jerk chicken: would have preferred charred flavor like other Jamaican spots have.-rice and peas: okay flavor, a bit mushy-cabbage: not oily, and not lightly pickled like other places. Tastes simply of steamed cabbage.-fried sweet plantain: saturated in oil as if cooked in old oil."

Love Bird Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (188)

"This is a very nice hole in the wall Jamaican restaurant. Probably not as recognizable as all the "others". But it was clean, service was excellent and swift!! No weird or dirty looks and insane long wait time like some other "Cool" places. Lmao. Oh...great parking. It's in a plaza.Now...the food. You will not be disappointed by their portions. Seriously. They don't even skimp on oxtails. And the goat??? I honestly felt like someone picked out all the bones. I was truly impressed. Now on to flavor. This is where they unfortunately fell flat and lost a star (almost 2). I think the chef is a bit too restrained when it comes to seasoning. Everything LOOKS as it should. But the taste for the curry goat and oxtails was bland. Very bland. If I closed my eyes and someone fed me...I'd have a hard time telling what I was eating. The Mac and cheese was a runny bland mess. I hate when people serve tasteless mac. It seriously tasted worse than the kraft deluxe pack. The yams were just ok. The rice and peas...not memorable. But that said, I got home and spruced it all up with my own seasonings and all was well with the world.Final grade: B-I'm not entirely sure if I'd return, despite the relatively high stars. I think I'd recommend them but with hopes that I just went on an off day for the chef. But besides flavor, everything else about this place was damn near perfect."

Lucian's Caribbean Grill

★★★★★ 4.9 (123) • $$

"Why 4 stars? Because I've waited a long time to try this place and really enjoyed it. --- --- ---I discovered Lucian's a while ago through a local top's on Yelp list and was excited to try it during a future visit to see family in the area. Unfortunately, I had to place a to-go order instead of dining in, but I ordered a bunch of different things in an effort to try as much of the menu as possible.The Oxtails were very solid. There was a place in Florida where the Oxtail was so amazing that it ruined all other Oxtail for me, but this was not a bad rendition. 4-stars.I also ordered the Curry Chicken, but didn't love it, to be honest. It was fine, but not something I'd need to order again. 3-stars.As for the sides:-Macaroni Pie: 5-stars. Some of the best mac-n-cheese I've ever had!-Fried Plaintains: 5-stars. While just about every fried plantain I've ever had tastes the same, I am never mad on a day where I eat fried plantains :)-Coco Bread: 5-stars. I don't know what's in this bread, but I loved it. LOVED it. Rice and Peas: 3.5-stars. This was fine. Standard side dish fare.While it wasn't my dish, my dad had the burger and raved about it. He's a simple man that doesn't try a lot of new things, and he rarely praises food in the way that he did this burger. Next time I visit, I will have to give it a shot. 5-stars from my Dad, TBD from me.I see why this place is beloved and look forward to visit #2!"

Jamaica Pon Di Road

★★★★☆ 4.4 (133) • $$

"Absolutely amazing!!!The jerk chicken was smoked and seasoned omggg to perfection!! I could taste the food in my mouth hours later!!!The oxtail eggrolls were bussssin as well but not as hard as the jerk chicken.And that lil cake they had, bussssin!"

Nyammings Fusion Bistro

★★★★☆ 3.9 (166) • $$

"The food is AMAZING! I was craving soul food/oxtails when I searched on yelp. I came across a few spots but something about this one stood out. When I arrived it was quiet yet welcoming. I was immediately hungry just reading off the menu! The chef truly knows what he's doing, and you can taste the passion within the food. I ordered the Chicken & Beef Gumbo, Oxtails (it came with rice and cabbage), an extra side of cabbage, Mac and cheese and candied yams with the Homemade Lemonade Caribbean Dream to drink. DELICIOUS! My friend ordered the Rasta Pasta with Oxtails and it was also delicious (I tried some lol). I cannot get enough of this place. Will be coming back to order some more Gumbo, try a new dish and come check out the Jazz lounge next door. The ambiance is very intimate yet welcoming to couples or even large groups. I would so cater this establishment for an event or party!"

Island Flavorz

★★★★☆ 4.3 (124) • $$

"June 1, 2023No frills. No charm. No soda fountain, only bottled drinks or water. No plates (just styrofoam) plastic ware. BUT,the food...the FOOD is fresh and flavorful. we got the curry goat (tender and tasty) mac and cheese (yum) and the coconut curry shrimp--delish! Prices are moderate"

Taste of The Caribbean

★★★★☆ 4.4 (117) • $$

"Stumbled upon this gem of a authentic Carribean restaurant this weekend. Let's start with the hospitality. Upon entering I was greeted by Mr.R he was pleasant and happy to answer all of my questions about the menu in detail. The entrance has a mini market where you purchase Carribean seasonings, drinks and produce. I thought the restaurant was take out only at first until I spotted the dining area. The space is quaint and small I personally like the dining setup. There is also a stage setup in the dining area for comedy night. Puts me in the mind of the Houston Improv where you can dine and watch a comedy show. The food was great! I had the Stewed Chicken, Cabbage, Mango Salsa w/ a Roti and plantains. In addition to that I also ordered freshly squeezed pineapple juice and a beef meat pie.Here are my ratings on each dish:Meat Pie- I give it a 7 out of 10. The beef was more in a pate form than ground beef as I have had in the past and the pie could use more flavor.Pineapple Juice- Too sweet for me I would have liked a stronger pineapple flavor. 4 out 10Mango Salsa- Excellent ! 9 out of 10Cabbage- Had nice crunch complimented the meal well. 8 out of 10Plantains - cooked to perfection 10 out of 10Stewed Chicken- 9 out of 10 Great flavor. Next I will go for more spice.Prices at this location runs anywhere between $14 - $21.99 which i think is fair."

Island Tingz Caribbean Grill

★★★★☆ 4.3 (122)

"I have not been to this spot since it was a Cajun restaurant. It's now changed hands 2 times since then. I hope this business stays a while though. The interior is all decked out with Jamaican colors and they have a full bar. I didn't see a menu of drinks, but I visited during lunch and there was no customers dining in, except for me. They seem to be mostly takeout, at least during weekday lunch hours.They have a small lunch menu of mostly chicken items, so I took advantage and ordered the jerk chicken. My 2 sides were rice and peas and plantains. The flavor of the jerk chicken was really good and was just a little spicy, but not so much I couldn't eat it or feel uncomfortable. I really enjoyed the chicken since it was very tender. You receive 2 pieces, a leg and a thigh; the thigh was chopped into 3 pieces. The rice and peas are good and pretty standard as a side. The plantains were very delicious, but this is also one of my favorite sides when eating Jamaican or Columbian food.I also added a drink. They don't have a soda fountain, only a cooler near the register with bottled beverages. They were out of my first two choices during my visit, so I went with a pineapple guava drink which was delicious. All of their bottled drinks in the cooler are imported from Jamaica, so you are getting the real deal.Service is friendly. Even while dining in, you will receive your meal in a to-go container. No points for presentation, they are all about the flavor of the food here.Not my average lunch, but I really enjoyed it. Luckily I visited for lunch, I was able to dine for less than $15. Northeast Houston certainly has a void in Jamaican restaurants, so it's a welcome spot for the Humble area."

Island Spice Bar & Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (183) • $$

"So glad we finally tried this place! The food is amazing! Oxtails are sooooo good! Flavorful, tender and great quality. We've also tried the jerk chicken fries and jerk wings which were good as well. My dad tried the goat and said it was amazing! I'll have to try that the next time I go!Service is top notch! The owner Orin is amazing and always welcomes us with open arms. Jason makes the best drinks and tells the best stories lol! And ask Mark Anthony about the "Henny Thing Can Happen" drink lolLove this place and the atmosphere! We're lifelong patrons :-)"

Tropical Diner

★★★★☆ 3.8 (110)

"Well hubby and I couldn't resist trying this little Magical Jamaican Diner out again! Once again they did not disappoint! The food was immaculately divine and the customer service was of royalty! This go round we decided to try appetizers. We ordered the beef meat pie and the curry chicken meat pie. Let me just say this, they are very fulfilling and a meal all by themselves and the flavor, OMG! We enjoyed every delicious and flavorful bite! For our entrees, I tried the Jerk Chicken with cabbage and rice and peas. My husband tried the brown stew chicken with cabbage, a side of white rice, and rice and peas. It was so yummy guys! We even ordered a side of coco bread to eat with our meal and it was a great match as we enjoyed dipping the bread in the jerk sauce and the brown stewed gravy. We also ordered a side of fried plantains which were so warm and soft in the middle but golden crispy brown around the edges. Hubby and I were in Jamaican Island Heaven! I didn't get any pictures of the coco bread, the meat pies, or the plantains because we went in, lol. If ever you are in the greater Katy area and you're in the mood for some scrumptious Jamaican cuisine, stop by and give The Tropical Diner a chance to take you on a magical Jamaican Culinary experience! You won't be disappointed! You will leave feeling Irie Irie! Ya Mon!"

Jamaica Paradise Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.8 (62) • $$

"What a gem! I'm so glad I came across this place. The food is amazing. Each plate comes with generous portions of mouth watering meat, rice, steamed cabbage, and fried plantains. I will sleep a happy man tonight. Definitely adding this to my list of favorites."

Caribbean Cuisine

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (131) • $$

"Overall very good food. Parking is not a problem because in a strip center. Service was very good. One person but she did a great job, taking the order, preparing the food, serving it, waiting on other customers, cashing out customers, etc. I had the yard which is a choice of three meats, split pea rice and plantain. I had curry chicken, curry goat and oxtail. All were excellent. I ordered a second yard and took it home with me. I also had beef and a curry chicken patti for starters. We were the only people in the restaurant, however, plenty of walk in's, door dash, grub hub, etc. lots of traffic on those. Overall good place and I do plan on visiting again. I do recommend."

J&D Caribbean Cuisine

★★★★★ 4.6 (61)

"My husband is from Trinidad, and we wanted to try this place as it was highly recommended to us. It was even better than I expected!The meat was fragrant, and bursting with deep flavors. I could have sat here all day and eaten until i had to be rolled out...We bought a home made hot sauce and we put that s@&t on everything. My mouth is watering just writing this review!"

Comfort Foodies

★★★★☆ 4.2 (65) • $$

"The food is always flavorful and delicious. Great, fast service and the restaurant is always clean. I always order online and it's ready quickly. I LOVE that they pack the sides separately so the juices don't mix."

Nyammings Fusion Bistro

★★★★☆ 4.4 (57)

"I don't know WHY I keep trying to give these people a second chance. At this time, it is a 4th or 5th chance. I actually saw the owner of the restaurant in HEB one day buying out all the oxtail and chicken. I wanted to go up to him and give him some constructive criticism but he was talking to another customer who recognized him so I just left. Let me just point out the positives............when you ask them to do what they should ALREADY do, they do it. For example, I love thier yams! They are so good but for $5.99 they give you like 4 pieces drowned in syrup. So I have to tell them to fill it up to the top. I'm paying more than what a can of yams cost!!!!. You should be raking in the dough.So anyways, I was craving curry chicken and I remember I used to love this place and thought maybe they had gotten better. I thought this because they have received a lot of criticism on thier food. Also, it's hard for me to cook for myself. Even though I am a classically trained chef before I became a nurse leader I can cook something today and not want it tomorrow, also with weight loss surgery I can only eat a few bites. So I end up feeding the feral cats in our community, wrapping it up and giving to a friend or coworker ot putting it into the freezer until I want it again so I eat out a lot but mostly soup or a couple of breadsticks. Okay, back to the review. I ordered the curry chicken that comes with rice and beans, fried plantain (two small pieces, they should be ashamed of themselves) and cabbage. All of the food was unbearable salty and tasted old like reheated from the previous day. There was no potatoes in the curry chicken like the description said. They filled the yams with more of the syrup. I threw it all away and thought of something else to eat and just decided on cereal. While I was eating cereal I decided to call the restaurant. I let them know thier food was nothing but a salt lick. Aren't deers the animals who need salt kicks, lol. I could find a deer who would eat that salty mess. The rice barely had beans, and the passionfruit lemonade i love yasted really stale. They offered for me to come in for a refund. I refused. Use that money to buy Caribbean spices besides salt. Salt is a flavor enhancer. In the culinary world we don't call it seasoning. If it was undersalted it would be better because I could add a little salt. Sigh, as a Caribbean woman it really does suck to eat terrible Caribbean food. There is actually no good Caribbean food in Houston. No more chances."

Island Sizzle

★★★★☆ 3.7 (67)

"Island Sizzle is a small stand alone building on an island. You will see what I am talking about if you visit! There is no dine in. I ordered the Ox tail and Jerk Chicken from the window from a gentleman. The food came out fast! The oxtails were $13.99 Wow! What a deal! It came with 2 pieces of oxtails, 2 plantains, cabbage and rice and beans. The oxtails were wonderful! Good flavor. Tender. What it should be! The rice and beans were cooked well. No complaints there. Cabbage was good.The Jerk chicken $12.95 (dinner) was pretty dry but still edible. If you're looking for a quick, fair priced meal that will get you full try Island sizzle!"

Island Sizzle

★★★★☆ 3.7 (67)

"Island Sizzle is a small stand alone building on an island. You will see what I am talking about if you visit! There is no dine in. I ordered the Ox tail and Jerk Chicken from the window from a gentleman. The food came out fast! The oxtails were $13.99 Wow! What a deal! It came with 2 pieces of oxtails, 2 plantains, cabbage and rice and beans. The oxtails were wonderful! Good flavor. Tender. What it should be! The rice and beans were cooked well. No complaints there. Cabbage was good.The Jerk chicken $12.95 (dinner) was pretty dry but still edible. If you're looking for a quick, fair priced meal that will get you full try Island sizzle!"

Bourbon Sizzler

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (76)

"I came here for drinks with a couple of coworkers. I hadn't been in years and was actually surprised this place was still in business. It was pretty empty with just one bartender/server. We sat at a table and service was pretty timely. I appreciated that since a lot of times when places are empty the employees tend to disappear for long periods of time. After mistakenly quoting happy hour prices, the server said she would give us the happy hour prices anyway (it was about an hour away from happy hour).This place isn't much to look at and is in a shopping center with other small businesses. I have eaten before but not on this visit. The drinks here are strong and easily accessible from NRG or the medical center, so when I am here..it's typically because I was close by and wanted a drink."

Marco's Pepper Grill

★★★★★ 4.8 (38)

"We were looking for something filling and good to eat so we decided to stop by this food truck. The owner was there with a welcoming smile. Found out he's an author as well! We shared the Buffalo and cilantro fries and the chicken, shrimp. & sausage jambalaya. Both were good. Hubby enjoyed the jambalaya and I enjoyed the Fries more. Will stop by there again for a bite."

Caribbean Hotpot Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (48) • $$

"Can't believe I've never entered a review for Caribbean Hotpot. Look I'll make this short and sweet....YOU NEED THEM IN YOUR LIFE!!! LOLBut seriously, Caribbean Hotpot is the best. Been coming here foverrrrr! Their food, service and whole set up has always been excellent. The north side has nothing like it in the area. Oxtails? Yes. Stewed chicken? Yes. Veggie patties? Curried goat? Yessss! There's even a veggie plate (I forget the name on menu) that I order quite a bit. And for me to order a plate of food that's only veggies besides a salad says a lot. You can tell their items are cooked with love and true Caribbean know how. Peas & rice never mushy. The curry isn't just all heat & salt. There's actual flavor of herbs and spices. Juicy, tender oxtails. They've got a bar in there too if you want to wash things down with a beer or mixed drink. And yes they have brunch & it's amazing! Never been disappointed with a meal. This year I even had my bday party here. The owners were awesome in setting up my section & making sure my group had a good time! Just can't say enough about this place. Caribbean Hotpot is my go to place for authentic Caribbean food. Get over here and get you some of this deliciousness. Yelp on my friends!"

Royal Arm Restaurant African and Caribbean

★★★★☆ 4.4 (26)

"This restaurant is conveniently located east of 99 freeway on the north side of the road inside a shopping plaza. There is plenty of parking just a few steps away.I visited to place a takeout order of jollof rice and pepper goat soup. Pepper Goat soup can be spicy, but they did ask me me how spicy I wanted it. If you've never had goat soup I would compare it to oxtail soup. Oxtail are much larger pieces though. Goat is better, healthier and leaner than oxtail. It's also high in iron and low in saturated fats. This restaurant serves good quality food and friendly plus quick service. The pepper goat soup was delicious and meaty. For once, I've gotten a bowl of pepper goat soup that is mostly meat pieces versus gristle fatty parts. The soup and it's meat was seasoned perfectly. It was not too spicy at all to where I'd break a sweat just trying to eat it. It was definitely perfect. The jolloff rice was good and seasoned good too. I wil definitely be back for this meal.I'm so happy to have found authentic quality Nigerian food much closer to me in Katy. I definitely recommend this restaurant if you're looking for some good, quality healthy food with even lots of gluten free options."

Gud Food Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.1 (29)

"I really enjoyed my food here. I went back two days in a row lol. The jerk chicken was very moist and tender. The service is great too! I'm not sure why Yelp is hiding most of their reviews. There's ten 5-star reviews that Yelp isn't including in their rating..."

Las Hamacas Resaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (24)

"I had always gone by this restaurant in Spring Branch but never stopped to try it until yesterday. The food is homestyle and they have a lot of items to suit everyone's taste. I had a chicken sauteed with a flavorful tomato sauce, wonderful refried beans, rice and cabbage. The plate was less than $10. I also had a delicious drink made from the fruit of the maranon, or cashew. The rest in my party loved their food including our appetizer which was a mixture of plantain chips, grilled chicken, fajita meat, shrimp and pickled onions. This melange was interesting and huge and we finished it. I don't know if pupusas are eaten in Honduras besides El Salvador but they have them on the menu. They do have a lot of things on the menu including bean soup, tamales, etc. so I am looking forward to visiting again soon."

Huzzy's Jamaican Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.1 (21)

"I loved their oxtail. Also ordered their jerk chicken; also delicious. I will come back."

Hop A Long's Jamaican Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.4 (18)

"Oh. My. Gracious. I got the jerk chicken and the Curry chicken. The plates came with rice and peas and salad. I got a roti on the side and it was huge. Everything was really good. The staff was very nice and polite and accommodating. There was plenty of parking. The inside was simple and clean. But... The chicken patties and beef patties were the. Best. I've ever had. Same with the oxtail. I'm going to buy an oxtail and bring it to Sugar Land to show a local chef what he's doing wrong with his. Keep up the great job! I live 30 minutes away but it might be worth it to make the drive regularly."

Ocho Rios

★★★★★ 4.6 (13)

"Delicious food with an authentic taste of Jamaica We had jerk chicken with steamed rice and wet mac & cheese, brown stew chicken rice & peas, and steamed cabbage. It's just getting off with month one under their belt so if you are looking for a taste of the Island come and eat! We will be back"

The Jerk Hut

★★★★☆ 3.8 (11)

"Tried this place last Saturday and was definitely blown away. I got the 3 meat combo, it was seasoned perfectly and the meat was tender. I'll definitely be going back!"

Jadari Irie Sizzle Caribbean Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.4 (8)

"Great food and service! It's the spot!! The food is delicious and cooked the way it should be. I loved it! I don't have anything to say but good vibes good food and atmosphere. The cook and host as well the ones behind the bar/counter were awesome. I'm writing more so I can submit this review. Great food, great food, great service and great food!!"

Jamaica Jamaica Ultra Lounge & Eats

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (12)

"Look. I had an absolute blast. Much thanks to my late night yelp buddy Austin J. When I walked in a little after 11pm there were a few seats at the bar. Nice seats with backs!! But what is that DJ playing? Hard core hip hop and 90% of the crowd was 30s with a few others older/younger in between. I was going to leave after one drink but then the DJ obviously got a clue and realized his crowd was older. He played a few old school hip hop sets then switch to reggae which was cool. So people actually got up and danced. He finally kind of got it. Free buffet from 5-9pm on Friday with half price drinks. Buffet was still out when I got there. Ice cold but free so no complaint. Probably 6 to 8 food items. Bartenders were surprisingly friendly and the drinks were strong. After two mixed drinks and a beer I was done. And how about another place where people dance. It was great to see. The DJ needs to work on his thing. He was switching songs as soon as the crowd got into it, he would switch from hip hop to freaking Latino music. Wtf! He dont know how to mix music at all. Small patio out front. Once it catches on, it is going to be packed. I did not care for the hookah inside. Take that ish outdoors please. But looks like this place will be a good time. Come now while it's not too crowded"

IRISI Fishmarket & Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.8 (5)

"The food is very delicious , the fish is always fresh the owner is very nice highly recommend"

Jamal Jamaican Jerk Cuisine

★★★☆☆ 2.6 (16)

"Great vibe. Called ahead of time to make sure they had what I wanted. Oh and they did not disappoint. I found this place on a whim and glad I did. Ordered a natural juice smoothie at the suggestion of the wise handsome older gentleman and it was divine I loved it. They didn't have oxtail left but I got two beef patties and they hit the spot. I appreciate the friendly atmosphere and service and I will come back to try other things for sure"

Flavorz of Negril

★★★★☆ 3.7 (7)

"We went to the Jones Road location and picked up the Curry Chicken. It was a lot of food I'd for your money. The service was very good and it didn't take long at all to get it."

Grill Tops Caribbean & Korean BBQ

★★★★★ 4.8 (4)

"We sat down and I tried wiping up the leftover sticky grease that was still on the grill. Good thing the waitress saw and swapped it out. Very pretty place decoration wise. But at 6pm on a Saturday I was a bit sad we were the only customer. They have been open for only 20 days."