By Beth Mack
March 24, 2021 (updated)
For a country the size of Connecticut, Jamaica has had a disproportionate global influence. Of course, there is Bob Marley and Red Stripe, but that only scrapes the surface of Jamaican culture and cuisine. Located in the Caribbean Sea with a population just shy of three million, Jamaica is world-renowned for its food. The country’s tumultuous history culminated from many different beats into one harmonious rhythm that is what we have come to know today as Jamaican cuisine.
Dig deeper into some of Jamaica’s iconic dishes and you will find diverse culinary influences. A popular preparation of fish, escovitch fish (fried fish topped with pickled onions, carrots, and Scotch bonnet peppers) is the Jamaican twist on the Spanish escabeche. For the infamous Jamaican patty, look no further than the beat of Britain. The Jamaican patty is a savory turnover filled with meat or vegetables encapsulated in a flaky pastry shell that can be eaten by itself or stuffed inside a sweet roll of coco bread. The beat of India is felt through the Jamaican style of curries and rotis that can be found on almost all Jamaican menus. The ackee fruit, used in Jamaica’s national dish of ackee and saltfish (dried and salted cod) was imported from Ghana.
But no dish is more Jamaican than jerk. Jerk seasoning typically consists of Scotch bonnet peppers, allspice, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, thyme, garlic, ginger, brown sugar, and salt. It’s used as a dry rub or wet marinade on meat then grilled low and slow. Other entrees to look for are oxtails, brown stew chicken, and fish prepared in a variety of ways. These dishes are often served with rice and “peas” (red kidney beans), fried plantains, and stewed cabbage or callaloo (indigenous leafy green similar to kale), it is food for the soul.
Jamaican cuisine offers a little something for everyone from seafood lovers to non-meat eaters. With warmer weather on the horizon, sit back and relax with a cool breeze and enjoy the rhythm of flavors that Jamaican cuisine provides in Charlotte.
Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant
Just around the corner from the airport, you will find a humble white cinderblock building that brings you the authentic flavors of Jamaica without the cost of a plane ticket. Owner Gavin Lawrence, a Jamaican native, opened Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant in 2015. While they are known for their oxtails, the flaky patties are not to be overlooked. Their menu is rounded out with your typical jerk chicken, curries, rotis, and stews. For a taste of Jamaica’s national dish, stop by on a Friday or Saturday when they serve up ackee and saltfish. To wash it all down, you will find a selection of Jamaican sodas, beer, and homemade sorrel juice or ginger beer.
Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant
3011 West Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28208
(980) 299-0609
Website / Instagram / Facebook
Quidley’s Delight
Located in the University City area, owned and operated by chef Omar Quidley since 2016, the Jamaican native delivers some of the most eye-cathing and delectable Jamaican fare in the city. In addition to the foundational dishes, Quidley offers an assortment of rotis as well as fish dishes (tilapia, king fish, and snapper) served in many different styles (brown stew, jerk, curry, steamed, escovitch, and fried). Quidley’s Delight is also vegetarian friendly offering a few non-meat dishes along with a vegetable patty. Tuesday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., their $10 lunch menu features jerk, stew, or curry chicken with a side and fountain drink.
Quidley’s Delight
10901 University City Blvd #106
Charlotte, NC 28213
(704) 910-1781
Website / Instagram / Facebook
Crav N’ Caribbean
A newcomer to the city, Kingston, Jamaica native Carlos Abrahams moved to Charlotte in 2019, and not long after, started Crav N’ Caribbean. Operating out of The City Kitch in the University City area, Crav N’ Caribbean is best known for their mouth-watering $30 oxtail cheesesteak. Chef Abrahams offers a rotating menu also featuring jerk chicken, curries, wings, and their popular oxtail fried rice with jerk shrimp. Wait times can average 45 minutes to an hour, based on their busyness, so be sure to order early.
Crav N’ Caribbean
2200 Thrift Rd.
Charlotte, NC, 28208
(704) 605-8824
Website / Instagram / Facebook
Hillside Caribbean Cuisine
Opened in 2022 by owner and chef Emerth Davis, the restaurant located in the Belmont neighborhood of Charlotte features a proper menu offering everything from their ackee and callaloo with saltfish to their classic beef and curry chicken patties. With all of the essentials like stews, curry goat, jerk chicken and oxtails, along with all of the fixings and Jamaican beverages, Hillside Caribbean Cuisine is a great food escape for those in the NoDa and Plaza Midwood area.
Hillside Caribbean Cuisine
1113 Pegram St.
Charlotte, NC 28205
(980) 443-3677
Caribbean Hut
One of Charlotte’s most popular Jamaican restaurants is Caribbean Hut. Over 10 years ago, Jamaican native and chef, Trevor Lewis, went searching for authentic Jamaican cuisine in Charlotte but came up empty. Thus, Caribbean Hut was born in 2010. The flavors Lewis cooked up were such a hit that he’s grown his business to expand from his original location, located in the University area. The second location off of Woodlawn Road in Charlotte opened in 2014, followed by a location in Gastonia in 2016, and they recently added a location this past January in Clemson, SC. Boasting one of the largest Jamaican menus in Charlotte, Caribbean Hut has something for everyone including curry tofu along with rotis, fish, chicken, oxtails, patties, and sandwiches. One unique menu item you won’t find anywhere else in Charlotte is the callaloo roti.
Caribbean Hut
9609 N. Tryon St. – (704) 593-0030
200 W Woodlawn Rd. – (704) 527-9505
Website / Instagram / Facebook
Irie Nation
Located on the outskirts of Noda on North Tryon Street is Irie Nation. Formerly Irie Vibes, Irie Nation’s compact menu offers a punch of flavors with the tried-and-true dishes of Jamaica. Browse the menu and you will find the usual suspects of jerk, curries, oxtails, and the Jamaican quartet of cooking methods for fish (fried, steamed, escoveitched, and stewed in a brown sauce). For the full Jamaican experience, snag one of the limited dine-in tables and treat yourself to a drink from their full bar and enjoy an authentic meal all while basking to the rhythm of modern Jamaican music.
Irie Nation
2729 N. Tryon St.
Charlotte, NC 28206
(704) 909-7377
Yard Cooked Dishes
Native Jamaican Neville Storer has been in the kitchen all of his life. He ventured into selling Jamaican food during college and has grown his business gradually from there to a food truck, and then to a brick-and-mortar restaurant that he opened in 2017 located in west Charlotte. In addition to serving up authentic Jamaican dishes, Yard Cooked Dishes also offers chicken wings that can be tossed in one of their 17 sauces and served with steamed cabbage, plantains, and choice of rice (white, yellow, or peas and rice). Neville will occasionally cook up special dishes that aren’t on the menu so keep an eye out for those.
Yard Cooked Dishes
1610 Ashley Rd Suite 7
Charlotte, NC 28208
(704) 496-9021
Island Cuisine
Recently relocated, Island Cuisine offers one of the most expansive Jamaican menus in the city. Opened in 2018 in North Charlotte, Island Cuisine serves up some dishes that you won’t find anywhere else, as well as a full bar to complete the experience. Glance through the menu and you will find seven varieties of patties, curries, oxtail, jerk chicken, and seafood dishes that can lead to indecision. If you want to try a variety of meats or different preparation styles, try one of their combination platters. Drop by on a Friday or Saturday to enjoy their unique specials of jerk pork, BBQ chicken, fried chicken, and festivals (fried cornbread fritters), but be sure to stop by early as they typically sell out. Finish your meal with one of their many authentic Jamaican desserts such as gizzada or a slice of black rum cake.
Island Cuisine
2025 E Arbors Dr.
Charlotte, NC 28262
(980) 237-2677
K & J’s Kitchen
Operating as a food truck before opening a brick-and-mortar off West Boulevard, the New York natives offer the authentic staples like oxtail, curry goat, jerk chicken, brown stew chicken, curry chicken, rice and peas, sweet plantains, and steamed cabbage.
K & J’s Kitchen
1540 West Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28208
(980) 299-2561
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