By Beth Mack
August 2, 2025 (updated)
For a country roughly the size of Connecticut, Jamaica has had a disproportionately large global influence. Reggae and Red Stripe are well known, but they only scratch the surface of Jamaican culture and cuisine. Situated in the Caribbean Sea and home to just under three million people, Jamaica is world-renowned for its vibrant food. The country’s complex history, shaped by many cultures and influences, has blended into a harmonious rhythm that we now celebrate as Jamaican cuisine.
Dig deeper into some of Jamaica’s iconic dishes, and you’ll uncover a range of diverse culinary influences. Escovitch fish — a popular preparation of fried fish topped with pickled onions, carrots, and Scotch bonnet peppers — is Jamaica’s twist on the Spanish escabeche. The beloved Jamaican patty, a savory turnover filled with meat or vegetables in a flaky pastry shell, draws influence from Britain and can be enjoyed on its own or tucked inside a sweet roll of coco bread. Indian influence is evident in the curries and rotis found on nearly every Jamaican menu. Even ackee, the fruit featured in Jamaica’s national dish of ackee and saltfish (made with dried and salted cod), was originally imported from Ghana.
But no dish is more Jamaican than jerk, which 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 popular entrées include oxtails, brown stew chicken, and fish prepared in a variety of ways. The dishes are often served with rice and peas, fried plantains, and stewed cabbage or callaloo — an indigenous leafy green similar to kale. It’s food for the soul and offers a little something for everyone, from seafood lovers to non-meat eaters.
Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant
Just around the corner from the airport, you’ll find a humble white cinderblock building serving up the authentic flavors of Jamaica — no plane ticket required. Owner Gavin Lawrence, a Jamaican native, opened Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant in 2015. While they’re known for their oxtails, the flaky patties are not to be overlooked. The menu also features classic 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, choose from 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
Don’s Jamaican Kitchen
Many Charlotte locals may recognize Don’s Jamaican Kitchen from pop-ups and festivals around town, but in June 2025, founder Sheldon Johnson — a Jamaican native who arrived in Charlotte in 2017 — opened his first brick-and-mortar location. Located inside the food court at Charlotte Premium Outlets in Steele Creek, it’s a trip to the mall worth making just for the food. The menu features all the Jamaican staples — oxtail, curry goat, jerk chicken, and patties — along with dishes like red snapper and a flavorful off-menu jerk chicken pasta. Weekday lunch specials (Monday through Friday) serve up generous portions of brown stew chicken, curry chicken, or jerk chicken, paired with rice and peas, steamed cabbage, and pan-fried plantains.
Don’s Jamaican Kitchen
5404 New Fashion Way
Charlotte, NC 28278
(704) 910-0024
Website / Instagram / Facebook
Irie Nation
Located on the outskirts of NoDa on North Tryon Street is Irie Nation. Formerly known as Irie Vibes, Irie Nation’s compact menu delivers a punch of flavors with Jamaica’s tried-and-true dishes. Browse the menu and you’ll find the usual favorites — jerk, curries, oxtails, and the Jamaican quartet of fish preparations: fried, steamed, escoveitched, and stewed in brown sauce. For the full Jamaican experience, snag one of the limited dine-in tables, treat yourself to a drink from their full bar, and enjoy an authentic meal while soaking in the rhythm of modern Jamaican music.
Irie Nation
2729 N. Tryon St.
Charlotte, NC 28206
(704) 909-7377
Island Cuisine
Island Cuisine offers one of the most expansive Jamaican menus in the city. Originally opened in 2018 in North Charlotte, Island Cuisine serves dishes you won’t find anywhere else, along with a full bar to complete the experience. Browse the menu and you’ll find seven varieties of patties, curries, oxtail, jerk chicken, and seafood dishes that might leave you undecided. If you want to try a variety of meats or preparation styles, opt for one of their combination platters. Drop by on a Friday or Saturday to enjoy unique specials like jerk pork, BBQ chicken, fried chicken, and festivals (fried cornbread fritters) — but be sure to come early, as these typically sell out. Finish your meal with 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
Caribbean Hut
One of Charlotte’s most popular Jamaican restaurants is Caribbean Hut. Jamaican native and chef Trevor Lewis searched for authentic Jamaican cuisine in Charlotte but came up empty — so he decided to create it himself. Caribbean Hut was born in 2010, and the flavors Lewis cooked up were such a hit that he expanded beyond his original University-area location. A second location opened on Woodlawn Road in 2014, followed by one in Gastonia in 2016, and most recently, a Huntersville location in 2024. Boasting one of the largest Jamaican menus in Charlotte, Caribbean Hut offers something for everyone — from curry tofu and rotis to fish, chicken, oxtails, patties, and sandwiches. One unique item you won’t find anywhere else in Charlotte is their callaloo roti.
Caribbean Hut
9609 N. Tryon St. – (704) 593-0030
200 W. Woodlawn Rd. – (704) 527-9505
13016 Eastfield Road (Huntersville) – (704) 274-5803
Website / Instagram / Facebook
Hillside Caribbean Cuisine
Opened in 2022 by owner and chef Emerth Davis, this restaurant in Charlotte’s Belmont neighborhood features a full menu offering everything from ackee and callaloo with saltfish to classic beef and curry chicken patties. With all the essentials — stews, curry goat, jerk chicken, and oxtails — plus all the fixings and Jamaican beverages, Hillside Caribbean Cuisine is a flavorful escape for those in the NoDa and Plaza Midwood areas
Hillside Caribbean Cuisine
1113 Pegram St.
Charlotte, NC 28205
(980) 443-3677
Mouthwaterin Jamaican Grill
Located in the Cherry neighborhood of Charlotte, Mouthwaterin Jamaican Grill is a casual, unassuming takeout spot serving up all the Jamaican classics. Reopened in 2024 at a new location, the restaurant grills all its meats, delivering that authentic outdoor Jamaican flavor. They also offer grocery items like imported spices, sauces, and sodas.
Mouthwaterin Jamaican Grill
607 Baldwin Ave.
Charlotte, NC 28204
(704) 910-1029
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
Yard Cooked Dishes
Native Jamaican Neville Storer has been in the kitchen his entire life. He began selling Jamaican food during college and gradually grew his business from a food truck to a brick-and-mortar restaurant, which he opened in 2017 in west Charlotte. In addition to serving authentic Jamaican dishes, Yard Cooked Dishes offers chicken wings that can be tossed in one of 17 sauces and served with steamed cabbage, plantains, and your choice of rice — white, yellow, or peas and rice. Neville occasionally cooks up special off-menu dishes, so keep an eye out for those.
Yard Cooked Dishes
1610 Ashley Rd Suite 7
Charlotte, NC 28208
(704) 496-9021
Quidley’s Delight
Located in the University City area and owned and operated by chef Omar Quidley since 2016, this Jamaican native delivers some of the most eye-catching and delectable Jamaican fare in the city. In addition to the foundational dishes, Quidley offers an assortment of rotis as well as fish dishes — including tilapia, king fish, and snapper — served in many styles such as 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. From Tuesday through Friday, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., their $10 lunch menu features jerk, stew, or curry chicken with a side and a fountain drink.
Quidley’s Delight
10901 University City Blvd #106
Charlotte, NC 28213
(704) 910-1781
Website / Instagram / Facebook
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