There's only one right way to say "plantain," but there's no wrong way to eat the best Jamaican food in Toronto. When you think of Jamaican food, jerk chicken is likely the first thing that comes to mind, but this culture's cuisine goes far beyond the spicy, seasoned protein. From ackee and saltfish for breakfast to jerk pork for lunch and curry goat or oxtail for dinner, there are plenty of Jamaican dishes to delight the palate.
Jamaican food isn't all spicy either. If you're not a fan of the heat, try fried chicken (some places even serve fried chicken sandwiches), salt fish (cod) or oxtail. A side of plantain or a dumpling can also cool tingling tongues. And don't be afraid to ask — sometimes all the spice is in the gravy, and can be steered clear of.
Toronto's Jamaican food restaurants used to all be casual spots for cheap eats clustered on Eglinton Avenue West, but now, with all the new Toronto restaurants opening, you can find them in all corners of the city. And some of the best restaurants in Toronto and Michelin Guide-recommended restaurants are serving authentic, high-end Jamaican food.
Plus, influence from other islands has blended with Jamaican food, so there are a lot of restaurants that lean Jamaican but offer other Caribbean cuisine, too. The result is an abundance of great Jamaican food restaurants in Toronto with a wide range of price points and atmospheres. I've been eating at Toronto's Jamaican food restaurants since I was a little kid, and these are my absolute favourites in the city right now.
8 best Jamaican food restaurants in Toronto
1. Jerk King
Multiple locations
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I'm convinced that Jerk King rolls their plantain and dumplings in sugar, but I don't care. It means you're guaranteed a sweet portion every time, and you'll never suffer the disappointment of a sour plantain or a bland dumpling. Plus, the sweetness balances out the flavours of the spicy jerk chicken, rich oxtail and savoury fried chicken. This is my top spot for Jamaican food that's served exactly as you would expect, and hits just right.
2. Chubby's Jamaican Kitchen
104 Portland St.
Recommended by the Michelin Guide for three years running, Chubby's Jamaican Kitchen strikes the perfect balance between high-end and homey. The bustling, tropical atmosphere is full of colourful design touches, hanging plants and plenty of rattan and light wood. It's warm, inviting and polished.
If you're envisioning the portions of a casual takeout counter, then the plates might seem small, but they're on par with other upscale restaurants. Jamaican food here bears a close resemblance to classic dishes, with fun twists like the bite-sized Likkle Homemade Patties or the Ackee & Saltfish Bites. Jerk meats don't come with rice and peas, so be sure to order it or another side like plantain or jerk fries. I order the jerk shrimp — they're juicy, spicy, and not a very common dish at other Jamaican restaurants — and the seasonal sautéed greens, because vegetables.
3. Albert's Real Jamaican Foods
542 St. Clair Ave. W.
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One of the longest running Black-owned businesses in the area, this beloved Toronto institution has been serving authentic Jamaican food in the Wychwood-slash-Humewood neighbourhood for over 40 years, and I've been visiting for as long as I can remember. Chef-owner Albert Wiggan is also a fixture in the community, creating inclusive spaces and giving back through charitable initiatives. The casual counter restaurant is known for its jerk chicken, along with other classics like oxtail, curry goat, salt fish, dumplings, patties and fried chicken. Many of the dishes are made from Wiggan's mother's original recipes. Pair it all with a Jamaican drink like Ting, sorrel or peanut punch.
4. Patois
794 Dundas St. W.
There is nothing quite like the crunch of biting into a piece of fried chicken from Patois. Sure this Chinese Jamaican restaurant on Dundas West has a whole menu of unique dishes inspired by chef-owner Craig Wong's Jamaican-Chinese background, but I order the fried chicken. Every. Single. Time. Wong describes the perfect, crispy texture as "shattering glass" for the way it falls apart, and I can't get enough of it. On top of that, the chicken is beautifully brined.
There are two-person and family platters if you want to maximize the plates you get with your chicken. Sit in and enjoy being whisked away by the tropical bar atmosphere with a fun cocktail or mocktail in hand — or take your food to-go and picnic in the nearby Trinity Bellwoods Park.
Patois is serving the best fried chicken in Toronto
At Dundas West's Patois, chef-owner Craig Wong combines his Chinese-Jamaican background with his French culinary prowess to create some of the best dishes in the city.
Read more5. Chris Jerk
Multiple locations
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This casual takeout counter in Scarborough and its shiny new outpost in Markham is known far and wide for its inventive take on Jamaican food. Chef-owner Chris Taylor worked in a busy Toronto Mediterranean restaurant for eight years before returning to his Jamaican roots and opening Chris Jerk, a Jamaican restaurant with Middle Eastern flair. Taylor is billed as original creator of the indulgent jerk chicken shawarma and the legendary jerk chicken shawarma poutine that draw crowds from across the city. The traditional dishes are great, too.
6. Miss Likklemore's
433 King St. W.
Jamaica meets King West at this lively restaurant that serves haute Caribbean cuisine to glammed up diners in an atmosphere full of sleek island style. There are lots of Caribbean and Jamaican food flavours and dishes you'll recognize, but often in inventive takes with global influences mixed in.
I go for the boisterous brunch on Sundays, when you can get oxtail hash, fried chicken and waffles, jerk bacon Benedict and bottomless mimosas — or my favourite, Dancehall Queen cocktail, a take on the pornstar martini. The freshly baked cheddar biscuits with whipped jalapeño butter are dangerously addictive.
Miss Likklemore's offers a glam Caribbean brunch every Sunday
On Sundays, Miss Likklemore's serves their bright bottomless cocktails and brunch hits infused with Caribbean flavours to a bumpin' room full of glamorously dressed diners on King West.
Read more7. The Real Jerk Restaurant & The Real Jerk Legacy
842 Gerrard St. E. & 647 College St.
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More than just a place to grab a bite to eat, The Real Jerk Restaurant on Gerrard and The Real Jerk Legacy on College both double as community hubs with regular live events and happenings. See local artists and comedians perform, sing karaoke or try a rum tasting from their extensive collection. Their menus hit all the right notes, from jerk chicken, jerk wings and patties to roti, oxtail, curry goat and ackee and cod fish. They also have less traditional dishes like curry shrimp, jerk poutine, ribs, burgers and sandwiches.
8. Gerry's Fast Foods
724 St Clair Ave. W.
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This takeout counter at St. Clair and Christie is my family's go-to spot for Jamaican black cake. Usually made with dried fruit soaked in rum, the large cakes come iced with optional text that's perfect for birthdays and special occasions. We call ahead to order one every Christmas, along with a bottle or two of sorrel. (Pro tip: At home, break out your bottle of rum to douse the cake and add a shot or two to your glass of sorrel.)
