Food was good actually better than I thought it would be. The mild Jerk sauce was delicious. I order 2 white meat dinner’s w/3 sides and 2 drinks. Total was around $53 sum dollars. Sweet potatoes could have been just a little more sweet and a little more portion of the sides would have been great. Overall I give them 8 out of 10. I would go back!!!!!
Food: 4
Craig Hairrell
Food is all homemade. The sides are the stars for me. All are outstanding and reliable. I've have less consistently good main courses. Sometimes they're great. Sometimes they're overcooked and dry. Oxtails have never been melt in your mouth tender for me. The patties are very good.
This is primarily a carry out restaurant. They have a few seats but there's no atmosphere to speak of.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mac \u0026 Cheese, Candied Yams, Beef Patty, Rice \u0026 Beans, Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans
Roy Kim
To say the food is excellent is insufficient. The flavors are robust, vibrant, and well balanced in a way you don't typically find in other types of cuisine, let alone restaurants in the area.
We got the goat curry, ox tails, and jerk chicken. It was love at first bite. After our first bite of jerk chicken, my girlfriend and I looked at each other and knew right away that we were about to embark on a flavor adventure. All the meat was succulent, balanced with sweetness/spice-but-not-too-hot, and flavorful in a way that will leave an indelible mark on my palate. The yams, mac and cheese, plantains, cabbage, beans and rice were all unsurprisingly fantastic as well. The plantains in particular had a lovely slight crisp to the edges that rounded out the salty and savory goodness of the other meal components. Do yourself a favor and get extra jerk sauce. You'll thank me layer.
They were closing early at 7 and we got there at 630 as they got slammed, undoubtedly because the other patrons shared my same curiosity about the hype or were fortunate enough to have discovered this gem of peak comfort food long before. Nonetheless the staff was very friendly and my order was ready in a reasonably prompt span.
I don't think I've ever seen a restaurant garner 5 stars across so many reviews and now I see why Island Express continues to maintain that accolade.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Matthew S
This place and its owner are an absolute gem in town. We just tried this place tonight for this first time and WOW! Food was packed with flavor and portions were very generous. They were kind to help navigate choices—we ended up getting the jerk chicken, oxtail, curry chicken, brown stew chicken, and all of the sides and everything was delicious. In the haste of leaving, my wife also left her wallet behind near closing time. Not realizing the error, the owner, Kimberly, went out of her way to return it to before we even knew it was missing —literally an angel. Great food, great owners—can’t beat it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shondra “Umm Jibril” Tillman
I drove about 20 miles for this food.. Very flavorful and fresh, I would suggest possibly cooking the oxtail a bit longer for the fall off the bone effect. Was a bit tough, but the flavor was 👩🏽🍳 💋 !! Came in for a Togo plate so atmosphere was fine for that was about a 15 to 20 minute wait from order to plate... not bad, nice service, friendly staff. Will definitely be coming back!!!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 4
Mike Schrettenbrunner
This food tastes amazing. It filled a missing piece to the area’s restaurant scene, nicely. Everything is good, not just the chicken, the yams, rice and beans, patties, EVERYTHING.
Yolanda Hinton
Very friendly staff and the food was fantastic. Mac and cheese was delicious
So happy to have found Island Express!! This is now my 3rd time eating it (had it last night and it was so good I had to come back for more today) I've tried the ox tails, the rib tips, the mac and cheese (so so good and the main reason I've had it two days in a row!), patties and the cabbage and I cannot recommend this place more!
I just ate here for the first time and oh my God was it amazing. The brown stew chicken was so good! While I was waiting for my food I saw so many regulars come in and thought that was so cool. I've already told so many of my friends and family to check this place out! Can't wait to come back!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Frank Hogue
Tiny little place with so much flavor. The ox tails were perfect, the Mac n cheese was Packed with flavor and the steamed cabbage was super delicious. The jerk chicken hit with my lady. 10-10 highly recommended
I am so glad my fellow Yelpers told me about Island Express in Elburn Illinois. Authentic home style Jamaican food with Island Flavor at reasonable prices.
Mainly a takeout place with limited counter seating,each meal is prepared fresh. Jerk Chicken,Curry Goat and Oxtails are just a few of their Jamaican dishes.
We tried their Veggy Patty and Chicken Patty. Flakey crust loaded with flavor. I didn't care for the chicken patty as it was chicken curry which I'm not a big fan of..wish it would have been listed on the menu in a different way. Ordered a side of their spicey jerk sauce which added additional flavor ....bonus!
Also had their Medium Jerk Chicken platter with sides of red beans and rice and sweet candied yams. Everything was delicious.
If you want to experience good Jamaican food minus the sand,ocean and Red Stripe Beer,this is definitely the place to go.
There was not a wait when we arrived and ordering was very simple and quick. The food was made fresh after ordering and came out is to-go boxes with a to-go fork and napkin. We chose to eat in store and we sat at a table for two. There were also a handful of barstools available to sit at as well. Pictured is mixed jerk chicken, Mac and cheese and green beans. Everything was hot and delicious. Probably the best green beans I’ve had. After visiting Jamaica, this experience took me right back.
What can one say but -- Yeah Mon! This is authentic Jamaican cooking. My wife brought it home for my birthday meal, and it truly earns all the 5 star reviews. Jerk chicken, cabbage, mac and cheese, plantains(!), and patties -- all expertly spiced and cooked.
For the love of Jah, eat here! You'll feel like you're eating a home-cooked meal, and if you've been to Jamaica, your memories of the beautiful island will come flooding back. If you've never had Jamaican food, eat here. It'll be the best example of Jamaican flavors and love that you can get in the area.
Food was amazing
Recommended dishes: Jerk Chicken
Food was good actually better than I thought it would be. The mild Jerk sauce was delicious. I order 2 white meat dinner’s w/3 sides and 2 drinks. Total was around $53 sum dollars. Sweet potatoes could have been just a little more sweet and a little more portion of the sides would have been great. Overall I give them 8 out of 10. I would go back!!!!!
Food: 4
Food is all homemade. The sides are the stars for me. All are outstanding and reliable. I've have less consistently good main courses. Sometimes they're great. Sometimes they're overcooked and dry. Oxtails have never been melt in your mouth tender for me. The patties are very good.
This is primarily a carry out restaurant. They have a few seats but there's no atmosphere to speak of.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mac \u0026 Cheese, Candied Yams, Beef Patty, Rice \u0026 Beans, Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans
To say the food is excellent is insufficient. The flavors are robust, vibrant, and well balanced in a way you don't typically find in other types of cuisine, let alone restaurants in the area.
We got the goat curry, ox tails, and jerk chicken. It was love at first bite. After our first bite of jerk chicken, my girlfriend and I looked at each other and knew right away that we were about to embark on a flavor adventure. All the meat was succulent, balanced with sweetness/spice-but-not-too-hot, and flavorful in a way that will leave an indelible mark on my palate. The yams, mac and cheese, plantains, cabbage, beans and rice were all unsurprisingly fantastic as well. The plantains in particular had a lovely slight crisp to the edges that rounded out the salty and savory goodness of the other meal components. Do yourself a favor and get extra jerk sauce. You'll thank me layer.
They were closing early at 7 and we got there at 630 as they got slammed, undoubtedly because the other patrons shared my same curiosity about the hype or were fortunate enough to have discovered this gem of peak comfort food long before. Nonetheless the staff was very friendly and my order was ready in a reasonably prompt span.
I don't think I've ever seen a restaurant garner 5 stars across so many reviews and now I see why Island Express continues to maintain that accolade.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place and its owner are an absolute gem in town. We just tried this place tonight for this first time and WOW! Food was packed with flavor and portions were very generous. They were kind to help navigate choices—we ended up getting the jerk chicken, oxtail, curry chicken, brown stew chicken, and all of the sides and everything was delicious. In the haste of leaving, my wife also left her wallet behind near closing time. Not realizing the error, the owner, Kimberly, went out of her way to return it to before we even knew it was missing —literally an angel. Great food, great owners—can’t beat it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I drove about 20 miles for this food.. Very flavorful and fresh, I would suggest possibly cooking the oxtail a bit longer for the fall off the bone effect. Was a bit tough, but the flavor was 👩🏽🍳 💋 !! Came in for a Togo plate so atmosphere was fine for that was about a 15 to 20 minute wait from order to plate... not bad, nice service, friendly staff. Will definitely be coming back!!!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 4
This food tastes amazing. It filled a missing piece to the area’s restaurant scene, nicely. Everything is good, not just the chicken, the yams, rice and beans, patties, EVERYTHING.
Very friendly staff and the food was fantastic. Mac and cheese was delicious
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jerk Ribs, Jerk Chicken, Jerk Chicken Dark, Mac & Cheese, Jerk Sauce, Rice & Beans
So happy to have found Island Express!! This is now my 3rd time eating it (had it last night and it was so good I had to come back for more today) I've tried the ox tails, the rib tips, the mac and cheese (so so good and the main reason I've had it two days in a row!), patties and the cabbage and I cannot recommend this place more!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
BEST JAMAICAN FOOD! ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jerk Chicken, Beef Patty, Chicken Patty
Restaurantji Recommends
I just ate here for the first time and oh my God was it amazing. The brown stew chicken was so good! While I was waiting for my food I saw so many regulars come in and thought that was so cool. I've already told so many of my friends and family to check this place out! Can't wait to come back!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tiny little place with so much flavor. The ox tails were perfect, the Mac n cheese was Packed with flavor and the steamed cabbage was super delicious. The jerk chicken hit with my lady. 10-10 highly recommended
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jerk Chicken, Jerk Chicken Dark, Mac & Cheese, Candied Yams, Jerk Sauce
Ya Mon...this place is legit!
I am so glad my fellow Yelpers told me about Island Express in Elburn Illinois. Authentic home style Jamaican food with Island Flavor at reasonable prices.
Mainly a takeout place with limited counter seating,each meal is prepared fresh. Jerk Chicken,Curry Goat and Oxtails are just a few of their
Jamaican dishes.
We tried their Veggy Patty and Chicken Patty. Flakey crust loaded with flavor. I didn't care for the chicken patty as it was chicken curry which I'm not a big fan of..wish it would have been listed on the menu in a different way. Ordered a side of their spicey jerk sauce which added additional flavor ....bonus!
Also had their Medium Jerk Chicken platter with sides of red beans and rice and sweet candied yams. Everything was delicious.
If you want to experience good Jamaican food minus the sand,ocean and Red Stripe Beer,this is definitely the place to go.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jerk Chicken, Candied Yams, Jerk Sauce
There was not a wait when we arrived and ordering was very simple and quick. The food was made fresh after ordering and came out is to-go boxes with a to-go fork and napkin. We chose to eat in store and we sat at a table for two. There were also a handful of barstools available to sit at as well. Pictured is mixed jerk chicken, Mac and cheese and green beans. Everything was hot and delicious. Probably the best green beans I’ve had. After visiting Jamaica, this experience took me right back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jerk Chicken, Mac & Cheese, Beef Patty, Jerk Sauce
What can one say but -- Yeah Mon! This is authentic Jamaican cooking. My wife brought it home for my birthday meal, and it truly earns all the 5 star reviews. Jerk chicken, cabbage, mac and cheese, plantains(!), and patties -- all expertly spiced and cooked.
For the love of Jah, eat here! You'll feel like you're eating a home-cooked meal, and if you've been to Jamaica, your memories of the beautiful island will come flooding back. If you've never had Jamaican food, eat here. It'll be the best example of Jamaican flavors and love that you can get in the area.
Soon come Island Express!
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