Jamaican Restaurants in Philadelphia, PA

“Great music, food and atmosphere! Tvs are set in place so you can watch your favorite sport that's playing live!“

“I love Zion's Cuisine. It is a neighborhood gem and I will miss it if/ when I move out. I usually get brown stew chicken, beef stew, or pepper steak. The food is affordable, delicious, and healthy, and a large platter is good for 2-3 big meals (I do use rice from home to stretch it). Zion's is my go-to when I don't have the time or energy to make something decent for myself.No restaurant review is complete without a criticism, so: I wish they made it clear what is available each day. This goes for all Jamaican spots, but it seems like every day there is something they don't have. Knowing what's available with an updated list (instead of an interrogation at the order counter) would also give me the opportunity to try dishes I haven't before, such as their soups and breakfast items.Also, although their cabbage is the best Jamaican cabbage I've ever had, when I get cabbage and greens as sides I wish they would put my greens in the little slot for sides instead of always the cabbage. I end up with enough cabbage for two meals but only one meal worth of greens. Maybe greens are more expensive for them.. I will ask to pay extra for this next time and see what they say.Overall, Zion's is my favorite restaurant in the area and I am already looking forward to the next time I fall woefully behind on my food prep.

Dietary restrictions: Easy to eat gluten- and dairy-free“

“At the first moment you step in that place the personel give you a pleasant feeling. Very hospitable hosts, it is a good place to go out with your friends or with your date. Great food, talented chef, comfortable cost and generous service. Warmly recommended.“

“I’m Dr Momoh and I cure different types of diseases and virus with my herbal medication which I normally prepare from natural roots and herbs. My herbal medications prevent and cure Cancer, herpes, Diabetes, High-Blood Pressure, Kidney Diseases, Prostate, Gall Stone, Myoma, Cyst, Paralysis, Stroke, Leukemia, Dengue, Anemia, Primary Complex, Gout, Arthritis, Migraine, Sleep Disorder, Dysmenorrhea, Goiter, Heart Problem, Hepatitis, Psoriasis, Vertigo, Low Sperm Count,Sexual Impotence, parasite and other serious problems.Get back to me if you need my help on getting any disease medication.“

“The food is great and worth the price.“

“The food was generally good, but I was not impressed with the red beans and rice. The pepper steak was tasty, though the portion size was a bit on the smaller side.
Overall, for the cost, I expected more generous servings, especially of the pepper steak. Overall, it could have been better value for the price.“

“I dined in for an early dinner and ordered the Brown Stew Chicken w Yams & Collard Greens, Fish Soup, and Watermelon Juice. Everything was very tasty! The yams didn’t have much additional flavor though but I didn’t mind because as a side they just absorbed the sauce from the Brown Stew Chicken and got flavored that way. Also they seem to use pretty fresh produce so all the produce had more of its own natural flavor - yams, collard greens, as well as the cabbage and carrots in the Stew, and the okra in the Fish Soup. The flavors in the Fish Soup seemed unique to me and I really enjoyed it. The soup came with a tasty dumpling in it as well (not sure if there is a different name for this dumpling but I will be doing more research on Caribbean cuisines). I also liked that there were not bones in the soup as I often expect bones when ordering most meats from Caribbean restaurants but I’m not a fan of dealing with them. The Brown Stew Chicken while very tasty and flavorful, does have bones in it. Everything was well seasoned and salty, but not to an offensive extent at all - just perfect and as expected. Last but not least, the Watermelon Juice was a very refreshing addition to the meal that was much appreciated after walking in hot weather. It tasted like fresh fruit and was sweet but not too sweet! It was honestly a real necessity at the time, so I’m glad I found this place. I definitely want to come back and try more of their food.

The service was also great! Everyone working there seemed friendly, which is definitely not always the case, and I felt welcome. Someone (the chef?) came out to personally take orders to speed up the line which wasn’t even long, so they seem committed to getting people their food fast (despite “island time” existing in Caribbean cultures). The menu is simple which allows them to have everything ready quickly & at a high quality. The quality of the food is what matters above all, and it seems they understand that. Also be ready with cash as it is Cash Only.

I love the cozy vibe and the old school diner/lunch counter aesthetics, but I felt like the dining room/bar space should be better utilized. I understand this situation isn’t even necessarily their fault as we are in the era of takeout, and they clearly put their money towards making sure the food is good, which is obviously most important. I also understand they are dealing with the fact that their menu isn’t super conducive for the bar/lunch counter setting, and it’s detached from the kitchen, but it has a purpose - it’s where they make and serve the homemade juices. Something as simple as pictures of the main ingredients in the juices could be a low cost way to liven up this area and serve a practical purpose as well. They have big, comfortable tables which some restaurants in the area don’t even offer anymore, so I appreciated that.“

“The food here is very good. I’ve never had Jamaican food before so this was a very good introduction to it. I felt the value for the food was good as well. My only issue with it is that if you eat a lot of it at once, the saltiness becomes very overpowering. That being said, the food still tasted good as leftovers the next day. The person working that day was very patient as I had no idea what to order.“

“This is the best Ackee & Saltfish, Callaloo, Plantains and fried dumplings I've had since I 1st ate it over 30 years ago. They will be seeing me for lunch close to dinner and at least 2 or 3 times a week.“

“the ox tails with the beans and rice. yes sir“

“This is prob my 2nd or 3rd review ever and after eating this food I had to come on here and say something. I’ve had Jamaican food in many different places (Atlanta and Cali), but this was without a doubt, probably the best I’ve ever had. The oxtails had a Smokey but traditional flavor that was cooked to perfection, along with the jerk chicken that was not dry at all and had good spice. Well done guys. It’s all I’ll be eating while visiting here. For a hole in the wall with 200 reviews and authentic grandma cooking in the back I give 11/10.“

“They have delicious food. The chicken foot soup is so tasty and their jerk chicken patties are also really good. You can't go wrong with the curry chicken or curry goat. If you are going there in the early morning try the ackee and saltfish with fried dumplings.“

“Today, I had a taste for delicious Jamaican food. I live in NE Philadelphia, but I have no problem jumping in the car and traveling to Wharton Street in South Philly to see Mr. Rich and get his curry chicken, rice and peas, yams and greens. My wife likes the rice and peas, yams and Mac n cheese. It is so worth the time and travel.

The owner is caring and personable also. I'm trying to get him to have a location in the NE. I'm sure it would do well, ya'mon. God bless him“

“Easily the best oxtails I’ve had & you can’t beat the price point. The food is so delicious time and time again. I consistently order on DoorDash and delivery is always fast. The food is fresh and they’ve never let me down. I want to try other options one day, but the oxtails got me hooked.“

“The only place that I can get my salmon custom me the way I want it and cook right in front of me people putting bad reviews under here but they just open and hospitality service and availability is there and most of all the taste is impeccable“

“The Ultimate Feast with oxtail, jerk chicken, curry chicken and 3 sides is a well prepared-and well-priced meal. The staff are friendly and patiently answer food-related questions.“

“New to the city from NYC, so we decided to give this establishment a try. Didn't have to high of expectations so not to be easily disappointed. The oxtail platter, the pepper steak platter, and the brown stew chicken platter DID NOT DISAPPOINT! All the meats were deliciously flavorful. The cabbage had just the right amount of crunch. The yams were tender and naturally sweet. The Mac & cheese was seasoned to our liking. The rice & Peas gave me a flashback of my Brooklyn days! WE WILL BE BACK!“

“Food was amazing definitely the best Jamaican food spot in philly. Hat off to the chef….
family enjoy the food will be back for sure!!!
Customer service was amazing …
10/10 highly recommend!!!!
Macaroni cheese was the best I ever had from a Jamaican restaurant.“

“best ambiance, great drinks and wonderful customer service“

“A friend who live in West Philly brought me a oxtail platter with rice & peas & cabbage. The oxtails were tender and flavored well. The whole platter was delicious. Wish I lived nearby.“

“The food is amazing. I ordered a small pepper steak with a side of Mac and cheese and candy yams. I thought my platter was going to be little… it wasn’t! The mac is good, the steak strips were tender, and the yams were cooked perfectly. I paid $14 even. Service was fine! He greeted us as we walked in and was helpful. 5 stars!

Kid-friendliness: Clean atmosphere, friendly staff

Wheelchair accessibility: Easy to enter“

“I want to start off by saying I use to absolutely love this store when I first tried their food!!! The only thing that makes me so upset Everytime I go here is the Oxtail never seems fresh, it never fails that my oxtail are never tender or falling off the bone, the oxtail gravy is never really thick because it's entirely too much fat in the gravy and it makes everything so greasy ? no matter what I still come to this establishment and show my support!! Your greens and yams are so damn delicious, I wish the Oxtail goes back to how they use to be!!“

“This place is deliiiicious. I’ve only done pick up. Not sure anyone ever actually eats there. It’s encased with plastic, kinda loud from some big fans, hard to hear. But absolutely none of that matters because they have the best jerk chicken you can get in Philly (in my experience so far). I lived in Florida for a while and ate a lot of jerk chicken. And this place does it right. Glad I came in and tried it! The people are nice. I’m a repeat customer. And I have no intention of stopping.“

“Hmmm good“

“My new favorite Jamaican spot in Philly. They've got great patties and bomb housemade drinks like pineapple ginger.

Looking forward to going back and getting a platter plus an old school favorite...Taste the Tropics ice cream ☺️“

“The food was definitely official my 1st time coming but the prices and how the charge extra for different sides was a little outta pocket. I got oxtail, mac n cheese, yams. I was charge for yams and Mac extra. The Mac was definitely homemade.Customer Service was horrible, the light skin lady very rude I ask 2 questions she kept saying do you want the food or not. I said yes twice. There's too many jamaican spots or food spots for that to be treated rude.“

“My favorite Jamaican spot in uptown. Food is always good, staff is super cool and friendly. This is the only Jamaican restaurant I’ve been to in Philly where the baked Mac and cheese is made right and it’s so good. The BBQ Jerk chicken is one of my faves. They give good portions too.“

“I love their curry goat, been eating here for awhile now. Always sending a family to get me something. Never disappointed with the flavors and variety of dish to choose from. Very generous with proportions. Lots of drinks and delicious dessert to choose from.“

“Hands down one of the best Jamaican spots around. The owner/cook reminds me of the dad from the Sean Paul-Get busy video. ?,,,I’ve had the curry chicken,the fish but my favorite is the jerk chicken. He grills that chicken to perfection every time! The mac n cheese is always good af to even they do give you the end of the pan.“

“Had the fish that was so pretty and golden with no fishy flavor at all. Greens were good, macaroni and cheese was good too though I usually like mine a little extra cheesy, but it was on point. I'd show ya'll my food but it's gone. Had enough for two meals.“

“You definitely need to check this out if you miss home cooking. One of the best I’ve tried that actually tastes like Jamaica food.💕“

“The Ultimate Feast with oxtail, jerk chicken, curry chicken and 3 sides is a well prepared-and well-priced meal. The staff are friendly and patiently answer food-related questions.“

“I eat here every week it's delicious only thing it's not open everyday Wednesday through Sunday is good days so if you like good Jamaican food stop by Aunt Annie's a very good cook“

“Not sure what the negative reviews are about. A lot say the flavor is missing. I agree that things could be seasoned a little more, but my oxtail platter was still delicious. The sides were generous portions. Mac and cheese was good, a little overcooked. The collards may as well have been canned they were so overcooked. The cabbage was pretty good and still firm. Only thing I won't get again is the collards. Will come back“

“I LOVE this place. First time there and I was blown away. I had the Shrimp Curry Platter, my family had the Curry Goat and Curry Chicken.

Everything was good!

I would definitely go back and can't wait to back.“

“I ordered from Ron’s Caribbean Cuisine today on Uber Eats and wasn’t sure what to expect—but man, I was seriously impressed! I got the curry chicken with white rice and cabbage, a curry chicken patty, and a traditional beef patty. Everything was so good.

The curry chicken had so much flavor, and that thick broth? I kept going back for more—couldn’t get enough. And the patties? Super flaky and packed with flavor.

Listen here—y’all need to go ahead and get yourselves some of this food! Ron’s is the real deal, and they’ve definitely got a new regular in me.“

“This was my first time at Ron's. The food was delicious! It was Sunday the 19th of November 2023. There was Gospel playing "Praise the Lord "! Because I was walking in the spirit. Until my server asked how can I help you. I placed one order, she was ready to walk away, I started in the second, then the third, order dessert and this person said "oh my God", as if I was disturbing her. I wanted to add more but instead said...ok forget it because I don't need you calling on the Lord to serve me. I generally leave the counter person a tip, but all I can do is pray for her. She was the oldest lady there...little puff in her hair. If she is in ownership maybe she have "nuff mass", if not...then she cost them money. Either way...Big up Ron, train your servers to get money,“

“For a taste of the Caribbean in Philly, Tropical Choice Jamaican & American Restaurant is the place to be! This spot is beloved for its authentic Jamaican dishes like jerk chicken, curry goat, and oxtails, all bursting with flavor. The friendly staff and cozy atmosphere make it a favorite among locals. Whether you’re in the mood for a hearty meal or a quick bite, their menu has something for everyone. Don’t miss out on their delicious sides like plantains and rice and peas. It’s a culinary adventure you won’t forget!“

“great authentic Jamaican food“

“The Oxtails I can testify to. Very Very good. Unfortunately I get there to late for the Caloo which the the healthiest vegetable in the WORLD!
It’s like Greens without the Grease was hoping to Bottled Irish Sea Moss. Uprising is Incredible. Irish Sea Moss replaces 82% of the Body’s Minerals
Everyting Irreey Mon?“

“great service. kind professional and good authentic Jamaican products“

“I'm not going to put everything in the detail. Just at 930 like I'm trying to make the restaurant sound good. It is the best. Go try it, authentic Kingston roadside food restaurant.
And a chef in there, his name is trainer. He is the real deal.This is Rocky.“