Omg. So DELICIOUS. Husband and I devoured it. Claire and company were kind and helpful. Amazing food is worth the wait! We ordered a large dark meat jerk chicken, large oxtail, and the fried catfish. Sides were Mac and cheese, candied yams and the plantains. I had initially ordered the first two, but then heard they still had catfish. So we had to order it! It added to my wait BUT it was so worth the wait! They were catfish steaks- so flakey and moist inside with a nice crisp to the outside! Went in the next day too. Got more catfish. The greens are so yummy has some heat to it too!!! Highly recommend!!!! read more

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Great tasting . Carry out only. They stay busy. A good sign. Friendly service. The wait tends to be long. read more

I always love dropping in for their authentic meat pies. Recently I went to carry out for dinner and their Oxtails and the Jerk Chicken are divine. We had rice and beans, the greens, and fried plantains. It's a small shop and the owner is a wonderful cook. read more

Claire's Korner - Greens, Braised Oxtails and the rice & beans - Caribbean Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Claire is super friendly. Beef patties were delicious. Oxtail was tender. Loved the mac and cheese. Plantains weren't too sweet.

I've ordered from Claire's Korner for my family but this was the first time I had it for a catered meal. Claire's catered a funeral service at my church. The delivery was very professional and the food arrived warm and ready to eat! There was jerk chicken, curry goat, festival, cabbage, rice and peas, and white rice. The food was incredible. read more

Claire's Korner - Curry goat and jerk chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I was a loyal customer of Da Jerk Pit for years and despite growing up in Evanston, had never had Claire's. While her and her son decided to merge earlier this year and Da Jerk Pit closed, I hadn't been here until tonight when I finally needed my Jamaican fix. They didn't have their greens so I ordered the cabbage as my side with my jerk chicken and rice and peas. The jerk chicken was perfectly done, not too spicy, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the cabbage was chopped/shredded nicely (I recall larger chunks before)...very tasty, and the rice and peas were fresh and moist. I love, love, love the Mac & cheese from the former place so I got a side of that too and it was as good as I remember. I forgot my plantains (I'm a Caribbean woman, how could I forget??), but I'm glad they're here and the food is just as good if not better. My husband loves ox tails and I know from friends that they are good here so I will be back. We have several Jamaican restaurants in the area, but this is my place. So glad Claire taught her son to cook and they are in this same location she's had for years on Emerson, minutes from my house. read more

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I recently visited Claire's Korner for the first time and I was pleasantly surprised. I ordered the jerk chicken, cabbage,macaroni and cheese, greens and the rice and peas. The jerk chicken was tender, juicy and well seasoned. The macaroni and cheese was hot and bubbly, the cabbage was fresh and crunchy. The greens were tender full of smoked turkey. The rice and peas were light and fluffy. I will definitely be back!!!! read more

My family, bf and I had an inkling for some real Caribbean jerk chicken and oxtail and...we stumbled upon this place with the help of Yelp. Based on the stellar reviews, I figured hey! Why not give it a try! I ended up ordering some large oxtail dinners and a jerk chicken dinner to go. Working in the area, I called my order in the morning so I could pick it up in the afternoon. The lady who took my order the phone who I'm assuming is Claire was sweet and kind. She took my order and was willing to make any adjustments I had asked for. One things for sure, I'm glad I called the order in because based on this fabulous food, you already know this place be selling out. Anywho, when I came to pick up my order in the afternoon, it wasn't busy and I was able to park on the street. This place is pick up only so there isn't much inside which is fine with me. Claire knew who I was when I got in and she was sweet with her greeting. I got my food promptly and headed home. Now! The best part, the taste test! My family members and I LOVED their oxtail dinners! They were served with rice, plantains and cabbage. Oh my goodness when I say the flavor was popping, the flavor was popping! You got a nice amount of oxtails with the most succulent and juicest meat ever. It was drenched in spices and the meat was fall off the bone tender. Mmm mmm! The spice isn't so hot, it's unbearable but there is a definitely a kick kick to it. The rice was yummy and the plantains were good too! Succulent but not too sweet, I was all for the plantains. The cabbage was crisp and fresh. Added some nice texture to the dish for sure. My bf absolutely loved the ox tail as well as his jerk chicken dinner too! My bf said that the spices were perfect. Not too hot where you couldn't enjoy the meal but just enough to add some zing! He said the chicken was moist, succulent and cooked perfectly. He loved how the jerk spices carried over into the rice but not how it carried into the plantains. Other than that, A+ meal! I definitely would love to go back and try more deliciousness of the menu. Price is a bit steep here but it offers quality and quantity. Don't let the outside of this place fool you, they make killer food! If you're having doubts thinking if you want to try something new, just do it, come here and thank me later. read more

Claire's Korner - Oxtail dinner with plantains, rice and cabbage - Caribbean Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Claire's Korner has delicious food, good portions, and fair prices. We ordered curry goat and jerk chicken with rice and peas and macaroni and cheese. Highly recommended for carry-out. read more

Worth the 30 minute drive. Greeted promptly and warmly. Jerk chicken review by diner "they know what they're doing." I had the curry goat with cabbage, white rice and plantain, excellent. Stew chicken was very delicious. Wasn't too heavy in my stomach and was freshly made. Also had cabbage, rice and peas, and plantains along with it. All workers were kind and generous. Enjoyed Pattie's on our roadtrip back. Relaxed professional atmosphere. read more

Claire's Korner - Curry goat - Caribbean Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Tonight was my first time going to Claire's Korner in Evanston. I was not disappointed. I had the oxtail dinner which was fire! The oxtail were fork tender and the rice and peas were very moist. Not dry and hard like I've had it before. My dinner came with a helping of greens with smoked turkey meat in them. My wife got the Jerk chicken, it was fabulous as well. She also got a side of the mac & cheese because she loves it from here. My only issue with my plate was my plantain was not very soft or sweet. But hey that was not a problem I found that Puerto Ricans have the best sweet plantain. Well, thank you for a wonderful Jamaican dinner Ms. Claire, I'll be back. The service was excellent as she was there to provide our dinners to us. We got it to go so the ambiance I couldn't speak on but it's a small quaint restaurant with a few seats. read more

Claire's Korner - Claire oxtails and rice and peas - Caribbean Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Best food I've ever eaten. Claire is extremely nice, the service is exceptional, it's a very cozy spot (although I've only ever gotten food to go) - when it was time to get a special lunch for my 40th birthday, better believe I was eating oxtail! It's a small local business, which is icing on the cake considering that I was not being hyperbolic, it's the best food I've ever eaten. Couldn't possibly recommend this strongly enough, it's amazing! read more

Delicious jerk chicken! We had 2 dinners with rice and peas, plantains, and the greens. We also ordered shrimp and Mac and cheese. Everything was solid and their staff was super nice. Support local businesses!!! read more

Claire's Korner - 1/4 jerk chicken dinners! - Caribbean Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Claire's food is fantastic. I've been going there for over a decade now. I'm a snob for Jamaican food, but this one meets my pallet.

Just great authentic Jamaican food! The food is seasoned to perfection. Anything from the jerk chicken to the oxtail or beef patties are all phenomenal. Food is always ready in a reasonable time. Love this place!!! read more

everything is really good. the jerk, oxtails rice and peas, cabbage, candied yams and mac and cheese. always fresh too! Authentic. very flavorful. read more

Amazing food. Like. So so good. Small mom and pop shop. A woman and her son owns it. They are very kind. Food is always so fresh and yummy. Rice at times can be a little mushy but this last time was perfect. read more

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How is this business not shut down? Someone needs to point the health department in the direction of this establishment. These reviews cannot be real.. I came here and got some stew chicken. I got more rice than anything, my cold food was placed into a Styrofoam to go plate and placed in the microwave to be heated, I should have walked out right then.. Lord knows how long that food had been sitting there. Please do not heat up food in Styrofoam because it melts into the food. The food was nothing to ride home about. I threw it away because the Styrofoam container melted into the food. Gross.. read more

Great food, always good and perfectly cooked, great service. Best authentic Jamaican restaurant

I know it may sound cliche but never judge a book by its cover. It is very tiny in there with only two tables. So most people obviously decide to take out. If you're dining in and waiting for your food the last thing you should be doing is regretting going in there. The best is yet to come. Just be patient and wait for your food to be finished. I ordered their white jerk chicken dinner and I must say it was phenomenal. I would have to say this is the best Jamaican food I have ever had. The chicken was so tender with just the just the right amount of jerk seasoning and it had the perfect kick. The rice was also very delicious. Full of yummy flavors I should of took an extra order of their rice home. It also came with a side of fried plantains which were delicious and surprisingly their side of cabbage tasted very good too. They welcomed us with open arms and you could tell they put they're heart and soul into making their food. I've never had oxtail before and I think it's time to try it. So I'll definitely be returning. read more

Claire's Korner - White jerk chicken dinner - Caribbean Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

My favorite jerk chicken restaurant in the neighborhood and the surrounding neighborhoods! I also recommend the greens. Also, they do their own juices in the fridge; the sorrel drink is awesome. read more

Had great take out from here this weekend and it was fresh and tasty. Great portion sizes too. Jerk chicken, jerk pork, Mac and cheese and the rice and peas all excellent choices! read more

Like being in Negril. Great Jamaican food. Love the jerk chicken and collards. Tasty and fresh every day.

An unassuming little shop next to a closed down dry cleaners in a residential area, but you won't regretting picking up food from this local, Black owned business! There are only a few tables inside but I came by during Stay At Home so I picked up food Togo. I got beef patties, Ox Tail, and Jerk Chicken. Let's start with the beef patties: 5/5 Soooooo delicious. I called ahead and they told me the beef patties would be ready in 40 mins. I'm glad I waited for them because they came out of the oven piping hot. The crust was crumbly and flaky, but the filling was the star. I genuinely don't know what's in it but it tastes like super tender, flavorful beef with bone marrow or some other type of fatty, delicious meat. It was perfect. My mouth is watering thinking of it. Ox Tail: 5/5 This came with rice, plantains, and cabbage. Ox tail is delicious no matter the type of cuisine. In Vietnamese cooking, we use it in our pho broth or have it braised. At Claire's Korner, it's braised until tender and fall apart and so flavorful! Highly recommend getting this. Jerk Chicken: 3.5/5 Pretty good, but a little on the salty side. Honestly, this was good but the oxtail and beef patty made the jerk chicken less impressive. Overall, I highly recommend coming here to support and to try the delicious beef patty and oxtail! read more

Best Jamaican food in Evanston, hands down. If you love cooked food from a restaurant, this is it.

The food is authentic I like the cabbage The rice n peas Delicious Enjoyed didn't wait long read more

If you have never had Jamaican food, you don't know what you are missing. The flavors bring a party to your mouth! The Interior = Small and a few tables. I typically take away. The Service = Super Friendly The Food = Bangin! Delicious! My go to dish here is the ox tail. Now before you stick that tongue out, it's amazing. Super tender ox tail stewed in a sweet and mildly spicy sauce. I get the red beans and rice with a side of plantains. Even the cabbage is good here. It's just cabbage but the way Claire's does it makes you want to dance! I also recommend the beef patties. Light flaky pockets stuffed with a spicy beef mixture. So good! I could put down a dozen easy. Claire's does Jamaican food right! read more

Claire's Korner - Ox tail dinner to go. Doesn't look great but the flavors are amazing! - Caribbean Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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great place , was her mailman .lunch was partically everyday. every friday & saturday was dinner ! place is small but food , service & price was better than any other fast food at the same price . visit you'll see it's a great lil place trust me ! read more

I got the oxtail & curry chicken combo with rice and peas, cabbage, plantains and a beef patty and oh my goodness!!! Everything is so fresh and good. The oxtails were so tender and juicy, everything was seasoned so well. I also got her pineapple ginger juice and it was delicious. She did recommend to call in for takeout so you're not waiting there a bit, but besides that 10/10. read more

Claire's Korner - Oxtails with chicken curry, rice & peas, cabbage, plantains, and a beef patty. Soooo good!! - Caribbean Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

5 star 5 star Amazing food & it's seasoned to perfection! Amazing customer service! Not to mention they give you more than enough food it's worth the money! Wherever you are in Chicago or the surrounding areas and you're hesitant about the drive. Let me easy your mind , Hurry up and go get it now. Before I buy it all up. read more

Superior service, amazing food and exactly what I needed - I stumbled upon this restaurant driving past it on the street and flipped a quick u-turn to check it out. I knew right away that I had stepped into a hidden gem off of the scent alone. The oxtails are filled with meat and flavor - not stingy and the gravy is everything that's right with the world. The rice and peas were not dry, filled with flavor and the perfect moisture all the way through. I will definitely be coming back. Thank you! read more

You have to try this place. Fresh homemade food. The Curry goat is delicious. Can't wait to try the Oxtail.

Easily some of the best food in Evanston. We have tried almost everything on the menu, and what can I say....Claire brings the flavor! The meats are tender and packed with layers of Jamaican seasonings, but it's hard to move on from the sides. I could eat a bowl of the cabbage all on its own! Of course, you gotta eat a meat pattie to round our your meal. My guess is the pastry is made with lard as they are tender and soooo delicious. I personally don't find the food to be too terribly spicy, and I don't consider myself particularly heat-resilient (I usually go for medium heat at Thai restos for some type of comparison). Claire and other staff are friendly, and I think the prices are fair for delicious home cooked food that is beyond my knowledge and skill level for home preparation - can someone teach me how to get oxtails so tender!? read more

Claire's Korner - Updated menu - Caribbean Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

The food was great environment was great The plantain was really good and sweet the chicken was really moist and have very good flavor

How the hell have I not written a review on Claire's Korner yet? Shame on me! When I speak about Evanston food, I have two very specific top restaurants - and Claire's Korner is one of the two. I stumbled upon this establishment last summer when I decided to trek from downtown Evanston to the TJ Maxx in Skokie with two companions. Our hike through the suburbs was hot and long...when we stumbled upon the oasis that is Claire's Korner. The smell of stewed meats and beef patties under a green awning beckoned our spirits. There is an energy that radiates from Claire's Korner, a heart and authenticity that is imbued within the very foundation of the restaurant. My companions and I decided to all treat ourselves to a beef patty as sustenance for us to continue on our walk. The beef patty had a pastry that just melted upon first bite and soaked up all those spices in the best way that carbs do. A few weeks later, I was beckoned to return and try their oxtails. The meat was lovingly stewed and paired with plantains, rice, and beans - the quadfecta of comfort. The meat fell off the bone as the stew was sopped up by the rice. I'm a plantain lover and these had the perfect balance of sweet while maintaining chew. Sitting in Claire's Korner feels like being invited to Claire's home. It's the opposite of sterile in that it's brimming with heart. read more

Amazing food with the best ambiance. I went in for pickup and if the smell in there was any indication of the food I knew I was in for a treat. An older man that seemed to maybe be the father of the woman cooking kindly invited me to sit as I waited for my food and I took in the warm Caribbean ambiance. Being an islander myself and growing up with Jamaican family I appreciate this gem and would recommend it to anyone. read more

This little spot is so amazing! The food is made right in front of your face! The smell of all the different spices was so welcoming. This my new favorite Jamaican restaurant! Limited in restaurant seating so we order Togo which was fine by me. I wish I could bring this restaurant back to Wisconsin with me or even the cook! Jamaican Jerk and Jamaican Ox TailRed Beans and Rice. Sorry I didn't get any pictures be will on the next time! read more

I absolutely love jamaican food. I gave Da Jerk pit in Evanston a try, and was recently disappointed to learn that they (Da Jerk Pit) will be merging with Claire's Korner. This is disappointing because of the terrible customer service I experienced from the Da Jerk Pit. Because of the merge, I will have to decline Claire's Korner. Claire's son (Da Jerk pit owner) is going to run the building into the ground with his bad attitude and lack of professionalism. read more

Claire is the best and the food is incredible. Tastes like home Always order the ox tail and beef Patty she never misses.

Jerk chicken is like a soul food for me. Had them in Texas, Virginia, and other places. The smoky smell and meaty flavor from the broth mixed with rice and the cabbage is how I like my jerk chicken and ox tail. Friendly staffs and maybe a tad bit more expensive but not significantly overpriced. Jerk chicken was a bit dry. Sauce was a bit watery not thick like I've had them elsewhere. Maybe it's just the way they do it here, but ones I really liked had strong authentic taste and flavor to them. Yes I guess we can call this a bit bland. Ox tail. This one was pricey but man, tasted like a sweetened ox tail. Definitely not jamaican ox tail I'm familiar with. Wouldn't recommend this one. Overall not bad but will search elsewhere for my jamaican fix. read more