Desert Island is absolutely delicious! Since this is my first time trying authentic Jamaican food, I knew it was going to be spicy. I didn't expect how succulent everything tasted. I had the Tri-Plate Chicken ($25). It consisted of green curry, Caribbean BBQ, and Jerk. The spice is a gentle warmth that pervades the upper body. The cabbage with rice and beans were perfectly cooked. The restaurant itself is bright and naturally lit during the daytime. There are plenty of knick-knacks and wall art to satisfy your curiosity while the main guy cooks an unbelievable lunch. This is a family owned and operated restaurant. The son is funny and quick to lend a helping hand. Everything is served in to-go trays, which is a nice touch considering the portion sizes. Don't forget to tip!!! read more

Hubby was craving oxtails, mac and cheese, and cabbage, so we decided to try a new spot on 43rd and Bell Rd called Desert Island eatery. Unfortunately, the experience was disappointing from start to finish. The food took about 30 minutes to come out, which would have been fine if the quality matched the wait, but it didn't. Overall, I'd rate the food a 2/10. The oxtails had little to no flavor, which was the biggest letdown. Honestly, the best part of that dish was the potatoes. Gravy was watery and greasy. The cabbage was actually good and had decent flavor, but the VEGAN mac and cheese was completely tasteless and lacked seasoning. We really wanted to like this place, but based on this experience, we won't be returning. read more

I catered from Desert Island Eatery for a university event, and overall the experience was good! Most of the students described the food as pretty good or okay, and there was definitely a stand out favorite. The Johnny cakes were the star of the show--freshly made, super delicious, and gone almost immediately. The curry was better the next day as the chicken continued to marinate in the sauce. All of the other items were pretty standard and good. Customer service was excellent when I picked up the food. The staff was friendly and the restaurant was clean and welcoming. I would like to try their Jamaican patties or oxtail next time! read more

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My wife (from Barbados) has been Jonesing on some authentic Caribbean food for several weeks. We thought we'd give this one a try. There was a couple already there totally enjoying their food. That's a good sign. We got the tri-chicken sampler. I also got the potato salad. That always is the litmus test on authenticity. Well done. Very good job. Owner and chef spoke to us and even recommended other places to go. Have made some Johnny cakes for us as well. I believe my wife has found her go to place. read more

Best Caribbean food I've had in the valley! I got the curry goat and potatoes with rice and peas and cabbage. My dad got a side of johnny cakes to share. Everything was very fresh. The johnny cakes came out steaming hot and were so soft with a crisp skin and just slightly sweet taste. The curry goat was super tender and full of flavor from all the herbs and aromatics. The potatoes absorbed all that flavor and tasted amazing too. The portions were generous, so I was able to have some for lunch the next day. I would definitely come again, the food and service were amazing! read more

Desert Island Eatery - Curry Goat & Potatoes - Caribbean Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

If you're searching for an authentic flavor escape, you have to discover Desert Island Eatery! This family-owned cafe flawlessly captures the vibrant, tropical essence of the Caribbean islands, delivering a true flavor party with every bite. Their diverse menu is a dream come true for everyone, boasting an absolutely HUGE selection of mouth-watering vegan options alongside fantastic choices for meat-eaters. Honestly, this is some of the best food I've ever had! The jerk tofu was to die for, and I still don't understand how they made the cabbage in that dish taste so unbelievably good - it was mind-blowing! The dining area is small but incredibly comfy, and the friendly, welcoming vibe makes you feel right at home. I've already been twice this month, and Desert Island Eatery has instantly jumped into my top 5 favorite restaurants. Seriously, do yourself a favor...please come eat here! You won't regret it. read more

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Vibing joint, Caribbean music fills this place. Food is on point, jerk chicken is authentic in taste with rice and cabbage. I'm not a cabbage person but this cabbage was special. The chicken was falling off the bone with so much flavor. Definitely coming back and recommending this out of the way Jamaican food joint. read more

Desert Island Eatery - Jerk Chicken with Cabbage - Caribbean Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

The owners are very welcoming, down to Earth, and great cooks, it's a comfortable place to order and eat in, I brought my family & all 5 of us had no complaints or critics other than the fact that everything we tried was FIRE! The jerk chicken was soooo good, they have that charbroiled taste under that authentic jerk seasoning- so good! The oxtails were tender, flavorful and delicious! The cabbage and rice and beans were soooooo well seasoned and they're the default side items, they let you switch out the sides if you choose to, but you can't go wrong with some rice and beans with cabbage! I will definitely be commuting to this spot for my dining experience A LOT :) read more

Desert Island Eatery - The menu as of March 2026 - Caribbean Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Food was quite delicious. Family owned very clean. Why did I wait so long to come to this restaurant

Amazing food. Authentic and flavorful owners are very nice people you can just tell it's family owned by how welcoming they are and by how amazing the food is . Me and my friend got the curry chicken and jerk chicken bowl with rice beans and cabbage and plantain. The drinks as well are amazing the pineapple ginger has a Phenomenal taste. environment & atmosphere is nice. 10/10 read more

Updating my review. We've loved this place for so long, but we went after they moved buildings and all of the food tastes different. Plus the portions seem smaller. I'm not sure if they changed recipes or just an off night with re opening the store. The Mac and cheese had green things in it, the tofu had a more orange appearance and a bit more spicy, the lentil balls were dry and the sauce was not great and the plantains were dry as well... I will give them one more shot because I really like this place, so I'm hoping for a better experience next visit! read more

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I first was introduced to this spot through their stand at a farmer's market and the chicken patty was absolutely delicious. The owner informed us that they had a store front and gave us the cross streets. Today we stopped by to order take out. While the store front is small, there is an outdoor area where you can enjoy your meal. I ordered the chicken patty as well as the Carribean BBQ chicken meal. I was made aware that in addition to the standard yellow rice they offered as a selection for the platter, they had "fiesta rice as well so I decided to try that. I loved the flavorful rice which included beans and other veggies. Everything was delicious. My nephew's girlfriend ordered a side of the vegan Mac n cheese and I got to taste that and thought it was good. They also have collards. I didn't order collards this time but plan to try them next time I order from them. Absolutely enjoyed my lunch. read more

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Phenomenal!! The chicken was so flavorful and moist. Cabbage was well seasoned. Everything complimented the chicken extremely well. Must try the drinks as well. The Island Mix was very fresh and was refreshing with the entree. Customer Service was great as well. Incredibly friendly and inviting. 10/10 recommend. I am looking forward to my next visit. read more

Desert Island Eatery - Jerk Chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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This place is so cute! Me and my husband came to try this spot due to the vegan options! It's family owned and love that it has a homey feel to it. Very friendly family. It's small inside but there's a table where you can enjoy your food inside and plenty of outdoor tables. I decided to try the bbq tofu with potato salad, and vegan Mac and cheese. I was happy with the Mac and cheese. It doesn't taste vegan and it's made really well and the taste is delicious. The potato salad is sooo good! I loved how flavorful it was. The tofu is nice and I enjoy the flavor and love the amount they give. My husband loved his food! He doesn't like plantains, but this time he ordered oxtail,plantain, and yellow rice. He was enjoying everything he had and kept complimenting the plantains. Overall the flavors were delicious. The service was good and pretty fast for getting all the food out for us. Definitely recommend trying this place. read more

Desert Island Eatery - Jerk BBQ Tofu - Caribbean Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Guys were SUPER friendly and personable. Had the Jerk chicken with rice and peas and the cabbage. Chicken was fall of the bone tender, excellent smoke and spice. Cabbage was recommended by the gentleman, and it di not disappoint. Excellent flavor and texture. Rice and peas were such a compliment to the whole meal. Do not hesitate to go at all. read more

The food was great. Bossman took his time but it was worthit. Food was well seasoned and tasted amazing. The environment and decor was also great, and the music was good aswell. 10/10 experience read more

Desert Island Eatery - oxtail plate w/ mac - Caribbean Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Food is INCREDIBLE. This was my first time trying Caribbean food, and I will definitely be back for more. I'm vegan so I was really excited to see all the options for me on the menu. I had the curry chickpeas and tofu, which was so flavorful and delicious. The sides of cabbage and rice and peas were excellent as well. The restaurant is to-go only so there's no indoor dining area, but the interior where you pick up your food is really inviting and pleasant. We called to order ahead since I heard the food takes a while, and our order was ready right on time. Everyone I interacted with during ordering and pickup was extremely friendly. This is probably one of my new favorite spots in Arizona, and I can't wait to come back to try the rest of the menu! read more

Desert Island Eatery - Curry Chickpeas & Tofu - Caribbean Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

The food is amazing! The owners were so kind and the music was our favorite type of playlist. We will definitely make the drive back from the other side of town. read more

Location is all the way in the east corner. You'll see the flags hanging outside. Inside is small. They have one table inside but plenty of space outside which would be nice outside of summer time. Service was good and quick. Food took a little bit but honestly that's not bad for fresh food. I could have ordered ahead before I made the drive out here. Food itself was good. Had he jerk chicken which was good. Cooked with bones in. Yellow rice and the cabbage sides were delicious as well. read more

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Food was excellent and portions were more than fair. Family owns and runs the joint clearly take pride in their work. Clean environment and quick turn around made fresh. Will be back soon for more jerk chicken and looking forward to trying the shrimp! read more

My husband and I frequent this place and absolutely love it. We love that it is family owned and truly have not had a bad experience or bad meal. I would high recommend to anyone looking for amazing caribbean food the vegan options are so yummy here too! read more

Service was friendly, but it definitely takes a long time to get your food. They were up front about it, so that shouldn't be counted against them. Just be prepared to wait 30 minutes. The food was okay. One of the pieces of jerky chicken was nice, the rest were kinda dry. (I could just be spoiled by my local jerk chicken shack) The rice is weirdly minty. The cabbage was really yummy though. My friend had the curry and she ate about two bites, though not sure why she didn't like it. I think we caught them on a bad day with the move. Super friendly, family establishment. Can't say much about ambiance because they're in the middle of a move and we just ate on the picnic tables outside. Probably worth another try once they're moved, but I'm not local so I won't be able to. read more

Me and my boyfriend went to an African Festival and we had the pleasure of trying food from Desert Island Eatery. We haven't tried African food before so I asked the guy who was in charge of the booth if it's possible to get a platter with a little bit of everything to try and he was so happy to give us a little taste of each! Let me tell you about the food tho!!! It was incredible! The Ox Tail melted in our mouths, the jerk chicken was seasoned amazing and the collard greens sealed the deal for me! Everything was so good and even if I'm from Tempe, next time I want Carribean food, I'll gladly make the drive to Glendale! Thank you for an amazing experience read more

Desert Island Eatery - Sampler Platter - Caribbean Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I wanted ox tails but didn't feel like cooking them myself so off to yelp I went ...this spot wasn't too far from me so I decided to take a quick drive and satisfy my craving!!! So once I got there I realized there is no where to seat in the inside so be prepared to eat out side or take it home! It's a small space but still cozy and clean! I was only going to get the ox tails but saw the goat and was like I'm here so I'll just order it for research purposes lol and my stomach thanked me for it! The ox tails were good could have been seasoned a little more but still flavorful I just like a little spice ya know... but the star of the show however was the curry goat!!!! It was meaty and super tender seasoned well and really hit the spot! There was only one person working the front and he was nice could have been a little more friendly (maybe made a suggestion on what was good) but it was fine as I already knew what I wanted. It was in like foil pan so by the time I got home the food was still really warm it was just harder to reheat the leftovers (which I ate for breakfast the following morning). read more

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GREAT PLACE TO EAT. We moved to AZ in 2011 looking for a great Jamaican beef patty, THIS IS IT!!! We were at the Dollar Tree (Bell Rd and 43rd Ave) and I can see across the street this place. Call ahead (602-675-0434) They make everything fresh, and it was worth the wait. The service was great, and the decor is so Jamaican. I visited Jamaica in the 80's I feel like I was back there. read more

Desert Island Eatery - BEST PATTY EVER. We will be trying the Jerk Chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Being an Island Gal in not a West Indian Culturally diverse state can be pretty tough. I get home sick, then I call my family to overnight me things I just can't get here. One of the things I miss most is Trini restaurants. While there aren't here there are Jamaican restaurants. While I'm not impressed with most of them Dessert Island Eatery is definitely different. One weekend I was craving West Indian food and even though I was skeptical and not expecting much I decided to give Desert Island Eatery a try. Chickpea and potatoes meal with rice and pease and cabbage. I also ordered potato salad. Jerk BBQ tofu, yellow rice, cabbage and plantains. Jerk mushrooms, vegan Mac n cheese, cabbage, and plantains. Everything was delicious, I just wish that they were open earlier than 5 as I don't live in the area. This is probably my favorite vegan friendly restaurant in AZ. I'm here about once a month since I've discovered it. My only complaint is that it doesn't open up earlier on the weekends. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one wishing they were open for lunch or brunch hours on the weekends. I will definitely be back. read more

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These people are amazing they provided food for our track meets and provided great food at a great price for a lot of athletes and spectators in the hot sun go visit them you won't regret it. read more

I love all the options, including vegan options. It's easy to bring anyone here. I LOVE the jerk sauce, the cabbage, Johnny cakes. I have not had anything that I would not order over and over again. DELICIOUS!!! They also have a lovely resturant to sit in and it's clear, they do a lot of take out and delivery food. read more

There is nothing but AMAZINGNESS here. Perfect place to get food, and it reheats great if you want to plan ahead for a few days. My all time favorite is the jerk tofu with cabbage. Also love the curry nachos and curry chickpeas. Do yourself a favor and always get yourself a side of Johnny cakes! Finally, if you're a vegan and you miss really good potato salad, here is your answer!!! It's SOOO good. Our family frequents here because to food really is to DIE for, and it's not a joke. Even better, they have enough vegan and non-vegan options that we (a vegan family) feel like we have actual CHOICES--plural--as well as having options for our omnivore friends and family. Final note, we've now ordered their Thanksgiving options two years in a row. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! You might not think Caribbean and Thanksgiving, but they do a separate menu complete with a lentil loaf, potatoes and mash, sweet potatoes, cornbread stuffing, and on and on. You pick and choose what you want and order per person. It's such an amazing option and has taken out the stress for our family! Cannot say enough good about this place. Just love love love it, and the family that runs it are such wonderful and amazing people!!! read more

The food was hot and fresh and very flavorful. I was impressed with the quality of the food as well. The portions were a little smaller than I expected, but they do offer bigger sizes if you have more appetite like me. Definitely will be back. read more

Desert Island Eatery is such a cute and quaint little shop. They are authentic in their craft! The food the past three times in about 10 days has been exceptional! I have not had a bad piece of anything. The family vibe and homey feel of this place is unmatched. Don't forget your pepper sauce ( gotta have that with anything that you get!) and call in for your patties as they are made fresh to order! Try out Desert Island Eatery! You will not be dissatisfied or disappointed. The customer service makes you feel like you are around the corner from home. read more

Desert Island Eatery - Front counter and dining area. - Caribbean Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I saw this restaurant at First Friday in August. He wanted to charge me extra for a combination plate instead of the price of the higher item, something to the tune of $26. That's not my biggest problem. The biggest problem was the way he informed me that his cashless pay system was down. Instead of kindly telling me that his machine was down and maybe apologizing for the inconvenience, he told me that I could either go somewhere else or come back with cash. He wrapped my food up and put it behind him and had nothing else to say. Just rude. There's absolutely no way I'm EVER eating from there! read more

The food was really good, I got the jerk chicken and substituted the cabbage for the Mac, one of the best Mac n cheeses I had. Had to wait a bit, but we didn't mind. The owners aren't the friendliest, would definitely be back for the food though. read more

The Food was excellent and very tasty. The Service was prompt, friendly and appreciative. The Ambiance was attractive, clean and pleasant. I would recommend for a fresh and unique cuisine to enjoy. read more

I haven't had much Caribbean food before. Was so excited to see all the vegan options at this place! I love tofu and tend to have it mainly in Asian dishes so this was something more unique for me! I got the jerk bbq tofu, the vegan Mac as my side, and lentil balls. The lentil balls reminded me of falafel, I loved the sauce too. The tofu was good, tangy and sweet! The cabbage complimented it perfectly. The Mac n cheese was good too, everything was so good together. I would want to try the plantains next time, I like plantains but don't eat them much! The portions are huge too I got 2 meals out of it. Immediately sent food pics to me vegetarian siblings and told them I'll take them when they come visit me! read more

Desert Island Eatery - Lentil Balls - Caribbean Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Drove from Ahwatukee the drive was worth it!! I got the Vegan Jerk bbq tofu, vegan Mac, cabbage, lentil balls, curry tofu, plantain and a side of apple chutney. Sea moss smoothie and pineapple ginger. Everything was delicious! read more

Desert Island Eatery - Jerk BBQ Tofu - Caribbean Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Food was delicious. It does take a little while for the food to be prepared so if you're in a rush try to order ahead.

Desert Island Eatery is a Caribbean take out restaurant located in North Phoenix. They do offer some vegan dishes. They have changed a bit over the last couple years. I still recommend them for Caribbean food when in the area. They still are good but the side vegetables have changed and the food is still flavored well but is drier and less saucy than it used to be. It took me four visits to do this update. read more

Desert Island Eatery - curry jerk chicken combo 2022 - Caribbean Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Absolutely the best Caribbean bbq chicken I have ever had. I went to a little farmers market today and they have a stand there. I ordered the BBQ chicken which came with cabbage, rice and beans. It was SO good I was tempted to go back as soon as I finished eating to get more and have been thinking about it all day since haha! I will surely be going back. The guy manning the food stand was very nice as well. Id give it 10 stars if I could! great food. read more

Having grown up in Florida, I'm always on the hunt for great vegan Caribbean food. I heard about Desert Island Eatery and thought I'd have to travel to Tucson to try their vegan-friendly menu, but much to my delight - they relocated to NW Phoenix! As noted, it's a small place - better for take away given there are only a few small tables. I ordered the curry chickpeas and tofu, and the jerk BBQ tofu - both with peas and rice. I also got a side of the vegan mac & cheese. I should have ordered plantains too, but was too overwhelmed with choices to remember! All of it was wonderful. I liked the chickpeas best, but the rice & peas were spot on, and the stewed cabbage and veggies were tremendous. The vegan mac and cheese was also great - creamy and smooth with a nice melty cheese texture. The serving sizes were huge. I think I made three meals out of one order. Service was fast and friendly. I will most definitely be back! I need to try the vegan nachos, plantains and Johnny Cakes! read more

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