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    Elaine's Kitchen

    3.6 (306 reviews)
    ModerateCaribbean
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Elaine's Kitchen Photos

    ELAINE'S KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Elaine's Kitchen

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    Reviews With Photos - Elaine's Kitchen

    Cabbage, rice and peas, potato, Vegetable Patties, Yams
    Imani P.

    Food: 7.9/10 Service: 8 Ambiance: don't worry about it We love a good comfort food hole in the wall spot! This is a place you order to-go and melt away as you eat your order. Love the large portion size! Not a fan of the oxtail sauce. I've had better. I may not be Jamaican but I've had delish Jamaican food from different parts of the world. Everything is cooked well and flavor is there, just go with the spicy sauce over the oxtail sauce. I had a veggie plate so I'll have to re-visit for an experience with their meat. I'd recommend this spot for a late night/supper time comfort meal.

    Curry Chicken, rice & peas, cabbage, and a side of curry potatoes
    Cashton J.

    I love this authentic Jamaica staple!!! The food has always been good! I like to eat a good plate with my eyes closed and I can imagine myself back in Jamaica!! I got the $8 lunch special from M-F 11:30-3:30 can't beat that deal. I got curry chicken, rice & peas, cabbage and a side of curry potatoes. I always have to get a side order of the curry potatoes, I love them!! Family owned and quaint spot!

    Was just an OK plate of food...nothing stood out as much as I previously loved Elaines!
    David P.

    Wow! 12 years since my last review of Elaine's, and almost as many years since I had visited! Maybe my tastes have refined with life's adventures, or maybe time has changed Elaine's, but overall it was good...OK...but not great. Rice and vegetables were overcooked and watery, and the ox tail had a flavor I do not remember, nor did I love. Portions were small, and as one reviewer said, just did not feel the love in the food anymore! I think Elaine's is still a Dallas institution, and worth a visit, but in terms of a foodie destination, maybe not so much at least not anymore. Time marches on!

    Jerk chicken
    Rose J.

    In town visiting and saw reviews on Yelp. I had a friend coming over and she volunteered to pick up lunch, I suggested this place. She called said she had arrived at restaurant and asked what I wanted, I ordered jerk chicken. 45 mins later I call and she states a 20 min wait turned into 45 mins, the place is beyond packed. The food presentation is beautiful and the smell amazing, the portion size "very good." The taste good hot, tender and fresh. No complaints. The Mac and cheese alittle garlicky for me. The tea cakes good, I wonder what other options for deserts. Overall not bad. I'd love to go back after pandemic and check out the dining in experience.

    Oxtails, Macaroni and cheese with steamed cabbage...OMG YASSS
    Ronnie B.

    My homie and I hit up Elaine's for our usual which consist of an oxtail meal for me add a side of plantains and jerk wings for her with mac n cheese. Unfortunately something has changed in the kitchen because my meal was missing love and affection. The oxtails were ALL small pieces and tough and the macaroni was over baked leaving it dry and hard. I ate until I was full and discarded my leftovers which was a waste of my money. Because usually I get two servings from one meal. I won't be returning anytime soon. Ronnie's pick

    Rasta Pasta!!w/Jerk Chicken
    Issac C.

    Attention!!! Elaine's Kitchen just warmed my Foodie Heart. I ordered an entree of Rasta Pasta with Jerk Chicken and was not disappointed. Noodles were well cooked and seasoned. The cabbage on the side made the plate complete. If you have a taste for Jamaican cuisine I'd recommend this establishment.

    'Jerk chicken'
    Lena S.

    Wow I really hate to give them 1 star but I have to. The first time we went here was three years ago. I didn't leave a review because I just thought to myself, I just won't ever come here again. Well, my husband and I were in Dallas (we live in Frisco) and I had a hankering for Jamaican food and wanted to give them a try again. My husband reminded me that it wasn't good. But despite his hesitation, we went. He ordered the wings because he said he doesn't remember the jerk chicken so he was sure it wasn't good. I ordered the jerk chicken and 2 beef patties. All orders are to go. When we finally got home 45 mins later I was beyond ready to eat. The beef patties were subpar. They had this STRONG meat smell- and not the good smell. So much so that I was put off by it and didn't finish it. Please don't ignore the reviews about this 'red' jerk chicken. It's weird. And reminds me of Chinese red bbq. I'll just let the picture speak for itself. It definitely is not the grilled jerk that you can get in Atlanta where Jamaicans have migrated to or jerk chicken IN Jamaica. Just save your money and skip it. The only saving grace is their plantains, but hell almost any Caribbean place can get plantains right. The rice and peas were on the dry side. Just look at them, dark and crunchy looking.

    a meal in a styrofoam container
    Karla C.

    The food was amazing! I had the medium jerk chicken with rice and cabbage. Seasoned to perfection! I thought the chicken would be spicy but it was delicious! 10/10 will definitely be back!

    Zahkyia H.

    My aunt took me to eat here when I was visiting Dallas. She said it was her favorite spot to grab lunch and I see why. Great portion sizes, delicious authentic flavors and I love that's its family owned. I enjoyed the oxtail plate with rice and cabbage. The dark gravy was packed with flavor and the oxtails fell off of the bone. I'll be stopping by on every visit!

    Jerk chicken, rice, cabbage, and plantains. (Lunch special)
    Cherie M.

    Covid: Due to the times we're in I'll mention that this establishment was very Covid ready! They had markers on the floor for social distancing, a shield between their cash register and patrons, and all workers had gloves and masks on. Food: The food was excellent! The chicken was so tender. I could pull it off the bone easily with a fork. The flavor was excellent and had just the right kick. The plantains were delicious! Lastly, this place is SO affordable! My whole meal was only $7! Can't beat that!

    Pepper Steak
    Bad'Gyal C.

    I love Elaine's for many reasons. Its the go to restaurant if you want some authentic Jamaican food. I've been patronizing them since I moved from Dallas from Miami. When they were at the other location by the theater. I've never had any complaints because the food has always been and still is *chef's kiss. But TODAY I called in my order. Which is something I've never done. It took me 20 minutes to get there which is why I called it in. I get there and had to wait another 15-20 minutes to get my food. But I didn't trip. I assumed it was going to be fresh out the pot since it wasn't already plated and bagged up when I got there. When I saw the cook put a container of food in the microwave after I waited as long as I did, I was highly disappointed. I wouldn't have minded that if my food was getting cold because I took so long to pick it up after I called in. But why did I have to wait so long if all y'all had to do was stick it in the microwave for 30 seconds before giving it to me? Not to mention, I don't microwave my food PERIOD because it dries it out. But yeah, that's my review. I still encourage people to go there because it's authentic and the girls that work there are nice and its a chill environment.

    BEST OXTAIL IN TEXAS
    Jo L.

    What a long overdue review for this Jamaican spot that I have been coming to since its old location off MLK! Delicious menu with robust flavors. This saved me when I moved to Texas and wanted good island food. My favorite here are the oxtails. Simmered for hours, cooked to perfection!!!! I pair it with rice and beans and cabbage...my mouth is watering from just writing this review! If you are indulging yourself or just hungry like me. Order the spicy beef patties and strawberry cake for desserts. You will be so addicted!!!!

    Brown stewed heaven on Earth!
    Ebone' W.

    Ok, so I am giving Elaine's a 4 star review because the food is bomb. FINALLY I found a joint that has an AMAZING brown stewed chicken, like....FINALLY! I ordered the regular portion and had the nerve to get a small jerk chicken (just to try) as well, and it was too much freaking food. TOO MUCH!!!! I swear it felt like I had 1.5 birds in my container and I wasn't mad, but dang! By the look of the pictures of the Jerk chicken on yelp, I was honestly a little hesitant on ordering because the sauce/chicken looked red...and, yeah...but it was great. Both the browned stewed sauce and jerk sauce on top of those rice and peas will send you to an Earthly heaven. As far as the veggies, expect more than just cabbage as I had some broccoli and (get this) PEAS mixed within, and I actually ate all the veggies (and ya'll know I don't do peas). They didn't have any beef or chicken patties as I was visiting during the pandemic, so I cannot vouch for that....but I don't have any doubts on the taste, at all. Now to the reason they get 4 vs 5 stars: the parking. It's legit a mess and in a confined area. Folks park any kind of way making what could be the one way in and one way out, difficult. My first visit it was easy and I went during lunch during a random weekday, but the other 2 times (both on weekends), you might as well park at the daiquiri shoppe next door or across the street. Which brings me to the other reason for the 4 star; its crowded. Now, this is not a bad problem to have but with COVID-19 adding to the mix (limited folks on the inside) and them not taking phone orders approx. 1 hour before closing or the phone being busy in the evening on the weekend, I've returned twice after my initial visit and left out of frustration of how busy they were, the wait and parking issues. For now, I will continue to go midday on a weekday or HOPE the phone is not busy during the weekend to place a to go order...cause ordering and waiting is not what it do on the weekend. Extremely good food though and worth it if I have time.

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    1 year ago

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    8 months ago

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    1 year ago

    They have the Best oxtails in Dallas Texas. Authentic Jamaican food . Beef patties are amazing!

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    2 years ago

    Great food, some of the best in Dallas! If you get a chance to eat here please try the jerk goat....simply delicious!

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    2 years ago

    Best jamaican food in dfw hands down. Can not beatt eat lunch specials prices on the order

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    2 years ago

    I literally just called in to try and place a pick up order and the lady was so rude. Unnecessary as heck.

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Elaine's Kitchen

    Can you call in an order for pickup?

    Yes

    Does Elaine's Kitchen do catering for special occasion?

    Yes. Call their store for details.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Roland’s Jamaican Chicken

    Roland’s Jamaican Chicken

    4.5
    (278 reviews)
    14.4 mi
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    This spot hea blessed my life....traveling you dont get a home cooked meal! Well they got a fan for…read morelife if they keep doing that to me.......stew chicken was phenomenal.....one of the first places im stopping when I get back.....the restaurant was clean, open and inviting. Loved it. I was able to walk right in and pick up my food so they were prompt with prep and delivery. This is definitely a place I be back too.

    I'm obsessed with their crunchy lemon pepper wings! Pair them with a side of rice and beans, and if…read morethey have collard greens available, do yourself a favor and order some. My daughter has to get a patty every time we visit, and I never leave without one of their homemade juices. The owner is always friendly and welcoming whenever I see him, which keeps me coming back. The food is consistently worth the wait and worth every penny. Speaking of waits, service can be a little slow at times, so I recommend calling ahead or visiting when you're not in a rush. It makes the experience much more enjoyable. The only reason I'm giving a strong 4 stars instead of 5 is the customer service from some of the staff. While not everyone falls into this category, many of the employees can come across as a bit reserved. Once you engage with them, they're usually pleasant, but a few more smiles and a warmer atmosphere would really elevate the experience. I'd love to walk in one day and feel the vibrant, welcoming island energy reflected throughout the restaurant. That said, I'll definitely keep coming back for those wings!

    Photos
    Various drinks
    Various drinks
    This right hea???!!! Stew chicken....oh my goodness
    This right hea???!!! Stew chicken....oh my goodness
    View from the counter

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    View from the counter
    JS International Grill

    JS International Grill

    4.4
    (122 reviews)
    18.3 mi

    Omg the food here is to die for . They have a great vegan menu …read more We order from here regularly. I also love the vibe and the servers are super cool !

    Okay y'all! So bae and I went to Dallas and we had to come and try this place because it's highly…read morerecommended on TikTok. We finally made it. We ordered via online and realized they relocated. Of course we had to order multiple things to get a feel of their consistency. LET'S GET RIGHT INTO IT; We ordered the Pineapple Juice - (8/10) : The juice was good Hisbicus Tea - (4/10) : The tea was made with cane sugar; that defeated the purpose of a healthy and delicious tea. I really wanted it to be made with agave or date syrup. Side of Cabbage- (4/10) : Cabbage was very bland for fried cabbage, its wasn't seasoned at all and it wasn't cooked through enough to my liking. Side of Fried Brussel Sprouts - (7/10) : Brussel Sprouts were decent and actually seasoned. They just weren't mind blowingly good so a 7 was the best I could give it. Vegan Jerk Oxtail with Mushroom Rice - (8/10) : This right here was great however it was giving more vegan meatloaf then it was oxtail. We had to think of it as a meatloaf for us to be fully satisfied with the flavor. Overall though it was good and we enjoyed it. Vegan Lobster Mac and Cheese - (9/10) : This was the STAR of the show. It was delicious, creamy and the lobster pieces actually were giving lobster lowkey. We enjoyed this one the most and would return just to get this. The Ambiance of the restaurant was cool and definitely would be worth sitting in and enjoying the meals. The decor was decent inside and inside the bathroom, however, the bathroom needs to be upgraded. My rating... DEFINITELY would recommend the Lobster Mac and Cheese, we will return to get it again and maybe try another vegan option. I would totally recommend, GO TRY IT OUT! They also have non-vegan options that others rave about!

    Photos
    Love this wall art
    Love this wall art
    Vegan Veggie Pasta
    Vegan Veggie Pasta
    Mac and cheese

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    Mac and cheese
    Tadassy Caribbean Eatz

    Tadassy Caribbean Eatz

    4.7
    (6 reviews)
    10.0 mi

    Was out on a Saturday afternoon and searched for food nearby. This restaurant came up and seemed…read moreinteresting as I've never had food from Guyana. The establishment itself is small and when entering it isn't entirely clear if one is supposed to sit at a table and wait for a menu or order at the counter. We ended up ordering at the counter after the server gave us a menu. (A sign in future might be helpful). Our server was very nice and answered our questions as we tried to figure out what best to eat. Overall the food tasted good though I think I'm used to a more robust flavor. I would give the place more stars but for a few things: (1) it was 70ish degrees outside but it was warmer inside the restaurant (seemed like they had the heat going very strong); (2) there were cartoons playing on the only TV and it might have been nice to have music or other Chanel options but there were kids present so presumably the cartoons were for them; and (3) we were told there were no restroom facilities. This latter issue was very surprising as I believe it is against state regulations to not have public restrooms in an eatery. A sign alerting customers to this inconvenience might also be advisable.

    I had roti with curry chicken added. There's a whole drumstick in there along with big chunks of…read morepotatoes. The curry is slightly sweet on the front with a mild spice finish. I love spice so that's the only thing I wish it had more of or maybe a nice pepper sauce to go with it. Also, the service was awesome and the owner is super nice. They were out of oxtails and she suggested to definitely come early for things as she usually sells out - I went there around 2. Each day has a different menu but oxtails, curry goat and chicken are served daily. I believe the roti is only served on the weekends.

    Photos
    Indoors
    Indoors
    Curry chicken with white rice and cabbage
    Curry chicken with white rice and cabbage
    Indoors

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    Indoors

    Elaine's Kitchen - caribbean - Updated July 2026

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