1-food is great 2- depending on the time of day service can slow 3- reasonably priced 4- large quantities of food I would have given them 5 stars if the dining room was more appealing read more

I was skeptical at first Bc I had never tried Jamaican food. Thanks to a friends invite to Elaine's I finally tried it out and fell in love. So did my 7 year old. She's pretty picky when it comes to food but she tried it and couldn't stop eating it. She really loved their lemonade! It's super sweet. Like let the ice melt overnight and it still be sweet In the morning type of sweet lol! Only issue I had was the homeless man in the parking lot yelling at me to help him out and let him clean my windows. I got out the car and asked him why he was yelling in front of my car and walked off with my kid...she was a lil shaken up about it so just be cautious about the homeless peeps looking to make a buck. Overall good spot. We'll be back. read more

Elaine's Kitchen - Curry chicken meal with yams and rice. They were out of cabbage. - Caribbean Near Me - Dallas, Texas

This place was packed on Saturday night. The punch is sinful. Soooooo good. I had the jerk chicken with rice & peas and mixed veggies. Be prepared to take a nap after this meal. That Itis kicks in quick. read more

One word-- legit! The food is quality and loaded! Like they don't giva Fffff about portion control. Whoever adds the food to the styrofoam container has a heavy ass hand and I ain't mad! I literally licked the container clean bc it's that good. Try not to eat all the food in one breath, save some for later so your soul can be satisfied once again. Oh yeah I had the oxtail and stew chicken with cabbage and rice w/ peas. read more

Elaine's Kitchen - Caribbean Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Their food is pretty good. It's the closest thing I'll get to my Jamaican grandmother's food. Their Mac and cheese is good as well. Sometimes I come just for that. Curry goat is my favorite. I haven't tried their other items yet read more

I lived in Dallas for six years, and one of my most cherished memories of the place was going to Elaine's for lunch with my co-worker Tino. Tino would always order the curried goat, which is FABULOUS and not to be missed ever. Me, I'd go for the oxtails. Also FABULOUS. In the time I was in Dallas, Elaine's moved to their current location, and became even better. This Seattle kid did just fine in Dallas, except for the heat (that part wasn't just fine), and it being so blamed conservative (okay, that part wasn't just fine either), and all the remnants of segregation (having to go all the way to South Dallas for good Jamaican food was never "just fine" but this has NOTHING to do with Elaine's). Everyone said I'd need a car or a truck (mostly a truck) to live in Texas... But Dallas has really good light rail! Check me if I'm wrong, but Elaine's is real close to the rail line... Just four blocks from Martin Luther King Station, at the corner of MLK and Malcolm X. (This always made my Texas good-ol'-boy boss nervous, but screw him. Closet racist.) The most awesome location to put a restaurant! Elaine's gets major points for location, cleanliness, quality of food, cheerful staff... I hear they have live music now! I gotta go shout out for my man Tino, and although I loved the SMELL of the curried goat, I NEVER NEVER NEVER pass up oxtails! read more

So I've come here a couple times and thought the food was great but after the lack of customer service I just had I do not see myself coming back anytime soon. First I tried to call in an order and was informed they do not accept call in. I then came down to the store and stood at the counter for TWENTY minutes with no one asking to take my order. When I asked the girl who was handing out orders if she would take my order she said she had to get everyone who came ahead of me their food before she would even take my order (which seems ludicrous). I subsequently left. The food is good, if you are given the opportunity to try it. They need either more people behind the counter or need to take to go orders read more

So good! A co-workers husband who is Jamaican recommended it. It's his favorite place when it comes to home cooking. Lunch specials are $5.99 and are big portions. They come with beans, rice, and cabbage. We ordered the curry chicken, curry goat and jerk chicken. The location is nothing fancy, but the food and service with a smile is top notch! read more

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I am sooooo irritated!!! I drove from McKinney to this restaurant as I was told this is the place to go for Caribbean Cuisine. I arrived at 7:46 pm. I went to open the door to enter since I saw the parking lot full. I was told that although they close at 8 pm they stop taking orders at 7:45. I tried to explain that I had driven 50 min and it was 7:46, one minute after time slot. I was told that there were no exceptions and refused setvice. I sm soooooo heated I will NOT be back. Customer service is the cornerstone of your business if you do not understand that I will NOT support! This was absolutely ridiculous!!!! read more

It was my first time ordering lunch at Elaine's kitchen today. The curry goat meal was delicious. I also ordered beef Patty and coco bread which was also delicious. I will visit again whenever I visit Dallas again. read more

Oxtail had a funny taste the greens seemed like they were turning and the rice was way too wet.

This place is the bomb!! The jerk chicken was great and spicy with a twist (It had a BBQ jerk sauce). It was different than I'm used to but it was very good. The beef patties were good (took 1 to go) and their homemade scotch bonnet hot sauce was the great. As another reviewer commented, it's in the hood. You should feel comfortable in the ghetto if you go there. Having that said, two different people started talking to me and they were friendly. I had a great time there eating great food! read more

Elaine's Kitchen - Large Jerk Chicken and sweet Plantains. Bomb! - Caribbean Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Although the food here is great and delicious... the service here s horrible and the workers there are very rude. I will not give my money to an establishment with attitudes and bad service. Mrs. Elaine was a sweet woman but her workers need not deal with the general public. read more

It's cool food. I get the lunch special every time. I only wish they sold breakfast. Now I broke down and bought the King Fish because I was missing it. Boy I should kept missing it. The blandest fish ever. The whole plate could of went in the trash minus the veggies. Stick with the 5.99 special. Do yourself the favor. read more

Elaine's Kitchen - King fish,Mac n cheese,cabbage and rice and peas - Caribbean Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Oooh Lawd. The oxtails were handled by God. They were so tender and flavorful. My date had the jerk chicken and that was spicy, but tolerable. My only complaint is parking- super crowded but worth it read more

Terrible service. They put barbecue on jerk chicken and refused to return it. They said that is how they do jerk chicken. That's fine, but if someone says they don't like that or wants a refund they should honor that. Cashier was ridiculously rude even when I was placing the order! Do not go here. The only reason they are getting one star is because they need to be reported. read more

Today was my first time ordering from the restaurant. There were a lot of people there which was a good sign. The lady taking my order was very pleasant and organized. She was the person running the show. She was taking orders as well as informing people when their order was ready. I had the large oxtails. The food was plentiful. A lot of meat on the bones and very delicious. The rice and peas taste good. I had a good experience. They are real busy so there is a wait. The parking situation is limited. read more

Elaine's Kitchen - Oxtails, rice and peas with cabbage - Caribbean Near Me - Dallas, Texas

UPDATE: since writing this review id been back twice. Today was the last time as i saw a roach crawling across the display case. Didn't order. Just left. ....I'll still leave this original post for those daring individuals that would like to know about the actual food, not just the cleanliness. Continue at your own risk:::: OLD REVIEW: Finally found what I'd been looking for! Great Jamaican food in DFW! This place taste great! All the flavors were spot on! Just like most said, the jerk sauce was sweet, but I personally think it helps balance the spice. Only draw back to this spot is, it's a "hole in the wall," but if you're like me, and can overlook ambience for good food, enjoy! read more

Elaine's Kitchen - Jerk chicken w/ rice and oxtail gravy, veg and plantain (not pictured). - Caribbean Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Excellent service !!!!! Ordered the large curry goat which came with rice & peas and cabbage. I asked for a larger portion of cabbage than rice and the lovely lady behind the counter was happy to grant my request. Portion size is very important to me and this place certainly did not disappoint. I have enough for for 2 meals and I'm a big eater. I will certainly return and recommend this place to friends. read more

Elaine's Kitchen - Curry Goat, Rice & Peas, Cabbage !!!!!!! - Caribbean Near Me - Dallas, Texas

This is one of my favorite Jamaican spot. I got the curry chicken lunch special, a side of mac & cheese, with lemonade. It was DELICIOUS. Don't expect a fancy restaurant, just good family made food. I would highly recommend this spot and I will be back to try the oxtails. Support your local business! :) read more

Elaine's Kitchen - Caribbean Near Me - Dallas, Texas

They tipped theirselves 16.00 and said that the charge will drop and it never did now I have 30 charge on my card for curry chicken when my total should have been $16 this so upsetting. It doesn't make sense how someone can just automatically tip theirselves but saying it error definitely disputing this with my bank. The food was terrible bye the way ... $30 for some chicken that's crazy read more

The food is always on point. I always get the oxtails. The young lady who answers the phone is always so sweet

The food is always good , but the customer service leaves a lot to be desired. The lady who took my order is extremely rude and should not interact with customers. If they want to keep her around he needs to stay in the kitchen at all times. read more

If you want to be able to grab something with not long of a wait come here. It's been a year since I've ate here and i see why. The jerk chicken is like bbq chicken with spice. Not traditional jerk. The Mac and cheese is decent at best. I've seen other comments about the service and I didn't experience anyone rude or short. The food is just average to me. read more

Elaine's Kitchen - Jerk chicken is phenomenal! Mac in cheese is average. - Caribbean Near Me - Dallas, Texas

This place is legit. Everything from the jerk chicken to the curry goat. I know what you are thinking after seeing my picture, what do you know about Jamaican food! But seriously it is awesome. I have several friends who are from Kingston and Monterey Bay and they always ask to go here when in town. A lot of yelpers might be put off by the location but it is the only place to go if you are dying for a true Jamaican meal. The woman at the cash register is going to give you an experience all to itself if you don't know what to order or take too long with people in line. It's like the "soup nazi" episode on Seinfeld. Give it a chance. The location and setting my put you off but the food will not!!! read more

I ordered the oxtails with rice and peas and cabbage. Oh and plantain. I loved it. I ate it there and ordered more to go. I've heard nothing but good things about the food and it lived up to what I've heard. read more

Elaine's Kitchen - Caribbean Near Me - Dallas, Texas

My mother and I love trying different foods from all over. We both heard about Elaine's from various friends and family and had to try. I had heard mixed reviews but wanted to give the food a try for myself. I ordered the oxtails and she the jerk chicken! We both were immediately disappointed with our purchases. We both have had authentic Caribbean food from the islands and this was no where near. Each dish seemed to be watered down for the public and not truly authentic. Needless to say my mom thinks she is a chef so she came home and made her own version and it was so much better!!!! Still try for yourself and make your own judgements. read more

It's amazing!! I got jerk shrimp with cabbage, Mac and cheese, yams, and hot water cornbread. It's just like home cooking it's great! portions are huge. You must try this place! read more

Elaine's Kitchen - Jerk shrimp shrimp - Caribbean Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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Elaine in this thang going CRAZY you hear me jerk chicken was hitting!!!!! The yams was sliding!!!!! The macaroni was a fool!!!!! & u better not forget the fruit punch JESUS!!!!! I'll be back!!! read more

FINDING CARIBBEAN PARADISE IN DALLAS, TEXAS Do not let the humble exterior of Elaine's Kitchen fool you. Inside this restaurant lies bold and proud flavors that make themselves known to your taste buds. Each order features the vibrant and exciting Caribbean flavors in larger-than-life proportions that make you question, "Is there such thing as 'too much food?'" All I know is that Elaine's Kitchen is a proud staple of South Dallas, a hidden gem in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and a restaurant where you can find exceptionally good eats. So lets start with the food... The FOOD: TASTE BUDS WITH CARIBBEAN FOOD= CARIBBEAN ISLANDS PARTYING ALL NIGHT LONG Mac and Cheese: COMFORT FOOD WITHDRAWALS Watch the cheese stretch beyond the fork as you dive into ooey gooey goodness. It is properly salted into savouriness and gives off that comfort food goodness. The richness of the cheese sauce leaves the umami taste and comfort on your tongue. The Mac and Cheese is dangerously addicting as many times I almost forgot to breathe while shoveling it down by the forkful. It can stand alone or pair well with the vegetarian or meat options. Oxtails: THE REBIRTH OF THE OXTAIL Can we take a moment of silence? So much needs to be said about the perfect harmony of sweet, savoury, and aged beefiness of the Oxtails. The excellent spice blend accentuates the full beefy potential of the Oxtails and underscores the nuttiness of its glistening fat. The meat falls off the bone like silk lingerie on a fine woman. You can tell they have been properly cooked and braised as the connective tissue melts in your mouth and offers a semi-fluid meaty goodness. The sauce deserves accolades on its own as it invites you into a world of comfort and gives rich and sophisticated character to the rice and beans. My only wish was that I had more to enjoy, but that is just me sulking and begging for more. The bones signal the end of the meal, but the memory will never fade. Jerk Chicken: SPIRIT OF THE CARIBBEAN The quintessential gateway food for Caribbean cuisine does not disappoint. The Jerk Chicken is brought to life with the lively jerk seasoning and sweetly enhanced with dried fruit. It is also packed with some heat for all those spice lovers that are tired of restaurants falsely advertising "spicy." Live long and prosper as the chicken is moist, flavorful, and emboldened with the hallmarks of Caribbean flavors. If you do not enjoy the balance of sweet, tangy, spicy, and savoury, you might not be able to handle this. Plantains: GO BANANAS FOR PLANTAINS Sweet and caramelized with the slight tanginess and fragrance of bananas. These plantains are perfect for counteracting the imposing savouriness of the Oxtail and Jerk Chicken. Whether you need a break from savoury or the perfect dessert to end your meal, these Plantains will do your palate justice, Their chewiness is similar to Filipino turon without the fried exterior. Dumplings: THE MOST SOLID DUMPLINGS EVER Maybe it is because I am used to Chinese dumplings which are soft, juicy, and exploding with flavor. These Dumplings have the doughy consistency of uncooked Chinese rice cakes and the flavor of raw masa for tamales (-1 star). They are filling as a side dish, but can complement the rich and vibrant flavors of the Oxtail and Jerk Chicken. Be ready to chew because these Dumplings will work out your jaw muscles. The VERDICT: CARIBBEAN VIBES THAT LIVE ON AFTER THE MEAL Who knew that a Caribbean vacation would lie beyond a simple hole in the wall in South Dallas. With robust and bold flavors echoing the vibes of the Caribbean islands, Elaine's Kitchen offers great proportions of even greater flavors. My highest recommendations to the Mac and Cheese which can trigger nostalgic, comfort food withdrawals and the perfectly executed Oxtails that leave you suckling on the bones begging for more. The Oxtails standalone with balanced sweet, savoury, and beefiness that are further enhanced by the right mixture of spices and texture. The Jerk Chicken is the spicy and sweet mainstay that is always the life of the party. Go for the plantains to introduce some caramelized sweetness into your life, whether for dessert or to cleanse your meat-filled palates. I would skip the Dumplings unless you are curious or have a liking to them. Elaine's Kitchen is the picture-perfect definition of good eats and I will be back many times more to enjoy the experience of homecooking. read more

Elaine's Kitchen - Mac&Cheese:COMFORT FOOD WITHDRAWALS Plantain:GO BANANAS FOR PLANTAINS JerkChicken:SPIRIT OF THE CARIBBEAN Dumpling:MOST SOLID DUMPLINGS EVER - Caribbean Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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One word: BOMB! You know how you can go into some authentic restaurants and based on the atmosphere/how the employees interact with you ... you can tell if the food will be good? Well I walked in and everything about my experience screamed that I have found my spot for Caribbean food, here in Dallas. I had oxtails, rice and peas, & collards. Nice hefty plate. Everything was great down to the gravy... yes, I licked the plate! I'll be back for sure! read more

Really enjoyed the Oxtails! They gave us so much we couldn't finish our meal. The only thing was the peas where under cook and I needed the drippings from the oxtail to make it moist. We will be back to get more oxtails . You really Do get your monies worth read more

Never had Jamaican food before but I hope it's always like this. Friendly staff and big portions-i got the medium curry goat w rice and cabbage and I still have a ton left!!! I'd recommend ordering ahead of time bc the 20 minute wait is tough with the dining seating being closed. read more

Was really disappointed. Just moved from NY where there is no shortage of Jamaican food. I'm half Trinidadian n Jamaican so I grew up eating bare stew chicken, curry goat, oxtail, escoviech fish etc. This is a poor representation of Jamaican food. So far none of the Caribbean spots in Dallas have lived up to any bit of authenticity where food is concerned. There might be real yardies in the shop but the flavor is washed away. read more

This is not my first time here....I'm not sure what happened to this establishment but they need to shut down now! First off the lady who took my order was rude. She I told her I wanted a large ox tail plate and she states " no u didn't". Excuse me? How are u going to tell me what I said?! Okay I should of went somewhere else then but I gave them a chance since I hadn't had them in a while. When I arrived I waited for my order to be made...(which defeats the whole purpose of calling in) I seen a roach in the waiting area. Still waited for my food. I should of left after the second red flag. Once I received my order my food was disgusting! My oxtails were old n not tender. My cabbage stunk n was cold like it was from a few days prior. The rice n beans was hard!! A waste of time n money. read more

Get the oxtail and beef patty. THE BEST IN DFW. The area and service isn't the best but definitely still worth the food. Thank me later

Man!! Thanks for making that food with love!! I enjoyed every bit of my food and my friends food as well! I had the jerk chicken! read more

Elaine's Kitchen - Caribbean Near Me - Dallas, Texas

The best Caribbean food in DFW for sure. Doesn't matter what you get, it's all good. But curry goat or oxtails are incredible

Terrible, awful jerk chicken. Red and soggy skin on the chicken. I'm surprised this place is so popular.

This was HELL no. I arrived about 45 minutes before closing. I got stew chicken, mac and cheese and cabbage. My friend got curry chicken, rice, and collard greens. Also a roti. I could not eat my meal it was awful. The stew chicken was hard on the outside and the sauce was thick and sweet. The mac and cheese was gross on all levels. I have never had such horrible mac and cheese or stew chicken. The cabbage was hard, not steamed. It went it the trash. I had to apologize to my friend it was his first time trying island food. His curry was salty with HUGE pieces of potato. He said the rice was dry, but he did like the collards. I'm an island girl born & raised, so I know what good island food tastes like. This missed the bar! read more