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    Irie Kitchen

    4.6 (128 reviews)
    ModerateCaribbean

    Irie Kitchen Photos

    Business Info

    IRIE KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Irie Kitchen

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    Chicken and waffles: amazing.
    Giuseppe B.

    The chicken and waffles (this weekend's special feature) were amazing. Thick pieces of chicken, powdered sugar, syrup, and the special juice make them the best I've had anywhere in town. The ginger juice was also amazing- organic and made with agave nectar. The owner was super nice and friendly. Must go and eat here.

    Curry goat takeout! Yum!
    Adam B.

    I can't comment yet on the dine in experience since we did takeout. But the jerk chicken and curry goat Irie boxes were incredible! The jerk chicken was seasoned incredibly with enough heat to make me sniffle a bit but not too hot. It was also cooked really well - tender and moist. Great jerk chicken! The curry goat was exceptional! Awesome flavoring and the stewed goat was fall off the bone tender. It also was hot enough to make me sweat a little but not too hot. The rice and beans that came with both meals was also really good - nice coconut flavor and overall really well done. I want familiar with the greens that came when our meal but they were the only item that I'd pass on next time. I love collard greens, I love spinach, I like lots of leafy greens but I couldn't figure out what these greens were. They were decent just not quite as amazing as the rest of the items. I will definitely be frequenting Irie for takeout and dine-in when ever I'm able. I can't wait to try the plantains and some of their other entrees! Im not a food photographer, but trust me, this was a fantastic meal for my wife and I!

    Jerk chicken, red beans and rice, greens. A little bland not as spicy as other jerk chicken entrees I've had.
    Denisse V.

    Having Irie Kitchen near by makes me feel so special lol...Yes, I get really excited when there's variety in the neighborhood! I visited Irie Kitchen when they first opened over a year ago and have to admit, they have definitely improved. This time around, I noticed they upped their flavors and spice. That said, I'm now ready to write a review haha I ordered the curry goat with rice/red beans and greens. This was delicious!! The goat was so tender, spicy, but not overpowering. The spice and flavor must be balanced well. When I visited before, it was a little bland and I figured they wanted to attract hungry folks in the area that aren't used to so much spice. Hey, stay authentic please! Jamaican and well, island food in general, is very flavorful and can be spicy. It's delicious so be proud of it! The rice and beans were perfect, kidney beans were well represented. The greens were also a nice add on, I mixed them up with the rice and sauce. It tones down the spice and is just a great party of flavors and textures, yummy! We also ordered a patty. They were out of beef ones (dang) so opted for the veggie. Very very tasty! Full of delicious veggies, lots of carrots which I love! It also had a nice heat to it, but not as much as the curry. It wasn't greasy at all like others I've had back in FL. The ingredients were fresh! My daughter and I were able to split the curry goat, it was plenty for two. I'll definitely be back for more when I'm in the mood for "real food" like my daughter says haha. SYOY!

    Katy C.

    I was able to check out Irie Kitchen and taste some of their menu items recently. They specialize in homemade Jamaican cuisine, featuring lots of vegetarian options and gluten free items too. The space is a little small but clean and bright. I tried the chicken curry, jerk chicken, pork, greens, mushrooms, and rice and beans. My favorite was definitely the chicken curry, which was super flavorful with tender meat. The jerk chicken was also wonderful and falling off the bone. The pork was my least favorite as it was a bit dry. I thought the food was a little over salted. I also tried some of their housemade lemonade and sorrel - both were great and I even mixed the two together to make a refreshing, sweet drink! Sorrel is a delicious Jamaican drink made of hibiscus and spices. I got to chat with the owner a bit and it's clear that he has a passion for his food and serving the community. I'm hoping they can find a location closer to downtown or nearer to my house as it's a bit of a drive to their current spot. Definitely check it out if you're in the area!

    Jerk Chicken (Quarter)
    Victoria S.

    Stopped by here last weekend and ordered the Jerk Chicken and Jerk Brisket boxes. The Jerk Chicken was a quarter Chicken coated in jerk sauce and came with a side of rice and vegetables, along with extra jerk sauce on the side. The Jerk Brisket was noted on their board as a July 4th special and came with a side of potatoes. The Jerk Chicken was tender and juicy as always! My husband had the Jerk Brisket and was a bit disappointed with his dish. He was expecting more than just a side of potatoes, and the Brisket came coated in BBQ sauce. He stated that it would have been better if the BBQ sauce had come on the side. The Brisket was super soft and juicy, but he did not think that it was worth the $20 spent for the amount given. Aside from the special, we've always enjoyed everything else on their main menu. The Jerk Chicken is always our go to, but the Curry Goat is also tasty. As I always say, Goat and Lamb have a unique, gamey flavor, so I encourage you to give it a try, but don't expect it to taste like Chicken. For those who REALLY like spice, ask for some Scotch Bonnet sauce. Your insides won't appreciate you, but your mouth will! A note on their hours: Post Pandemic, I believe they've modified their hours and only open a few days a week, a couple hours at a time. I recommend you call ahead to make sure they're open before you drive over.

    Curry Goat and white rice with a veggie mix of collard greens and something else.
    Tyrah D.

    Great food, the rice was great and so was the ambiance. I am half-Jamaican so it was great seeing a display of the island. Service was great and so was the order-taker. The vegetables weren't really good, but I'm not much of a vegetable fan so that depends on the person. If you like collard greens, you'd enjoy what's on the plate. You do need to order ahead though, if not, the wait is approximately 20-30 mins since the food is being cooked fresh, you also see your food being cooked as well which Overall, coming from a jamaican household, food was extremely delicious.

    Irie Kitchen

    The food was off the charts! We came on a busy Saturday evening, before heading to the Celebration Cinema to watch One Love. We thought why not have it be a celebration of all things Jamaican! We tried the curry goat and the curry chicken. Both had so much flavor! Absolutely mouth-watering. The greens and rice/beans were so delicious. My partner also got their in-house lemonade which was refreshingly sweet. They had a few specials running but we didn't get to try them so hopefully when we go back, they still have them available. The only drawback, The seating area is pretty small so this seems more of a "take out" place but I recommend staying to eat while your food is hot! It was about $30 for the two meals and drinks.

    Chris H.

    The atmosphere here is very nice and very clean. The style is where you order at 1 side of the counter and pay and pickup your food at end of Counter. I ordered the Jerk Pork to go. It came in a very nice container. At the bottom of the container is Rice and on the side is a green veggie. The sliced pork chunks were very tender. However they were bland. I don't know if they looked at me and said he can't handle spice, so left it off. I hope not cause they ruined the Jamaicaness. It wasn't very enjoyable until I added my favorite bbq sauce, then it very good. However, a 2nd knock, the quantity of pork was lacking in my opinion. The rice was rice. The service was super friendly. Overall I'm giving 3 stars. I've never had Jamaican before so I don't have a direct comparison. Would I return? I might give a 2nd chance it has potential.

    Kyle V.

    Strong Jamaican flavor in a fast food concept. The menu is relatively small but there are some different options worth trying. The jerk chicken was cooked perfectly and it was huge. I ended up bringing home a lot of it. The side of curry garbanzo beans and mushrooms were fantastic. Everything was the perfect amount of spice. The curry chicken was also full of great flavor and cooked perfectly. Each dish is served with veggies and rice which complimented the flavors. Overall, the menu is small but they have mastered each option.

    Garbanzo Curry with rice, greens and a side of Roti.
    Noemi C.

    I only wish this place were open everyday! I've been patiently waiting for the opportunity to try this place and today was the famed D-Day. I came across Irie Kitchen as a passenger trying to take in all the small shops on Kalamazoo Ave as I prepped my grocery list for Meijer. What caught my attention was their sign, and soon enough, I found myself googling more information. They're only open Friday - Sunday from 3 to 8 p.m. and they offer a good range of diverse Caribbean food. I ordered take out on quite a few staples on their menu using their website, such as their Garbanzo Curry - which is gluten and vegan free, additionally you get to choose its spicy level - it comes with a hefty side of rice and greens. Another item ordered was their Irie Chicken Sandwich with a side of fries and lastly I ordered a side of their Roti thin flatbread. If you're familiar with homemade Mexican flour tortillas (not the generic white-looking flour tortillas sold at the stores) you'll love their Roti. The curry is full of flavor and packed with heat. I enjoyed it best by scooping up the garbanzo curry with the Roti and then taking a bite of rice. Their chicken sandwich is of good size and it came accompanied by well seasoned fries. If I had to guess, they must've seasoned the fries with either paprika or some form of curry powder - either way, they complimented the chicken sandwich 100%. I'm eager to try Irie again! I hope they're here to stay and make a name for themselves here in Grand Rapids.

    Today's special of Brown Stew Chicken is super amazing!!!  Love this place. If you haven't tried yet.... what are you waiting on?

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    1 year ago

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    3 years ago

    So good and so much food! Definitely will be going back. We got enough for our family of 4.

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    8 years ago

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    3 years ago

    So fire. Fries were perfect. Chicken sandwiches was perfect. The bun was amazing. The chicken was amazing. Overall amazing.

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    4 years ago

    Such delicious food, a hidden gem! Very spicy. Enjoyed everything we had. The goat was good.

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    3 years ago

    PORTIONS WERE AMAZING! The chicken Alfredo was delicious so was the chicken sandwich !

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Irie Kitchen

    Jamaican Daves - Jerk Chicken

    Jamaican Daves

    3.8(48 reviews)
    7.8 mi
    $

    asoline. Probably my favorite meal I've ever had in Grand Rapids. I'm sick of people always try…read moreto spice it up. This was delicious spicy with the coleslaw with the crispy this of that doughnut thing, bro it was delicious. I even got to hear the gentleman say Wahgwaan

    We were excited to find this place. We drove 30 minutes from Wayland…read more We arrived at 12:15 pm; found a handwritten sign: "I'll be back by 1:00pm" Ugh. We left and came back an hour later. Store was open on 2nd try. First impression: Empty. Lights are off. Dark inside. One friendly man running the show. Smells delicious. Greeted promptly. Store quiet, except for quiet talking among clientele. There were other customers already ordering. I ordered jerk chicken and curry chicken. $16 each meal. Chef disappeared into the dark kitchen. Order took about 10 minutes. Jamaican trinkets were on sale in a glass case. Bob Marley earrings, etc. Huge airbrush mural on the wall was nice. *Some quiet reggae music would have added to the ambiance. I took my food home and split the 2 orders 3 ways with my 2 teenagers. The CHICKEN was very tender, almost too tender. Nice flavor. Dryer than I expected. Jerk flavor was preferred, but curry was also good. (Better cold) COLE SLAW was great with a fresh citrus taste. The RICE was thick and pasty like oatmeal, and had some fruits in it. It took up half the tray, and most of it landed in the trash. Even The donut or CARNIVAL, is interesting, as were the plantains. We are not familiar with Jamaican cuisine, so can't judge it for authenticity. The flavor was a nice experience, but not really our thing. Good luck. Nice guy! I'm probably just too Caucasian for this place. ;-)

    Photos
    Jamaican Daves - Monday photo.

    Monday photo.

    Jamaican Daves - Curry Chicken

    Curry Chicken

    Jamaican Daves

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    Tropicala Taste

    Tropicala Taste

    4.9(12 reviews)
    2.7 mi

    Tropicala Taste is located in a strip mall in Kentwood near Horrocks. I made plans to meet my…read morefriend Carly H there for dinner and took Nate with me. We were greeted right away when we walked in by Nick, the owner. He is so friendly, kind, and his smile is infectious! He told us about some of the popular menu items and we planned what we wanted to order. Nate and I got the whole tilapia, jerk wings, and a side of plantains. Carly got the same thing as well as some other items to-go to take home for her husband. We sat down and enjoyed the bright and cheerful space as Nick started on our food. He was the only one working so we figured we'd have time to catch up which was nice. Nick asked if we eat beef, and we said yes so he said something about making us a traditional dish - ok! We're all adventurous foodies so we were excited. Nick's energy was infectious and he was so excited that we were open to trying new things. He brought out some flaky pastries stuffed with ground beef - sort of like an empanada. They were so tasty! The meat was flavorful and he encouraged us to try adding some of the spicy chili oil to the accompanying coleslaw and then eating it all together. The chili oil totally added a kick of spice that lingered but wasn't overpowering. Just a drop or two was enough! Our wings came out next - Carly said they might be her favorite wings in all of GR! They were spiced but not spicy hot, and perfectly fried. The jerk rub was a little salty but the flavors were great. I would definitely get them again. The plantains were some of the best I've had! Sometimes they can be dry or tough, but these were crisp on the outside and tender inside, slightly sweet and delicious! The fish came out last and it's a show stopper - the whole fish is deep fried to perfection and a huge portion to share between two people. It was juicy and not overcooked, with beans, rice, and an herbaceous green sauce to drizzle over everything. I loved trying this fun hole in the wall spot with delicious food - I encourage you to try it too! It's unique and interesting, with flavors you don't find everywhere. Plus, Nick is so wonderful and truly made me feel like I was an old friend dining at his home. I can't wait to try the chicken and pasta dishes!

    I nice place to visit, if you have a hankering for fried foods. Great chicken, fish, especially the…read moretilapia is my fav. The owner was friendly. I felt as if we have been friends for years. The feel was inviting. Only downside was it was a bit greasy.

    Photos
    Tropicala Taste
    Tropicala Taste - 1/4 Chicken with Sweet Plantains Meal

    1/4 Chicken with Sweet Plantains Meal

    Tropicala Taste

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    Irie Kitchen - caribbean - Updated May 2026

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