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Received a recommendation upon picking up our Sea Moss gel from Fuel thy cells. Wife was wanting some Oxtail. They mentioned this place. It didn't disappoint we got there combo platter with oxtail and bbq chicken. The chicken could have been warmer maybe that is how it is .The rice and cabbage and plantains transported me to the island. The staff was very helpful and knowledgeable. Don't sleep on this place worth the trip. The mural is amazing come get your island vibe.
I was in the area and my son and I decided to stop here and get take out dinner. Upon entering there was a tall thin man at the counter who greeted us. I ordered the large oxtail with rice and peas, cabbage and plantains. My son ordered the vegetarian meal which was rice and peas, cabbage and plantains. We also ordered 3 veggie patties. Our order cost a little over $50.00 . While waiting for our food the sounds of Caribbean music played. We also watched as others were coming in placing orders or just picking up phone orders. I must say I was very pleased with the amount of food that they give you. I ate from my plate for 2 days. A few of the oxtails were just fat and no meat but the food was very flavorful and not spicy. I will be returning!
This is the best Jamaican Food in the area! I've been here before, but not in quite awhile. There are dedicated parking spots next to the building. Low-key dining room and ordering process. This is more of a takeout spot than a dine-in place, but there are both indoor and outdoor tables. We arrived close to closing, so they were out of a few things, but that's totally understandable. Service was fine. I always get the Chicken Curry and M. had the Bbq'ed Jerk Chicken. We both ordered the regular/small size & the portion was very generous. The Chicken Curry is absolutely phenomenal. The chicken falls off the bone, and the flavor is fused throughout. The greens and rice and beans are also perfectly cooked & delicious. M. cleaned his plate and enjoyed every bite. Island Spice is the place to go to when you want some delicious and tasty Jamaican food at reasonable prices. Try it at least once, you will be transported to tastebud paradise! Enjoy!
I've been coming to Island Spice since back when they were over on Market Street near base, and they've always been solid. The oxtails and curry chicken have been my go-tos for years. Service is just okay, but honestly, I don't mind--as long as I get my food, I'm happy. Prices have definitely gone up, and a large plate of oxtails will now run you about $30, but that seems to be the norm these days. Even with the price increases, I still keep coming back. The food hits, and that's what matters.
Located on a busy street with a decent size parking lot. This was a great find for our monthly Mom's Night out. Two beautiful ladies were chatting by the entrance when arrived. Try greeted us with friendly hellos and smiles. The menu is straight forward. We ordered the ox tail meal and jerk chicken meal. Plenty of patio tables for dining al fresco, but we needed a quieter spot to catch up so we sat inside. Shortly after we were seated, our food is delivered. Everything was seasoned well. Each bite was bursting with flavor. I wished the ox tails were cooked a little longer, I wanted it to fall of the bones. They were starting to get busy as we were finishing up. Definitely a family friendly restaurant. Need to come back and try the other dishes!
The food here used to be amazing. It literally was my favorite place to eat jerk chicken in San Diego but lately the service has went down hill. It seems the place gets worse every time I go and I will not be back. The food is terrible now and the ladies behind the counter made me feel like I wasn't welcomed. I ordered a beef patty and the whole bottom was burnt and inedible. Save your money and go to one of the other Jamaican restaurants in San Diego. They are much better
As someone who grew up around Haitians, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, the whole Caribbean diaspora in the Northeast, I know good Caribbean food. I know good Jamaican food. So when I was deciding between my options today, I went with Island Spice because Jamaicans make good rice and peas, y'all got good jerk chicken, and I wanted my money to go toward a Black establishment. I actively chose to support this restaurant. I will not be coming back. Rice is the star of the show in Caribbean cuisine. We literally go to war on social media over who got the best rice. That is how seriously we take it. And what I received today was mushy. The water ratio was completely off. Whoever made this rice knew it, and they served it anyway. There is already a serious lack of Caribbean culture in San Diego. We barely have options out here. So when one of the few spots we have decides to send out food that does not meet the standard, that hits different. You do not get to be mediocre when you are one of the only ones representing. If the decision was made to serve that rice because redoing it wasn't worth the time, you lost a customer permanently. Standards matter. You had mine and you lost them. Not coming back.
Just had to stop for jerk chicken on the way home from East County. Fast and friendly service ... as usual. We had the large Jerk Chicken (5/5 $19.00), dark meat only, meal with extra vegetables and beans & rice. Excellent. FYI ... there's a 3% surcharge for credit cards.
Coming from Miami, FL... one of the things I crave most are Jamaican beef patties. On the way to do an Offer Up meet, I drove by and saw this and literally made a U-turn to purchase some. This place is located on a pretty good spot with plenty of parking. They definitely have tables inside for dining in, but essentially you order at the window and wait for your food. This is only a review for their meat patties. Omg. Best. Ones. In. San. Diego. Hands. Down. The chicken patty was a bit subpar, a little on the drier side and the meat to breading ratio was a bit disappointing. But anyone who knows, you know you should be getting a beef patty which is why this place still deserves 5 STARS regardless of the chicken patty. Their beef patties are SO good. So moist, good amount of heat, filled to the brim, with a good ratio to the bread. Absolutely took me right back to home with the smell of the restaurant inside and the flavors of the patty. Definitely a must. Bookmarking this so I know where to go when I crave a piece of home.
Island Spice shares the same parking lot as Alanberto at the corner of College Ave and University Ave, across the street from Taco Bell. You can't miss the Jamaican colors. We ordered a large plate of curry chicken ($17), large plate of oxtail ($22), and small side of jerk chicken ($12). We ordered for take out and the second she handed over the boxes, I was shocked at how heavy 3 boxes were. When we got home, I was in awe at the portions! So much food! The entrees came with the protein choice, side of veggies and red bean rice. Everything was delicious and we had left overs. The curry and oxtail were so tender and juicy. Easily removed using a plastic fork! Great price, portion, taste and service.
Great hole in the wall, good portions, amazing flavors. Comfort food for sure and I'm not even Jamaican! I ordered a large oxtail plate to go and order was ready quick, service was friendly. I recommend checking this place out
Stew peas or chicken soup is delicious. Only available on Saturday. Oxtail is trimmed up well. Chicken soup very flavorful.
Was craving some oxtail & our sea moss store suggested this restaurant which was down the street from their store. It was such a great experience. The staff was friendly & greeted us right away. The hubby and I shared their large combo. We opted for the oxtail & the BBQ chicken. It was a HUGE serving & everything was delicious.... The chicken wasn't as hot as I would've liked it (temperature) but it was tasty. This is a small restaurant with limited seating. But the food and vibes were great. read more
5 months ago
I ordered the oxtail plate to-go. It was okay, but not particularly memorable. The meat was tender enough, but I felt like the dish was lacking the bold, savory flavors I typically look for in Jamaican food. The service was good--no complaints there. I called my order in ahead of time and was told it would be about an hour. When I arrived, I only ended up waiting another 5-7 minutes, and once my order was being prepared, the food came out within about 10-15 minutes. The staff was friendly and efficient. The service felt like what you'd expect from a traditional Jamaican restaurant: no frills, just straightforward and to the point. The location itself is small and has that classic Jamaican shack feel. The doors were open, letting in the breeze, and you could smell food cooking on the grill out back. The parking lot is on the smaller side, but it wasn't a major issue for a takeout order. While this isn't my top Jamaican spot in San Diego, I wouldn't rule it out completely. If I was craving Jamaican food and happened to be nearby, I'd consider stopping by again and trying something different from the menu. read more
Received a recommendation upon picking up our Sea Moss gel from Fuel thy cells. Wife was wanting some Oxtail. They mentioned this place. It didn't disappoint we got there combo platter with oxtail and bbq chicken. The chicken could have been warmer maybe that is how it is .The rice and cabbage and plantains transported me to the island. The staff was very helpful and knowledgeable. Don't sleep on this place worth the trip. The mural is amazing come get your island vibe. read more
I was in the area and my son and I decided to stop here and get take out dinner. Upon entering there was a tall thin man at the counter who greeted us. I ordered the large oxtail with rice and peas, cabbage and plantains. My son ordered the vegetarian meal which was rice and peas, cabbage and plantains. We also ordered 3 veggie patties. Our order cost a little over $50.00 . While waiting for our food the sounds of Caribbean music played. We also watched as others were coming in placing orders or just picking up phone orders. I must say I was very pleased with the amount of food that they give you. I ate from my plate for 2 days. A few of the oxtails were just fat and no meat but the food was very flavorful and not spicy. I will be returning! read more
This is the best Jamaican Food in the area! I've been here before, but not in quite awhile. There are dedicated parking spots next to the building. Low-key dining room and ordering process. This is more of a takeout spot than a dine-in place, but there are both indoor and outdoor tables. We arrived close to closing, so they were out of a few things, but that's totally understandable. Service was fine. I always get the Chicken Curry and M. had the Bbq'ed Jerk Chicken. We both ordered the regular/small size & the portion was very generous. The Chicken Curry is absolutely phenomenal. The chicken falls off the bone, and the flavor is fused throughout. The greens and rice and beans are also perfectly cooked & delicious. M. cleaned his plate and enjoyed every bite. Island Spice is the place to go to when you want some delicious and tasty Jamaican food at reasonable prices. Try it at least once, you will be transported to tastebud paradise! Enjoy! read more
21 days ago
I've been coming to Island Spice since back when they were over on Market Street near base, and they've always been solid. The oxtails and curry chicken have been my go-tos for years. Service is just okay, but honestly, I don't mind--as long as I get my food, I'm happy. Prices have definitely gone up, and a large plate of oxtails will now run you about $30, but that seems to be the norm these days. Even with the price increases, I still keep coming back. The food hits, and that's what matters. read more
Located on a busy street with a decent size parking lot. This was a great find for our monthly Mom's Night out. Two beautiful ladies were chatting by the entrance when arrived. Try greeted us with friendly hellos and smiles. The menu is straight forward. We ordered the ox tail meal and jerk chicken meal. Plenty of patio tables for dining al fresco, but we needed a quieter spot to catch up so we sat inside. Shortly after we were seated, our food is delivered. Everything was seasoned well. Each bite was bursting with flavor. I wished the ox tails were cooked a little longer, I wanted it to fall of the bones. They were starting to get busy as we were finishing up. Definitely a family friendly restaurant. Need to come back and try the other dishes! read more
3 months ago
The food here used to be amazing. It literally was my favorite place to eat jerk chicken in San Diego but lately the service has went down hill. It seems the place gets worse every time I go and I will not be back. The food is terrible now and the ladies behind the counter made me feel like I wasn't welcomed. I ordered a beef patty and the whole bottom was burnt and inedible. Save your money and go to one of the other Jamaican restaurants in San Diego. They are much better read more
7 months ago
As someone who grew up around Haitians, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, the whole Caribbean diaspora in the Northeast, I know good Caribbean food. I know good Jamaican food. So when I was deciding between my options today, I went with Island Spice because Jamaicans make good rice and peas, y'all got good jerk chicken, and I wanted my money to go toward a Black establishment. I actively chose to support this restaurant. I will not be coming back. Rice is the star of the show in Caribbean cuisine. We literally go to war on social media over who got the best rice. That is how seriously we take it. And what I received today was mushy. The water ratio was completely off. Whoever made this rice knew it, and they served it anyway. There is already a serious lack of Caribbean culture in San Diego. We barely have options out here. So when one of the few spots we have decides to send out food that does not meet the standard, that hits different. You do not get to be mediocre when you are one of the only ones representing. If the decision was made to serve that rice because redoing it wasn't worth the time, you lost a customer permanently. Standards matter. You had mine and you lost them. Not coming back. read more
1 year ago
Just had to stop for jerk chicken on the way home from East County. Fast and friendly service ... as usual. We had the large Jerk Chicken (5/5 $19.00), dark meat only, meal with extra vegetables and beans & rice. Excellent. FYI ... there's a 3% surcharge for credit cards. read more
2 years ago
Coming from Miami, FL... one of the things I crave most are Jamaican beef patties. On the way to do an Offer Up meet, I drove by and saw this and literally made a U-turn to purchase some. This place is located on a pretty good spot with plenty of parking. They definitely have tables inside for dining in, but essentially you order at the window and wait for your food. This is only a review for their meat patties. Omg. Best. Ones. In. San. Diego. Hands. Down. The chicken patty was a bit subpar, a little on the drier side and the meat to breading ratio was a bit disappointing. But anyone who knows, you know you should be getting a beef patty which is why this place still deserves 5 STARS regardless of the chicken patty. Their beef patties are SO good. So moist, good amount of heat, filled to the brim, with a good ratio to the bread. Absolutely took me right back to home with the smell of the restaurant inside and the flavors of the patty. Definitely a must. Bookmarking this so I know where to go when I crave a piece of home. read more
2 years ago
Island Spice shares the same parking lot as Alanberto at the corner of College Ave and University Ave, across the street from Taco Bell. You can't miss the Jamaican colors. We ordered a large plate of curry chicken ($17), large plate of oxtail ($22), and small side of jerk chicken ($12). We ordered for take out and the second she handed over the boxes, I was shocked at how heavy 3 boxes were. When we got home, I was in awe at the portions! So much food! The entrees came with the protein choice, side of veggies and red bean rice. Everything was delicious and we had left overs. The curry and oxtail were so tender and juicy. Easily removed using a plastic fork! Great price, portion, taste and service. read more
Great hole in the wall, good portions, amazing flavors. Comfort food for sure and I'm not even Jamaican! I ordered a large oxtail plate to go and order was ready quick, service was friendly. I recommend checking this place out read more
2 months ago
2 months ago
10 months ago
Stew peas or chicken soup is delicious. Only available on Saturday. Oxtail is trimmed up well. Chicken soup very flavorful. read more
11 months ago
Service could improve. No one was friendly. Found a public hair or beard hair in my jerk chicken. Smh read more
My auntie from New York had recently visited and brought back some of my favorite patties. I wanted more food to have with them so I got rice and peas and brown stew chicken here. Very generous portions for the price. The rice and peas were really good. The brown stew chicken was good too. Service was fast and everything came out hot. read more
6 months ago
I ordered the oxtail meal plate and it was really really good. The oxtail has bones but is packed with season and flavor. The fried plantain was crispy and sweet. Their cole slaw was well seasoned and not too acidic. I love this plate and will go here again for the oxtail. read more
4 months ago
8 months ago
8 months ago
9 months ago
10 months ago
My favorite Jamaican restaurant in San Diego. I've been going to Island Spice since they were located on Market Blvd. My go to plate is the BBQ chicken plate, always get the rice and veggies bcuz they make for a complete meal. read more
5 months ago
6 months ago
11 months ago
I have enjoyed you making food a few times, but this place is hands-down the best Jamaican spot I've ever had. Some people complain about the price, but they give you enough food for like three meals. I would recommend the curry goat and the oxtails. I wish this place Was in a better location and offered a better curbside view because they are definitely a hidden gem. If you are in the neighborhood, or even if you were out of the way, stop by and give a small business ago. I'm sure you won't be disappointed. read more
2 years ago
I was in San Diego for the day, looking for something different to eat. I hadn't had Jamaican food in a good minute so I found this place on Apple Maps. It was in a busy area, but the establishment was quiet & it was too many individuals in there. I purchased curry chicken with plantains & rice which was really good, the curry chicken was very good & it was even better knowing that it was authentic Jamaican food. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
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More info about Island Spice
6109 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92115
Rolando
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(619) 702-9309
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http://islandspicesandiego.com
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Does island spice cater if so what do they offer?
No, but their full menu is available for take-out. We've used them for a family gathering dinner -- 10 people. They packaged the food so that chicken, vegetables, plantains, rice, etc. were in separate containers rather than combined as…
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