Jamaica Jamaica has been around forever as a staple to the RTP area, and while the rest of the world has been changing, a lot of Jamaica Jamaica has remained the same since I was younger, which I have no problem with! With their big lunch boxes, and delicious food, Jamaica Jamaica got me hooked on Jamaican/Caribbean food and I consider it one of my favorite cuisines. I'd say my Jamaica Jamaica life could be split into 3 segments, in which I would always get the same thing no matter what. My first phase was the curry chicken - such a fantastic dish with chicken that came off the bone, a vibrant curry sauce, and potatoes and carrots to round out the dish. When you paired it with rice, cabbage and plantains, it was an almost perfect meal. My second phase was the curry shrimp, I was always enticed by having a seafood option. The flavors of the curry shrimp were the same as the curry chicken, except the vegetables varied. I enjoyed this dish too, but I would say the biggest issue would be that the shrimp sometimes got really soft after sitting out for some time. My current phase is their Jerk chicken. I would say that their Jerk chicken is unique because they make the chicken, but they let it sit in a sauce that soaks up the seasoning. This is a great topper for my rice, but I think it contributes to the fact that the Jerk chicken is definitely not as flavorful as I know it to be. It misses the mark on bringing the heat, it has some flavor and heat but it is very very mild in my opinion. Generally speaking, I would be aware of the Jerk chicken drying out. This has happened to me on an occasion or two, along with the rice being dry too. Outside the realm of food, I would say the interior could use a little work. The furniture is a bit dated and things are cluttered. However, the staff working there is nice and they always pack the food in a big to-go container, so you can bring it back to the office, and then home because they are not shy about the portions. Glad that hasn't changed! read more

If could leave zero stars I would . Horrible . Also, seems very unsanitary . Nothing is fresh . No telling how long it sits there . Only purchased because I felt bad upon walking in . Waste of $32. read more

In addition to the undercooked cabbage, macaroni that looked old as I don't know what, & poor presentation all round, I was given moldy bread! Very disappointed, it made my stomach turn and I returned my whole plate for a full refund. I will never be back! read more

Jamaica Jamaica - 5. Coco Bread - Caribbean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Had the jerk wings with plantains and coco bread; and it was a great value. The wings were fall off the bone just the way I like them and were very flavorful and legit. This place looks like your typical Jamaican joint; tbh I'm sketched out if the setting is too modern. They had counter service so it was quick and easy to order and eat. read more

Authentic, no frills, misspelled menu items on the chalkboard menu that refer to delicious food, and probably 3x more calories than my typical lunch. A very welcome change of pace from the bland and uninspired fare typical of most RTP lunch spots. read more

I thought this place was excellent. The chicken just fell off the bone. It had so much flavor. The collared greens were salty & delicious & not full of pork fat which I personally don't like. You're not going to get service with a smile and a thank you for coming. That's not how it works here. And it is a little pricey, but it's three meals worth of food. Personally I liked the ambience sometimes I feel like when a place spends so much money on being pretty you know you're gonna pay for it.. I can't wait to go back read more

Absolutely a horrible experience..food was on verg of spoil . The cook kept leaving kitchen walking out to sidewalk cussing and fighting all infront on my young kids. Then returning to kitchen never washing hands ..touching everything outside and his face and hair . Then my young son kept poking me trying to show me that same cook was picking his nose.. all this Then returning to back to cook and not washing his hands ..just dirty and the issue with him fighting outside on sidewalk was just scary..we will never return or recommend!! Sad and true read more

Jamaica Jamaica Restaurant is truly authentic Caribbean cuisine the is the true toe recipes of Jamaica's famous food at it's best. Bob Marley would feel right at home with the nutritious vegetarian meals, pescatarian (seafood) meals, goat grabbing meats, pork meals, beef meals, poultry meals, diet conscious dieters meals, low calorie meals, and excellent beverages, served in their indoor dining room, outdoor café tables, take out meals, delivery meals, and catering for large groups. If you have never been to Jamaica Jamaica on highway 55 in Durham, NC. I highly recommend the charming restaurant which also offers live and recorded music from the Caribbean Islands, Of Jamaica, Trinidad, Tobago, Barbados, Saint Licia, Grenada, Dominica, Saint Vincent, Grenadines, Aruba, Saint Kitts, the Bahamas, Cuba, Haiti, The Dominican Republic, Anguilla, Antigua, Barbados, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy,, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Curaçao, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Turks and Caicos, and other Islands too. read more

I haven't been here in a few years. I used to love this place. But it's gone down hill. The flavors are not authentic at all. The salmon was good but did not have a strong jerk flavor. More like a typical blackened salmon. Cabbage had an overwhelming amount of oregano. Rice and peas were okay. Essentially this was a small piece of salmon for $16 At a counter service restaurant, $16 should get you more than that. I know of full sit down restaurants with much larger portions. I also got a side of Mac and cheese and it was below average. In sum, it tastes like whoever is cooking may be following a recipe but has no understanding of the soul or flavor of Jamaican food. Regrettably, I would not recommend going here for authentic tasting food and I don't think I'll be back. read more

Jamaica Jamaica - Jerk Salmon with rice and peas and cabbage. - Caribbean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I visited this restaurant after reading the reviews. I love Jamaican food so I decided to satisfy my craving for curry chicken. The cabbage was crunchy and tasty. I didn't care too much for the curry chicken. The chicken was tender, but I could barely taste the curry. I may return again for a veggie plate in the future. The jerk chicken, collard greens, and green beans looked delicious. read more

Jamaica Jamaica - a plate of food with rice and vegetables - Caribbean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We've had many oxtail stews before so we wanted to try this place out. I have NEVER seen anyone slice their oxtail this thin!! They give you like 5-7 slices. Which equals to about 1 and a half of an oxtail portion that other places serves. Definitely not worth it. read more

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I randomly decided to pop in right before lunch was over. I ordered a spicy beef patty and the lunch special jerk wings w/coco bread. It came with 4 whole jerk wings. I had a little wait on the coco bread but I didn't mind. The coco bread was the best part of the meal to me. The patty was okay and the wings were okay. It just wasn't that memorable so I probably won't return. read more

Jamaica Jamaica - Spicy beef patty - Caribbean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Protein (Chicken, Pork & Fish) was really good. Great flavor & good quantity. But the Rice which comes with that, felt like lacking the flavor. Really need to work on cleaning the place. read more

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I stumbled onto this while looking for food dinner to bring back to my hotel room. After arriving to the store front of Jamaica Jamaica I saw folks filtering out every few minutes with carry out. It literally has the hole in the wall ambiance, but walk in. It's cafeteria style service with wonderful staff and it smells so good. The menu options seem to be endless. I got jerk chicken over rice with jerk gravy, collard greens, black beans and plantains. Highly recommend, I will return whenever I'm in the Durham area again. read more

Jamaica Jamaica - Jerk chicken, rice, collard greens, plantains and black beans - Caribbean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Never any food. Poor portions. Unfriendly service. Food taste is So-So. Not worth your time. Unfortunately read more

I don't have a lot of time to write this review only to say the collards were some of the best I've ever had anywhere in the world the jerk chicken was prepared perfectly and they had a lot of sides to choose from Collards worth a second mention I would definitely come back here sooner rather than later read more

Went here today, haven't been in yrs, due to the fact that it wasn't any Jamaicans cooking the food; but it was my lunch break and my Co-worker suggested it + Plus it's ran again by ... Well @ least 1 Jamaican. But it was tasty - I got the Jerk Chicken with the Rice & beans/ Yellow tropical Chicken Rice with Cabbage (which was hittin') and Plantains (fried) which was very delicious; I'll definitely be coming back- didn't eat it all cause I would've probably passed out once I went back to work .... Especially since I work outside. It was kinda hot inside the restaurant cause it don't seem to have Central Air, Just some fans and a window A/C unit that's near the Lavatory, that's why I gave it 4 Stars! read more

Jamaica Jamaica - Jerk Chickin' , Cabbage Rice & beans + Fried Plantains ! - Caribbean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Jamaica Jamaica Came by on a weekday to grab lunch to go. You don't have to worry about parking because it's located in a massive strip mall. The menu was simple and was on the wall! I got the Jamaica Jamaica Sampler (jerk chicken, curry chicken, Caribbean shrimp on a bed of rice) with a side of plantains. Ambiance 4/5 Service 4/5: There is no table service- you go up cafe style to get your food. Food 3.5/5: They serve massive portions! It was enough for two meals! In fact when I ordered it to go, they gave me two sets of utensils! The plantains were ok- they didn't seem fresh. Next time, I'll probably try the cabbage instead of the plantains. The Caribbean Shrimp was great- perfectly cooked and flavorful! The Jerk chicken was ok- i wished it had a stronger jerk flavor. The curry chicken was good. read more

Jamaica Jamaica - Caribbean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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This rating is not about the food but rather about the service. They say they open at 11 but they are never ready at 11 always 20-30 mins late. Change the store hours if you're unable to have food ready. read more

I just ordered Jamaican food from this local restaurant and the food was not good at all. The rice was pasty with not enough beans (4 total beans in all). The cabbage was salty and the jerk chicken was the worst I've ever tasted. The chicken was baked and tasted raw and looked pink. The jerk seasoning was absolutely absent and it reflected on the bottom. The plantain tasted good but the large cuts through me off. I must say tonight's carving for good Jamaican dinner was disappointing. This location will be forever remembered as a place i need to stay away from. Thanks jamaica Jamaica hope you do better in the future and somehow i try your improvements. read more

Had a delicious lunch here with my family. Large menu, we chose to do platters with various choices between jerk chicken, meat patties, rice and different vegetables - all delicious. Will be back! read more

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When I lived in the triangle from 2011 to 2017, Jamaica Jamaica was always one of my three or four go to spots when I had visitors in from out of town. However, having moved back north in '17, I hadn't been there in three years until late August of '20 and it still lives up to every bit of the hype. I always go with the spicy jerk chicken (lunch size), yellow rice, and cabbage with mixed veggies. Extra gravy really sets the flavor off on all of the veggies and makes the leftover rice quite a joy to eat at the end of the meal. I typically to mix it up with both white and dark meat from time to time, but the one pictured below is white meat. In terms of COVID, the restaurant definitely followed all proceduers with masks, social distancing, and sanitizing. Both inside (with proper distancing) and outside seating is available. Definitely doing things the right way and I'll definitely be back. read more

Jamaica Jamaica - Lunch jerk chicken with yellow rice and cabbage. - Caribbean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Did NOT like the food AT all. Not sure what the hype is about. Hot oxtails Mac and plantain. Just not good

Was a little skeptical at first from going in but the food was good me and my cousin came from Goldsboro NC. It was worth the drive good food nice service I had jerk chicken was not spicy at all need some spice also had some ox tails, cabbage was delicious never change that. The plantains are very tasty. My cousin has salmon, jerk chicken, and the pork chops. Salmon was kinda dry she said but tastes seasoned. Overall I will be back! read more

I went to this restaurant in the food was tasty however, the food does come on a buffet line and it kept a good temperature. depending on how you like your food to be prepared buffet versus freshly prepared would be my distinguishing factor on coming, but everything worked out smoothly overall read more

If you want that jamaican quality and taste experience, they missed on so many levels. I had the jerk salmon that not only had no jerk sauce taste but was also burnt and dry. The curry shrimp had no curry taste and was very bland. There was a lot of watery grease at the bottom of my food, so I wasn't sure why that was. The cabbage was also plain and a lot of unnecessary water in it. The rice and peas were ok. I enjoyed the plantains but unfortunately that was it..The quantity of food was very good, just not the quality. I'm sorry to say I will not be returning to this place of business. read more

This place is definitely not holding on the place and for the price it is well worth it. I will be returning back here through my visit here in Durham. The food comes to you piping hot and I loved the service they have as well. It tastes like someone actually put forth some effort which is rare nowadays. read more

Jamaica Jamaica - Oxtail with curry rice,black beans, greens and coco bread - Caribbean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I really wanted to love this place because their menu is great, but unfortunately the food falls flat. I had the brown stew chicken, plantains, and coco bread. The bread was by far the best part of the meal -- pillowy and lightly sweet. The brown stew chicken consisted of 3 legs, which was a bit surprising but I like dark meat so I didn't mind too much. The meat was cooked well -- it was very tender without being overdone. The sauce, though, was underwhelming. Brown stew dishes should be a complex mix of sweet, savory, and spicy. This one was largely just salty. The chicken was served over rice, and the rice was also disappointing and inconsistent. There were pockets of undercooked crunchiness and other pockets of overcooked sliminess. The plantains looked ripe and sweet, but tasted like nothing and had none of the good char on them that makes yellow plantains lovely. Overall as much as I want to adore a local Jamaican spot, it misses the mark in too many ways. My second star is for the bread, the right texture of the chicken, and the friendly service, but that's about it. read more

Let me start by saying the food wasn't bad, it just wasn't Jamaican food. Not even Jamaican with a hint of Spanish influence, just completely Spanish. The beef patties taste like empanadas, and the jerk chicken was like greasy barbecue chicken with a slight spicy sauce on them. You could taste the adobo and Sazon in the patties, which again isn't a bad thing but I see no point to advertise this as a Jamaican restaurant when it's clearly Hispanic. There are no bold Jamaican flavors, and the rice and peas were so over cooked that it was mushy. It was a waste of time and money. I normally cook Hispanic dishes at home, and was deeply disappointed when my craving for something different was left unfulfilled. Waste of gas and money for food I could've cooked (better) at home. Actually I don't know why I was defending their Hispanic dishes at first, it's bad for Spanish food too. I could've made it better. read more

Jamaica Jamaica is in an unsuspecting location but don't let that fool you! They offer quick service À la cart for lunch and the Jerk Chicken is arguably the best in the triangle and undoubtedly in South Durham. I also recommend their plantains with any meal. Try as I might I can't get my plantains to taste quite as good as theirs with enough sweetness to feel like a dessert but not overwhelmingly losing their fundamental flavor. The Ox tail is also really well done. I had a very picky ex girlfriend and she would always ask me to get their Ox tail (and offered no complaints every time). I cannot stress enough how much of an accomplishment that was. They also made an effort to have a nice little outside seating area in an otherwise drab shopping center. The staff is always nice. The only thing I can think of I wish they would add is a soft drink station for more options other than the bottled drinks but that's a minor thing. read more

Jamaica Jamaica - Caribbean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This spot is run by spanish people. They have a different way of cooking. The wings are good however I like my wings more crispy. The food is definitely worth the money. Not expensive either. read more

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Food is good portions are huge. Always stop by this spot when I'm in the Durham area. Prices are fair for the amount of food you get. read more

Jamaica Jamaica - Oxtails, cabbage and plantains - Caribbean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Great food and great hospitality. Please try the jerk chicken along with the cocoa bread believe you will not regret it at all read more

I recently tried this place and was disappointed. Yes, the portions were huge and the service was great but the food lacked flavor. We had stewed chicken and oxtail dishes. Both dishes lacked the bold Jamaican flavors I'm used to. The ox tail had too much of the fat cooked on them. In addition, the rice and peas lacked the suttle coconut flavor. The chicken was the better of the two dishes. The cabbage and plantains were good but not memorable either. read more

Average food and we decided we prefer the Jamaican restaurant in Cary. The flavors here were a bit off and we expected more. It is a buffet set up and you pick what you want. They are open during Covid. read more

We used to eat here often but haven't visited in a while. Decided to swing by for lunch and was so disappointed. My food wasn't fresh...NOTHING was fresh. The sweet plantains where horrible, chicken was dry and rice mushy. I was unable to finish my food and won't be returning. I am not sure what happened but the food used to be delicious. Good thing the prices are cheap and you get a lot of food. It's located in a large shopping center so there's plenty of parking. read more

Jamaica Jamaica - Jerk chicken, rice and peas with cabbage and sweet plantains - Caribbean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We've heard great things about this place and it did not disappoint. We ordered the jerk chicken lunch with yellow rice and plantains. We got a big mound of rice with juice on the rice plus 3 pieces of chicken and a big helping of plantains. Great service, great serving and fall off the bone tender chicken with delicious seasonings and just enough spice. read more

Jamaica Jamaica - Jerk chicken lunch plate with yellow rice & plantains - Caribbean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This is NOT authentic Jamaican food. I am Jamaican and recently relocated to this area. I've been looking for Jamaican restaurants and saw the high ratings and wanted to try the food. It's terrible! The oxtail is tough and under cooked. The flavors do not match anything I've ever eaten or made. The curry chicken was heavy with pimento flavors but little else. The Jerk was just bad! The ladies behind the counter barely spoke English. I felt like I was back in Miami and had to resurrect my Spanish. They had black beans and rice as well as yellow rice commonly seen in Cuban or Puerto Rican restaurants I'm familiar with in Miami. They should re-name the restaurant as Caribbean Style and remove the name Jamaica. read more

Jamaica Jamaica - Too Large under cooked oxtail - Caribbean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We had an amazing time on the Cool Runnings Catamaran! The DJ kept the boat HYPE! The drinks and the food was right too! All of the staff is courteous, cool and fun as well. If you want to have a good vibe and a lot of fun then book the Cool Running Catamarans. Yah mon!! read more

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Ja makin' me hongry, mon. Or at least that's what I hoped for upon entering Jamaica Jamaica. Seedy strip mall, check! Dingy dining room, check! The food's gotta be good then, right? Well just say looks can be deceiving but not a cap-i-tal offense. Walk past the steam trays, past the rice, stewed chicken and veggies to check out what's on offer. But it's not a buffet at Jamaica Jamaica, you get up, stand up, order on your right. I went with the chicken in brown gravy (on yellow rice), side of cabbage and some jerk chicken wings on the side to share with my friend. A refrigerated case behind you holds some nice Caribbean sodas. Service is not spritely, but portion-size is SUB-stantial, she was jammin', jammin' a lot onto our plates. In the shared dining room (with taqueria next door) we dug in. The chicken in gravy was tender but the sauce wasn't very tasty and sorta gummy in consistence. The cabbage was decent but a bit bland. Best deal in the meal was the jerk chicken but again, not much spiciness. I admit I'm not a Jamaican food expert but I was expecting spicy, mon! Where was the flavor? All I can say while I liked the wings and ginger beer I ordered up, the rest was mostly about quantity. Sigh, no flavor, no cry. And I was hoping to get my taste-buds shocked at Jamaica Jamaica. I'd go with 2.5 stars for this place but will have to knock it back based upon expectations and other reviews. Yeah, my fire for Caribbean food hasn't been lit yet but I still have hope that everything's, gonna be alright... read more

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