Cute and friendly Jamaican restaurant that landed in a central Evanston strip mall. Lucky strip mall! BYO? Parking? Yep. Enter near Dempster. Nearest liquor stores are west of McCormick in Skokie or on Davis in downtown Evanston. Curried Goat Fork-tender meat, spicy sauce. Forehead and eyeball sweat spicy, not angry mouth-punishing spicy. Lots of bones, just deal with it. Dinners comes with one side dish , consider the white rice so you can sop up that sauce mmmm yeah. I'd recommend the large. Jerk Chicken Delicious. Their most popular dish, I believe. The half chicken is plenty for eating in; I'd get a beef patty if you order the 1/4. Whole bird = good leftover value. Beef Patty I like them. The patties. Like to eat them. Took some home. Happy now. Also starring Rice and peas: quite good White rice: made with coconut milk. yum. Chopped salad comes with the dinners, nice touch. Fries: available. handy if you have kids / potatoey friends Tropical fruit soft drinks imported from Jamaica. Chicago-based distributor. Really delicious and refreshing. We got the Ginger Soothie. Misc remarks It's small and casual here. Most orders are takeout but the service kept up. Totally authentic food, super friendly people. Next time oxtails. They ran out; good sign actually. fish. Couldn't wait a half hour this time. read more

I will never go here again. I went with some friends during the dinner hour. We were the only customers in the place and we were dining-in, not ordering out. We must have waited for 10 or 15 minutes before someone came to take our orders. When our waitress finally came to take our orders, she informed me that I couldn't order the entree I wanted from the menu because they'd "have to make it". So....I chose a different entree and she again said that they'd "have to make it" and that I couldn't have that choice. Secretly, I am irritated because yes, don't restaurants have to MAKE food? But outwardly, I am really nice and I ask what on the menu is available to order. She tells me in an impatient and unkind way. So I just order the first entree she mentioned with a side of mac and cheese. After about 20-30 mins, I end up receiving an ENTIRE Kraft box of mac and cheese, poorly heated, and NOTHING else. I kid you not. I still can't believe it. read more

If you're interested in a small, not so fancy place but Great authentic Jamaican food while listening to some reggae music. Go to Kingston grill ;) read more

Kingston Grill - Caribbean Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Great jerk chicken and curried goat. The jerk sauce was clearly house-made and had whole cloves in it. I had more food than I could eat for $10, including tip---home cooking at fast food prices. The best deals are platters to split with friends. The atmosphere was great, and 80% of the dine-in clientele appeared to be Jamaican. This was probably the best dining experience I've ever had in a strip mall, and I'm definitely going back. read more

Orderd to-go and boy, what a portion! I got the ackee and salt fish and was not disappointed. My friend got plantain in their box and I wish I did too instead of rice and beans. There's always next time. If you're in the area, stop by this gem - there's so much to try and no doubt will I be back. They also have a fine selection of Jamaican juices and drinks. read more

Ehh the jerk chicken at this place pales in comparisons to Claire's. That being said, Kingston is more reliably open and doesn't run out of food. The chicken itself is fine but it's not as flavorful as you want jerk chicken to be. Rice and beans, plantains are all pretty standard as well. This is a good alternative to hit up if Claire's is closed (which happens more often than not!) read more

This is my favorite jamaican restaurant. It's not fancy, it's not pretentious, but it's got one thing going for it... the food is pretty darn good. You like spicey food? you're covered. You like fish? OxTail? Tripe? You're covered. The chicken is really good. I just don't get excited over chicken anymore since it's "everywhere". What I do get excited about when I go here: - The Oxtails - The Tripe - The Rice The sauce from the dishes above mixed with rice they give you, it's spicy, it's tasty, it's hot and it's just so good. All of these things are great with or without hot sauce. The portions are awesome too as well. You will get full off the small portion. The large portion, I've never bought before but have seen... and they can feed multiple people. I will go a here again and again and again... until I can't or until the doctor say's no more oxtail and tripe for you! .... it's gooooood! read more

Yall need to stop with the lies. I saw this place on my way to see a patient. I stop by to get 1/4 chicken white for $8. I open my canister and asked where was the rest of the food? The chicken was over cooked and the cake was awful that was the worst $12, yes $12 the cake was $3.50 per slice. I will never ever go again. I will stick with 3Ds in Chicago or Tropicana in Maywood,IL read more

Kingston Grill - Caribbean Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

The girl at the counter is very rude and has the worst attitude I've ever been in a restaurant hostess. She acts like your bothering her. She doesn't say hello back or speak at all. She just looks at you as if you had the nerve to come in there. On top of that the patties are always dried and burnt up when I go. To avoid her attitude I've decided to just stay out of there and after reading a few of these comments I am 100% sure it's the same girl the thin one with the dark skin. That's bad business and that's how people ruin other people's businesses. I'm not going back. Poor customer service and dry patty's is what I got. read more

This might be my new favorite lunch spot while at work. I've been getting their jerk chicken special with plantains and festivals and have also tried their beef patties. Their jerk chicken is fall off the bone tender, and the sauce is packing some great heat and flavor. The festivals were new to me before coming here, and they're a wonderful counterpart to the chicken. The plantains were great. The beef patties are flaky and perfect. Best of all, it's so cheap! The $6 special is gonna fill up most people. This place is firing on all cylinders for me; convenient, cheap, and really tasty food. read more

We have ordered catering from Kingston Grill for our wedding 2 months ago and i was shocked with how good and authentic the food was! As someone who was born and raised in Jamaica i am super picky when it comes to Jamaican food, Most of the places i have tried in Chicago/ Evanston are just not good enough (too spicy, too Americanized or really have nothing to do with Jamaica), but everything we tried from Kingston Grill simply tasted like home, which is the biggest compliment i could give. Our guests could not stop saying how amazing the food was (especially the curry goat!) and it was just a huge success. will definitely be going back. read more

Definitely some tasty chicken, and the prices aren't bad. I got the all-white meat dinner, which ended up costing me just under $8. The rice and beans could have used a bit more seasoning, but mixing them with the juices from the chicken worked well. I ordered the chicken mild, and it was flavorful and tender. I'll agree that the people aren't overly-friendly, but there's nothing rude about the service, either. I said "Thank you," and the counter girl responded with "You're welcome," and everybody went on with their day. A nice change of pace from the typical and infrequent dining options west of downtown, most of which are fast food or hot dog/beef/burger places. read more

It isn't the food. The food is probably good...however... After watching the evening news about Covid on the rise and in addition, the growing numbers of afflicted people within the black community, we were shocked when we went to get our order tonight only to find NO ONE wearing masks. Not the employees behind the counter (though one was covering his chin only), not the customers who were hanging out here. Folks were inside the small space and outside, all without masks. My husband went in to get our order and expressed dismay at the lack of masks. He is a physician who works with hospitalized Covid patients, literally watching people die horrible deaths regularly. He asked a few people to put masks on and was met with indifference, disinterest and a some hostility. Look, none of us are thrilled with wearing masks, but as the only way to prevent one another from getting sick, it seems beyond ridiculous for a business owner to jeopardize his/her livelihood by not insisting that employees and customers do what the state of IL is asking EVERYONE to do. We left without our order and will no longer get food here. There are plenty of other businesses that are taking this pandemic seriously, who clearly care about their customers' safety and health, and who also clearly care about keeping their businesses and themselves alive. read more

"Oh yeah." That's what went through my mind when I had my first bite of their jerk chicken... until I realized almost half of the "meat" was really fat and bone, but still tasty as hell. Fantastic seasoning and cooked perfectly tender... not too tender, just right. The beef patty was okay, but the jerk chicken is where it's at. Don't mess it up by getting white meat, though. Gotta go with the dark meat! They also had some dishes (like cowfoot soup) that let you know it's fairly authentic. You can't go wrong here if you're looking for a quick Jamaican fix. read more

This is the most Authentic Jamaican food period. It may take awhile but its worth the wait. Chef prepares the food right in front of you no joke ! The festival platter with any Jerk meat is the way to go :) read more

My coworkers and I get food from here often during the work week. While I enjoy their food, I limited the number of stars because of their service. We try and call in the order, so it will be ready to pick up when we get there, but it almost never is. They still have us wait for at least 20 minutes; most often they start with our order when we get there and remind them. That said, I really like the jerk chicken and the beef patties. I usually get the 1/4 white meat dinner, which includes jerk chicken, rice and peas (red beans) and salad. The taste is not always consistent in terms of spice and or the serving size, but I can live with that. It always tastes pretty good. The one thing I would not recommend is the caramel cake, which was dry and not very flavorful when I got it. They used to be much better when the place was called Jasmine's. I am not sure if new management took over or they changed cooks... read more

Food is just ok. They're always out of beef patties which makes no sense to me. Customer service is poor. Save your money and go eat at Good To Go Jamaican read more

I called the restaurant 4 times before someone answered. We ordered 2 small Oxtail dinner for $19.50 a piece Picked up the order , very loud people shouting and it's crowded. Got home and the it was pathetic, 4 small oxtails , 1 piece of plantain, the rice was overcooked. Hugo, you are the owner I think you should pay more attention to your restaurant here. Thars being cheap! Your cooks need more training and your front-end staff needs etiquette training. I won't find out cause I will NEVER eat there again! Your food is garbage! read more

Under new ownership as of April 2010. Great food, great service. Kid-friendly menu items, including mac & cheese and cheese fries, and authentic Jamaican cuisine to serve all. Many upgrades (including flat screen tvs, lively paint colors, etc) make it more dine-in friendly. BYOB and outdoor patio dining make the 'new' Kingston Grill a WINNER!! YUUMMM!!! read more

At Kingston grill and I gotta start by saying they opened early for a hungry customer and that right there deserves a 5 star but here's another reason, the ackee saltfish and dumping was the best, I've had fried dumplings in NYC, Cayman Islands, and even in Trinidad this is hands own the best fried dumpling I've ever had, not tough or chewy, was like eating a fresh bread that was fried on the outside. Definitely worth the 1hr 30 minute drive. Definitely friendly and funny staff serving food made with love. Bringing my family next time for some oxtail! read more

Kingston Grill - Ackee and salfish - Caribbean Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I am ONLY giving this establishment a 1 star bc the steamed cabbage was decent. First off, I ordered a large dark dinner (jerk) with double cabbage. Now the prices online are totally different than the prices of the food currently so be advised. Well, I paid $12+ for this dinner which I specifically asked if plantains were included and I was told that they were. To my unfortunate surprise when I got home i had basically large box full of BONES AND SKIN WITH TWO SMALL VERY SMALL DRIED CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS... so at this point I am VERY upset considering I drove to this spot to begin with which wasn't super close to my home. Then to add insult to injury there were NO PLANTAINS in the box WTF!!!!!!! This was my first and LAST time coming to this place. I can typically eat off of a large chicken dinner for two or three meals bc I don't eat much however with these bones I'd be lucky to get one meal. I was soooo disgusted I was tempted to drive back to the restaurant and complain.. I just said forget it and this place not again!!! You've been warned!! read more

Great jerk chicken, chicken was fresh sauce was excellent.staff was kind and fast, prices were fair

Been going to this place since they opened. I love it and never had any complaints. The customer service is awesome and very welcoming.

I haven't had a Pattie since I was 10 years old in the Cayman Islands, but this place brought me right back there. I only had a pattie, but it was phenomenal. My colleagues rave about their jerk chicken and I will be back to try it, but it's rare to find a place that serves good patties in Chicago and they are as good as it gets here. read more

Delicious family run Jamaican restaurant. Jerk chicken, ox tail, and Ting. Byob or take out.

Beef patties, jerk chicken, rice & peas (beans), & chef special coconut pastries all rocked. Authentic, no nonsense, good price, great food. Went w/ my sister for quick bite. Will bring hubby & kids next time. As for the unfriendly service comments - why do ppl need strangers to be their friends?! Maybe its the NJ in me but i just don't get why anyone would need their butt kissed when ordering food at a counter. Anyway, real deal. One caveat: roast chicken on one occasion was almost inedibly dry, maybe isolated incident bc otherwise great food. read more

Lady at the front desk was very rude. In addition, the beef patty was burnt with no flavor.

BE AWARE ! we've done carryout several times and it takes forever to make the food. Sometimes when you come to pick up they might even tell you that the item you ordered isn't available. They don't bother to call you with the news ! You show up and too bad. After this has happened 3 times, we gave up. Disastrous customer service. Food was good. read more

I haven't yet found a Caribbean food place in Chicago that can compare, so this is where I go when I want that type of cuisine despite it being a bit of a drive for me. I can't say I've tried everything from the menu, but everything i tried was excellent. The food is fresh, plentiful, and spicy if you want it to be. Normally I order for takeout, but I've eaten there a few times and love the atmosphere. Simple and clean--exactly what a restaurant should be. There are always a few regulars there, and the fact they're Jamaican helps the restaurant's reputation as an authentic place. The service is always friendly but not overbearing if you eat there. read more

I ordered the jerk chicken only. (White meat) the sauce is really spicy but good. My complaint is that they chopped up my wing and breast so many times that it was hard to eat. Biting down on tiny bone pieces gets really old really fast. This cost me $7.10 and I couldn't even finish it. read more

The food had potential, but was dry and not worth the drive, nor money. Our food was late and the service could have been a lot better. They also did not include our plantain. Just overall a very bad experience. Don't waste your time and resources. read more

I have to say that I'm very disappointed with this place after reviewing all the positive reviews. Service was average at best, not friendly nor helpful when asking for advice. The food was below par compared to other Jamaican places I have frequented. Just do not see myself coming to this restaurant ever again. Between service and food, I was very disappointed. The only bright spot is that the price point isn't that bad. I will probably try giving it another chance, but if you are looking for Carribean fare, better options are available nearby. read more

This place is a gem! Discovered it by accident and glad I did. Delicious, plentiful, well-priced food, super friendly and comfortable atmosphere. Addictively good jerk sauce. read more

If you like dank food and are a foodie such as myself this is a can't miss. As for Lizzy R. you must not know that you order at the front were the menu is! Can't expect everyone to understand a simple process! As for Kingston Grill as soon as i walked in and that smoke smell hit me in the face and i knew this was the spot for me and every bite was just as good as the last A+ 10 out of 10 read more

The jerk chicken is pretty good and fresh. The sides, plantains, peas and rice are very good. The curry goat is my favorite. Never been disappointed eating here. read more

Welp! I'm definitely a fan of Caribbean cuisine, however, their food is the the complete opposite. I went today and ordered the jerk chicken with rice and peas, cabbage. and plantain. The rice and peas were hard and DRYYYYYYY, the chicken was DRYYYYYY, the plantain was SUPPPPERRRRR DRYYYYYY, and the poor cabbage was so bland I read about in history class sophomore year in high school. The chicken didn't have any authentic flavor to it. It tasted like it was baked, and the sauce definitely wasn't jerk sauce. The food came so quick, I swear they gave me someone's uneaten sloppy seconds. I got the food quicker than a McDonald's drive thru. Long story short, the paper towel I have at home weren't as dry as that meal. I couldn't even cut the plantain with my fork. 100 percent dissatisfaction. Will never go back. read more

I love Jamaican food and was really excited about Kingston Grill. The food is good, but the customer service is awful. The person behind the counter was rude and gave me the wrong portion. When I tried to fix it, even offering to pay more, she refused and had a terrible attitude. If you want excellent Jamaican food for a great price, try Claire's Korner in Evanston at 1827 Emmerson. The owner is really nice, the food is amazing and the portions are huge! Claire's jerk chicken is the best and her caramel cake is amazing! When I got the lunch portion of Curried Chicken at Kingston Grill I got bones and neck meat with rice. When I got the lunch portion of the same dish at Claire's not only did I get great meat and rice with beans, but I got fried plantains and a great stewed salad! Claire's Korner is the best!! read more

What a terrific surprise. One of the most authentic Jamaican experiences you will ever find north of the islands. The authentic jerk sauce is unique and memorable, as is the succulent chicken and tasty, finger licking good oxtails. Kingston Grill will become a weekly take out for me and my family. I look forward to trying each and every dish on the menu. read more

Great cuisine: my workplace is located nearby and we order frequently from here... the service is superb and the food is delicious!!

Stopped in for a quick lunch and both the food and service were great !!!! Winston is AMAZING !!!!