I'm surprised at myself for this review, since I'm usually a steam tray skeptic. However, their curry chicken was so good that now I have to reconsider that principle. If anything, the steam tray might have made it more tender and flavorful, and it wasn't at all worse for wear! But maybe the real highlight is the vegetable mix that comes with the rice, with still-crunchy celery. Plantains were tasty and soft, though not crunchy. read more

Top choice is the only choice for authentic Carribean food in Kingston, NY. If you didn't know, now you know! read more

Every time I go here, I'm never disappointed. The customer service is amazing. This restaurant is ran by a husband and wife, they are so friendly and welcoming. The food is fresh, hot and well seasoned. There is seating indoors, as well as cold drinks available. read more

Top Taste Restaurant - Stew chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Kingston, New York

We've been hearing about Top Taste for years and finally stopped by on our way up to Woodstock. The space it's is small and very casual with about four tables. We came on a weekday and had no trouble sitting. You order a main protein that comes with rice, cabbage, and plantains. You can order sides of things like fried chicken or mac & cheese. We went with one small jerk chicken, and one medium oxtail. The portions are absolutely huge. It was the most generous small I've ever gotten in a restaurant... such an incredible value for just $10. The jerk chicken is absolutely delicious. I loved the rice and cabbage. It was a really satisfying meal. I also love the flavor of the oxtail, but picking through tiny bones isn't really my thing so jerk chicken is the way to go. Before you leave, you have to order a slice of the rum cake to go. It is the first time I've had fresh rum cake (not the typical Tortuga) and it was so delicious and moist, it was almost like a custard. We loved it so much, we picked up food again on our way home. You can tell this restaurant is loved by the community - definitely a special place to stop while in the area. read more

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This no frills, counter service Caribbean restaurant in Kingston, New York served some of the finest damn food I've eaten in a while. Service was super warm and friendly. This is the mom-and-pop spot from my dreams and I'm super happy to have discovered this place. The jerk chicken was loaded with flavor and Caribbean style spices. The oxtails were seasoned well and slow cooked to perfect tenderness. They really know what they're doing here. Highly recommend anyone in Kingston to check this spot out. read more

Top Taste Restaurant - Oxtail - Caribbean Near Me - Kingston, New York

Finally made it to top taste. Pretty small restaurant with street parking. Interior has a few tables and a counter where you order. I got a medium curry chicken and another jerk chicken. Loaded up with rice, cabbage, plantains, and meat. I found the food to be seasoned really well, and everything was delicious. Great deal for the price, and absolutely delicious Jamaican food. I couldn't resist a patty for the ride home, and enjoyed it thoroughly. I would highly recommend this joint. read more

Top Taste Restaurant - Curry Chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Kingston, New York

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We ate the food so fast that I didn't get a chance to take pictures. The five stars speak for itself. We visited on a Friday at 6:30 and the restaurant had a line plus we ordered and waited 30 minutes or so for the food. I was all worth it. Get the oxtail and the jerk chicken. Oxtail had great texture and jerk chicken was grilled and actually tasted grilled charcoal. Everything was well seasoned not overly salty. Mac and cheese was some of the best we have tried. Might be a wait during dinner hours but be all worth the wait. The man was really nice and service with a smile. If you are in the neighborhood, get some great Jamaican food! read more

Had take out here first time. Tried oxtail. Jerk chicken and goat. All dishes were incredible. Solid portions. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. Plantains delicious. Rice great. Best Jamaican food we ever had! The one downer is the beef patties. Outsourced and not very good Prices fair. Staff pleasant. New go to place for Jamaican food. read more

This is a small authentic Jamaican place. I tried this place on a Saturday night at 7 PM and the place closes at eight. There were several dishes laid out and basically you order from what is available. The food looked tasty and it did not disappoint. The whole time we were there people were flowing into this place. It seemed like a very popular local spot. I tried Kingfish stew, oxtail, and curry chicken. Every dish had its own unique flavor, and it was just a burst of deliciousness on every plate. Highly recommend giving this place a try. The who I assume owners were very friendly and pleasant and welcoming. The place was clean and all the food was prepared very well. By the time we were ready to leave, things were pretty much getting sold out completely. When I visit Kingston again, I will definitely be back. read more

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Sweet place, good prices, food tastes amazing - I had jerk chicken plate for lunch - thank you! read more

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Great food! Albert is so kind and the vibe is very hole in the wall and cozy, service was pretty standard for a counter service place but albert really made us feel welcome and at home. I only wish it was slightly cheaper but then again i did get the oxtail so its understandable and also the overhead these days even on a small place like this is probably ridiculous, so all in all a great place! read more

Through my research on the Catskills area, I came across Top Taste and its stellar reviews. It is difficult to find real Jamaican food outside of the Caribbean, so I was thrilled to give the place a try. We stopped into the small restaurant for lunch and felt as if we were truly dining on the island. The staff was so generous and welcoming, and the menu was completely authentic. We ordered at the counter, grabbed one of the 4 tables, and waited for our food to arrive. We began by sharing a Beef Patty, which had a golden, flaky crust wrapped around a thin layer of well-seasoned ground beef. I thought it was delicious, but would have loved even more of that tasty filling. Next, we shared two medium-sized plates (all meals come in small, medium, and large) of chicken with rice and red beans, as well as a mayo-less slaw and some plantains. If I had to choose, I would say that I preferred the heat of the spice-rubbed Jerk Chicken over the stewed Curry Chicken, which I found a tad salty. Both poultry dishes used dark meat on the bone, so they took a bit of work, but the meat was very tender. The rice and beans were perfect, and I loved the crunchy, cabbage-filled health salad. The sweet plantains were served at a room temperature, so they were not really crispy or mushy, but somewhere in between; that was not a bad thing, but I had expected them to be warmer. Overall, we were very impressed with the staff and their clear love for the food they wanted to share with the world. Top Taste was definitely worth our stop and would be worth yours as well. read more

Top Taste Restaurant - Beef Patty and Curry Chicken (medium) - Caribbean Near Me - Kingston, New York

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Came back during our holiday visit and it was just as good as the first time! I decided to try the curry goat and it was fall-off-the-bone tender! Great flavor and a subtle heat. I loved how hearty the curry was and was a nice supplement to the beans and rice. We also had to get a side of jerk chicken, which if you ever consider ordering as a side is a very good sized portion! The staff were super friendly as always and it didn't take long for our take out order. There were about 2 tables occupied and lots of phone orders - so tons of people coming in/out. I love the friendly, neighborhood ambiance of this place. I feel like I'm eating out of someone's home when I'm here. I love it! read more

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Absolutely fabulous, authentic Caribbean food. This popped up on my Ways app. It is a tiny place with just a few tables. This food was so good I cried real tears. My mom was Peace Corps in St Kitts for 2 years and the Jerk Chicken and Ting took me back. Perfect plantains. Very reasonable and it looked like they did a good take out business. If I lived closer I'd be there all the time. read more

Top Taste Restaurant - Jerk chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Kingston, New York

Lovely vibe and excellent food. Had goat curry and jerk chicken and beef pastry, all of which were very nice. Sides of rice, plantain and cabbage were also good. read more

Love the food, love the owners...just makes me happy and enjoy every bite. Go give them your money and let them take you on a one way trip to jerk island read more

Super Sweet Owners. Quaint atmosphere. Total hidden jewel. The Oxtails were melt in your mouth and flavor blast! The medium size only was enough to fill me up and I'm a bigger dude. Menu is extensive, and I can't wait to try some of the other items! You can tell these people know and love food. read more

Great food. Very pleasant experience. We were in the area for the weekend and stopped in for lunch.

Jerk chicken and curry goat, some of best I've ever had. This place is amazing! Nicest people ever working there too read more

Top Taste Restaurant - Caribbean Near Me - Kingston, New York

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Absolutely outstanding meal. The owners are so warm, welcoming, and friendly! We sat in the front booth and the food was served to us within 10 minutes of getting there. The jerk chicken's seasoning was like nothing I've ever tasted before. It was rubbed so perfectly and the chicken was so tender. The curry goat was practically falling off of the bones and was so succulent. The owners offered us drippings to go on top of our rice which made it so much more flavorful (although the rice is great on its own). The vegetables and fried plantains paired perfectly with the rice and meat. We also got beef patties which were perfectly crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. You need to go here! read more

Top Taste Restaurant - Curry Goat - Caribbean Near Me - Kingston, New York

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Delicious and well priced for the value! Be prepared to wait on a line for a bit, this place seems like it's packed on the daily. read more

Top Taste Restaurant - Medium jerk pork. Very flavorful, a little spicy, so good! Big enough for two people to share or have leftovers. - Caribbean Near Me - Kingston, New York

Amazing food. Amazing people. Have been there twice now and can see myself there every Friday night. read more

Top Taste Restaurant - Curried Curry Goat - Caribbean Near Me - Kingston, New York

Best food ever. Wonderful friendly service. Ambiance as indicated, divey, which is part of the charm. Now go away and don't eat here because if everyone finds out about this place I won't be able to get in the door. No seriously 5 read more

Great food and wonderful people! We were sad that they didn't have plantains but overall, the Oxtail tender and delicious. Great portion and nothing beats a home cooked meal. There are a few seats outdoor to enjoy but we took away and it was quick and seamless. Highly recommend! read more

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Absolutely amazing place!! Would give TEN stars if I could! We've driven past this place a million times, it's a tiny little hut on a corner and never gave it a second thought. However, my husband read about this place and the chef/owner being nominated for a James Beard award - so we had to visit! All of the reviews don't lie - and it's perfectly named - TOP TASTE is exactly what you'll get. Along with amazing Caribbean food, friendly service, huge portions and reasonable prices. So much food, enough for 2-3 meals, it's an excellent value! Tiny place gets crowded, with a few tables to eat inside - but I'd recommend take out instead. Calling ahead would be a good idea too. Each meal comes with plantains, cabbage and rice and beans. I'll definitely be back here often! I'm eyeing the Mac n cheese fornext time!! read more

Top Taste Restaurant - Jerk chicken and curry shrimp - Caribbean Near Me - Kingston, New York

We came here on a Tuesday night and got take out for dinner. The man in the restaurant was wearing a mask, and our food was brought out quickly. They don't have any outdoor seating right now, and the place is pretty small. The food servings were really big for what we paid, and neither of us could finish our mains. I got the oxtail with red rice and beans. It was full of flavour and amazingly delicious. Would come back to this place if I was in the area again. read more

Top Taste Restaurant - Menu - Caribbean Near Me - Kingston, New York

Totally and completely wonderful in every way. Hot food, hearty portions, great prices. I'd come back here for sure. read more

So we were in Kingston looking for something to eat, not Kingston Jamaica lol and found this place on yelp with a good review and since I love Jamaican food, we stopped by here which was a little out-of-the-way in the middle of nowhere but we're glad we came upon it. I love family, owned businesses, and I got that vibe here. They were very nice and we got some delicious jerk chicken, oxtail and the homemade rum cake was also amazing. Highly recommend it. read more

My childhood in the Caribbean was a celebration of life and at the core of that was the delicious food. It always strengthened me and had the power to turn a bad day into something covered in sweet delight. I search all the time for food that brings back that feeling and it's rare that I ever come close here in NY. This place hit a near bullseye. The ackee and saltfish (which they seem to make only on Thursdays.. go figure) was DELICIOUS. Sammy, the proprietor, was friendly and enthusiastic as we chatted about his seven years in this location and the possibility of future expansion. I recommend a visit to this spot whenever you are near Kingston and want good, fresh Jamaican food. Open for lunch and dinner. read more

Top Taste Restaurant - Too Taste/Delicious Jamaican Food - Caribbean Near Me - Kingston, New York

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Absolutely delicious meal. Ordered a medium jerk chicken that was such a large portion I was stuffed for two meals. Also ordered an extra side of plantains and a beef patty. Jerk chicken was soo perfectly juicy and well seasoned, really the best I've had. A couple plantains come with the platter but also as sides in 5 or 10 pieces. Beef patty wasn't really spicy if you're looking for that. So much good food at great prices! My meal was less than $15 before tip. The place is busy. Phone is ringing, locals out the door, and only two workers. It's impressive that they can get so many delicious meals out. Despite the wait, service was friendly. Covid-- people were pretty respectful waiting in a spaced out line. There are 3 tables inside but it looks like everyone does take out. read more

Top Taste Restaurant - Caribbean Near Me - Kingston, New York

We had a bridal shower nearby so I was running around and STAVING when I found this place. It was 11 am on a Saturday and they had just opened up. The doors were open and the food smelled SO good as I walked in. I felt like I was hovering in like one of those cartoons. I wanted everything, but I settled on the oxtail and a beef patty because treating yourself is good once in a while. It was SO good, so fall apart, so well seasoned. Even the plantains melted in my mouth. I'm not from the area but it's a 15 min detour when I travel to Albany... you bet I'm stopping by. read more

We came here partly because of the good reviews and partly because it's hilarious to go to a Jamaican restaurant in Kingston, NY (not to be confused with Kingston, Jamaica). As soon as we walked in, we could smell the food and knew it was going to be amazing. We ordered oxtail and jerk chicken (both of which came with rice & peas, cabbage, and plantains) as well as a few D&G sodas. The people who work here are warm and friendly. It's a small space, so I'm glad nobody was dining in while we waited for our food. The oxtail was flavorful and had a good amount of meat. The jerk chicken was the perfect level of spicy and charred. I was skeptical of the plantains because they often don't hold up well in takeout/delivery, but these were fresh and so good. We ordered large sizes, so the portions were too generous to eat for one meal, but we heated the food in our dinky little hotel microwave the next day, and it was still really delicious. We will be back if we ever come this way again! read more

A must eat at. BBQ chicken, goat curry and oxtail are our favorites. Owners love what they do and you taste it in the food!

Great People, Food, Value Reminds me of the best places when I lived in the Caribbean. Simple menu in a tiny corner walk-in -- but everything is great. Food and service with a heart. Island vibes. Worth a serious drive. One of the best places north of New York. Spicy, tender jerk chicken, curry goat, rich oxtail, chicken in brown sauce, beef patties, with fried plantains, rice, beans, cabbage sides. Try everything. Irie. read more

First time having a take out from Top Taste and my husband and after one bite we decided that this will be frequent customers! This restaurant is SUPERB!!! The food is exquisite, the people working there are very nice and the portions are crazy generous! I highly recommend it! We got the Curry Chicken, Jerk Chicken, not pictured is the Mac&Cheese and Beef Pocket. Looking forward to exploring everything on their menu! read more

Top Taste Restaurant - Caribbean Near Me - Kingston, New York

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Yes. Yes. Absolutely yes. The oxtail and curry goat are seasoned well and very tender. Their gravies are rich with the perfect amount of pepper. The macaroni & cheese is delicious and they're not stingy with portions here. Customer service is great and I look forward to going back to try the jerk chicken. read more

Top Taste Restaurant - Oxtail, macaroni & cheese, curry goat. - Caribbean Near Me - Kingston, New York

Just a few blocks off Broadway, easy to get to, park on the street around the corner. Small space, big heart, great food. I ordered a medium jerk chicken lunch (rice and peas, steamed veg, plantains). All delicious. Spice a little prominent at first, but blended in well. This is as good jerk chicken as I've had. I'm not Jamaican, but I love Jamaican food! And I've had it quite a bit over the years; this is the real deal. Very friendly folks. Good value. Great food. Highly recommended. read more

That's what I'm fuuuuuuckin talkin about Straight slaps Spicy af Extraordinarily good food and people Get the curried goat read more

Wonderful. What a great little spot to get down to earth soul&Caribbean goodness right in Kingston. My friends and I got take it to bring back to the office, I got the curry chicken, came with rice, some beans, plantain slices and like a cabbage-y side of vegys. What I really love is you can tell they use the qhol birs in their stew, found a lot of bone pieces but my PuertoRican grandmother did the same. I tried my friends pork dish and I think I will have it next time I go. Dont pass it up, its worth stopping read more

Top Taste Restaurant - Curry chicken n rice with plantain & vegys..holy mother of god!!!! - Caribbean Near Me - Kingston, New York

Top taste is fantastic! The food is always wonderful and plentiful and flavorful. The service is incredibly friendly - really sweet people run that place. And the prices are so low I feel like I'm committing a crime when I pay them. I've gone several times with a buddy of mine over the last 3 years or so and have been happy every time. Check it out!! read more