Jamaican Food In New York City: Best Dishes & Where To Eat
Big, bold island flavors in the Big Apple
By EatOkra
Last updated 04 Aug, 2025
Jamaican food in New York is like a full-on flavor party that no one wants to leave early.
The city has become a second home for island classics like jerk chicken, oxtail stew, curry goat, patties, and that golden duo of rice and peas.
These dishes have earned a permanent spot on the city’s must-eat list, and for good reason. Behind those plates are Black-owned restaurants that are fully keeping tradition alive by seasoning the city with a bit of history, some spice, and a whole lot of soul.
The tables here do not whisper. They sing with bold flavors and smoky grills and slow-cooked stews that taste like sunshine even on a gray Manhattan day.
And the best part? There’s no passport required.
Here is what to try and where to find it.
Why New York Has a Great Jamaican Food Scene
The story of Jamaican food in New York all started with people who were carrying more than just suitcases when they arrived. They brought scotch bonnet peppers, allspice, thyme, and a talent for coaxing magic out of humble ingredients.
Those recipes (which were passed down from one kitchen to another) naturally settled right into the city and now feel as essential as a good bagel.
Crown Heights and Flatbush in Brooklyn could easily double as a food lover’s field trip to the Caribbean. Just walk down Nostrand Avenue and you can enjoy the smell of jerk smoke in the air that is like a drumbeat calling you to the grill. Queens is another stronghold where jerk chicken gets grilled on the sidewalk and the scent alone can stop traffic.
Even Manhattan has joined the fun with spots in areas like Greenwich Village that are mixing island warmth into the city’s concrete energy. And in the Bronx, small bakeries and tiny counter-service spots serve food that makes people cross borough lines just to get a taste.
Dish Highlights
Jerk Chicken
What It Is: Jerk chicken is what happens when a bird decides to live a little. It is marinated in a lively mix of Scotch bonnet peppers, thyme, garlic, and allspice, and then it is grilled slow enough so that the outside turns smoky and a bit crisp while the inside stays juicy.
Where to Try It: Glady’s in Crown Heights has a wood-fired oven that produces jerk chicken so fragrant it could guide you in blindfolded!
Pro Tip: Plantains are the wingman here, and especially if the spice makes you break a sweat. A cold rum punch certainly does not hurt either.
Oxtail Stew
What It Is: Oxtail stew is slow cooking at its finest. Chunks of oxtail are browned and then it is all braised with beans and carrots and seasonings until the meat gives up and falls off the bone.
Where to Try It: The Islands in Crown Heights has a version that might just be the best comfort food you will ever meet. The Door in Queens dresses it up for those of you who really like a little polish with their stew.
Pro Tip: Whatever you do, do not leave that gravy behind! Rice and peas were practically invented for sopping it up.
Curry Goat
What It Is: Just one small bite and there’s no going back! The pieces simmer with curry powder and hot peppers (and some herbs) until they are tender and full of flavor. It is strongly aromatic and a little spicy, so be ready…
Where to Try It: Melting Pot Cuisine in Long Island City keeps it classic. Negril Village in Greenwich Village offers a more upscale version that’s more upscale, but still with all the kick you need!
Pro Tip: Roti bread is the move here. Tear it and scoop. No utensils required!
Jamaican Beef Patties
What It Is: A patty is basically Jamaica’s greatest grab-and-go snack. Picture a golden crust that is just a bit flaky and crisp, and then filled with seasoned ground beef or chicken. The first bite is a buttery crunch.
Where to Try It: Kingston Tropical Bakery in the Bronx is legendary for its patties. Jamaican Flavors in Queens has fans who will stand in line no matter how long it takes as well.
Pro Tip: If you want to do it like the pros, tuck the patty into a piece of coco bread. It is comfort food squared.
Escovitch Fish
What It Is: This one is a dance between crispy fried fish and a tangy topping. The fish gets fried, and then it gets covered in a mixture of vinegar, peppers, onions, and carrots.
Where to Try It: The Door in Queens makes an escovitch snapper that is as pretty as it is delicious. Smaller Brooklyn joints often do weekend specials…if you know where to look that is.
Pro Tip: Best friends for this dish are a cold bottle of ginger beer or a bright Ting soda, plain and simple!
Explore Jamaican Restaurants Across New York
Miss Lily’s 7A
This spot is pure island vibes. The walls are covered with reggae history. Plus, the jerk is spot-on and the rum cocktails flow!
The Islands, Crown Heights
Small and always packed, this is the place for huge plates of oxtail and jerk chicken that will leave you happy and full.
Glady’s, Crown Heights
A laid-back neighborhood favorite where a wood-burning oven gives jerk chicken its smoky edge and the rum menu is as serious as the food.
The Door, Queens
Upscale and elegant, but still full of soul. The Door is known for Sunday buffets, jerk chicken, and escovitch fish…and a crowd that always comes back.
Feeding Tree, The Bronx
Simple setting, but the food is big on flavor. It is a pre-Yankee game ritual for many.
Visit EatOkra’s City Guides for more local Jamaican eats
Featured Image: Feeding Tree
