The food was good but it was certainly barbecue chicken vs the jerk we requested We had this once at work because we had to travel to nearby for a client, and looked up great jerk chicken Ordered for 8 people today- based on the phone convo we were convinced nobody's food would be accurate and we were ok with that cuz we knew their food is good. The original time we ordered, we got extra jerk sauce and chicken - no sides. Which was cool as we didn't want sides just the jerk chicken, which a year ago was amazing Cue to today when they called to make sure the order was correct (great customer service) And as it was picked up - they said, this is for the white boy. We received great barbecue chicken and sides which we didn't want We wanted the great jerk chicken we previously had. read more

Order the large portions if you're hungry (small pictured above). Definitely jam packed with flavor though! read more

De-Jred - Jerk chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

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I can still imagine the perfect flakiness of the pastry and the warmth of the flakes mixed with the delicious and mushy beef inside of the Beef Patty. For this reason alone, I will definitely be going back to De-Jred to pick up those amazing patties. The last time I've had Jamaican Patties was back home in the Philippines, waaaaayyyyyy back when I was still in College. Loooooong way back:) The shop was called "Jamaican Patties" and that's all they sold. I remember always knocking on the window of the kiosk and ordering a LOT of patties. It was the only place that sold Jamaican Patties in the whole country...and I found it...destiny? I know right?! De-Jred's patties are a little different though, different in a good way. The flakiness of the pastry was undescribable. As I was eating the patty, small pieces of the flakes kept falling(it is kind of messy to eat this) and I couldn't help myself but pick up and eat the fallen flakes as well, it is THAT good. There were a couple of people who came in the place just to get the patties but the host told them that they ran out and she's still making a new batch. I suggest calling them first to make sure that they have what you want to get before you make the effort of going there. So that is my introduction. Anyway, I have bookmarked De-Jred for a while now and I found this enough couple of hours to kill today while I'm in Skokie. I called to make sure that they're open and that if they have the oxtail dish and jamaican jerk chicken for the whole day. I came in a few minutes before 5pm and the place was empty. I was seated in a booth and the host took my order. She was helpful in explaining what sides came with every dish and showed me what an "Akee" is when I asked her what it was. Here is the breakdown of the 2 other dishes that I've tried: JERK CHICKEN- I have tried a different jerk chicken from a non-Jamaican restaurant and I loved it. De-Jred had the BBQ sauce kind of jerk sauce on the chicken and when I took a bite, it was just okay. A few seconds later, the heat kicked in! whooo! One big gulp of water right away! I loved the fried plantains, rice and beans, and the steamed cabbage that came with the chicken. OXTAIL & BUTTERBEANS- My Oh My! Rich sauce, everything is seasoned well, very tender oxtail meat and simply an extraordinary flavorful dish. I love it! Overall, I will definitely be back to get the oxtail dish, beef patties, I want to try the Saltfish & Ackee dish and other items on the menu that sounded appealing to me. Just a warning: please do not expect good customer service if you are dining in. The host/server was not rude but she never checked whether we needed anything. I had to get up and approach her in the kitchen window/counter to ask for an extra pIate, water, and to get the check. I have seen people pick up their food and I made a mental note that it's probably a better idea to do that next time. My friend and I who dined in today.. we pretty much took care of ourselves. We didn't mind because we didn't expect too much. Other than the lack of customer service...De-Jred, you'll be on my head:) read more

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The hospitality was excellent and the food was delicious and I would recommend this restaurant to anyone that is looking for a nice Jamaican restaurant to anybody who has the taste for a home cooked dinner read more

I was very disappointed with this place. My partner got the LARGE goat and we had to ask if the serving size was correct. It was tiny. I ordered the tasty platter and everything lacked flavor except the beef patty. The jerk chicken also had a weird sauce on it. What was that?It was also tiny in my opinion. What I did like was the soursop juice. ''Twas yummy. Service was a little weird, I got all of the attention and my husband was ignored. read more

Walked into this cute Jamaican shop and immediately greeted with the lovely Caribbean hospitality. I, myself, born and raised in Antigua, moved to USA over 10 years ago and it is always amazing to find such homey restaurants. V was so friendly and immediately was chatting with my mother and myself like we knew eachother for a long time. The service was quick and the food was delicious. definitely will return read more

Best Jamaican food I've ever had! My sister and I ordered the oxtail and jerk shrimp. Both were delicious and it paired well with the sides they offered. I'm drooling as I am writing this. I can't wait to go back! Service was amazing as well. We were offered some complimentary chicken soup as we were leaving! read more

Fast/authentic Jamaican food! The service was very friendly and the food quality was tasty. Half a jerk chicken meal w/extra sides. They deafly didn't disappoint. The restaurant itself had a at home feel. They have traditional island drinks and desserts. It's located right on the corner in the shopping center area. They are responsive and quick online, but if you have the time and in the area stop in and have a bite inside the restaurant to fully enjoy the experience. read more

For around $10 you can get a delicious, humongous jerk chicken meal. Some of the best jerk chicken I have ever had, and this is coming from someone who has had her fair share of jerk chicken. For me the perfect amount of spicy, not too overwhelming but still a good kick. Rice & beans delish. Plantains, superb. Sweet and soft they are a good contrast to the spicy chicken. There was something, I'm not sure if it was in the rice or from the Jerk Chicken sauce, an herb that was a little chewy. But besides that everything was great. The food lasted me for at least 2 meals. They were extremely accommodating even though I was there close to closing time (A+++ Service). Restaurant is fairly clean (they were cleaning as I came in), decor is simple & Jamaican. You can definitely tell that they take pride in their Jamaican heritage and in their food. read more

Loved it! We picked up to go the jerk chicken and the oxtail!! Delicious!! The beef patty also great! Can't wait to go back and try more! Super friendly staff as well for the cherry on top! read more

Halal food all the time good for your soul every time. The food is delicious and tasty. No regrets to eat from this place. Ask for the HALAL MENU. read more

Today we choose this place and happy we did. The food is authentic, reminds me of Jamaica frfr. Started off with beef patties and they weren't cheap on the filling, and tasty. You have a choice small or large entree. I had a small curry goat and friend had the small oxtail. So delicious we both cleaned our plate. For us it was just enough for lunch. Service was good and place clean. Worth the drive and free 2 hrs. street parking. read more

De-Jred - Small curry goat w/rice & peas and plantains. Though it was delicious, they could've gave more goat for the price. - Caribbean Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

My fiancé and I love this local family restaurant. It's BYOB and the food is so good! The jerk chicken is not as spicy as I'm used to, but that's prefect for my spice intolerant family and friends. The oxtails are delicious, and even if you do not prefer cabbage, try theirs! The owner/chef and my fiancé chum it up like old friends every time we visit and last time we were in he SPOILED my kids rotten! They are such good people. Sometimes when we go in they have run out of some of the options, but that's the risk that comes with wanting fresh/authentic cuisine. Tip: -Do not let the slow pace fool you! They will take care of you. Adjust your expectations, slow down, and speak up! -Groups: Take cash -This is not the place you go to dressed in your Sunday's best. This is the place you go to when you're dressed to EAT and relax. read more

Come here for beef patties (which sell out very fast everyday!) and leave the rest. The patties are truly delicious and the service was efficient. The goat curry was mad dry and flavorless. I hate to leave anything other than a sparkling review of a Black owned business, but if you want good halal Jamaican goat curry, you're gonna need to look elsewhere. read more

I used to live on the island and this was hands down the best Jamaican meal I have ever had. Be prepared to wait....it is worth it. You can taste the love in the food. We had the ackee and saltfish, callaloo, red snapper, and the appetizer sampler. (I forgot what it was called). When we mentioned that we used to live in Jamaica and that my daughter was Jamaican, He put together a platter with some bammy and breadfruit. I wish we would've had room for some sweet potato pudding. I can only imagine how delicious it would've been. Jamaican hospitality at its best! *this is a BYOB establishment. No problem, there is a liquor store right next door. read more

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Being a Jamaican American and growing up on my grandmothers Jamaican food.....let me be the first to tell you that this is NOT authentic Jamaican food! I don't know what part of Jamaica this food is from, but it's definitely not anywhere in the Jamaica I know. There's amazing places in Chicagoland! Avoid this one. We ordered jerk....I mean bbq chicken and oxtails (missing butter beans with dry dumplings) read more

De-Jred - Caribbean Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

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I love De-Jred! The food here is consistently amazing! But let's get a few of the bad things out of the way. The service is hit-or-miss. I've had both good service and bad service at De-Jred. The atmosphere is... well what atmosphere? It's tables and seats, the flag, and a TV. They often have some thematically-appropriate sports playing on TV. But the food is what really makes De-Jred! It's always on point and very delicious! De-Jred knows the difference between chemically hot and spicy seasonings, and consistently strikes a perfect balance between the two! I don't think (after eating here many times and trying most of the things on the menu) that I've ever had a bad dish here. There have been a couple that just weren't my style, but at the same time it was clear that they were prepared well even though they didn't ring my bell. I'll put it this way... when people visit and we're looking for a place to eat, De-Jred is always a recommended restaurant. I've taken lots of people here, and all have enjoyed what they ate immensely. read more

The food here is delicious. The oxtail with butterbeans and the jerk chicken are my favorites. I recommend this restaurant for anyone wanting some great Jamaican food. read more

Interesting little restaurant in Skokie. The owner was super nice & friendly, and chatted with us while we waited for the food. I ordered the brown sauce goat to go, it was super flavorful & tender, though a bit greasy and salty by the time I got to the bottom of the container. Portion size was huge for the price. They have an open kitchen with two people working, so things took a while but it was worth the wait! I'll definitely come back when I'm in the neighborhood. read more

De-Jred - Brown sauce goat - Caribbean Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

As a Jamaican, this is the go to spot for fresh, clean and authentic cuisine. Everything from the curry goat to jerk is amazing. We have been coming here for over 5 years because it's so good! read more

Tried this for the first time last week. My brother and I shared dishes and ordered the jerk chicken and also oxtail. The oxtail was super tender and very filling, but admittedly it lacked a little flavor. The jerk on the other hand is worth a revisit! Its not too spicy and has the perfect mix of flavors. Goes perfectly with the sides- plantains and rice! They also have some tasty juices in the drink fridge up front. read more

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This is a Mom & Pop run place. They're always so sweet and try to accommodate. I remember they whipped up a small salad for my friend who is vegetarian. I've tried the jerk chicken and brown stew goat. They were both quite delicious! The flavors and the heat are a good blend of spices that give the dishes a good kick. Warning, sometimes there are shards of bone in the brown stew goat. I have choked on a few and bit down hard on a few... I chew more carefully now. read more

Real Jamaican food. Love the authenticity of the restaurant. Must try at least once, you wont regret it.

Brought my fiancé here in order to allow her to reminisce about the food she ate when she was growing up. We showed up on a Friday night hoping to eat some amazing food and we were not disappointed. When we arrived we were met by a woman, I don't remember her name but I'm sure she was the owner. She greeted us just as if we were family. I had ordered the Salt Fish and the Ackee and it was amazing. I love me some fish and the meal hit the spot perfectly. My fiancé ordered the Ox Tail and she says it was just like how she remembered it... of course I took a little bit to give it a try and I must say it was very delicious. The was very easy to chew, not tough at all. The flavors are hard to describe but it was similar to a more spicy beef stew, but much more flavorful. The owner sat and chatted with us a little bit in between the ordering of the meal and the food arriving and she was so welcoming it felt as if I could have been talking to my own mother. My fiancé and I both agreed we would be coming here much more often as it is hard to find a Jamaican place as good as this ESPECIALLY on the North Side of Chicago (suburbs). read more

Jamaican home cooking ! and it will be served Island style ! so leave your "snap to it" attitude at the door, bring your inner Rasta and enjoy your self ! After trying take out a few times and loving the food tremendously, I took my son here for his first Jamaican food experience. Just as I imagined he loved it and finished most of my food as well. We tried the Goat curry and the national dish of Jamaica "Ackee and Saltfish", absolutely delicious ! The national dish may sound a bit out there, but I assure you it is a must try and you will enjoy it. Love the owners (also the chef and hostess), and everyone else who works here, always happy to see you and so welcoming. Everything is freshly prepared, large portions and it is BYOB here with NO CORKAGE FEES. They also have sour sop juice and real Jamaican Ginger beer here, so bring your favorite rum, mix your self a tall "Dark and Stormy" and enjoy a great home cooked Jamaican meal ! Yes the best of Bob Marley on the jukebox is free ! read more

Have now gone twice, once eating in and the other take-out. Both times I ordered the same thing: The Tasty Platter. Basically it's a sampler of four of their items: Jerk Chicken, Beef Patty, Codfish fritters, and plantains. On both occasions I experienced friendly service. They operate with very few people in the kitchen so it does take a little longer if other people are also eating there. They only gave me a plastic fork with take-out which speaks to how tender and perfect the chicken was. Packs some definite heat and some wonderful flavor. Each part of the meal complements the others; the plantains help with cool down from the beef patty and the jerk chicken, while the codfish are a nice crispy element to the meal. Price is very reasonable for how much you get (about $9 after tax, entrees all run at about $10). Looking forward to coming back and trying the rest of their menu. I feel like this place would be ideal for people who don't mind sharing and want to split a couple of entrees. Definitely planning to return again. read more

Sweet honey bee of infinity! Sweet guinea pig of Winnipeg! Sweet yeti of the Serengeti! Sweet coincidence of Port-Au-Prince! Sweet something of...someplace... Ok, I'm done with the Hermes Conrad quotes. I was hungrier than a green snake in a sugar cane field (ok, NOW I'm done!), and with some time to kill before Aw Yeah Comics' 3rd anniversary party, I decided to have something new in downtown Skokie. It's a very unassuming space inside, but it's filled with quaint charm, from the lime green paint to the Jamaican flag on the wall. The menu is filled with amazing authentic and delicious Jamaican dishes, from jerk chicken and oxtail stew to curried goat with fried plantains and butterbeans. But what makes the food even more extraordinary is the fact that the chef is a strict vegetarian and cooks entirely by smell. That's right. ALL BY SMELL. That's like driving a bus and making all the stops while blindfolded. At any rate, even if you're not a retired professional limboer from Kingston Town turned bureaucrat and accountant for an intergalactic delivery company, you can still enjoy authentic delicious Jamaican food just like Granny uses to make. God rest her zombie bones... read more

So it's been forever and a day since I've written a review!!! Thanks for the reminder, Angela! I visited this fine Jamaican establishment over the weekend to venture for some food I've never really had and that's outside my comfort zone. Well now, this is comfort type food. Ordered the jerk chicken and oxtail with butter beans and both were fantastic. The meat melts in your mouth, the flavors were terrific and the gentleman working the kitchen looked happy as ever doing his thing back there. Slight warning, the chicken and oxtail both contain bones, some of them hard to find at times with the meat falling off the bone the way it does. However, my wife is bone skittish and doesn't like chewy/bones bites and she delved into both dishes and never looked back. Yet another uniquely awesome addition to downtown Skokie!!! We will be back to try more menu items! read more

Everything irie! This little unassuming place packs a great experience! initial note: There is no free parking in the area so bring some change to feed the meters around. When you walk in, it's usually pretty quiet but the smells from the kitchen are hitting you as you are walking up. This is the kind of slow-cooked, stick-to-your-ribs food that gets prepared early and cooks throughout the day in preparation for your arrival. These guys are very accommodating and when we told them we had a large group they got everything together really quickly. While waiting for the group mom & I got some beef patties to get going. And those bad boys were packed with flavor and spice! The crust was just a tad under flaky for my liking, but otherwise a stellar patty. Everyone got something different from the jerk chicken, oxtail, and stewed chicken....with rice and peas and cabbage. You know when you have a large group of folks, when the food arrives and people dig in and not a word is uttered for at least 5 minutes...that's a measure of how good the food is....folks forget to talk and offer their food for anyone else to try! All of the meat was cooked to a delicious tenderness and seasoned well....NOT over or UNDER seasoned (2 egregious offenses in my book) and everything came out PIPING HOT (another way to win me over). They give you such huge portions that no one got any desserts or coffee at the end so I'll have to update with all of that later. "Over and out" read more

Crossing off another neighborhood spot off the list, De-Jred makes the cut. Wonderful home cooking, with great service in a very simple setting! I don't mind the wait, I just call in my order so I don't have to. I wanted to try a few items, so I chose a mixed plate of oxtail and brown stewed chicken with rice & beans and cabbage on the side. Deeeeeeelicious. Oxtail is nice and tender, chicken flavorful mad rich. I'm super excited to try out the fish on my next visit. It's so nice to have some Carribean cuisine so close to home. read more

First thing I thought of when we walked in was, "It's hot in here!" Not sure if it's always like that, but it makes for a slightly uncomfortable dining experience when you're eating hot/spicy food. It also takes a while to get your food, even though we were the only dine-ins. If you are patient, it's worth it, but my bf thinks we should order take-out next time. It's also pretty bare in there, and the lights are extremely bright. Now that I've gotten the negatives out of the way, the rest was pretty good. This was my first experience with Jamaican cuisine. I really liked the saltfish fritters appetizer. They are flat & thin, and the saltfish is ground up and mixed in with herbs like crabcakes are. We loved the flavors of our entrees too. The oxtail with butterbeans dish was our fave. The oxtails were stewed long enough so that the meat is tender, and the sauce is sort of thick, a little sweet, and full of aromatic spices. We also ordered a fried whole snapper, which was pretty spicy and flavorful too. It takes a little more effort to eat, though, because of all the bones. Every entree comes with your choice of 3 sides: white rice, rice & peas (beans), steamed cabbage, sweet plantains, and salad. We tried them all, and I would recommend the rice & peas and steamed cabbage for sure. The lady gave us a taste of the jerk chicken too, which was juicy and spicy. I think I will get that in a sandwich next time. They really know how to make their sauces here! We had a slice of the rum cake for dessert, and I will pass on that next time. It had a lot of rum in it, I was almost breathing out fire. For 1 appetizer, 1 Kola Champagne (soda), 2 entrees, and 1 dessert, our total came to $38 before tip. It's affordable here, and with the 3 sides, you should have enough food to take home as leftovers too. read more

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NIce, small place. Was empty on Wednesday at noon with the exception of our group. Tried the Ackee and Saltfish, which is apparently the national dish of Jamaica. It was a relatively small portion for being one of the most expensive items on the menu ($14), but I'm glad I tried it. Had never heard of ackee before and it had an interesting taste and texture. Almost like a smoked fruit? It came with three sides (I had the cabbage, fried plantains, and the rice and beans). Sides were all good, but didn't particularly stand out. I also ordered the Beef Patty, which was delicious. I sort of balked however because the beef patty (more of a beef mixture encased in a yellowish crust) looked and tasted absolutely identical to the Jamaican beef pattys that I've bought many times at Sam's Club. Don't get me wrong - they are fantastic, and only $2 - but I was hoping to have my first scratch made version and now I'm left unsure of which I just had. All in all a place I'd recommend and will try to return to (eyeing the Jerk Chicken and the Curry Goat). The waitress was very nice and attentive as was the cook, who also came out to greet the table. Good people - give them your business. read more

This is a modest little restaurant with clearly homemade food, friendly service and very affordable prices. Try the Brown Stew Chicken.

Came in for a lunch date with a friend on a Saturday afternoon. Completely empty, The owner was really courteous and let us take our time when ordering. We ordered the oxtails and the jerk chicken--the portions were relatively large. The reason I'm giving De-Jred only three stars is because I found that Jamaican food isn't exactly my cup of tea. The food was on the salty side and not anything special...although the butterbeans were interesting! I also bought a drink called Tropical Rhythms "June Plum (Golden Apple)". Usually I love apples and plums, but I had no idea what a june plum was. I read the ingredients and saw that ginger was one of them, which I kind of hate, but I wanted to try it. Basically, it was absolutely disgusting, and horrendous, and all kinds of terrible. Blechhhh read more

We had the oxtails and the chicken breast. It was not real Jamaican. We were so disappointed. The food was just OK but should've been much better. The chicken had some sweet sauce on it. It wasn't jerked. So upset. read more

My goodness was this place great. I drove by this small eatery after work one day and suggested to a few of my co-workers that we check it out for lunch, being that I don't get to eat Jamaican cuisine very often. About 6 of us were planning on going, word got around the office and in the end about 12 of us ended up dining on some fantastic grub. Mostly everyone tried either the Jerk Chicken or the Curry Chicken/Goat. One person was feeling adventurous and had the Saltfish. It was unanimous that my suggestion to eat here was a great idea as we all loved the food. My Jerk Chicken was moist, flavorful and ninja spicy (it sneaks up on you and hits you over the head when you least expect it). The fried plantains and red beans and rice side dishes were all pretty good. You also get a side of sauteed cabbage, but I was the only one who didn't seem to care for it as it gives me the uber toots. I was completely satisfied with the meal and was already talking about what I was going to have the next time I stop by before I had even paid my bill. The staff were super friendly and even though the amount of people in our party seemed to stun the chef, he turned out some fantastic food in a decent amount of time. Don't forget to try the ginger beer they offer. It has a real kick to it. I WILL RETURN! read more

So. They are NOT in a hurry. Usually that bothers me... but not this time. The food is delicious and the staff is crazy friendly. I relaxed. I ate. It was good. They're ultra-helpful in steering you in the correct direction if you're not familiar with this kind of food. Which isn't really an issue... because everything is DELICIOUS. Go. Relax. Be adventurous. read more

Probably the best Jamaican restaurant around the area. The food always tastes amazing (I dare you to try a few of their entrees). The owner is super friendly and kind - he checks on the customers and makes sure that everyone at the table enjoyed the amazing food he cooks! One of my favorite things to order there is the beef patties - you won't regret ordering them. Been coming here for a few years now and I'll definitely continue to dine here! read more

As soon as you walk in you will be greeted with smile (owner is there all the time). And the second thing is you won't believe how clean and new the place looks.) Food is second to none in terms of taste and quality ( right amount of spices and quantity, 3 side dish) and the highest priced meal is $15 although most things cost around $8. It is the best Caribbean restaurant I have been in Chicago. Food is fresh and well prepared. While you are at the restaurant you will enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. They also have a flat screen TV, so you can enjoy your meal while watching your favorite spots( TV is not loud at all). On the down side the server, who is also a cook, wasn't talkative and can mix up the order but the food is great to the point that you wouldn't really care :) read more

We got curried goat and chicked for a carry out. The curry flavor in each was great and the total portion of each was large, also. HOwever, we thought that the dish was overwhelmed by the rice and beans and the meat component of the dish was small, particularly since each meat had bones. The people were really nice, so we'll likely come back and try different dishes. read more