This restaurant has some really solid Jamaican food - I honestly regret not giving it a try sooner. I have found myself becoming a regular, especially on days where they have Curry Goat and Brown Stew Chicken. I've tried a several of these dishes, as well as the Oxtails (not pictured) which were incredible. The quality has been on point, with the meat tender and falling right off the bones. The prices are fair, considering portion sizes as well. I've found a large meal can easily serve two people or could be two different meals for one. I also enjoy supporting local businesses, and would strongly recommend Di Big Jerk's food. The environment was also quiet, with ample places to sit making it a good option for dine-in or take-out. The time to receive food after placing the order was relatively quick, with the order consistently being ready in about 5 minutes or less. All in all, if you're looking for solid Jamaican food - this is a great option. There's such a large variety of read more

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So I swung by Di Big Jerk, this Jamaican lunch spot right in the middle of town, and I've got to say, it's a great option if you're looking for some island vibes in your meal. One thing to keep in mind is that parking can be a bit of a challenge. It's not impossible, but you might need to circle the block a time or two to find a spot. Once you're inside, you'll notice it's a counter service kind of place, which is perfect for a quick grab-and-go lunch. They seem to do a lot of business with food delivery services, too, so you'll see a steady stream of couriers coming and going. If you do want to stick around and eat, there is a seating area in an adjoining section, but I opted to take my food to go. I ordered the Jammin Egg Roll with fries, and overall, it was a solid choice. The food was decent, not necessarily the best I've ever had, but it hit the spot and was definitely filling. I mean, sometimes you just need something that's going to satisfy your hunger and give you a little energy boost, and Di Big Jerk delivers on that front. If you're in the area and you're craving some Jamaican flavors, I'd say Di Big Jerk is worth checking out. Just be prepared for the parking situation, and you'll be all set. It's not a fancy place, but it's a great spot for a casual, no-frills lunch that's a little bit different from the usual suspects. read more

Nice atmosphere and wonderful food, gave me motivation I didn't know I needed. Still need to explore other parts of menu, but burgers should not be of ANY concern. read more

Di Big Jerk - Burger - Food Trucks Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Love the veggie tacos. The mango slaw is the chef's kiss!!! Friendly staff as well :)

They had THE BEST sorrel! Forgive me if you disagree but it doesn't matter! It was delish!!!The oxtails were tasty and generous and they had oxtail tacos which are not easy to find. I was pleased. read more

Best jersey chicken I've had. Hard to find Good Jamaican food in cali. Definitely recommend! read more

Di Big Jerk - Jerk chicken - Food Trucks Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

The best thing on the menu at this place is the burgers. This burger is definitely the best out of all of them. Everything else on the menu is ok or not that good but the burgers are it. This will definitely be my go to every time here. Service was good and the place was clean and had good vibes. read more

Di Big Jerk - Hawaiian Island burger with fries - Food Trucks Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Seriously don't question it just go, my friend and I did and it was maybe our best decision this month. I got the jerk chicken plate with stewed cabbage, plantains, and rice with beans .... and my god. Some of the best jerk chicken I've ever had with the perfect balance of smokey, sweet, and heat. The stewed cabbage was hearty and a great offset for the heat of the chicken. The plantains were a great compliment to the plate as well. Genuinely the chicken was the star of the show on an all-star team. Worth every single penny. I wish I had a picture of the meal but it was so good that after I ate it I felt compelled to leave a review. Service was fast and great with a nice space to eat in if you decide to eat there as well. Seriously just amazing food I can't wait to go back and try the curry goat. Also this isn't some A.I. bs I'm a student here at UF and may have just found my new favorite restaurant. read more

I was really excited to see that this former food truck now turned restaurant made its way to Gainesville as I'm familiar with them in South Florida. They used to be a regular food truck at my office complex in Deerfield Beach, where I was a fan of their jerk chicken. Di Big Jerk is now in the space where Reggae shack was located. Walking in it's very inviting with bright colors and I didn't realize how huge the space really was. After glancing at the menu, I decided to order the classic jerk chicken, which came with a festival, rice and peas, plantains, and steamed cabbage. I also wanted to try out one of their patties so I went with a spicy Jamaican patty. The food took less than 10 minutes to be ready and the smell in the car was amazing! I'll start with the negative first, the Jamaican patty was not fresh at all. It was so dry when breaking it and half it just completely fell apart, and you can tell that the meat was old. My mom didn't even want to touch it. I took a bite of a piece that I split and the flavor was there, but it just didn't taste fresh at all so I ended up throwing that away. Going forward I would just ask them how fresh the patties were for the day because even though they sit in a container to stay warm that doesn't mean that they are freshly made. OK, so for the jerk chicken meal - this was some really good jerk chicken. The spice profile and flavor were on point and the chicken was very juicy and not dry at all. The sauce that is on the jerk chicken was so good I found myself dabbing my festival into the sauce which I wish I had more of. The steamed cabbage was very flavorful as well with a hint of garlic seasoning. I really like that they added zucchini into the steam cabbage mix, which I typically don't see a lot of cabbage dishes. The festival was cooked perfectly, added great balance to the meal because it's a sweet fried bread. The rice and peas were dry and had some of that jerk sauce drizzled on top, which I wish I would've asked for some oxtail gravy to go on top to make the rice and peas more delectable. Overall, I would say that there were some hits and some misses, but I definitely will be back for that jerk chicken and some brown stewed chicken, which I saw was a special on Thursdays. read more

Oxtail was good. The meat was a bit sweet but the pickleee was great. I would buy again

Food and service were outstanding. Authentic options, vegan options, kid options, and fusion, too. Everything is made fresh in house and Chef Orrett has the restaurant very clean. So good and can't wait to be back. read more

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Beat juice ever refreshing the best jerk chicken n oxtails in town best jerk Mac n cheese n oshanda can cool the best will come back everyday if I could read more

This spot just opened up about 3-months ago. The menu has a wide variety of items that all have some type of jerk twist to it. The owner was really accommodating and the inside of this place is huge. I love that it was plenty of tables to sit down and enjoy your food at vs. taking it to go. We got four meals and 3 drinks that totaled to like $86 which is very reasonable. Our food was very fresh and flavorful, no complaints on our end. I can't wait to drop back in the next time I'm in the Gainesville area. #SupportBlackOwnedBusinesses read more

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My daughter and I ate here while we visited UF. Food was delicious but even more than that was the goodness of the restaurant crew. My daughter hadn't realized that she had forgotten her purse at the restaurant. The crew called my phone and texted at closing to let me know that we had forgotten it! I also witnessed them showing graciousness to a mentally ill man who visited the restaurant while we waited for our food. Such goodness! I'm thankful we chose Di Big Jerk tonight read more

I wanted to taste some oxtails on yesterday so I decided to try out Di Big Jerk in Gainesville Florida off Main Street. They had only one customer waiting for their order, so asked about the oxtails platters and the manager said, "the prices are by market value' at $28 a platter. First, this is very expensive, and you only get 4-5 pieces of oxtails per platter. I asked for a sample to try the manager gave me a mini cup of the sauce only to sample. The taste was okay so I decided to get the oxtails tacos instead. The tacos were greasy with very little oxtails in them you are only paying for 3 greasy taco shells with the oxtail sauce and shredded cabbage. Not worth $21. The place looks nice but the customer service and the two guys he had helping him appeared hung over from the night before. I don't think I'd return there way too expensive for greasy food. read more

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The space is great! I actually think this would be a great lounge/club space for weekends if they have the license to do so. The food (as a man married to a born and raised Jamaican whose mom was a private chef for over 20 years) was okay. I can tell it was not prepared the traditional routes but I can appreciate the flavor and spice levels. The staff is kind and the atmosphere is welcoming so I think they will be prosperous. I would not say this is an authentic Jamaican meal BUT!! I also have to consider the population most likely to visit this establishment. Plus, the traditional ways of preparing Jamaican food takes a LONG time. This might just not be feasible for a causal restaurant to do. Overall, a good place for lunch and we will be supporting as they continue to blossom! read more

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Friendly worker & the food is amazing! I've been looking for a place in gainsville with authentic Caribbean food & this place is a perfect go to. read more

This place took over the site of a previous Jamaican restaurant called "reggae shack." The owner is from Jamaica and is very nice. The place was remodeled and has been carefully cleaned with the kitchen expanded and open where the air flows better and you can see how clean it is and see the food being cooked. I had jerk chicken and some carrot juice, both of which were excellent. There are also some vegan options on the menu. Caveat: Be careful to ask for boneless if you prefer boneless because some dishes may otherwise have a lot of bones. My jerk chicken did not have any bones & was very good. The staff is very friendly. Bob Marley is remembered in a wall photo here and sometimes they play his music. In the past I have really enjoyed the hibiscus ginger drink as well. Today's carrot juice also included ginger and was very tasty. read more

Got the vegan curry tofu and it was delicious. My boyfriend got a chicken jerk platter. Both meals were take out and filled to the brim. The worker was really nice and gave great suggestions if you asked. read more

Excellent food! I love the Jerk Shrimp veggie bowl. Super clean with a fun vibe. Great vegan options too. Its not often you can find a place that has tasty options no matter your food preference/ dietary restrictions. read more

At the Palm Beach Boat Show and went to the food truck. The jerk chicken and veg was AMAZING! tons of flavor, tons of chicken and vegetables! best food I have had in a long time. read more

The food overall is good but the workers there are absolutely rude. I ordered food when the store was open and waited an hour I got fed up so I called the store and the worker picked up and said "closed" and then hung up immediately didn't even give me a chance to speak. They need better workers there because every time I've ever been there, they look like the last thing they want to be doing there. read more

Whoa delicious! The service was friendly & fast, food is hot & my first bite stopped me in my tracks. Not too spicy either. Be back soon! read more

Di Big Jerk - Coconut shrimp! - Food Trucks Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Excellent oxtail stew and curry goat. They are nice people! Please support them! It seems to be mainly a take-out place, there are tables inside but really no table service. read more

Food is very delicious and they have a lot of vegan options. If you're vegan, it's really great to grab a lunch or dinner from Di and pop into Karma Cream next door for a vegan dessert. Works great for me! read more