Amazing food! Hungry and didn't know what I was in the mood for, went on Yelp and here we are! Located in a smaller strip mall with lots of parking, this restaurant has been here since 2014. Large menu with too many choices, I chose the small garlic shrimp plate----OMG, yum yum yum, good sized portion with lots of red beans and rice... Hubby got the large jerk chicken-he was in heaven! Delicious!!( he shared)... The corn bread too was fantastic. Great meeting the owners, Arlene the cashier, and Emil, the cook; very hospitable. There are tables inside and also an enclosed outdoor patio. You would be making a mistake if you were in the neighborhood and didn't stop here to eat!!! Bonus: near the final approach to the airport, so great for plane spotting! read more

See all

Island vibes is a solid option. Nothing over the top but dependable. The meat was cooked perfectly and the portion size was very good for the price. One thing I noticed was that everything in the plate kind of tasted the same especially with the various vegetables and the rice. We also tried their chicken patty, beef patty, and coco bread. All three of which were very good. Like I said, a solid option for Jamaican food read more

See all

Great service. Quick in and out. Everything was good but make sure you get the sauce for the chicken. The cabbage was nice too. Cool little Jamaican spot on the south side of town. read more

See all

I had the most delicious lunch today at Island Vibes, a Jamaican jerk chicken spot not far from the Nashville airport. As I parked in the lot behind the restaurant, I passed the smoker with chicken on the grill and it looked and smelled legit! The exterior is colorful and welcoming, with plenty of outdoor seating, and inside everything felt bright, happy, and clean. The owner Emil was very friendly as I ordered the jerk chicken plate to go, which comes with rice and beans, stewed cabbage, and plantains. I went with the large chicken portion and it's definitely enough to feast on all day. At home, I plated everything and the meal looked beautiful. The jerk chicken sauce was dark, rich, and very spicy, on par with Nashville hot chicken. I loved the earthy kick! The cabbage and carrots were warm with a light pickled flavor unlike anything I've had before; I could honestly eat a whole bowl of it. The rice and beans were the perfect starchy balance to the spicy jerk sauce, and the plantains added just the right touch of chewy sweetness. It feels like a fabulous homecooked meal, made with love! I thoroughly enjoyed every bite and can't wait to bring my husband here. This place is a true hidden gem in Nashville, and I'll definitely be back often! read more

See all

If you love Jamaican food, you'll LOVE this place! It's next to the Sam's Club on Harding Place. The building is small with Jamaican colors painted all around it. Parking: I went during 6pm and there was no one there so parking was easy! They have a gravel lot behind the building. Ambiance: since it's a lesser known place, it felt local and more authentic. You order in the front and they bring out the food no more than 5min (also count that it was only my friend and I) Food: 100/10! I tried their oxtail for the first time and it was good! A very different kind of taste if you've never had meat in broth before. Now the jerk chicken?!! I could marry it lol. It's amazingly seasoned. Pair it with the rice, plantain, and veggies, chef's kiss. It does have some spiciness to it. This is one of my fav place to get Jamaican food. It feels authentic and deserves the hype. You should try it out! read more

See all

very yummy! i got the curry chicken and i was very impressed. it had lots of flavor but wasn't to overpowering. The lady who toke our order seemed pretty uninterested and annoyed but over all the food made up for it! read more

Island Vibes - Caribbean Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Favorite spot in Nashville to get some real authentic Jamaican food! The service is quick, smooth and always friendly. You walk in and it's like walking in a family members home back on the islands! Great ambiance, whenever I am feeling homesick and need that Caribbean touch...ISLAND VIBES is my spot!!! read more

Got the Jerk chicken, Ox tail and sea Jelly and it was all amazing. Prices were a little high in my opinion which is the only reason why I'm leaving 4 instead of 5. The foods were seasoned very well, but I wasn't a huge fan of the plantains although that came from the meal. Service was quick so if you want food quickly this is a great place to eat. Ambiance was strange I didn't really take a good look around as it was rainy but it looks like there may be more then meets the eye to this place! read more

Super disappointed, as I thought that I was going to get some good oxtail. Both the oxtail and the rice and peas were over cooked, leaving the oxtail "fall off the bone stringy & tough" (and if you know how to cook, you will know that as meat cooks, its muscle fibers contract and become tougher. If cooked for too long, these fibers will squeeze out the moisture, resulting in dryness and a stringy texture.), and the peas and rice were way too soft, near a mushy consistency. The service was nice, and the restaurant's ambiance was exactly like the little restaurants I've eaten in the Caribbean. For me, it's one and done, I won't go back there. It might be different for someone else reading the reviews, this was my first time experience. read more

Island Vibes - Rice & peas, cabbage and plantain...the oxtail were in a separate container and I forgot to take a pic. - Caribbean Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

The best goat curry. Authentic. Great for take out. We sat outside on the verandah. Not a place you'd take a first date unless they are a foodie. :) read more

I got the curry chicken, brown stew chicken, coco bread, and beef patty, and it was all delicious. They also have Ting! As a Jamaican, this is authentic, highly recommend. read more

See all

Nov. 21, 2023 Came here with my friends and tried out their Jerk Tuesday. Comes with rice, charcoaled chicken, and sweet plantains. Make sure to get their spicy sauce (extremely spicy but so good)!!! I usually get their Ox-Tails (hands down), please check them out read more

I am very picky with Jamaican food, but this spot was amazing delicious and worth every bite.

My friend brought us here, but I had them bookmarked somehow. We ordered 2 dinners. A jerk chicken dinner and an oxtail dinner. Everything was feeshly prepared and seasoned well. My large oxtail wasn't that large, tho. Everything was ok, just nothing to write home about. I could try some other things. I might double back when I'm in town. Their prices weren't bad. It also appears to be a lounge or bar after dark. read more

Island Vibes - Dark jerk dinner - Caribbean Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

Food was great and legit Caribbean food. Would recommend for sure. Had the garlic shrimp. Plate is loaded and red beans and rice were delicious. read more

Came all the way from Memphis an was told about this place from a good friend I got the curry chicken. Definitely seasoned well Rice was ok not as seasoned an the cabbage was good as well. I also ordered a side of Mac n cheese. I was not a fan I could tell it as day old an that they just popped the Mac n cheese in the microwave an nuked it Besides tht I enjoyed the curry chicken an would definitely go back for the jerk wings read more

Island Vibes - Microwaved day old Mac n cheese - Caribbean Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

If you are hungry and want some amazing Jamaican food, Island Vibes is the only restaurant to consider. I go so often they know my order on sight! Large Jerk Chicken w/extra sauce. Very friendly staff and great service. read more

We tried Island Vibes today for an early dinner. Very small place. Food decent at best. Ox tails not to my taste and over priced. Small order with a lot of rice and beans was almost $19.00/ Wife had fish and rice and beans. Two soft drinks and two meals with tax was $61.00. I'm going to stick with a chain restaurant for my ethnic adventures. read more

See all

Loved the food. The portions were more than I expected. Made me miss my grandmothers cooking. Proud grandson forever representing the my Jamaican Culture. LONG Live St Ann Parish. read more

I love this place... I love they have roti and the flavor of the food is amazing. Last time I came here was about 10 months ago and they only had carry out so it's honestly a food you should seat down and enjoy but the option works for now. My favorite is the Ox tails plate. Hands downs. They have other plates like Curry Chicken Roti and Curry goat roti, but that's what my heart desires every time I have come. My dad brought me some after I gave birth to my daughter and they wrote a nice congratulations message on my box. How sweet?They do fill the box to over it's capacity so that's always nice :). Even the small plate is filled to a max. The restaurant does have an island vibe specially during the summer. They feature flags from different countries as decor and bright colors. The staff has always been nice and friendly. Always a good experience and great food. Come check them out! read more

See all

Tried this out for lunch today. Husband got the small oxtail plate and I got the jerk chicken plate. The food was hot and good but portion size to price is more on the steep end. They give you plenty of rice and beans, and cabbage and peppers which are both good but the oxtail was small and only had 3 pieces which isn't worth the price in my opinion and the jerk chicken had a kick but was also very dry and over cooked. Service was good and clean area just very humid inside the restaurant. I would recommend to try this place at least once. read more

Very delicious and flavorful food. The jerk pork was extremely tender and juicy. The rice had a surprising but pleasant heat to it. Quite good-sized portions as well. Only thing is it was a super long wait, but it is worth it! read more

Island Vibes - Jerk Pork and beef patty - Caribbean Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

First off- I ALWAYS recommend Island Vibes to any and everybody who wants Jamaican food. Always! I been coming there for yearssss. I was so pissed off when my girlfriend brought my plate home. I know inflation is crazy but please make this make sense! $18 per plate- $40+ spent in total on two plates like.... A whole 2 1/2 pound pack of oxtails from Costco is about $28-$30 A bag of brown rice- $1.80 A head of cabbage - about $2 You get my point! What in the scam is this?!! Y'all gave us 2 small ssa oxtails and a whole plate of sides! Like what? If I wasn't almost a hour away, I would've brought this right back up there I promise!!! Ain't no way y'all playing with people money like this! And she ain't know y'all was gone do that until AFTER she paid or else it would've been a HECK NO!!! This wallet is smallllll- compare the size of debit card to this container and IMAGINE what size oxtail could possibly be in it. This really irked tf out of me and I dont even make reviews but this was some bull$h!t! read more

Island Vibes - oxTOES at this point bc it definitely ain't no oxTAILS - Caribbean Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

Wonderful People... Wonderful Food... Wonderful feel and look! Went in late night 15 minutes to close and ALL these assertions still held true. read more

I have a co-worker on deployment with me. Jay is from Haiti and he loves Caribbean food. I looked up the best Caribbean cuisine in Nashville, TN. When we drove up all you can smell is jerk chicken grilling to perfection. I wanted to try more than one protein, so I chose curry goat and jerk chicken. They have a spicy barbeque. It enhances the grill taste of the jerk chicken. If you desire more spice they had it all. Their oxtails, curry goat are very tender. The rice and peas were delicious and the steamed cabbage had a lot of flavors. The plantain was a sweet delight to my combo dish. If you are in Nashville, TN and you desire the taste of real authentic Jamaican cuisine, please stop by Island Vibes. To my Yelpers let's continue to eat our way through the world. read more

See all

Food: delicious and well spiced. Parking available. Environment: outdoor with cute island decor. Indoor is simple and empty. read more

Island Vibes - Outdoor - Caribbean Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

The jerk wings with curry sauce, vegetables and rice are great! Wednesday is jerk wings day too. The best service and most calm ambiance. read more

Island Vibes - Jerk wings with curry sauce - Caribbean Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

The food was delicious and the portions were large. Spiced well and not overwhelming. The oxtail was perfect and the jerk pork was tasty. A small place that does a lot of takeout business. They have Caribbean music playing nonstop and they even played some stuff from an artist that my wife and the cashier were talking about. We will definitely be back! read more

The missus's colleague from the Caribbean recommended this restaurant to us. Really flavorful jerk chicken, plantains and cabbage were bomb as well. Rice was good. I thought the oxtail was just alright-- definitely have had better from a myriad of different cuisines. Beef patty was mediocre, but that might just be a me issue-- haven't really met a beef patty that I have liked. Definitely looking forward to going back and trying the goat. read more

See all

If you're ever in this part of Tennessee and like Jamaican food, this is a must try. It's unassuming and easy to miss if you're not looking hard enough, but the food is delicious. The service was friendly and efficient. There's a nice little patio to enjoy if the weather is nice. There was music playing through speakers on the patio. A nice little touch. I thoroughly enjoyed my curry chicken dinner on the patio on this beautiful afternoon. read more

See all

The food was a taste of the Island's. The service could have been with a smile but, the food made up for that. The ambiance was so so. read more

Island Vibes - Small jerk chicken, steamed cabbage, rice and peas - Caribbean Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

I visited the restaurant while inside dining was closed so I ordered my food to go. I arrived right as they were opening and there was already a line outside the door. After trying the food, I understand why. The food was fresh and the portions were big. I ordered the small plate and there was so much food packed in there. I couldn't finish my food in one sitting, and the leftovers were just as good. read more

Island Vibes - Jerk Chicken, macaroni and cheese, plantains and greens - Caribbean Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Outstanding food, service and atmosphere for good food. We had several things across the menu, and enjoyed everything. I and my lady live to have found this little hidden gem! read more

Oh. My. Word. I got the oxtail and a beef patty. My word. Excellent. I'll be back. Service was quick. Vibe is cozy. read more

So to start with this venue is very unassuming. It definitely can use some upgrades It is clean however. I ordered the curry goat -large-an VitaMalt which surprisingly set me back $18.00. For the meal to Precooked at that price point and in "goat country"i TN is a bit ridiculous read more

Island Vibes - Wall Menu - Caribbean Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

The service here was great. The food was delicious. Loved the vibe on the patio. First time having curried goat, it was good and tender.

I am born & raised from Chicago Illinois- me & my husband tried it on 02/15/2025. This was far most the worst Jerk Chicken I've ever ate!! The chicken was very very very dry!! the cabbage had too much vinegar!! the rice was dry!! although the plantain was ok!! IMJ if you're looking for some real good jerk!! Do not go here,, I'm sorry but you guys have to do better!! but their very nice,, thats the positive part! read more

All I can say is.... WOW. I had been meaning to stop for a while and I wish I had came earlier. When you walk in, you're welcomed by the scents of Caribbean cooking, always a great start - I was salivating before I even ordered.. I got the Garlic Shrimp and instead of rice, substituted it with Mac & Cheese, it was no extra charge which I really appreciated. The food came out in less than ten minutes and it was AMAZING. The flavors of the garlic shrimp were amazing, and mixed with the Mac & cheese it was a perfect combination. The cabbage on the side was a great palate cleanser. The plantains were a nice sweet addition, although admittedly I ate them first because they were so good. The service was also amazing, the lady who took my order was so kind and very easy to talk too. Overall, very well deserving of a 5-star review, come check them out for the best Caribbean food In Nashville read more

Island Vibes - Garlic Shrimp with Mac & Cheese - Caribbean Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Food was great! We got jerk chicken & red snapper. Definitely will return for something else. Loved the pineapple tropical juice they had too read more

Island Vibes - Jerk Chicken Red Snapper - Caribbean Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Tennessee, you all have some excellent Jamaican food!! The customer service was superb. They were right on time with the Escovitch-style Red Snapper! The FLAVA was EVERYTHING!! The cabbage and plantains were cooked to perfection, adding to the overall enjoyment of my meal. And! And! I found Sea Moss; this is a major WIN!! The music was a vibe!! Dope Spot, Guys!! read more