Seriously the BEST JA food in Georgia. Worth the drive. I just wish they were open when they say they'd be open. I drove all the way to Athens after work and they were closed a good hour and some change before it says they close. No biggie, but definitely make sure to call prior to arriving so you will save on fuel if driving far. Other than that, tasty, authentic, flavorful, a bit pricier than the typical JA restaurant- so make sure you have enough coins in your bank account. Boy do I miss the days of $10 LARGE plates of JA food. But hey, with the inflation of just about EVERYTHING it's understandable. Nevertheless, super good! read more

I guess I had my expectation too high. I got a curry chicken plate. Everything was just too salty for me. The corn bread and the iced tea were really good tho! Oh, I loved the Jamaican music playing in the restaurant. read more

A must visit whenever in Athens. It's my favorite jamaican restaurant by far. Staff are always super nice, and food is always tasty. Love sitting outside on the covered porch during summer and fall. If you can handle all the heat, get the spicy cabbage and spicy squash sides. They're delicious! read more

Kelly's Jamaican Foods - Jerk chicken and pork with spicy cabbage and spicy squash - Caribbean Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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I ate at Kelly's Jamaican foods last week. It is located on Lumpkin Street in Athens. He advertises the food to be very spicy and in fact it is. I had the jerk chicken, some beans and rice and they were excellent. They are not for the weak at heart because they are very spicy which I love. In addition, they are extremely tasty. read more

Kelly's is by far probably one of my favorite Jamaican spots period. It's authentic and you can tell based off the fact that the owner is always up front serving and meeting customers. Oxtail is only served on Wednesday's & Fridays just as a heads up. For an oxtail plate it was about $22 which based on the amount of food you get is a good deal. I've eaten at other restaurants where they skimp you out for almost twice as much. A regular plate without oxtail ranges from about $14-$20 which once again I think is a pretty good deal. They're open for you to sit inside and eat now which is great. They have ample amount of seating both indoors and outdoors. Would definitely recommend supporting this local business! read more

Kelly's Jamaican Foods - Oxtail Plantain Rice & Peas - Caribbean Near Me - Athens, Georgia

An absolute must whenever I'm in Athens. Great service and menu variety is excellent.

Hubby and I stop by here every time we travel to Atlanta, Athens or anywhere close enough. 3-4 large pork plates every time. If you like spicy, this is the spot for you. My favorite sides are the collard greens, squash, and spicy cabbage. All the meats are fantastic and do not forget your cornbread!! Kelly is a long-time staple in Athens, Ga and always has a smile for us when we walk in. Not a fancy place, but seating inside and outside and the food can't be compared to any place else we have tried.. read more

Have eaten at Kelly's for a few years now. Food has always been good. I enjoy the jerk pork, spicy cabbage and the rice and peas. The cornbread they give you with the meal goes well with the spice in the food. Always gotta have some Kelly's at least once a month. read more

I can't express enough how much I love Kelly's! I mean the food is amazing (watch for the spice sometimes it creeps and sometimes it's just flat out spicy!). The service is consistent due to the owner always being up front serving. She is very nice. As I've never sat in the restaurant to eat I am not 100% sure how the atmosphere is but when I come pick up my food it's calm and they play good music. It is pretty hot in there but it's barely noticeable with how focused you are on the food being platted! I don't come to campus everyday but when I do and need a meal Kelly's hits the spot every single time! Price is always about $14 but the sweet bread and sweet tea are extra. Oxtails are only served Wednesday's and Friday's :( those of course cost more I want to say around $16 but I am not sure. read more

Kelly's Jamaican Foods - Bbq chicken Rice and peas Mac n cheese - Caribbean Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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Love this place! The chicken was perfectly spiced with a kick and paired well with the mac and cheese. The collard greens were cooked well and had a bunch of flavor. The cornbread was a little on the dry side but it soaked up the flavor of the chicken juice well. The weather was nice outside so the outdoor seating made the experience all the more enjoyable. read more

Kelly's Jamaican Foods - cornbread - Caribbean Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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Oxtails only Wednesday and Friday but literally the best cabbage Ive had so flavorful!!

Amazing Oxtails! Everything is great. Really enjoyed it every time. Kelly is there and always a joy

100% best Jamaican in Athens. The food is great and Kelly, the owner is extremely nice as well. He was on the front lines, serving the food and ringing everybody up, which I think is amazing as the owner. He even came and checked on us while we were eating. The restaurant itself isn't too big, but you can sit inside and outside in the little patio area. There are a few parking spots, but it kind of shares a parking lot with Subway. Now the food. The food is delicious. Now I have to say, it is AUTHENTIC JAMACIAN, meaning it is spicy. However the spice doesn't overpower the flavor. I got the jerk pork with rice & peas & cabbage. Honestly the cabbage is my favorite part of the meal. It's a sweet and spicy cabbage that is the perfect mix of sweetness and spice. My husband got the curry chicken, rice and peas, and mac & cheese, which he said was really good as well! If you're in Athens, make sure you stop by here for some great food! Go to the original one on Lumpkin though because the one on Epps Brige is a franchise and nowhere near as good. You have to go see Kelly! read more

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The food was quite frankly not good at all. I ordered jerk chicken, rice and peas and collard greens. First off the Jerk Chicken had 0 jerk seasoning I don't know what that was that was on the chicken. Secondly the rice and peas was spicy very spicy and rice and peas is not supposed to be spicy. The cabbage had only 1 taste and that was vinegar which was awful. The customer service was fine. I needless to say will not be coming back. If you have true Caribbean roots this is not a restaurant you want to come to in Athens,GA I didn't even finish after the first couple bites it was honestly that bad. read more

Kelly's Jamaican Foods - Caribbean Near Me - Athens, Georgia

fall off the bone, melt in your mouth jerk chicken! The cornbread was perfect, and the plantains were rich and next level delicious. Owner was super nice and super cute location, will eat here again! read more

Food wasn't horrible. But it wasn't great either. It wasn't seasoned like I thought it would be. My homie said his jerk chicken was good, but his macaroni definitely wasn't. I tried to support a small business. But I see why it wasn't anyone there on "gameday". That should have given me pause. I won't go there again, but much respect to them. read more

Kelly's Jamaican Foods - Stuffing my face! - Caribbean Near Me - Athens, Georgia

I was excited to try, but the baked mac and cheese tastes more like cheesy spicy pasta, and the jerk chicken part had a sour taste to it. My rice was plain, but the lady added the jerk sauce to it and it was just like super spicy plain rice. I was a bit taken aback because I was expecting it to taste like the food I had while I was in Jamaica and the Jamaican restaurants in Atlanta. They prepared the food very quick, so that was great! I didn't like how you are to put your own napkins, straw and silverware in your own bag. They don't do it for you, which was a bit unusual to me. Phone lines don't work, and prices are different in store than what's said online. Sweet tea was good also. read more

I love this food a lot,I end up asking my bestfriends to come here when I get the munchies and just when I'm hungry.food is so good and there ox tails are so tender ,macaroni is spicy ,and rice is full of flavor +corn bread best part. read more

Kelly's Jamaican Foods - Jerk pork,mac+cheese,spicy squash. - Caribbean Near Me - Athens, Georgia

The best food in ATHENS Ga. Best Jamaican food in the Southeast. Spicy flavors that make you so happy you're crying! Greatest owner on Earth. read more

Kelly's Jamaican Foods - Jerk Chickens. Spicy Cabbage. Greens. - Caribbean Near Me - Athens, Georgia

If you're into spicy Caribbean food (and I am), look no further than Kelly's! Their spicy cabbage side is something to die for, as is their jerk chicken. It is an unpretentious diner kindly tended to by the owner (Kelly) himself, showcasing not only the food of Jamaica but also its own brand of warm hospitality. read more

Great food! Not fancy but authentic and spicy. The price was reasonable and portions were generous. read more

Went here on a whim while in town to visit a friend and I'm so glad I did. However, I was warned that they often run out of food and not to look forward to being able to order any of their more popular dishes. I was delighted to find that not only did they have everything listed on the menu, there were even a few off menu items! The curry goat, greens, cabbage, cornbread, mac & cheese; everything was just so delightful! So much so, we went back the very next day and ordered even more food, about $80 worth to be exact. It helped that we were there in the off season. Athens is a college town and with all the students away for the summer, I could see why there was such an abundance of food choices. I love that it's a hole in the wall "joint" with rickety floor boards (on the patio), an outdated TV and Caribbean music in the background. It felt like going over to grandma's for Sunday dinner. I'm a southern girl and this spoke to all of my southern sensibilities! My best friend lives in Athens and she already knows that we gotta go back to Kelly's the next time I'm in town! read more

Kelly's Jamaican Foods - Caribbean Near Me - Athens, Georgia

This is where my love for Jamaican food began. It is the best hole in the wall in Athens, and it makes my heart so happy that it has stayed open despite other local restaurants in the area closed down in the 5 years I lived there. All the platters come with cornbread, which is so good. I think I got bbq chicken last time, but I usually get the jerk chicken if I want the SPICE. The owner is wonderful and parking/ordering is easy. The water is alright, so go get you some sweet tea. read more

Kelly's Jamaican Foods - BBQ chicken, greens, Mac n cheese - Caribbean Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Genuinely the best jerk food I've had in my life. Never had meat like this that just fell off the bone with so much juice and flavor. I got the large jerk chicken with rice and mac. So good. read more

Kelly's Jamaican Foods - Caribbean Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Absolutely one of my favorite spots in Athens. I used to go here at least once a week until I definitely started to feel it in my wallet and guts! Definitely always call ahead to make sure they have the meat and sides that you want because they do run out fast! Food: DELICIOUS AND SPICY! I always order a large jerk pork plate with double Mac and cheese since the dairy helps cool off the spicy pork! I order jerk pork because not only it's the spiciest, it's the least fussiest. I've had their jerk, curry, and bbq chicken and since it's all bone-in wings, it gets messy to eat with all the sauce. My boyfriend's favorites are their curry goat and oxtail that comes only on certain days (usually weekends). Their best side is definitely their Mac n cheese but their rice and peas and collard greens come close. You also get cornbread and sweet tea with your meal. Their sweet tea is the BEST I've ever had and I'm pretty picky. It is ridiculously sweet but you'll need that after taking a bite of their jerk food. Their food is super authentic and their portions are generous. I always have enough leftover for another meal the next day. Price: You can't beat the price. $14 for a large jerk pork plate, and it's $13 for the other large plates. $10-12 if you want a small, but with such a little difference you might as well get a large. Since I normally can split a large into two meals, I'm technically paying $7 for each portion AND it already comes with sweet tea drink (free refills). Other drinks you have to pay for, about $2 for soda and $4+ for beer which is standard. Service: Theres no waiter and it is basically a fast casual restaurant, so you pick your protein + 2 sides and given at the register. Sometimes they're friendly, sometimes they're very businesslike. There is always one older lady who is at the front and while she seems mean, she's actually quite nice! She always compliments my nails haha and Mr. Kelly, who I assume is the owner, is always a friendly face around the spot and makes it a point to have a conversation with all of us. It's not uncommon for him to join a table and have a friendly chitchat. Overall: I love this place. I would have given it 5 stars but I docked 1 due to how stale the sides can taste at times depending on I guess who cooked it. They're fine with giving out burnt cornbread too which I don't mind, but it definitely miffs my boyfriend. Also the restaurant can be incredibly humid and stuffy even if there's nobody in there. The staff is a mixed bag, although generally nice. I definitely do recommend this place and it is an Athens STAPLE! Generous portions, overall good service, and delicious food and tea!!! read more

Kelly's Jamaican Foods - Enjoyed some jerk pork with double Mac n cheese! - Caribbean Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Eating Kelly's Jamaican left me disappointed, and confused. Before coming here I read the positive reviews on their Yelp page, so I'm not sure if I just had a bad experience or that I don't have a taste for Jamaican food. So right of the bat, I'm not an expert on Jamaican food, but I will try to give you an honest opinion of the restaurant as best I can. The outside and inside of the restaurant are not much to look at. Paint was peeling from the walls and the food behind the counter was left uncovered, slowly waiting to be eaten. But I can't complain, some of the best restaurants I've tried don't have time to care about looks and decor. I came in on a Sunday evening, so many of the food items were already running low or sold out. In fact, it seemed like half the menu was sold out at the time, including corn bread, mac and cheese, and jerk pork. Luckily a fresh tray of jerk chicken was pulled out, so I ordered that along with the rice and peas and the famous spicy cabbage. My friend opted for the curry chicken, rice and peas, and plantains. The plates normally come with a free slice of cornbread, but they had ran out by the time we came. We asked if we could substitute it for another slide, which the owner refused. The food was given to us lukewarm, a big red flag. The jerk chicken was seasoned well, lots of smoke and spices permeated through the meat, pretty reminiscent of meat straight off the backyard barbecue pit. The spiciness was manageable, maybe like 7/10 spiciness for a normal person. I definitely had to make a few trips back to refill my water cup. The thicker white meat was understandably tough and bland, as the meat was only seasoned on the outside. But fall off the bone/melt like butter tender? Absolutely not, I had to go back to ask for knives to specifically cut through the meat. The curry chicken was tender and juicy, but lacked flavor. It tasted like a soupy Japanese curry, like those prepackaged mixes you find in the supermarket. All I got was a faint taste of curry powder and a lot of chicken tendon. The rice and peas were fine, just a little cold. It tastes pretty good if you drizzle a little bit of jerk sauce over it. This was the first time I've tried spicy cabbage, and I don't think it's my thing. It was hardly spicy, just cold, sweet, and mushy, something you'd expect to find in an elementary school lunch. The plantains, on the other hand, were great, sweet and crispy just the way they should be. Overall, I didn't think the quality of food was worth the $12 I paid for. If you come earlier and overlook the condition of the restaurant, then maybe you'll enjoy the food here. read more

Kelly's Jamaican Foods - Jerk pork plate with spicy cabbage and rice and peas - Caribbean Near Me - Athens, Georgia

spicy cabbage , jerk chicken highly recommend!. The location is not well maintained. 5 stars if the place is cleaner. read more

A day at the University of Georgia Art Museum with my 17 y.o. son left us hungry! A quick yelp search of top rated restaurants landed us here. THE DETAILS * DAY of the WEEK & TIME: Saturday @ 1:30pm * DINING COMPANION(S): son * WHAT TO EXPECT: IF hole in the wall had a picture next to it in the dictionary, it would be of this place! Mind you, that's not a bad thing. Some of my best eating has been at such places. * ATMOSPHERE / AMBIANCE: Not really a place you come to for ambiance. Inside the restaurant is a long, narrow and clean seating space w/windows, house plants and an old tv. Outside is an enclosed and covered patio area that uses plastic corrugated panels as roofing to bring in light. Fairly spacious with bench seating and ceiling fans. * SERVICE: Order & pay @ counter. Staff was nice. * DRINKS: Sweet Tea (4.5 stars) $2.70 w/tax ORDERED - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1) CURRY CHICKEN (3 stars) | $10.80 w/tax This is the first time I've ever had curry chicken where I couldn't really taste the curry. The chicken was soft and tender but the curry had a watered down sort of taste. I thought it was just me until I read several other reviews saying the same thing. Also, the gravy was oilier than I would have liked. Includes two sides of your choosing ~ Rice & Peas (3 stars) - as expected, no better or worse ~ Green Beans (2.5 stars) - straight out of a can flavor 2) JERK CHICKEN (3.5 stars) | $10.80 w/tax My son ordered this and it was much spicier than you would expect. I honestly thought my tongue was going to catch on fire from just one bite. HE loves spicy food so it worked for him, but thought it could have been a little more flavorful. It was his first time having jerk chicken. Includes two sides of your choosing ~ Mac n' Cheese (3 stars) - not what you'd expect and very spicy ~ Green Beans (2.5 stars) - straight out of a can flavor 3) BEEF PATTY (1 star) | refunded We were given the last available beef patty, but it had been sitting in the warmer too long. Unbeknownst to us, the meat inside was hard and dry as a bone. It also looked awful on the outside. They refunded our money without hesitation after showing them the inside of the patty. --- - DISLIKES: Wish the green beans were more flavorful, the curry more curryful and the mac n' cheese more mac n' cheesy! ++ MUST TRIES: None, but most everything was adequate. [ NOTES ] Next time try the oxtails, but be sure to call ahead. It's not on the menu every day nor is the curry goat. Also, be brave and try the spicy collard greens some reviewers rave about. TOTAL: $25 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - FINAL THOUGHTS Well, I can't say I'm a fan... at least not yet. Nothing but the sweet tea was above expectation for me. The curry was actually a tad underwhelming. Still, it was a solid meal and I look forward to another visit where hopefully it will be so delicious it will write itself and add another star (or two)! SOLID 3 stars overall. 2018/78 read more

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Definitely my favorite Jamaican place. Mr. Kelly is such a happy person and very inviting. Every meal comes with their cornbread. I can't handle jerk seasoning, so he recommended the bbq or curry. I had both and those are fantastic. Just enough heat but not to where you're dying for sweet tea. I love it. Mac and cheese is not your regular gold, cheesy side. But it's still just as great with a spicy kick. For $12, you can see I get a lot of servings. read more

Kelly's Jamaican Foods - BBQ Chicken, rice and beans, Mac and cheese. - Caribbean Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Kelly's Jamaican Foods is located in a tiny shack next door to a Subway, which didn't seem like the safest place to park your car at 8pm on a Saturday night. Inside was the quaintest little restaurant, where a bored worker leaned against the counter and took our orders. I wanted the jerk pork but they were out. I had jerk chicken in Atlanta the day before so I ended up ordering the curry chicken, with the spicy cabbage and the mac and cheese, which came with a huge slice of cornbread. The curry chicken stained my nails yellow, but was sweet, tender and tasty. The spicy cabbage was ON POINT. I wish I had ordered two servings of it. Thank god, my friend wasn't a fan so I ate almost of his portion. The Mac and cheese was disappointing. Soggy and lacked the flavor that the cabbage had. The cornbread was sweet and reminded me of a carrot cake, while remaining fluffy and light. I tried some of the jerk chicken and it wasn't as spicy as people were claiming in their reviews. I feel like I've had more authentic in Atlanta. However, it was very smoky and tasted more like BBQ chicken. But I'm not a "jerk" expert. I was surprised to see the man I saw working at CariSoul Cuisine in Atlanta stroll in after we ordered and start doling out food and orders. I just saw him the day before and his jerk chicken was BOMB. So good. Definitely a hidden gem in Athens but not the best Caribbean food I've had. read more

Kelly's Jamaican Foods - Curry chicken with mac and cheese and spicy cabbage - Caribbean Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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Amazing food, friendly service, and great seating inside and outside. Jerk pork and jerk chicken were to die for. Ordered the Mac and cheese and it was alright, not as cheesy as it looked, but it was still good. The plantains were amazing and spicy squash was decent. Next time I'm gonna try the greens and rice and peas.... I should've ordered a small, since the large portion is too large to eat in once sitting. Mmmmmmmmm read more

Yes, it's good. All vegetables are vegetarian and so good. A great blend of spicy and sweet. read more

Kelly's it is an absolute Athens staple. It's easy to drive by and not know it's there, and I'm sure there have been certain times you've been walking down milledge or passing through 5 points and smelled a delicious aroma in the air! but couldn't quite tell where it was coming from ... Well that would be my man Kelly in the back parking lot doing what he does best and what I've been seeing him do for years. Smoking meat and serving platters to his loyal patrons. He is passionate about his food, and all of his ingredients are made with love. He's got a few other menu items if spicy food is not your thing however, if it is, this is the best spot in town. I go for the jerk pork plate with spicy cabbage & spicy squash (a must) and then either some collard greens or homemade Mac and cheese. With a sweet tea and the best cornbread too compliment the meal in a perfect manner. I hope Kelly keeps doing what he's doing and like the hat says " The BEST Smoke in town" read more

Kelly's Jamaican Foods - Jerk pork , collards , squash - Caribbean Near Me - Athens, Georgia

This os one of my sons favorite spots in Athens so he decided we would eat here before his graduation. I don't think I can express just how good this food is, especially considering the price paid!! read more

Hole in wall. Service was friendly. Food was very good. Can't believe that we haven't eaten here before. Will be back.

The reviews say it all. Kelly's is one of the best spots in Athens. It checks all the boxes for a solid hole in the wall. Family run, flavorful food, and a interior design that has proved the test of time. Service is cafeteria style. Come early or right at lunch for a guarantee of the freshest food. The staff here is friendly and even funny at times. Kelly and the others do a great job in accommodating their guests. Food options are standard. Jerk chicken and pork are a go-to. And the collards and rice are a great addition to anything if you're having difficultly in picking between all the sides. There is a moderate difference between the smaller and larger sizes. And a couple dollar increase in price. In a small town like Athens, Kelly's a real treasure. Providing a family run international and authentic flavor experience, this is a must-visit. read more

This is some good eats. Had lunch and wondered why it took so long to try this place. The table had Jerk Pork, BBQ Chicken, and a beef meat pie. They were all tasty. The pork was a little spicy. As the meal went on my mouth was getting hotter with each bite. The chicken was good along with the beef meat pie. The sides were also really good. The collard greens were some of the best I have eaten. Also we enjoyed the spicy cabbage and rice and peas. As others have posted ice tea is really quite good. I will be back. read more

I've been going to Kelly's since I was a young kid, SWEETEST man ever! Love his bright smile and kind soul! the pork and cabbage have always been my favorite. I would always ask my dad if we could go see kelly after school on Fridays! (They were good pals) It became a tradition for most of my child hood (: by far the best Jamaican food, melts in your mouth, full of flavor, the only food I crave constantly. Highly recommend to anyone coming to Athens or just moved here. You WONT be disappointed! read more

The customer service here is absolutely amazing, truly one of a kind and they care about their customers! I had never experienced Jamaican cuisine but after they introduced it to me... let me just say I'll be back! The jerk chicken, cabbage, and rice were delicious. Also, they have the best cornbread that I've ever had! 10/10 read more

Working in Athens now there aren't as many good food choices as I am used to IMO. Wanted Jamaican, and with the highly recommendation from a co-worked I came here. I got the jerk pork with cabbage and Mac and cheese. None were good enough for me to order again. Cabbage to me had a sweet taste, max and cheese was blah. Jerk pork had too much fat and cut into real small pieces. I didn't like the flavor of the jerk pork tbh. Maybe I caught them on a bad day idk, it was the middle of the week. But imho I wouldn't recommend to anybody. But since Athens doesn't have many options for Jamaican food the locals seem to love it. It just didn't do it for me and didn't have an authentic flavor of Jamaican food imo. read more