Some restaurants serve food. Others tell a story. From the moment I stepped into Twin Isles, I knew…read morethis was going to be the latter. The first thing that struck me was how intimate the restaurant feels. It's not a massive dining room where you're just another customer passing through. The smaller space creates a personal connection that allows you to appreciate Chef Janelle--not just as the person preparing your meal, but as someone who poured her heart into turning a dream into reality. That alone makes the experience feel special. The atmosphere is transportive. The music flowing through the restaurant, the Caribbean radio stations playing in the background, and the unmistakable sounds of Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and neighboring islands make you feel as though you've stepped through a portal. For a moment, you're no longer in Texas--you're immersed in the rhythm, warmth, and hospitality of the Caribbean. It's comforting, peaceful, and beautifully authentic. The menu is thoughtfully designed and incredibly approachable. Whether you're building a bowl or choosing a plate, the process is simple and easy to follow. Even if you've never experienced Caribbean cuisine before, there's no intimidation. Chef Janelle is happy to explain unfamiliar dishes, ingredients, and flavors, making first-time visitors feel just as welcome as those who grew up enjoying Caribbean food. That level of hospitality is becoming increasingly rare, and it deserves recognition. One piece of advice: arrive early. The food has earned a loyal following, and popular items sell out for a reason. Now, onto the meal. I kept my first visit relatively simple: a bowl with curry goat, sautéed spinach, macaroni pie, and rice and peas. It sounded like comfort food on paper, but what arrived was a beautifully balanced collection of flavors that complemented one another in ways I hadn't anticipated. The macaroni pie deserves its own moment. If you're expecting American-style macaroni and cheese, leave those expectations at the door. This is something entirely different. It has the structure and integrity of a baked pie while delivering all the creamy richness you hope for in macaroni and cheese. The beautifully browned layer of cheese across the top provided the perfect contrast to the velvety interior. Every bite was indulgent without feeling heavy. The sautéed spinach brought freshness and depth to the bowl, especially as it mingled with the curry goat. Speaking of the goat--it was wonderfully seasoned, tender, and deeply comforting. The curry carried warmth and complexity rather than overwhelming heat, allowing every ingredient to shine. I couldn't resist adding an extra serving of the house pepper sauce. That's simply my preference because I love spice. The meal absolutely stands on its own without it, but for me, the added heat elevated every bite, adding another layer of excitement without masking the incredible flavors already present. The rice and peas were far more than a supporting side. They were fragrant, flavorful, and satisfying enough to enjoy on their own. After finishing the macaroni pie, I mixed the rice into the remaining curry and spinach, letting it absorb every last drop of those incredible juices. It was one of those moments where every ingredient came together so naturally that you couldn't help but slow down and savor it. What impressed me most was how every item could stand confidently on its own while also contributing to something even greater when enjoyed together. That's a hallmark of thoughtful cooking. Nothing competed for attention. Everything complemented everything else. This was my first visit, but it certainly won't be my last. In fact, I'm already planning my return because there were several dishes I wanted to try that had already sold out. If anything, that's another testament to the quality of the food and the loyalty this restaurant has earned. Thank you, Chef Janelle, for sharing your passion, your culture, and your hospitality. Twin Isles is more than a restaurant--it's an experience that celebrates Caribbean heritage with authenticity, warmth, and extraordinary flavor. You've earned a lifelong customer.

Service was pleasant and engaging. Ordered a couple of doubles and oxtail sandwich with a drink…read more Doubles were a bit watery and the sandwich was a bit mid (no distinctive favor or special bun). I won't be harsh on the doubles because we got there when they just opened so it seems it may have needed more time to thicken/cook. Place is small and clean.

Came here for an early dinner on a Tuesday, I was the only patron. My food came out within a few…read moreminutes of my ordering it. I went for a regular oxtail plate with gungo rice and plantains. Overall I liked it! The oxtail was tender and delicious, the sauce had a nice mix of smoke, sweetness, and a tiny bit of heat. For a regular (as opposed to their large) size plate it felt like a good amount of oxtail I thought based on the description the gungo rice would have a more prominent coconut taste but it was pretty typical Jamaican peas and rice. The star of the plate was the oxtail and the sides don't really factor into my review unless it really stands out in one direction or the other Overall I'd definitely recommend giving them a try and will absolutely be back here to try more of their menu

I have been wanting to try Bikkle Jamaican Restaurant for some time now. Friends were coming into…read moretown and wanted Jamaican food. Ding ding!!! We decided to eat at Bikkle, close to the University of Texas at Austin on Guadalupe Street. Bikkle is known for its authentic Jamaican cuisine such as jerk chicken, oxtails (hard to find anywhere anymore) and curry goat. Between the four of us, we ordered jerk chicken, curry goat, and curry chicken. We all went for red beans and rice with cabbage. All dishes came with plantain, which is one of my favorites. Having been to Jamaica a couple of times, I can report out that this food is authentic! The flavors were swirls of goodness in every bite. The food was also warm when served. We also ordered jerk chicken egg rolls. Just think about that concept for a minute. The jerk chicken egg rolls were exceptionally good. The highlight for me was the curry goat. First, you do not find goats on many menus. The curry goat was tender and oh so flavorful. Some pieces had associated fat. All in all, everyone was happy with their meals. During our dinner, only one person was serving customers. She was super friendly and personable. I must think she was overworked as the stream of customers came in. Now for the décor...if you walked in and looked only at the counter, you would have thought it was a "to go" restaurant only as many "to go" containers were stacked high on the counter. Only one other couple sat down and ate in the restaurants and most folks were picking up their food to go. Even the people eating inside the restaurant were served in "to go" containers. The inside is minimalist with no ornate furnishings and yellow walls, projecting a Caribbean feel. Recommend adding a bit more Jamaican artifacts such palm trees, Jamaican flag, surfboard, etc. It would be a great spot for students, friend meet ups and a causal date night... Bikkle Jamaican Restaurant it was great and represented authentic Jamaican food well! We definitely will be returning.

It was my first time dining at this Cuban restaurant in South Austin, and it definitely won't be my…read morelast! The atmosphere was beautiful, warm, and inviting from the moment we walked in. The staff was friendly, and our server, Daniella, was attentive and provided excellent service throughout our meal. The food was delicious, full of authentic flavor, well-prepared, and served in generous portions. Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience, and I look forward to coming back to try more of the menu. Highly recommend!

Had to ask for our food twice because the bartender just wouldn't acknowledge us…read more There was only 2 other tables in the entire place. What are we doing here? Didn't even eat my second round of cold food I had to ask for. Two items were also wrongly priced on our check. Overall bad service.

I was able to eat here at the Lakeline Mall farmers market with my boyfriend and it was a great…read moreexperience! The food was so delicious , we both got the jerk chicken meals and it was wonderfully seasoned with a good about of spice. The man running the booth gave amazing service, he was very sweet and funny. He seemed very passionate about what he does and I feel that it added to the experience! 10/10 would recommend again.

It's changed, The first go around was awesome, and seemed like the owner cared. Second go around,…read moreI could taste the granules from the shaker on every bite I took. That is not Jerk by any standards. Scotch Bonnet peppers, pimento pepper, and garlic are sat the least that you want in a Caribbean marinade. I'm Italian and I know that much.

Tasty food and lime/mint beverage!…read more What i got is an empanada and note it does take a while to cook It came out hot and fresh.. the corn shell was really tasty and filled with shredded chicken. The limeade type beverage was about $5.50 but really tasty and refreshing. The ladies working here were very nice. The food truck park itsself could use a little refreshening but it's nice to sit under trees.

I first went to this spot to have tacos from Cuántos which was good but then we had empanadas…read morevenezolanas from Cachitos512. The one I love is not on the menu is called Pabellón. They make it on the spot so it's fresh. So many people on line for Cuántos not knowing there is something delicious behind them. The arepas are delicious too.

Holy shit... INCREDIBLE! 10/10! Best chicken tamale i have ever had in my life. The owner and chef…read moreis incredibly kind. Stopped by our table to check in on how the meal was. Also the margarita was BOMB! ‍

We had to improvise for a meal plan one night while on our trip to Austin. The place we wanted to…read morego to was simply filled up and the wait was quite lengthy. So we spotted Tamale House East nearby and at first we were a little bit concerned with the overall Yelp averaged score but we decided to proceed anyway and have a meal here. And I am very glad we did! We got some chips and salsa and it was very good! In addition to that I got the Texas Sized Tamale Plate. The tamale was good! There were a few different sauces to pick from and I went with the Tex-Mex Chili for my sauce on top of the tamale. In addition to that I got rice and beans to go along with the plate and those were enjoyable as well. Of course I had to get a margarita and that was nice and refreshing on the warmer day we were experiencing in Austin. No complaints really. The atmosphere is nice and the decor is attractive. I saw some reviews about the service being a bit slow and it sort of was so probably if you anticipate getting into a time crunch best manage your time where you can just kick back and enjoy the food and drink rather adding that stressor on.

Cute spot. Hard to find Jamaican food in Austin so I appreciate this food truck…read more Food: Coco bread - a bit bland for me Oxtail - very flavorful Jerk chicken - good Steamed veggies - decent Plantains - could use thicker cuts Rum cake - tasted more like regular cake than rum cake

Firstly, I want to say the food I received was delicious and the man working was very kind, but I…read morewill not be returning due to the wait time I experienced. I waited almost 2 full hours to receive my food. I arrived on Sunday at 1:00 PM, there were 2-3 people waiting for food ahead of me that had already ordered. I overheard 2 of them complaining about the wait, but I figured since they had parties of 3-4 it was taking a bit longer. I placed my order at around 1:10 and was quoted that it would take around 40 minutes since the food was being made fresh. I almost left, but decided I really wanted to try the food and had a few errands I could run in the meantime. Fast forward after running errands for around 45 minutes, I come back at 2:00 and I'm told it will be about 10 minutes longer. This continues until 2:55PM when I finally receive my food. AGAIN, the worker was incredibly nice and offered me punch/small portions of the Jerk Chicken while I waited... but STILL.... I waited 2 hours and I was the only person there the last 1 hour of my wait. I do not think this was a one-off scenario since I heard multiple other groups complaining about the wait time as well. I would recommend ordering over the phone beforehand if you want to come here because waiting 2 hours for a food truck meal just cannot be justified.

We went here in a larger group for a birthday…read more Our server was really friendly and quick. We split an order of fish tacos and they were okay. Not my personal favorite, to be honest. I felt like it lacked some seasoning/flavor. The queso was really good though and I loved my spiked Jarritos! Just a heads up parties of 6+ are automatically tipped 20%. I might have missed it on the menu, but we were not told that verbally. I saw it once receipt came out.

This was an okay Mexican spot. Not terrible but not the best fish tacos ive had. The beans and rice…read morewere also just average. Perhaps i ordered the wrong thing as the main. I do recommend the chips, salsa, & queso. Service was good. This place is still worth trying but it was just a mid spot for me.