The process of Jamaican "jerking" originated as a means to preserve meats prior to the invention of…read morerefrigeration. It evolved to the use of local spices to slowly cook and smoke meats over wood, sometimes called the popular "street food" throughout Jamaica. Jerk cooking is considered a mixture of cooking techniques, flavors, and spices from the indigenous people of Jamaica and Africa. Seafood, meats, tropical fruits, and vegetables are widely used.
Mr. Jerk (love that name!) consists of five unpretentious restaurant locations in Toronto, Ontario Canada. In 1979, it had its humble beginnings in the back of a small West Indian grocery chain, Linstead Market. In 1986, the first Mr. Jerk opened in the Peanut Plaza in North York, Toronto.
Mr. Jerk in the Malton suburb of Mississauga subsequently opened not long after that, a mere 10 minutes from Pearson International Airport. This Mr. Jerk, similarly with the other locations, offer jerk chicken/pork, rice and peas with ox tails, meat patties, fried chicken, fried plantains, escovitch (snapper, kingfish, and salt fish with onions), dinner plates, rum cake, snacks and Jamaican drinks.
We've tried the following at Mr. Jerk Malton:
* Jerk chicken and jerk pork. This is the most popular Jamaican dish, and we love it! Many people comment that jerk chicken/pork appears to be burnt on the outside, as there are black patches; however, it is the jerk seasoning that makes it appear that it is burnt, but it is not. The pork and chicken are juicy and tender on the inside, and because they are cooked in a smoker, the interior may be pink, but they are fully cooked with savory smokiness. Note that the jerk seasoning is spicy hot. The chicken and pork can be ordered ala carte or with starches and sides.
* Meat patties. Encased in a flaky crust, these slightly spicy meat patties are easy to eat as a quick snack. Similar to an empanada.
* Escovitch fish. Delicious snapper, king fish, and salt fish that are fried and cooked in a sauce of vinegar, spices, onions, carrots, and peppers.
* Stewed oxtails. Mildly spicy and flavorful of the added spices, the meat was so tender and fall-of-the-bone.
* Rice and peas with oxtails. Savory side dish of rice, kidney beans (Jamaicans call these "peas"), and various spices. The added fall-off-the-bone oxtails take it a step up.
* Festivals. These are tasty and sweet dumplings. They are sweeter than the normal fried dumplings.
* Fried chicken. Fried in a pressure cooker, the chicken is very juicy and tender with a crisp crust.
* Jamaican soda. Refreshing bottled ting (carbonated grapefruit juices), pineapple, and other tropical fruits.
We are fortunate to have been introduced to this authentic Jamaican cuisine, as its owners were born and raised in Jamaica. Food offerings are very flavorful, mouth-watering, and having us to want more. The few Jamaican restaurants that we have back home in HI come and go and are not authentic, as its food is tailored to diners who are unfamiliar with true Jamaican cuisine. As such, it is a special treat to have these foods when we visit Toronto.
They also serve soups, curries (goat and chicken), fried plantains, roti (flatbread with filling of curried chicken or goat and potatoes), steamed veggies, rum cake, and sweet potato pudding. Fresh juices (carrot, soursop, and Irish moss) and bottled juices and various drinks are also available.
Cost-saving lunch specials are available Mon. to Wed. that includes a quarter leg jerk chicken, jerk pork, or curry chicken with canned soda or water.
This is a small take-out restaurant. There's a counter next to the window with four seats; however, with Covid, it is not being presently used at this time. It is good to see diners lining up during the busy lunch and dinner hours.
Staff is pleasant and friendly, contrary to past reviews that have mentioned rudeness and attitude problems. Glad to see that management has adequately trained the staff to be more attentive to its customers.
Located in the Malton Village Court Plaza at the corner of Derry Rd. and Goreway Dr. near the airport. There is ample parking available that is shared with other businesses. Hours of operation are Mon. to Sat., 11a to 10p; Sun. closed.
We look forward to enjoying Jamaican food at Mr. Jerk again when we return to Toronto in the near future. The amazing flavors with sweet and savory spices and smoky jerk aroma will surely be calling us.