I recently made the trip out to Jamaica House, and let me just say--it was absolutely worth the…read more50-minute drive. If you're craving authentic Jamaican cuisine, this is a spot you'll want to keep on your radar. It's a small place but it's very cute. The staff was very friendly as well. From the first bite, everything tasted fresh, flavorful, and true to traditional Jamaican cooking. The oxtails were incredibly tender and packed with rich, savory flavor. The cabbage was perfectly cooked and seasoned just right, and the rice was a standout on its own--you could really taste the coconut milk, which added such a smooth, delicious touch. The curry chicken was another highlight. The meat was so tender it practically fell off the bone, and the flavor was bold without being overwhelming. But the real star of the meal for me was the salmon dish. It completely stole the show. The fish was cooked to perfection--tender, flaky, and full of flavor--and the cream sauce tied everything together beautifully. It was hands down my favorite dish of the night. OH!! I forgot about the coconut cloud cake... OMG!! I should have gotten two or three of them to take home. Even though it's a bit of a drive for me, it's one I'll gladly make again whenever I'm in the mood for amazing Jamaican food. We'll definitely be back sooner rather than later!

I've been to a lot of Jamaican spots in Richmond and the surrounding counties, and I will say…read morethis--Jamaica House has some of the BEST oxtails in the city. When I say the oxtails fall off the bone, I mean that. Flavorful, authentic, and cooked the way it's supposed to be. You can taste the difference. A lot of these other Jamaican restaurants out here are cooking for Americans and think people don't know the real taste. And let's be real--when you have people from other cultures cooking the food, it's hard to call it authentic. I just don't understand how it can be authentic if it's not being cooked by someone from the culture. Now I will say, compared to some other spots, like Karina (paired up with Jamaica House), they did upgrade and got bigger, and I respect that. But even there, you got a lot of Mexicans cooking the food, so it still takes away from the authenticity for me. Overall, I'm giving Jamaica House a solid 3 stars. The food--especially those oxtails--is definitely better than a lot of places out here that deserve zero, one, or no stars at all. If you want real flavor and something close to authentic, this is one of the spots to check out.

Fantastic food - better than some of the places in Jamaica. This is my first review ever, and this…read moreplace definitely deserves it. Perfect service and went above and beyond with helping us!

Hungry Eyes feels like boutique resteraunt nestled amongst the typical suburban environment that…read moreShort Pump offers. Here, I was transported to an easy going, genuinely welcoming space. I'm no Jamaican delicacy expert and can be quite picky. I really enjoyed the Beef Patty. I tried the chicken patty with coco bread, the extra bread was too much - definitely on me. I also tried the small Jerk Chicken which was enough to feed a small village- so plentiful! I had a bite of the Chicken Curry which was also pretty great. Both were served with a side of cabbage and were hearty tasty meals. I forgot to order the Mac n Cheese! I'll definitely be back. They host karaoke on Friday from 6 - 8pm when the DJ arrives. The Rum Punch was strong and tried to take me out! Overall, the service was superb. Resteraunts like this pump the blood that feeds the soul of a community

Tried Carenas Jamaican Grille for the first time and overall had a pretty good experience!…read more For appetizers, I got the Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings and it was honestly really good. The chicken had a lot of flavor and was really juicy. Also, it came with a mango chutney which was interesting on its own, but it went really well with the wings. The wings were amazing and definitely wort trying! I recommend getting it. For my main, I got the combo platter with oxtail and jerk chicken, which came with rice and beans and cabbage. The oxtail was really juicy and tasty, and the sauce on it was probably my favorite part. The jerk chicken was okay, but personally I didn't get as much jerk flavor from it compared to the Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings. The rice and beans were pretty simple but it tasted good with the oxtail and jerk chicken Our server was super sweet and attentive!! She accommodated us by making sure we got some oxtail. She went out of her way to check if there was anymore oxtail left. Thankfully there happened to be one more platter of oxtail and she made sure we got it. The inside was a really chill environment and I loved how colorful it was. Overall, it was a good meal and I'd definitely come back and try more things from the menu!

I am extremely disappointed by the treatment I have received from Carena's…read more I understand the importance of customer service and treating customers with respect. I work hard for my money, and because this restaurant is conveniently located, I have been a loyal customer who has supported this establishment regularly. Several months ago, I experienced unprofessional behavior from staff at the drive-thru window. As a customer, I felt it was appropriate to leave an honest review regarding my experience. Since then, when I recently called to place an order, I was informed that I would not be allowed to do so and was refused service altogether. When I respectfully asked the manager for an explanation, my questions went unanswered, and the phone was repeatedly hung up on. I then attempted to speak with the owner, only to be told that no one knew when the owner would be available or how I could reach them. The level of disrespect and lack of professionalism I have experienced is unacceptable. At no point have I been disrespectful; I simply spoke up about my experience and exercised my right to leave an honest review. It appears that this may be the reason I am being denied service. What makes this situation even more disappointing is that businesses should value and respect the customers who consistently support them. I genuinely enjoy the food and have patronized this establishment frequently, which makes being denied service without a valid explanation even more concerning. I believe customers deserve to be treated fairly and with respect. Based on my experience, I can no longer recommend supporting this business. I intend to pursue the matter further and explore the appropriate channels to address these concerns. Customers should spend their hard-earned money where they are appreciated, respected, and valued. I would love to speak to the owner I heard she's in and out so who knows

Best food truck in the game. You know if you see the boys cooking in the heat on the street it's…read moreup. Straight up do not miss that Jerk chicken and if you get that chicken that you gotta get that cabbage with it. Used to rip this spot all the time but I had to spin the block and come back for it. Fuck everyone else. Protect this truck at all costs man!

I had to go to Richmond for business saw this truck thought I would stop and check it out.. His…read morefood is probably better than most jamican restaurants.. tastes of food chicken nice a tender 4.9.. spice 4.9 the sides are great too but to each is own..great job owner.. big up your self ...

First time here. You place your order at the front and there's a few dining tables inside if you…read morechoose to dine in. Our cashier/ server was nice. We ordered the Oxtail, Island Fried Chicken & Jerk Chicken Wings. I wouldn't order the wings again as it was dry & the flavor didn't hit for me, the entrées were delicious though! The oxtail was tender, chicken was juicy with the perfect crunch to it. Overall, good meal, I'd come back.

First visit, and I loved this place! I got the chicken curry with beans and cabbage. Everything was…read moreon point! Nice portions and full of flavor. Reasonable pricing. Friendly staff as well. I'll definitely be back.

I had to learn through social media that Chef Mamusu will be retiring and the restaurant will…read moreclose. Today is the last day and I made a bee line to come get plate. She will participate in some upcoming festivals to finish out the year before she goes back home to Liberia. Chill vibes, good food, legacy of providing authentic flavors that sparks a person's soul!

I might be a little biased because I love Liberian food, but this little spot near the VCU campus…read morehits. Excellent food. The buffet options are sold by the pound and traditional Liberian dishes like cassava leaf (excellent, sorry I forgot to take a pic), palm butter, etc are priced separately. For the buffet, everything is tasty but I highly recommend the spinach. There is plenty of seating, the place is very clean, the music is great and the staff (might have been the owner?) is so kind. Can't wait to go back next time I'm in Richmond.

I go here all the time and I always get the same thing--beef patty and chicken soup. Never had an…read moreissue until now. This time when I ordered my chicken soup, the young girl behind the register handed it to me and said "be careful." I didn't think nothing of it, but I made sure to hold it upright. When I got to my car and went to take it out, the cup she gave me was flimsy, old, and looked like it had been used before. The top came off and the whole soup spilled all inside my brand new Genesis G70. I called to let her know what happened and all she said was, "sorry to hear that." No concern, no effort to fix it. So I went back up there with the cup to show her. First of all, her attitude was nasty--face all balled up. When I showed her the cup, she told me the trash was behind the building. She didn't even want to take it from me. No hospitality at all. No customer service. Nothing. Then when she gave me another soup, I didn't check it until I left--but it had NO meat in it. Just straight water. I will never eat from here again. And I'm Jamaican--born in Jamaica, raised in New York. I know good food and good service, and this was neither. The attitude, the service, everything about that experience was nasty and bad-minded. Do better.

First time at Jamaican Taste and wow. The cabbage was soft and seasoned perfect, rice & peas fresh,…read moreand the stewed chicken tender -- not tough at all. Tried the curry goat too and it had that real authentic flavor. Definitely one of the better Caribbean spots in Richmond."

The food, service and drinks were awesome. We had a large group of 10 and they didnt miss a beat. I…read moretried the spring rolls, phenomenal! Creamy coconut shrimp, fantastic. Others got sliders, jerk chicken, ox tail. Everyone thought it was delicious. I also got the bread pudding. The prices were very reasonable.

I've been on a serious Jamaican food kick the past few weeks, trying spots all around Richmond and…read morethe surrounding areas, and recently stopped by Irie Ting. Overall, it was okay--definitely some hits and a few misses. Staff was nice and the place was cute. They had a packed house on a Wednesday night. We ordered a variety of items to really get a feel for the menu. I was especially excited to try the oxtail and mac & cheese egg rolls since everyone raves about them, but honestly, they were just mediocre. Not bad, just not as flavorful or memorable as I expected. On the positive side, the fish sandwich was really good--nice and not spicy with great flavor. The wings were also a win: tender, well-seasoned, and cooked just right. And the sweet potato fries? Absolutely delicious. We also tried the Rasta pasta with added salmon. The pasta itself was very flavorful, and the salmon was juicy and cooked perfectly. The only thing that threw me off a bit was the cold vegetables on top of the hot pasta--like the cucumbers. It's possible that's part of the style, but it just wasn't something I'm used to. Still, overall, the dish tasted really good. I'm actually a little disappointed I didn't get the oxtails this time--that's usually the true test of a great Jamaican spot. If they can make a tougher cut of meat fall-off-the-bone tender, you know they're doing it right. I'll definitely be back to give those a try. For now, it was a decent experience with some standout items. I'm open to going back and trying something different, but at the moment, Jamaica House still has my heart.

Service was nice, Food was about $45 for the both of us. We got the beef stew with white rice &…read morebean large lunch with sweet plantains it was delicious! Although you can tell they use cheaper quality meat for the beef stew. It was still delicious

Cómo el único restaurante Boricual, La Palmera, cerró hace años, yo he comido y sigo comiendo en El…read moreCaribe (comida Dominicana) en la Hull St. Voy los Miércoles cuando hacen patitas de cerdo sancochas! Tienen un menú extenso con especialidades cada día de la semana. Las muchachas del Caribe son fantásticas y muy atentas! Es como estar en familia. Los veo allí!

Yes! Yes! Yes! Mama J's has ruined me for anything else right now. I was eating and humming and…read morelegs were dancing throughout my meal. SO, SO GOOD! Okay so, I love fish, but if I run up on a bone, I am done. This catfish was crispy, flaky, boneless and downright delicious. The collards, Mac & cheese and sweet potato.....excellent. My husband had to personally thank the cookI I will travel to eat at Mama J's.

7 out of 5 stars. Yes, I said 7…read more So I went to Mama J's after scoping it out on Yelp, and let me tell you something: Richmond, we may have a problem. I have found the food. I initially walked into the market next door, which is actually great because there aren't a lot of grocery stores nearby. Then I headed over to Mama J's on a Monday afternoon. The place was teeming with associates doing all kinds of things, which I actually loved. I was seated quickly and started looking around. It was comfortable and familiar, even though it was my first time there. Then my server greeted me, called me "baby," and suddenly I felt like I had walked into my auntie's house. Okay. We were off to a good start. I ordered an Arnold Palmer and some catfish nuggets. Now, I knew I was in the right place when my server brought me TWO glasses of the most perfectly made Arnold Palmer. Two. Glasses. Start the happy dance. While I waited for my food, I looked around at the old photographs and magazine covers featuring Mama J's. It all made sense. The restaurant felt familiar because it felt like somebody's dining room. A place that has history. A place where people have been eating, talking, laughing and coming back for years. Then my catfish nuggets arrived. HOT. Golden. Crispy. When I tell you I did a happy dance... I ate those catfish nuggets with a knife and fork, humming to myself and saying, "This is the best catfish I have eaten in my life." And mind you, I eat out at least twice a week. So I ordered the crab cake sandwich with a side of macaroni and cheese. We were not particularly focused on vegetables because my server could not promise me the collards and cabbage weren't cooked with chicken broth. It's fine. I didn't really want my vegetables anyway. Then my plate arrived. HOT. I ate that macaroni and cheese and literally had to rock, hum and say to myself, "Woo. This food is good." The crab cake sandwich and fries were so good that I immediately knew some of them were coming home with me for lunch tomorrow. Because I may love food, but I also believe in planning ahead. Now let's talk about this crab cake. First, the brioche bun was EXACTLY the right bread. I am not a sliced-white-bread kind of woman. I need a brioche bun sturdy enough for the remoulade to hold onto. And then there was the crab cake. Enunciate that K. Fresh crabmeat. Maryland could NEVER. I know, I know. Maryland swears they have the best crab cakes. No ma'am. No sir. The best crab cake is sitting on Clay Street, about a mile from the James River, in Jackson Ward, the Harlem of the South. And the fries? HOT. You know that perfect fry: crispy on the outside, soft in the center? Yeah. Those. At this point, I was full and getting sleepy at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. But apparently that wasn't enough because I ordered some potato salad to go so I could top off tomorrow's lunch. Because priorities. I left Mama J's full as a tick. Came home. And promptly took a several-hour nap. That is how good this meal was. Mama J's, you have officially set the bar. 7 out of 5 stars. I am going back. And, quite frankly, they are going to get sick of seeing me. Richmond, if you haven't been to Mama J's, what are you waiting for?