Jamaica Sweet Spices

So fire, among the best food I’ve had in the Bay Area. I’ve been long craving good Caribbean food on the west coast and have only been to a couple who can compare to places like Toronto as far as Jamaican food goes.

My lady and I got Oxtail with rice and peas and steamed cabbage, Curry Shrimp (actually spicy) and the Chicken stew with pumpkin and spinners.

She has the photos but I’ll edit this review and share them later, worth every penny.

It hurts my heart to write this.

While I think Haitian food is generally superior to the other islands, this was the worst experience with any rice + beans + plantain combo. I was given stew chicken instead of jerk and both plates were filled with bones and burnt beans. (I don’t know if I was supposed to get plantain because they were absent.) For $53 (the oxtails were $28), chicken shouldn’t be dry and beans shouldn’t be undercooked.

It wasn’t all negative; I enjoyed the dancehall.

Warning: Avoid this restaurant. The food is too salty and oily. The oxtails taste like a mix of oil, salt, and ketchup. Small portions, high prices, and poor customer service. Look for another Jamaican restaurant.

This was my second time going to Jamaica Sweet Spice and I don’t know why the owner is not on social media to promote his business. The food is absolutely delicious. I would consider it one of the best in Oakland! This will be my go to spot when I want my Jamaican food! I’m going back today for dinner because I’m craving the flavor! The oxtails were tender, the rice and peas had flavor not like others that is just simply rice and peas. Theirs have a nice light flavorful taste that isn’t over powering but just enough to let you know they stand out from the rest! I definitely got to get a side order of the plantains because it wasn’t enough and the cabbage was good too! I added hot sauce and it matched perfectly with the spread! You gotta try it to know what I’m talking about! I’ve been to all the Jamaican restaurants in Oakland and this one is my new favorite!

I first ate at this restaurant about 6 to 9 months ago and thought the food was exceptional.

Unfortunately, the quality has gone down drastically.

Today I ordered the 3 piece meat with jerk and curry chicken and oxtail with rice and peas, plantain, cabbage and avocado. The rice and peas was dry and bland, salt hasn't touch it. Only about a tablespoon of cabbage was given and the avocado tasted old. The oxtail was mostly gristle, the curry chicken was overcooked and the jerk chicken boring.

On a positive note the plantain was nice although not enough.

I thought the price of $30 for the plate was reasonable.

Also, the service is always pleasant.

When I first patronize the restaurant, there was a gentleman there who I thought was the owner and cook. If he was, he needs to return to his place in the kitchen.

I parked on the curb since the only other option is parking on the side streets. And wouldn't you know Oakland Police Department came cruising by but I wasn't bothered or ticket.

We purchased 3 plates, 2 plates with two meats (oxtail and brown stew chicken) and a 3 meat plate (curry, jerk, and brown stew chicken). Never again!! The rice was very hard, clumpy, and tasted like it was days old. Tje brown stew chicken had a funny tangy taste, which it shouldn't have. I got burnt and hard plantains. The curry and jerk did not really have a taste to it, just oil. The oxtails were tender, but fatty with bottom of the pot scrapings. We spent over $100....save your money and go elsewhere!!!

Jerk sauce was out of this world, oxtail was tender and in some really great sauce but fully have to steer people to the jerk chicken. Amazing jerk! The plantains could have been crispier but they had a lot of flavor and balanced the dish real well.

They really pack your plate full, it is pricey though, keep that in mind, but good quality stuff regardless.

Ok great food very authentic love the spice , rice and peas where great had the correct flavor on point. Only issue I had was the spot there's no where to park, At all. U have to make you a space. Price isn't the cheapest either your looking 20 plus regardless of what u order. Compared to the other Caribbean restaurants which are at 12-15 price points.