Houston, Texas, is known as the home of NASA and for its oil and gas industry. It's also home to an enviable selection of ethnic restaurants from around the globe, including from the island nation of Jamaica. Fresh ingredients and spicy flavors from several cultures come together in Jamaican cuisine, resulting in delicacies such as jerk chicken, rice and peas and ackee and saltfish. Diners pining for Jamaican cuisine have several options in Houston.
Caribbean Jerk Cuisine serves up a multitude of Jamaican fare. Diners can start with appetizers including jerk chicken wings, Johnny cake and coco bread, and then move to entrees such as braised oxtails, curried goat, chicken roti and callaloo. Sides of fried plantains and rice and peas complement any dish. Juices, sodas, beer and wines help tame the heat.
Caribbean Jerk Cuisine
9334 Richmond Ave.
Houston, TX 77063
713-784-6626
www.caribbeanjerkcuisine.com
The Reggae Hut is a casual lunch and dinner establishment dishing up plentiful plates of jerk chicken, garlic shrimp, oxtails and curried goat. Fried plantains, chicken patties and cocoa bread are popular starters. Take-out service available. Open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. Closed Sunday.
Reggae Hut
4814 Almeda Road
Houston, TX 77004-5669
713-520-7171?
www.reggaelink.com
The Island Resort comes to life in the morning, as breakfast specialties such as callaloo, mackerel, saltfish and porridge begin emerging from the kitchen. Lunch guests can choose from old favorites including jerk chicken and curry shrimp or dive into less familiar fare like cowfoot or tripe and beans. Wash it all down with a peanut punch or sour sop. Happy hour every Friday evening, from 6:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Island Resort Caribbean Restaurant
12180 Bissonnet
Houston, TX 7709
281-564-4012
www.reggaelink.com
