Island Spice Jamaican Restaurant

** Island Spice has moved to Rolando. You can find an updated post here.

I first noticed Island Spice while attending the Japanese Cultural Bazaar at the BTSD. We soon ate there and really enjoyed the food. But as fate would have it, after starting this Food Blog, I started trying so many different places that Island Spice kind of just faded into the background. But my memory was jarred when Jay on His Blog Casing the Joint mentioned Island Spice as part of His "rotation". So we decided to head back there for a late lunch.

Island Spice is located on Market Street, in a building that though perhaps a bit worse for wear, has a definite tropical feel; with the Tropical Plants fronting the restaurant, to the Bamboo and wood interior. There's even the requisite Bob Marley"banner" in the front window, and signed photos of various celebrities posted above the front counter.

The menu at Island Spice features less then twenty items; but each offering has it's own personality.

Our favorite items at Island Spice?

The Oxtail, is a velvety smooth and savory dish. Tender and "beefy", mildly and simply seasoned, I especially love the gelatin that surrounds the bones. Just to give you an example of the hospitality at Island Spice; we ordered an Ala Carte order of Oxtail ($5.00), and were served this perfectly decent, and quite substantial plate of food. But the "Chef" was not satisfied with the portion size, and did not charge us for it! We made sure that we covered it in our tip, but were really impressed with the hospitality.

Here's what a large "dinner" of Oxtail($10.00) looks like:

It includes wonderfully starchy and mildly sweet deep fried plantains:

And we usually forgo the Beans and Rice, and get a plate with "all vegetables". The vegetables include a wonderful braised green that reminds me a bit of collard greens, with an earthy, sweet, and slightly bitter flavor; a green bean that reminded me of soy bean, corn, and cabbage. So very wonderfully full of different flavors:

My personal favorite is the Curry Goat(Ala Carte - $5.00):

I was initially surprised at the lack of "heat", this Curry is much milder but full of spices; and totally different from other curries I've had. The mild curry proved to be a perfect palette for the mildly gamey goat. Dotted with potatoes, the curry was very tasty.

On another visit we ordered an "regular" Jerk Chicken entree($7.00):

First off, the rice is rather bland and flavorless. It was after eating this; that we decided to stay with the wonderful veggies. The Jerk Chicken was covered with the wonderful "brown" sauce. The chicken seemed to be flavored with a mild rub; and roasted. The dark pieces were pretty good, with the sweetness and taste of the spices coming through. However, the white meat was very, very dry, a hard to swallow dry. Another thing that surprised me was the lack of "heat". Every version of supposed Jerk Chicken I've had before, was quite hot and spicy. So I'm not quite sure of how Jerk Chicken is supposed to taste.

The Fried Fish (Ala Carte - $5.00):

Simply flavored with salt and pepper, with a slight hint of sour(vinegar??), and perfectly fried; the fried fish was a nice appetizer for us.

The Brown Stew Fish (Ala Carte - $5.00):

It seems to be the fried fish pictured above, with a tomato based sauce. This is quite tangy, and more then a bit salty, though really good with rice. We had no problem finishing this! The onions and spices made for a decent "rice dish".

Some Notes: Many acquaintances of mine are a bit afraid of the neighborhood, but we've never had any problems. Island Spice seems to have many "regulars", and seems to be a "neighborhood joint" of the highest order. It also appears that most Customers order take-out. I was a bit surprised at the lack of heat in the various dishes, but I'm not an expert on Jamaican Food, and the Oxtails and Curry Goat are delici-yoso!!! Other Jamaican fare like Callaloo, Ackee, and Jamaican BBQ are also offered.

Good "homestyle" food and great prices make Island Spice worth a try.

Island Spice Jamaican Restaurant
2820 Market St
San Diego, CA 92102

Comments

[Kathy]

Hi Kirk!

Mmm, the oxtail looks mighty good. Just give me a bowl of rice and I'm good to go! How does this stewed version compare with our local oxtail soup (kam bowl:))?

[Passionate Eater]

You're right about this place Kirk, those fried plantains and oxtails look mighty fine!

What kind of rice is that Kirk? (I'm referring to that rice that was served with the Jerk Chicken.) It looks purplish (almost a little like black rice), but it's too light to be black rice. Does it taste nutty or like regular rice?

Excellent review, as always! :)

[clare eats]

That looks good, I agree about the fish! The oxtail looks too "hot" to eat at the moment as the weather is muggy and stiffling here :p

[Rachel]

Gimme gimme gimme that ox tail dinner!!! I don't care if its hot here. (Its hot all the time in S'pore and I still eat curries ;))
That goat curry looks really good too kirk! This was a great find.
That fish almost looks like a sweet sour fish. Pity the jerk chicken was so much like jerky :) it looked really nice.

[Kirk]

Hi Kathy - It's two totally different dishes. These oxtails were nicely braised, and very "beefy" in flavor - probably because the oxtails were sewed in beef stock.

Hi PE - It looked like red beans and rice, but really had no flavor.

Hi Clare - The fried fish would be great "sidewalk" food.

Hi Rachel - Yes, the Stewed Fish does look like it's in a sweet and sour sauce. But the sauce is more tangy and rich(I'm sure there butter in there somewhere). I adore the Curry Goat!

[eatdrinknbmerry]

I'd say the oxtail looks the best - and what a large portion that is. Are you sure this isn't a Hawaaiian/Jamaican joint haha? We've got a Caribbean place called Cha Cha Chicken in Venice. You've prompted me to go there and eat. Did this place have coconut fried chicken?

[Pam]

Kirk!

Ja Maican me hungry! (ha ha...that was cheesy huh?)

That Oxtail looked mighty good!

[Kirk]

Hi Dylan - Looks kinda plate lunchish, doesn't it? No wonder I like it so much! No coconut fried chicken here, though.

Hi Pam - Yoso-witty! Regardless of the cheese/corn factor, your comment still cracked me up! LOL!

[Reid]

Hi Kirk,

I haven't had Jamaican food in such a long time! There used to be a Jamaican restaurant in Waikiki, but I don't know what happened to it.

I love curried goat. My friend's mother (she was Jamaican) used to cook it all the time! I also liked eating Jamaican meat patties that were stuffed with spicy beef. mmmm!

[Kirk]

Hi Reid - Those stuffed meat patties sound great; too bad they don't have them at Island Spice.

[ChrisN]

Island Spice is a nice spot. You're right, they are not usually on the spicy side of Jamaican food. I like the oxtail, but it can be a bit too fatty at times. I've never had a bad bit of chicken there, so I'll have to watch out for the while meat.

Since you seem to be in the neighborhood lately, you should check out El Comal (http://www.sdreader.com/php/rrshow.php?id=COMAL), the albondigas soup is awesome.

[Kirk]

Hi ChrisN - Thanks for the recommendation, I do have El Comal written in my ever expanding notebook of places to try. So we'll have to have the Albondigas, since it's one of My Wife's favorites.

[Jen @ Jamaican recipes]

Wow - what I wouldn't give to be transported to the Island Spice for a true Jamaican meal!

[Kirk]

Hi Jen - Welcome, and thanks for visiting! Let me tell you, that Curry Goat is sooo very good!

[Jamaican food fan]

Reid + Kirk

Jamaican beef patties are good. However, in Jamaica you can get all types of filling in patties. Beef is the most common but chicken, fish, lobster and shrimp are also available!

[bam]

That food looks disgusting.

[Kirk]

Hi Bam - You know...sometimes the most "disgusting" looking food(it's all in the perpective) tastes the best! To me this stuff looks really good, and tastes better.

[naz]

me and my boy was looking for some real good food. and we google jamaican restaurants in san diego. we this is what we had.
i had me the combo curry goat and chicken. and wow this is the best food that i have ever had ever since i got to san diego. thanks to you guys.
and the meat patties is the best.

[Kirk]

Hi Naz - Thanks for taking the time to comment. I'm glad you enjoyed Island Spice. There's another Carribean Restaurant post coming up in the near future, so stay tuned.

[DANIELLE (PIXLEY) JOHNSON]

WHEN I STAY IN SAN DIEGO ISLAND SPICE WAS ON OF THE BEST PLACE TO EAT AND THE PEOPLE THAT WORK THERE WAS SO NICE. THAT I WAS INSPIRED BY THE OWNER TO OPEN MY OWN RESTAURANT IN THE CITY THAT I LIVE IN, BECAUSE IF THE TASTE OF YOUR FOOD CAN PUT THE SMILE ON THE CUSTOMERS FACES AS WELL AS THE LOVE YOU SHOW YOUR CUSTOMERS, I WANTED TO BE A PART OF THAT, AND WHEN EVER I COME TO VISIT SAN DIEGO ISLAND SPICE WILL BE FIRST PLACE I WILL STOP WHEN I GET OF THE PLANE.
CELOFF, PIXLEY