Mama Jamaica's

*** Mama Jamaica's has closed

The other day I was driving down Clairemont Mesa Boulevard when I happened to stare up at the sign for the strip mall that houses Oton..... and did a double take. Did it really say Mama Jamaica's? Really, Jamaican food at this strip mall? That was enough to get me to drop by a couple of days later.

 

If I had any doubts, a quick look inside told me the answer.......

 

It was almost too cliche, I mean "One Love" was playing over head...... This seemed sorta fast-casual in the decor. The menu was interesting, it had most of the standards; but a couple of other items like "Jerk Tri-Tip".....

 

Being in a bit of a rush, I ordered the Jerk Chicken to go ($7), which gets you two thighs ($1 more for white meat)  Rice and Beans, coleslaw, and fried plantains.

 

The coleslaw was nothing special and the plantains seemed to be under-ripe as it wasn't very sweet. The rice on the other hand, was better then what I've had at other places. You could actually make out the mild flavor of coconut.

The chicken was interesting, this was more of a grilled then braised bird, lacking the crisp skin that I enjoy so much. But it also avoided the one pitfall of grilled chicken; dryness.

 

The flavor, while not as complex as the version at Caribbean Taste had a bit more zip, and was better then what I've had at Island Spice over the last couple of years. This was decent, and I felt pretty good overall.

Of course this meant another visit, a more leisurely stop..... and when I walked back into the shop, guess what was playing? One love....... I guess they've got Bob Marley on loop here! This time, after ordering, I was able to take a bit more in and noticed the sign with the daily specials.

 

Even though this wasn't Wednesday (my luck) I ordered the Oxtail, one of my favorite things in the world. While waiting, I noticed the placard on the wall. I'm guessing the owners used to run a Jamaican Restaurant in Modesto......

 

After a few minutes my braised oxtails ($10) arrived.

 

I again enjoyed the rice, perfectly cooked, with hints of coconut. This time around the plantains were lovely, nicely caramelized and sweet. The oxtails looked a bit pale in comparison to what I've had in the past. The texture was pretty good; not mushy, slightly gelatinous... in a good sort of way. The flavor was a bit off for my tastes; too salty, lacking in any deep rich flavor, I wanted a bit more in terms of flavor.... salty just didn't do it for me. Yet you could do much worse around these parts.

 

Taken as a whole, the food wasn't bad. I do think I'll return just because I'd been thinking about doing some Jerk or perhaps Chadon Beni red meat, so I'm curious about the tri-tip. The prices are reasonable, and the folks are friendly. Based on the folks I've seen coming in during my visits, they've already developed a nice customer base. More power to them.

Mama Jamaica's Cafe & Grill
5447 Kearny Villa Rd
San Diego, CA 92123

Open Mon - Fri 11 - 8pm
     Sat 11 - 6pm
     Closed Sunday

Comments

[kat]

sounds like a nice place.

[Alyssa]

I'm glad to hear that you were pleasantly surprised by the flavor of their food.

[Kirk]

Hi Kat - Yes, the food wasn't bad.

Hi Alyssa - It was better than I thought.

[Lynnea]

Sounds like the rice alone is reason to visit. And Fried Plantains are always a treat!

[Janfrederick]

I'll have to check it out. I love Oxtail. Sounds like a bit of a clunker though.

Am I the only one who finds it funny when they charge more for white meat?

[Scotty B]

Those oxtails look great. I'm craving that rice already...

[Adam]

Good post. Isn't jerk always grilled? You sound surprised. The braised chicken is probably brown stew chicken.

[Kirk]

Hi Lynnea - This place isn;t quite in the league of Caribbean Taste and Island Spice, but is pretty good.

Hi Jan - I find it even more funny that people pay more for white meat.

Hi Scotty - That rice was pretty good.

Hi Adam - Yes, jerk is grilled, that's why I was surprised that it was more almost braised. There's no brown stew chicken on the menu; and brown stew chicken is much more braised.... I should know, I've had it before. I guess this place just makes it this way.

[Sandy]

I think this storefront used to be a Mediterranean restaurant - it's next to the Mexican place, right?

Oxtails sounds yummy - and it's Wednesday tomorrow!

[Kirk]

Hi Sandy - Yes, you're right..... I couldn't for the life of me remember what it was. Try out those oxtails.... I'm not sure if you've had them at the other places, but try those out too!

[lani]

Well.it.sound.like.you.like CARRIBEAN food I.work.for.laylahs & they have grown.since UR last stop.in stop.by again n give us round two I like the fact that UR review r true n in depth

[Kirk]

LOL Lani.... I like, well love all types of food! I've got to make my way back to Laylah's and I will.

[bambi]

Whyhate the movement is here to solve any problem you have with Mama's cooking. She cook from her hearts. Her flavor is unique and in every part of the world there is no right way for anyone, to cook they cook from what they were thought as a child. Mama's cooking is from her own recipe she created so, thank you and come if you like it and enjoy the taste of her hands.

[Theresa Raynor]

We are not in Jamaica thank god for America so, I can cook the way I like to. My jerk chicken is not dry it moist and we did that intentionally, So for those of you who wants their chicken burn you will not get it here. I cook from what I create not what Jamaican do outside on a grill, that the reason why I am different with my flavors. I am unique and you can't compare me with no other but myself. come if you want something that I created or go else Mama Jamaica is one of a kind.

[Kirk]

Hi Bambi - All I can say to your shilling is..."I really don't want to taste anyone's hands."

Hey Theresa - What's up with the defensive attitude? I didn't say your chicken was bad, so what's up with that? In fact I wrote, "This was decent, and I felt pretty good overall." Also, since I checked the IP address, do you also go by the name of Bambi???