Remember-- Jerk chicken is good, Jerk chicken is nice. Eat it with dough bread, Or red beans and rice. (poem courtesy of Tropic Island Jerk Chicken Restaurant) Finally got around to trying some of the jerk places that were mentioned here a few months ago. I'm especially grateful for the recommendation of Tropic Island; it's truly a great little place. They are actually two of them, both on 79th St, about 2 miles apart. The new one further west has a dining room but I've only been to the east one, the one with the drive-through window. Approaching the place you know something good is in store when the surrounding area is thick with great-smelling smoke. It's a small stand-alone building with a small ordering area in front walled off from the kitchen. Service was friendly but slooow. I don't particularly mind the wait but phoning ahead and using the window might not be a bad idea. Most of the people seem to order the jerk chicken, an excellent choice but I can't wait to make it through the whole menu. A half is $5, $8.50 for a whole bird. It's just wonderful, rubbed with a complex spice mix then slow smoked and hacked into small pieces. The skin is almost black but the meat is incredibly moist and flavorful. Very smoky and very messy to eat. The sauce comes on the side, dark, vinegary and thin (you have to keep stirring it up), vaguely reminiscent of a very spicy Worcestershire sauce. I like the sauce a lot but the chicken really doesn't need any help. Also tried the brown stew catfish dinner and that was excellent also. The fish was spice-rubbed and smoked and served atop very good red beans and rice with some nice brown gravy. I never thought I'd be praising well-done catfish but it was just lovely (if maybe a little dry). The accompanying steamed cabbage was great, subtle but with a good hit of black pepper, some green pepper, onion, and other spices. Boring name, brilliant execution. A plantain slice also comes along, perfectly fried, not at all greasy. These people really seem to know what they're doing in the kitchen. Other items include curry goat, curry chicken, brown stew chicken, oxtails, jerk catfish, and about a half-dozen sides. They list red snapper, either excoveitched, steamed or brown stewed and also some shrimp dishes. Based on the quality of the other stuff I can't wait to try them. Nothing is over $10, almost everything is much less. I can't remember the last time a $6 meal made me so happy. A reminder: the 1922 E 79 location is only a few blocks from Leon's (1640 E 79th St) which some claim has the best ribs on the south side. Although I certainly wouldn't go that far, they're pretty decent. A slab of Leon's, some jerk and a few sides from Tropic Island, and plenty of cold beer would be a pretty nice combination. (thanks to Quodlibet9 for bringing TI to my attention) Tropic Island Jerk Chicken Restaurant 1922 E 79th St 773-978-JERK (5375) The 537 E 79th St location has moved to: 419 E 79th St 773-224-7766 Mon-Thu 11-11 Fri-Sat 11-12 Sun 11-8 Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
Chicago, IL
Jerk 1 Tropic Island
Just a side note... Tropic Island has a hot food truck that is out side of Northwestern University's Medical School everyday (on Superior just East of Fairbanks). They have quite a few dishes to choose from (including jerk chicken, jerk catfish, curried goat) and they are all $5 (includes a soft drink). >Tropic Island Jerk Chicken Restaurant >1922 E 79th St >773-978-JERK (5375)