If it’s truly authentic Caribbean food you’re after, these Leeds restaurants have got you covered.
Got a hankering for jerk chicken? Fancy a bowl of curried goat? Leeds is home to some of the best Caribbean restaurants this side of the Atlantic, so whether you’re eating in or taking away, grabbing breakfast or heading out for dinner, get ready to dive into an exotic world of tropical flavours. This is your chance to try recipes passed down and perfected plate by plate.
Maureen’s Caribbean Takeaway
When it comes to Caribbean food, Maureen’s has legendary status. It’s been one of the city’s most popular takeaways since it opened back in 2003 and you’ll soon see why. Jerk chicken, curried goat and fried plantain are made to recipes passed down through the generations.
Fancy trying something different? Their ackee and salt fish is second to none, or you can go meat-free with their veggie curry, rice and peas. Whatever you go for, you can be damned sure they won’t skimp on the portion sizes.
Maureen’s Caribbean Takeaway, 105 Roundhay Road, Harehills, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS8 5AJ.
Jamrock
Jamrock may not have as much history or standing as their competitors but their food offering more than makes up for that. In fact, it’s of our favourite places to get Caribbean food in Leeds city centre,
The classics are all present and correct, from curry goat and patties to jerk marinated salmon, but its the reggae Sunday roast that gets our vote. We’re talking jerk chicken, rice & peas, veggies, roast potatoes and more. It’s a combo that shouldn’t work, but seriously does.
Jamrock, 31 Kirkgate, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7DR.
Turtle Bay
Turtle Bay is the most famous and most central Caribbean restaurant in Leeds and it’s the perfect place for fuss-free soul food. Jerk chicken, baby-back ribs and curried goat are all on the menu, but you can also enjoy a modern twist on classic combinations.
Take the curry goat hash for example. It brings together succulent pieces of meat, fried potato, pink onion and fried eggs. It’s easy to fill up on the main event, but leave room for dessert and you’ll be treated to a delicious caramelised rum plantain.
Turtle Bay, 14 The Light, The Headrow, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 8TL.
Afrochops
Credit: @afrochops
What do you get when you mix Caribbean classics with authentic African cuisine? Afrochops, that’s what. This teeny, tiny gem of an Afro-Caribbean takeaway comes with a big reputation. They’ve won over hordes of fans in Middleton with their loaded bowls of jerk barbecue wings, tasty Jamaican chicken patties and proper curried chicken with coconut rice.
Those tantalising treats sit alongside must-try African staples like jollof rice and ayamashe stew, so you can get the best of both worlds, all in one place.
Afrochops, 12 Thorpe Street, Middleton, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 4EZ.
Scotchie’s
Scotchie’s has been a Harehills staple since 2013 and with food this good, it’s no wonder. Folk come from all over Leeds for just a sniff of their jerk chicken, and it tastes even better than it smells.
You’ll find all the classics on the menu, with everything from ackee and saltfish to jerk salmon, fried chicken wings and pepper steak, but don’t pass up the opportunity to try their heaving patties, made fresh each day. Still got room? Treat yourself to a slice of homemade banana cake with lashings of custard.
Scotchie’s, 333 Roundhay Road, Harehills, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS8 4HT.
Ryan’s Kitchen
Ryan’s Kitchen opened back in 2017 and has made a name for itself with its spiced (but not spicy) Caribbean food. Owner Ryan Simpson has created a laidback cafe loved by the community – down-to-earth and downright tasty in equal measure.
From jerk chicken to salt fish curry and fried plantain, this is your chance to get an authentic taste of warmer climes, without the heat. Their succulent chicken (you can even get a vegan version), cooked in those famous jerk spices, is deliciously mild, served on a bed of rice with their homemade honey-jerk gravy.
Ryan’s Kitchen, 329 Kirkstall Road, Burley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS4 2HD.
Cabin Caribbean Cuisine
Cabin Caribbean Cuisine has been serving incredible West Indian food to the folk of Chapeltown for over a decade. They pride themselves on proper home-cooked recipes that bring a real sense of the Caribbean islands to Leeds. The curried goat is their go-to, served on the bone and cooked so it’s melt-in-your-mouth tender.
You also can’t go wrong with simple classics like jerk chicken or fried salt fish either, but if you want an absolute feast, their platter of ackee, salt fish and dumplings is a must.
Cabin Caribbean Cuisine, 7 Reginald Row, Chapeltown, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS7 3HP.
Jenny’s Jerk Chicken
© Copyright Leeds-List 2024
What started out as a pop-up stall at street food markets while Jennifer Ardene was away from her job in the military has now become a local sensation. Jenny’s is nestled in Kirkgate Market and, unsurprisingly, their jerk chicken is the stuff of legends.
You can get it in a wrap, a burger or a salad box, but believe it or not, Jenny does not just do jerk chicken. From curried goat to salt fish, veggie bean cakes and classic rice and peas, this is traditional Caribbean dishes full of big flavours and fresh ingredients.
Jenny’s Jerk Chicken, Cafe D, Leeds Kirkgate Market, New York Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7HY.
Creative Cuisine
From morning to noon to night, you can get your fill of authentic Caribbean cooking from Creative Cuisine. That’s right, the deliciousness starts at breakfast with Jamaican favourites like peanut porridge, salt mackerel and liver with dumplings.
Later on, you can tuck into classic mains like oxtail stew, pepper steak and brown stew fish, all made to traditional recipes from their homeland. Ravenous little ones get their own kid’s meals, which they can wash down with carrot juice, while you enjoy a well-deserved glass of Guinness punch.
Creative Cuisine, 595 Harehills Lane, Harehills, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS9 6NQ.
