De-Jred

Great customer service, friendly staff, authentic Jamaican cuisine and I cannot wait to come back and dine! Jerk chicken, plantains and cabbage please! I am already salivating!

I tried but I can’t even tell you about the food because the service was so bad. I came in the door at 4:30pm and stood at the front waiting to be greeted and seated for 10 minutes with my family of 4 until I had to start asking other patrons if they knew where the host/​waitress was. I walked to the back to find someone who briefly told me that I could sit at the front booth if I wanted. It was the only available table. They were apparently hosting a family party and I would have rather they told us that they were closed because in between hearing 60 people singing happy birthday and cutting a cake it was uncomfortable and not the dining experience I wanted for my family. Then having kids speaking on the top of their lungs, being scolded, and running around it was too much. 10 minutes later she brings 3 waters to my table of 4. She leaves and comes back to take our orders. Never asking if we wanted drinks. 10 minutes later she asks my husband what did he order again, then says, oh, we are out of that. I promptly said we are leaving. If you walk in the door and already feel like you are not a wanted guest why stay? 30 minutes wasted.

So, so glad I found this place. I miss authentic Jamaican jerk chicken like I would get in the Cayman Islands. It’s here, in Skokie! I started with a delicious beef patty, then ordered the large jerk chicken. Not huge portions, but enough. Peas and Rice were SO good as well, and I never tasted steamed cabbage like they make it. Also delicious. Topped it off with heavenly fried plantains. It’s the best meal I’ve had in a while. I can’t wait to come back.

Very delicious! They were out of several things on the menu, but what they had was terrific.

I can still imagine the perfect flakiness of the pastry and the warmth of the flakes mixed with the delicious and mushy beef inside of the Beef Patty. For this reason alone, I will definitely be going back to De-​Jred to pick up those amazing patties. The last time I’ve had Jamaican Patties was back home in the Philippines, waaaaayyyyyy back when I was still in College. Loooooong way back:) The shop was called «Jamaican Patties» and that’s all they sold. I remember always knocking on the window of the kiosk and ordering a LOT of patties. It was the only place that sold Jamaican Patties in the whole country… and I found it… destiny? I know right?! De-Jred’s patties are a little different though, different in a good way. The flakiness of the pastry was undescribable. As I was eating the patty, small pieces of the flakes kept falling (it is kind of messy to eat this) and I couldn’t help myself but pick up and eat the fallen flakes as well, it is THAT good. There were a couple of people who came in the place just to get the patties but the host told them that they ran out and she’s still making a new batch. I suggest calling them first to make sure that they have what you want to get before you make the effort of going there.
So that is my introduction. Anyway, I have bookmarked De-​Jred for a while now and I found this enough couple of hours to kill today while I’m in Skokie. I called to make sure that they’re open and that if they have the oxtail dish and jamaican jerk chicken for the whole day. I came in a few minutes before 5pm and the place was empty. I was seated in a booth and the host took my order. She was helpful in explaining what sides came with every dish and showed me what an «Akee» is when I asked her what it was. Here is the breakdown of the 2 other dishes that I’ve tried:
JERK CHICKEN– I have tried a different jerk chicken from a non-​Jamaican restaurant and I loved it. De-​Jred had the BBQ sauce kind of jerk sauce on the chicken and when I took a bite, it was just okay. A few seconds later, the heat kicked in! whooo! One big gulp of water right away! I loved the fried plantains, rice and beans, and the steamed cabbage that came with the chicken.
OXTAIL & BUTTERBEANS– My Oh My! Rich sauce, everything is seasoned well, very tender oxtail meat and simply an extraordinary flavorful dish. I love it!
Overall, I will definitely be back to get the oxtail dish, beef patties, I want to try the Saltfish & Ackee dish and other items on the menu that sounded appealing to me. Just a warning: please do not expect good customer service if you are dining in. The host/​server was not rude but she never checked whether we needed anything. I had to get up and approach her in the kitchen window/​counter to ask for an extra pIate, water, and to get the check. I have seen people pick up their food and I made a mental note that it’s probably a better idea to do that next time. My friend and I who dined in today. we pretty much took care of ourselves. We didn’t mind because we didn’t expect too much. Other than the lack of customer service… De-​Jred, you’ll be on my head:)

Great food, feels like you are in Jamaica. I enjoyed the jerk chicken plate. It has great spice with a kick. The 2^nd time I eat Jamaican food.

Amazing jerk chicken, I was just in Jamaica and this taste just as good! Great vibes and good service

So. They are NOT in a hurry. Usually that bothers me… but not this time. The food is delicious and the staff is crazy friendly. I relaxed. I ate. It was good.
They’re ultra-​helpful in steering you in the correct direction if you’re not familiar with this kind of food. Which isn’t really an issue… because everything is DELICIOUS.
Go. Relax. Be adventurous.

Stopped by on a whim tonight and could not have been more delighted with the food. The flavors were great, service terrific, and the chef was very friendly. Had the curry chicken and brown meat stew. Both outstanding and sooo flavorful. No overboard salt or seasonings, just right! Will go back soon.

Ok. you have to be a little patient putting in your order but the people are great and the food is amazing. .i love Oxtail and here they cook it just right! We already know to bring some cold beer to enjoy while we wait… def a must go place in skokie if you want jamaican food

First time here. Oxtail & jerk chicken to go, agree that the sauce on the chicken was a surprise but it was tasty. Oxtail was really good, very meaty and tender. Rice is standard, cabbage was great. Will be back.

This is without a doubt the best Jamaican food I have ever had. The curry goat was amazing. Make sure to get the rice & peas, and try the soup too.
Looking forward to coming back for the ox tail, jerk chicken, and meat pies. Did I mention rum cake for dessert?!?

1^st Time: I call in the order and take a taxi 30+ min away from home ONE WAY just to pick it up… in Chicago winter. I even called back to leave my name because the woman didn’t ask… When I showed up: THEY FORGOT TO COOK IT.
My taxi was waiting for me outside… so now the Meyer is going while he’s pulling old meat out the freezer /​fridge.
A carribean AssHat. Then find out THE FOOD SUCKS.
Worse place in America. Service, food, actually taking my order, remembering my order, processes /​operations, … I LOVE JERK… and they are, by far, the worst I have EVER had. The Jerk sauce was like ketchup. The curry goat was old and the sauce was off. The man can’t cook! They are filthy… and charged me a hefty price.

Always amazing and delicious. Love the brown stew goat more than life. The oxtail is good to. Everyone is always ridiculously nice there to me. plus they have faygo which i love so theres that

Skip it! Chose this place after being in the area and checking out Unilocal reviews. Ordered the jerk chicken with a side of mac & cheese. First the chicken came with a bbq-​ish sauce on it. Out of the many jerk restaurants I have eaten at this was a first and in my opinion ruined the meal. Beyond the sauce the chicken was very dry. Rice and beans and the Pepsi from a bottle was the best thing about my experience here. I ordered mac & cheese & had I known that I would be served something that looked very similar to and tasted like Velveeta shells and cheese I would have not ordered it. Will not go back and would not recommend. Definitely think the Unilocal reviewers got this one very wrong.

My wife and I stop by here on Saturday. We were looking to have the fry snapper but the wait was about one hour to prepare it fresh. We ordered an appetizer to share between us. The appetizer was very good and it was so big that we were full. I plan to go get the fry snapper next time I visit. Thy this place, authentic Caribbean food. Nice clean and quiet place.

I love me some Jamaican food, and finding a good restaurant isn’t very easy. I got lucky when I walked in here last week. The food was delicious ! I tried the beef patty with some Jamaican hot sauce. Then I ordered the small oxtail entrée. (they serve pretty big portions) the oxtail was falling off the bone it was seasoned so well. The rice and beans were perfectly cooked, and the cabbage slaw on the side was amazing. I would have rated this place 5 stars, but I think they should hire a waitress who waits on the tables and isn’t sitting around reading a magazine or newspaper in the front of the restaurant. I also don’t think the chef should have to come from the back of the house to the front of the house just to slide my card.

I’ve tried the oxtail and jerk chicken. The oxtail was inconsistent; some of the meat was tender, but most of it was tough. The jerk chicken was delicious, with juicy meat and a great jerk sauce. Both dishes came with rice and beans, plantains, and cabbage, all of which tasted good. Service is friendly but slow. The interior is functional and clean, with few decorations. When you’re done eating, you pay at the register by the door.

And they call this authentic Jamaican cuisine. I beg to differ. This place is as Jamaican as tex mex is to mexican. Ordered the jerk chicken it was tender but was smothered in a sweet sauce. Like a store bought lawrys jerk sauce. We also ordered the large oxtails that ahaun were not Jamaican spiced and had no meat on the bones. I wish I could say something nice about the sides or ambience… but uhhhhh not! This place sucks!!!

I had the oxtail. It was delicious. The meat is tender and it wasn’t so aggressively over seasoned. I had the Jamaican pineapple guava drink, so yummy! We have been to Jamaica before and the jerk chicken there is better, of course, but this gets pretty close to the real deal. The only have 1 high chair, beware if you are visiting with multiple kids.

The best Jamaican food you can get around Chicago. The whole USA is pretty weak on West Indian cuisine anyhow. Chill spot. Not a place to visually wow you foodies. They don’t take too long to prepare a meal like other hood spots. So get yourself a small jerk, beef patty, and grab a Ting or ginger beer, zeen? The sauce on the jerk chicken is magical. Big up De Jred. Respek

We had the oxtails and the chicken breast. It was not real Jamaican. We were so disappointed. The food was just OK but should’ve been much better. The chicken had some sweet sauce on it. It wasn’t jerked. So upset.

Soooood goood!!! The chicken was flavorful and fall-​off the bone… served with rice and sweet cabbage. The large jerk chicken is good for 2. Definitely coming back!

Sweet honey bee of infinity!
Sweet guinea pig of Winnipeg!
Sweet yeti of the Serengeti!
Sweet coincidence of Port-​Au-​Prince!
Sweet something of… someplace…
Ok, I’m done with the Hermes Conrad quotes.
I was hungrier than a green snake in a sugar cane field (ok, NOW I’m done!), and with some time to kill before Aw Yeah Comics’ 3^rd anniversary party, I decided to have something new in downtown Skokie.
It’s a very unassuming space inside, but it’s filled with quaint charm, from the lime green paint to the Jamaican flag on the wall.
The menu is filled with amazing authentic and delicious Jamaican dishes, from jerk chicken and oxtail stew to curried goat with fried plantains and butterbeans. But what makes the food even more extraordinary is the fact that the chef is a strict vegetarian and cooks entirely by smell.
That’s right. ALL BY SMELL.
That’s like driving a bus and making all the stops while blindfolded.
At any rate, even if you’re not a retired professional limboer from Kingston Town turned bureaucrat and accountant for an intergalactic delivery company, you can still enjoy authentic delicious Jamaican food just like Granny uses to make.
God rest her zombie bones…

So it’s been forever and a day since I’ve written a review!!! Thanks for the reminder, Angela!
I visited this fine Jamaican establishment over the weekend to venture for some food I’ve never really had and that’s outside my comfort zone.
Well now, this is comfort type food. Ordered the jerk chicken and oxtail with butter beans and both were fantastic. The meat melts in your mouth, the flavors were terrific and the gentleman working the kitchen looked happy as ever doing his thing back there. Slight warning, the chicken and oxtail both contain bones, some of them hard to find at times with the meat falling off the bone the way it does. However, my wife is bone skittish and doesn’t like chewy/​bones bites and she delved into both dishes and never looked back.
Yet another uniquely awesome addition to downtown Skokie!!! We will be back to try more menu items!

Came in for a lunch date with a friend on a Saturday afternoon. Completely empty,
The owner was really courteous and let us take our time when ordering. We ordered the oxtails and the jerk chicken – the portions were relatively large.
The reason I’m giving De-​Jred only three stars is because I found that Jamaican food isn’t exactly my cup of tea. The food was on the salty side and not anything special… although the butterbeans were interesting!
I also bought a drink called Tropical Rhythms «June Plum (Golden Apple)». Usually I love apples and plums, but I had no idea what a june plum was. I read the ingredients and saw that ginger was one of them, which I kind of hate, but I wanted to try it. Basically, it was absolutely disgusting, and horrendous, and all kinds of terrible. Blechhhh

De-​Jred is one letter shy of being a palindrome. Did anyone notice that?
In what may or may not be related news, I had mixed feelings about my dinner at De-​Jred. First off, the jerk chicken was flavorful, had a nice kick to it, and you really can’t beat an entrée for $ 6.50! You had me at plantain, D-​J. The cabbage was also the perfect carrier for the chicken, and I could always use more veggies!
On the flip side, the rice was cold and underwhelming. Believe it or not, we were the only diners on a Friday night, though a family came in after us. The ambiance is unique: in an otherwise very quiet atmosphere, a tv may be on in the corner of the dining room. On this night, it was playing Tia and Tamara Mowry’s latest reality tv show. Pay at the front, and don’t forget to tip!

Before I even had their food I already had a good hunch about this place.
Here’s the sitch:
Drove by on Oakton and saw De-​Jred on a street corner. I thought: «There’s a Jamaican restaurant in Skokie now?! What? Sweet!» Skokie always has boasted its multicultural and multi-​ethnic persona. It’s the Ellis Island of the northshore and hosts the annual Festival of Cultures. Skokie is trying to re-​invent itself and encouraging a new wave of establishments in the downtown area.
So, how fitting to have such a unique restaurant in such a place!
I called to place a pick-​up order and stated that I’d like the following three things:
Large Oxtail & Butterbeans
Small Jerk Chicken
Side of Plantains
Voice on the line: «Is that all?»
Me: «Yes…um, …»
[hung up the phone]
I was taken aback because I was about to say my name, ask about the pick-​up time and how much I owed. This restaurant doesn’t mess around with telephone chit chat (in a good way). After the initial shock of providing what seemed, like not enough information to «complete» my order… I knew already, this place is COOL. As in… if I came home and asked my mom what’s for dinner, SHE wouldn’t give me a bill and say, «Be back at 6:30pm, that’ll be 20 bucks and what’s your name?» I would just show up, and eat. Likewise, this restau has a mom&pop’s family-​style demeanor.
When I arrived to pick-​up my food (a guesstimated half hour later), the kitchen was a two-​person show. Run by (what I believe to be) a friendly married couple and also the owners, I was greeted by a big smile and a warm welcome. They were chatty and you could tell, cooking Jamaican food runs in their blood. They’ve been open for 4 years and as I was paying, Papa De-​Jred himself asked if I will be coming back.
In summary, the oxtails were my favorite, flavorfully stewed to a barely-​need-​to-​chew delicacy… and their platters come with plantains and cabbage (in addition to their beans & rice). You get a LOT for what you pay.
From a good hunch to the shortest phone take-​out order I’ve ever experienced, the answer, Mr. De-​Jred, is yes.

While trying to find a certain Afghani restaurant that used to be on the eastern end of Skokie, only to find out that it is now a little farther inland, I stumbled upon De-​Jred Fine Jamaican Cuisine. Let’s just say that it was a very good idea that I was reminiscing about the other restaurant and found this one instead.
Beef pattie. Kola Champagne. Callaloo. Rice and beans. Plantains. Cabbage. Saltfish and ackee.
I was completely blown away by the flavours. The beef patties were filled with the beef paste, unlike the pastries filled with air you get at other perpetrating restaurants. They are also spicy the way you get them in Jamaica. The rice and beans tasted the way my grandmother made them and the callaloo had me hankering for a return to Jamaica. Where it really hit home was with the saltfish and ackee. I was sold. With the plantains and cabbage, De-​Jred Fine Jamaican Cuisine is my top pick for Jamaican eating in the Chicago metropolitan area.