Aunty Joy's Jerk & Pizza

Recommend. It's a hidden gem. It's not the snazziest place, but the food is good, and if you get it to-go, the portion is bigger. Takes about 20min prep time. What we had: - Oxtail Dinner (classic sides) - Jerk Chicken Dinner - Festival I started eating before taking a pic sooooo sorry friends, there's only a half portion phot attached.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Aunt Joy’s Jamaican Restaurant in Chicago, and I’m already looking forward to my next visit! The food was absolutely delicious, with the perfect balance of flavor and spice. I had the jerk chicken, which was tender, juicy, and packed with the right amount of heat. The rice and peas complemented the chicken perfectly, and the fried plantains added a touch of sweetness that rounded out the meal. The cabbage was cooked just right, providing a nice crunch and subtle flavor. To finish it all off, I had a slice of their pound cake, which was soft, moist, and simply divine. If you’re looking for authentic Jamaican flavors with a spicy kick, Aunt Joy’s is a must-try. Highly recommend!

The drinks was good, I got the Bahama Mama, it's sweet I really liked it. We ordered their oxtail and curry goat. The oxtail was really good. The curry goat was so so, It didn't really make me want to go back there. Overall, it's a bit pricey for the food that you're getting.

Proper Jamaican food! I highly recommend the jerk chicken dinner (comes with 3 sides), beef patty and festival. They also have Appleton on hand and other Jamaican beverages.

My first impressions of Aunty Joys Jamaican Kitchen: (based on ordering delivery) I had the popular Jerk Chicken meal -Great portions of food with robust flavors and the ever so familiar taste of Caribbean/Jamaican jerk spices. -The meal comes with generous portions of well seasoned Jerk chicken, steamed cabbage, fried plantain and black beans and rice. Overall everything is made spectacular! The taste, the flavors, the portions. You can really feel the love they put in this food. It is magical!

The food tastes just like I was in Jamaica ❤️💪🏾‼️ Everything on point from the gravy not being oily and I have stew chicken❤️. They gave me a nice amount of chicken, it’s just I’m use to getting more rice and beans with my order I buy at other Authentic Jamaican Restaurants 💪🏾‼️ The price is $1.50 away from $20. The place has a cozy and lit atmosphere with Jamaican music and party flyers.

Overpriced jerk dinner option for portion size. Extremely poor packaging. The chicken was not able to remain crisp due to the half gallon of liquid from the cabbage in the container.The "signature sides" I was charged an additional $2 was not up to par for the amount. I had too much mac and cheese and a piece of a sweet potato. Also, the Mac and cheese had some weird jerk spice seasoning on it. That should be a option for the customer not just placed on the food. And the company should sell jerk pizza as an option b/c it's in the name of the restaurant. Go figure. So thats false advertisement. 2.5/5 overall. Recommendation: The jerk chicken alone.

I went in with the high expectations of ENJOYING delicious, mouthwatering, flavorful, taste of wonderful Jamaican savory food. I spent just over $30 happily, as I finally got the chance to fulfill my pregnancy craving of jerk chicken, rice, plantains, Mac and cheese, and sweet potatoes. I took my first bite before I left the restaurant and was HIGHLY disappointed to taste straight up BLANDNESS. My jerk chicken tasted like straight up barbecue that I could have gotten at home in OKLAHOMA. The rice was BLAND. The Mac and cheese was dry as a dessert, and these “yams” should be called “ma’am’s”, cause they will you make you say, “ma’am what was you doing in that kitchen?” Needless to say…never ever again. I will definitely stick with Claire’s in Evanston if you want some AUTHENTIC satisfying Jamaican food. “Aunty joy” should be called “aunty sadness” cause that’s exactly what I felt after taking the first bite.

I wanted Jamaican on a Monday and my usual place was closed, so I decided to try Aunty Joy's. I called in my order to minimize the wait time and the lady who answered the phone was very helpful, explaining that the jerk chicken dinner I was interested in only comes in one size (1/2 chicken) and comes with 3 standard sides (rice & peas, cabbage and plantain) but you can swap any of them out for an upcharge. I got the standard order and also ordered a side of Mac & cheese to try it out. I got a free drink with Yelp check in but the worker didn't know about it and had to call the owner. I got my meal to go and hubby got a meat patty for us to try on the ride home. It was hot, flaky and very tasty! When we got home the first thing I noticed was no sauce, and they didn't ask if I wanted sauce on the side or on the food. Still, the chicken was cooked well and the level of spice was perfect! I'm just used to jerk sauce, at least on the chicken. Yet despite no sauce the chicken was tasty and the white meat was not dry, although I will say that the pieces were noticeably small. The cabbage was a bit crunchy but delicious, as was the rice & peas and the plantains. I wasn't impressed with the look of the mac & cheese (looked like Kraft and not homemade) but it was tasty also. I had enough food for two meals so the value is good. Overall I enjoyed it and I think I found a new Jamaican spot.

I got an order of cabbage from this place and it was very good My wife on the other hand ordered the Jerk chicken dish and it was fire! The service was good we ordered to go so I can't speak to the ambiance of the restaurant. There were a few tables but no customers but the food was very good. I would say on par or better than The Jamaican restaurant on Howard. And that place it is very good. If there is one complaint, I would say they may want to offer Jerk sauce in addition to the jerk chicken so it won't be dry.

I am not sure what happened over the last few months but this is the third time in a row I've ordered from Aunty Joy's Jerk & Pizza only to be disappointed. There was a time that I would recommend this place to anyone that would listen but it has gone downhill. With the price of things nowadays you cannot waste money at places that are inconsistent. I recently ordered the jerk mac-n-cheese with a 1/4 jerk chicken and steamed cabbage. The great thing is that they have a short wait time for delivery and the food arrived on-time. That was probably the only thing good about the experience. When I opened my jerk mac it was soupy. I was confused as to why but I noticed the jerk chicken was drenched in a sauce. I have ordered this dish before and it did not have this level of sauce on it. The sauce made the dish like a soup and extremely salty. It tasted like I was eating a spoon full of salt with every bite. The 1/4 jerk chicken was cooked decently but it was mostly bones. The sauce on the chicken was so salty that it overpowered the dish. Not being able to get jerk chicken right when it's in your name and you're a Jamaican spot is a sign for me to stop trying. The cabbage was just as bad. It was so hard that it tasted like the cabbage you get from the premade salad bags but with some sauce on it. I couldn't even eat it because it was undercooked. The cabbage used to be my favorite side from them. I think my time with Aunty's Joy has passed. They have forgotten items when I ordered for delivery and the food is always so hit or miss.

If you're going to get food from here, call the number on the sign or order online. I made the mistake of walking-in to make an order. My wait time on a Friday afternoon at 5pm had a 40-minute wait time. How do I know? Because I kept feeding the meter on the online parking app. There were many delivery people picking up food, including some folks that may have just finished a work shift and was grabbing food before going home. No I didn't get the pizza. I believe because Loyola University sits in the neighborhood, the restaurant is catering to the college kids by offering pizza. I decided to order some food for myself and husband - jerk wings, brown-stew chicken and jerk catfish - both with candied yams, rice and peas, and plantains; plus one slice of rum cake. After 25 minutes I checked on my order and was told there were no more candied yams, and I can replace it with cabbage and select 2 can sodas. When I got home, one of my orders actually did have candied yams, but somehow both included cabbage and macaroni and cheese. OK?! Well I guess I'll get to sample all of their sides! Let's start with the Jerk Chicken Wings. The presentation could have been worked on, however, the flavor was actually good and different from other places I've been. It had sort of a sweet and spicy flavor, but not overwhelmingly spicy. If I was to go here again, I wouldn't get the jerk catfish because they give you catfish fillet and not catfish steaks - which is what I prefer. Plus for the price - $25, I believe there should be more fish in this container. Can you see the catfish in my attached photos? No?! That's because it's in the top right corner underneath the jerk gravy (great flavor by the way). In fact, all the food had great flavors; especially for carryout. The candied yams were my favorite. Second would be the rice and peas. My hubby tried his food the next day and said the rice tasted mushy but had a good flavor. We believe that it was mushy because it had been over 24 hours and various refrigeration at home and his job. The chicken pieces were all dark meat (legs and thighs). On the online menu, it's called Jamaican Black Cake, but in the restaurant, it's called Rum Cake. Well you taste the rum on first bite, after that it tastes like raisins. I don't have to get that again. I've definitely have had better rum cake, and didn't have to pay $8 for a small sliver. I'm giving this restaurant 3 stars because of the enormous wait time, my order mix up and the not so tasty and expensive Black Cake / Rum Cake.

Wanted to do a different type of meal tonight, so we gave Aunty Joy's a chance. The food was great. My son ordered the salmon jerk Alfredo pasta and I just had a couple appetizers (jerk chicken with fries and 3 festival sticks). His Alfredo was portioned so large he gave me some and it was terrific! My jerk chicken tasted great and fell off the bone. I thought the festival sticks would taste like bread sticks, but they tasted like beignets! What a great surprise. Definitely want to go there again next time I'm in Chicago.

Food was great! The jerk chicken was flavorful, moist, and they are one business that gives you a good portion for what you pay for (in general). After we ordered there wasn't a long wait, just appropriate for what we ordered. The restaurant has nice decor, looks fairly new. The menu is not overwhelming and is pretty outright.

4 stars Auntie Joy's Jamaican Kitchen I stopped by to get a Sunday snack from this establishment. As far as I know there's paid street parking. Parking may be free on Sundays. Check the parking kiosk. Better yet, use the Chicago Parking App to ease your parking experience. The place is lovely and inviting. I'd love to go back and sit outside to eat. When I arrived, not too many people were inside. I had to wait a little while to order my Beef Patty to go. It tasted very good. I will return to try their Jerk Chicken. I hope the establishment improves their customer service. 4 stars because the beef patty was so good.

We ordered via a delivery service for dinner. I ordered the jerk catfish with the peas and rice, steamed cabbage, and plantains. My kiddo wanted fries. The foods was delivered in sturdy plastic containers. Thank you. The food smelled good, looked good, and tasted good. The catfish was slamming it had a good amount of spice with a touch of sweet. The fries were not crispy or crunchy I think due to the condensation in the plastic container. But fries were alright and nicely seasoned. The peas and rice was delicious with a few spots of a little undercooked rice. I will say this, I was stiffed on my plantains. The plantains were not in my order which was a disappointment. But overall the food was good. The portion of the meal was large and it took me 3-4 meals to finish. So be prepared to get some good eating. The meal had two medium sized catfish steaks. I do not know what aunty's other meals taste like but I see they mention pizza in the name of the restaurant I was thinking why sell pizza when you are preparing good Jamaican dishes like this jerk catfish. Oh the steamed cabbage was good too. I recommend this restaurant but make sure you get your plantains in your order.

We called in an order for beef patties, the phone call was quick and painless and the food was ready and fresh when we arrived. Would definitely revisit.

After a recent trip to Jamaica, I wanted to introduce a friend to oxtail and knew that Aunty Joy's would not disappoint. Though your wallet may take a bit of a hit, it's worth it for the authentic Jamaican cuisine. From the delicious sides such as their sweet plantains and mouth-watering cabbage to the fall-off-the-bone meat selections, it's all delicious. I'm happy that not only did Aunty Joy's make it through the worst of the pandemic, but that they also expanded, having moved into a larger and more dining-friendly (though slightly noisy) location around the corner from the original. Nice, convenient location, good friendly and funny service (such as with our sever, Tory), and great food - Aunty Joy's is a nice escape to the Caribbean without having to leave the city.

Ordered the Cajun chicken bowl to go using the BOGO deal and found everything to be absolutely delicious. The plantains were sweet and juicy, the chicken was tender and flavorful, the cabbage was a great form of coolness amidst all the spices, and the rice and beans were so much better than any other rice and beans at most restaurants. While I can't speak to the in-person experience, the food was fantastic and the portions are plentiful. Will be ordering again!

The definition of hitting the spot -- Aunty Joy's Jamaican Kitchen is authentic and affordable Caribbean food in Chicago. After a long day of work and grad school, I turned to Uber Eats for something quick and tasty. I knew I wanted Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken, but wasn't sure where to order it from. I googled a few places and Aunty Joy's came onto my radar. I quickly ordered and my food arrived within 30 minutes. The food was exactly what I expected. Being Jamaican, I can be critical of the Jamaican restaurant options I try because nothing beats my parent's cooking, but I loved this Brown Stew Chicken. The portion was big enough for two -- the chicken was juicy, the rice fluffy, and the plantains perfectly fried and sweet. I will 100% order from Aunty Joy's again, and highly recommend any one who wants to try Jamaican food to order from here, too!

Let me say that once we finally parked we entered this place and a customer is cursing the lady out big time. Once he left, we proceeded to pick up our food albeit with eyebrows up...lolol. The lady told us the demands that the customer had were unreasonable. We shrugged it off because we really enjoyed the vibe we felt coming in the spot. With the preliminaries done, let's get down to business at hand. The food was PHENOMENAL!!! Oh my goodness! You want jamaican comfort food these two plates were it! Goat Curry with cabbage, rice and plantains & oxtails cabbage rice and plantains. The food was wonderfully seasoned. It was huge portions..two meals from each plate at least. Bummer we couldn't sit and eat and we live kinda far. definitely would do the distance again for thus spot again. The rice was hearty and seasoned. The cabbage was a great "compliment" to the meal for me. The curry goat I ordered was moist, seasoned. The oxtails were jamaican spiced, melt in ya mouth ridiculousness....lolol....

Jerk catfish and chicken is succulent, plantains are perfect, delicious rice. Beautiful dining room. Wonderful experience. They need to advertise, at least send a flyer around the neighborhood as , like us, didn't even know they were a couple blocks from us. Check them out.

You guys have to check this place out, authentic cuisine. The staff's friendly and welcoming. Slowly becoming a staple of the Roger's park area. Recently added outdoor seating, try his will be the this summer.

Bbq jerk chicken was delicious- lots of flavor and tender. Rice was great and cabbage was the texture I like- cooked but still crisp. Candied yams were a bit sweet for my taste, but I'm sure they're perfect for others. Food was hot and ready very quickly for pickup. My husband also enjoyed his meal- he had the regular jerk chicken. Thanks for a tasty, hot meal!

I've been here a couple of times. The first time I had the Jerk Chicken dinner with beans, rice, cabbage and yam. Pretty tasty. Second time I had the Jerk Chicken Parmesan sandwich and jerk fries. It was just ok. There's so much on the menu to try so I'll mostly definitely return. I think I'll try the Jerk Chicken Alfredo. The service was good, and restaurant is nice neat and clean.

I ordered the oxtail dinner with mac & cheese and steamed cabbage. It was not good. The mac & cheese was old and stale. It was very dry, almost like boxed mac & cheese. The steamed cabbage had a pickled flavor to it, which I don't like. The only thing that was tasty, and was OK nothing great and it was a very small portion was the ox tails. I will not be back. I don't know what these great reviews are about because it was nothing great about it.

I was really looking forward to try Aunty Joy's but was left disappointed. We ordered their oxtail and curry goat. The oxtail was really good. The curry goat was so so. It didn't really make me want to go back there. On the other hand, the drink was good, a little strong. I got the Bahama Mama, it's sweet I really liked it. The service was good. The place is charming. Overall, it's a bit pricey for the food that you're getting so it might not be worth it for some.

More money less food. Not happy but it's tasty. Ordered oxtails and I only have 5 in my dinner. You use to get plenty of food before, but not no more! Pretty sure this the lunch special but they charged full price dinner. Not worth the price.

Like many jerk chicken spots, Aunt Joy's is very hit or miss. ..and not only with the quality. During my last visit I ordered a full chicken. I wasn't expecting to receive a box full of legs and thighs. I tried contacting them, but couldn't get an answer on the phone or a reply to my email. The chicken is ok. The festival is pretty good. Left off a star for the inconsistency and lack of customer service.

Another night of indecisive take-out, ended up trying something we normally don't opt for, and what a wonderful surprise! Portions are HUGE- my picture doesn't do it justice. Ordered two jerk chicken plates and ended up sharing one between two people.. with food to spare. Onto the food itself: well-seasoned and a great balance of spice. Chicken is juicy and the flavors really penetrate all the way through. Plantains are cooked to perfection. Such a winning introduction to Jamaican jerk for me!

I ordered the jerk chicken with fries, plantain and cabbage; but 1 get 1 free promo. The fries was very soggy due to putting the cabbage in the same container along with the meat n fries. Everything was submerged in watery gravy, and it made the food not tasty or enjoyable at all. For future reference, Please place the cabbage in a different container apart from the meat n fries. Also, place the gravy or sauce on the side, because it may be too spicy for some people when u put it all on the meat.

hell no, the food is terrible my rating is zero. don't waste your time; go to mc donalds you will enjoy their food much more

went there they had no white meat no chicken breast no thighs no salad you couldn't add chicken to the pasta they didn't have half of the menu the jerk sauce is too sweet no kick what a disappointment they shouldn't have even been open that day off they were out of almost everything that's much better jerk chicken places

Very good and tasty food but they really need to increase the serving size for the entree. The curry chicken was so tasty but hardly there. The cut up pieces of dark meat chicken left very little chicken for the dish, which is unfortunate because it was so tasty. I'll still come back though.

2 stars only because food actually arrived. Got jerk oxtails, rice and plantains. I'm embarrassed to say I paid $49 bucks for the smallest little dinky portion. I can honestly say I've never paid so much for so little food, and it wasn't even that great. Save your money, get a burrito somewhere. What a joke

I ordered the small jerk chicken with a beef patty through doordash. Order came correct and hot. Everything was absolutely delicious. The chicken was so soft and tender and with a crazy amount of flavor, same with the rice. The patty was flaky and juicy as well.

the food was a disappointment l. the oxtails were ok I could of ate those alone. The rice was bland, the cabbage was salty, & plantains were ok. portion size was very small i do not recommend

Great jerk chicken sandwich and fries. Annie was an excellent server and gave us some good ideas.

This is an update: One thing that makes a business a successful business is when constructive feedback is received and when the company listens to their customers. I ordered delivery through Door Dash (which is always super fast and friendly btw) I ordered the brown stew chicken and hunny let me tell you, aunty was listening! The small is plenty of food, I had an abundance of chicken and less bones, I was able to eat off this plate for 3 days! The food was fresh as always and very delicious. I really need to stop being lazy and go make an stop in some day! Kudos to a new local business that does things right and caters to their customers!

Searching for an authentic Jamaican restaurant? Look no further Aunty Joy's got you covered! I can't express how great the food is, the staff are pleasant. Wish I was able to come in the restaurant and eat but was working and ordered through Grubhub. Which I didn't have to due to the restaurant deliverers (wish I knew that before using Grubhub.) I really want to thank Rowena (hopefully I spelled it correctly) she was very pleasant over the phone, I wanted to substitute my rice and beans for Mac and cheese (extra charge) I added in another food item trying to cover the cost. I was off by a couple cents and she took care of it. If that is wonderful customer service, thanks again Rowena!!!

Delicious Jamaican food. Great for takeout or dining in especially with newly designed location. They also do a great job with catering and holiday specials!

Went past this place for the past few months and decided to give it a try. I ordered the jerk chicken plate with rice, cabbage, and plantains. The food was plenty for two people, and the flavor and aroma were incredible. Definitely a new neighborhood favorite for me

Don't be a dummy like me and forget to use the Yelp Check-in discount of 20%! My friend and I shared two entrees (Large Jerk Chicken Dinner and a 2 meat dinner - goat curry & oxtail), a beef patty appetizer, and two bottled waters for $41 + tip. The Great: Our faves were the super flavorful goat curry and oxtail and really brought me back to my memories of Jamaica. The rice and beans and the plantains were excellent too! The not-so-good: The jerk chicken was spicy, but not in a flavorful way. The jerk sauce was extremely sour which made the rice and beans sour. Chicken was also dry. I wouldn't order this again. The beef patty also tasted really strange where there pastry wrap tasted like cheez-its and the filing barely had any beef in it and didn't have any beef flavor. Overall, that oxtail and goat curry is enough to convince me to come back and perhaps try other things when I'm craving Caribbean food. The dinner/large portions are pretty large and enough to share between two people. Remember to bring your own water. The food is on the saltier and fattier side, so paying $1 per 16oz bottle of water is not sufficient for a meal.

Been to aunty joys a few time and the food was always great, until now. Ox tail was hard, jerk chicken was dry, cabbage was under cooked and the prices went up. Now I don't mind the price increase but when the food is not as good then it's a problem.

I placed an order through Uber Eats tonight. I placed an order for four jerk wing dinners. Only one arrived. I called the restaurant to let them know and I was told that they only had enough chicken wings to fulfill one order. This whole situation could have been rectified if they would have just cancelled the order in the first place when they knew they couldn't make it. Instead I was told that they couldn't do anything about it except have me pick up my order. They said that could not do anything about Uber Eats giving me the other money back. I had previously said that I wasn't going back because I received chicken that was red in the middle before. I gave them another chance and I won't do it again. Spend your money with caution!

No one I mean, nobody should ever order oxtail from this god forsaken restaurant. I don't see how it's worth $25+.. saw dust tastes better than those salty, small and meats. Tried again after about 4months, same outcome. Resist any form of temptation, I'll advice you starve or chew your money than give them a try. Thank me later

We ordered takeout tonight and the food was ready by the time we arrived. You definitely get your money's worth. My fiancé got Jerk Chicken and I ordered Jamaican oxtail (small portion). Seasoning is no stranger to your plates. Rice and Peas had quite the kick to it. Delicious food

We all know of the stereotypes of Jamaican restaurants. The rude customer service but the food is bomb so you put up with it ( I can say this caus I'm from the Caribbean and I grow up with West indies. No hate but truth lol ). Well I must say, this is a first! Our server was super nice, patient.. ...and the food is lit! No wonder they have great reviews. Aunty Joy can take my money any day with that attitude! I ordered the 2 meat combo with rice and peas( oxtails and curry goat). I also got a side a mac and cheese. I'll have to take a picture next time cause I destroyed that plate as soon as I got it. Stay tuned!

Beef Patties and festival were incredible! This was a suggested spot after I had already tried another Jamaican place in the area and was disappointed. But not this place! I only had appetizers, but I will absolutely be back for meal. The food was hot and fresh! And the beef patties had a great ratio of dough to meat. Check this place out for yourself!

Fastest Jamaican food ever! Delicious oxtails and pattys. The Mac and cheese was a no for me. I should try my recipe

Been in this part of Rogers Park for a while but discovered Aunty Joys during the pandemic and what a find. I think we have tried everything on the menu and it's all amazing! Some of the best Jamaican food I have had in the city!! And it's consistently good!! I didn't want to give a review because I want to keep them for myself a place this good is bound to be discovered sooner or later. The new location just added seating so can't wait to sit down and enjoy with some rum punch.

I only recently started eating here and have loved it. But after going in and seeing that their staff is not wearing face masks, I won't be able to come again. Super disappointed.

Best Caribbean food in the city. Flavorful, and packs quite a punch in terms of the spiciness. The fried plantains were up there with some of the best I've ever had, not too greasy and soft enough to smoothly bite into but firm enough where it's not falling off your fork. The jerk chicken and fries was phenomenal. The jerk chicken was tender and seasoned so well. The fries are thicker fries, which are suited to handle the jerk seasoning on top. Its a great family-owned business in Rogers Park, and I am already craving their fried plantains again!

Good food, portion sizes, and speed. The restaurant is really nice on the inside. Service is just okay, but the food makes up for it. Good to-go or delivery option.

One of my fav spots in the city right now! Great food, lovely people working there. I haven't tried a lot of Jerk food so I can't speak to how good it is in comparison, but this is me and my girlfriend's favorite "we don't feel like cooking" spot!

Perfectly seasoned and juicy authentic jerk chicken. I love love jerk chicken and this was so good. As were the rice and beans, plantains, and cabbage. I've had jerk chicken maybe 100+ times and this was certainly the best on the north side and among the best I've ever had. The rice and beans, and plantains were the best. Perfection. This place takes pride in its food! The only issue is their website wasn't synced with their hours. Just call up and place your order.

Nice deep flavor and big portions. Definitely worth a shot and the food even travels fairly well.