Cool Runnings Jamaican Grill

I came stop here before getting into creating content for the week, and it was a great choice. Food was great and filled with flavor, the chicken combo plate (I got curry chicken and brown stew) was well worth the price and was delectable. Everything was fresh and well-made. My only complaint was the service being a bit nonchalant, and I had to go back in to get the Jamaican beef patty I ordered once I realized it wasn't there. Other than that, great place, and I would return before getting into my content and music again. Great place to eat!

Authentic Jamaican flavors, friendly and attentive service, and a welcoming atmosphere that made us feel right at home. My wife and I love this place—I'm all about the oxtails, and she’s hooked on the curried goat. And don’t forget to grab some patties for the road.

First time coming to Cool Runnings was today. I will definitely be back! I ordered the Rasta Pasta with a Chicken Patti with Chicken and the Jerk wings with the rice and cabbage. It was very flavorful and the jerk sauce that came with the wings was very spicy but really good! Also, the music and vibes are great too. Will definitely be back to try other menu items. This place gets a 10 outta 10 from me.

So tasty so juicy, let me tell yall. This not our first time. More like our 3rd or 4th time patronizing. Though we had no complaints about our food, I gave 4 stars because during one of those visits when we ordered in atead of telling us that they no longer had that item for the day, the waitress just allowed them to put whatever on our plate and didnt mention it even when she brought the food out till we asked her about it. Now to the food! What we ate: 1) Oxtails plate with peas and rice and vegetable medley. Oxtails- Were tender juicy and flavorful. I love the amount of gravy that they gave to go over the rice, they definitely were not stingy with it. Rice and peas- the rice and peas had a wonderful flavor the peas were nice and tender and the rice was cooked well. Vegetable medley- the vegetables were amazing. They had a wonderful taste to them. They were lightly salted with butter. 2) Jerk chicken with a side of vegetable medley Jerk chicken- the jerk chicken had a nice smoky flavor it was juicy and very tender. Vegetable medely- the vegetable mint leaf is just the same as above. Nice taste lightly salted with butter. Sides: Plaintain- was browned just thebwaybwe like them Drink: We had some of their juices i believe I had mango and the one my partner had he said it was really sweet. Oh he had the fruit punch i believe. We would visit again! Some nights they have live band playing.

Delicious food! My husband’s friend who’s Chef Noel, suggested we go to this restaurant and it was amazing. The curry had so much flavor and chicken fell off the bone. Our waitress was so welcoming and sweet to us. We had a wonderful experience and will be going back . thank you! 😊 ✨👌

Came here Saturday night & I was happy to see a live band playing while we enjoyed our meal. I ordered the jerk chicken dinner & my boyfriend ordered the curry chicken dinner. The food came out fast & the food was hot & tasted perfect, very tender and flavorful I can’t wait to come back.

Food was amazing but ambience needs some work hope its better on a weekend i will come back to see oxtail and curry meal was top shelf

I ordered the combination platter with extra oxtails, mashed potatoes, cabbage, and two beef patties. What I received was incredibly disappointing for a $32 meal. I was charged for extra oxtails but only received what looked like a regular portion (three full pieces and two small halves to give the illusion of more). The mashed potatoes were missing entirely, and the cabbage portion was so small it was barely there. The beef patties tasted like frozen store bought ones with hardly any filling. Overall, the meal did not reflect the price I paid.

Consistent in the flavor, presentation n service given. Always accommodating with professionalism n hospitality. Cashiers are always very pleasant and courteous and the environment is clean and inviting.

Ever since the first time I tried their oxtail stew, I've been craving it. Today, I ordered it for lunch and it was so yummy! The combination of the sweet plantains, rice and peas and fatty oxtail makes the perfect bite. I'm not a huge fan of steamed cabbage, BUT their steamed cabbage has a hint of sweetness and gives the meal the perfect slight crunch. Everything meshes so well together and I can't wait to go back. The first time I went, I ordered the jerk chicken and it was disappointing... dry. Because I didn't enjoy the jerk chicken, this time I opted to try the jerk wings. When I saw the wings, I was disappointed again. They're tiny and dry. Skip on these. Oh, and they never seem to have the garlic mash potatoes! Regardless, I am still happy with the rice and peas, but man, garlic mashed potatoes sound so good. Overall, I highly recommend the oxtail stew. I will be ordering this every time I come here.

I've had decent food here before, particularly the breakfast. The problem is, much of it is not authentic. If you are Jamaican, you know that jerk chicken is NEVER deep fried. It should be prepared on a grill, or at least baked/broiled if you absolutely don't have other means. Because there aren't many Jamaicans in Houston, these people get away with deep frying "jerk chicken" in large batches. I felt rather offended actually lol *EDIT* to respond to the owner: Unfortunately, your staff is not following those procedures. My family and I witnessed them deep frying the "jerk chicken," pulling it from the fry basket and then chopping it and serving it in jerk plates. This led to us not ordering the chicken. In this case, it appears that they are taking shortcuts of which you may not be aware.

I read the reviews and decided to try anyways. Not sure why... but... So, I give it 3 stars because Var (I think that was her name) was very sweet. The service was good. However, the food... very, very dry AND bland. I got the jerk chicken with rice and peas and rum punch. The plantain was hard with no flavor. The chicken patty was just okay. I wasn't disappointed, because the reviews let me know what was up. My friend told me to try the oxtails as that's what she always get. So, maybe next time.

Went to Cool Runnings this year for Fathers Day brunch. The husband loves good food from the yard. We arrived early just as they were putting the food out. We enjoyed cocktail shrimp, fresh fruit. The buffet included curry chicken, jerk, chicken, jerk pork, escovich fish, sliced fish, fried fish, rice & peas. Our food was fresh and hit. Service was excellent with friendly attentive staff.

This place was my introduction to Caribbean food, and it couldn't have gone any better. We came an hour before close so service was pretty fast, and it was a nice vibe inside. We got the oxtail plate, and the jerk chicken (we originally wanted to try the wings because I'm not big on white meat, but they ran out by the time we got there which was understandable.) The oxtail plate was insane, the portion was huge for the price that it costed. It very tender and, fell off the bone, and basically melted in my mouth. The oxtails came with rice and peas, steamed cabbage and plantains. I kept combining pieces of oxtail, plantain, and the rice and beans into one big bite because it just meshed so well together. The flavor explosions definitely altered my brain chemistry for sure. The steamed cabbage was slightly sweet and refreshing which cut down the fat perfectly. The jerk chicken wasn't my favorite, the chicken itself was a little dry. However, the sauce that came with the rice was fire, which made up for the chicken. All in all, I will definitely be back to try the garlic mash potatoes, wings and the other items on the menu.

I have to say cool runnings has gotten much better. The flavors are there and it fulfills the Jamaican cravings. I got a combo plate of jerk wings and curry goat with a side of oxtail gravy and everything was good. I just wish the goat was a bit more tender. Overall back to the flavor profile I expect

This place never disappoints!! Loved the vibe! Great playlist is always playing in the background and sets such a great mood. As an appetizer, I ordered a beef patty. It was absolutely delicious! For my entree, I ordered the oxtail dish with rice , peas , cabbage and plantains and a Mango ice tea. It was so good and I was given a huge serving! Couldn't finish it all. Great service! The food came out within minutes! Can't wait to go here for date night again.

Food was amazing, loved the beef patty and curry goat. Ambiance was also great came during day time so more on the quiet side, however dining room was beautiful and clean. Service was fair nice for the most part.

I returned just a few weeks after my last visit, thanks to a $7.50 off $20+ coupon I received in the mail, and boy, was it worth it! One day I'll venture out and try something different, but for now, the combo plate (curry and brown stewed chicken with generous portions of rice, cabbage, peas, and plantains) hits the spot every time. I always add two beef patties on the side--because why not? This time around, all the food was cooked to perfection, flavorful, and left me with plenty of leftovers. The curry is perfectly hearty with just the right amount of spice, and the brown stewed chicken is rich and tender. Honestly, I'm hesitant to try anything else on the menu because I so appreciate the consistency of these dishes! While there was one blunder in the past, these most recent consecutive visits have completely restored my faith in this reliable Jamaican hub. Highly recommend if you're looking for authentic, satisfying, and well-prepared food!

Oxtail dish has good flavor, but don't order before closing. Some if the oxtail didn't have any meat on the bone. We ordered extra plantains but the restaurant didn't have plantains at all. Once again, this restaurant never picks up the phone and puts you in a never ending loop with their automated system.

Omg love it. I came a couple years on my bday and been back every since. I love the coconut curry shrimp, brown stew and love how they put dumpling in the ox tails​

Place is always popping, recommend ordering online and picking up your order to avoid the longer wait times. Food always hits! My first time trying the oxtails and they did not disappoint - very flavorful and tender, just fell off the bone. Also got my go-to jerk chicken plate which is consistently delicious! The sauce it comes with provides such a nice kick that leaves you wanting more. Plantains were sweet and yummy. Pro tip: don't bother ordering "extra" plantains for the extra fee because they did not honor it for my order and I got the standard amount

Paid a visit today at lunch time. Got the oxtail/jerk chicken combo with peas and rice and vegetables. I was very disappointed. There was very little gravy on the oxtails, the peas and rice was dry, and the plantains and mixed vegetables were undercooked. Only decent food on the plate were the jerk wings. Also bought three beef patties and they too were dry. I paid a total of $65 for two meals. What a waste of money!

Last few times I came here was before the Pandemic and I absolutely loved it. This time was meh. There were two people in front of us on a Tuesday afternoon so they were not packed at all. I ordered a large Curried Chicken, Oxtails, a veggie chicken patty, a chicken patty and a roti skin and decided to eat in the dining room. I don't eat red meat but heard the oxtails were so good my curried chicken wasn't as good as I remember I am slowly transitioning from chicken and this could be why. I don't ever have to have it again. It was seasoned well but didn't taste the same. I was so excited for the veggie patties because I wanted to try them before attempting to make it. The veggies were cold and you could tell they are frozen veggies. My rice and peas were lumpy and no seasoning. It's almost like they were a forgotten factor in the dish. The cabbage was cold. The roti was ok ‍ Food hasn't been fooding for me for a while and I'm disappointed about this experience. Hope you have a better time. Updated: They get another star. Later on after warming my food, it was better. The rice and peas and the cabbage tasted more seasoned‍ and the chicken patty was great as well.

A good stop for some authentic Jamaican and Caribbean food! Portions are sizable. Make sure to get a pineapple ginger juice to drink!

Best oxtails, rice and peas, plantains (order extra plantains) in the city!!! Extra gravy over rice and peas

It's been almost a couple of years since we been to Cool Runnings Jamaican Grill. I was ready for round 2. The service was a bit slow today, but I was patient enough to wait. The lady finally took my order, and not even 10 minutes later, the food was ready. I ended up getting 3 things. I got a large Curry Goat, a large Brown Stewed Chicken, and 4 Beef Patties. The Curry Goat was really good, not spicy, very mild in flavor, very tender like falling off the bone tender. It came with Rice and Peas and Cabbage. We wanted to try this last time we visited, but they were out. So I was relieved when the lady told me that they have it today. Worth it. The Brown Stewed Chicken was probably my favorite next to the Oxtails. The Chicken was flavorful and falling off the bone tender. The sauce that the chicken was in was so rich and full of flavor. The reason why I decided to try this is because Keith Lee rated this a 10/10... I have to agree with him there. The Beef Patties was still full of flavor on the inside but it was warm, like it's been sitting there for a bit. Despite that, I will return again soon.

From some who was raised in Rosemont/Montegbay Jamaica... This place is a true gem for authentic Jamaican food lovers! They offer a range of traditional dishes, but what really sets them apart is their stock of Jamaican local favorites like "bun and cheese." It's rare to find this treat, and they have it readily available! Their sorrel drink is another highlight, refreshing and full of flavor. And if you're a fan of beef patties, you're in for a treat. They offer frozen beef patties that you can take home and cook at your leisure. The patties are super flaky and absolutely delicious - Da real ting! (Buy 1/2 dozen or 1 dozen heat 375 for 15-20mins) Highly recommend stopping by if you're craving a genuine taste of Jamaica. You won't be disappointed!

We went to check it out because it was recommended by my Jamaican friend. The place is deceiving when you walk in. At first, it looked like a small place because people were ordering takeout. However, they have a huge dining area to the right. My favorite is the brown stew chicken. We also ordered oxtail (delicious too) and chicken curry (it was kinda bland). We ordered calaloo and cabbage with our meals. Our waitress was friendly and very helpful in describing the menu items that we didn't understand. We will definitely be back to try their other items.

My brother went here yesterday & he paid $85 for 3 oxtails plates. The food was NOT worth the price nor the commute AT ALL, Oxtails were NOT tender and they had NO flavor. The sides were rice peas and plantains they were decent. The first time he went the food was a lot better actually good enough to want to go again. This is very disappointing being that they have a history of having good oxtails. They need to focus more on the quality of the food and less on the cost. We will not be returning anytime soon nor recommending cool runnings to anyone. Very very disappointed I hope they start to make the food with love again. God Bless!

I was going to this place for years before Food Network came. The patties are always on my order , chicken , beef, veggie. Each one has its own special flavor. The jerk chicken is nothing to play with, amazing bursts of flavors spiced just enough to keep you coming back for more. Can't leave without trying the desserts also.

Ordered to go. Was in and out for pick up within 5 minutes. Meats were seasoned well and tasty. The plantains were a bit tougher than I'd liked but overall everything was good and I'll for sure order again.

It's been a long time since I was last here. But I am so glad that I did. I missed this place. I wish they had veggie patties because those are my favorite here. But they ran out. We ordered food here and then thought wait we should dine in. The ladies were nice enough to let us even though that's not the usual rules. We still ordered drinks and tipped them for their hospitality. And I really enjoyed my roti plate.

Living off the reputation of the past but not meeting the expectations of today is the best way to describe this establishment. The food was not fresh or desirable. The rice was luke warm, chicken cold and shrimp curry extra salty. shrimp didn't taste fresh but was most likely frozen and not fresh. The restrooms were horrible, trash all over, old and in need of repair and smell of bleach. The restaurant was full of flies OMG I felt like I was on the beach in Jamaica waving the flies away from my food. Staff were very nice and pleasant but unfortunately the food was not. The music was great. I won't be back

Service was fast, food was tasty, and environment was friendly. Dining hall looks very Caribbean and they have a bar in the dining hall. I will be back.

As a native Jamaican I can hands down tell you this restaurant is the real deal. I was in Houston for a week recovering from surgery. I ordered Chicken Soup & Ackee and Salt Fish and it reminded me of my grandmothers soup. Very authentic. I again ordered Goat Soup and Curry Goat and when I say it was 10 out of 10. Please go out and support this business.

The food is really good! It's our first time trying Jamaican food. The Goat soup is wonderful, meat is very tender and full of flavor. The Curry chicken snd their oxtail is great, meat are very tender. The Jerk chicken has a good flavor specially with the jerk sauce eventhough the chicken is a bit dry. The server is very friendly. The service is a little slow.

The service was great and the food was even better I recommend this place to anyone that looking for some caribbean food

This place has been the it factor!! The food is absolutely amazing. Service is good and the wait isn't too bad at all.

Best island food I've had in Texas so far. Service was good and quick and the ambiance was nice I visited during the day time so I was at side where they serve food over the counter.

I parked and there was literally a homeless man passed out on the ground when I got out of my car. I went in to pick up my order and i was ignored. Email said my food was ready. I was Met by women who looked me in the eye but would not acknowledge me. 5 min later, i asked where i go to pick up a to.go.order. they still ignored me. 9 min later, someone from the back asked my named and pulled my bag from.the shelf that had been sitting there the whole time. Food great, service trash. I have never been here before but wont come back do to how poorly i was treated

Amazing authentic Jamaican food EVERYTIME! Best oxtails I've ever had. Brown chicken stew may be the most underrated dish on the menu. Don't forget the rum punch.

I really enjoy the curry chicken patties. I ordered one. I should have ordered four. No complaints. It's worth the trip.

I've been coming here since I moved to Houston almost a decade ago, and the food is still consistently phenomenal. They are unmatched, and my only go-to Jamaican restaurant. Well worth the drive. The staff are moderately friendly. Their curry chicken is my favorite, also love oxtail! I usually do to go orders here and have only ate inside maybe 3 times. Dining area is very casual.

My catering order for pickup was made for 10:45am and I arrived early around 10:15am. I was greeted with a comforting superb staff, and they catered to my needs and was done with order by 10:30am. My coworkers loved it, and it was their first time trying Jerk Chicken. West Coast Surgical will be sure to use this restaurant again for catering and single ordering. Now they are in love with your Jerk Chicken!!!!!!!!!!

Tried it out for the first time because i was really craving curry goat. Unfortunately the food was not spicy enough. If you are American then this is the spot to try but if you are from the islands then this may be a bit bland. Nonetheless, the curry shrimp was my fav. The next best dish was jerk chicken. Fav sides are the rice and peas and the cabbage. I didn't like the boiled provisions, the callalou or the plantain. The plantain wasn't sweet or fresh. The portion for the curry goat and the oxtail was small. Just avoid the roti. It was hard and lacked flavor. I wish i tried the beef patty. Unfortunately they left the Patties i ordered out of my to-go order. If i return, it will be for the curry shrimp and to try a beef patty.

I live Westbury but grew up closer to cool runnings. I remember the massive Jamaican feats they would have driving by with the music and smoke everywhere from BBQ and other things Jamaicans are know for. My daughter wanted jerk chicken so why not give Cool Runnings a try. I had jerk chicken wings plate with rice, plantains and veggies. Some of the meatiest wings I have had and chargrilled with the extra jerk kick. There is some spicy sauce that comes with it in the side with EXTRA kick. Portions are great you won't be hungry. Coming back to get wings again and also try the meat pies. You can order online.

Cool Runnings has been on my list of places to try for many many years, even prior to Guy Fieri's visit. Luckily, I was in the area and had the opportunity to try this place out. First, I actually like this place so my 3/5 stars doesn't paint the entire picture. There are a lot of good things going on with this restaurant, such as a music venue, bar, and walk up/take out counter. However my experience, while overall good, my wait time for my food was absolutely inappropriate. Perhaps its a cultural thing where people take it easy, or the vibes are just chill, ~~~***but it took 1 hour and 15 minutes for my food to come out. BEWARE!***~~~ - I ordered the ackee and saltfish entre which comes with rice/beans, fried plantain and cabbage. The portion of this dish can feed me for two meals and its well priced at $17. Flavor was on point and it definitely hit the Jamaican itch. I also got the patties which also was delicious! The waitress comped it for us since our wait time was so long. Speaking of which, the waitress was very pleasant and polite to us, acknowledging that our food is taking a long time and occasionally updating us on the progress. It seems they give walk up/take out counter more priority than the sit down dining part of the restaurant. I can only imagine thats the reason why we had to wait so long. Perhaps I came on an "off" day, but it seems that this has happened before to other patrons. If that's the case, they really need to do better with the service line. Like I said above, I like this place overall. However my wait time was just too crazy for me to give it 4+ stars. I'll do take out next time.

Some of the BEST Jamaican food in Houston and may actually be the best. Portion sizes are perfect and enough to eat for (2) day, price point is good and food is so well seasoned. My go to is the curry goat with extra plantain and rice and peas. My family usually gets the oxtail plate and stew plate. This place is a 5 star!

Literally tired of wasting my time and money.... I got curry shrimp 2/10 macaroni pie 2/10 and beef patties...4/10.... Waited for my food for about ; 40 mins nothing about the food screamed Jamaican .... Or the flavor ..... $35.... Wasted.

Food was great and very fresh. The service was immaculate ever though I ordered to-go. Always a good vibe when the reggae tone is playing as well. I also got a beef pie but it was devoured.

"I just luv me some Cool Running... Ohhh Weeee, yes I do!" My great grandbaby is a true blessing!

I'm going to keep this real honest. Their jerk chicken slaps! The flavor, the spices, the tenderness... all there. I ate every piece I could. I got this to-go, and it was so much food. Now for the sides, I ate one bite if each the banana, the yam, and the mixed vegetables. I only ate one bite. I didn't taste any flavor in any of them, they were just not something I preferred. I found the dumpling under the mixed vegetables... it was so hard. I did not eat it. So I love the jerk chicken, I loved the plantains, and I think next time I'll just stick to those.

I ordered the jerk chicken and was very disappointed. It didn't have any jerk seasoning/flavor at all. Service was quick and place is clean.

Saw this place on triple D on food network so came to check it out. Came early on a weekend for lunch- just beware certain dishes will not yet be ready or available if you come early. You order at the bar and most people take food to go, but they do have a large indoor dining space. Food is ready pretty fast as most is cooked in large batches and ready to be boxed for you. Exception is the curry shrimp, which was prepared fresh. Jerk chicken- good smoky flavor, a little dry. Wouldn't necessarily order this again over other items on the menu, but a good non polarizing choice. Ox tails- my favorite. Very soft and tender, gelatinous and indulgent. Savory bites and very satisfying. Coconut curry shrimp- decent sized serving or large shrimp with great flavor. Huge box of food. Sides of rice, cabbage, and plantains were all yummy and pair nicely with the rest of the food. Would come again to try other menu options that weren't available when I came (I mainly want to try the curry goat!)

Unique place, order food as you walk in then go to a room next door to sit and eat it. Looks like they have a huge dance floor with live music at times. Food was outstanding with large portions. Service was quick. Definitely worth a try.

I really like this food at this restaurant. I will say that I enjoy the taste and flavors. But the women at the register are always rude and not welcoming. Also, today and frequently, they give me these short ass plates with not much meat on my oxtails and that's not a good thing. For the price we have to pay, I want enough food to be satisfied. I think they need a trainer to help them fix better plates when they have the oxtails that don't have much meat on the bones! Bad attitudes at the front counter and then a bad plate with not enough meat on the oxtails is a double negative. This establishment needs to wake up before I take my money to another place. And I eat here and refer people here very often, so I hope this review reaches the important people that can make changes.

Been here a few times, but the last time was several years ago and I kept hearing people say they are better than Reggae Hut, which is our favourite Jamaican restaurant. They've expanded their dining area since the last time I visited, and they now have a buffet on the weekends. The buffet had plenty of chicken and pork offerings, rice and peas, cabbage and plantains, but everything looked dry and I was craving oxtails while the wife wanted brown stew chicken. We opted to order on our own rather than doing the buffet. We noticed absolutely no one was partaking of the buffet either. The food was delicious, but RH remains our favourite. We'd come back if they had live music on the weekends.