Hungry Joe's Jamaican Restaurant

Note: The day I stopped in, they were severely shorthanded. They had a sign up to let people know. That may have had something to do with the results of my order. This spot was recommended by a friend so I really wanted to love it. I'm not in the area often, but work had me there for a week so I was trying tons of food and I would put this somewhere in the middle. Parking: If you get there during a busy time, you may find it difficult to find parking. People tried to use the parking lot as efficiently as possible, but you may find yourself street side and walking up. My order: Oxtail plate, short rib plate, jerk chicken with fries and a beef and cheese patty for the drive home. With the few Jamaican restaurants I've tried some dishes, I was expecting the flavor to be out of this world. Especially with a friends commendation and the amount of high reviews, I was already setting some high expectations. Unfortunately, while it all smelled amazing and was cooked to a perfect tenderness, it seemed like what was common between all the dishes was they were a bit under-seasoned. The rice and beans were solid, tasty vegetables and plantains, but when it came to the meats, it was perfectly cooked... just needed more seasoning. The jerk chicken was saved by the sauce! Had some kick to it but nothing you can't handle if you normally add some spice to your food. The highlight was hands down the patty I had. I wish I had ordered more for my wife and friends to try, but with a 2 hr drive in traffic and the shop being sold out and having to make more, I took the last one they had to go for the drive. It was flaky and the patty was super flavorful. On my drive home, I was thinking "man if this is what the patty is like, the other food is gonna hit like crazy!". Benefit of a doubt: So while my experience wasn't the best with the food, you could definitely do worse in the area. I want to go back to try a mini of my orders and get some patties, as well as try the desserts they have behind the glass. I would recommend placing an order ahead of time, but be sure to place it maybe more than an hour out. Due to how busy the place got and them being short-staffed, I still had to wait an extra 30 minutes. It can be a bit pricey, but what isn't these days. And while a bad first experience with food is enough to push people away and leave a negative review, the service I had was nice enough that maybe I just came on a bad day. The miss whom was at the register had explained the situation to everyone to set expectations and was handling a crowded line as good as she could. Checking out, she took her time to make sure my order was mine, offering me condiments, utensils and double bagged my order so it wouldn't fall through. For me, that stuff goes a long way. Wife loved how tender all the food was, and her pick was the short ribs. A friend also said it was his pick of the dishes. Against popular opinion, they liked that over the oxtail because it's generally less fatty. For me, if not the patty, then I'll go with the jerk wings. It's what I came for and the sauce saved it. Just sub the fries with their vegetables and/or rice and beans, and you're good. Will definitely try again when I get assigned in the area again!

5 stars because the food is fire! Jerk is super spicy just the way I like it! Small jerk chicken is easily 2+ meals for me. They set up a little seating area in the parking lot which is really nice. I've tried on seperate occassionas to order the salmon and shrimp to no avail. I always end up with the chicken. Takes 30 minutes for shrimp curry so I guess order ahead if you want that? Staff lumbers about. They dont get excited about anything.

They call this place a “restaurant,” but it’s really just a fast food stand with very limited seating. The staff’s attitude wasn’t very friendly. The food was much more disappointing compared to the good reviews I had read. I ordered two dishes, Brown Stew Chicken and Jerk Chicken, but they gave me two portions that tasted exactly the same, likely due to a mix-up. Both chicken dishes seemed like boiled chicken with sauce poured on top. What’s dangerous is that the sauce contained a lot of small chicken bone fragments, and if you’re not careful, you could choke on them. The only positive point is that the portions were quite large. Also, be careful when they calculate your bill. I ordered two small portions, but they charged me for one large portion while I wasn’t paying attention. I noticed it later but decided to let it go to avoid an argument.

This is a must go place every time I visit LA. I usually get the oxtail and jerk chicken whenever I come and i've never been disappointed. I crave it all the time. I get sad with every bite I eat because I have that much less of it left. I enjoy my burps after eating it. Also don't sleep on the plantains because they really balance out the flavors. 15/10 would recommend

Location is a Lil ruff, but PLEASEEEEE don't let that derail you. Hungry Joe's Jamican Rest was 🔥. HONESTLY EVERYTHING was fresh, the cabbage was bright and crispy, the Jerk chicken was moist, seasoned perfectly, and the rice and peas were soft. The plantain was good as well, but I wasn't a big fan of their patties, and we actually went back the next day to grab 2 because they stop preparing them at 5pm. We got one beef and one jerk chicken. My boyfriend had the beef one, and he said it was pretty good. I, however, had the jerk chicken one, and it lacked filling it was very dry in the inside, and I didn't like the fact that patties dough were different. The jerk chicken patty dough was hard and white, and the beef pattie dough was the soft, light, airy yellow dough. But other than that, I would most deff go again, again, and again.

Oxtail large plate with jerk chicken. Everything was very good. Oxtails were well made, the jerk chicken had a nice flavorful spice to it, the rice and beans were done very well, and surprisingly, I liked how the cabbage was not bitter and cooked and flavored well. I'll go back!

Cozy little take out joint. A large oxtail dinner was 25.99 . Oxtail was good. Stew chicken was pretty good. They have a nice selection of dishes & you get a good portion of food. Reggae music playing and a few seats outdoor to wait for your food or to eat . I’d recommend & return when I’m In the area

The food is ALWAYS finger licking good! Customer service has improved where the wait isn't as long. There is outdoor seating. However, there is less space for parking. I wish Hungry Joe's had the entire strip mall, since most people who visit this area come for the food. Loving the Jamaican vibe.

Terrible customer service on the phone. They put u on hold for a long time and they don't answer the phone sometimes. The food is delicious that the only reason I have patience

This tiny little hole in the wall restaurant serves some of the best food around. A friend took me for dinner here, and anytime I see oxtails on the menu. I have to try them. They have some of the better prices around as well. It gave me a chance to try some real Jamaican food, and everything was delicious. It took me four tries to finish the oxtail dinner, with rice and peas, steamed vegetables, and plantains. Worth the food coma. Other than some inconvenient parking and crowding, it is worth your time to go here.

This was my forever go to spot! Been eating here for YEARS. Today I ordered an oxtail plate and a jerk chicken plate. Food lacked flavor. They gave me around 5 oxtails SMALL, full of bone and fat. IM TOTALLY NOT OKAY! I spent over $60 and I am not satisfied. Ate a little bit and threw the rest away.

A local spot I've been coming to for ages. Doing the classics right also has a great selection of big, juicy burgers (not the Smashed variety). Jerk Chicken is common but when it's done right you know you've found a good spot. So many places don't just really marinade it properly but the flavor here penetrates deeply. Love their rice but the veggies were overcooked. Simple done right, I almost didn't want to review my local spots or else they start blowing up and I'm priced out lol.

They call this place a "restaurant," but it's really just a fast food stand with very limited seating. The staff's attitude wasn't very friendly. The food was much more disappointing compared to the good reviews I had read. I ordered two dishes, Brown Stew Chicken and Jerk Chicken, but they gave me two portions that tasted exactly the same, likely due to a mix-up. Both chicken dishes seemed like boiled chicken with sauce poured on top. What's dangerous is that the sauce contained a lot of small chicken bone fragments, and if you're not careful, you could choke on them. The only positive point is that the portions were quite large. Also, be careful when they calculate your bill. I ordered two small portions, but they charged me for one large portion while I wasn't paying attention. I noticed it later but decided to let it go to avoid an argument.

Husband went to pickup and the place was packed. We got the oxtail, ribs, jerk chicken, and the beef patty. The chicken, ribs, and oxtail were extremely tender however lacked a little flavor. The sauce on the side elevated the dishes for sure. Really liked the patty but they run out so gotta go early. Surprisingly the veggies were very flavorful - not sure what they were braised in but they were amazing. People were extremely friendly too. Definitely worth checking them out.

My mother treated my brother and I here for a Father's Day meal. I got the small pepper steak plate w/ rice n' peas and steamed veggies. This was my first time eating here and I'd like to try a little bit of everything so I will return a but my pepper steak was so good I want to come back and get a large plate instead of small. My mother got the fried chicken plate, same sides. Look, I'm sure the chicken is tasty but I eat chicken all the time so I'll try that last. My brother had the Curry Goat plate, same sides but I didn't get a picture because... well he forgot to take one for me lol. He ate his over a span of 2 days so it had to be good if he managed to save some for a second day.

Holy smokes!!!! It's been a while since I've had good Jamaican/Brazilian food. This place hands down wins. I now know why it's been an establishment staple in the community. I got the ox tail and the short ribs. Both are slow cooked to perfection. The yellow hot sauce is HOT but delicious.

Let me start off by saying I've been a long time Hungry Joes customer for about 10 years. Tonight I was craving HJ's fried chicken. I placed an order for a large fried chicken plate all white meat, with white rice and oxtail gravy on the rice and extra side order of cabbage. I waited for over 30 minutes for them to get my order wrong. They drenched my entire plate with oxtail gravy. I don't even understand why because the chicken already comes with its own sweet and spicy sauce on top. To make matters worse they told me they weren't making any more fried chicken. No apology. No empathy. Not a care in the world, like me as a customer didn't matter to them. Like me waiting 30 plus minutes and leaving hungry and empty handed meant absolutely nothing to them. I would really like the owner to reach out to me so I can discuss this more in detail.

Good food. Service was quick. It was a great evening to eat outside and enjoy the food.

This is to the business manager Pamela, you're slick response to my posts is hilarious because you assume that I don't know the difference between smothered oxtails cooked "Southern/Soul" style v/s Jamaican and I definitely do. Like I said in my posts these oxtails on this day was burnt/scorched to the pot and it tasted burnt not just the look of them. I'm not here to ruin your business but a good cook should know better than to share food that is obviously burnt, just do better not bitter!!

* I really want to give 3.7 stars... I recently tried the goat curry takeout from Hungry Joe's on La Brea, and it was seriously delicious. The meat was tender and flavorful, though I have to caution that there were quite a few sharp bone shards mixed in--definitely something to watch out for. Still, the taste was spot on. The fried plantains also deserve a special shout-out: I'm usually not a fan, but theirs were perfectly sweet, crisp at the edges, and incredibly satisfying. Service-wise, these folks are fantastic--they seem to know their regulars by name, which gives the place a comfortable, welcoming vibe. Can't wait to go back and try their burgers, jerk chicken, and maybe even the salmon next time around!

Jerk chicken was so flavorful but the breast was dry. Wishbtheybhad brind it. My sister said the oxtail and curry goat were bland and the rice and peas was over cooked and mushy. I ordered their Mac n cheese bc I didn't see any pictures or reviews and it was definitely not worth it. No cheese what so ever. It was like a crumbly mushy substance on the noodles.

Very good Jamaican food. I ordered the medium curry goat and a beef patty. They do not sell coco bread and will direct you to the adjacent Caribbean market where you can buy it. Service typical of a Jamaican spot. Outdoor seating only. I will make sure to stop by every time I am in LA.

Was in the mood for some meat pies. Asked my Jamaican buddy and he referred me to this place. When I first pulled up to the location I like the color scheme and outdoor patio area. Reggae music jamming. Soon as I went in the smell of the food catches you. The person working was very nice. I got the oxtail plate with rice and veggies. Also got a side of the jerk chicken! So good!!

My first time trying the food here as my other Jamaican spot closed. Con -The food was really really bland. My husband had the jerk chicken and agreed the food lacked flavoring. The oxtails were super fatty hardly any meat at all. The rice was soggy on one side were the oxtails were and dry on the other side. I ate half of it and trashed the rest. Pros -The veggies were ok. The oxtails n chicken were tender. The plantains were cooked perfectly and were sweet n soft. Will not be a repeat customer.

Food will come out slower than you'd expect from other restaurants, so I highly recommend ordering your food ahead of time if you don't want to wait. Limited outdoor seating and parking. We came a bit early for Saturday lunch and didn't have any issue finding either but there was a continuous stream of people coming to get food here. Overall, friendly service and good food. Both the jerk chicken and ackee saltfish were well seasoned and both matched well with a soda. The saltfish dish tastes like a cold weather or feeling ill kind of meal for me.

2 Hours and NO FOOD. I ordered online at 12:05 for pick up. I came an hour later. Food wasn't ready. They said 20 more minutes I came back 30 minutes later and waited 10 more minutes in line. I paid for my food...$122!! Waited 20 more minutes...OVER TWO HOURS and NO FOOD!!! Not even my drink. No apology. No nothing. They were not phased at all. I got a refund and left. They could have cared less. Again, didn't even try to apologize or give an excuse. Bottom line, if you don't have a 10 hour lunch break, probably not a good choice. If you're a mom like me and have to pick up your kids, it's choosing between a patty and your child. Trust me, you're STARVING at that point, so the choice is hard. They'll continue to lie and say 10 more minutes. Don't believe it.

Gonna Assume they have a new cook today. This is usually my go to Jamaican food spot! THE best to me... Anywho I ordered my usual Large Brown Stew Chicken (All white meat) looks like they're now SKIMPING on the chicken. For darn near $25 imma need more meat next time!.:..

Food is excellent. Staff is friendly and kind. However- They are always out of beef Patties which is not good as this should be a quick bite to grab and go for lunch. It's also kid friendly. Beef Patties are a common menu item for Jamaican restaurants. Imagine going to get a pizza slice and they're out of pepperoni- doesn't make sense. Wait time is far too long , they have to find a process that's more efficient. Lastly , as this I've witnessed on more than once Patrons shouldn't be allowed to stand outside the doors smoking .

Best Jamaican food in Los Angeles. Very authentic and great quality. Oxtail and brown stew chicken are a must, never disappoints. Wait time is a little long but worth every minute of the wait.

Omg their oxtails fall off the bone! WOW! The service . Friendly cashiers and informative regarding the food! Will be back sooner than later!

The food is good but the service is becoming horrible, don't bother calling to do a phone order you'll never get through or they'll pick up just to tell you to hold on then never come back to the call.

OMG what can I say about Hungry Joe's the food here is so good!! I got the Oxtail's rice and pea's and Cabbage and it was damn good! The meat from the Oxtail practically fell off the bone the rice and peas were delicious as well I'm not a big cabbage fan that's why I had planned on ordering a pattie but they ran out at 5:30. This is my new go to spot for Jamaican food whenever I'm in Inglewood I was going to rate this a 5 star but because they didn't have any Pattie's, in the weekend, on a Saturday??? I had to give them a 4 yeah I know it's minor and petty but I came all way from Lakewood and I REALLY wanted one.

OMG! The oxtail plate has me up and running to give a rating!! The best Jamaican spot on the Westside!! I used to frequent here every other day back in 2017! Food was delicious then. I can't stop!!

Been craving a good Jamaican beef and chicken patty. Growing up in NYC I'm no stranger to Jamaican food, so when I read the good reviews for this place I was excited. My excitement was short lived when I had to deal with the girl at the counter who seemed so miserable. Patties I ordered were a Chicken Curry, Beef and Cheese, and a Jerk Chicken. I am happy to report that all of them were SO good and much better than expected! At the same time, I can't believe a Jamaican Patty is now $4.50...insane! Unfortunately, I don't think I want to rush back or may never return. The girl taking my order had such a SHITTY attitude! In this day and age where competition is fierce and prices are so inflated, a business should not allow for such lousy customer service. An individual like that can make or break a business.

So good! You guys always take care of me with the portion sizes. One of my favorite spots in LA for Jamaican food. Thank you.

Check out the oxtail plate Recommended by a friend. So happy I came so hungry and left so satisfied. Comes with a side, and plantains. Come and enjoy.

I've been coming to Hungry Joes for years (2008/2009 to be exact). The main thing I would indulge in is the jerk chicken. The jerk chicken is always perfect, and the portions are always filling. I'd also like to add that they never run out of dark meat, like I have experienced at other restaurants. But, a few times throughout my visits, I would occasionally get the oxtails, which were always good as well. But I think one dish that has not been talked about enough is the pepper steak! This is my husband's go-to meal at Hungry Joes, and since I am so fixed on the jerk chicken, I have tried it but never really get it for myself. I am here to tell you now that you should RUN as fast as you can to Hungry Joes and get their pepper steak as I did today. I can't describe how delicious, tender, and flavorful it was! Everything paired together nicely as I got rice and double cabbage (because I love their cabbage soooo much). But as I sat eating the pepper steak, you could just tell how well marinated and slowly cooked it was! There were no fat pieces, and to my liking, there were also slices of carrots and bell peppers as well; which, if you're a veggie lover like me, then this just added on top of the grandiosity of the dish! I had to come praise the establishment because they NEVER miss! There has not been one time when my order was wrong, or it was lacking in flavor. There has never been a time when I felt shorted or overcharged. There has never been a time when the customer service was not up to par via phone while ordering or in person during pick up! I love Hungry Joes so much, and I just wanted to give them their props because I think I've told my husband three times today how good my food was !!! You guys rock, and continue to bless the community as the #1 Jamaican restaurant I have personally ever experienced :) I also wanted to add that I'm 9 months pregnant so the baby is beyond pleased with the food as well haha we shall be back real soon !

I had always received great food from this place, until I ordered thru DoorDash. I spent $76.00 for a mini oxtail plate, a large oxtail plate and festival bread. The festival bread was not included with my order and the oxtails were sub par. The oxtails were all fat and bones, very, very, very little lean meat, no plantain - just a very poor and disappointing experience. I called the restaurant and DoorDash, both of which resulted in an unsatisfactory resolution. I'm done with both.

The food was great the wait was a little long for pickup but that's a good thing says something the food is good

A must try for sure. It's a small hole in the wall type place with outdoor seating available. The food is authentic and tasty, and the portions are huge! The service is fast and the staff is very helpful and friendly. Definitely will be back to try other dishes.

Ackee breakfast is fire, just a little bit on the pricey side! Parking is very tight!

I was so excited to go get the brown stew fish ..... an what I got was some over fried not fresh fish over price fish i was so mad about this fish paid 42 dollars for some old dry fish just nasty an the cooks that's work there are rude an don't care oxtails or cool an I say that again cool an they put this greasy sauce with veggies horrible yall need to do better you can check them out just don't order the fish you will be sooo disappointed

I love their food, authentic Jamaican, but it was a big miss for me today Their Escoveitch was a big disappointment. If you like Escoveitch the best in my opinion and several others is from A Beautiful life in DTLA.

Love errthang here especially the stew peas! The oxtail and peas and rice are perfect.

Ordinarily, this is my go to spot for curried goat, but I was craving something different. I went for the combo plate with oxtails and jerk chicken. They showed me the food prior to my leaving & I thought my cursory glance was sufficient-looked saucy, dark saucy. Got home, got ready to chow down cuz I was literally STARVING. Well... The oxtails were tasty, but few. The jerk chicken...take a look. Still thinking it's just dark sauce. NOPE. Couldn't eat this piece. The other I had to because I WAS! STARVING. This should never be given to a customer. Ever. Unless you're actually Giving it to them for free. My feelings were hurt & I was still a bit in need of food. Oh well. Back to my curried goat!

i dont know what yall talking about. i knew when i saw the rice and peas it was gone be good. i got the oxtail and it was fatty and no flavor. how did i have to put salt pepper and hot sauce on jamaican food? jamaican food has all the spices and flavor. not this place not it.

My first time trying it was last year I've been back a few times since. It's definitely good, you can taste the freshness I've been to a few other places in that area and the taste doesn't compare. I've been served day old chicken etc.. at other places so yeah there's no comparison hungry joes smacks!!!

Wanted to try their Jerk hamburger. Appearance was horrible but the jerk beef patty tasted amazing. Outside of the patty it was a regular burger. Their system lost my order (during non peak lunch, 1:30pm) so I waited for 25min. Customer service was a "F". Because they didn't care that their system lost my order(no oops or sorry) and it took 25min for a burger combo. I agree with others in these times, I'll go where I can get a smile and some happier people to interact with on my lunch hour.

I got the large oxtail with the beef patty and a side of Mac and cheese and it was soooo yummy, definitely will be back. Craving the the beef patty as we speak!! The service was nice as well, the spot is small but they have seating outside to wait for your order.

This is the second time I ordered the small plate of jerk chicken, rice and peas, cabbage. However NO PEAS AND PLAINTAIN WAS IN MY MEAL. This is upsetting due to I bought it the day before for someone special day. I'm very disappointed due to this is the second time I ordered through door dash and missing food items. I picked it up myself. I would appreciate it if they would put all items in the plate as it supposed to be....

My bad! I meant to update my review. I ordered for my college campus (City college) for Kwanzaa Day one. Delivery: One time & the gentleman was VERY HELPFUL. The food was HOT & ready to serve. I almost ate the oxtails by myself Food: We had a pan of oxtails, jerk chicken, cabbage, veggies, and plantains. All the food 10/10! The owner: 10/10 Ms.Pam really is amazing! I thank you for holding up to your part & allowing us to experience GREATNESS! I've been back twice since then . The steak is a 10/10 too. I definitely SAY A MUST TRY! Ambiance: Clean in cut real LA food.

Hearty and filling, Hungry Joe's is a solid Jamaican food spot! Staff was helpful, and took about 25 minutes for our food to be ready. We got the pork, oxtail, and a chicken patty. I loveee a good oxtail stew and this did not disappoint. Only thing I'll say is that is was a little more on the salty side (for my taste)! Standouts for me were the rice (sooo flavorful) and the chicken patty (flaky and delicious). As for seating, there's a no indoor seating but few tables and chairs available outside. Parking might be tough unless you're lucky during peak times. We went on a Friday night and it wasn't too bad! Overall, a great spot if you're craving Jamaican food!

This place does not live up to the hype. I visited for the first time and tried their curry chicken. The chicken was not cooked thoroughly and lacked flavor. I've had much better Jamaican food in the Inglewood area.

Best Jamaican food in SoCal!! Everything flavored n cooked to perfection. Makes you think you're eating food somewhere in Jamaica

Go Go Go to Hungry Joe's had a taste for Jamaican food. Saw good reviews on Yelp for Hungry Joes. I came in had great service got the chicken curry with veggies large was enough for two meals. Then when I came it go busy. Got back to office food was delicious seasoned just right chicken was tender I will be back.

I always gotta find where the real Jamaican food be at wherever I go. We'll see if it holds true to the island. Well once we got back to the crib we got to dig in. Let me tell you the portions are huge, the food is delicious just like moms used to make. This is the stuff I grew up on and it was an absolute pleasure to eat. The staff was pleasant which if you've been to many a Jamaican restaurant the wait staff can put off a mood that makes you think you violated them, if you know you know. With the market being right next door this is a great stop and shop location. I highly recommend if you're in the mood for Jamaican food.

Best Jamaican Food in Cali!!! I found this place after visiting several other local spots and the food is delicious! Parking and dining is limited.