The Jerk Shack

"The shaggy charm of the Jerk Shack’s original, now-shuttered location is certainly missed, but its glossier replacement right near SeaWorld still sets the bar for Texas Caribbean food. Besides the signature jerk dish, there’s crumbly fried chicken, savory beef patties, saucy oxtails, curries, and caramelized plantains. Chef Nicola Blaque serves them alongside a few Southern staples like shrimp and grits and citrusy brown sugar yams — all offered at a more affordable price that made Michelin deem it a Bib Gourmand. The dining room is no-muss, no-fuss, but the menu keeps well for takeout and delivery." - Brandon Watson

"The shaggy charm of the Jerk Shack’s original, now-shuttered location is certainly missed, but its glossier replacement right near SeaWorld still sets the bar for Texas Caribbean food. Besides the signature jerk dish, there’s crumbly fried chicken, savory beef patties, and caramelized plantains. Chef Nicola Blaque serves them alongside a few Southern staples like shrimp and grits and citrusy brown sugar yams. There’s a reason her restaurant was one of Eater’s best new restaurants in 2019. Takeout orders can be placed in person or online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas." - Brandon Watson

"This is a fried chicken success story. Army vet and chef-owner Lattoia Massey, known by her professional name, Nicola Blaque, opened a small walk-up shop with her husband, Cornelius Massey, just two years after graduating from culinary school." - Eater Staff

"Popular San Antonio Caribbean restaurant the Jerk Shack moved from its original location in the West Side, which closed its doors in September 2021, to its new home at 10234 State Highway 151 in the Far West Side as of January 14. The Jerk Shack, which opened in 2018, has garnered a large following for its Jamaican offerings, including jerk chicken, fried plantains, and braised oxtails. The restaurant quickly gained national attention, landing a spot on Eater’s Best New Restaurants of 2019. This relocated new restaurant is serving much of its original menu while also leaving space on the bill for new dishes, like the recently added fried chicken." - Polly Anna Rocha

"For crispy jerk chicken wings: For an excuse to get out of the house, we trekked down to San Antonio for a day trip. Since we were in the city anyway, we decided to grab to-go dinner from The Jerk Shack, one of Eater’s best new restaurants in 2019. The Jamaican restaurant still proved to be just as popular and busy, with a line and wait periods, but it was worth it for those wonderfully spiced crispy jerk chicken wings and dense beef patties. Orders are placed in-person and people can wait in their cars." - Erin Russell