Jerk Shack Reviews

This was a walk by stop for us. I wasnt sure I was going to have a full meal but glad I did. Shared with my son - Jerk chicken plate - large portions of tender flavorful chicken yummy slaw and rice. Side dish mango salad - the Best I’ve had. Cornbread and beans to round it off. We were very pleased with all the dishes - fresh and yummy! Service was fast and friendly Highly recommend this place - sets a high bar in flavor with a laid back casual experience

Not much publicity for this place but the food is very good and the vibe is great. Prices are lower than most of the surrounding restaurants.

We visited this restaurant during our recent trip to Seattle based on my wife's brother's recommendation, and we're so grateful that we went. This may have been one of the top-10 meals in my entire life. We got a good sampling of the food available, and every single thing was amazing. Jerk-fried chicken - amazing. Fried whitefish - amazing. Cuban black beans - amazing. This meal was insane. The ONLY negative is that the kitchen seems to move slowly - it took a long time for our food to come out and the restaurant wasn't busy at all. But it was totally worth it when the food arrived. If I lived in Seattle, this place would be one of my regulars for sure.

I had read an article about the Jerk Shack several months ago and made a note to try it during a date night. They're open at 4pm, we were there just after 5pm on a Thursday and there was fairly easy parking on the street. The more expensive bank parking lot next door wouldn't take a credit card. There were customers scattered around the restaurant but no problem getting a seat. Staff were all friendly, informative and as attentive as was needed. We started off with a Caribbean Goddess and it was SO delicious. It's a richer, deeper - must be the addition of brandy - less syrupy sweet version of a pina colada. My husband later had a cold beer which he pronounced quite good. I tried the Vincey Rum Punch - a customer fav - which was good but I'd go back for another CG. The jerk chicken is their signature dish and rightly so. We got the half jerk chicken fried with a spiced rub and it was a lot of delicious, tender, flavorful meat. Beautifully spiced and not hot. Served with slaw, pistachio rice, fried plantains and dipping sauces. The crispy whitefish is another customer favorite. We thought the crispy was a little dominant and overshadowed the fish. About the plantains. We love the sweet plantains or maduros and expected something similar to those plantains. The ones served are probably more true to Caribbean tastes, use green plantains, are crisp and more on the savory side. They were out of the Green Paw Paw Salad with papayas but the mango salad with large chunks of mango and a small pile of cilantro was a perfect accompaniment. We also got the black beans and found them a little on the bland side. Fortunately there are lots of sauces to add heat, spice or additional flavor. And then...the bread pudding. We can never pass up bread pudding for dessert and this was one of the BEST...Coconut milk caramel bread pudding with honey vanilla ice cream. You HAVE to save room for this. We'll definitely be back and want to try the soft shell crab sandwich when we do, along with the chicken, of course. Well, and also the Caribbean Goddess and bread pudding.

One of the most flavorful jerk chicken dishes I’ve ever had. If you put raisins in your potato salad, this ain’t for you, Karen. The spice is spot on, the ginger yams are to die for, and the Manhattan is one of the best I’ve ever had.

Enormous portions, great price, amazing food! We had a group of 7 & ordered 1 of each - chicken, whitefish, Mac & cheese, mashed potatoes & cornbread. It was all fantastic & we left stuffed !!!

We ate here since it was on Seattle's 38 essential restaurants as ranked by Eater. We had to wait A LONG TIME for our food (the waitress said something about running out but it was hard to hear). When it arrived, it was ok but not great. Spicy but without enough flavor to accompany the spice. That said, I think I'm not a huge fan of island food, so I may not be the best judge here.

Jerk shack serves delicious food. Large serving sizes for your money. Flavoarable food, fun decor and artwork displayed on the walls and the music playlist was on point. Plus, all the staff were fun and upbeat. A great birthday dinner for my sis in law. Jerk shack did not disappoint.

Trey Lamont and his Sous Chef have mastered the art of flavor symphony. I ordered the jerk chicken bake as I intended to take the “easy” approach to the Caribbean delights served here and I assure you - there is NO EASING into this food. The flavors exploded with each chew. I tasted carefully pickled vegetables, fresh cilantro, crunchy coleslaw on their from-scratch buttery fry bake bread all surrounding the delicately flavored tender jerk chicken. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better I drizzled the garlic aioli and “Oh Boy” hot sauce!!!!! Every single bite was absolutely delicious and paired perfectly with the Jamaican Hibiscus rum punch. The care taken while preparing these foods and drinks is obvious and so appreciated. Thank you Trey Lamont!!! I will be back.

Prepare to share! The chicken was super moist and crispy. The jerk flavor and sauce was spicy AND flavorful. The slaw was not a typical coleslaw

We ate an early dinner, shortly after opening, so we did not encounter a wait. The dinners we ordered were delicious! If you are a fan of jerk chicken, then this place is a must for eating in Seattle! Cocktails were also delicious with a nice variety of options.

I enjoyed my meal, but I find myself mystified on the numerous 4-5 star reviews. I ordered whitefish and plantains, and as other reviewers have noted, the portions were huge: 4 nicely seasoned, crispy, flavorful fillets, a small mountain of slaw, and pistachio rice, all served on a cutting board easily 14 x 10 inches. The plantains were more breading than fruit; and the rice was too moist for my liking, while the slaw on the bland side. The service was friendly, nice music, shabby chic decor, creative bartender. Jerk Shack was highly recommended by a local. While I enjoy Cuban food, Jerk style may not be my thing.

First, the staff here are very friendly and helpful and I know they waited us to have a great experience. The food was very good and plentiful ... my eye was bigger than my stomach and I made the mistake of ordering a side dish. Needless to say, I couldn’t finish everything. I got the half chicken and it was prepared correctly (not too dry because of overcooking) and there was the right amount of seasoning. The ambiance is a bit rustic, which is appropriate. This restaurant is not really big, so I can understand all the recommendations to make a reservation. We did not have a reservation, however, the managed to find us a table .. fortunately it was a Thursday night at about 6 PM. I don’t live in Seattle, but if I did, Jerk Shark would be on regular places to visit.

What a great restaurant. I had he jerk ribs.... tasty with the right level of spice. Good vibe in cozy setting. Staff very nice. Looking forward to more visits here!

Great little eatery. We had dinner with shared plates. Ribs, chicken and whitefish. The ribs were divine - well seasoned and cooked but the chicken was not to their high standard. The breaded fish was tasty seasoned well and fresh. The dips and the sauces were all very interesting. We had the mango salad which was average. The plantains were well done and added additional interest. The lychee lime drops is a miss but their lychee lemonade is good as well as the cocktails. The tamparinillio red wine was good. A bit noisy but has true Jamaican character. Reasonably priced as well. Recommended

After being refused entry for not having the right ID to The Nest, my friend and I walked a few blocks down to Jerk Shack. The vibe is laid back, service is great, a pint of Porter is just lovely, food it delicious. Get a seat on the back patio and just take it easy. Will definitely be going again. Hurrah for wonky ID laws :)

This food was amazing. Portions are enormous. We had a group of 7 & ordered several items to share. Whitefish, Chicken, mashed potatoes cornbread, mac & cheese, we're all fantastic

Did take out. Tried the jerk seasoned fish -- 2 huge filets plus plantains & rice w/peas. Plenty of food for 2. Also got cocktails to go. They come in small plastic bottles (premixed to perfection); all you have to do is pour over ice. Both the lychee lemon drop and the Rum Punch were excellent. Love at first bite. We look forward to going back for the jerk chicken. And hope to try some of the great sounding side dishes, as well as more of the great sounding cocktails.

Reservation for 2 Mar08/2020 Cocktail:Mojito was excellent. Food😢😢😢Ordered Jerk Fried...Too dry. Sweet potatoes & Greens..too much seasoning. Sodium level...too salty First timers and was pretty upset given the reviews by Zagat/Seattle magazine and Seattle Times. It's NOT a great representation of Caribbean food especially if it's mentioned here. Plantain....would-be great if fried. Will I recommend it Jerk Shack...unfortunately NO PS..I have travelled enough to know what good food is. Customer Service...5 stars👌👌👌

Great little spot in Belltown, have taken friends from out of here a few times and it always going down well. Back deck is brilliant now summer's arrived, perfect spot to close out the night.

My wife, myself and some family were in Seattle and wanted to eat somewhere. My cousin said the Jerk Shack was near his hotel and it was packed when he walked past it the day before plus it smelled delicious. So we thought we’d give it a try. I was pretty skeptical thinking about this style of food as I’m pretty picky. We ordered some drinks that were amazing. The waitress suggested that for a party of 5, we should order 3 entrees and a few sides. We took her advise and ordered the jerk chicken, ribs and fried fish. We got the cornbread, beans and Mac-n-cheese. The food was amazing. The owner came by and we got to talking. He was super friendly and nice. Once he found out that we were visiting from New Orleans, he told us we should try his bread pudding and he bragged on it. We told him that it had better be good because we consider ourselves bread pudding snobs. He didn’t disappoint. It was so moist and delicious. Probably the best bread pudding we have ever had. Even though the amount of food was well beyond what the five of us could eat, we managed to eat every last bite and was pretty much licking the plates. It was so good. You will not be disappointed!

We did take out again, as our “moving in” process is both arduous and never ending. Too many boxes, too much dust, and prodigious piles make cooking impossible. As is our wont, we ordered food for a family of ten, rather than dinner for two. Jerk Shack was packed on this Thursday night in Belltown, and it was refreshing to observe a diverse crowd in this African-American owned restaurant. Seattle needs more of this.......Every server was rushed, handling the needs of a “sold out” house, but smiles and a welcome were awarded us almost immediately. The heavily laden take out bag was a good sign, and the aromas drifted up Wall Street. Everything tasted great, with the ribs and yams taking the awards. We had enough food for three nights, but for us, one dinner and a snack. Jack Shack wasn’t cheap, nothing is in Seattle, but it was darn good eatin. I shall return to the Jack Shack. That’s a fact, Jack.

We had a few drinks at our neighborhood bar and decided to eat a light dinner out. We had noticed the Jerk Shack before and decided to give it a try. Very crowded, managed to squeeze in because it was before 6PM. Really excellent menu of Jamaican food. Service was friendly, not too fast. We had the jerked ribs, absolutely superb and enough for 2. Also had the Cuban black beans and the caribbean spicy greens. My wife is from Georgia and declared the greens excellent. Reasonably priced for Seattle, large portions, wine was not ridiculous, a reasonable value meal for the portions with great taste.

Great decor, lively, professional staff/service and nice ambiance. Oh and honey... 👀 The FOOD & DRINKS are everything! I recommend the deep fried soft shell crab sandwich, w/ginger yams & paw paw papaya salad. The 1/2 jerk chicken (it's a lot) is juicy and full of flavor, rum punch, coconut milk, caramel bread pudding and just E. All the above. They open at 4:00p, have a great covered/heated outdoor space in the back, are Black-owned and very inviting to all. You're welcome!

Fun, casual and relaxing atmosphere. Everyone is so friendly. The Caribbean food is remarkably good and you get large portions. Our group of 4 adults shared two meals. We ordered the chicken, lobster and fish. Both were delicious. My favorite was the chicken. So flavorful. Don’t leave without trying the bread pudding! You won’t be sorry!

Absolutely best tasting chicken ever! You need to try this place out. We are from milwaukee and i have never had such great tasting chicken. Flavor moistness the best! Sat at bar and had outstanding bartender serve us. 5 stars all around!

My husband and I swooned at every bite. It was THAT good. We ordered the cornbread, fried chicken (so juicy and not greasy), and white fish/lobster. There was plenty to share. We enjoyed every single bite. Whatever seasoning they had created was marvelous. Note of caution: order the cornbread to help with the spice heat. My husband was fine; my taste buds needed a little help toning down the heat. The bartenders were just as magical in their drinks. The black strap rum drink was tasty--give the flavors a bit of time to mesh. Tasty! Their Boomerang manhattan: deliciousness in a glass. The Boomerang liquor that is used in this manhattan is made in Seattle.

By far our best meal in Seattle! Beats out pricey steak houses, hipster dives and fine dining with deliciously spiced dishes big enough to share! If you are a fan of great food at good prices eat here at least once!

A great little joint in Belltown. Was there for Happy Hour, quiet ☹️but a great jovial atmosphere with the staff. The House Margherita was great... cucumber and jalapeno infused tequila with the trimminhs. Sharp, refreshing and with a kick. Had a chicken bowl from the HH menu, nicely lightly grilled chicken with rice, slaw, mango salsa and a plantain on the side. Would love to have a proper night in there with a crowd.

We have been here several times since they opened. Our favorite so far is the jerked fried chicken, served with sides of slaw and pistachio rice. It’s very tender. It is not like a typical fried chicken, but done with grilling and delicious spices. Another treat is the jerked mac ‘n cheese. Cocktail specialties are good. We have had ribs too. Next we will try the jerked fish, which on server loves. Great place to visit before or after the Big Picture, across the street. We split entrees as they are ample, ex, a half of a chicken!

We arrived in Seattle for a wedding . While searching for a bar, I started smelling this heavenly aroma that reminded me of Jerk chicken while I was living in NYC. I said to my friends " I'm smelling jerk chicken !" They said never, you're crazy! I replied , I know the smell of Jerk seasoning anywhere , then BOOM! There it was "Jerk Shack" As soon as we entered the restaurant, there was a warm Caribbean/home /cozy feeling . The atmosphere reminded me of being home ( I'm originally from Trinidad and Tobago) The service was excellent, our host escorted us quickly to our table . I told her I hope we wouldn't be disappointed, because I wasn't expecting to see that type of restaurant in Seattle . Then owner Troy greeted us warmly and ensured us that we wouldn't be disappointed! And boy was he RIGHT! We ordered the fried jerk chicken, ribs, pork belly , mango salad and for dessert the MOST delicious coconut milk caramel bread pudding in HISTORY!! It was served with honey ice cream(Home made) it was BOMB.ORG! *LOVE STRUCK * Troy was very accommodating.. The sauce that was served with the jerk chicken, was spicy, but not spicy enough for us, so he went back in the kitchen, and added extra spices for us! We sincerely appreciated the effort he made, to ensure that we were pleased .. Oh.. and we also had rum punch for our drinks! Made me feel like I was in Jamaica on a resort , laying on the beach! I'm definitely going back!

This place is popular for a reason, make reservations! Casual place with great food. Real spice in the jerk which is nice but maybe worth a caution to those with delicate palates. Three sides make a great meal. Their chicken presentation is amazing and could be shared by two.

I was walking down 1st ave looking for an address when i came across the Jerk Shack. The menu revealed they served pork belly, that bacon on steroids, and I happen to love it. As it was happy hour, a Moscow mule was in order also. I was expecting an appetizer but this was a meal accompanied by coleslaw and pistachio rice. 3 big slabs of pork wiith the habernero and a garlic aioli sauces , made my mouth hum! I also ordered a rib dinner to go. Succulent, tasty, falling off the bone goodness accompanied by the same rice and coleslaw. I wish I had tried a few other items like the mango slaw aand the bread pudding but i have a week left here, I am sure I will be back. Dishes I saw being brought to other diners looked good too. I must comment that the staff were very cheerful, pleasant and attentive and the price was right!! I really enjoyed my visit, glad Ii dropped in.