De-Jred
4901 Oakton St, Skokie, IL, 60077
De-Jred Menu
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De-Jred Appetizers
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De-Jred Appetizers
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Address :
4901 Oakton St
Skokie, IL, 60077 - Phone (847) 983-4582
- Website https://www.de-jred.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Joseph O.
Very tasty and offered generous amounts of food for the price
(4)Katie M.
The chef and place are very chill. Nice Jamaican decor. but the ambiance would get one star from me. food tasted good for a first timer - ive always wanted to try Jamaican food. But when it came to the menu - I held back and played it safe. We split the tasty platter (beef patty was great) which was enough for two. The fried plantains are recommended. I would recommend the Sop juice bc its a super healthy drink (similar to the green monster). they didnt have it when we were there, but that would be the ONLY thing I would go back there for. For some reason, I expected Jamaican food to be outstanding, and since its not my thing I wouldnt go back there for any of their dishes. If you are a steady Jamaican foodie - you should come here, at least try it once.
(4)Michele M.
It was ok. Nothing special. 3 stars is a stretch. I can't even adequately explain why this place was just ok. Perhaps it's because I've had Caribbean food numerous times and just wasn't all that impressed by this. I got full. The people were super nice. I had the brown stew chicken and it was ok. I only ate there because the Chicago/Evanston Caribbean places were closed on Sunday. On a Saturday, I would have ventured down Howard and gone somewhere else. Perhaps I would return to this place on a Sunday...maybe
(3)Sandy S.
Amazing jerk chicken and fried plantains!
(5)Paul H.
I went back in here a couple of weeks ago with three friends and we all enjoyed the food and some friendly conversation with the owner. I had Jerk Chicken along with one of my friends and the other two friends had the Ox Tail. We ordered extra Plantains and one friend ordered Carrot Juice. I looked a little confused when he ordered this (I'm a Yankee and he is Jamaican) but when it got to the table he let me try it and it was excellent! Very sweet! It tasted kind of like Horchata. I will definatly be back for more!
(4)Thamara D.
Jamaican home cooking ! and it will be served Island style ! so leave your "snap to it" attitude at the door, bring your inner Rasta and enjoy your self ! After trying take out a few times and loving the food tremendously, I took my son here for his first Jamaican food experience. Just as I imagined he loved it and finished most of my food as well. We tried the Goat curry and the national dish of Jamaica "Ackee and Saltfish", absolutely delicious ! The national dish may sound a bit out there, but I assure you it is a must try and you will enjoy it. Love the owners (also the chef and hostess), and everyone else who works here, always happy to see you and so welcoming. Everything is freshly prepared, large portions and it is BYOB here with NO CORKAGE FEES. They also have sour sop juice and real Jamaican Ginger beer here, so bring your favorite rum, mix your self a tall "Dark and Stormy" and enjoy a great home cooked Jamaican meal ! Yes the best of Bob Marley on the jukebox is free !
(5)Claire D.
Good was fantastic. Delicious flavors. Small casual place. Surprisingly not busy for the amount of great food. Tables were a little dirty but we're cleaned right away by the owner when we say down. The owner even brought us a taste of the oxtails and butter beans! Overall delicious food!
(4)D. C.
This is one of my favorite local restaurants. I usually get the jerk chicken breast and it's never disappointed me. The portions are generous and prices are decent. They are closed on Mondays which is a downer when I'm in the mood for Jamaican but other than that this place is great.
(5)Mike B.
Everything irie! This little unassuming place packs a great experience! initial note: There is no free parking in the area so bring some change to feed the meters around. When you walk in, it's usually pretty quiet but the smells from the kitchen are hitting you as you are walking up. This is the kind of slow-cooked, stick-to-your-ribs food that gets prepared early and cooks throughout the day in preparation for your arrival. These guys are very accommodating and when we told them we had a large group they got everything together really quickly. While waiting for the group mom & I got some beef patties to get going. And those bad boys were packed with flavor and spice! The crust was just a tad under flaky for my liking, but otherwise a stellar patty. Everyone got something different from the jerk chicken, oxtail, and stewed chicken....with rice and peas and cabbage. You know when you have a large group of folks, when the food arrives and people dig in and not a word is uttered for at least 5 minutes...that's a measure of how good the food is....folks forget to talk and offer their food for anyone else to try! All of the meat was cooked to a delicious tenderness and seasoned well....NOT over or UNDER seasoned (2 egregious offenses in my book) and everything came out PIPING HOT (another way to win me over). They give you such huge portions that no one got any desserts or coffee at the end so I'll have to update with all of that later. "Over and out"
(5)Peter K.
Best real Jamaican food near Chicago. We don't go anywhere else for oxtail or curry chicken unless we make it ourselves.
(5)Antonio M.
Jamaican dishes that are great in portion, inexpensive, with a small town restaurant feel . The owner is a native Jamaican, dread locks and all, but the food is amazing. Highly recommend the jerk chicken!
(5)K C.
I have been craving oxtails and havent had luck finding a restaurant thay prepares them well...this place over exceeded my expectations and I can wait to visit again.
(5)Gerry T.
We had Jerk chicken to go, nice sauce not too hot, excellent seasonings for cabbage although a bit on the peppery side. Nice and soft plantains and generous serving of rice and beans. In comparison to Ja grill (Lincoln Park), the chicken is better here but the cabbage is much better (somewhat buttery) at Ja grill which also has a more hip ambiance. In terms of value, De Jred is more economical.
(4)Jeremy H.
Great service and food! Had an ox tail here after telling the server I was interested in a more adventurous side. Took a total of maybe 4 minutes for the food to come out. Not much in the way of decor, but hey the food and a comfortable seat is the important thing to me! Lose a star for having to watch a reality breakup TV show.
(4)Minhee K.
I've only had Jamaican food home cooked or from a friend, so this is the first Jamaican restaurant I've been to. My boyfriend and I shared a half jerk chicken dinner, and a jerk chicken breast dinner. The dark meat pieces were definitely juicy, as for the breasts were pretty dry. The sauce is yummy and flavorful but It got a bit overwhelming to me after more than a few bites, I'm guessing from the super bold spices. I'm not feeling the white or bean rice probably because I'm a snobby asian who loves her rice. It's like minute rice, lol. The fried plantains were slightly sweet and tastes pretty good but I wish it had some crunch. The cooked cabbage on the side will definitely not leave a memorable mark. The beef patty tasted exactly like the frozen ones from Costco, I was expecting something homeade from scratch. Overall I was very full, and the prices seem fair, will I come back though? ..I can see my boyfriend dragging me back, so surree. :)
(3)Deepak N.
Went there last nite. Legit food. Had goat curry w cabbage & fried plantains. Beef patty. The owner/chef is super friendly & talented @ cooking. Everything's cooked fresh, no microwaves. Seriously great food. Thanks chef!
(5)Tom K.
I just love the goat at this place. Whether it's with curry or brown sauce, the meat is tender and tasty. It's well worth picking through the bones. And even if you don't like cabbage, you've got to try the cabbage/carrot side. The owner is a great guy who deserves more customers.
(5)JJ S.
NIce, small place. Was empty on Wednesday at noon with the exception of our group. Tried the Ackee and Saltfish, which is apparently the national dish of Jamaica. It was a relatively small portion for being one of the most expensive items on the menu ($14), but I'm glad I tried it. Had never heard of ackee before and it had an interesting taste and texture. Almost like a smoked fruit? It came with three sides (I had the cabbage, fried plantains, and the rice and beans). Sides were all good, but didn't particularly stand out. I also ordered the Beef Patty, which was delicious. I sort of balked however because the beef patty (more of a beef mixture encased in a yellowish crust) looked and tasted absolutely identical to the Jamaican beef pattys that I've bought many times at Sam's Club. Don't get me wrong - they are fantastic, and only $2 - but I was hoping to have my first scratch made version and now I'm left unsure of which I just had. All in all a place I'd recommend and will try to return to (eyeing the Jerk Chicken and the Curry Goat). The waitress was very nice and attentive as was the cook, who also came out to greet the table. Good people - give them your business.
(4)Alex L.
I'm honestly shocked to see the great reviews of this place - fine with me, as I don't want to put a good person out of business. I came in the other day and asked about the jerk fish -- the owner told me it would take a long time to make. Fine, said I, I'll go with a jerk chicken sandwich. Well, I'll be darned if this didn't take the better part of 10 minutes, way too long for an easy lunch in my opinion. It would've been ok with me if the chicken had been fresh and tender, the spices punch-packing, and the entire sandwich a worthy meal for a 200-lb dude. But they weren't at all. The owner proceeded to take some already cooked chicken out of the fridge, slather some mayo on it, put it on some ordinary White Bread and throw some chips in. Dude, it's jerk chicken -- how can you fudge that up!? The sandwich was unappealing and quickly turned gooey. I had to pull some food out of the work fridge in order to get satisfied. I'm adding a star to my rating bc the owner did seem like a nice guy and the restaurant is bright and attractive inside. Seriously, though, does one have to wonder why this place is usually empty around lunchtime?
(2)Andrea H.
SO GOOD!!!! I make it a point to get pick up from De-Jred at least once a week. Being a vegetarian, I thought I would have a hard time eating here, but I quickly became addicted to their mac-and-cheese and plantains. Their veggie sandwich is simple, but just right. Very clean inside and the staff is really nice.
(5)Jesse M.
A golf buddy who lives in the neighborhood set the group up to eat & drink (byob- we brought in a large cooler full of beer) at this place after the round. He called ahead of time & talked to Roy the owner to pre-order the food "family-style" for 10 hungry people. When we got there, we were greeted by very friendly staff. My only complaint was even though we called 1/2 hour ahead, it still took them a bit of time to get us the food (more time to drink, I guess). As we realized the food was going to take a little longer, we tried some beef patties & found it to be delicious but very hot temperature-wise (the server warned us!) . Roy then served everyone a bowl of soup "on the house". When we finally got our entrees of cow's foot & beans stew, curry goat, brown stew goat & oxtail w/ butterbeans accompanied by the rice, cabbage & plantains, we were all surprised at how similar it is to Filipino food. The only difference being that Jamaican food is spicy but everyone enjoyed the delicious food & very friendly, accomodating staff. I definitely would go back to De-Jred if I am in the area!!!
(4)Bridget S.
This is the only Jamaican restaurant I have ever gone to, and I wasn't even sure what Jamaican food consisted of. I feel like most of the restaurants around Skokie are frequented by regulars, so when I went, it wasn't too busy. The owner was the one who took my order and prepared my food. I ordered the Jerk Chicken. The food came out pretty fast, which was expected since there was only 1 other table at the time. The owner was very friendly and the food was pretty yummy, all in all a nice experience
(4)David S.
Very good, authentic food. Just as they say. If I had to say anything more it would be that the rice and vegetables were hearty and fresh.
(5)Alex P.
Am i a conaisseur of Jamaican food, no. is the food at De-Jred good, yes! It feels like what i imagine Jamaican home-cooking to be, and they make you feel like they're cooking it just for you. We were a large party of 8 or so. We had the platter of appetizers - yum! especially the fritters and plantains. We had jerk chicken, and the oxtail - yum and yum. The entree servings come with sides - i had plantains, cabbage and rice & peas - all yum! The sour sop drink was yummy - albeit sweet, like a yogurt smoothy sweet. I also enjoyed the Ting soda. I had read that service might be slow, so we called ahead - let them know we were coming. Maybe that was the trick, but service was just fine. It's BYO and the Russian store accross the street sells wine... We ate like you-know-what, so it was a bit more than $10 pp including tax and tip. I am so happy that they're in my neighborhood in Skokie - I am going back for sure.
(4)Lori O.
Friendly family atmosphere with delicious authentic Jamaican cuisine, large portions, byob & very reasonably priced!
(4)Sandra F.
FINALLY!!!!!! Good Jamaican Food North of Chicago. I moved north two years ago and I've tried all the Jamaican spots near me. Leaving the salon one day I spotted this restaurant on the corner. After vowing to NEVER buy Jamaican food north ever again...I gave it a try. All I have to say is GREAT FOOD. I'm from the southside where we have a lot of very good Jamaican Food restaurants to choose from. I must say this spot is now second on my all time favorite list. Not to mention her prices are pretty nice too and she's very nice. All that's missing was a little Carribean music.
(5)Diablo L.
Had the chicken that was prepared perfect and full of flavor,came with rice and beans,plantains and cabbage,also had a nice strawberry kiwi drink,need to try the fish the next visit.
(4)Kevin Michael C.
So. They are NOT in a hurry. Usually that bothers me... but not this time. The food is delicious and the staff is crazy friendly. I relaxed. I ate. It was good. They're ultra-helpful in steering you in the correct direction if you're not familiar with this kind of food. Which isn't really an issue... because everything is DELICIOUS. Go. Relax. Be adventurous.
(5)Winslow W.
I love their Jerk Chicken and Jamaican Beef Patties! They go well with the Ginger Soda. I normally don't eat cabbage, unless it's from here.
(5)Bhrandon H.
As a Jamaican, I have been looking for quality Jamaican food since I moved to Chicago 5 years ago. I've been to most restaurants all over the city and several in the near suburbs. By far, this one is the best. I'm writing this review after my 2nd visit just to be sure that this place was for real. The patties are perfect, the rice and peas, goat soup, jerk chicken, roast beef and curry goat are all seasoned just as they should be. Even the hot Milo was not too sweet. I was also very pleasantly surprised to find out the jerk chicken and shrimp was delicious. I cannot wait to try all the other dishes on the menu. The food literally made me feel as though I was at home. Nothing is watered down here. Service is exceptional, very friendly and prompt, prices are inline with what you would expect for amazing food. The restaurant was very clean and inviting. This place is head and shoulders above any other Jamaican restaurant in the Chicago area. There is no other place I would go to enjoy REAL Jamaican food.
(5)Ariella L.
I'm giving this review four stars because my bf loves this place. I think it is just okay. Something about the flavor of the jerk chicken just bothered me and I could not eat it. I enjoyed the fried rice, but i got the chicken one and for some reason their chicken just tastes horrible to me so I had to pick it out. Since, like I said, my bf loves this place and constantly craves it, I'm giving it four stars from both of us. He will definitely order from here again, but I don't think I will.
(4)Steve C.
I found this place today after looking for an Ethiopian restaurant in the area. No luck on Ethiopian but the Jamaican food here is fantastic. I had the curry goat and jerk chicken. I walked in at lunch and the place was basically empty. I caught the owner/ chef on a smoke break but was glad to see he washed his hands thoroughly before taking my carry out order. It was also interesting to see that he largely made my orders on the spot and that he was very fast. I walked out the door in less than 15 minutes. As far as the food, the portions were huge for the price ($13 for a large order of the goat and $7 for a small order of chicken). Both had deep flavor and the meat was super tender. The sides - plantains, red beans and rice and cabbage - were all solid as well. Plantains can be tasteless and starchy but these were sweet. I grabbed a Jamaican brand juice as well - pineapple and ginger. I've never seen that combo before and was pleasantly surprised. Be warned - it's got a kick. All in all, great food at a great price. I'll definitely be back.
(5)David V.
Have now gone twice, once eating in and the other take-out. Both times I ordered the same thing: The Tasty Platter. Basically it's a sampler of four of their items: Jerk Chicken, Beef Patty, Codfish fritters, and plantains. On both occasions I experienced friendly service. They operate with very few people in the kitchen so it does take a little longer if other people are also eating there. They only gave me a plastic fork with take-out which speaks to how tender and perfect the chicken was. Packs some definite heat and some wonderful flavor. Each part of the meal complements the others; the plantains help with cool down from the beef patty and the jerk chicken, while the codfish are a nice crispy element to the meal. Price is very reasonable for how much you get (about $9 after tax, entrees all run at about $10). Looking forward to coming back and trying the rest of their menu. I feel like this place would be ideal for people who don't mind sharing and want to split a couple of entrees. Definitely planning to return again.
(5)Carol P.
We went there to eat after the Festival of Cultures. It was a hot day, and when we walked it, we were just talking amongst ourselves that it was warm in the restaurant. The owner right away walked over and turned the air up. The restaurant is big and clean. There was plenty of seating. We ordered the Tasty Platter and it was very tasty!! I was fighting over the beef patty and plantains. The Jerk Chicken was good too. I ordered the jerk chicken as my main course and it was very flavorful. I would have rather eaten the beef patty, maybe 2 of them, as my main dish though. The service is friendly, but the food took longer because the owner was the waiter also cooked the food. But as he was cooking, more workers came in and helped cook. I guess we got there right when it opened. Good food close to home. We would go there again!!
(5)Nancy H.
First thing I thought of when we walked in was, "It's hot in here!" Not sure if it's always like that, but it makes for a slightly uncomfortable dining experience when you're eating hot/spicy food. It also takes a while to get your food, even though we were the only dine-ins. If you are patient, it's worth it, but my bf thinks we should order take-out next time. It's also pretty bare in there, and the lights are extremely bright. Now that I've gotten the negatives out of the way, the rest was pretty good. This was my first experience with Jamaican cuisine. I really liked the saltfish fritters appetizer. They are flat & thin, and the saltfish is ground up and mixed in with herbs like crabcakes are. We loved the flavors of our entrees too. The oxtail with butterbeans dish was our fave. The oxtails were stewed long enough so that the meat is tender, and the sauce is sort of thick, a little sweet, and full of aromatic spices. We also ordered a fried whole snapper, which was pretty spicy and flavorful too. It takes a little more effort to eat, though, because of all the bones. Every entree comes with your choice of 3 sides: white rice, rice & peas (beans), steamed cabbage, sweet plantains, and salad. We tried them all, and I would recommend the rice & peas and steamed cabbage for sure. The lady gave us a taste of the jerk chicken too, which was juicy and spicy. I think I will get that in a sandwich next time. They really know how to make their sauces here! We had a slice of the rum cake for dessert, and I will pass on that next time. It had a lot of rum in it, I was almost breathing out fire. For 1 appetizer, 1 Kola Champagne (soda), 2 entrees, and 1 dessert, our total came to $38 before tip. It's affordable here, and with the 3 sides, you should have enough food to take home as leftovers too.
(3)Laura L.
Awesome food for a great price. Jerk Chicken
(4)Christopher P.
My goodness was this place great. I drove by this small eatery after work one day and suggested to a few of my co-workers that we check it out for lunch, being that I don't get to eat Jamaican cuisine very often. About 6 of us were planning on going, word got around the office and in the end about 12 of us ended up dining on some fantastic grub. Mostly everyone tried either the Jerk Chicken or the Curry Chicken/Goat. One person was feeling adventurous and had the Saltfish. It was unanimous that my suggestion to eat here was a great idea as we all loved the food. My Jerk Chicken was moist, flavorful and ninja spicy (it sneaks up on you and hits you over the head when you least expect it). The fried plantains and red beans and rice side dishes were all pretty good. You also get a side of sauteed cabbage, but I was the only one who didn't seem to care for it as it gives me the uber toots. I was completely satisfied with the meal and was already talking about what I was going to have the next time I stop by before I had even paid my bill. The staff were super friendly and even though the amount of people in our party seemed to stun the chef, he turned out some fantastic food in a decent amount of time. Don't forget to try the ginger beer they offer. It has a real kick to it. I WILL RETURN!
(5)Darryl P.
The only authentic Jamaican food in the greater Chicago region. The curry chicken was absolutely delicious, and the beef patties seem hand made. The owner cooks all the food himself and to order. He even sells all the jamaican soft drinks (kola champagne, ting and ginger beer). Highly recommended!
(5)Amanda O.
Still a favorite :) I had to write an update because my first review was within days of them opening. Since then I have had nearly everything on the menu and taken friends and co-workers there. It's got the spice that people crave with the home-cooking quality that everyone needs. When I don't have much time to wait I call my meal in ahead of time or drop in, place my order, then run a 10-15 minute errand. Everyone is always super friendly and I'm always content waddling... eerrrr WALKING out ;-)
(5)George O.
Quick summary: Large portions. Tasty flavors. Attention to bringing out the flavors and textures of the ingredients. I stopped by this place on a Tuesday night. I was the only person there and even though it was a little over an hour before closing, they were busily cleaning. A little offputting, but sure. Went up and got the oxtail with white bean, since it was what other people recommended. Got the default sides, which were the rice and beans, cabbage, and plantains. The plantains were well cooked, sweet and nicely fried on the outside. The cabbage was actually a little sweet too, also a nice thing to find as a cabbage lover. And the rice was nicely textured, perfect with the sauce for the oxtail. And the oxtail. That sauce was tasty. There were only a few pieces of small oxtail, and for $13 I was expecting a little bit more. However, with oxtail being trendy and the price of it going up (I use it when cooking on my own as well), this frugality is understandable. And the overall amount was worth that, and with the quality I'd consider this a good use of my money.
(4)Darlene R.
I really liked the food here. I've been here twice and look forward to coming back. I've tried the curried goat( my favorite), jerk half chicken, brown stew goat, ox tails and escovich fish. They were all really good. Escovich fish is deep fried and has a sweet spicy sauce. I just don't like messing with bones. The only thing that makes me not give this place a 5 is the service is a little slow. Not inattentive it just takes awhile to get the food on the table because it is freshly prepared. If you are in the area try it out and if you are not drive to Skokie!
(4)Lydia S.
The wait is not as bad as others have said. My boyfriend and I went the other day and a few other tables were seated when we arrived. The menu is small, but you'd never know after trying the dishes, they are so delicious. The jerk chicken, ongoing! Spicy and so much flavor! The brown chicken is awesome, as is the sides of plantain and cabbage. The only reasons De Jred gets 3 stars: too many bones. My boyfriend was with each bite spitting out vertebrae. A little gross for dining companions, not to mention him. The fluorescent lights do not add much to the ambiance, either. But who really notices after the first mouthful of dinner, anyways...
(4)John T.
We got curried goat and chicked for a carry out. The curry flavor in each was great and the total portion of each was large, also. HOwever, we thought that the dish was overwhelmed by the rice and beans and the meat component of the dish was small, particularly since each meat had bones. The people were really nice, so we'll likely come back and try different dishes.
(3)Sherwin B.
Delicious food, low prices, nice clean new place, friendly staff people! Yummy appetizer - beef patty - surprise - it's in a crust like an empanada! Delicious jerk chicken - juicy, falling off the bone. Includes 3 sides - rice and peas, scrumptious plantains, yummy cabbage. Plenty of food for a very low price. I'll be going back. See you there!
(4)Sharon H.
I was walking around looking for a Thai restaurant to go to, but the Thai restauraunt was closed. So instead I walked a few doors down and found this place. I thought I might as well give it a try. I love to try new foods and things so I thought I was hungry so might as well. When I walked in the staff was very friendly and fun. They seemed like they enjoyed their work which is good. I was going to be a wuss at first and just try the jerk chicken to be safe. But then i thought if I am here I might as well go all the way and try something I never have before. So I asked for a suggestion about which goat I should try and the lady said I should try curry goat. I was not disappointed. Although it was a little bit on the salty side it was tender and delicious. never knew a goat could taste so good. BAAAAAAAA! Anyways, just remember it will take longer to get the food because they make it when you order, but the time means it tastes better than if it were to come out in 2 minutes. Good place nice people. 4 stars for the saltiness and it was a little pricer than expected. no t expensive like 15$ for my goat meal :)
(4)Pam C.
Service is charming, however a little more relaxed in speed than I would have liked. Dont go there if you are starving and can't wait. The mixed Appetizer plate was wonderful and not too spicey. The Oxtail and Sweet and sour shrimp were wonderful. The fried rice was not very flavorful, but the deliciouseness of the appetizers, entres and plantains more than made up for it. It is aso BYOB, which had I known in advance, would have made it even better.
(4)Katie N.
Last Friday nite the hubby and I had the great pleasure of eating at De-Jred!! Had read that a beef patty was a "must-have", so got one for an appetizer -- Wow! Such a wonderful, lingering flavor in my mouth!! We also enjoyed the crisp salt-cod fritter -- tasty. Then on to our main courses -- I had the jerked chicken (half a chicken; they also have a breast-only option, but I'm glad I got the juicier leg and thighs) -- Not terribly spicy hot -- don't be fearful of ordering this -- it may have some scotch bonnet, but it's not outrageous on the Scoville chart. Rather like a really lovely BBQ sauce, with some enjoyable kick! Loved it!! Hubby had the curried goat, which he thoroughly enjoyed, too. I loved my sample from his plate, too. We thought the curry was a bit hotter than my entree, which surprised me, but again, done just right...have no fear!! We both loved the fried plantains, too -- they were cut on the diagonal, so the pieces had a lot of surface area to deliver delicious flavor. We also had the rice and beans (listed as "peas" on the menu, but they are beans!) -- I found them rather bland, but a good accompaniment to the spicy jerked chicken and curry. The cabbage side was tasty, too -- not just "steamed cabbage", as the menu would suggest -- it seemed to have some sauteed onions and carrots with it -- quite nice. I would be remiss if I failed to mention how friendly we found the waitress. Others have commented that De-Jred is run by a married couple, so I suppose she was the owner. In any case, she made recommendations to us, and chatted with us a bit about her homeland, Jamaica and its food specialties. Our only concern about the restaurant was the lack of other patrons!! We were there on a Friday night, about 7:30, and were the only folks in the restaurant! We want this restaurant to thrive and be there for return visits (we were visiting from out of town) -- so please, give it a try. You will NOT regret it!
(5)Lori K.
happy to see a jamaican place near me on the north side!! and who would have thought it would be in skokie. my hubby had the oxtail dinner which was very tasty. he got about 6 or 7 tails with butter beans and cabbage i think. i got the goat curry which was spicy and hard to taste becuz it was very salty. i wouldnt get it again just becuz of the saltiness. overall i would go back again. oh and we both had the beef pastries and red beans/rice which were good too. beef pastries are spicy. overall, i would go back. nice clean atmospshere with a little jamaican decor. our waiter, who looked to be the guy in charge, was very friendly and seemed to personally know everyone that walked in.
(4)Jose B.
food was ok, nothing amazing. Honestly there are a few better places i would go to before coming all the way to skokie to have jamaican again. Jerk chicken was very bland and dry. meh.....
(2)April P.
Crossing off another neighborhood spot off the list, De-Jred makes the cut. Wonderful home cooking, with great service in a very simple setting! I don't mind the wait, I just call in my order so I don't have to. I wanted to try a few items, so I chose a mixed plate of oxtail and brown stewed chicken with rice & beans and cabbage on the side. Deeeeeeelicious. Oxtail is nice and tender, chicken flavorful mad rich. I'm super excited to try out the fish on my next visit. It's so nice to have some Carribean cuisine so close to home.
(5)AJ M.
Had Jamaican food for the first time here, and I can say I'm deff a fan. I had the Jerk chicken which came with rice and plantains, and some cabbage. Loved the chicken and rice with beans, the cabbage not so much. They have this type of savory sauce that part of the chicken you should deff ask for extra on the side. Gotta try the oxtail and curry next time. Only bad thing was the credit card machine was a little outdated I swear it was running on like 56k dialup or something, and booths were a little tight. But good homestyle food.
(4)Somchai S.
I enjoy discovering new local ethnic restaurants. My husband and I stopped by before our visit to the Holocaust museum. It was easy to find street parking. We both had the jerk chicken plates and it was moist and had a great amount of spice. However, the real stand out was the beef pattie! It was my first time trying on and it was spiced perfectly. The service was attentive and homely.
(4)Kim B.
I'm not claiming to be an expert when it comes to Jamaican cuisine but I definitely know good food when I taste it. Walking into De-Jred is like walking into someone's kitchen at home. The smells are delicious and you're treated like family by the staff here. The woman who helped us was so friendly and helpful with recommendations. We ordered oxtail and goat curry to go (both entrees come with beans and rice). They do NOT skimp on portions here and our orders lasted for at least 2 meals. The food here was tasty, delicious comfort food.
(4)jay t.
Excellent Jamaican food. . Had the ox tail , curry chicken, and beef patties. The parties are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. . Perfect temperature. Even taking 6 patties to go :)
(5)Davin L.
Sweet honey bee of infinity! Sweet guinea pig of Winnipeg! Sweet yeti of the Serengeti! Sweet coincidence of Port-Au-Prince! Sweet something of...someplace... Ok, I'm done with the Hermes Conrad quotes. I was hungrier than a green snake in a sugar cane field (ok, NOW I'm done!), and with some time to kill before Aw Yeah Comics' 3rd anniversary party, I decided to have something new in downtown Skokie. It's a very unassuming space inside, but it's filled with quaint charm, from the lime green paint to the Jamaican flag on the wall. The menu is filled with amazing authentic and delicious Jamaican dishes, from jerk chicken and oxtail stew to curried goat with fried plantains and butterbeans. But what makes the food even more extraordinary is the fact that the chef is a strict vegetarian and cooks entirely by smell. That's right. ALL BY SMELL. That's like driving a bus and making all the stops while blindfolded. At any rate, even if you're not a retired professional limboer from Kingston Town turned bureaucrat and accountant for an intergalactic delivery company, you can still enjoy authentic delicious Jamaican food just like Granny uses to make. God rest her zombie bones...
(4)Angela C.
I've tried the oxtail and jerk chicken. The oxtail was inconsistent; some of the meat was tender, but most of it was tough. The jerk chicken was delicious, with juicy meat and a great jerk sauce. Both dishes came with rice and beans, plantains, and cabbage, all of which tasted good. Service is friendly but slow. The interior is functional and clean, with few decorations. When you're done eating, you pay at the register by the door.
(4)Brian D.
The best Jamaican food you can get around Chicago. The whole USA is pretty weak on West Indian cuisine anyhow. Chill spot. Not a place to visually wow you foodies. They don't take too long to prepare a meal like other hood spots. So get yourself a small jerk, beef patty, and grab a Ting or ginger beer, zeen? The sauce on the jerk chicken is magical. Big up De Jred. Respek
(5)Robert Y.
Had lunch here today and enjoyed every single bite I took. I started my meal with a beef pattie and it was tasty. Also I ordered the jerk chicken entree. It came with rice a leg and a thigh. Also a cabbage salad. The chicken was cooked perfect and the jerk sauce was amazing. Will defiantly be returning there very soon. Much more on the menu I can't wait to try.
(4)Chris M.
So it's been forever and a day since I've written a review!!! Thanks for the reminder, Angela! I visited this fine Jamaican establishment over the weekend to venture for some food I've never really had and that's outside my comfort zone. Well now, this is comfort type food. Ordered the jerk chicken and oxtail with butter beans and both were fantastic. The meat melts in your mouth, the flavors were terrific and the gentleman working the kitchen looked happy as ever doing his thing back there. Slight warning, the chicken and oxtail both contain bones, some of them hard to find at times with the meat falling off the bone the way it does. However, my wife is bone skittish and doesn't like chewy/bones bites and she delved into both dishes and never looked back. Yet another uniquely awesome addition to downtown Skokie!!! We will be back to try more menu items!
(4)Jessica E.
I love me some Jamaican food, and finding a good restaurant isn't very easy. I got lucky when I walked in here last week. The food was delicious ! I tried the beef patty with some Jamaican hot sauce. Then I ordered the small oxtail entree. ( they serve pretty big portions) the oxtail was falling off the bone it was seasoned so well. The rice and beans were perfectly cooked, and the cabbage slaw on the side was amazing. I would have rated this place 5 stars, but I think they should hire a waitress who waits on the tables and isn't sitting around reading a magazine or newspaper in the front of the restaurant. I also don't think the chef should have to come from the back of the house to the front of the house just to slide my card.
(4)Tammy N.
I had the oxtail. It was delicious. The meat is tender and it wasn't so aggressively over seasoned. I had the Jamaican pineapple guava drink, so yummy! We have been to Jamaica before and the jerk chicken there is better, of course, but this gets pretty close to the real deal. The only have 1 high chair, beware if you are visiting with multiple kids.
(4)LaVerne A.
And they call this authentic Jamaican cuisine. I beg to differ. This place is as Jamaican as tex mex is to mexican. Ordered the jerk chicken it was tender but was smothered in a sweet sauce. Like a store bought lawrys jerk sauce. We also ordered the large oxtails that ahaun were not Jamaican spiced and had no meat on the bones. I wish I could say something nice about the sides or ambience......but uhhhhh not! This place sucks!!!!
(1)Bosie L.
We had the oxtails and the chicken breast. It was not real Jamaican. We were so disappointed. The food was just OK but should've been much better. The chicken had some sweet sauce on it. It wasn't jerked. So upset.
(1)Bryan S.
My wife and I stop by here on Saturday. We were looking to have the fry snapper but the wait was about one hour to prepare it fresh. We ordered an appetizer to share between us. The appetizer was very good and it was so big that we were full. I plan to go get the fry snapper next time I visit. Thy this place, authentic Caribbean food. Nice clean and quiet place.
(4)Simma Down Na H.
Soooood goood!!! The chicken was flavorful and fall-off the bone....served with rice and sweet cabbage. The large jerk chicken is good for 2. Definitely coming back!
(4)Felice C.
Came in for a lunch date with a friend on a Saturday afternoon. Completely empty, The owner was really courteous and let us take our time when ordering. We ordered the oxtails and the jerk chicken--the portions were relatively large. The reason I'm giving De-Jred only three stars is because I found that Jamaican food isn't exactly my cup of tea. The food was on the salty side and not anything special...although the butterbeans were interesting! I also bought a drink called Tropical Rhythms "June Plum (Golden Apple)". Usually I love apples and plums, but I had no idea what a june plum was. I read the ingredients and saw that ginger was one of them, which I kind of hate, but I wanted to try it. Basically, it was absolutely disgusting, and horrendous, and all kinds of terrible. Blechhhh
(3)Eva S.
Before I even had their food I already had a good hunch about this place. Here's the sitch: Drove by on Oakton and saw De-Jred on a street corner. I thought: "There's a Jamaican restaurant in Skokie now?! What? Sweet!" Skokie always has boasted its multicultural and multi-ethnic persona. It's the Ellis Island of the northshore and hosts the annual Festival of Cultures. Skokie is trying to re-invent itself and encouraging a new wave of establishments in the downtown area. So, how fitting to have such a unique restaurant in such a place! I called to place a pick-up order and stated that I'd like the following three things: Large Oxtail & Butterbeans Small Jerk Chicken Side of Plantains Voice on the line: "Is that all?" Me: "Yes...um, ..." [hung up the phone] I was taken aback because I was about to say my name, ask about the pick-up time and how much I owed. This restaurant doesn't mess around with telephone chit chat (in a good way). After the initial shock of providing what seemed, like not enough information to "complete" my order... I knew already, this place is COOL. As in... if I came home and asked my mom what's for dinner, SHE wouldn't give me a bill and say, "Be back at 6:30pm, that'll be 20 bucks and what's your name?" I would just show up, and eat. Likewise, this restau has a mom&pop's family-style demeanor. When I arrived to pick-up my food (a guesstimated half hour later), the kitchen was a two-person show. Run by (what I believe to be) a friendly married couple and also the owners, I was greeted by a big smile and a warm welcome. They were chatty and you could tell, cooking Jamaican food runs in their blood. They've been open for 4 years and as I was paying, Papa De-Jred himself asked if I will be coming back. In summary, the oxtails were my favorite, flavorfully stewed to a barely-need-to-chew delicacy... and their platters come with plantains and cabbage (in addition to their beans & rice). You get a LOT for what you pay. From a good hunch to the shortest phone take-out order I've ever experienced, the answer, Mr. De-Jred, is yes.
(5)Sidekick K.
will have to try again ; tried the jerk chicken ; it was on the oven and not on the grill;
(3)Tricia D.
De-Jred is one letter shy of being a palindrome. Did anyone notice that? In what may or may not be related news, I had mixed feelings about my dinner at De-Jred. First off, the jerk chicken was flavorful, had a nice kick to it, and you really can't beat an entree for $6.50! You had me at plantain, D-J. The cabbage was also the perfect carrier for the chicken, and I could always use more veggies! On the flip side, the rice was cold and underwhelming. Believe it or not, we were the only diners on a Friday night, though a family came in after us. The ambiance is unique: in an otherwise very quiet atmosphere, a tv may be on in the corner of the dining room. On this night, it was playing Tia and Tamara Mowry's latest reality tv show. Pay at the front, and don't forget to tip!
(3)Christine L.
For around $10 you can get a delicious, humongous jerk chicken meal. Some of the best jerk chicken I have ever had, and this is coming from someone who has had her fair share of jerk chicken. For me the perfect amount of spicy, not too overwhelming but still a good kick. Rice & beans delish. Plantains, superb. Sweet and soft they are a good contrast to the spicy chicken. There was something, I'm not sure if it was in the rice or from the Jerk Chicken sauce, an herb that was a little chewy. But besides that everything was great. The food lasted me for at least 2 meals. They were extremely accommodating even though I was there close to closing time (A+++ Service). Restaurant is fairly clean (they were cleaning as I came in), decor is simple & Jamaican. You can definitely tell that they take pride in their Jamaican heritage and in their food.
(4)Allison H.
I wish I had two stomachs. The Curry Chicken was succulent.. had it with rice and peas, flavorful stewed cabbage and the plantains. Washed it all down with sweetened coconut water. Couldn't finish all of my rice so I got an order of their Jerk Chicken to go with it for later. Can't wait until I'm hungry again. All I need now is a nap in the sun.
(5)Neal K.
First trip to De-Jred and we really enjoyed the food and the friendly staff. I love a good beef patty and theirs is as good as anyone's. BYOB was a nice option. Certainly a good value and recommended for groups. I really enjoyed the plantains and the rice and beans. Now how about a sound system!?!?!
(4)Gino W.
While trying to find a certain Afghani restaurant that used to be on the eastern end of Skokie, only to find out that it is now a little farther inland, I stumbled upon De-Jred Fine Jamaican Cuisine. Let's just say that it was a very good idea that I was reminiscing about the other restaurant and found this one instead. Beef pattie. Kola Champagne. Callaloo. Rice and beans. Plantains. Cabbage. Saltfish and ackee. I was completely blown away by the flavours. The beef patties were filled with the beef paste, unlike the pastries filled with air you get at other perpetrating restaurants. They are also spicy the way you get them in Jamaica. The rice and beans tasted the way my grandmother made them and the callaloo had me hankering for a return to Jamaica. Where it really hit home was with the saltfish and ackee. I was sold. With the plantains and cabbage, De-Jred Fine Jamaican Cuisine is my top pick for Jamaican eating in the Chicago metropolitan area.
(5)Bill K.
What a fantastic local eatery. The chef is a native Jamaican who servers up some of the the finest from the island. His meats are cooked perfectly and the Jerk Chicken is a must. We'll definitely be coming back!
(5)Julie S.
I always love the jerk chicken and Jamaican style curry shrimp! Great service good food highly recommend
(5)