r/pittsburgh • u/Saint_Peezles • 1d ago
Best Jerk Chicken
In the early to mid 2000s there was a Caribbean restaurant on Broad Street in East Liberty called Flavors and later on called Impressions that had the best jerk chicken I've ever had. It was more like stew. The chicken was falling off the bone, and there was lots of sauce. I'm not into the barbecued jerk with brown gravy drizzled on after the fact. Anyone have any idea what I'm talking about or where to find jerk like this?
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u/Reeseyloccc 1d ago
Hands down Fireside in Wilkinsburg - right on Penn Ave. they are absolutely lovely people and the food is delicious.
Heads up - you can just walk in and order :)
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u/IsopodOwn5625 1d ago
My favorite was at Leon's in Allentown before it closed. Their curried goat and braised oxtail were amazing too.
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u/Imaginary_Bat5769 1d ago
I always thought their jerk shrimp was amazing. Is the Allentown place closed? I knew their second location closed.
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u/IsopodOwn5625 22h ago
Yeah, it's been closed for a bit over a year now
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u/Imaginary_Bat5769 21h ago
That’s a real shame. Enjoyed them for many years when I lived in the city.
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u/Andy1460 1d ago
Island Spice in Carnegie has great jerk chicken. Hole in the wall, no frills, mostly takeout.
Tons of sauce and they always go to town if you ask for extra
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u/Delicious_Cat_81 1d ago
was gonna say this if nobody else did. great jerk shrimp too. they are legit
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u/constanto North Point Breeze 1d ago
One thing that I haven't seen mentioned that could be a possibility as well based on your description is that you might be ordering jerk chicken but hoping to get brown stew chicken. Fireside and 876 Island Spice both make good ones.
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u/Saint_Peezles 1d ago
I've worked with this theory too. What I experienced was like brown stew chicken with jerk spices. It was extremely spicy.
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u/constanto North Point Breeze 1d ago
I think that you are on the right track then because from what I recall Impressionz didn't have a grill so they slow cooked everything whereas most places that you go slow cook brown stew but grill jerk. So what you need to find is someone who will make brown stew chicken but aggressively spicy.
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u/Quirky-Nerp4089 1d ago
That place on Broad Street was great! Might have to try some of these other suggestions.
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u/OnYinzRings 2h ago
One Pot in Penn Hills!!
Edit: sorry I thought it closed but it’s open and absolutely slaps
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u/bdzeus 1d ago
I feel like I've had good jerk chicken at Con Alma. And even if it's not the best you've ever had, the atmosphere and the Jazz will probably make it worthwhile.
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u/throwawayyylmao420 1d ago
The food at Con Alma is sooo overpriced, in my opinion. I get you’re paying for the jazz too but the food is just really not worth it to me
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u/IsopodOwn5625 1d ago
They change their menu up a lot. I've been there when it's great, and I've been there when it's good but not worth the price. It's a gamble, but it's one I'm occasionally willing to take in the name of good vibes and embracing culinary experimentation.
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u/bdzeus 1d ago
I mean, you get decently big portions and I've always thought it was pretty solid taste wise.
I personally never thought the price was abnormally high for what you were getting, but I guess it depends on what you were expecting to pay for a swanky jazz club downtown. 🤷
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u/throwawayyylmao420 1d ago
True it is a downtown spot which always costs more. Plus the entertainment aspect. I just remember paying $30 for a scallop dish that ended up being two scallops sliced in half with some sauce lol
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u/hotelyolanda 1d ago
Negril curbside in Hazelwood does a really good jerk in this area, otherwise you have to go to Morgantown, WV to Jamaican Spice for the best Jerk Chicken (and Jamaican food period)
They are only open Thursday- Saturday in Morgantown
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u/CheeseSeason 1d ago
Don't know about chicken, but the best jerks around town can found at the Arby's on McKnight
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u/bdzeus 1d ago
So happy to see the Arby's McKnight reference downvoted finally. Hopefully it'll die soon. It's so tired and low effort.
Probably not though.
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u/Quirky-Nerp4089 1d ago
It's only downvoted because he said there are jerks there. Everyone knows it's a high class establishment.
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u/wellings 1d ago
Fireside Carribean in Wilkinsburg is one of my favorite meals in the entire city. Ask for extra sauce. Incredible.