Esther’s Jamaican Food

This is the best place I have ever experienced in Jamaican food, I mean the plaintains are sweet and great, the oxtails are tender that comes off the bones, her chicken curry so good you can suck the marrow out of the bone with favor, the jerk chicken you call it what you want, so spicy juicy tender, brown stew fish am so done, she is the best Jamaican yard chef in Phoenix AZ, oh oh oh try her drink sorrel! everything that’s cooked and prepared in Ester kitchen is 100%. I always will be back …

Let me start out by saying that I come from Columbus, OH & those who live there know about Ena’s Carribean Kitchen. The best Jamaican good hands down.
Small mom & pop shop. Got there at 11a as said open by there signs & Unilocal.Was still closed when we pulled up. Finally opened at 5, 10 mins later. Seen a lady (which I’m assuming is Esther), she is the only one working. Ordered our jerk chicken. Not in comparison to Ena’s. Not bad food, but just don’t think I will be making the drive every month like a did for Ena’s.

Great food! The Spicy Jerk Chicken was amazing. good rice and potato salad. Perfect plantains! Esther was very nice, will definitely be back!

Absolutely delicious food and fantastic service from Esther herself. Will definitely be back.

Ok, it is either the reviewers on here have VERY DEAD tastebuds or their standards are non existent! The food was bloody AWFUL!!!
I ordered the goat curry with a side of jerk chicken and 2 beef patties. The fellow at the counter just took the beef patties from the glass case in the front to the back where I could hear him microwaving it and then giving it to me! It was bland and awful… threw those out.
The jerk chicken was dry and tasted like rubber as if it was sitting around for days… very OLD food and the curry goat was RANK!!! The rice was old and honestly I did not have the nerve to try the potato salad…
This is not food, it is absolute rubbish! Next time I am in Pheonix for business, I will avoid this place like a plague.
I hope I do not get dreadfully ill… I only consumed about 10% of the food but I am worried now.
UPDATE on September 13^th, 2015
Ok, so after consuming less than 10% of the food, i got dreadfully ill for two days straight!!! Bloody nasty food, the only perk i found was that with consuming this rubbish, I had stomach cramps, and got very ill… which made me lose
weight!!!
So in closing bloody awful food for nourishment but the BEST rubbish for losing weight!

Stopped in fit some jerk chicken. Very good and very spicy just like I like it. Washed everything down with a Ting. Prices are great, stop by.

Esther’s Jamaican Food is one of the best places i love to eat. The owner is an amazing person who always give the best hospitality and her food is absolutely amazing. I’ve never had a complaint and always feel like i mad a good decision when choosing Esther’s Jamaican Food. I always get the Jerk Chicken plate with potato salad and have never ever been disappointed. 5stars

Hmmm… I was really excited about coming here, but I was disappointed in their service. I came just past lunch time so that I could avoid the crowd, so by the time I arrived, it was just me. I didn’t get greeted, but instead I greeted the guy in the front. He didn’t start any small talk with me and it was my first time here. =(He took my order and I just waited to get my food. The lady that came out to ring me was much pleasant, but it was very short. I take into account how people intermingle with their customers — it’s a big thing in my book as well as the taste in their food. So… the food was great, but nothing that stands out more than any other Jamaican place I’ve been to. I’m a bit harsh sometimes, but I won’t be coming back since I didn’t feel welcomed here.

Once was plenty for us. The guy that took the order wouldn’t respond to some questions about the food for example. He wouldn’t speak when we asked about paying either.
The chicken tasted old & over cooked so very dry. We wondered about the health department checks. If they haven’t been there they need to go. Look at the windows alone. There are some sort of meat pies stored on a counter top not held at temperature required.
We decided not to consume the food after we got home.
We had hopes but need to find another more friendly place.

I’ve eaten here once and the food was great. I have the ox tails and they were wonderful. I will eat there again as it is close to where I reside.

I have been eating at this place for 8 years I have had Caribbean food from all over the states. This is by far one of the best! if you won’t flavor delicious spices ESTHER has it. I have been to different Caribbean restaurants around the valley they don’t compare to this place. If you like caribbean food and not sure where to go stop by Esther’s and your palate and appetite will be satisfied.

Tasty Jamaican take-​out. We got the jerk chicken and ox-​tail meals. This is a no-​frills takeout place, so don’t expect anything fancy. I would have given it 4 stars if not for the coconut patty… I took several bites and realized that there was no coco jam inside! I think they forgot to put it in.

I’ve been craving Jamaican Patties for years! So glad to find a place and they are so good! Very excited to have found this place!

Ordered the oxtail stew and it was the best I’ve had in AZ. Very flavorful, plenty of juice and super delicious!!! I did order potato salad on the side, but got cabbage instead. It was pretty good. Staff wasn’t very friendly, but not rude at all. Just felt rushed.

We found a little slice of the islands right in our very own hood: Esther’s Jamaican Food. Located in the middle of a vacant strip mall on Olive Avenue, we always thought we missed the chance to visit because there is a huge FOR LEASE sign on the window. One day, I pulled over to see if the sign was for Esther’s place or for the spot next door. Much to my pleasant surprise, it was the latter!
Patrick and I stopped in for lunch and all I can say — life changing. A long time ago, I worked at two different Caribbean restaurants run by Jamaican and Trinidad chefs and I’ve never been able to find that style of cooking. And I’ve tried a lot. I’m happy to report that Esther’s hit it. It’s small, not fancy, but has a lot of spirit. And you know it’s authentic island food when island peeps come in and order.
We waited about 15-​minutes, and our dishes arrived hot and fresh in take-​out containers. Everything is served to go, but they have a few tables set up if you want to stay and eat and watch a little of TV that hangs from the ceiling. I loved the wall of Jamaican groceries, and also the drink fridge that was filled with a variety of Caribbean sodas. I didn’t even really notice the ice cream bars until later, I’ll tell you why in a bit.
My my Jerk Chicken plate came with friend plantains, rice and beans and potato salad. The rice was spicy, but not enough to make you stop eating. I nibbled on the potato salad to cool down my tongue every few bites.
My chicken was so moist, it fell off the bone. It’s sweet, a tad tangy with a slow, island burn. By the end of my second piece, I reached in the ice cream display and ripped open a butter pecan bar and started licking. Esther winked at me from the cash register, folded her arms, and chuckled. A look that showed I was not the first to do this.
Patrick got curried goat with cabbage, rice and beans, and gobbled it down. If you’re to into soda and want something more exciting than water, Esther’s offers sorrel and ginger drinks as well.

Tried the jerk chicken dinner. Wasn’t so great to me, but I’m picky but my husband loved it. Friendly people, great customer service. Thinking about going back to try something different.

The food was great i got oxtails and jerk chicken and it was amazing. And the ginger drink was the best and all this came with great customer service

Jamaican Beef Patties!!! It’s worth the drive just for the beef patties alone.
My husband likes the oxtail and we both love the rice. The spice level does vary day to day so be prepared to sweat every once in a while. LoL
Just be aware it’s take out only. Don’t plan on eating in the actual restaurant.

Best West Indian food in the Valley period! Best Oxtail I’ve had in the west coast (don’t believe the hype about another comment smh), homemade patties and a bunch if other great foods! My only issue is there is no stew chicken (I’ve begged Esther to get it, but I seem to be the only one who complains) and its not open 24hrs! If you wanna have true Jamaican food that isn’t trying to water down spices for the general public, this is the place! Truly a guilty pleasure!

Place was just OK, nothing to write home about, i had the jerk chicken rice & peas and steamed cabbage along with trying the belizean tamale. The chicken was tender and well seasoned, the rice & peas were overcooked and I wasn’t sure what to expect with the tamale since this was my first time trying it but there was a full chicken leg inside it — bone and all… kind of weird but maybe that’s the way it’s suppose to be, also the breading was on the dry side I’m sure it was due to it not remaining wrapped in whatever it’s orginally prepared in.
Miss Esther was nice enough.