Islanderz Caribbean Grill

1515 Birchmount Rd, Scarborough, ON M1P 2G7

Jerk chicken is always so tasty, but none of the jerk chicken I’ve previously tried in restaurants has become my favourite. That’s why I was glad when I finally found Islanderz Caribbean Grill, which wowed me, and I have my mother-in-law to thank for it. She currently lives in Florida but came back to Toronto for a visit recently, and she wanted to get some breakfast so my husband and I took her to Islanderz Caribbean Grill at her request. If my Jamaican mother-in-law who has high standards when it comes to food wants to get food from a particular Jamaican restaurant, you know it must be good!

Islanderz Caribbean Grill is on Birchmount, south of Ellesmere. They were previously located on Lawrence Ave E, between Warden and Birchmount, or what I call my food haven since they have so many great restaurants there. We ordered cornmeal porridge, ackee and saltfish, callaloo and saltfish, fried dumplings, festivals, plantain, and two jerk chicken small dinners. This was only for three people! (One of the jerk chicken small dinners was for me as I take whatever opportunity I can to eat non-breakfast food for breakfast. I know some of you are probably thinking “that’s blasphemy!”)

The food was delicious, and I was very pleasantly surprised by their jerk chicken. It was really flavourful, with some spice as well, and the chicken fell off the bone. I also liked the steamed vegetables (they also have a coleslaw option), and the rice and peas with oxtail gravy that came with the jerk chicken. All the food we ordered was so good. I wish I knew how to cook like that…

If a restaurant gives you extra plantain with your order, they are a good one in my books. Since that day, Islanderz Caribbean Grill has been the only Caribbean restaurant we have gotten food from. We are nowhere close to being sick of it yet. In fact, I can’t wait to go back (now that I know they just relocated and didn’t close…phew!).