GREAT EATS HAWAII: JAWAIIAN IRIE JERK RESTAURANT

Sunday, June 24, 2012

JAWAIIAN IRIE JERK RESTAURANT

JAWAIIAN IRIE JERK RESTAURANT
HONOLULU, HAWAII

JAWAIIAN IRIE JERK RESTAURANT

1137 11TH AVENUE

HONOLULU, HAWAII 96816

808-388-2917

www.jawaiianiriejerk.com

Literally stumbled into Jawaiian Irie Jerk Restaurant while looking for somewhere to eat lunch in Kaimuki. I saw the menu on the wall next to Hog Island Smokehouse. The restaurant is in the same location as the old Mexitlan Kitchen which did not last a year I think. Great little spot at the entrance to Bella Mia and doorstep of the Himalayan Kitchen. We entered and were greeted by a nice woman who seated us and brought us menus and water. I could hear the Jamaican accents in the kitchen so I felt we would get a good taste of the Island. We started with the Spicy Jerk Wings ($7.95). These are very dark wings that have been marinated in Jerk spices and then cooked on the grille. The meat fell off the bone. Good flavor with not too much heat. For heat, the waitress brought out a serving

of hot sauce that she said included "Ghost Peppers". Be careful she said. I added the hot sauce to the wings and "bam". Blew my head off in a good way. Great flavor and huge heat. While the wings were good, they just did not seem fresh. Don't know if this is the way they should be as I have never had Jamaican wings before. The star of our lunch was the Seafood Chowder ($6.95 bowl). Shrimp, Fish, Scallops, Root Vegetables and other seafood simmered in a non-dairy jamboree. This was a great soup. Full of flavor and richness. Entire family loved it. My daughter devoured most of it and did not want to share. The Blackened Chicken Bites ($7.95) was an attractive plate of chicken tenders covered in a pineapple relish. I liked the sweetness of the pineapple with the spices on the chicken. The Jamaican Jerk Chicken Plate ($13.95) is filled with marinated chicken that is finished on the grille. You can taste the spices and the grille. I added that Ghost Pepper sauce and again hit the roof hot in a good way. The Jerk Chicken is served with a nice rice and peas plus Ital Stew. The stew is chucks of cassava with carrots and curry sauce. You also get a Fritter that had very little taste.
I would and will return to Jawaiian Irie Jerk Restaurant. Want some more of that hot sauce and a bowl of the Seafood Chowder.