CARIBBEAN DELIGHTS

Hoppen Hierarchy:★★★

Authentic Jamaican Cuisine

Perfect For: Casual Dining; Lunch; Takeout

Standout Dishes: Jamaican Jerk Chicken; Coco Bread; Beef Patty

The first time I tasted authentic jerk chicken was during my wife and I’s honeymoon in Ochos Rios. I was both delighted and somehow sad at the same time; happy as I was to be enjoying this moment, there was an inherent disappointment that I didn’t know where or when I would next experience this delicious cuisine. To be introduced to this food, then have it unceremoniously removed from one’s life, did not seem fair.

For 14 months, I savored the memory of that jerk chicken, resolved to the fact I’d possibly never find it again. Turns out, those same flavors were right under my nose all along, from a place I’ve driven by hundreds of times.

In my defense, Caribbean Delights doesn’t exactly catch one’s eye. Located in an unassuming strip mall just north of 72 and Blondo. You’re about as likely to notice it driving by as you are to gain Spiderman’s powers from an arachnid bite. Similarly, the restaurant’s social media channels are strangely quiet. In fact, the most likely you’ll hear of Caribbean Delights is through word of mouth, giving it an underground “if you know, you know” cult status.

Inside you’ll find a wall lined with reggae and Bob Marley themed T-shirts and beanies, as well as Jamaican hot sauces and spice mixes for sale. Plastic tables and simple, uncomfortable chairs fill the dining area, and orders are taken at the counter. A small window offers peaks into the kitchen, but only a cursory look into the magic beyond.

While the menu’s quick standout is the Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Caribbean Delights has so much else to offer. You won’t find Oxtail, Salted Codfish, Curry Goat, or Escovitch Fish Filet on many other Omaha menus, helping Caribbean Delights find an untapped niche in an otherwise mostly saturated market.

Though I’ve thoroughly enjoyed everything I’ve tried at Caribbean Delights, none have transported me back to my that first taste like the Jamaican Jerk Chicken.

Heavily seasoned finished with a tomato-based sauced, the chicken carries a heavy flavor of smoke. On first bite, it can be mistaken as BBQ sauce; then you realize there’s deeper flavor here, and a bit of heat begins to rise in the back of your throat. There’s depth to this chicken breast, and each bite has you uncovering a bit more than the last.

Similarly tasty is the Curried Shrimp, which, despite its name, is not reminiscent of Indian cuisine. Rather, it’s heavy in turmeric, giving it a yellow hue and significantly less spice than its Indian counterpart. In fact, I find myself wanting for more heat from this dish.

That is, by no means, to call it a disappointment. The large, plump shrimp are worth the price of admission alone, and the process of sautéing in garlic, onions, and vegetables has you, as with the jerk chicken, discovering new flavors in every bite. The accompanied rice, while a bit greasy, is buttery and delicious.

A visit to Caribbean Delights is incomplete without a few side dishes. The first is a Beef Patty, a deep-fried dough pocket filled with spiced ground beef. Imagine a savory deep-fried Pop-Tart, perfectly flaky and fatty without carrying the expected abundance of grease.

The second is Coco Bread, an enlarged, sharable version of a dinner roll. The exterior is a bit crusty, with a shiny buttery sheen, but the insides are fluffy. A slight sweetness permeates the loaf, eliminating the need for butter or other accompaniment. This bread more than holds its own without condiment.

The portions are so large, you’ll find yourself packing the remainders for leftovers and not caring about the $15 price, and the service is attentive and friendly.

Caribbean Delights may reside in the heart of the Midwest, but it can take your tastebuds to Jamaica. Take it from someone who’s been there and has been chasing the flavors ever since; I found them again here.