Big Boss Jerk - Whitby (HALAL) — Restaurant in Whitby

As someone who works in the restaurant industry, I rarely leave negative reviews because I understand how hard owners and staff work. However, I feel compelled to speak up about my experience because the food I received was deeply disappointing.

I grew up in Toronto and have been eating authentic Jamaican food — oxtail, jerk chicken, curry goat — for over 35 years. What I received from this restaurant didn’t resemble real Jamaican cuisine in taste, texture, or quality. The oxtail was extremely tough, as if it had only been cooked for 45 minutes. Oxtail should be tender and fall off the bone — instead, I had to tear the meat off with force, which I’ve never experienced before.

The rice and peas were especially shocking. The texture was so mushy it resembled rice pudding, and the flavor was nothing like traditional Jamaican rice and peas. I noticed several older reviews mentioning the rice being an issue for over three years, which makes me wonder why this still hasn’t been addressed.

The curry goat was okay, but the flavor leaned more toward Indian curry than Jamaican, and while fusion cuisine can work in some cases, this didn’t feel intentional — it felt like a misunderstanding of what Jamaican food is.

I spent over $100 on Uber Eats and waited more than an hour and 20 minutes for food that I truly regret ordering. I’m writing this not to tear down, but in the hope that someone in management takes this seriously. As someone who supports and works with restaurants and franchises, I genuinely believe in constructive feedback — and the food being served here doesn’t reflect the roots or standards of Jamaican cuisine. It’s hard to believe anyone Caribbean is involved in approving these dishes.

I sincerely hope this feedback is taken to heart. Jamaican food deserves better...

No 🤦🏾‍♀️ Just … NO! Hard stop! I’m Jamaican and am ASHAMED that anyone might think that this is how jerk chicken is supposed to look and taste. If you’re not from the Caribbean, or not used to cooking our food, How hard would it have been to hire a group of Caribbean people to review the food? Instagram and $25, would’ve definitely got you a few people to offer honest reviews. For my Caribbean peeps, the menu has curry oxtail … IYKYK😏. I should’ve walked out right then and there🙁. I was drawn in by the fact that The store played reggae music, and They were super friendly. I really liked that. It definitely kept me in the door.

For everyone else, here’s a more detailed review of the food: The bad- *the rice is wrong. I don’t know what kind of rice they used, but it wasn’t parboiled rice with kidney beans, coconut milk, and thyme. Barely any kidney beans in the rice and peas actually. Definitely not authentic *I swear, The sauce is just bottle marinade poured on top. It was salty, over seasoned, and completely overpowered everything.

The good- *the chicken was juicy and cooked properly. Thankfully they used dark meat. The chicken was plentiful. I received a good portion *the coleslaw was good *the corn and pineapple … salsa (???) was just ok. *They had both flavours of ting available, but not the kola champagne we all know and love.

Would I go back? MAYYYYBE. If they got the rice right and worked on their gravy. But honestly speaking, I wouldn’t waste my time.

They have a good location and a good name, so they’ll definitely get business. I just wish they had done more research on our food, and more recipe experimentation.

As a Caribbean person, it’s hard to find good food outside of Scarborough; but I’ll keep...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you’re looking for authentic Caribbean flavor, Big Boss Jerk in Whitby is hands-down the best spot in town. I’ve been here many times, and every visit is consistently excellent. Recently, my son and I sat down for their jerk chicken sandwich, and it was absolutely perfect – juicy, flavorful, and made with real, quality chicken.

Coming from the Caribbean myself, I can confidently say this is as authentic as it gets. The portions are generous, the prices are very reasonable (especially for the quality you’re getting), and the service is always outstanding. Abdul in particular goes above and beyond every time.

When it comes to food, three things matter most: taste, price, and service. Big Boss Jerk scores a 10/10 across the board. Great food, great price, great service – the triple crown. This place is a gem in Whitby and easily my go-to for jerk chicken....