Mr. Pimento Catering & Dining — Restaurant in Austin

I came across this food truck on my Tik tok feed. I didn't know there was a food truck park on McNeil. Based on the social media posts I was excited to try some of the jerk chicken. I stopped by on a Thursday for lunch. I had high hopes but unfortunately I have to give my honest feedback. Atmosphere: loved the location with all of the picnic tables, music and the chess board setup. The atmosphere definitely ranks at a 5.

Atmosphere: ★★★★★ (5/5)

The location has a great vibe. Plenty of picnic tables, music playing, and even a large chess board setup. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to hang out and enjoy the space. I really loved the energy and layout of the park—definitely a highlight of the experience.

Service: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

There was a bit of confusion at first. I approached the window to place my order, but the cashier didn’t seem sure of the process. Thankfully, the owner stepped in and kindly explained that all orders are placed using a QR code. Since it was raining, I waited in my car, and the owner graciously offered to bring the food out to me if the rain continued. Both the owner and cashier were friendly and courteous, and the customer service overall was solid.

Food: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)

I ordered the jerk chicken bowl with white meat, rice, lima beans, and pickled cabbage, plus a side of spicy ketchup. Unfortunately, the food didn’t quite live up to the hype for me. The chicken was a bit dry and lacked the bold, saucy jerk flavor I was expecting. The rice was plain, and while the lima beans were okay, the bowl as a whole felt dry and needed more sauce or seasoning to bring it together. I wasn’t a fan of the pickled cabbage, but that might be a personal preference. Overall, the bowl fell flat. I also ordered the plantains which I enjoyed.

Final Thoughts: Great atmosphere and good service made the experience enjoyable, but the food didn’t meet my expectations. I’d be willing to come back and try something else on the menu, but the jerk chicken bowl, as I had it, just wasn’t...

Went to Mr. Pimento for the first time yesterday, and I was not expecting the atmosphere to be what it was. Plenty of seating, looked like a band was showing up as I was leaving, the overall vibe was one for chill company, and perfect for relaxing and eating.

I wanted to try not only the jerk chicken, rice and peas, and plantains, but threw in an order of the Mac n Please as well. Everything was cooked perfectly! The chicken practically fell off the bone it was so tender, and the jerk sauce provided the right amount of heat to be able to enjoy it all! The rice was also a pleasant surprise, as it has a different flavor than I was otherwise used to, but in the best way possible! It pairs great with the jerk chicken! The Mac n Please just sent everything over the edge as it was creamy yet had a nice crisp on the top, and also pairs well with the chicken flavors! The plantains were excellent and I had only wished I didn't fill up on everything else, so that I could have had a few more!!

Believe every 5 star review you find for Mr. Pimento! Those guys put in the work and it shows within their food!

I want to give a particular thanks to the Mr. Pimento team for being so welcoming and for making my first time in the area an absolute blast! I will be back...

Update: I've been several times, now, and not only has the quality not fallen off at all, but they're always testing new ideas these days, as well. I still can't get enough of their jerk sauce, but the latest Special was a sort of large Jamaican version of an empanada, but filled with their own flavors and prepared meats. It would make a perfect grab-n-go option and it was $7.... $7!!! Anyway, these guys are so nice that just ordering the food is a pleasant experience already. lol Stop thinking and just go try it.

Had been wanting to try this spot since I read they came to my neighborhood. The only problem was that I forgot to take a photo of the food before I accidentally devoured 3 orders of it. The wings were phenomenal. That sweet smokehouse-style spice... They were a meal on their own. The jerk chicken was sooo good. You can pull it apart and the meat comes right off. So flavorful. Came with the fries (curly 👍), covered in sauce, spice, and plantains. The plantains weren't overly caramelized like I'm used to getting most places around town. I preferred these, for sure. Hearty portions all around and the prices are great for Austin. These guys are busting their butts but having a good time. Do yourself a favor...