Hungry Joe's Jamaican Restaurant — Restaurant in Inglewood

Note: The day I stopped in, they were severely shorthanded. They had a sign up to let people know. That may have had something to do with the results of my order.

This spot was recommended by a friend so I really wanted to love it. I'm not in the area often, but work had me there for a week so I was trying tons of food and I would put this somewhere in the middle.

Parking: If you get there during a busy time, you may find it difficult to find parking. People tried to use the parking lot as efficiently as possible, but you may find yourself street side and walking up.

My order: Oxtail plate, short rib plate, jerk chicken with fries and a beef and cheese patty for the drive home.

With the few Jamaican restaurants I've tried some dishes, I was expecting the flavor to be out of this world. Especially with a friends commendation and the amount of high reviews, I was already setting some high expectations.

Unfortunately, while it all smelled amazing and was cooked to a perfect tenderness, it seemed like what was common between all the dishes was they were a bit under-seasoned. The rice and beans were solid, tasty vegetables and plantains, but when it came to the meats, it was perfectly cooked... just needed more seasoning.

The jerk chicken was saved by the sauce! Had some kick to it but nothing you can't handle if you normally add some spice to your food.

The highlight was hands down the patty I had. I wish I had ordered more for my wife and friends to try, but with a 2 hr drive in traffic and the shop being sold out and having to make more, I took the last one they had to go for the drive. It was flaky and the patty was super flavorful. On my drive home, I was thinking "man if this is what the patty is like, the other food is gonna hit like crazy!".

Benefit of a doubt: So while my experience wasn't the best with the food, you could definitely do worse in the area. I want to go back to try a mini of my orders and get some patties, as well as try the desserts they have behind the glass.

I would recommend placing an order ahead of time, but be sure to place it maybe more than an hour out. Due to how busy the place got and them being short-staffed, I still had to wait an extra 30 minutes.

It can be a bit pricey, but what isn't these days. And while a bad first experience with food is enough to push people away and leave a negative review, the service I had was nice enough that maybe I just came on a bad day.

The miss whom was at the register had explained the situation to everyone to set expectations and was handling a crowded line as good as she could. Checking out, she took her time to make sure my order was mine, offering me condiments, utensils and double bagged my order so it wouldn't fall through. For me, that stuff goes a long way.

Wife loved how tender all the food was, and her pick was the short ribs.

A friend also said it was his pick of the dishes. Against popular opinion, they liked that over the oxtail because it's generally less fatty.

For me, if not the patty, then I'll go with the jerk wings. It's what I came for and the sauce saved it. Just sub the fries with their vegetables and/or rice and beans, and you're good.

Will definitely try again when I get assigned in...

Lawd! Lawd! Lawd! This Reasturant “HJB & J is Above and Beyond! My first time had the oxtail rice & peas!! Perfection....everything said in the review’s Was exactly how it taste...So I’m concur it to be so... fresh, good eating helpings as if at family reunion or Sunday after Church at Bigmamas house dinner... ( and I had small plate) Thank you HJB & J for your gracious in amount!!! Just had leftovers and again taste just like holiday home cooking leftovers... and I warmed in microwave.. usually have to heat takeout in oven, or wet paper towel eat it quickly before texture changes.. if in microwave. I Ordered Postmates and saw sweet potato cheesecake too late....said I’ll order next time... Yea Right... drove over before closing and Oh Lawd!!! Well worth it!!! My new go too reasturant for Jamaican Food...it was quick and I saw the line and the parking mentioned in other reviews... All I could do Was look up to the sky and smile peacefully to God and thought to myself, with the way that food taste “Time is all I got for ya HJB & J Will wait How Long it Takes...oh and people support support our black businesses where it’s due... Rome wasn’t built in a Day!! Food that touches the soul with such comfort & deliciousness like this is prepared from the Soul with Love!!!. Not fast food quick Hands!!! For Money....that why there a line....A day and 5 hourS after eating leftovers and still “I got a party going on in my Mouth from the taste of them Oxtails cheesecake and everting else just dancing all on my taste buds!!!! By the way this is the first time I ever left a review, all that came from The Truth my heart & Soul... okay I Belly as it growls at me in pleasure. AI’m laying on my couch full and happy right now God bless Hungry Joe’s Burgers and...

OMG! Finally a place in LA that sells real Jamaican food. First it is so hard to find a restaurant that actually sells SaltFish Fritters. I must say that they are actually pretty good. My mom loves them and It's real hard to please an older Jamaican born woman that knows how to make them. Thats my momma tho! I'm basing my review on my purchase. The brown stew chicken is always on point. I have never been disappointed yet. I bought my mom some beef soup and it was good even though she couldnt eat it due to her medical condition because of the spices. Im not a soup person but she couldnt eat it I wouldn't let it go to waste but that beef soup would turn me into a soup eater. The service could use some work because there is no organization when it comes to ordering. I waited in line about 10 minutes to order and one man just cut it front and asked for food and they went and made sure the got it for him in front of everyone else. I finally place my order and after another 10 minutes of waiting they come and tell me they are out of brown stew chicken. I will come back for the food, it's good. True Jamaican food at its best. Carrot juice on point. You know it's real when your rice and peas are made with gungo peas. The patties are good you just have to get coco bread next door at the...