Great Big Jerk Wilmington — Restaurant in Wilmington

Worth the Wait! Great Big Jerk offers a clean, visually appealing space with a fast-casual setup — though the “fast” part can be misleading. Many reviewers have commented on the wait time, but in my opinion, it's worth it. Good food takes time, and they clearly put a lot of love into every dish. So chill out, relax, enjoy — or head to McTacoKing if you’re in a rush. The menu is a creative fusion of Southern BBQ, seafood, and island flavors — and it works. The shrimp tacos were a standout: plump, perfectly cooked shrimp with flavorful, well-balanced toppings. The fried cod and beef brisket tacos were generously sized and beautifully presented. One of the highlights was the wedge salad — massive in size, loaded with tender brisket, and topped with a rich, tangy blue cheese dressing. At $11, it’s a steal. The Brussels sprouts and sweet potato fries were also excellent, showing real attention to texture and seasoning. Now, a couple of downsides. The coconut rice was bland and dry, which felt out of place considering the vibrancy of the rest of the menu. And yes — the salt level is a bit aggressive. I’m not alone in this: as of this review, 16 others have mentioned it. In my experience, chefs with CIA training tend to push the salt, and that seems to be the case here. Lastly, a word about the brisket: it’s fatty — and that’s how it should be! Juicy, flavorful fat is part of the experience. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. After my first visit, I’m giving Great Big Jerk 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5 in my official review). Their 4.1 Google rating feels too low — they deserve better. As for the other review sites (Yelp, TripAdvisor, etc.) they are fake review sites. Don’t...

I'm rating this 5 stars, even though I think it's currently more of a 4, because the potential is right there. We ordered the half chicken with the jerk rub, two sides of pimento cheese mac, an order of jerk wings and a side of fries. All the reviews talking about the salt level...yep. it's high. I use more salt than anyone I know and this was too salty for me. Not too salty to make it inedible but salty enough that it took away from the actual heat and great flavor of the rub. The chicken was fantastic, outside of the heavy salt. Super tender and juicy. I'm super sensitive to smoke levels, and this was 100% dead on where I like it. All the chicken here, wings included, were phenomenal. Exactly what I'm looking for. And I had below zero expectations for the pimento Mac and cheese, which was shockingly good. Creamy, surprisingly well seasoned, and just enough pimento. The fries..the worst I've maybe ever had, which was a real bummer. Ordered online for a quick pickup as it's a few blocks away. They were so under fried that they were limp, cold inside somehow, and still super oily. They needed another 3-4 at least in the fryer easily, which I'd understand if they were busy, but the person at the counter was sitting down on their phone when we picked up, so I think the time for a good fry was possible. I'm giving it 5 stars because the chicken was cooked and smoked beautifully. And the mac was really really good. Lower the salt, and figure out a fry (those fries were so bad it made me happy we didn't order tne hush puppies which we almost did) and this is easily a 5 star spot. ...

The Great Big Jerk in Wilmington, DE, maintains a welcoming atmosphere with its spotless setting and friendly staff. I've dined here before and have generally been pleased with the offerings. The brisket sandwich from a previous visit impressed with its tender and flavorful meat. However, the BBQ sauces—the Red Stripe version and the regular sweet one—tend to be too similar in taste and are disappointingly thin.

On my most recent visit, I opted for the two-meat combo named Phoebe's BBQ, priced at $24, which included two sides. My choices were the Jerk Chicken and 3-bone ribs. Unfortunately, the ribs did not justify their inclusion in the combo due to their scant portion. The Jerk Chicken, however, was a standout, striking the right balance of spice and tenderness without being overpowering. Though I would have preferred a more robust jerk seasoning for authenticity, the milder flavor was still enjoyable.

The sides were a mix of hits and misses. The Mac and Cheese was delightfully creamy and served hot, but the rice and peas were bland, and the rice was overly soft—a disappointment given its promising spicy aroma. The roll was standard fare, nothing exceptional but perfectly acceptable.

The ambiance resembles that of a clean, fast-food establishment, which is effective given the efficient and friendly service. While improvements could be made—particularly with the rice and peas, which could use a recipe revamp—the overall quality of the BBQ and the delicious desserts make The Great Big Jerk a place I would return to. It remains my top choice for BBQ in Wilmington, and I look forward to my...