Marks Caribbean Kitchen in Kitchener

20 King St E, Kitchener, ON N2G 2K6, Canada

★★★★★
(604 reviews)
Categories: Caribbean restaurant Restaurant

About

We’re a Caribbean Restaurant that is unlike anything out there. We worked hard in creating an atmosphere that truly represents the Caribbean and the different types of food being offered. Come in and try our food where everything if made fresh daily, the staff is friendly and our restaurant is clean and bright.

Website
markscaribbeankitchen.ca
Address
20 King St E, Kitchener, ON N2G 2K6, Canada
Plus Code
CGX6+WG Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Business Hours

Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
Closed
Friday
11 AM–9 PM
Saturday
11 AM–9 PM
Sunday
11 AM–8 PM

Services

Service options
No-contact delivery Delivery On-site services Takeaway Dine-in
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Coffee Healthy options Small plates Spirits Wine
Dining options
Lunch Dinner Catering Dessert Seating
Amenities
Bar on site Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy
Crowd
Groups
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
High chairs
Parking
Free of charge street parking Paid parking lot Parking

Photos

Reviews

4.6
★★★★★
604 reviews

Most Mentioned

roti (25) fried chicken (18) fish cakes (16) oxtail stew (13) fried plantains (11) calamari (8) chat (8) fish and chips (6) eggplant (6) beef curry (5)
5 stars
477
4 stars
66
3 stars
18
2 stars
14
1 stars
29
★★★★★
November 28, 2024

Mark’s food is phenomenal. I was in Kitchener for work and it was nice to have seasoned food that you could tell was made with love. The steak was bursting with flavour, the soup had layers of flavour and the oxtail was falling off the bone. I highly recommend this restaurant and will visit again if I’m in the area.

★★★★
September 7, 2024

I went here with my family for dinner. We got the oxtail, curry goat, red snapper, with channa and a side of roti. Everything was very flavourful and delicious. The steamed red snapper was my favourite. The oxtail was the best I’ve had so far.

★★★★★
September 7, 2024

Absolutely exceptional food, I had the grilled shrimp and the fried plantains and both were extraordinary! The atmosphere was lovely too, great music, nice scenes up on the wall, and the service was excellent! Mark came up and checked that our food was good twice, and the second time he stayed and chatted with us, and the servers were lovely too! Will 100% be coming back, this place is awesome!

★★★★★
July 26, 2024

What a great little spot downtown Kitchener! We had a hard time finding parking right on King Street so we ended up having a 10 minute walk to and from which was actually preferred. This was our first time trying Mark’s and we were not disappointed. We were warmly greeted with genuine curiosity of how we came across the restaurant. The food was phenomenal & the wait wasn’t bad at all; we ordered the calamari, ox tail and fish. Superseded our expectations - we’ll be back for sure!

★★
July 7, 2024

Inconsistent Flavouring is pretty good. But the meat I got I found to be pretty inconsistent. Was good the first time I ordered. The second time was all bones very little meat and very little sauce.

★★★★
June 28, 2024

A place I recommend to anyone looking for a West Indian fusion, or just curious of West Indian food Delightful staff, including the chef, who came out and had a chat with me. My meal began with a Dholl soup. Man, the only thing missing was some baigan choka, salt fish and rice. It was that good. My main was the Grilled shrimp which I took with fries. It was a good portion, flavourful and well cooked. The shrimp wasn't overcooked and his seasoning was on point. It was served with his signature basil sauce which was nice but I thought needed a little more acid to counter sweetness of the shrimp and of course, the ripe plantain. All in all, well worth the visit, and if I'm in the area again, I'm dining there

★★★★★
March 8, 2023

We had the two meat combo of goat curry with rotti & the jerk chicken with the extra side of rice and peas it was so fully packed with flavour!! We loved every bite of it and even the staff were so nice in explaining each dish we wanted to pick. Loved it!! Was worth the price and we cleaned out our plates!! ( wish I could the after picture of the wiped out plates but let’s not 😂) definitely going back loved the vibe!

★★★★
August 8, 2021

The lady who took our order was nice and helpful. We ordered "Goat Curry" and "Jerk Chicken" and Caesar Salad for takeout. Our food was perfectly packed and it tasted really good. It was spicy as you can expect from Caribbean food, but not overpowering. It's nice to travel to Caribbean countries without leaving Canada, lol (especially during pandemic)

★★★★
Local Guide
December 20, 2024

I order from them regularly and their oxtail and curry beef are delicious!

★★★★★
December 1, 2024

This is our favourite jerk chicken spot in kw. Food is so good.

★★★★
Local Guide
November 24, 2024

Great food. Reasonably priced. Definitely try the fish and chips and oxtail stew...

★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Jerk chicken meal was good. Nice n clean place in downtown Kitchener for Jamaican food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

The owner comes out to great you. The food and flavour are simply incredible. If I could give 10 stars I would.

★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Tasty caribbean meals, soup reminded me of homemade from Jamaica. Jerk and fry chicken were properly seasoned and cooked. Great service as well

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Great food. Authentic Jamaican flavors. Great service and very friendly staff.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

My favourite spot for jerk chicken in the region!

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

Food is amazing but every time I come they re closed. Coming from Toronto each time.

★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Closed. Until November 2024

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Best Caribbean food in kitchenr. As a Vincy man I felt at home again eatin the food. the service was 10/10. The chef was 10/10. I ve never set foot in a cleaner restaurant, you could eat off the floor

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

We had lunch at Marks Carribbean Kitchen for the first time today. The restaurant has a very comforting and simple dining environment. It is spotless clean as well. Their staff are very welcoming and friendly, and their chef even came out greeting his customers. As for food, some dishes on the menu have options to order small/ large portions. Some dishes may take up 30-40 minutes of waiting time to be prepared, because they are freshly made! I ordered a small portion of oxtail stew with rice and peas. It was tasty and perfectly filling. And my boyfriend also loved his beef roti. We would definitely come back and try their seafood next time!

★★★★
September 22, 2024

Jerk chicken was very tasty and tender. Happy with size of dinner - my belly was nice and full.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Absolutely the best jerk chicken in town. Indeed, probably some of the best Ive ever had! The Ox tail is incredible as well.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

I walked in from the street and ordered takeaway. The food was delicious, the staff friendly and I thought the atmosphere was great too. I plan to come back and dine in next time.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Really great spot with amazing food and huge portions for reasonable price

August 22, 2024

The food is mediocre and tastes watered down. I expected more considering the price.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

LOVE The Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

It s too hard to park, but the food is delicious

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

Came with friends, the food was amazing. Chicken soup and jerk chicken was delicious and the presentation of the jerk chicken was beautiful. Will be returning.

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

Fantastic dining experience all around. The food was flavorful and delicious, generous portions, great prices, and a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. This is a local gem for Caribbean food and Mark is an incredible chef! We ve walked by this place for ages and finally had our first meal there; definitely won t be our last!! Dietary restrictions: They were knowledgeable about gluten free options on the menu and walked me through the items that did and didn t contain flour and gluten.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Jerk chicken and fried chicken are excellent. Curry was just okay, I know its traditional but boy is it annoying to try to fish out all of the bones from the bone-in meat in a curry. Kept finding shards of bone when chewing and having to pick them out. Would be much more appealing if the chef removed the bones from the meat after cooking it.

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Our experience last night was stellar! I didnt know what to expect & they knocked it out of the park! The presentation to start with was eye catching. The dishes were very flavorful & cooked to perfection. Portions were large enough to take some home & enjoy again the next day.Service was friendly & efficient. Our bill was only 64$s w/tx which included a small carafe of wine, Grilled Shrimp & Jerk Chicken entrees. I give high praise to this independently owned business & would recommend it to all! Gary....former owner of Seagulls Bistro, Crescent Beach B.C

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Most excellent food and service. We will definitely go back and will take friends. We highly recommend Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Good food friendly service, Takes a few minutes - call ahead of time instead of walking in if you want take out Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Fantastic fried plantains and ox with rice& peas

★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Great cabbage slaw

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Everything I ve eaten here is so yummy!

★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

The jerk chicken and oxtail are excellent. Goat curry was a tad dry. Overall, great food but I do think the quantity is too small for the price.

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Amazing food and service!! The fried plantain is especially delicious and melts in your mouth. The Jerk Chicken truly lives up to its reputation, it s the best I ve had in town!! The owner, Chef Mark is very friendly and his dishes taste like real authentic Jamaican food. Highly recommend this place for anyone looking to experience great Jamaican food.

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Mark him self is very friendly and classy. The staff are polite and lovely. The atmosphere is very chill and clean. The food is absolutely amazing. Every dish is bursting with flavour and cooked to perfection. Authentic, delicious, proper and great presentation ! Thank you mark for your amazing food skills I can t wait to come back again.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Fantastic authentic food super tasty

June 22, 2024

Food is gets warmed up in a microwave and it isn t fresh not stored in control temperature environment . Also customer service is horrible and rude

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Amazingly fresh, seasoned and spiced to perfection. This is my new number 1 place for carribean.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

I don t do reviews often but felt compelled to for this dinner. We ordered the jerk chicken and it was not only the best jerk, but the best chicken we ve ever had. Fall off the bone tenderness had me wondering if it was ribs I was eating or mearly chicken. Somehow it was the latter. Thanks for the great food - who the hell didn t rate you a 5 star?

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

The Jerk chicken is unmatched!

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Chef Mark is a good dude who is passionate about his food and creating a good atmosphere. He came out and spoke to us for about 15-20 minutes about his business and his philosophy on food. It was my first time but Ill definitely be back.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Food was great, excellent service, will go back to try different menus yummy oxtail oh the Ting drink was good too, reggae in the background was nice too. I recommend this place.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Easily the best jerk chicken Ive had in Canada yet. The best part is that the highlight is not just the chicken, but the plantain was perfectly cooked, dahl puri was so soft and well made, the slaw had an amazing chili flavour to it without being overly hot. My partner got beef curry and rice and peas. The beef was so tender and succulent! Definitely a top rated restaurant.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Very cool place. Got the jerk chicken with the side of rice and peas. It was killer! Will be back for the fried chicken.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Awesome meal. Tons of flavour.

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

10/10 food and service. The fried chicken was really good. Also loved the oxtail.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Great service and atmosphere. The food is very authentic and absolutely delicious! Highly recommend

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

If youre looking for some authentic Caribbean food, look no further. This place is fresh and delicious every time, with very friendly service! OMGeee, its finger licking good, must try!!! Food

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

My family and I were visiting Kitchener a couple weeks ago and were looking for a West Indian Restaurant and came across Marks Caribbean Kitchen through a google search. When we went into the restaurant to order we were met by a polite young woman and then the owner Mark came out to greet my husband and I. We spoke to Mark while our order was being prepared and he was pleasant, warm, and welcoming. We took our order with us, but you can dine-in and the restaurant is nice and inviting. The jerk chicken and oxtail was very good! Thank you Mark

April 22, 2024

Hospitality is not at all good worst management.food is reasonably okay

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

The best jerk chicken in all of KW.

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Called and ordered food for pickup. Friendly staff to deal with and answered our questions about the food we intended to order (partner is celiac so it is important to make sure items are gluten free). Food was great! Fried plantains were perfectly done, and the jerk chicken was the best I have ever tasted. Goat curry is very flavourful. I highly recommend checking them out :) Dietary restrictions: Partner is celiac. They have gluten free options :)

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

The food was great, very flavourful. The place was large and quiet. The server was friendly and welcoming.

★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

This place has gone down hill. The food it not near what it used to be. I wont be back Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Listen. When youre & the curry is better than your aunty or mommy cooking, is something going ON right here!!! I had to personally say hi to the chefs and owner, first time visit Saturday. Hands down. Oxtail, goat curry, Jerk anything. Roti. Dhalpurie. I made sure to try it all and all is . The girls are kind and the place is white and clean. All around .

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

Very tasty. Got like 5 pieces of chicken with my jerk chicken dinner!

★★★★★
January 22, 2024

Hello, Im just wondering if there are gluten free and vegan options? Or can some of the dishes be altered? Thank you

★★★★★
January 22, 2024

My husband and I really love this place. Weve been ordering online ever since we moved to Kitchener several months ago but yesterday we decided to finally dine in as we had some relatives visiting and we wanted to enjoy Caribbean cuisine with them. The ambiance inside was great and the owners (a lovely couple) are just incredible people. The meals were delicious especially the oxtail. Soups were also great! There was a mix up in the drink that I ordered and they stepped in so quickly to address it. Chef Mark came out and also inquired how we were enjoying our meals. All in all a great experience and our relatives enjoyed the experience.

★★★★★
January 22, 2024

Everything we ordered was supremely delicious. Im eating the leftovers now and felt inspired to post this review. Thank you Chef Mark!

★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Food is delicious, very tasty, the chef is always smiling and pleasant. I went in for dinner, there was no one else in the restaurant and didnt even notice it was close to closing time when we asked for a second round of drinks and we were denied. No one mentioned last call, nor did we have a follow up on our first round of drinks.

★★★★★
January 22, 2024

My husband and I stopped in as we were passing through the city and we werent disappointed. Absolutely amazing food. We got the Platter with Roti, Jerk Chicken and Oxtail. The Jerk Chicken was personally my favorite but both were cooked to perfection.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The food was very good! We went once for lunch and had once for dinner and had jerk chicken, oxtail stew, and goat curry. The food is delicious, portion is good (for lunch you can choose between small and normal), and price very reasonable! We passed in front of the restaurant several times as we live in the area but never stepped in because we didnt find the restaurant appealing or attracting, but it is was a pleasant surprise! We now regret not having visited earlier!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great tasting food, good service, chill vibes. Would come again.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Mark is always welcoming and consistently delivers great meals! Atmosphere is cosy and comfortable. Ive never tried fried snapper and today had the best fish I have ever tasted.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I was finally able to check this place out over the weekend and Im so happy I did! The food was fantastic. The fried chicken was great and so was the jerk chicken. So flavourful and juicy. I will be back often...

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

If you are looking for a great Caribbean restaurant you have to go here!! Its my familys favourite spot. The food is amazing and love the atmosphere!! You will not be disappointed :)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Would visit again. We had the fish cakes, goat and prawn curry with roti and everything was nice. Such great food and portions for the price. The fish cakes alone were enough for me and the service was good. Its a very chill atmosphere, nothing over-the-top. Would strongly recommend if youre looking for good Caribbean food. If you are looking for heat, Id say ask for it. Vegetarian options: Tons. Curries, the roti, rice and peas. Parking: Really just around DTK, not at the location. Wheelchair accessibility: The door is wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair and the seating is set up so that they individuals in wheelchairs can dine- in. It is located a the corner of the street so something to keep in mind

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Excellent comfort Caribbean food and lovely service. Had the jerk chicken and the fish cakes, and it was all delicious!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Food was spiced to perfection and portions where perfect. Friendly staff and the Chef Mark is so friendly and makes an effort to say hello to all his customers. We will definitely come back soon.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I highly recommend, everything on the menu is amazing.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Deeeelicious!!!!! Service was amazing and Mark himself is lovely, you can tell he loves to cook great food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Good food, MASSIVE portions, wonderfully friendly staff. Will absolutely return.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The quality is a step above with consistent skill and seasoning - and they are amazingly friendly. A lovely establishment to support whether for takeout or eating in! Dietary restrictions: Good for people with the avocado family allergy as they dont have mango, kiwi or any of the other tropical items in this allergy group.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

the jerk chicken here is amazing. fantastic value, super friendly staff and did I say the chicken was good? best in town.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Good food, Good Customer Service, & Friendly Staff. I highly recommend to anyone

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Their oxtail and jerk chicken are amazing. Their staff is friendly and the restaurant has a great atmosphere with relaxing music. Been eating here for the last few months and theyve never disappointed.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Probably our best find of the past few years Amazing vibes...the brilliantly crafted food is rich full of glorious tastes for any palet and so fullfilling the portions are...Mark is a top chef and gentelman and so much respect for his customers he chats with us each time we and others visit...staff is amazing as well #yougottaeathere one of the best hidden gems in KW you will not be disapointed

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Everyone is so friendly and excellent service! The food is AMAZING! marks jerk chicken is so flavourful and falls of the bone ! Highy recommend !

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

My favourite restaurant! The best meals I ve ever eaten. Best quality, flavour, and amazing portions. Thank you Marks Caribbean Kitchen for being so amazing!!!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Excellent food, an entrée with about a pound of chicken, rice/peas and some tasty veggie garnishes was $20. Chef Mark came out and spoke to us for about 10 minutes which made the experience extra special. Staff were friendly, dining room feels intimate and comfortable. You cant find many places like this anymore. Looking forward to coming back.

December 22, 2023

Went for 2 large soups and a beer . Beer was good . The soups were not as advertised . Their were no carrots at all and only 2 pieces of meat . Not much soup juice and it was filled with potatoes . So they are trying to make money by selling potato . Very scammy . felt insulted . Look below you will see another persons soup post with just potatoes .

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Rude hostess lady. While waiting here forever to get our order we noticed she also treats the delivery drivers like they are hobos but not actual human beings. The food is sub par compared to other caribbean places. Will not be coming back.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I can t believe I just discovered this place. It is a mixture of Jamaican and Guyanese influences. And to be perfectly honest, it works! It is a Caribbean fine dining experience. And you should give it a try.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

My gf and I were in town for my nephew s basketball game and we were craving some Caribbean food. We did a google search and Marks Carribbean Kitchen came up which had great reviews so it was a must try. I got the oxtail and jerk chicken, my gf got the curry goat and jerk chicken and wow it was definitely worth coming in for. The meats were tender and packed with flavourful spices and the portion was big for the price. Will come back again whenever we re in town.

★★★★
December 22, 2023

My go to jerk chicken spot in the area. Portions could be a little bigger though

Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Seems like they enjoy serving bones.... Chicken soup had a nice thick broth but contained chicken bones (thats odd) and was all potatoes and dumplings. Chicken curry contained more chicken bones than meat. Definately not worth the money and I wont be back.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

An absolute amazing experience! The beef curry was soooo delicious and the jerk chicken was outstanding ! Chef Mark came out to talk to our table and he is the sweetest human. You can tell that he really cares about the food and puts his heart and soul into it. 10/10 spot to go if you re downtown!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

It was a pleasant surprise to find a carribean restaurant downtown Kitchener. The settings and ambiance of the place were excellent. We ordered our meals and was surprised by the serving size of the food. We ate what we could and had to take out the rest. We got to meet the owner of the restaurant, Mark. We talked, and it was a pleasure meeting Him. The food was delicious, and the carribean style

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

So good

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Got the goat curry & beef roti wrap and it was amazing! Mark also came out after we finished eating to ask how we liked it. Very friendly staff. Thank you!!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Everything we had was incredible, especially the jerk chicken. Generous portions, too. Looking forward to coming back and trying the rest of the menu.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I ve had Jamaican food before but nothing close to this. Everything is fresh, tasty, authentic! I eat like a pig every time I order from here. Thank you Mark! Food

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Amazing place, the food was delicious cooked perfectly with lots of flavour. Great prices, nice atmosphere and super friendly staff. The owner/chef even came out to chat with us for a bit. Couldn t recommend this place more!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We go here often as when we re in town or at least once a month! We re from Guelph but the food , service, the wait time, the chill vibe, the food portions, the chairs and the bathroom is superb! Great, and I hope that it stays open!!!! We love it! Love it! Definitely HIGHLY RECOMMEND it. We gone to Jamaica once and Mark really is the closest to our memory back then when he cooks us Jerk Chicken!!! It s heaven! Literally! Never fails.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

It was one of the good places.. i tried jerk chicken with steamed rice . It was good.. the staff were friendly and service was good. We spotted Mark and he was nice guy. Give it a try if you like spicy foods..

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Best jerk chicken!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Remarkable meals, and excellent chef! Excited to visit again, and soon.

★★★
December 22, 2023

I was in Kitchener for an appointment and got hungry. My companion wanted Caribbean food. I tried the beef soup. It was missing some salt beef and red peas. He had the beef roti and didnt like the filling. I personally only eat (stuffed) roti from Trinidadians, jerk from Jamaicans. The atmosphere was perfect. Very calm with some classic reggae in the background. I thoroughly enjoyed the Stockyards blonde iced cold. I will go back to try other things. All in all, a nice break from my days activities.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Food was amazing! Everything was really tasty and the portions were fantastic. Fried chicken was really good. So were all the currys. The server Monica was really sweet and helpful. Recommended!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Growing up with Guyanese parents and as someone who loves to cook, I have pretty high expectations when it comes to Caribbean food. The owner/chef Mark knows his stuff and gave us amazing food that was spot on. The goat was flavourful, prawns perfectly cooked and the fried chicken devoured. The portion sizes were true to Caribbean hospitality and brimming with the main ingredient. It s clear Mark loves his craft - even his reimagined side coleslaw was an unexpected delight! I only wished we were closer (visiting from GTA), as we d be regulars for sure. Thanks again Mark!! Also, a shout out to Monica who was our AWESOME server. If you re lucky enough to be driving distance, you gotta check these guys out.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Food is really great and for those prices you get your bucks worth. Highly recommend

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This restaurant takes me back to my grandmas kitchen, all the flavours and textures made me feel like I was back in Jamaica with her. I have no complaints about this restaurant and 100% recommend for a fellow Jamaican just as well as for a person who s never had Jamaican food before. A must have in KW !

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

First time here with my family. Everything was great from the atmosphere and service to the food. My toddler and baby ate a lot! We met Chef Mark and his wife who are absolutely lovely and friendly people. Will definitely be back here again :)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Jerk chicken is quite delicious, had it twice in this month. Portions are large, service is friendly and quick. Not the most beautiful of restaurants, but good for a tasty bite.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Great value for money! Portion sizes are great and food is delicious. I will continue to support them

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Friendly service, and very tasty food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Such a gem of a place! I am at peace, serenity with the staff, food and the atmosphere! Mark, his wife and team are fantastic. When taking a bite of the food, I want to have his meals all the time! If youve always wanted to try Caribbean meals, you dont have to hop on a plane, just come to 20 King Street East Kitchener Ontario!! Thank you for feeding my family such delicious, healthy foods!! Ill come back again and Ill recommend you always.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

It was my first time at Marks and the food was unbelievable. We got the jerk and fried chicken. Flavours were exploding! The restaurant itself was the cleanest restaurant I ve ever been inside. The service was lovely and Mark himself even checked on us to see how our meal was. He was very kind. 10/10 would recommend! I m definitely coming back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Went here for date night close to closing. The service was great and the meal delicious and fresh. My boyfriend and I both had the combo meals. The Jerk Chicken was tasteful, Oxtails falling off the bone. What made it more delightful is that we got to catch some Live Theatre plays that made the night more enjoyable. Thanks Marks kitchen. We ll probably be back before returning to Nova Scotia / Jamacia!!

December 22, 2023

Didn t let me use the bathroom

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

I was in kitchener for work and came across Marks... The food was incredible, gourmet and the service and feel of the restaurant was just as great. If Im ever near kitchener I would definitely come back again!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Best jerk chicken in Kitchener waterloo!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Carribbean food always gets to my heart

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The servers are very gracious, friendly, and knowledgeable of the cuisine. The Chicken Roti I was one of the best in the region. Top points for presentation, and it was simply delicious. I can see myself returning on several occasions, to try just about everything on the menu. Parking: Difficult to find free parking, especially during lunchtime. Youll most likely have to pay to park at one of several spots in the general vicinity.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Wow, what a gem! Atmosphere is clean, bright, colourful, and cozy. Feels like youre living the island life. Staff are wonderful. Tasty beers on tap. Food is INCREDIBLE.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Amazing food. I was a little surprised by how much of it there was! But so good I ate every morsel. Full up!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We each had the amazing two-meat platter yesterday; curry goat and oxtail with rice and peas for me, curry chicken and oxtail with roti for my wife. All washed down with Ting! This is always a great place for hearty, delicious comfort food, and its great value for money. Excellent service, too.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The food was amazing look beautiful and delicious. The service was awesome And mark is a really nice guy and an amazing chef. Food : 5/5

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great place for Jerk chicken and Caribbean curries. Food was outstanding and enjoyed by all, even the picky eaters. Service was slow but they let us know about wait times before ordering, so communication was excellent, and the wait was well worth the delicious food

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Relaxed warm environment, friendly attentive service with a personal touch. Portions were excellent and served at the right temperature and taste.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Consistently quality food and service, always scrumdelilicious and, especially so on my birthday Nov. 21st, chicken soup and steamed snapper with vegetables - OmG, out of this world, it nice, it nice, it nice!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Marks is hands down the best jamaican food spot in town. Not only is the food quality amazing, but the price and the serving sizes cant be beat. We manage to eat two meals out of one serving. The spice level is perfect! Make sure to try and order directly through the restaraunt to ensure they are receiving all of the profits deserved, as some of the food delivery services take a cut. Thanks for always providing consistantly satsfying service and more importantly food!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great, authentic food! Service with a smile. Celesti has a beautiful personality. I had dhal soup as my entrée and Jamaican jerk chicken with rice and peas as my main meal. I will be back there soon.

Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I visited before with my work and was pleased with the food. Unfortunately when I brought my daughter to try it for the first time I was disappointed. The waiter refused to change our table where I was not comfortable sitting due to the bright spotlights over my head. When I asked to change the table she said she cant because maybe they would get busy into the night!!! The restaurant literally had 3 couples in it!!!! And so many tables available. I didnt feel welcome or even appreciated for coming. We left without eating!!! Had to go somewhere where we are welcomed.

★★
December 22, 2023

This store needs someone running it who is authentic too. We are so disappointed in our meal. We came in 2 ppl. Ordered curry chicken plate with ROTI added aswell as PLAINTAIN. Smh we get home and have curry chicken....one roti....and a container or plaintain....and whatever dhal side they have. Not what we ordered and a waste of money. I waited TIME for authentic plate this was not it. I wont be back

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Generous portions and quality food. And the waitress is a babe

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Fantastic food with large portions the service was great and the staff are very friendly. The Goat curry with rice and beans was delicious. Some of the best Caribbean food in the region.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

So delicious and customer service was awesome! Would recommend this restaurant to anyone

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Found this gem on Uber eats and decided to call. The lady who picked up was really friendly, and it was just a warm atmosphere when I picked up. The food was the BEST Caribbean food Ive ever had in my life, it was so flavourful. The place is beautiful and everything from ordering to picking up was great, lots of places feel unwelcoming and most of the time you deal with someone thats super rude. Not this place, my new go to. Thanks again

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Very nicely designed sitting. Staff is friendly and has a sense of urgency. However, the food sucks! Doesnt taste Jamaican at all. I had a red snapper which was badly burnt...well beyond the taste of fish. But the shef was kind enough to come and chat after I gave them some feedback.

December 22, 2022

Food tasted great before I got food poisoning not long after I left. It was very slow only a few Uber eats guys came and got food. It was only me and my gf in the restaurant so to get food poisoning when it s not busy; I would be afraid to go on a busier night.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

I went here a few years ago when I was in Kitchener for a Hockey tournament the food was to die for and the head chef mark was so friendly and nice and gave you a very good portion size and even the jerk chicken was not so hot you couldn t eat it it was a perfect meal and the chicken was so juicy would definitely go back again when I m in the area

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Best jerk chicken I ve ever had! Comes out amazing every time. Big portions too. Staff are very friendly. Will have to try other items on the menu!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

This local place has amazing food and fresh !!! Good price and I do recommend ppl to go there owner was amazing 10/10

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Great place food is authentic and delicious! Staff are super friendly and make you feel right at home . We even had the pleasure of meeting Mark the owner/Chef what a great guy ! Highly recommend this restaurant!

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

We have enjoyed Marks food several times, but when we ordered the Chicken Curry, Goat Curry and Channa on the evening of Wed, Mar 23rd, both my wife and I had stomach troubles that felt very much like food poisoning. My symptoms started immediately after eating, and my wifes occurred after eating leftovers the next day. Im sorry to have to leave this review, as the staff are always friendly, the food is amazing, and the portions are so generous! However I still wanted to flag this, as someone else had left a review dated 1 week earlier stating they also had food poisoning, and chef Mark had replied that he wasnt aware of any other incidents. Really hoping that whatever caused our stomach troubles was a fluke that has been corrected, because its the best Caribbean food weve found in KW, and weve recommended it to friends as well!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Excellent food. Nice decor. Mark the owner came and chatted with us and he was very nice! Overall a very welcoming and the chicken curray seen in the picture was delicious. Portion sizes and prices were excellent as well.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Excellent lunch, speedy, courteous service, delicious food. Looking forward to coming back next time Im in the area!

December 22, 2022

The quality of the food and service has slipped. I took my aunt and cousin all Jamaicans to show them a new place in town, and they found the dish salty, and the service poor. Sorry to see this place is not holding up.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

We ordered jerk chicken and rice and peas, also fish and chips. The portions were excellent and the chicken was very good.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Really delicious food and a party of spices and flavours. Fast and friendly service. Friday evening and I was expecting it to be busier. Fish cakes were absolutely delicious. Too bad there is only 2. I could have had more but I am glad we did not as our mains were plenty of food. We ordered 2 meat combos: Goat curry and jerk chicken and oaxtail and jerk chicken. They were all full of flqvours. The combos also included rice and peas, one deep fried ripe plantain and cabbage salad. We loved it and are coming back to try other items... this place does not have the recognition it should have. Thanks Mark for the food and the flavours!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Delicious! I got jerk chicken for take out and the rice and peas were outstanding, but the star of the show was the chicken. Juicy and flavorful!! Would recommend

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

As good as it gets for Carribean food.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Man I don t usually leave reviews but this place is different. Clean space, amazing food, reasonable prices, friendly staff, and good vibes all around. Chef Mark is a true master of his craft, and Jennifer was a hospitality professional. Will be back soon!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Sooooooo good! I am still dreaming of the eggplant dish

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Ordered Marks last night, and forgot to order plantains for my partner. Called back and they ended up just giving us the dish gratis. Not only that but the jerk chicken we ordered was the best in KW, and the lentil soup was peppery and perfect on a cool rainy night. Worth every penny.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Good plsce, excellent jamacian food. Excellent service.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

My son and I had an awesome lunch today of jerk chicken, delicious , Mark is very personable and a wonderful host. Thanks

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

We ordered on Uber Eats but had to come pick up the order because of a problem with Uber. The staff was so helpful and kind, and helped us sort it out. The food was all delicious - everything was a winner! Still dreaming of those plantains. Would just order through their website next time!

Local Guide
December 22, 2022

My first time trying the food from this restaurant and it was disappointing. I tried the rice and peas with jerk chicken and it was far from what Caribbean food should taste like. The rice n peas was very soggy and chicken was not good either. Not a true representation of Caribbean food and flavors.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

My new favourite Carribean food place! Food was amazing! Ox tail was cooked perfectly and very flavourful. Curry goat was soft and tender. Rice and beans had a hint of coconut which I loved. Also great portion size. The restaurant itself was very clean and cozy. Staff was exceptional!!!The cook came out multiple times to make sure we were ok and to make sure we loved our food, which we did:) They also had Carib beer paired excellently with my meal. Will definitely come back!

Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Serving wraps, tortilla as Roti wont be back.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Food is great and the portions are absolutely MASSIVE.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

First time here today and definitely not the last! Food was great, place was clean and friendly. Staff were amazing! Even had a visit from Chef Mark to our table to see how everything was. Great portions of food too. Make sure you come hungry! Would certainly recommend to everyone! See you soon!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Incredible!

December 22, 2022

The service attitude of the waitress is so bad, I will never eat in this restaurant again

December 22, 2022

Very bad service poor service experienced ..don t prefer to go

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Best fish and chips Ive ever had anywhere. Cant wait to come back

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

It was like taking a step back into my childhood. This food was exceptional!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Finally I remembered to make a review! This place was incredible, we had the fried plantains, chicken soup, and double meat combo platter (jerk chicken, oxtail, and a bread I forget the name of). The jerk chicken was so moist and such incredible flavours! The oxtail was so tender and just!!! Bold and bright flavours in my mouth! I dipped the bread in the oxtail sauce and that experience changed me as a person (because it was so good). The owner himself even came to talk to us since my little sister wanted to Give the compliments to that chef and he was super nice! Same with our waitress! Really, just an awesome place, highly recommend. Next time we go were going to try some of the seafood! My sister rates it 10/10.

December 22, 2022

Very rude towards uber delivery drivers. Very bad.Shame on you.

★★
December 22, 2022

Just seems like every time I order something is missing...from the order being incorrect to the drink being forgotten. For the price I expect a little more diligence to ensure the customer is given what they have paid for especially since the wait was 7mins and I was the only in store customer at the time. Food is good but a double back for things missed is a no go with gas prices at such high prices like Im paying double for one dinner

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Wonderful!!! Delicious food and excellent service. I absolutely recommend and will definitely be going back next time I come to Kitchener.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Food was excellent but a little expensive in my opinion. The server could use a refresher course in hospitality.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

I finally made it there and it was great. I enjoyed the Curry Goat very flavorful. I also got the calamari It had a delicious breading. I dont recommend take out because the breading gets soggy. Next time I want to try the Prawn curry, Snapper, English style fish and chips, curry beef and much more my only complaint is that I didnt get to see Marks beautiful wife. Sorry, I forgot to take pictures of the food before I ate it.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

I live in the Caribbean and I be tasted the food. This place is better. The chef is a master. Service was excellent. Great atmosphere. Good vibes. The jerk chicken was amazing. The soup was authentic.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Chef Mark makes incredible food, and thats an understatement. It was great to be able to chat with him after our meal. Our server was excellent. Will be going here again and again and again! Images below depict the combo meal (curry goat, fried chicken and roti with a spicy slaw topped with plantain) and the red snapper (pan fried topped with pickled flavour cooked veg, accompanied with rice and peas, the spicy slaw and a lemon wedge for the fish). Note: the plantain is delicious, I caramelised and sweet, I would have this as a dessert and the portion is generous that you could share between 3-4 people) We took a lot of leftovers home!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Had dinner here recently for the first time, and enjoyed it very much. Simple but pleasant décor, and the staff was very friendly and attentive. Fried plantain starter was very tasty, a nice balance of sweet and savoury flavours. The fried chicken was delicious, very moist with a crunchy and lightly spiced coating. The portions were very generous (no room for dessert!), and the presentation on the plates was beautifully done. Chef Mark came to meet and talk to us afterwards, a very pleasant and humble man. I look forward to returning and trying some of the many other dishes.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Good food with reasonable prices. Jerk chicken particularly tasty

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Excellent! We had the jerk chicken and curried goat. Both were flavourful and good. Restaurant is located in a nice little downtown section of Kitchener.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Marks never fails to deliver delicious, unique and memorable dishes! We go for birthdays and special occasions and leave stuffed. The grilled shrimp is fantastic!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Absolutely delicious Caribbean food. I had the curried goat and my wife the jerk chicken. Sides were wonderful as well. Huge portions too. Atmosphere was friendly. Thoroughly recommend.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Great food! My family and I enjoyed.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

The food here is absolutely delicious!!! Highly recommend. Its a nice restaurant with amazing staff, very friendly. I will definitely be back again. I had the jerk chicken and rice and peas, nice portion sizes, reasonable prices but most of all the food speaks for itself. Go and get some now!!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Mmmmm. That is all you need to know.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

First time was there the best food I recommend to go try The Best Food

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Amazing, flavourful food! Staff was super friendly and the meal tasted authentic and delicious. Highly recommend, Mark knows what he s doing for sure

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

valid

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

BEST JERK CHICKEN I VE EVER HAD. Been to Jamaica, have eaten at countless Caribbean restaurants, and have lived in Toronto for over a decade. This place is THE best.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

We ate in and even though it was busy and they were down a server the service was quite fast. Food was very good and authentic. Not too salty but flavourful! My only complaint is that the roti was a bit chewy. Will be back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Great Jerk chicken!

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Excellent food and service, pleasant atmosphere :) Bravo!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Sooo good. The Dahl soup is my favourite. It is FULL of yummy spices!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Oxtail is a must try! Melts in your mouth. Rice n peas well seasoned.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Delicious authentic Caribbean food. Had goat curry and stewed oxtail. Meat was tender and gravey Delicious with the right amount of spice. Rice and peas were flavorful and coleslaw tasty. Very hot on the patio and the wasps were annoying unfortunately indoor seating was not open. Would have preferred to have been seated inside. Overall good experience and will be checking out other similar restaurants to see the comparisons.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Best decision ever to eat here! Every single thing ordered was spectacular. Plantain appetizer was great - jerk chicken was flavored with some secret ingredient that made it different from others Ive tried and it was delicious. The chicken curry was fall off the bone tender and so flavourful with sensation aromatics. Sad that I didnt do take out as we were travelling from Toronto. Definitely coming back!! Thanks Mark for greeting us from the kitchen - very classy!

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Amazing flavours and portions

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Best food great service

December 22, 2021

It appears that the lady at the counter is not interested for people to dine in. I understand the vaccination verification is mandatory, but she has taken it to a different level. I ordered food well in advance after my verification and was waiting for my wife to join me and my little one. I was served my portion and at the same moment my wife came in.. she showed her vaccination proof. Unfortunately she was not carrying her photo id (DL) but she showed her the credit card with her name on it and even the picture of her drivers license from the email which clearly had her photo and DOB. I just had one bite in my mouth when my wife entered but the lady was not courteous enough to understand the situation. She stood rigid and did not entertain us. Tried to show her that the vaccination proof email is also from govt and the credit card.. despite of the fact she created such a ruckus and fuss about this situation that we had to leave without eating. Cant comment on food quality as I gave it to a homeless person down the street because I already paid for it ... but the lady really did her best to spoil our lunch despite of the fact that we were vaccined already.. I believe in supporting local businesses but this kind of behavior was really disappointing. Spoiled our mood for the rest of the day. FOR SURE NEVER EVER GOING TO THIS RESTAURANT AS THEIR ATTITUDE REFLECTS THAT THESE GUYS ARE NOT INTERESTED FOR DINE INS BUT ONLY INTERESTED FOR TAKEOUTS. I WONT RECOMMEND DINE IN HERE... YOU WILL BE INVESTIGAED IN A WAY THAT YOU ARE A CRIMINAL.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Amazing food and service! We love coming here when were in town. Definitely recommend for anyone looking for authentic quality food!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Delicious food and lovely, welcoming staff. We particularly enjoy their jerk chicken, chicken curry, channa curry, rice and peas, fried plantain, roti, and coleslaw. Order extra and plan for leftovers. They reheat beautifully.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

This is a late review, but I came here a month back. Probably the best jerk chicken I had in days. Mark recommended the lobster the next time, and Im pretty sure next time is right around the corner.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Amazing food, fantastic people!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Delicious food and good portion sizes.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Mark s a buddy of mine and I love how he runs his restaurant. Wait staff are polite and attentive, his restaurant is clean and of course the food is yummy yummy! We held a surprise 60th birthday party there and they made sure we were treated right.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Great food, friendly service and very generous portion sizes. Especially loves the cabbage slaw i got with my meal. Will be back again to try more.