Craving a journey off the beaten path? Backroad Bites uncovers the unsung heroes of local cuisine—mom-and-pop diners, hidden food trucks, and beloved neighborhood spots where flavor tells the story of a place. We celebrate the dishes, traditions, and passionate people that make each community unique. So buckle up and join us on a delicious detour—because the best meals aren’t always found on the main drag.
I Can’t Stop Thinking About This Strip Mall Jamaican Joint in San Antonio
This tiny, locally-owned joint serves some of the Alamo City's best Caribbean food.
How much do I love San Antonio? Let me count the ways. This wonderful city boasts a perfect marriage of history, modernity, culture, and nature. It’s also walkable and has very friendly locals. But perhaps more importantly, it offers some of the best food in the United States.
Blessed with a diverse population, San Antonio is home to numerous restaurants that serve a variety of flavors from around the world. On a trip to the city last year, I made sure to spend as much time as possible trying different cuisines. Many of the places I liked the most represented the Alamo City’s signature foods: the iconic Los Barrios for Tex-Mex, Four Brothers’ Southern Provisions for historically accurate chili, and Two Bros for good ol’ Texas BBQ. Yet the most surprising find might’ve been The Jerk Shack, a Jamaican-inspired strip mall joint.
Chef Nicola Blaque (whose real name is Lattoia Massey) opened up an actual jerk shack in 2018. The hole-in-the-wall spot quickly developed a cult following with its impossibly tender jerk chicken. Now moved to a much larger space at a strip mall on the West Side, the restaurant continues to deliver some of San Antonio’s tastiest bites.
It’s not just me who thinks so. The Michelin Guide has added this place to its Bib Gourmand list, which highlights visit-worthy, affordable eats. Chef Blaque was also a semifinalist in 2023 for the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Texas. Despite the recognition, The Jerk Shack keeps its portions generous and its prices low — everything on the menu is under $40.
The jerk chicken is, of course, unmissable. For just $28, you’ll get a nine-piece jerk with one of the most tender meats I have ever tasted. Grilled to perfection, the chicken quite literally fell apart as soon as I touched it with my reusable plastic fork. I didn’t even have to use a knife or apply any force at all. Jamaican herbs and spices give the meat so much heat and flavor that I had to stop for a second to take it all in and enjoy it to the fullest.
Since I’d gotten a smaller portion of the jerk chicken, I decided to complement my meal with three chopped jerk pork tacos. The delicious Mexican-style tortillas (meaning they were smaller than the typical Tex-Mex ones) came with avocado creme and pineapple pico. Even though the tacos had to follow an incredibly strong first act, they managed to shine thanks to the unusual combination of Mexican and Jamaican flavors. This dish is a perfect example of the power of fusion and the magic that is created when different cultures come together.
Other stand-out dishes include the fried green tomatoes with jerk ranch, the chopped sandwich with pineapple slaw and jerk BBQ, and the coconut milk curry chicken. There are also daily specials like the Tuesday rasta pasta (creamy Alfredo sauce with jerk chicken or shrimp), and the weekend oxtail plate served with cabbage and carrots, rice and peas, and plantains.
While I look forward to going back to San Antonio to hang out at the River Walk, revisit the Museum of Art, and bike along the incredible Missions National Historic Park, I’m just as excited to head back to the Jerk Shack and try more of Chef Blaque’s incredible Jamaican-inspired creations.
Craving more delicious food finds? Try planning your own trip using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.
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