Mike’s Caribbean Food Review: Jamaican Food At A Hawker Stall In Simpang Bedok

Food at Mike’s Caribbean Food If you’ve never tasted the dishes from this Caribbean island, owner Michael Francis, or Mike, states to expect “something delicious, something spicy”. The first dish I tried was Jerk Chicken ($10) , which features the meat marinated in traditional Jamaican herbs and spices, including the famous scotch bonnet pepper.

This Caribbean staple is usually served with meat and I found it really delicious with the fragrance of thyme. The chicken tasted like spicy barbeque chicken, but not as spicy as Jamaican food is famed to be. Next was a portion of Curry Goat ($8) , which was a true test of my noob tolerance for spicy food.

The spicy curry was thick and flavourful, featuring chunks of meat with cubes of carrot and potato. Since it was goat meat, it was not as tender as I would have liked it to be, say in lamb stew or curry.

Escovitch Fish ($8 to $20, depending on size) is a dish where fried fish is topped with a spicy, vinegar-based sauce and onions. Here, the fish is served whole with a bowl of Rice and Peas on the side. According to Mike, this can be non-spicy, but I felt that would defeat the whole purpose of having it, so I tried it the way it was intended to be!

The meat was tender and not tough despite being fried, but it could be crispier to give that oomph . The piping hot bun was perfect for mopping up the gravy of the curry and taking away some of the spiciness from the dishes.

Fried Plantain ($3) is a delicious dessert to end the spicy meal with, though I felt the portion was a little small – I wanted more! Owner of Mike’s Caribbean Food Mike is a jovial guy who is always happy to chat and tell you more about Jamaican food, and remind you to add some hot sauce to your food.

Following the encouragement of his friends and realising the lack of Caribbean cuisine in Singapore, he decided to set up shop here at the start of this year. Ambience at Mike’s Caribbean Food With Louisiana-inspired seafood, chirashi don, and wagyu don, this hipster hawker centre is a great chillout spot for dinner with friends. It allows you to have the variety of a hawker centre but in a more comfortable environment.

I loved the taste bombs in the food, but I feel $10 is a tad pricey for chicken and rice, given that I can get a classic plate of chicken rice at less than half the quotation. For those who love spicy food and don’t mind paying more at a hawker centre, pop by Mike’s Caribbean Food to try something new!