Best Cravings: Jamaican Gates – Roseland

Chicago is home to many iconic restaurants and food staples, and Roseland is no different. You might not find these hidden gems trending online as destinations for tourists—you just have to be in the neighborhood to know. One of the spots I love the most is Jamaican Gates, on Halsted. They have the best Caribbean food I’ve had in all of Chicago. Jamaican Gates is a local, family-owned restaurant that has been serving the community for over twenty years. That longevity just confirms how good the food is—I hope they continue for another twenty years and beyond. When you have a taste for a savory home-cooked meal but don’t feel like cooking, this is where you go. 

If you’re from Chicago, you know our lives and experiences can differ based on our view of the Sears Tower (which is the correct way to pronounce “Willis Tower”) or the lack thereof. Imagine living so far south that you can’t even see it from any spot in your neighborhood. People rarely come through neighborhoods like Roseland that are so far from downtown. It’s like we exist on the edges, unseen, with our own hidden treasures that outsiders miss. Jamaican Gates is one of those treasures. 

Don’t wait until the last minute to come and check it out for yourself because some days they do sell out close to closing, and there’s nothing worse than hearing that “we are out of chicken.” Nothing else can satisfy that craving, and I would rather “eat sleep” for dinner than eat something else. The chicken is juicy and seasoned to perfection with spices that add flavor and not just heat. The cabbage has layers of flavors that coat your taste buds in an instant. They give you a filling amount of rice and peas, but you’ll still be wanting more, I promise you. Get extra gravy if you want because why not? The more flavor, the better.

This far south, people might not see our homes, our streets, or our everyday lives, but they don’t know what they’re missing. Hidden gems like Jamaican Gates—with its perfectly cooked plantains adding a nice hint of sweetness to a meal full of savory, delicious flavors—are part of what makes this area special. It’s the kind of food that makes you want to call in an order just thinking about it. Oh, yeah, be sure to call it in because real food takes time to be prepared, and you won’t ever be the only person craving Jamaican Gates no matter the time of day. 

This restaurant has a taste you will never forget, so I apologize in advance for your three-times-a-week cravings. If I have to go through it, you do too! Usually, I’d gatekeep such a great spot to try and keep wait times down, but either way, I’ll be there, and hopefully, you will be too. Remember, just because you can’t see the Sears Tower from here doesn’t mean there aren’t things worth seeing or tasting in this part of the city.

Jamaican Gates, 10226 S. Halsted. Monday–Saturday, 11am–8pm; Sundays, 11am–7pm. (773) 779-1708