Reggae Hut

Reggae Hut feels immune from life’s daily hustle and bustle. Jewel-tone murals dedicated to Jamaica cover the walls. Huge windows let in the sun and give the entire place a natural glow. Lazy ceiling fans spin like they’ve got all the time in the world.

Reggae Hut—the Third Ward spot that’s been making staple Caribbean meals for over 25 years—isn’t in a rush. The entire place feels as though it was made for you to stay awhile. And while they do a brisk takeout business, we’d rather sit in the lived-in wooden chairs while laid-back reggae plays in the background. Because the food here, including some of the best oxtail we’ve ever had in Houston, is just as relaxed and comforting. 

photo credit: Richard Casteel

There are dishes like a smoky jerk chicken with a kick you can feel, but not so much that you’re sweating scotch bonnet. The braised oxtail is so tender you could eat it with just a spoon, and it comes with plenty of gravy, making for a rich and decadent meal. You should add an order of the coco bread, just so that you don’t leave any of this very delicious gravy behind. And while plantains don’t come with the main dishes, they’re soft, caramelized, and absolutely worth getting. Then there are the beef patties— a golden, flaky delight. This is the kind of food that makes you exhale, that makes you happy to be in the moment.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

photo credit: Richard Casteel

photo credit: Richard Casteel

At any time of day, Reggae Hut is a cheerful escape. It’s got a plush couch, food that's even plusher, and a staff that encourages you to take your time. This isn’t the kind of place that you and 12 of your closest friends go before a bar crawl, but you can come here for a great lunch or dinner that’ll leave you grooving in your chair, singing along to Sister Nancy. We have no idea how this place isn’t always packed, but that means you can stroll right in any time, day or night, for a comfortable meal that always wows.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Beef Patties

If you’re going to get an appetizer at Reggae Hut, this is the one. The staff will probably recommend getting coco bread to make a sandwich out of your patty, but we prefer our coco bread a bit sweeter, and usually get the patties on their own.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Plantain

Plantains are one of the first indications of how the rest of your meal will go. The ones here are caramelized and have the perfect balance of crispy edges and a tender center.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Oxtail

The oxtail here is tender, sweet, and has a peppery kick. Other places sometimes skimp a little on the gravy and you have to ask for more. But at Reggae Hut, the oxtail always comes swimming in a generous pool of rich, meaty gravy.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Jerk Chicken

This jerk chicken gives a dose of scotch bonnet heat while still being sweet and smoky. It’s one of the milder variations of jerk chicken we’ve had, but it’s still delicious, and they have an arsenal of pepper sauce on hand if you need more spice. It comes with a glorious mound of rice and peas.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Curry Goat

The lovely fragrant dish is steeped in a warm and spicy curry with pillow-soft carrots and potatoes. It’s best eaten over white rice with a side of steamed cabbage.

Drinks

Reggae Hut has plenty of classic Caribbean sodas and house-made drinks to accompany your meal. Their tangy, sweet house-made sorrel tea is refreshing, and a great way to cool down if you got a little heavy-handed with the pepper sauce.