Tropical Joe’s - Toronto, Ontario

One of the best value places in Toronto. Their jerk chicken poutine is what they are known for and it is affordable and delicious. I also enjoy getting the curry goat meals which are well portioned. This place is a Scarborough institution!

Ordered a large poutine after seeing it plenty of times on my social media feed. Food definitely looks better than it tastes. The chicken and gravy are passable, while the fries are flavourless and low quality. Wasn't terrible but definitely not something i'd order again.

I tried several poutines around Toronto and none of them were as good as this. The fries were not hard and stalky. The flavors of the gravy, cheese and jerk chicken were amazing. I got the small poutine for just $5. The Oxtails shocked me!!! The best I have ate ... so far and a good portion for a medium. The oxtail has the sweet flavor and falls off the bone. I live in the USA and would drive the 8 hours just to have their food again. Read more

Tried this place out because it's been so highly talked about, especially for their jerk chicken poutine. Got a large spicy poutine; the flavour of the gravy is good and the fries are crispy, but everything else is lacking a bit. I will say the prices are decent but you ... do not get a good amount or quality of meat. As well, the cheese is not the hoped for cheese curds. Overall: 3/5 Read more

Having read and heard word of mouth reviews of this place I went to check it out. First impression was that pricing is less than most stand alone shops offering Jamaican inspired food. I ordered three dishes: their jerk chicken poutine, oxtail on rice and peas, jerk chicken on rice and ... peas. First thoughts when trying all three was that the food is more an "American" take on Jamaican food. The sauce/gravy used in the meals is more akin to American beef gravy vs. Oxtail or stew chicken gravy used in more traditional shops in Scarborough. All dishes were a bit heavy on the gravy. I would certainly ask for half the amount they put. The rice is more of a sweet soy sauce rice with kidney beans. It doesn't have the coconut, thyme or pepper flavour of "rice and peas". The poutine that most raved about was not my favourite. It was an abundant amount, but it lacked the depth of flavour that one would expect in something labeled "jerk". I think the popular reviews of the poutine come from those that grew up eating this at lunch or after school and to them it brings a sort of nostalgia of their younger years. Its cheap and filling enough that students on a budget can buy and share. I would pass if you're looking for the best jerk chicken poutine in Scarborough. The jerk chicken meal was also missing that depth of flavour of authentic jerk. It did not come with any side; coleslaw, pickled veggies or salad that helps balance this type of meal. But like the poutine there is value for money in that it is a lot of food at a price you pay. The better of the three is the oxtail. Although it was also a bit heavy on the gravy, the rich, tender flavour of the oxtail meat makes this dish. At $13.99 for a medium which is as big as a large oxtail in most places, this is a bargain. Most places charge at least $18 for oxtail meal of this size. While it's not the best oxtail meal I've tried, it certainly hits the spot without hitting your wallet. Overall staff was very friendly. I would come back to order the oxtail if I was craving it and was on a budget. It's a place to get full on a budget. The line of students ordering from this place reinforces this thought. Read more