Caribbean Restaurant in Memphis

June 15, 2026

A Caribbean restaurant in Memphis brings island cooking to a city better known for barbecue and soul food, offering jerk chicken charred over heat, oxtail braised in rich gravy, curry goat, and fried plantains prepared by cooks rooted in Jamaican and broader Caribbean traditions. Memphis is Tennessee’s second-largest city, with a population of roughly 619,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and over the past several years its Caribbean dining scene has grown from food trucks and roadside stands into full-service restaurants and bars. For diners seeking island flavors, the city now offers options spread from Midtown and Downtown to the southeast suburbs.

Caribbean cooking in Memphis is led by Jamaican kitchens, with menus built on jerk seasoning, brown stew, curry goat, oxtail, red snapper, rice and peas, beef patties, and festival bread, and at least one local spot folds in Panamanian dishes alongside its Jamaican plates. Many of the city’s Caribbean businesses followed the same arc, beginning as a stand or food truck before opening a brick-and-mortar dining room, and several still offer takeout and catering in addition to dine-in service. The owners often point to family recipes and ingredients sourced from the islands, and the recent opening of full-service Jamaican restaurants and bars has given Memphis a deeper set of sit-down options than it had a few years ago.

Caribbean restaurants in Memphis operate under Tennessee’s food-service rules. Each must hold a food-service establishment permit issued under the Tennessee Department of Health framework and administered locally by the Shelby County Health Department, which inspects kitchens for food safety before issuing a permit and on a recurring basis afterward. State law sets the annual permit fee by seating capacity, at $210 for establishments with 50 seats or fewer and $360 for those with 51 or more, and the permit year runs from July 1 to June 30. At least one person on staff must complete a Department of Health approved food safety training course. A restaurant that serves liquor, wine, or high-gravity beer for on-premises consumption also needs a Liquor-by-the-Drink license from the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), and those sales carry the state’s 15% liquor-by-the-drink tax.

Prepared food sold by a restaurant is taxed at the full combined sales-tax rate rather than the reduced grocery rate, which in Shelby County reaches roughly 9.75% (7% state plus the local option). The rate is the same whether a diner orders dine-in, takeout, or catering. Tennessee’s consumer protection framework, administered by the Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), handles complaints about deceptive business practices, while food-safety concerns such as suspected foodborne illness or sanitation problems are reported to the Shelby County Health Department. Reviewing a restaurant’s current health-inspection score, posted by the county health department, is a sensible step before a first visit.

Top Caribbean Restaurant Providers in Memphis

1. Curry N Jerk

Address: 150 Monroe Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: (901) 480-8381
Website: https://currynjerk.com
Services: dine-in, takeout, catering (Healthy Hearts Catering), Caribbean entrees, desserts
Description: Curry N Jerk is a Downtown Memphis Caribbean restaurant that blends Jamaican and Panamanian cooking on a single menu. Signature dishes include jerk chicken, oxtail, curry goat, plantains, beef patties, and shrimp preparations, along with a Panamanian chicken pasta and traditional sides such as rice and peas. The kitchen also turns out Caribbean-style desserts including rum cake and bread pudding. Curry N Jerk operates as a dine-in and takeout restaurant and runs a separate catering division branded Healthy Hearts Catering for events. The business also operates the 507 Lux Lounge, a bar venue with themed entertainment nights, and has announced a food-truck collaboration. Its Monroe Avenue location places it in the heart of Downtown, convenient for the central business district.

2. Gully’s Grill

Address: 5996 Knight Arnold Road, Memphis, TN 38115
Phone: (901) 220-2621
Website: https://www.gullysgrill.com
Services: dine-in, curbside pickup, catering, reserved booths
Description: Gully’s Grill is a Jamaican restaurant in southeast Memphis whose owner began selling food on the side of the road in East Memphis in 2015, inspired by his mother’s dream of opening a Jamaican restaurant. The operation moved to a food truck in 2019, named after the dancehall artist Mavado, and grew into a brick-and-mortar restaurant, Gully’s Jerk Hut, in 2024. The menu features jerk chicken, oxtail, and other Jamaican plates, along with house-made pineapple ginger juice. The restaurant offers dine-in, curbside pickup with a short wait, catering, and reserved booth space, and its Knight Arnold Road location serves the southeastern part of the city. The journey from roadside cooking to a food truck to a dining room reflects a path common among the city’s Caribbean operators.

3. Jamrack Restaurant & Bar

Address: 150 North Avalon Street, Memphis, TN 38104
Phone: (901) 652-1587
Website: https://jamrackmem.com
Services: dine-in (indoor and outdoor seating), takeout, full bar, happy hour
Description: Jamrack Restaurant & Bar is a Midtown Memphis Jamaican restaurant that opened on May 1, 2024, and bills itself as the city’s first full-service Jamaican restaurant. Owned by Damion Lumsden and described as a sister company to the Memphis restaurant Evelyn and Olive, Jamrack is a family-owned operation that says its recipes have been passed down through generations and uses ingredients sourced from Jamaica. The menu spans jerk preparations of chicken, shrimp, and salmon, along with oxtail stew, curry goat, fried red snapper, patties, plantains, and rice and peas. The restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating, takeout, and full bar service with cocktails and a happy hour, giving Midtown a sit-down Caribbean option with a relaxed island setting on North Avalon Street.

Frequently Asked Questions About Caribbean Restaurant in Memphis

Q: What kind of food does a Caribbean restaurant in Memphis serve?

Caribbean restaurants in Memphis are led by Jamaican menus, built around jerk chicken, oxtail, curry goat, brown stew, red snapper, rice and peas, beef patties, and festival bread. At least one local kitchen pairs Jamaican plates with Panamanian dishes, and most spots serve fried plantains and house-made juices. Some restaurants also offer Caribbean desserts such as rum cake and bread pudding.

Q: Do Caribbean restaurants in Memphis need a health permit?

Yes. Every restaurant in Memphis must hold a food-service establishment permit administered by the Shelby County Health Department under the Tennessee Department of Health framework. The state sets the annual fee by seating capacity, $210 for 50 seats or fewer and $360 for 51 or more, and the permit year runs July 1 to June 30. Kitchens are inspected before a permit is issued and on a recurring basis, and at least one staff member must complete an approved food safety training course.

Q: How much is sales tax on a Caribbean restaurant meal in Memphis?

Prepared food sold by a restaurant is taxed at the full combined rate, not the reduced grocery rate. In Shelby County that combined rate is roughly 9.75%, which is the 7% state sales tax plus the local option tax. The rate applies the same to dine-in and takeout prepared plates.

Q: Can a Caribbean restaurant in Memphis serve rum cocktails or Red Stripe?

A restaurant that wants to serve liquor, wine, or high-gravity beer for on-premises consumption needs a Liquor-by-the-Drink license from the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Those sales carry a 15% liquor-by-the-drink tax in addition to regular sales tax. A full-service spot such as a Caribbean restaurant and bar will hold that license, while smaller takeout-focused kitchens often serve house-made juices and ginger drinks instead.

Q: Are there food-truck Caribbean options in Memphis?

Yes. Several Memphis Caribbean businesses started as roadside stands or food trucks before opening dining rooms, and food trucks remain part of the scene. A food truck must hold the same Department of Health food-service permit as a brick-and-mortar kitchen and pass inspection. Because trucks move, checking the current location and hours on the operator’s website or social media before going is the best approach.

Q: How can I check a Memphis restaurant’s health-inspection score or file a complaint?

Health-inspection scores for Memphis restaurants are issued by the Shelby County Health Department, which also takes reports of sanitation problems or suspected foodborne illness. Complaints about deceptive business practices, such as billing disputes, can be filed with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). Keeping receipts and notes about the visit helps support any complaint.