Yuk! Â I should have heed the warnings...this is the worst jerk chicken I've ever tasted. Â Poor westside, can't get quality "jerk" crusine...like in the southside of Chicago. Â First my wings came from a baby chick! Â There was no jerk seasoning to be found on the lil chicky & did I say the wings were the size of a premature chicken??? Â Maxine's food does not taste at all like authentic caribbean/jamaican food.
Review Source:I was driving out to River Forest along Madison, and saw Maxine's on the left side of the street. Now, I recently went to Jamaica for my honeymoon, where I became addicted to jerk chicken. I've tried numerous times to find a place that offered high quality, authentic jerk chicken in Chicago, but nothing ever compared to the real thing.
Anyways, once I saw the sign for Maxine's, I knew I had to try it. So, I Googled it, looked at the menu and other reviews, and made my mind very quickly - I will stop at Maxine's on the way home. I was in the car with my wife and my buddy, and they were a little hesitant to actually stop in (I mean, it's not the most savory neighborhood, and we were the only white people anywhere near the restaurant). But being the foodie that I am, there was no way I wasn't going to stop.
I parked the car, walked into Maxine's, and it totally blew me out of the water. The staff was incredibly nice and welcoming (really reminded me of the folks I met out in Jamaica), and talked to us the whole time. They had some great suggestions (like getting the XL tips instead of the Large tips) - now I have leftovers.
And the food. The food was excellent. Exactly how I remember it tasting on the islands. The chicken was ultra tender, and the spices and sauce had just enough heat to warrant a drink (oh, and they have TING!). All in all, it's  a great place, and I can't wait to order some catering from here too. Don't let your fear of the neighborhood prevent you from stopping here. It's definitely worth it.
Me and my co-workers went to Maxine's today for the first time for the $2.99 lunch special. We all agree that the food was good and we would return. I thought the red beans and rice were excellent even though I usually only eat red beans and rice at Popeyes. We definitely will try this restaurant again.
Review Source:LOVEDDD THIS PLACE! ... the cashier was very attentive and friendly she told me about the daily special which was 2 pieces of chicken + rice and beans for 2.99 yes! 2.99 Â .. not only was this food inexpensive IT WAS DELICIOUS AND SPICY ! YUMM!
Me and my classmate were given a little sample of their jerk chicken tips while we were waiting and it was also deliciouss! Â definately will come back for more before my semester ends!.
A few months ago at a baby shower, Jamaican Jerk (JJ) was the caterer of choice and boy oh boy was that food (jerk chicken, plaintains, cabbage, rice/beans) DE LI CIOUS; some of the best I have had and I have partaked in a lot being an island girl and having eaten at various Jamaican cuisine joints in the Chicagoland area.
Anyway, flash forward to tonite and what a major disappointment because I drove thru the pouring rain, all the way to the southside for some JJ (8216 S Kedzie) and the place was cl o s e d :( Â UGGGH! Â I sat in the car gazing at the place and finally asked a guy who was headed to the lounge next door to JJ's, if he knew what was going on with JJ cause it's 10pm at nite and it's kind of early to be closed. Â He stated that JJ was probably closed because it was raining. Â HUH? Â Anyway, he asked where I lived and mentioned that there was a Maxine's on Madison near Cicero. Â WHAT?! Â I live further north but had not heard this news! Â I have eaten Maxine's for years at numerous summer festivals.... I arrived at the location about 10:30pm and when I pulled up "the cook, food preparer, guy on a cellphone" was outside on a cellphone. Â My antenna immediately went up as he headed inside before I made it in. I asked for a menu, he gave it to me, I said, "Thank You", he said, "You're Welcome and I hurried to my G and jetted....didn't wait around to see if the cook, food preparer, guy on a cellphone was going to wash his hands FIRST before preparing my food.
I don't know (shaking my head), I don't think I will give this location another try because.....YOU NEVER GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION. Â And my first impression was, EEK! Â Methinks not.&!
It was a stormy spring night. The wind was blowing over trashcans, and small children, streetlights flickered in time to the gusts pushing through my thin jacket.
"this is never gonna work" I thought to myself as I walked to the car.
traffic was slow, as if the rain was something they had never driven in before. I was impatient. Â
"it's around here somewhere...i hope they're not out of business..."
We took Homan to Lake, the Jerk Shop was gated closed...
"great...now what?"
well, there's that place on Madison somewhere...we can try to find it...it has a big yellow and green sign...i think its in K-Town... So we drove, making our way through the scarred streets of the west-side, past liquor stores, dollar stores, storefront churches, people hangin on the corner...Kedvale...Kildare...Lamon...
Where is it? come on.....we need some Jamacian food to warm the soul...
"I'm turning at Cicero...the place is gone."
"Turn right! It's right there! turn into the lot! Park! here it is!!!!"
He gleefully yells...
Inside of Maxine': Its kinda boring. Its a counter, with one guy working, slowly putting together Styrofoam containers of Jamaican food. To your left is a gate, behind the gate, a sleeping man...
The food was good. The rice and peas and cabbage came with yams, and were great. the curry chicken had good flavor, and the jerk was also good, tough not that spicy...
if you like Mr. Brown's, you should really try Maxine's. I say go there once, get the menu, and next time, order ahead for pick-up.
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