A Michelin Guide-listed Jamaican restaurant that takes island cooking seriously without losing its soul. Chef Angela Lawrence's jerk chicken, curry goat, and rum bread pudding deliver the kind of warmth that makes this one of the most beloved rooms in Toronto.
Neighbourhood: King West (Portland St) · Address: 104 Portland St, Toronto, ON M5V 2N2 · Hours: Mon–Thu 11:30AM–10PM | Fri–Sat 11:30AM–11PM | Sun 11AM–9PM · Price Range: $$$ · Phone: (416) 203-4034 · Website: https://chubbysjamaican.com · Editorial status: Not yet verified
If you pine for true Jamaican flavours—juicy jerk with smoky-sweet heat, deeply spiced stews, and cocktails built for a proper lime—Chubby’s delivers with unapologetic flair. The kitchen doesn’t dumb things down, and the space genuinely feels like a celebration.
Few Toronto restaurants go all-in on Jamaican food with this much consistency and polish—there’s real fire and soul in Chef Angela’s plates, but the cocktails and warm service give it destination energy. It’s rare to find jerk this expressive outside Scarborough, especially downtown. The crowd is also refreshingly diverse for King West.
Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen is an unmistakably King West favourite—a feel-good, modern space with colourfully tiled walls and greenery that feels like a warm-up for a Caribbean trip. Chef Angela Lawrence runs a tight kitchen that’s equally respectful of tradition (killer curry goat, allspice-heavy jerk grilled over charcoal) and playful updates (the jerk burger actually slaps). Service is friendly, music’s lively, and you’ll spot both date nights and raucous friend groups feasting on festival and plantain fritters. Reservations are highly recommended; it’s buzzy, busy, and so worth planning ahead for.
Reservations are strongly recommended, especially on weekends; walk-ins usually face a wait.
The jerk chicken—smoky, juicy, and just spicy enough. (Follow up with the rum & raisin bread pudding for dessert.)
Great for groups up to 8. The space gets loud and fun—book ahead if you want a big table.
Most mains are $22–$35; cocktails run $14–$18. Definitely a treat, but not outrageous for King West.
WTF Toronto creates guides using independent editorial research, official sources, local knowledge and firsthand experience where available. Commercial relationships are disclosed where applicable.