Tru Jamaica (food truck)

1400 S 5th St, Waco
(254) 304-9288

Recent Reviews

Tippie

:-( Disappointing Experience at "Tru Jamaica" Food Truck: A Far Cry From HomeAs a Jamaican native craving a taste of home, I eagerly anticipated the arrival of the "Tru Jamaica" food truck in my apartment complex. Sadly, my experience left me deeply disappointed, and I feel compelled to share my honest and unfavorable review.Let's start with the red snapper and oxtail, two dishes that should be bursting with flavor and cooked to perfection. However, what I received was a lackluster rendition of these Jamaican classics. The red snapper was clearly undercooked and lacked the desired tenderness and moisture. Similarly, the oxtail was far from the succulent, fall-off-the-bone goodness I expected. It seemed rushed and lacked the proper seasoning that defines these dishes.To my dismay, the rice and peas were overseasoned, leaving an overpowering taste that overshadowed any hint of authenticity. As a Jamaican, I can confidently say that this was not the rice and peas I grew up with. It felt like an attempt to cater to non-Jamaican palates rather than staying true to our cultural heritage. Perhaps "False Jamaica" would be a more fitting name for this establishment.Moreover, the portion sizes did not justify the exorbitant prices. The servings were disappointingly small, leaving me feeling unsatisfied and questioning the value for my hard-earned money. To make matters worse, instead of offering a more traditional and cost-effective cabbage side, they opted for a measly scoop of coleslaw. In Jamaica, coleslaw is not a common side dish, and it felt like a cheap shortcut rather than an authentic accompaniment.Lastly, presentation matters. When you opt for a three-compartment container, customers expect each section to be filled with food. It was disheartening to receive a container where one side was blatantly empty, leaving an unpleasant visual and further diminishing the perceived value for money.As someone who operates a successful and thriving small business myself, I implore "Tru Jamaica" to heed my advice and step up their game. Authenticity, quality, and fair pricing are key ingredients to building a loyal customer base. By failing to deliver on these fronts, they are doing a disservice not only to Jamaican cuisine but also to those who seek a genuine taste of our culture.In conclusion, I regret to say that my experience at "Tru Jamaica" left me yearning for the flavors of home and deeply disappointed in the false narrative they portray. Until significant improvements are made, I cannot recommend this food truck to anyone seeking an authentic Jamaican culinary experience. If the owner would like to reach out to me for some assistance I would love to help you come up with a plan to make for a better experience with future customers.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 1

Service: 5

Beatrice Robinson

:-( Disappointing Experience at "Tru Jamaica" Food Truck: A Far Cry From HomeAs a Jamaican native craving a taste of home, I eagerly anticipated the arrival of the "Tru Jamaica" food truck in my apartment complex. Sadly, my experience left me deeply disappointed, and I feel compelled to share my honest and unfavorable review.Let's start with the red snapper and oxtail, two dishes that should be bursting with flavor and cooked to perfection. However, what I received was a lackluster rendition of these Jamaican classics. The red snapper was clearly undercooked and lacked the desired tenderness and moisture. Similarly, the oxtail was far from the succulent, fall-off-the-bone goodness I expected. It seemed rushed and lacked the proper seasoning that defines these dishes.To my dismay, the rice and peas were overseasoned, leaving an overpowering taste that overshadowed any hint of authenticity. As a Jamaican, I can confidently say that this was not the rice and peas I grew up with. It felt like an attempt to cater to non-Jamaican palates rather than staying true to our cultural heritage. Perhaps "False Jamaica" would be a more fitting name for this establishment.Moreover, the portion sizes did not justify the exorbitant prices. The servings were disappointingly small, leaving me feeling unsatisfied and questioning the value for my hard-earned money. To make matters worse, instead of offering a more traditional and cost-effective cabbage side, they opted for a measly scoop of coleslaw. In Jamaica, coleslaw is not a common side dish, and it felt like a cheap shortcut rather than an authentic accompaniment.Lastly, presentation matters. When you opt for a three-compartment container, customers expect each section to be filled with food. It was disheartening to receive a container where one side was blatantly empty, leaving an unpleasant visual and further diminishing the perceived value for money.As someone who operates a successful and thriving small business myself, I implore "Tru Jamaica" to heed my advice and step up their game. Authenticity, quality, and fair pricing are key ingredients to building a loyal customer base. By failing to deliver on these fronts, they are doing a disservice not only to Jamaican cuisine but also to those who seek a genuine taste of our culture.In conclusion, I regret to say that my experience at "Tru Jamaica" left me yearning for the flavors of home and deeply disappointed in the false narrative they portray. Until significant improvements are made, I cannot recommend this food truck to anyone seeking an authentic Jamaican culinary experience. If the owner would like to reach out to me for some assistance I would love to help you come up with a plan to make for a better experience with future customers.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 1

Service: 5

Marcus Haner

Curry goat!!! The best!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Taylor Holmes

I had the oxtail and the patty with beef, so yummy!! Definitely will get again

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

MARIAN CHILSUN

Seems like they don't want to do business. Hung up on me everytime I call!

turbotrevor

Absolutely great! Unique taste mixing Jamaican with Texas barbecue. Every part of the meal was fantastic. Even if you aren't familiar with Jamaican / Caribbean food, this is a great option. They are currently only on Baylor campus in a food truck.

Alessandra T.

Order takeout from Tru Jamaica and it was AMAZING. I got a bit of everything - beef patties, Rasta pasta, veggies, curried chicken and jerk chicken. Everything was delicious. The chicken fell right off the bone. The flavor was AMAZING. When I return to Waco, I will for sure be coming back.

Dre V.

My husband so excited to try this place so we stopped on our way to Austin. I wish we didn't. The customer service was good, but they need to hire more front staff. The guy taking orders was also the host, waiter, bartender, and whatever else. He did keep his cool though. Nice guy. I had the beef patty and curry goat plate. The beef patty was ok. The curry goat was meh. DESPERATELY NEEDED SALT! SALT! SALT!!!! SALT!! I was like wth is this?! How can the goat be seasoned but no salt?! It was terrible!!! I don't even remember how the cabbage tasted because I was so mad that we actually paid for that awful meal! My husband had the jerk chicken and that needed.......SALT!! Please salt your food. Please taste your food before serving it! Jamaican food should not be bland! Tru Jamaica is false!

Tori S.

A gem! The food is so delicious. The customer service was incredible, genuine and so refreshing. They took time to explain the menu and traditions of the Jamaican cuisine. They checked on us several times to make sure everything was to our liking and refilled our drinks. I was visiting from Wisconsin and would come back just to go to this restaurant.

Tmutzig

Stumbled in to this restaurant on the recommendation of our VRBO host. We were greeted by the owner and immediately felt genuinely welcome. She explained the menu and guided us with recommendations. Everything was superb! The jerk chicken was moist and oh so favorable! The carrot cake was next level! Thank you for a great meal! We will definitely return!

katbI4660NR

Some friends recommended this place, so a friend and I ate here for the first time, today. I ordered the Jerk Chicken plate and it tasted delicious!! The owner is a very nice lady. I'll be going again soon!!

Joshua D.

I love Tru Jamaica one of the best restaurants in Waco. I lost count of how many times I've been back here

Brandy N.

Amazing food. Will definitely visit again. Not too spicy. Authentic flavors. Highly recommended.

Jessica H.

Came down to Waco for the day and was starving. I love Jamaican food but it's hard to find good places around Texas. Tru Jamaica is not one of those places. The food is delicious, the service was outstanding and I ate until the plate was empty. The owner came over and we had a great conversation. The jerk chicken was on point and the plantains were sweet and perfectly cooked. I am definitely coming back here on my next trip down to Waco. I suggest you do too if Jamaican cuisine is your thing.

355lala

I had never had Jamaican food so I was super excited to try something new and now I'm hooked! The flavors were amazing. Aniceto, one of the owners, was extremely kind, hospitable and professional. I can't wait to go back :)

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