Jam Duong is a way locals refer to Jamaica, and this place on N. Capitol Street has been a fixture for the Jamaican community in DC for a long time now. People really packed the place at lunchtime, almost all carryout. There are a few tables plus a counter. “When are you going Jam Duong” was a typical conversation topic I overheard.
I was really surprised with how nice it is inside. I already went in with a pro tip for the goat curry, so that was the first thing I ordered. I also got six jerk wings, a beef patty, and some homemade passion fruit mango juice.
Be careful with portion sizes here. Although the small goat curry is indeed put in a small container, they defy the laws of physics and manage to fit in two dinners full of the curry, rice and peas, and cabbage. Prices are not low, but you can feed a couple of people with a small curry here.
The curry was completely sensational. No chef anywhere could create a more complex sauce. This is world class eating. It was a luxurious tasting stew.
The jerk wings are nice. And quite spicy. Although they do use a smoker, it does not impart the serious smoke of Just Jerk in Lanham, which is dedicated only to jerk chicken. And like many a good bbq place, at Just Jerk you can see the smoke pouring out the rooftop vent.
I have tried many homemade patties, and this suffers form the same problem as most, they tend to be drier than the commercial stuff which I find perfectly acceptable. Not as good as Jamerica on Rhode Island Ave.
I managed to snag a dessert I haven’t seen before: Jamaican Black Cake. It is as dark as a chocolate cake, but is dark from fruit and I am guessing molasses. It is very dense, so even a small piece is a heavy dessert. Also, it has a serious amount of rum in it. I was so glad I got this.
Next time I will go for one of the fish selections which includes kingfish, croaker, and snapper.
