Dukunoo Jamaican Kitchen Brings Modern Caribbean Fare to Wynwood

Jamaican cuisine is getting the Wynwood treatment with the debut of Dukunoo Jamaican Kitchen (316 NW 24th Street). The neighborhood, which is home to a plethora of buzzy restaurants, has been severely lacking cuisine from the islands until now.

The indoor/outdoor eatery boasts an extensive menu of modern takes on Jamaican fare. Think smaller plates like pressed plantains topped with crispy snapper, salt cod fritters, jerk corn, and red pea soup with salted beef and pig tails. Larger plates such as fried chicken, oxtail, whole roasted snapper, and shrimp skewers round out the menu. A full bar menu is also available.

“It is our mission to open a Caribbean restaurant that is eclectic, chic, artsy, and upscale, that will positively represent Caribbean culture,” notes one of the restaurant’s co-owners Shrusan Gray, who owns the space alongside Leonie McKoy and Rodrick Leighton.

To pay homage to its roots, the restaurant even features a jerk “stand” offering chicken and pork jerk dishes served by the quarter, half, or whole pound, with classic sides like island slaw and fried plantains. Dukunoo is a West African word for “sweet thing” or “sweet mouth” and is also the name of the star dessert on the menu, which is made of a starchy pudding-like consistency that is wrapped in a leaf, tied, and steamed.

The space keeps with the modern, updated feel of the menu with industrial style tables and seating, bright modern paintings adorning the walls, high industrial ceilings, and wooden signage. A variety of different entertainment including live music, DJs and rotating themed nights are also on hand.

Dukunoo Jamaican Kitchen is now open for lunch, dinner, happy hour, and brunch. The restaurant is open Thursday through Saturday from noon to midnight and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Happy hour is available Monday to Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information call 786-334-5150.