Restaurant

Kensington Jerk & Pasta

Name: Kensington Jerk & Pasta
Address: 61 Kensington Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 2K2, CA
Telephone: (437) 872-2697
Price range: value

Jamaican•Kensington Market•value

Kensington Jerk & Pasta is one of the best jamaican restaurants in Toronto for jerk chicken, especially if you want a strong option in Kensington Market.

Here's the backstory worth knowing: Kensington Jerk & Pasta is essentially Rasta Pasta with a new sign.

Editorial review•Jun 10, 2026

Here's the backstory worth knowing: Kensington Jerk & Pasta is essentially Rasta Pasta with a new sign. Same kitchen lineage, same recipes, same core concept — the place reopened under co-founder Mary Neglia, who helped launch the original jerk-meets-pasta format back in 2012. When the spot shuttered and staff found themselves out of work, she came out of retirement to bring it back. Whether that reads as sentimental or savvy probably depends on how you feel about pasta with a jerk-spice backbone. Either way, the reopening has a cleaner story than most. The menu is built around a genuinely specific idea: Jamaican jerk heat applied to Italian pasta formats, a combination that sounds like it was workshopped at 2 a.m. but has apparently been working for over a decade. The Dreadlock Pasta and Curry-Scampi Linguini are the two dishes regulars and reviewers keep circling back to — not as novelty items anymore, but as the kind of menu anchors a neighbourhood place gets to claim after years of consistent repetition. The Jerk Chicken Dumplings are reportedly the thing to order first, the dish that diners tend to mention when describing what the kitchen does well. The rum bar running alongside all of this — sorrel punch, a Kingston Hurricane — pushes the whole thing into full-evening territory rather than a quick in-and-out dinner stop. This is a price-level-one spot in Kensington Market, which means the math is straightforwardly in your favour. The concept is focused, the provenance is real, and the menu is short enough that you're not going to overthink it. Go on a weeknight, start with the Jerk Chicken Dumplings, and work your way toward whichever pasta sounds right.

Carlos Mendez, Food & Drink Editor

Methodology•Toronto guides•Editorial team

Jerk chicken lunch takeout bold vibrant jerk chicken

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Taste ID

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Rating (Google) 9.4

21 reviews

Toronto

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

9.4

Rating

Based on 21 reviews

Best used for

Jerk chicken and lunch

Price and pace

Good value

Neighborhood

Kensington Market · 61 Kensington Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2K2, Canada

Price

Good value

Google rating

9.4 from 21 reviews

Phone

(437) 872-2697

Photos of Kensington Jerk & Pasta

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What to order

Signature dishes at Kensington Jerk & Pasta

Jerk Chicken Dumplings

Dreadlock Pasta

Curry-Scampi Linguini

Why go

What makes Kensington Jerk & Pasta worth the move

Kensington Jerk & Pasta is a clean first click in Kensington Market in Toronto when you want a jamaican option you can trust. Jerk Chicken Dumplings and Dreadlock Pasta also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 21 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.4 from 21 Google reviews

Best used for

Jerk chicken and lunch

Style

Jamaican in Kensington Market

Spend

Good value

Best for

Jerk chicken lunch takeout bold vibrant jerk chicken

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.4 from 21 reviews

Price point: value

Popular dishes: Jerk Chicken Dumplings, Dreadlock Pasta, Curry-Scampi Linguini

Website linked on this page

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Carlos Mendez for Kensington Jerk & Pasta

Google snapshot

9.4 from 21 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Carlos Mendez

Most burger spots in Toronto have gone all-in on the smash patty, so The Burger Monk's commitment to flame-grilling is a genuine differentiator — and, according to consistent reporting on the place, the point of the whole operation.

burgerscheap eatsquick

1294 reviews

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Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Website Menu Directions

Address: 61 Kensington Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2K2, Canada
Phone: (437) 872-2697
Price: value
TastyPals score: Coming soon
Google rating: 9.4 (21 reviews)
Cuisine: Jamaican
Neighborhood: Kensington Market

Restaurants in Kensington Market

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Kensington Jerk & Pasta serve?

Kensington Jerk & Pasta is a Jamaican restaurant located in Kensington Market, Toronto. Here's the backstory worth knowing: Kensington Jerk & Pasta is essentially Rasta Pasta with a new sign.

What is Kensington Jerk & Pasta best for?

Kensington Jerk & Pasta is best for jerk chicken, lunch, takeout, bold, vibrant, jerk chicken. Kensington Jerk & Pasta is a clean first click in Kensington Market in Toronto when you want a jamaican option you can trust. Jerk Chicken Dumplings and Dreadlock Pasta also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 21 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Kensington Jerk & Pasta?

Kensington Jerk & Pasta is in the Good value price range (value). Google rating: 9.4 from 21 reviews

What should I order at Kensington Jerk & Pasta?

Start with Jerk Chicken Dumplings, Dreadlock Pasta and Curry-Scampi Linguini. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is Kensington Jerk & Pasta worth visiting?

Kensington Jerk & Pasta holds a 9.4 Google rating from 21 reviews. Kensington Jerk & Pasta is a clean first click in Kensington Market in Toronto when you want a jamaican option you can trust. Jerk Chicken Dumplings and Dreadlock Pasta also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 21 Google reviews.

Where is Kensington Jerk & Pasta located?

Kensington Jerk & Pasta is located at 61 Kensington Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2K2, Canada. Directions are available via Google Maps.

Explore more in Toronto

Best Restaurants in TorontoStart with the flagship Toronto restaurant shortlist.Best Jamaican Restaurants in TorontoMore jamaican spots worth comparing.Restaurants in Kensington MarketBrowse nearby places around Kensington Market.Date Night Restaurants in TorontoRooms with the mood, pacing, and food for a slower night out.Best New Openings in TorontoSource-checked recent openings worth knowing now.Best Pizza in TorontoA city-aware pizza shortlist for your next slice or pie.Best Burgers in TorontoBurger spots with enough local signal to compare.Best Brunch in TorontoWeekend and slower-morning picks across the city.

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