I was a little hesitant to bring a Jamaican-born friend to a Caribbean food trailer in South Austin. I’d heard great things about Shirley’s Trini Cuisine, which serves up the tastes of Trinidad and Tobago. Surely Shirley’s food would fall short of his expectations.

He ordered the jerk chicken, and I, the stew oxtail with a side of pelau—a rice dish with “pigeon peas” which my friend informed me are a legume native to the Caribbean. When the food arrived, we dug in, and Shirley’s jerk chicken put a smile across his face. The oxtail was tender and falling off the bone, and the pelau complimented the stew perfectly.

Both these dishes are available on their regular menu, but they often have special entrees and sides, so be sure to follow them on Instagram to stay up to date on their latest offerings. And if you’ve got a hot tip on where I can find pigeon peas in Austin, drop me a line.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/shirleystrinicuisine

Hours:
Wednesday – Friday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday noon – 8 p.m.
Sunday noon – 5 p.m.

Location:
7800 S 1st St
Austin, TX 78745