Papa’s Got Jerk is a Trip For The Soul and The Taste Buds

St. George has several types of restaurants that serve Asian, Italian, Mexican, and American foods but it only has one Jamaican style place. It’s the most unique in town.  

Papa’s Got Jerk is the place to go for a completely new flavor and a taste of homestyle cooking. Cheryl Walker-Ashcraft is the owner of Papa’s Got Jerk and is originally from Kingston, Jamaica. She moved from New York to St. George in 2003 and has been serving delicious foods to the community ever since.  

Initially it started as catering at local festivals like Swiss Days and Peach Days but evolved into a brick-and-mortar location in 2021. 

Cheryl’s love of cooking came from her father whose recipes make up the menu. The restaurant is named in honor of her father who passed away in 2012. 

“I've always had a passion for cooking and my dad and I, that was our little bonding thing, we would always cook, and he would share family recipes because my heritage goes all the way back to Jamaica,” Cheryl said. 

One the menu you can find Jerk Chicken, Jerk Pork, Curry Chicken, Oxtail with butter beans, Fry Fish and Festival, and so much more.  

I had the opportunity to try the Jerk wings and the Fry Fish and Festival, and as a (self-proclaimed) food connoisseur, I can honestly say it’s like nothing I’ve ever had. The jerk seasoning is rich and spicy, mixing well with the chicken. It was literally fall-off-the-bone! 

The Fry Fish and Festival was so unique. The dish consisted of deep-fried white fish seasoned to perfection with festival which is a sweet bread. I devoured both quickly and would most definitely go back to try the other dishes.  

Cheryl recommends curry chicken to those who are a little less adventurous and not so into spice.  

The two most popular orders at Papa’s Got Jerk are the oxtail and butter beans and the jerk items.  

This unique Jamaican-style food stop has also been voted #1 in Southern Utah for best savory foods by Travelers Magazine.  

“What really makes us stand out more, not just the uniqueness of just being the only Jamaican restaurant, we have a story,” Cheryl said. “The food is absolutely amazing and we're a happy place. And when people come in, we want them to experience that happiness and love that goes into all of our menu items.”