Jamaica Mi Hungry is shutting down its downtown Boston restaurant and sliding back to where it started: on wheels. The team announced the move as it rolled out a summer food-truck schedule, signaling the end of its latest brick-and-mortar run but not of the business itself. For now, the truck is set to hit prime lunch zones including Kendall Square, MIT and Boston Common on a regular loop.
The downtown closure, at 291 Devonshire St. according to Boston.com, came just before the crew posted a new timetable that puts Jamaica Mi Hungry in Kendall Square on Mondays, at MIT on Wednesdays and by Boston Common on Thursdays. The shift follows last year’s shutdown of the Jamaica Plain restaurant, wrapping up nearly seven years of operating physical locations. Loyal diners quickly chimed in with supportive comments on the company’s social media posts.
"While our restaurant chapter has come to an end, Jamaica Mi Hungry is here to stay," the business wrote on social media, adding that it would focus "exclusively on catering and our award-winning food truck," wording that appears in Boston.com's coverage. The message laid out the truck’s scheduled stops and invited customers to book catering for events and workplace lunches.
Chef-owner Ernie Campbell launched Jamaica Mi Hungry as a catering outfit in 2012 and grew the brand through a food truck, pop-ups and short-term kiosks, according to the company website. Campbell opened the first permanent restaurant in Jamaica Plain in 2019 and later added the downtown spot. Now the business says it will zero in on mobile service and catering bookings going forward. The website also lists downtown pickup hours and a catering request form for private events.
Awards and Local Standing
Jamaica Mi Hungry has stacked up local accolades over the years. Boston magazine named it Best Food Truck in 2020, Best Caribbean in 2023 and Best Jamaican Restaurant in 2024, honors that helped push the brand beyond its original crowd. Those nods, along with a steady lunchtime following, turned the truck into a familiar sight at neighborhood markets, campus plazas and downtown office corridors.
Where To Find The Truck This Summer
This summer’s schedule is aimed squarely at campus and office workers. MIT’s OpenSpace lists food trucks on a weekly rotation in the Kendall/MIT open space and includes Jamaica Mi Hungry in the lineup. The company’s site posts current hours and a catering booking form for private events or downtown pickup at Jamaica Mi Hungry hours and locations.
For longtime fans, the pivot means the jerk chicken and other staples will still be circulating around the city, even if the dining rooms are gone. Keeping an eye on the posted schedule and the company’s social feeds will be key for tracking exact stop times and locations.
