A Scarborough classic, Chris Jerk has become a beloved community hotspot known for its unique twist on jerk chicken and shawarma. After opening a second location in Markham, Ontario, owner and chef Chris Taylor needed help building a new customer base. Through the strong partnership that he had built with his DoorDash account rep, Taylor and his team found the support they needed to grow their business at their new location.
"We have a new community here in Markham. We're loving the fact that we're working with DoorDash, and they have a wide delivery radius. So that means we're able to bring in more new customers."
How a childhood passion grew into something bigger
Chris Taylor, the namesake behind Chris Jerk Caribbean Bistro, began his cooking career in his grandmother’s kitchen in Kingston, Jamaica, preparing meals for the entire family and learning how to make his great-grandmother’s infamous jerk chicken. At 13, he immigrated to Toronto, determined to turn his passion for food into a career. He started his journey in a Mediterranean restaurant, then worked in Italian and German restaurants over the years, growing his passion for food and perfecting his skills in the kitchen.
Bringing together the best of Caribbean and Mediterranean cuisines
When Chris Jerk Caribbean Bistro opened its doors in 2013, it was one of the first restaurants to mix Jamaican and Mediterranean cuisines served in various styles — from wraps and salads to the crowd-favourite poutine, which combines crispy fries, savoury jerk gravy, and melty cheese. But the bistro's jerk chicken shawarma quickly became their signature dish. Using traditional jerk rub and marinating overnight, the chicken is cooked on a shawarma spit, enhancing the unique jerk flavors.
For Taylor, running a restaurant is a family affair. Chris Jerk is a family-owned and operated business, with his wife, sisters, children, and one of Taylor's best friends all bringing their passion for food to the neighbourhood. The team also considers their customers part of the family, building long-lasting relationships with regulars over the years.
How the DoorDash partnership blossomed
When DoorDash first reached out about a partnership, the restaurant had a strong customer base and were too busy to consider delivery. It wasn’t until they opened their Markham location that they reconnected with their DoorDash rep who had stayed in touch over the years and made Taylor feel like DoorDash had their best interest at heart.
"The main reason we decided to join DoorDash was because our account rep was patient and understanding with us. He's very approachable, and I can pick up the phone and call him personally anytime."
With DoorDash helping Chris Jerk reach new customers, Taylor and his team can focus on sharing their passion for cooking with customers, with continued care from the DoorDash team to help them achieve their goals.
"The sky's the limit. We're definitely looking to go very, very far with DoorDash."
Restaurants can partner with DoorDash to reach new customers with a full suite of delivery and online ordering solutions to help them achieve their business goals.
