Soup King

Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards judge Kadean Vendryes continues her review series of the restaurants at The Marketplace with Soup King.

It was definitely soup time in Kingston on Friday, May 1, 2026, with cloudy afternoon weather conditions and 40 per cent chance of scattered thunderstorms. The month of May is one of the wetter months in Jamaica, therefore afternoon showers are common and what better meal to consume than a hearty, warm, comforting cup of soup at Soup King.

Soup King is a quick service restaurant located at Marketplace, 67 Constant Spring Road, which officially reopened six months ago in October 2025. As the name implies, the eatery specialises in traditional Jamaican soups and accompaniments such as salt fish fritters, festival, breadfruit, plantain, garlic rolls, etc. The menu is usually a daily rotation of three soups and on some days a fourth option is added. Soup King offers walk-in, outdoor dining, takeaway, call-and-pick-up, catering and delivery services via 7 Krave and Doorstep food couriers.

Upon my arrival, the door was opened and I was greeted by an extremely welcoming security guard, who I later discovered works on Fridays only. As I perused the décor, Keniesha Hibbert, cashier, welcomed me and inquired about my order. Every bit about the décor majestically connoted soup, like the wallpaper: “Have a Souperific Day” or “The Taste Souuuper”. The digital menu strategically located and well-lit displayed the daily rotating soup menu for Friday, which was vegetable pepperpot, goat head or shrimp along with the daily special which was conch. There are three soup cup sizes ranging from a 16 oz small (jus enuff), 24 oz medium (belly full) to 32 oz large (greedy). And oh, the soup cups … how could I not mention the design and most genius ‘souperific’ taglines – ‘Buss A Gas’ and ‘Thanks for making us your soupervisor’!

After some deliberation, I decided to place my order: Two small (jus enuff) servings of the goat head and conch soups with accompanying sides of salt fish fritters and garlic bread. When I received the bill, it was so detailed with even my name on it – nice, personalised touch! I then went over to the soup-serving counter where I was greeted and served by Jewell Small, server. Jewell was very prompt and uniformly attired from head to toe, including her hairnet headpiece for food safety and keeping a sanitary serving environment. The soups were served from commercial-grade soup warmers that are designed to keep them at safe serving temperatures. Again, I must commend the high standard of customer service received from the security guard to Keniesha the cashier and Jewell the server.

Time to dine! I started with the goat head soup at one of the two tables on the outside of the restaurant. It was perfection and everything you can imagine in a Jamaican goat head soup (or mannish water, which it is more commonly known as locally). The goat head soup was warm in temperature, rich in taste and texture, had the perfect level of spiciness and other essentials such as spinners (soup dumpling) and of course, the goat head meat. The side orders of garlic roll and salt fish fritters paired harmoniously with the soups. The salt fish fritters – golden, crunchy, thin, not too much spice and everything right. I learnt after having my goat head soup, that it is the best-selling side order and how could I forget, the serving size is three fritters for only $260.87 plus GCT. The garlic roll serving is 2 rolls for $130.43 plus GCT.

Despite ordering small soup sizes (jus enuff), both goat head and conch soups were taken home. The conch soup was later reheated and had for dinner with the other garlic roll. Again, perfection — rich with pumpkin and dry yellow yam — which if you don’t know is the Jamaican gold standard for quality yams, tasty, not too spicy and I could see and taste the okra seeds – yum! I had the remainder of the goat head soup for my ‘cup of tea’ on Saturday morning and it was just as tasty or even better than the day before.

Congratulations to Soup King! Marvellous concept, fantastic culinary and service experience!

Total cost $2,700.00 including GCT.

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, Saturday 11:00 am to 6:00 pm

Telephone: 876-225-SOUP (7687)

Website: www.soupking876.com

Email: info@soupking876.com

Instagram: @soupking876