Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Johnson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jason. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Good food played a huge part in my upbringing. In 1973, my father opened the first Jamaican restaurant in L.A., so I was raised in the kitchen and I’ve been cooking ever since I was 11yrs old. After graduating from Clark Atlanta University, I actually started my career in the mortgage industry and facilities management, but cooking was still one of my favorite things to do. One day, I came across an online ad promoting a building for lease near my alma mater, and immediately, my wheels began to spin. I made a call to my father, he flew in from Jamaica and Dat Fire Jerk Chicken was born!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being in business, especially the restaurant business, always comes with challenges. Once you recognize the DNA of the industry, you begin to have a better understanding of the standard issues that all quick-service restaurants (QSRs) face. Issues with staffing, food quality and consistency are at the top of any restaurateur’s list, but when you build a culture that both your staff and customers can subscribe to, it makes the operation of it all that much easier. We are truly blessed at Dat Fire because the community has embraced our food, service and staff since day one!
Dat Fire Jerk Chicken – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Dat Fire Jerk Chicken is known as “an authentic taste of Jamaica in the heart of Atlanta.” From our custom grill and smoker to the design of our restaurant to the way we prepare our food, there is no question that we do authentic jerk. Trust me, if we stopped there, that would be enough, but we also cook up Caribbean staples like oxtails, curry goat, and brown stew chicken as well as a few fun dishes on our menu, like jerk chicken tacos, jerk chicken cheese fries and much more that our customers can’t get enough of. What sets Dat Fire apart from others is that we have, literally, recreated the look, feel, sound and taste of what someone would experience on the side of the road in Jamaica. My amazing staff and I pride ourselves on creating a positive atmosphere filled with musical vibes and great customer service, but what makes me most proud is the ability to translate my culture through a culinary perspective.
How do you, personally, define success? What’s your criteria, the markers you’re looking out for, etc?
Success, for me, is not a destination. It’s the journey to enlightenment and balance; it’s making sure each meal is as good as the last, or better; it’s building a brand that can train and employ exceptional talent, and it’s able to satisfy the palate of every individual on the planet. Those outcomes not only spell success to me, they also allow me to be an example of excellence that crushes negative narratives and stereotypes that some Jamaican or Caribbean restaurants are often given. That, to me, is the ultimate achievement.
Contact Info:
- Address: 226 Northside Dr., SW
Atlanta, GA 30313 - Website: www.DatFireJerkChicken.com
- Phone: 404-254-4494
- Email: catering@datfirejerkchicken.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datfirejerkchicken/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dfjerkchckn/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/datfirejc
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dat-fire-jerk-chicken-atlanta
Image Credit:
Sabur Karim-Kincey, Monumental Sound & Film
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