On a noontime bike ride down the flower-laden parkway of Mandela Boulevard, in West Oakland, a golden-yellow building appeared to me in the distance. What could it be? Island Café, the place for jerk chicken in Oakland, was my pot-of-gold at the end of my bike-ride. For $9 you get half a juicy wood pit-roasted jerk chicken, delicate coconut rice, fancy plantains and vegetables dollopped with the house red-sauce, a smoky blend of tender tomatoes and Jamaican spices. Your vegetarian and vegan friends will be totally satisfied with the braised tofu alternative, sprinkled with sautéed shitake mushrooms and served with the same vegan sides as the chicken. Sorrel, scotch bonnet and other secret spices are shipped direct from the Caribbean, while free-range chicken make this spot a culturally authentic, yet locally-conscious cafe. Forget the blackened, over-spiced leftovers you’ve experienced in the past, and make room for a fabulous trip to the islands!

2534 Mandela Parkway, 510-893-9800, Tues-Fri 11-7 Sat 9-3, http://www.islandcafeoakland.com

(Serena Bartlett, founder and author of GrassRoutes Travel, is a regular Hot Spots contributor. Thank you Serena!)