About Us

From a Philly Street Corner to the Side of the Road in Florida

I'm James Leggett, the Jerk Chicken Man. Before any of this started, I spent years in corporate sales. Frequent trips to Jamaica changed everything. Whenever something along the road caught my eye, I'd pull over, to the side of the road. That habit gave this business its name.

Barbecue was always part of my family growing up, and I built on that foundation with real guidance from two brothers from Jamaica who helped shape me into the pitmaster I am today. What started as a passion project became Side of the Road Jerk Chicken: a drum smoker on a Philadelphia street corner, where people lined up for jerk chicken.

Today, that same fire is burning in Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach, Florida. We serve jerk chicken, jerk turkey, salmon, and Texas-style smoked beef brisket, with sides like coconut rice, sauteed kale, and roasted Brussels sprouts. You'll find us at local farmers markets, festivals, and events across the area, and we cater everything from backyard cookouts to weddings, with full-service and drop-off options. We can even cook live onsite for your guests.

See our catering packages (starting at $14 per person) or call us at (386) 674-1605 to book your date.

Watch our ABC Localish feature

Same fire. Same flavor. New home.

James Leggett
Pitmaster & Owner