Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Back A Yard Caribbean Grill in Menlo Park

4.6 (199) 1189 Willow Rd, Menlo Park, CA 94025, United States

Categories

Jamaican restaurant
American restaurant
Restaurant

Location on the map

Menlo Park, San Mateo County, California, US

Phone: +1 650-323-4244
Site: https://backayard.net/

Opening hours

Monday:11 AM–7 PM
Tuesday:11 AM–7 PM
Wednesday:11 AM–7 PM
Thursday:11 AM–7 PM
Friday:11 AM–7 PM
Saturday:11 AM–7 PM
Sunday:Closed

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.6

199 Reviews for Back A Yard Caribbean Grill 2024:

Review №1

2023-10-03 03:07:35

There is a certain pride that Caribbean chefs and cooks take in their food preparation and presentation, and the joy of serving you fresh flavors and spice. The food here is NOT cooked by Caribbeans, and is for people that are not of Caribbean decent or dont know what is meant by true Caribbean flavors! Do not be fooled by the Jamaican beats and music playing when you go in. When you ask for scotch bonnet, and are told they dont use it...run toward the mountains! Jerk salmon was literally salmon with Mexican green salsa on top of it. Rice and beans were dry with no coconut flavor. The insult to injury was the festivals. It was more flour than the actual cornmeal festivals true Caribbean peoples make. And it lacked flavor! No sweetness at all! This place is NOT Caribbean owned, and you can tell by whose cooking!

Review №2

2023-11-21 01:06:28

Jerk Chicken and Oxtail Combo ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Well seasoned and very large portion. Certainly enough for 2 people to split. Comes with one additional jerk sauce. Seemed to have forgotten my plantains. Will reach out to collect later.Festival Jamaican Cornbread: I’ve never had this so was not sure what to expect. Reminds me of a doughnut texture but not too sweet. Loved it! Comes with plenty!Ginger beer: delicious!Collard Greens: (not pictured) tasty, great hint of vinegar. Vegetarian and still well seasoned.Traditional take out spot. Few street parking spots out front!Will be back!

Review №3

2023-07-08 21:05:46

Let me start off by saying I had a beef patty, but I ate it before I could take the picture. The beef patties are top-tier . you see the picture of my plate. This is nothing to play with, the food at back a yard is top tier .you will definitely get an authentic Jamaican experience at this restaurant. This is not just a restaurant that JUST serves Jamaican food, it is Jamaica in there . I love it.

Review №4

2023-03-18 23:12:53

Incredible food, had the day’s special Ackee & Codfish (salt fish if you know) which came with a side of rice and beans and plantains. I’ve had this dish my whole life growing up in the Caribbean and it was pretty spot on to how most people would cook it. Service is fine, if you’re in a hurry order ahead, but I’m here to enjoy my meal and the time eating it!

Review №5

2023-08-05 21:36:58

Food is absolutely amazing and very authentic, but service and location are meh. Would recommend ordering to go instead of eating there.

Review №6

2022-09-25 00:15:05

Casual, order-at-counter place. Be ready to have your taste buds lit up! Most favorite dishes are the combo curry goat + some other meat, like jerked chicken or oxtail. House sauce (served on the side) highly flavorful and spicy, but in combo w the rice, its quite manageable. And the fried plantains- oh so good. The goat, chicken & oxtail we ordered were all tasty & tender. Food gets on your fingers; they do supply wipes for cleaning your hands before & after. We ordered the house ginger beer, which had a serious amount of ginger flavor. Seating outside, dog friendly. Most people do takeouts but our group of 8 sat there for a long time & had a great time!

Review №7

2023-06-20 05:32:41

As always, Food was exceptionally good! Waited for more than 30 minutes for the meal. The staffs were apologetic about it and that was enough for me.Overall, food and service was amazing!

Review №8

2023-11-10 22:04:25

Amaaazing food. I was in the area for work and wanted to try something different. I had never had Jamaican food so I asked the woman at the counter what I should get so that I can try a good variety. I got the jerk, chicken and oxtail combo. The flavor is the sauces. Everything is out of control. I cannot stop eating it and brought the leftovers home to my husband who also devoured it. Can’t wait till I’m in the area again to go back.

Review №9

2023-03-19 08:16:09

Delicious and great price! We ordered to-go. Food came out fast (less than 10 min)! The place is pretty small, just a couple of tables for indoor seating, a fee more for outdoors. The service was quick and friendly.

Review №10

2023-09-14 01:25:53

Great place to eat at. One of my favorite Caribbean food i have ever taste. I love the oxtail plate along with the mango habanero cause and also their jerk sauce is amazing. I always come back here since i crave this food from time to time. Its worth the drive

Review №11

2023-04-03 06:35:54

Awesome place great fun people awesome food!Loved the blend of spices in the food!The place has virtually no seating and and parking is hard but it is worth it totally!Food: greatCleanness: cleanMenu diversity: a lot of optionsSeating: veryyy limitedParking: on the street limitedPrice: fair

Review №12

2023-08-28 22:14:08

I love the restaurant! I don’t ever write reviews, this is my 1st time writing a review so you know it’s worth it! First time I tried it I definitely kept going back! My favorite is the Ox tail, the meat is tender and the sauce is just so good!! DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE! You won’t be disappointed!

Review №13

2023-10-10 01:06:49

I love the Jerk chicken, and the plantains taste pretty good, too. And a mango passionfruit freshly made juice taste so sweet and refreshing. This place should be highly recommended for people who love jamaican food and for who havent tried jamaican food before!

Review №14

2023-09-06 16:19:17

Food is always delicious and the service is great. The food comes out quickly. Once i go again Ill take pictures. I was in the middle of moving at the time and was just devouring my food. Ive eaten: The jerk Ox tail, jerk salmon, jerk chicken, bbq ribs, jerk pork, corn festivals, corn bread, fried plantains and coco bread ive had their in house drinks. All delicious. The jerk sauce is so good. I need at least 3 per plate.

Review №15

2023-12-06 21:40:45

Enjoyed a jerk chicken plate. The chicken was flavorful. The rice and fried plantains delicious. Great quick lunch.

Review №16

2023-09-22 03:28:21

The food was so delicious, the staff friendly and warm and welcoming, great music playing and a great vibe. This is a new fave of ours.

Review №17

2023-06-10 06:33:27

As someone with a Trini background, I can tell you one thing: this is the spot. Definitely can tell the Jamaican depth of flavor throughout all of their dishes. Jerk Chicken with Greens and a Malt on a nice warm day makes you want to dance.

Review №18

2023-12-07 11:50:46

Back A Yard Caribbean Grill offers delicious and authentic Caribbean cuisine in a warm and welcoming atmosphere that will transport you to the islands.

Review №19

2023-06-23 22:54:38

Back A Yard is one of a kind. Dont let the dive ambiance of the exterior fool you! The food is GREAT!

Review №20

2022-05-03 17:38:16

Authentic, delicious and spicy seasoning salmon with plantains, although the rice and beans or peas as they say in Jamaica could be less sticky and had more red beans. Its a lot of food took me two days the finished... Left over taste even better. One thing I was disappointed about bought Ginger beer and did not received.AKA Uber eats issues.

Review №21

2022-10-16 20:13:11

The goat curry, jerk chicken and jerk pork are brilliant. The goat curry is tender and flavorful and the jerk chicken and pork are juicy with the perfect char. The upside-down pineapple cake and corn bread are spot on as well.

Review №22

2023-05-22 09:52:15

The best plantains and ginger beer Ive ever had anywhere. Ive had the jerk salmon, chicken, pork, and oxtail and theyre all amazing. The cornbread is practically corn-cake, its delicious.I also love that they have rotating daily specials and offer their sauces for off-sale.Eat here (or one of the other locations), you wont be sad

Review №23

2023-08-13 17:40:59

Ordered a combo for take out, which comes with rice beans and plantains. Only to open up my plate with no plantains. Called and let them know they forgot an item, the kid at the front says they ran out. Understandably, however you should tell people this before they order or maybe even at pick up to be compensated for something else. On another occasion, phoned in order and when I arrived the had no record of it. Bad service because they always rotate kids in the front that arent well trained.

Review №24

2019-07-29 17:02:50

Delicious food at reasonable prices! There isn’t a ton of Caribbean food on the peninsula so I glad Back A Yard exists. The oxtail is sooo tender and the curry goat has so much flavor. There is a small communal parking lot and plenty of street parking nearby. It gets pretty crowded at peak hours but it’s worth it. They also sell their sauces by the bottle. I highly recommend a visit!

Review №25

2023-11-15 09:00:05

Back A Yard Caribbean Grill serves up delicious and flavorful Caribbean dishes with friendly service, making it a top spot for authentic island cuisine.

Review №26

2023-07-19 03:32:10

Delicious jerk chicken and the rice and beans went perfectly together.. not to mention those scrumptious plantains! Got the coco bread on the side which came hot and went great with the meal.

Review №27

2023-08-21 20:03:40

My wifes ox tail was good but beyond that, this place was a severe disappointment. I got the jerk chicken but it was bland, dry and overcooked, not at ALL what I was expecting from a traditional jerk preparation which I expect to be full of flavor.

Review №28

2022-10-30 16:03:08

Chicken was seasoned, I was ready.....so good. Plantains a must with rice n beans. 😋 I will add an extra order of both next time. Seating outside if you plan to eat there. I will call in my order when Im pressed for time during lunch.

Review №29

2020-03-10 06:41:53

Feels crammed, but nice quality food. When I came in around 12:00 PM on a Friday it was pretty busy. The food is priced around 10-13$ for a meal with free water. I got the curry lamb, which was both tasty and a little messy. The food overall was pretty good. I would come here again for take out, but not dine in.

Review №30

2020-11-24 07:19:07

So Im originally from England where there is an abundance of Jamaican food. Every place Ive been to in Cali has been whack... until now. I bought the Jerk Chicken and Curry Mutton combo with Rice and Peas (not sure why its called rice and beans in Cali). Tasted amazing. Next time Im in town oll deffo be going back!

Review №31

2023-11-06 22:48:54

Called to place a pick up order and lady kept me on hold while I heard customers coming in store she took their orders never came back to phone line to take my order. Sadly my employer patronizes this business twice a month with large orders. Horrible service for the day.

Review №32

2023-11-29 04:33:24

Excellent food. There is only one table inside for dining in. The service is super fast.

Review №33

2020-11-06 03:02:34

Was in the mood and since it kept coming up in suggestions, so gave it a go (via UberEats). The Curry Goat & Beef Oxtail Combo had amazing sauces along with rice, beans, and fried plantain -- complete heaven. Its authentic, beware of bones, eat with hands! On the side, I ordered delicious Jamaican Fried Cornmeal Bread, so tender. To finish off, a slice of Pecan Pie. It was recommended and matched the meal well. Zandalar would approve, this is just WoW good, mon!! As many said, portions are hearty sized. I have enough left over for tomorrows lunch! Back A Yard exceeded every expectation. I love you. Would do again and again!

Review №34

2023-12-05 01:55:41

When you order for pick-up, they dont put any sauce or forks or knives. They have a lot of sauces, but theyre very stingy about giving them out.

Review №35

2021-03-14 11:25:08

Always know well get flavourful meals from here. Tried their Friday specials (battered fried fish) and it did not disappoint. Get their corn festivals, deep fried crispy goodness. Jerk sauce is out of this world.

Review №36

2022-08-13 20:41:52

Absolutely amazing. 10/10 the jerk chicken and pork are phenomenal. The ginger beer is also great.

Review №37

2019-11-17 06:22:18

At first I was surprised about look of the shop, but the food is absolutely delicious. Great portions for great prices and really authentic flavors. Would definitely recommend!

Review №38

2023-11-19 20:43:30

Very good Jamaican food, tasted pretty authentic too. Loved the jerk chicken and festival.

Review №39

2022-06-12 07:33:16

I get the Oxtail and Chicken combo, too oily, and feel so heavy after only eat 1/3 of the meal, but I have to say, the portion is huge for me.

Review №40

2023-10-16 10:25:21

Back A Yard Caribbean Grill offers a flavorful and authentic taste of the islands with excellent service and a welcoming atmosphere.

Review №41

2023-10-27 00:33:31

They catered my company luncheon! It was excellent! Plenty of Happy customers & tons of leftovers too!

Review №42

2019-05-09 04:12:04

Ok, so Ive heard a lot of good things about this spot and I cant believe this was my first time trying them out sice we moved to RWC. I think I overestimated our hunger because I ordered way more than what my son and I could fit in our tummies. I got a special of the day: curry goat and jerk chicken combo plate with a side of fried plantain, french fries and a house salad. Talking about huge portions, wowza, extremely generous and the price amazing. All the flavors top notch. While I was there the spot made me feel like I was on vacay in a Carribbean country, not many places can pull me out of my ordinary and give me this feeling. The attendance was great, the time we waited from when we ordered to the time we got served - bomb. I ended up getting a to-go combo plate for hubby: jerk chicken and ox tail and as seen in the picture below its all gone. I wish I wouldve taken a picture of all the plates as they came out, steaming hot - but the hunger was so huge I didnt even think about it; now I regret it. This is a must spot if yall are in the mood for authentic Jamaican/Carribbean food. I cant wait to go back and Im sure Ill become a regular hahahaha.

Review №43

2022-07-26 03:52:37

Amazing Caribbean Food. We had corn bread, Jerk chicken plate combo which comes with sides of fried plantain and rice. Very good quantity for the price at the same time scrumptious 🤤🤤🤤 Will visit again!

Review №44

2023-03-31 04:48:24

Delicious! They catered my offices lunch today. The BBQ chicken was tender, moist and tasty. The cornbread was the best I have ever had (including when I have made it at home from scratch or a box)! The coconut vegetables and the caramelized plantains were yummy. Cant wait to try the leftover jerk chicken I got to take home!

Review №45

2023-11-23 04:47:39

Im visiting from out of town and we are definitely going back before we leave!!!! This food was on point.

Review №46

2018-06-09 02:58:38

The curry goat and jerk chicken were amazing. It came with a tasty hot sauce, sweet plantains and beans rice. The ambiance was very chill, polite service and portion/price were great.

Review №47

2023-10-18 12:14:29

Back A Yard Caribbean Grill serves authentic and flavorful Caribbean cuisine with a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Review №48

2021-04-03 01:31:24

I usually get the jerk chicken and pork, but the Escoveitched Fish Filet is ridiculously good. Never had this fish before, and boy do they fry it well. It’s nicely crusted with a crunchy, spicy, and herbaceous mixture. The fish itself is also very fresh, it’s delicate taste shining through. Definitely not your average white fish. Comes with some nicely pickled onions and carrot slices - make sure to eat them together.Of course, it comes with corn festivals, rice + beans, and fried plantains. Awesome all around. Also go the pineapple drink but it’s a bit too sweet for my blood. Still good, though.

Review №49

2023-05-15 23:39:51

Came here one Saturday to try the ackee and salt fish. Was really surprised how authentic it was! Lived in Jamaica most of my life. The festivals, jerk chicken, chicken/veggie patties were also very good. Had the oxtail and curry goat before which were only okay.

Review №50

2017-06-25 02:37:30

When you first walk in there are beautiful murals on wall. First time here so we didnt expect the line to get long in seconds while deciding what to eat for our first time. We ordered the jerk chicken plate with rice, BBQ spareribs with fries, and the jerk salmon. Lets just say we finished our plates! Food was just like the name A plus! We will be back for sure!

Review №51

2023-02-01 23:11:57

The food was too good that I forgot to take a photo. I got the yard combo with chicken and pork. The seasoning on the meat was perfect. Meat was juicy and tender. Plantains were cooked well and were lightly crispy on the outside and sweet on the inside. Rice was a bit undercooked, but that didnt matter. Im definitely going to order it again and hopefully try some other food options.

Review №52

2019-05-26 20:57:40

Perfectly cooked Jamaican/Carribean cuisine! Crowded space but it is a hidden gem in East Palo Alto. Definitely a must visit!

Review №53

2019-11-27 09:12:29

Pretty good quantity and tasty for a good price :)Wait time is pretty high sometimes. Its a small restaurant and so most of them usually order a To-Go.If do not get parking near the restaurant, there are multiple spots down the same street.

Review №54

2023-08-29 23:44:20

Food is great. They use a lot of plastic though. Get rid of the plastic and I’ll give 5 stars.

Review №55

2019-07-20 23:55:28

Not authentic, chefs are mexican and I came here because I thought they were Jamaican. Pork was burnt on the outside and the fries are definitely American and not Jamaican style. Staff is friendly, but I wouldnt come back for eating. Coleslaw comes in a tiny plastic cup. It looks like someone is cutting corners

Review №56

2023-06-11 22:14:08

The food is amazing but I wouldnt want to eat here for sure, its small and cold inside and outside the neighborhood is a bit ghetto

Review №57

2023-02-15 01:33:44

Well, youve got to try the ginger drink and the mango drinks. Honestly I had both. Both were awesome. The stars were the curry pork and the salmon. The curry goat was also pretty good. Caramelized plantains, sweet and savory. Im going back soon.

Review №58

2022-05-08 08:57:45

The food is amazing! Gotta try their jerk chicken and oxtail....

Review №59

2018-09-13 21:45:03

Tasty, hearty food that will satisfy. Its a small place, so seating and parking is limited. But most people take out.

Review №60

2022-01-27 01:39:14

It was great! Very affordable and flavors out this world. I had the jerk pork and salmon and my husband had the ferk salmon salad. Must try

Review №61

2018-11-21 00:34:04

Fantastic ox tails. The jerk chicken was loaded ewith flavor, not heat. They were accompanied by some of the best red beans and rice Ive had outside the Caribbean. And Malta. Ill be back.

Review №62

2023-04-10 19:53:09

We love the food here, all of it is amazingly spicy and yummy- the patties are so good, its hard to choose a fav- the wrap is so good, its massive in size and flavor- and the mac-n-cheese and greens are my typical sides, I see them in future orders too! Try this place out, fr😋We left without any forks or naps or anything so that put a lil wrench in our plans, I wish they asked about that stuff and I hadnt assumed it was all in there for take out, but thats no reflection on how much we enjoyed the food!!!

Review №63

2023-02-21 16:02:59

If you love salad with a little bit of Caribbean spice they have theeee best Cobb salad. I used to get the salmon one which is awesome but now I eat the chicken one which is even more awesome. They are both awesome. I ordered this salad through DoorDash at least 3 to 4 times a week and their fried plantains are so good.

Review №64

2019-10-21 03:38:26

This review is for the catering service. The food was delivered in sturdy hot boxes with great packaging. And it was fantastic.The meats were moist and tasty and the jamaican spicing was super. Even the bananas were soo good. Every item we got was delicious.

Review №65

2020-05-09 16:36:16

Love this place!! I always get the jerk chicken and the ox tail for take out. The jerk sauce that comes on the side of the jerk chicken is spicy and tasty. You must request for extra sauce. The price and portion is great.

Review №66

2022-08-22 09:00:31

It is, to me, the last of authentic foods that either bring you back to childhood or takes you away to a dine on vacation. Comfort food! Eating the plates with flavors that explode with flavors in every bite elsewhere or there. And the food is served hot and always to your satisfaction with a smile from the friendly and accommodating employees. A 5.0 star rating.It was highly recommended to me and I highly recommend it to you. You will not be disappointed, at either locations.

Review №67

2018-03-13 20:15:35

I ordered a jerk chicken and fish combo. Was delicious and authentic. The place itself is small and was less crowded on a Friday evening than I expected it to be. It is a popular place among locals. Worth a try.

Review №68

2022-12-14 18:43:20

Friendly, efficient staff that makes some killer jerk chicken at a very reasonable price. They also do catering for your next big event.I recommend calling ahead and picking up, there isnt any dining space inside and the sidewalk gets full and is next to a busy road. Parking can be tight, but try across the road at the Tiendita.

Review №69

2022-06-27 05:40:02

This food is awesome, and I’m always looking for a reason to grab lunch here. There is typically a like of people waiting, but don’t be discouraged, it’s because the food is amazing! The food is flavorful, and portions are good. I recommend the jerk chicken and ox tail, along with the tropical drink. this establishment has done a great job creating a flavorful menu.

Review №70

2022-04-29 04:51:24

I got the combo, jerk chicken (dark meat) and beef oxtail. The food is delicious, the portions are large for what you pay, so it well worth it. The actual restaurant maybe need an upgrade; maybe if someone invest in it and help out the owners to do an upgrade and make it more presentable, it would be nice. There was also a problem with my oxtail, where I only had bones instead of meat and bones, so the chef at first said that’s how they come and there is not much he can do, so I was bumped out, but as I left to finish my food out with my friend, he comes out with a medium to go box filled with just the meat. It was a super nice gesture; maybe should have said that in the beginning so I don’t start telling my friends that they couldn’t help me! But overall I give A+ to the food and how it tastes like, giving me what I ordered B+, customer service A-, and how the place looks and cleanliness C+.

Review №71

2023-08-11 20:38:50

Would give 6 stars if I could, food and drink are both so good and incredibly priced!

Review №72

2023-05-10 01:36:49

We love this food. Theyve actually increased the amount of food so it can easily become two meals. But the prices also went up (as everywhere).

Review №73

2022-06-09 21:14:59

My friend and I were traveling through and found this gem. Basically take out with a few tables out front. I ate the daily special coconut curry prawns. Just the right amount of heat. My traveling companion ate the pork. The meat was very flavorful with a strong smoke taste and just the right amount of heat. The lunches included rice/beans and plantains.Both of us would stop again when in the area.

Review №74

2022-08-02 23:53:59

Big portions and well executed. Lots of meat but thin on veggies but who comes here for a salad?

Review №75

2018-06-17 01:27:42

Great food! Line started forming at about 545 on a Saturday. Liked my salmon dish. Will be back!

Review №76

2023-05-02 16:14:18

Environment with good vibes, friendly and abundant food, we spent around 21 dollars on food and drink and I ate with my wife, I think I would not have finished the plate alone hehehe.

Review №77

2023-02-22 17:49:17

Awesome Jamaican dishes. Our go to is the oxtail. The jerk chicken and goat are good as well. Wash it down with ginger beer and you are good to go. 😊

Review №78

2022-10-07 00:08:40

I love the food here. I believe its the original location. It gets super busy. One time a worker here did not see my name on an order and made me wait 15 more minutes for my food, but another worker made up for it and was really helpful and kind. Best jerk chicken in the bay.

Review №79

2017-07-15 23:04:53

The food here is amazing. Get the jerk anything, corn festivals. Tried the goat curry, tasty and tender, but lots of bones.

Review №80

2023-07-02 07:27:08

Fast food? Chain restaurant? Whatever you might call it, the taste is there. Must try

Review №81

2022-05-25 03:09:01

Awesome place with fast service! Ordered for pickup for lunch and only took about 15 minutes. Huge portions and absolutely delicious food. The only complaint I have is that it was too salty for my liking. Definitely a place to try if youre around the area though!

Review №82

2019-08-03 00:19:51

Delicious and cheap food. Two negatives for this place is: parking is hard to find, and there are limited seats

Review №83

2019-12-20 19:53:38

I been here 2 times and they’re doing super slow. Maybe wrong timing but the 3rd time we come back to them, they are more worse, very bad customers service here. Finally we have to give up on them because we can’t accept it when the restaurant are slow but we still have to wait for 50 minutes for our foods

Review №84

2021-08-24 17:27:30

Love their jerk chicken, fried bread, plantains, and beef pattie!

Review №85

2021-10-22 01:15:27

We ordered Jerk Chicken plate and Jerk chicken Wrap and boy it was mind blowing! The plate had delicious and smokey chicken pieces, juicy but not too sweet plaintains and rice with savoury beans! Wrap had a good amount of chicken in it! I was on a hunt for new restaurants and this place did not disappoint! I am definitely visiting here again and next time, I won’t forget to take the pictures of the food!

Review №86

2022-02-11 20:06:25

Amazing Jamaican food! They have multiple locations in Bay area. One of the locations in San Jose is good for dinning in. Menlo Park is more of a pickup place.Goat Curry and Oxtail are best!Jerk chicken is good. Jerk pork is a bit dry though. Salmon is a good alternativeThe plates come with rice and tasty plantains.Meat filled patties are scrumptious and flaky.

Review №87

2023-06-03 05:25:38

Everything here is amazing. The jerk chicken was so tender and the jerk seasoning was out of this world. Hot links so good

Review №88

2022-07-28 00:56:15

Great Caribbean food. Jerk chicken with plantanes and their awesome rice.

Review №89

2022-07-01 04:35:41

This is the BEST Jamaican bbq place Ive ever had. Everytime Im in the bay area I seek out a meal or three here! And I can order the sauce by the bottle to have with other foods too! They are quick with orders and its never a disappointment. Warning to be prepared for spice for those who dont like hot and spicy, but there are meals that arent as 🔥. I prefer the spice to be hot and its always perfect (wont make you regret every bite, rather crave another)!!

Review №90

2018-07-18 01:42:39

Very good, if mildly spiced, jerked chicken and pork. Very tender curried goat, and beautifully sweet BBQ yams.

Review №91

2022-08-13 19:57:21

Very filling food and great value for the portion.

Review №92

2021-11-20 03:33:26

Authentic Caribbean food!! One bite, took me back to when I was at Dominican Republic for a mission trip. Any plate will be plenty to fill you up and possibly even some leftovers. I had the Jerk Chicken plate and even tho it was a bit salty but I couldn’t get over how good the sauce was and how great the plantain/rice combo mixed together. Recommend getting there before lunch because the wait could belong. Wait time 40min.

Review №93

2022-07-12 05:38:33

Whenever were passing this place up, we make it a point to stop and grab some food. My go to is the salmon and ox tail combo and my hubby, the salmon and jerk chicken combo. I enjoy the sauce and pour it over my rice and beans. Check it out if ever nearby!

Review №94

2021-08-10 19:53:25

I love this place because it reminds me of my mothers Panamanian cooking. I distant reminder due to the fact that the taste could be a little off from the authentic Caribbean taste I grew up with. The crew is always friendly so thats a plush. I think they put too much ginger in the ginger beer but to each his own. I would still recommend this place over Mexican restaurants, only for a change in the norm around this area.

Review №95

2022-02-21 23:01:23

Great food at a reasonable price. I found this place by accident. We were going to Fremont from Palo Alto via Dumberton bridge. On willow right after taking exit from 101, I saw this restaurant with a lot of people. We love Jamaican food so I came back after a week. We ordered Jerk Chicken and Jerk pork. I also bought habanero and mango sauce (35 cents each). I really loved the jerk pork and my wife lived the chicken. The spicy sauces are not for the faint of hearts! The portion sizes were huge and three people can share two dishes easily! Next time, I will try their goat’

Review №96

2023-04-06 23:07:01

Portions are BIIIG. we had jerk chicken and BBQ pork and its probably enough for 4 people! Staff is great too.

Review №97

2023-04-04 20:40:22

THIS is one of my favorite places to get a meal for me or my family the food is SUPER GOOD I RECOMMEND THIS PLACE TO MAKE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES YOU WILL LOVE YOUR EXPERIENCE AT BACK A YARD

Review №98

2023-01-18 20:39:22

Its a small take out place with tasty food. Wait wasnt too long, maybe 10 minutes. A few tables to eat inside or on the patio.Plenty of options in their menu!

Review №99

2021-12-29 02:21:59

So the food is authentically Jamaican. However, you do CHECK your order before leaving. Each time an item is missing- this time they forgot the collard greens. Last time they forgot to add the plantains! The time before that the cornbread hadnt been added. I mean who had the time to peel open containers to recheck.Secondly, the cashier is NOT wearing a mask at all, thats against county orders and hella unsafe esp with omicron on the rise! So just be warned.

Review №100

2021-05-22 01:16:48

This is no doing the best Jamaican food I have ever had, EVERYTHING was amazing. I ordered the ox tails with Mac n cheese and greens, with festival bread, I thoroughly enjoyed it. And I’m very satisfied. If you are looking for good quality, good taste, for a good price go here. I live in San Francisco and I am open to making a trip to Menlo Park for this quality of food.

Review №101

2022-05-16 18:19:01

Generally speaking, I find the food here to be quite good, with an occasional problem of sauces being seriously oversalted. One big point of contention is not having the ability to substitute any of the sides on the combo meals for one of the many individual side dishes offered on the menu. Case in point, I may not wish to eat plantains, because I happened to eat a banana earlier, but Im denied an option to replace it with collard greens, sauted vegetables or something else that may whet my appetite on a day when I happen to be ordering a meal here.

Review №102

2021-05-25 10:34:19

Oxtails and plantain are great. Beef patties were my go to reason visiting them for a quick bite, but for the last year Im disappointed how their beef patties have become less appetizing. Several times Ive purchased them at different times of the day and it was dry and hardened, as if its been sitting in the warmer.Please bring the beef patties were they use to be

Review №103

2016-12-18 05:41:02

Great place to get jerk chicken fix :) restaurant is a tad small and there was a line of people on Saturday, even after 130pm! Street parking.

Review №104

2019-09-22 00:59:58

Wonderful food in a very modest atmosphere. Jerk chicken was moist and flavorful, and the sides were equally well done! Ill definitely be coming back. Try the mango passion fruit juice - its a bit sweet, but delicious.

Review №105

2018-06-13 03:26:41

The food here is excellent. Delicious, the jerk has the right amount of kick and all the meats are tender and juicy. The cornbread and the fry bread is out of this world. The only reason I give it 4 stars is the location. Not a ton of parking and the restaurant itself is very small. The wait times I understand, everything tastes fresh so I understand waiting for my food to be made when I order it and not before. But the parking is super limited and not super convenient to the restaurant in some cases.But they do have some outdoor tables as well as seating inside. Overall, go for the food, it is unmissable.

Review №106

2017-02-20 01:03:53

Great food at a decent price (especially for what you get!). Definitely a spot to visit at least once a month, especially with teammates. Get almost anything and you will enjoy it a lot. I have had the curried goat, and man oh man is it satisfying. The rice and beans are steeped in coconut-richness that are my world when I eat there. Great plantains, too. My colleagues have had everything from the jerk chicken to curries and fish dishes-- only platitudes, no criticisms.Be careful-- its a small place that fills quickly. However, turnover is fast as food comes out pretty fast.

Review №107

2022-06-15 00:14:47

Heard about this place and not disappointed. Awesome food!!!!

Review №108

2023-04-02 00:31:09

Sometimes I just have to have a beef patty and theirs have just the right flake to spicy beef ratio. Just wish there was a Back A Yard in the east bay!

Review №109

2021-07-07 04:07:40

When we want delicious barbeque with some fried plantains, this is the place. Theyre pretty much take-out only, but the food is always worth it. Finally got the curried goat for the first time today and Ill definitely be getting it again!

Review №110

2021-10-11 15:04:52

Jerk chicken plus the side sauce is hella good. They should include more of the sauce, def asking for extras next time. Whatever that sauce is, it makes this place the best jerk chicken Ive ever had! Also, prob best food in that area. Unfortunately, in this area, theres not that much around food-wise, so kinda nice that at least theres one spot thats really quite good.

Review №111

2020-02-27 02:33:09

This little place can easily be overlooked driving by but it is so good. I have only been here twice but Ive been to other jerk chicken places even a nice Caribbean restaurant in Seattle and they cannot compare to the food here. You know when you take that first bite of food you never had and dont know what to expect and the moment your taste buds kick in you will think mmmmmmmm! Wow. Got to try it.

Review №112

2021-03-14 00:31:47

I was blessed to meet someone who took me here to eat and it honestly was one of the best and worst things that has ever happened to me. Im obsessed and try to only go once a week. Its incredible. I get the beef oxtail and jerk chicken combo with fried cornbread on the side and the mango passionfruit punch. FIRE. Go. You wont be disappointed.

Review №113

2019-04-27 04:46:22

Had the Jerk Chicken with rice and fried plantains and it was absolutely amazing!! Its the best jerk chicken Ive ever had. Service was really good and very quick. My partner and best friend also loved theirs, planning on lunch here tomorrow because we cant stop thinking about.

Review №114

2022-03-09 03:16:22

Not a lot of Caribbean restaurants in the Bay area so im willing to drive for their Oxtail and Jerk pork!! Food is always delicious. Servings are good for the price.

Review №115

2022-06-29 01:17:16

We had a combo plate, jerk chicken plate, jerk chicken sandwich, fried cornbread and guava juice everything was Delicious!!! The Staff were very friendly and quick service. I definitely recommend you give it a try!!!

Review №116

2014-09-16 19:47:58

If you like spicy and are looking for oxtail, jerk chicken, beef or pork then here it is! We love this place! Food is good and the customer service is excellent. From the jerk sauce to the sweet potato pie you will leave this place like a mini vacation to Jamaica! The food is fresh and the portions are generous. I look forward to going here ever time I am in the area. Good eats!

Review №117

2020-12-30 00:18:26

This is good!I had been eating burritos and junk food for a while until today... Im glad I stopped by this place. I dont find it particularly cheap but its not expensive either. I had the BBQ chicken and ribs combo.My only complains: rice and beans had no beans, haha, and a little bit of extra sauce would have been nice.

Review №118

2021-05-18 07:51:10

Pure joy every bite, every time. The jerk pork is fatty and juicy and full of flavor without being salty. The plantains and beans and rice are perfect compliments and the portions are adequate. The corn festivals top off the meal with leftovers for breakfast.

Review №119

2021-07-26 22:37:32

Great food, delicious options for meat eaters and vegetarians alike. If you like spicy you can definitely find something great here!My favorites: collard greens, eggplant/lentil curry, oxtail, and jerk chicken.

Review №120

2020-06-19 02:19:22

Delicious!I am from The Bay Area but lived in Austin, TX for a long time. Needless to say, one on the hardest things to leave (other then my friends) was the BBQ. I got the ribs, my dad got the chicken and mother got the boneless pork. All delicious! Loved the fried plantains too! Thanks so much!!!! ❤️

Review №121

2023-01-22 03:09:11

A close to home place (literally for me), they did sell out and become a chain and lose some of the good items and up the price a few months ago but its still really good.

Review №122

2016-11-18 13:30:19

Small place, gets busy. I was relieved to see they had a vegetarian (jerk tofu) option. While that dish was reasonably tasty (and appeared healthy) the flavor wasnt something I would gush over, as my lunch companions did over their chicken/steak choices.The place is pretty small, and on a one way access road. Will likely have to street park further down road and walk back.

Review №123

2019-06-06 14:32:18

The food was really flavorful as a result of it being spiced to perfection. The pulled pork is what most of my group got and we all thought the same thing. The restaurant itself is on the small side with most of the seating being outside. I was in a big party which made the seating part a bit awkward at first, but after that it was a fun and filling experience.

Review №124

2019-09-18 17:35:12

Absolutely delicious food! Small, homey, shop with a great variety of dishes. Including a vegetarian and vegan selection. Its a bit tucked away so a little difficult to find. Parking is limited but the food the definitely worth the trouble. I highly recommend it.

Review №125

2016-05-21 02:37:53

This was an incredible place. Easy to pass, but not so easy to forget. Havent had food like this since I lived in the Caribbean. The jerk chicken is juicy spicy and exactly what I remember. The pork was so tender and the plantains finished the meal with a perfectly subtle crispness and sweet treat.The neighborhood may steer some away, but the food is well worth it. Go ahead and try the Jamaican pineapple soda as well for the full effect.

Review №126

2020-03-10 20:18:34

The best Caribbean restaurant in that area. 100% for the quality of food.

Review №127

2020-09-08 17:12:31

Wow what a wonderful place!! I seriously can not wait to eat from here again. I got several dishes to try a few different things and it was SO much food! Bursting with flavor, incredibly moist, not a dry bland crumb in sight. I dont think Ive eaten a more delicious, moist, piece of cornbread.

Review №128

2020-10-23 17:10:06

I love trying out Caribbean food. This place is my recent discovery. I tried Curried goat and Jerk Chicken Combo. I absolutely loved the food. Place was clean and packaging was great too. Portion size is large.

Review №129

2018-04-06 04:49:42

What an amazing restaurant. The food is literally a 6 star, however the decor, interior, and size is probably a 2. You go to Back A Yard for the amazing Jamaican food. Everything with jerk sauce is amazing. While its 100% a hole in the wall I would 100% recommend coming for the food.

Review №130

2021-05-14 15:41:54

BBQ chkn was really tasty. Ox tails were not only meaty, but tasty. Rice & beans were very good. Rice was fluffy and moist without being soggy. Plaintan were very good. They did not get one of my orders right, but i was all over the menu. Could have been my fault. Going back tonight before i fly out tomorrow. Oh, almost forgot never had spicy collards before......really diffrent and good

Review №131

2016-11-16 21:53:47

Everything here is amazing. The Jerk Chicken wrap is the best value lunch ($5) for ridiculously amazing food. All the jerk plates are incredible. Dont miss the Corn Festivals, Cole Slaw, Plantains, and Mac & Cheese. Sometimes takes a little while to get your food but it is well worth the wait.

Review №132

2023-02-21 21:19:39

Small place to sit and eat but they do have some seats outside. Great food! Prices are a bit up.

Review №133

2018-10-20 20:16:05

My son said it’s ‘Jam-abulous’ - Jamaican and fabulous!

Review №134

2020-05-30 22:33:00

Pretty good! Sometimes they give me a bunch of fat tho and thats not cool. I usually order the jerk pork and oxtails combo. Sometimes you get a rude person taking your order but not all the time. Cut the meat better, please!

Review №135

2020-06-16 22:04:54

This is real Caribbean food. Homemade and very tasty. I just ordered a Grilled chicken breast with rice and beans and delicious plantains and I’m astonished because it was a such a good meal. The spicy sauce it’s great! If you are from the Caribbean countries, Colombia or Venezuela (like me) you’re gonna love this.

Review №136

2017-06-18 01:41:51

Jerk chicken is amazing. Beef patties are just like the ones I love from Jamaican Delights! I always order a bunch to take home. Jamaican fried cornmeal bread is so good too. Tried the collard greens, definitely will get them again! Planning my next trip already!

Review №137

2019-08-31 00:22:05

Had been to BackAYard in a very long time. The male cashier was not in a good mood as I asked him questions about the menu. Ordered take out: Rib and chicken combo. Another patron told me to order in because the presentation and portions were better. She was right. When I got home my food seemed to be mixed together with the exception of the coleslaw. Not happy about that. Also, potato salad would be better with this dish instead of cold French fries. After spending close to $30 on lunch I expect more. Sadly, itll be a while before I go back and when I do the food will be eaten at the restaurant.

Review №138

2016-02-08 06:09:31

Very good food! Their jerk chicken (meal and wrap) is amazing. Love the rice too. Try to order ahead of time and pick up instead of waiting in line, since the wait can be as long as 1.5 hours at noon, especially Thursdays and Fridays.

Review №139

2019-08-24 02:07:18

By far the best plate ive ever had. The oxtails are amazing. The chicken amazing. The rice perfectly cooked n tasted like it had brown sugar n cinnamon in it. The plantains perfect. Definitely makes my top 5

Review №140

2021-02-13 15:36:36

Best Jerk Restaurant in the Bay area.

Review №141

2023-01-27 04:24:37

Been coming here for awhile now and its a must try if you haven’t! Love the OX tail plate yum!!!

Review №142

2015-09-22 14:53:21

The food here was great. It is as authentic Caribbean as Ive had in the bay area but it is a tiny restaurant in a pretty dicey neighborhood so dont look for ambiance. I had the jerk salmon and chicken combo that comes with rice, veggies and plantains to die for. We also ordered Mac and cheese, greens and corn bread. It was all delicious. The only issue is that I had no room in my stomach to try the sweet potato pie

Review №143

2020-06-19 04:37:56

Delicious food at very fair prices. The jerk and bbq meats are all excellent, the portions are generous, and the plantains are a must-have (get a side if your meal doesnt come with them). For a real treat, it youre doing take-out or delivery, add a side of plantains and serve with vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Review №144

2021-11-20 05:42:54

Ordered through ubereats and didn’t get the plantains that came with the meal. Outside of that the jerk and rice is amazing! Best I’ve had so far and finally one with some kick to it.

Review №145

2023-05-09 02:58:09

The best Caribbean food in South BayThe curried chicken and oxtail combo is legit

Review №146

2016-04-07 21:01:28

Service was great. Food stole the show. Jerk chicken combo was terrific, the flavour and cook was perfect. The corn festival was amazing, perfect combination of sweetness and fluffy corn bread. Would highly recommend it.

Review №147

2021-01-06 06:56:54

Rating this a 5 for the food deliciousness which makes up for all the other things like; Parking (bring a person to drive, doublepark and so you can hop out get you food if you dont call ahead), service (friendly but not the fastest or even the 2nd, 3rd, 20th fastest ) call 30 minutes ahead, and ambiance.I grew up in a Jamaica neighborhood and this is the closest in taste and texture Ive come across including high-end restaurants. The turkey, I ordered for Thanksgiving was juicy. The sauce that came with it took the experience to a new level. But its the beef patties and oxtail that keeps me coming back. Great prices too.

Review №148

2022-05-09 23:40:21

Agali is organized and direct with her customer service! She’s lightning!

Review №149

2022-06-09 01:35:18

The food was spectacular! I’m from the east coast and it’s difficult to find good Jamaican food on the west coast . Love this place and despite the drive from the city it’s worth it .

Review №150

2020-10-16 21:00:12

Thus is it. Delicious. One of the only long standing Caribbean/Soul Food spots for the past 15 years Ive been in the South SF Bay area and the ONLY place around that sells real deal Jamaican beef patties.

Review №151

2019-04-02 15:12:36

The food is delicious. My son and I both got the ribs and jerk chicken and we loved them both. They have the greatest.sauces there. I would recommend calling your order in and planning on taking your food to go.

Review №152

2015-10-24 19:13:51

Great food but service is horrible. When you call to order them they pick you and hangup. This has happened multiple times. I dont have any experience with Caribbean food before but I seem to have liked this. I ordered Jerk Tofu. The sauce is HOT (you know its spicy when an Indian is complaining about it. On the scale of 10, it is 7 for me).

Review №153

2018-03-03 22:30:32

Crowded, so order ahead. Its also a little unclean. Tables are not cleaned very often. I sat at a table for over twenty minutes with the used dishes of the previous occupants.Its always busy here, expect to wait a long time for the food and better to do Takeout.A little hard to find from the street.The food is good. 4 stars for the food, but minus 1 for the crowd and the cleanliness.

Review №154

2017-04-26 00:26:36

Jerk chicken meal is consistently amazing. Ive had other items on the menu and they are good too. The folks working there are always extremely pleasant and welcoming.Only down side is the parking... but oh well.

Review №155

2023-10-18 22:06:23

Been here hundreds of time and never disappointed.

Review №156

2018-04-14 02:57:36

The food is absolutely amazing. Both the jerk and the bbq are fantastic. The people working were so warm and friendly. They made me feel right at home. That is... if home were a beach in Jamaica with reincarnated Bob Marley by my side.

Review №157

2021-11-17 21:54:57

Awesome food, excellent service. A hole in the wall that really needs no explanation. Ive been going here for years and will continue going here for delicious, no frills Jamaican food until I croak.

Review №158

2016-11-18 06:46:32

First things first the young cashier who greeted me was a good dude. He was friendly and chatted a bit about their offering, offering some recommendations on popular items.I chose the stake.Boy was this a stake. The meat itself had some attractive grill marks but there was no solid sear on the steak. What truly stood out was the spice mixture which permeated every-bite. It tasted like if pepper married some citrus and coriander and then joined forces with a piece of fresh leather to create this rich, smoky, meaty mildly sweet, zesty flavor which transitioned perfectly into the clean buttery taste of the meat.Why isnt all meat flavored this way?It is a conspiracy I tell you.On my way out I also noticed some people eating their deeply spiced chicken and thought it looked delicious as well.Will try that next time...

Review №159

2013-11-19 19:22:02

Back A Yard has been on my radar for a long time, but I just never found the time to make it out here until this past weekend. I am so glad that I did!The food is authentic, flavorful and affordable. I have no idea how they make their jerk chicken taste so good, but it is the perfect balance of flavor + spice. The flavors are incredibly unique.In addition to their jerk chicken meal, we got a ginger beer which was also delicious.I will absolutely be back.

Review №160

2013-08-10 07:33:10

This place is the definition of hole-in-the-wall, but theres really no better location for excellent jerk-spiced dishes. The chicken jerk meal is the real star, and is moist, juicy, and packed with flavor. It comes along with a few salad greens, Jamaican rice and peas (which are actually beans), and fried plantains. Portions are generous and prices are very reasonable. Given how small the actual dining room is, you might have some difficulty sitting down, but the restaurants does take orders to go over the phone. If youre feeling extra hungry, the side dishes (and particularly the corn festival) make for great accompaniments to a main meal.

Review №161

2016-03-06 20:25:12

Food: 4Decor: 2Service: 2Came here for dinner with a friend, and the place was more than half empty. The place is pretty ghetto, and I parked in the lot across the street.Opted for the jerk chicken and pork combo, $12. It comes with a small salad, and everything was quite good. I liked the plantains since they were still soft like bananas, not fried. However, several pieces of my pork were very badly burnt.Service is non-existent. My glass of water remained empty until I asked for a refill.

Review №162

2019-09-08 03:23:56

I deliver food through an app, and this one lady worker on Sat, Sep 7th in the late afternoon early evening had the customers food out for 15 minutes while she knew I was there waiting for the order. The food was lukewarm, I was losing money waiting, and the customer, I assumed, was not happy. The food is amazing, but that girl was horrendous and hopefully she loses that job. Shes horrendous. Horrible. I hope the manager is paying attention.

Review №163

2018-07-18 04:41:38

Excellent jerk chicken and pork, and their jerk sauce is perfectly authentic. The oxtail is fall of the tail-bone tender and the sauce has all the flavors to match. The goat curry is Jamaican style, not Indian or Japanese... Also delicious. Grab a beef Patty to go with your meal!

Review №164

2022-08-27 21:06:41

The owner or manager was trying real hard to use his abuse of power over me when I was really polite and stood outside the door mind you with customers and Pg&e workers not wearing masks right there too and the cook not properly wearing a mask but because I would not enter inside with a face diaper or listen to his orders and demands he rudely said not to come back I said fine and God bless you then he went on to give me a low rating when I did all I had to social distance for him to pass me the order at the door since it was 2ft away and the mandates dropped so for him to try to be aggressive over a mask that is not a law and actually against our consistutional and God Given rights to free air without carbon monoxide like cmon now I was standing outside you cant force me to wear it outside. He will not have my business nor those of the many people who would never treat a person as inhumane as he treated me.

Review №165

2019-10-05 23:56:43

This. Was. SO. GOOD! I dont easily give 5 stars but this place truly deserves it. I had a daily special, the escoveitch fish, which came with marinated and delicately fried fish (tilapia, I think); marinated, salted and sautéed vegetables; two good-sized festivals (fried cornmeal dumplings); fried plantains; and Jamaican rice and peas, all this accompanied by the home-made ginger beer. Everything was so amazingly good on its own, but the combination was superb, with the spicy, salty, sweet, and sour flavours balancing each other.My husband had the jerk chicken wrap and that too was fantastic. The chicken was flavourful and moist, wrapped in a tortilla with lettuce, marinated cucumbers, tomatoes, and creamy dressing. Both our plates were very generous and modestly priced for the quality and quantity. I will SO be back,

Review №166

2022-02-25 04:34:03

The jerk salmon is delicious. Very fast service. Im just sad that they dont have cabbage. Every Jamaican restaurant should have steamed cabbage.

Review №167

2017-05-20 23:47:52

I had dinner here on a Friday evening with friends. I had the curry goat & jerk chicken combo, which is a weekend special (Th/F/Sat). The curry goat was spicy and fall-off-the-bone tender. The jerk chicken was tender and a bit milder than the curry. Sides were rice & beans, fried plantains, and a salad/cole slaw with a very salty vinaigrette on the side. Everything was delicious, although I wish I had gone lighter with the vinaigrette or mixed it better with the salad. The portions were also very generous--I was definitely full afterwards!Other notes:- Staff were very friendly.- Parking is limited. You will probably end up parking on the street.- There is both indoor and outdoor seating, but its also pretty limited.

Review №168

2023-03-19 02:29:36

Great food. I just wish they had extended hours, especially on Friday and Saturday.

Review №169

2020-05-16 00:48:56

I ordered thru Postmates the other day grilled salmon, pork ribs and pork. The one I ordered comes with rice and plantains. Omg, it was a real delight! The grilled salmon was my fave since it reminds of eating grilled food infront of the beach. Even the plantains are absolutely delicious. The price is reasonable and the portions is just right. I ordered again today. Just thinking of it makes my mouth water. Thats how good it is...

Review №170

2020-07-10 22:46:37

This is one of my favorite places to go eat hands down. Ive once went 3 days in a row smdh had to get my Jerk Chicken thighs only that is with my Oxtailswith the Sauteed Vegetables OMG just thinking about it now. Oh yes and the 3 Meat BBQ dish is also to die for; the ribs, chicken and links smdh dang there better than some other BBQ Ive been. Kind of taste like grandmas BBQ to be honest.

Review №171

2020-01-05 03:47:41

This place should not be skipped if youre in the area. Two recommendations: jerked chicken wrap and fried plaintains. Unbelievable combo. Most of what they have is great but those two are must haves. Coconuts in Palo Alto is the same owner but this one is the bargain with the authenticity youre looking for.

Review №172

2020-04-25 01:06:10

This place is the bomb. Seriously. It’s some of the best food in the area (and honestly just in general) and so reasonably priced. Great portions, friendly staff, the menu is solid (my favorites are the jerk salmon and the key lime pie). Can’t be beat.

Review №173

2023-01-08 18:56:40

This restaurant has been in the neighborhood a long time. The caribbean vibe is fun!Delicious food with lots of options, I like the jerk wings, oxtail, festival and plantains the most. You must stop by.

Review №174

2020-01-09 05:52:29

Hidden gem 💎 I had the Jerk chicken platter - its a fairly large portion with 4 pieces of chicken, coconut rice and fried plantains. The chicken was falling off the bone with tons of flavor, the rice was delicious and the plantains were expertly fried.

Review №175

2019-02-20 18:00:13

To be so small it packed a mighty punch. My only complaint is that we didnt get more. Everything we tried was AWESOME!! Service was good and the wait wasnt too bad. There were a lot of people inside. Definitely worth checking out.

Review №176

2023-10-23 22:20:56

Small shop but good food 😋

Review №177

2016-09-08 01:53:07

If youre socially thin skinned, you may be turned off by the local goings-on of the immediate surroundings of this spot, however...the food is unmatched in terms of spice, price and everything nice! Definitely a must-try if youve never been!PS...check their daily specials which would make this place a 6 out of 5 star rating if I had the option

Review №178

2018-07-25 05:47:35

Got the jerk chicken plate and a jerk chicken wrap with a chicken patty as well. The jerk chicken plate was beyond awesome. The chicken was so moist and well seasoned and cooked. This is one of my favorite spots to go to when I am in California. Definitely recommend if you have not tried it yet.

Review №179

2023-01-24 09:34:20

I love there food it was great and I cant wait to get more when I come back out there.

Review №180

2018-04-19 01:29:32

Authentic, Tasty and reasonably priced. This is the original spot before their expansion to SJC and Walnut Creek. Long time customer and appreciate the freshness of the food and attention to detail on flavors. Catering is good as well.

Review №181

2020-07-04 21:47:07

The service is great; definitely worth the wait. The food is delicious and they never fail to amaze my taste buds. The flavors are 𝓲𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓬𝓾𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓮.10 out of 10, full chefs kiss😚👌🏾✨

Review №182

2014-04-16 06:27:36

I stopped by this place during lunch. it was busy. it was small. we had to fight over one of the tables with another group. dive place? check. i ordered the jerk chicken and oxtail combo meal. paid $13.95 for it (lunch). this is going to be one of the greatest lunch outings ive ever had. i got my food after 20 minutes of waiting. it tasted like burnt chicken and burnt oxtail. i left a 1 star tip.

Review №183

2015-11-16 23:32:35

I had never had jerk chicken before and I wasnt quite sure I could handle the spice, but I learned spice is different than spicy. The flavors were so rich and vibrant but it wasnt traditional curry or pepper spicy at all. After the first hesitant bite, I was all in until the bones were bare. The portions were more than enough and I was left very satisfied. The mac and cheese was almost too cheesy for me if I had one complaint. There is no parking lot you just have to find a spot on the street I believe, but I only had to park about half a block away. I saw lots of Facebook and Google employees come and get take out while I ate. Its definitely authentic, popular and delicious.

Review №184

2019-11-27 03:32:42

This place was great! I love the atmosphere, as soon as you walk in it feels like the kinda place with good food. The food did not disappoint! The oxtail was amazing. Absurdly tender and juicy.

Review №185

2020-05-17 17:19:28

5* this place is a Menlo/Palo Alto icon. Total hole in the wall spot off the 101 in Menlo/EPA border area. Better jerk chicken and pork here than anything I tried when I visited Jamaica. YES it is that good. I love the plantains also, and the rice and beans with the meats is perfectly coconutty. This is the kind of place Id drive down from SF to get when the cravings hit

Review №186

2021-05-25 23:52:15

Depending on whos working, theyre not always friendly, but the food always makes up for it. There is no other or better option for Jamaican/Carribean cuisine. You cant eat on site, so have a plan for where youre going to eat. I doubt the food will make it to another destination without getting at least partially eaten though.

Review №187

2019-02-14 01:49:15

This intimate cozy Jamaican spot is located in Menlo Park, Ca.Is a hidden gem. The Jerk Chicken is off the chain Good. Right along with the Curry Goat, Ox Tails.And you have to try the Cornbread, theres fresh off the Cob corn laced in the Batter. Have it with butter and honey.

Review №188

2018-01-24 01:07:27

Amazing Caribbean food, tender, flavorful, and juicy. Huge portions and a very reasonable price. Go early if you’re having lunch to avoid the line, we’re go for relaxed dinner.

Review №189

2019-05-31 22:36:11

The food was spectacularly delicious. Lightly fried plantains paired beautufully with the jerk chicken, and the barbequed pork melted in my mouth. I cant wait to go again and try the coconut cream or pecan pie. Mmmmmmm.

Review №190

2022-10-11 22:24:45

Best in the Bay.Anytime youre in the area, GO. I do. I build Peninsula trips around it.Oxtail + Chicken combo + extra chimichurri

Review №191

2019-05-22 05:45:09

I got the BBQ chicken, it was pretty good. Tried my coworkers Jerk Chicken and it was even better. Tried the beans and rice on the side and didnt care for them. I dont care for Caribbean food, so maybe they are good, but not a taste Im too into.

Review №192

2017-07-28 23:47:03

Different but good the rice tastes like it has pinto beans and coconut milk in it interesting but good chicken is delicious fried fish with the hot sauce amazing that bread tastes like an unglazed donut but goes good with the rest of the salty-sweet dish makes a good little dessert with the fried plantains and the dessert? Sweet potato pudding delicious!

Review №193

2013-07-17 20:40:08

I ordered the Jerk Chicken Meal. Fresh, juicy, and spicy. Great flavor. Place is small but service was fast and friendly. I arrived at 1:15PM to avoid the lunch crowd and there were a couple empty tables.

Review №194

2018-02-02 05:56:37

I am a Jamaican and this is the best Jamaican food in the Bay Area. I go to one of their locations weekly. The only place that has more authentic Jamaican food that I have found is Sweet Fingers in San Leandro. But the quality of food at Back a Yad is just as good. Their festivals are some of the best Ive had in my life. Go here!

Review №195

2018-06-17 04:14:16

Come to this place for the food. Prepare for parking problems, wait, limited seating option and some interesting murals. But one you get the food, just embrace. The meat is very good, plantains are sweet and moist and Mac and cheese is kids-approved. Try some Jamaican drinks for the help with the spicyness.

Review №196

2015-08-01 18:54:44

If youre looking for authentic Jamaican food this is not it. I had the jerk chicken and it made my stomach hurt immediately. They add a ton of rosemary to the jerk rub which totally throws off the taste. The plantain and beans and rice were good but its not too hard to mess up on those two things. I dont see what all the buzz is about.

Review №197

2013-12-05 19:46:12

Horrible service! 2 hours late with the delivery. When they arrive there were no plates forks or spoons. Call the supervisor several times and only told to wait. left a message for the lead supervisor to call me back and she never returned the call. our bill was nearly $400 and we were never given the money back for the food and drink that were not delivered. Since they were two hours late for the half of the group that was there for the luncheon had to leave. This cost a lot of money and work hours for lost work hours. Very disappointing and never received a response I will never ever order from this place again as I have ordered from them many many times!

Review №198

2022-02-26 17:44:12

This place has delicious Caribbean food. But the pork ribs were dry and tough. The other dishes were fantastic.

Review №199

2017-07-08 21:17:27

Had Ackee and Codfish for Saturday lunch (its a Saturday-only menu item) with a Jamaican beef Patty on the side and a Ting sparkling grapefruit soda. It was quite delicious. I split the meal with my Jamaican friend, who loved it so much that she got another order of the main dish.