The food is amazing. Who ever likes Portuguese food should try this place. It's my favorite place to have my lunch after work. And guess what!!! I'm a chef. read more

This place is literally a hidden gem in somerville Portuguese Comfort food 100% recommend this spot. Try the garlic roasted chicken Peri Peri Chicken. read more

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Flavors - 4.3/5 Textures - 4/5 Presentation - 4/5 Value for Money - 4/5 Would return? Yes Must-try: grilled chicken with peri peri sauce Authentic Portuguese food. My favorite thing was the peri peri garlic sauce - you out that thing on anything and it turns to magic! This food is very homey, like going to grandmas house, so it just feels nourishing and satisfactory. The mains are very simple - grilled meats and basic sides like white rice, fries, house salad, etc. read more

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This is maybe the most hole in the wall place I've seen in a while. The front very much looks like a convenience store. But then you walk around, and you see the dining area. I was surprised how not busy it was. There were only two tables: mine and another table, where there was only a single diner. As other reviewers have mentioned, you gotta go for the bbq chicken. It's so moist (a word I'll only use for good poultry), and such a large portion at its price point. You get a lot of fries and rice too. My partner and I both ordered one, which ended up being a bit of a mistake: There was way more than enough for one person per order. We both took home leftovers, and got to make a second meal out of it the day after. I think I'll definitely be back. I hope they get more customers, but (selfishly) am also okay if they remain the hidden gem that they are. read more

J & J Restaurant & Takeout - BBQ chicken - Portuguese Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Good service and good well portioned Portuguese food Some good Portuguese food variety with eat in ,take out and delivery in area and also sell variety of portuguese items. read more

I enjoyed my meal and the service was as good as can be expected. I like this place. It wasn't too busy. In fact, there was only one other party. My balcarau was worth the wait. It took about 25 minutes to cook. read more

The food is great and the wine the company was horrible and the service is great coffee was great also

Dine in tables on the other side of the store. Great place delicious food and reasonable prices. read more

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Whenever I have a rough day I stop here on the way home and turn it around. My go to is their half chicken with rice and french fries, with a side of beans, and Portuguese soup. Literally never let's me down, it's the bomb. Might be time to try the other options, which I'm sure will not let me down! read more

The food was amazing. Authentic, rich, and lots of it. I was deeply disappointed by the service. My husband and I are visiting Boston and we biked 13 miles round trip to get some delicious Portuguese food. We showed up two hours and fifteen minutes before closing, but the woman who served us was really unfriendly from the beginning. Maybe it's just her style, but she seemed visibly annoyed with us - no greeting, barely spoke to us, checked her watch so many times. They started mopping to floors at 8, which honestly wouldn't have bothered me as much if our server hadn't been so blatantly annoyed at us being there. Example: my husband asked for some bread to sop up his broth with, but was told there was none. But when I went to the restroom right before, I saw a big basket of bread on the counter. We ended up rushing through our dinner and spent not even half of what we would have if we'd gotten drinks, dessert, etc. If the service has been decent - not excellent, just enough to not make us feel uncomfortable- this easily would've been a 5-star review based on how good the food was. But in the end it wasn't the greatest experience. read more

Awesome frangu plate with homemade fries .very very tasty and filling. I Always stop by when in area either for a 2go plate or dine in. Give them a try!! read more

Visited the restaurant on Saturday evening....for some reason Yelp listed them as closed for the day. Fortunately, the restaurant was not closed. I was really looking for great tasting food at this restaurant based on the strong yelp ratings. People are correct...from the outside, you would not know there was a restaurant inside because it is blocked off by a wall and in the back. Almost like secret section of the place. We sat ourselves down and the waitstaff acknowledged us. There were only a few other diners in the restaurant (not really eating but chatting over wine - slight indication of locals). The waitress informed us that their grill was not working at all so the menu are limited to items that does not require the grill (ie fried or pan cooked). After a few minutes, we managed to find something to try. We ordered the following: Paelha Valencia - "aka paella" - except I requested to eliminate the pork and linguica (I do not eat pork) - so this leaves with chicken, shrimp, clams and squid. It was a huge portion - rice was tasty, seafood was fresh but the chicken was too dry (which made up most of the protein) in the dish. If I would to have it again - I would just request it as a seafood paella. Feljoada - pork with red beans. Waitress recommended this because it is a native dish. It was all parts of pig (belly, fatty, lean cut and even some unknown)...some pieces still have the animal's hair on it. Those pieces my hubby just pushed aside. He said the dish was decent. The restaurant is a no frill kinda restaurant - minimal service but friendly, food takes a little longer than expected and quality of food is decent though not spectacular as other yelpers had claimed. Gave it a shot but will keep looking and trying. read more

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MMM, what a find! We were at Target in Somerville this afternoon, and we were very hungry and looking for a place to eat nearby, and we stumbled upon J & J, and we're so happy we did. It's pretty unassuming, just driving by, but behind the grocery area inside there is a delightful, homey restaurant. I can't say that I have had a lot of authentic Portugese food, but what we had for lunch today was amazing. We ordered the half grilled chicken with spicy garlic sauce as well as the grilled pork with spicy garlic sauce. These two dishes are usually accompanied by delicious buttery rice and french fries, but we decided to substitute the fries for a fresh salad (which was a good choice for us). Every meal starts out with garbanzo beans drizzled in olive oil with a relish of onions and peppers (from what I could see and taste), and it was refreshing and a nice starter. Their bread was hot and fresh from the oven. When our meal arrived, we were surprised to see the large portions- - and couldln't wait to dig in. The meat had a nice grilled flavor with a slightly spicy garlic sauce, which tasted so good over the buttery rice. There was so much food, I couldn't eat it all and saved 2/3 of my meal for a friend and dinner for the next day. I would definitely recommend this restaurant if you're in the area! read more

I am not giving one star because I don't like the food. I ordered food from them last night , was quoted one price, then charged another. I was told that my total was 27 dollars and some change. My wife looked at our bank statement, and we were charged 31.64. Been going there for years, was never dissatisfied with their service up until now, again, not because of the food, but because of what the manager told me. Sales tax of 7%, extra rolls apparently cost more, but I got hit with a 3% surcharge for using my card. Looked it up, says that is illegal in the state of Massachusetts, he says no, says he has been doing it since 2020 and knows of several businesses that do the same thing. Maybe I'm mistaken. No, half an hour and 20 sources later, they all repeat the same message: credit card surcharges are illegal in the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the territory of Puerto Rico. If he is being dishonest like this for a few dollars, then what else are they being dishonest about? They just lost a customer. read more

On a corner in East Somerville, come for tasty Portuguese fare. Seafood and meat available to suit most tastes. Enter through the convenience store to a charming small restaurant with a few tables. Start with a delicate chick pea salad. Zesty with small rolls. Come to relax, enjoy your company, and dine on European cuisine. Plenty of fish dishes to chose from. Try the standard cod, baked with sautéed onions in a balasmic vinaigrette sauce. Note the baked cod takes awhile to cook. Served with slightly crispy and slightly chewy potato slices and steamed vegetables. The sweet balsamic sauce compliments the mild cod with precision. BBQ half chicken is charcoal goodness. Tangy seasoning. Four chicken pieces, on the bone, plated with french fries and buttery rice (unexpected highlight). read more

J & J Restaurant & Takeout - BBQ Chicken with Rice and French Fries - Portuguese Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

The most underrated gem in Somerville. It's more of a takeout joint than a sit-down restaurant but the food served here is what you would typically get at a nice Portuguese/Spanish restaurant. The salmon is to die for, the steak is cooked just right, and the paella options are out of this world. My favorite is the seafood paella, it's not cheap at $20 per meal but can easily feed two people!! Don't let the outside or ambiance of this place fool you, the food is well done and unique for the Somerville area. read more

This place is so good it should be illegal. My favorite dish by them is their grilled pork with rice (hold the fries). It comes with their amazing garlic sauce. I always ask for extra because it is *that* good. I've only ever gotten take-out from them so I can't speak for their dining room, but if you are in the mood for some fantastic & fast portuguese food, this is the place to go. It's very dangerous (for my wallet) that I live so close. Which is not to say they are expensive, I just find myself craving their food all the time :) read more

J & J Restaurant & Takeout - J & J - Portuguese Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I grew up with this restaurant and have watched it mature and boy am I proud of this establishment! While it may be in a tricky location in Somerville, it is worth the parking nightmare for some quality, homestyle Portuguese food. For a quick, satisfying meal, I recommend the 1/2 or whole frango no churrasco, which is their delicious version of peri peri chicken. Their fish meals are also fantastic! Most of these dishes come with their rice and fries, and for someone who is picky about rice outside of the home, I love theirs! For you polvo (octopus) fans, they serve polvo à lagareiro everyday! Bacalhau is also a staple here. As other Yelpers have stated, this is a hidden gem. Don't judge this book by its cover, take a walk inside and nom on some pasteis or rissóis while you wait for your entree to be done! Eat in or take out. Enjoy! read more

This place is hidden. You walk in the door and it looks like you are in a neighborhood variety store. Look hard to the right and you see the entrance to a ten table dining room. Fine Portuguese Cuisine Great menu, simple wine list. - House white wine is from Portugal ( nice and dry ) Had the seafood plate ..fantastic dish. For the money, the meal you get at J& J gets a two thumbs up from me. Great spot for a fun relaxing meal with wine and an espresso. These folks do an amazing job at keep this place clean .... really clean. So, compared to many off the other neighborhood places in Somerville and Cambridge this is a stand out for being clean. I like a restaurant where the owner really goes the extra mile to make sure their dining room and kitchen sparkles. Rolls delivered before dinner are fresh. However, this type of dinner role ( small and round) has a hard crust. Street parking, no valet here . There are lots of parking meters nearby. So bring quarters for the parking meter, if you drive to J & J read more

Hola!!! My first time trying J and J Restaurant & Takeout. I have never eaten Portuguese food before. Their food is very similar to the Eastern European food. The restaurant is located in my boyfriend's neighborhood -Somerville. It looks like an ethnic deli from the outside and in the back they have a small and simple family oriented restaurant. You can tell the food is cooked on the spot. It tastes very fresh. I had pork(Febras de porco $10.95) and my boyfriend got the tuna steak (Bife de atum grelhado $12.95). He also had the Portuguese soup which tasted very good. My boyfriend recommended to go there on Sunday for lunch but he warned me that it wouldn't be anything 'fancy'. Just as he said, it was a simple and clean establishment. The food is very inexpensive - within $10-$15 range for a huge meal and about $5/drink. This place is worth trying. I am definitely going there again. The check came to about $40 for a soup, 2 huge entrees and 2 drinks - very affordable lunch. Too bad we were a little bit in a rush because we were scheduled for a 3pm chocolate factory tour at Taza. The staff was very pleasant and friendly. The restaurant was very busy for Sunday lunch but then again, the restaurant is not big. Sometimes you are better off trying the local spots than venturing out in town. read more

I had a a friend who swore by this place. Ay...I hate when someone recommends a place and then I end up not enjoying it. I never know what to say when they ask me about it. We got the quarter chicken and fries. It was pretty blah. Nothing special. The spices were good but it didn't really come together in a memorable way. I can definitely make something better. The fries were sooooo soggy. It might have just be me but I felt the service was poor. They were a bit stand off ish. I wouldn't go back especially knowing that there are so many other better places to get roasted or rotisserie chicken in Somerville (try the Brazilian joints on Broadway street). Final grade: D I wouldn't return. read more

Chicken. Oh hells yeah. I was told that I HAD TO TRY this place, my boyfriend raved about how well a decently priced meal kept him fed and warm last winter when he was towing overnights. Finally after much talk, we finally made plans and followed through. When we walked in, my cousin and I razzed my boyfriend "really, you brought us to a convenience store? You shouldn't have!" When you walk to the right, down a little hallway type thing, you get to a little seating area. We sat, met the very polite and friendly waitress and ordered after a complete investigation of what the menu offered. Our waitress apologized for her English a few times, but we had absolutely no issues with ordering - especially with the questions about what my newly (again) vegan cousin's restrictions, she went and asked all the questions of the cooks to free everybody of worry. I got the same thing that my boyfriend ordered. Half a roasted chicken. I sadly wasn't able to finish my meal (TOO much food for me, though my eyes constantly argue with my stomach on this topic...) but enjoyed the chicken a great deal, had the potatoes which were cooked very well, as was the rice. It was clean, the food was presented well, and the staff was incredibly friendly. I'm planning on going back with a bigger appetite, or plans to reheat it for the next days lunch. read more

If there is anything that I crave in this life, it is the bbq chicken here, absolutely amazing. Always the same taste and the killer sauce that goes with it. I been coming here for years, and never once I had a problem with any meal. True parking is awful and it's hidden. Who cares it's worth it. If they had valet I would do it. read more

This place has amazing food, great service and I love the small extra things they give you so you feel at home. Comfort food with great flavor and great value. When you get here they give warm bread and a delicious appetizer with "garbanzos" something like favs beans. The bread and the garbanzos were spectacular. Then we got the Portuguese soup that was very tasty, similar to the Italian soup with vegetables that I am blanking on the same, oh Minestrone. The the BBQ chicken, mmmmmm the best thing. I want to come here only to eat that chicken, PERFECT. the guarana drink was also very good. We closed with the flan and that was the only thing I didn't love and that prevented me for giving 5 stars. Service was excellent and the space is good for kids. read more

J & J Restaurant & Takeout - Guaraná drink and free appetizer - Portuguese Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

It may not be much to look at, but this is the best Portuguese food you can get in the Boston area. Yes, there are a lot of carbs on the menu but, man, carbs are great, especially their carbs: buttery rice, and amazing french fries are the most memorable for me. J & J's has great Portuguese-style steak (and tuna steak), seafood rice, fried fish, and pork loin, but they're BBQ chicken is my favorite dish. It's perfectly done and the sauce is a great mix of garlic and spice. The prices are very reasonable and the dining room has been expanded to actually have some chairs and tables (instead of the old waiting area). If you're looking for good, authentic Portuguese food, J&J's is the place. read more

This has grown to become my go to Portuguese take out spot in the Boston area. Highly recommend. Great portion size with Portuguese flavors.

Two friends and I wandered over to this establishment per the excellent reviews I read here. The place was empty when we got in there, but quickly filled up with lots of Portuguese speaking peoples. Brazilians? Perhaps. Portuguese? I have no idea. The food here reminded me a lot of the food I ate during my semester abroad in northern Spain. Yes, this is Portuguese food, not Spanish food, but the similarities were striking - thin pieces of meat, lots of oil, lots of carbs. It was definitely home cooking style. Their tap water was served without ice, a la Europe. Pros: The really yummy chick pea salad thing they serve with little buns (tee hee, buns!). Circular sliced potato fries. Really good regular fries. Garlic sauce. Service. Moist chicken. Cons: TV. Lots of carbs - next time I'll switch the rice for some steamed veggies. Oily food. Thinly hammered pieces of meat. All in all, not a bad experience. I'd return here again if I were in the neighborhood, but I won't be yelling their praises from the rooftop. read more

HAVE to go here for brunch. Other times I have been less than impressed. The drinks at brunch are perfect and the options especially for ommellettes! read more

Hidden gem !! Been coming here for years !! You got to get the chicken with garlic on the side your welcome :)

Real hidden gem in Somerville. Former roommate told me about this place and how they have the best chicken around. He wasn't kidding, their piri piri chicken is a Portugese staple and addicting indeed. Grab a half chicken with flavorful rice and fries. Deff carboload and will put you in a coma but worth it read more

A very, very good Frango de Churrasco (barbecue chicken). Flan pudding for dessert was very good as well. Price is perfectly adequate ($12.95 for a half chicken with rice and fries). Service is pleasant and quick. Will most definitely return. read more

The chicken is soo good here. And the sauce that comes with it amazing. I always get extra. It's a convenience store in the front and a restaurant in the back. Great local spot y'all should check out read more

You can tell a lot about a place by their staples. This place has delicious, meaty rice, perfectly cooked potatoes, well balanced spices and small plates that relax the soul. I could dine happily on nothing else. The entrees are large and uniformly high quality, they have good inexpensive wines, and great cod. I need to go back soon to try more of their menu. Overall, you could take out your family for little more than it would cost to cook a great meal at home. If I were going to set up my own restaurant, I could hardly do better. read more

This place is small, with about 10 tables, but a group of 6 had no trouble being seated on a Friday night at prime time. The half roast chicken is excellent, with an interesting and slightly spicy marinade, accompanied with mountains of rice and french fries (side vegetable?), for $10. Someone else ordered Arroz de Marisco, which at $19.95 was the most expensive item on the menu, but was loaded with shellfish and a whole lobster and was very good. I don't know what the total was because someone else picked up the check before I could say anything. Expect to pay $10 to $15 per person for poultry/meat dishes, $13 to $20 for seafood. The online menu seems to be current. This is also an excellent place to come if you are in search of lottery tickets. They have a bigger selection than any place I have ever seen. read more

Amaaaazing Portuguese seafood! And the prices are so reasonable. The place would be so much better without a TV, but the TV seems to have invaded everyplace these days. People seem to be afraid of silence. read more

My wife and I came in over the weekend. This was good Portuguese food - huge portions and great deal. Chicken was excellent but the pork chops were a bit dry. My biggest complaint is that the service sucked. I will head back given I have a soft spot for no-frills Portuguese food and want to explore more of this menu. read more

This place makes the best grilled chicken I have ever had. The garlic sauce makes it over the top. It doesn't look like much on the outside but don't hesitate to give it a try. read more

We've gotten catering sized trays of carne alentejana several times from J and J (if that doesn't sound familiar it's pork and clams in a brown gravy with potatoes). Every time it has been top notch delicious. Fresh clams and perfect gravy. Can't say enough about it! read more

Grilled chicken is delicious, two meals if you're a light eater, one if you're super hungry. Love the portions, flavor, and prices. Friendly service. Hard to beat. read more

Take away food spot. The chicken is very solid served with fries and rice. Perfect for take away after a long day. Very comforting food. The caldo verde/kale soup is also good but not consistent, sometimes it's very liquid other times is perfect...you need to be lucky. You will have to call before getting there so you don't end up waiting forever for your food. read more