Excellent choice for food! The ambiance fit the food and it really wraps you into everything. The people were kind, helpful, and they know their stuff! I live in Michigan and still crave this food. Every time I go to Indianapolis I try to make a stop. read more

Ja'Grill is now one of my top spots for high quality Jamaican food in Chicago. This Hyde Park gem is a reasonably appointed space and a decent sized bar. Our group of 3 chose the bar and was quickly served our drinks by the bartender. I asked for a fun mocktail and she gave me something fruity with a little fizz and it was so good! For entrees we ordered the curry shrimp meal, the lamb chops, and the whole snapper (escovitch). This food was phenomenal. I thought the curry shrimp was great until I tried the escovitch fish and OMG by taste buds are still thinking about it. If I lived in Chicago, I'd be in there every week. read more

See all

Jamaican me crazy with yummy spicy foods. My husband had come back from a happy hour here with delicious jerk chicken wings once. Since then he has been wanting to take me to this establishment. On this Saturday afternoon, we were fortunate to be present for happy hour. We grabbed the jerk wings, jerk tacos, beef patty and two daiquiris. This was enough for us to try a few things. Everything we ordered was good. The spice was wildly good. I would definitely come back here to a full Jamaican entree. I saw pretty unique items on menu such as goat, lamb chops and some delicious sides. All in all it was nice place with ample seating inside and out. The sound system was decent and not overpowering. The bar had several seats and everyone was having a good time. The vibe here was chill. read more

See all

This place is hit or miss. Today it was a miss. The rice and peas were obviously old. They were hard, dry and tasted like they had been refrigerated and re-heated. When I told the server he gave me gravy to put on that old rice. Today I was disappointed. read more

The jerk wings are great. The ambience of this place is also great. When getting a jerk wings make sure that you ask about the spice - they can get hot. Staff was attentive and pleasant, per usual. If you're in Hyde Park, check this place out. read more

Ja' Grill Hyde Park - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm not very familiar with Jamaican cuisine but I can say the food here was absolutely delicious. I highly recommend the jerk lamb chops, cooked to medium for the perfect texture. The stew chicken was really good too. Definitely worth a visit! p.s. they have TVs in every corner if you like to watch sports lol read more

Ja' Grill Hyde Park - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Omg, ja grill had an awesome block party - long lines for beverages and long lines for food. BUT IF YOU WANNA USE THE RESTROOM * not for the public foh read more

I had a craving for a Jamaican patty and stumbled on Ja' Grill! It was everything that I was craving: flavorful, flaky, and transported me right back to the Caribbean. My only caveat would be the patty wasnt fully stuffed and have used more filling. But the curry chicken was packed with flavor. I ordered it online and it was ready to go once I arrived. The staff was very friendly and there was a nice crowd in there watching the game on a Saturday afternoon! read more

Ja' Grill Hyde Park - Curry Chicken Patty - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I love yelp but I don't completely write off restaurants with low ratings and this is an instance I'm glad I didn't. I was in the area running errands and I had an hour to spare before my wax appointment. I came in around noon and there was a small lunch crowd. Good vibes upon entrance, I was greeted and headed to the bar for a seat. The decor is nice and welcoming and the music was great and not too loud. I love that they have Abita purple haze ($7) a favorite beer of mine so I ordered that and a double shot of Uncle Nearest ($18). The bartender was nice and attentive. For food I got the jerk wings, rice and peas with cabbage and plantains ($20). The jerk sauce comes on the side and I got spicy which was delicious. The chicken was grilled to perfection and seasoned just right, not too salty, cabbage and plantains were excellent but the rice and peas lacked a little flavor but with the jerk sauce on top it was good. The food came out fast, piping hot, and fresh and great portion size for the price. This was a great solo lunch date and I will definitely be returning. There's auto gratuity on the checks which I did not mind at all because the service was good and the restroom was also clean. read more

Ja' Grill Hyde Park - Jerk Wing Entre - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came in a party of six. We all had satisfying entrées that we shared across the table. Service was awesome. Great curry! Kitchen crew was very professional, and every thing was well plated and very genuine to the genre it serves! I'll be back! read more

Ja' Grill Hyde Park - Curry Chicken Entree With Jerk Wing Entree - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Was sick for a week and a half after eating at this restaurant (food poisoning) which I believe came from the gravy for the rice and beans My daughter has tasted some of what I brought back home and was in the bathroom later that evening as well and woke the next day vomiting, and nausea all that day. My experience was much worse than my daughters because I had consumed over half of the portion of food that I was served. Was a very terrible experience. I wouldn't wish the way I was feeling on anyone. It was just terrible. read more

Ja' Grill Hyde Park - Stew Chicken Entre - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lamb chops, Jerk Chicken, Red Snapper - ALL were great! The service was excellent, and prices very reasonable.

The food is delicious. I go to this restaurant every time I visit Chicago. The honey jerk chicken is phenomenal. Don't forget to try the cornbread with the cabbage. Also, if you're into martini's, try the side car. read more

I hadn't sat down at Ja'Grill for a while. But we sat at the bar and had an amazing waitress. She was so kind and had great energy. She recommended the kind of red snapper to order which was probably the best dish I've tasted in a long time! It was absolutely delicious! We ordered cabbage and rice as sides. We also had a side car (drink) which she nailed it. It was so good! Anddd strong asl! I don't think I've ever been that tipsy off one drink lol. The ambiance is pretty basic. But when it's packed you can definitely dress up. A great place to go on a date, with your friends, or if you're a bachelor read more

See all

So in the past I've left a negative review & that was all bc the owner had a shitty demeanor about himself & the way he treats customers. And although I haven't been given any reason to change that perspective, I have to be honest and say the staff, ambiance and food is still worth the trip. I was advised the owner had toned it down due to all the complaints, so I did - and bartenders are still the best and food is still worthy of praise. If the only thing wrong with the brand is the Whiz of Oz behind the scene, I'm happy to say I can overlook that & support an otherwise worthy establishment. Without Steph and a few other prime bartenders/managers I'd not have the same opinion. And patio with DJ sets add to the experience. I've given the establishment a second chance & the food & employees make it feel like a good decision. Judge for yourself, everyone deserves a second chance! read more

Ja' Grill Hyde Park - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

All right y'all this is one of those places that can be really really good or they may mess up your food, however to me a place like that with some imperfections is a good place. I normally get the jerk chicken or the stew chicken. I like the Bob Marley drink, and I believe the sangria. The service is good. The food doesn't take too long to come out, but it could be a little faster. The ambience is great. It's very dim light. It's located in high parts so sometimes it could be heavy traffic and sometimes it's not. Based on the comments, it look like the service has been going down lately, but hopefully they will pick it back up soon read more

Ja' Grill Hyde Park - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Kodos to the General Manager Alex who helped me in reserving my group for my birthday celebration. Thanks to Manager Jordan who was on duty that night that ensured all went well on my special day. The space they gave our group was just as I requested. All of the staff was very nice, pleasant and helpful. We enjoyed our cocktails and dinner. Many of us ordered the lambchop dinner and it was superb, like it has always been! Although the portions was not what it use to be but we still did have our fill. The people around us were very friendly. All in all it was great night. I was really greatful that they allowed me to bring my own cake to celebrate my 50th birthday. I was very ecstatic! I had enough cake to left over to provide staff if they wanted it. Thank you all for a great evening and helping to celebrate my special milestone! read more

See all

I love Ja'Grill. I've been with family, I've been for girl time, and I've even been for a date -- loved the experience each time! The service is amazing, great staff, who's attentive and provides timely service! The bartenders they hire MUST be picked from the best of the best! The chef never misses!! It's a cute spot, and it's not too big so it's very intimate with the seating for sure. There is a bar that has plenty of seats! They also have outdoor patio seating and the service there is no different than sitting indoors! If you're ever in the Hyde Park area looking for a nice spot to grab some good jerk food and drinks, this is a good go to -- especially since they're also fairly affordable! Every bite and sip is worth your buck! read more

Pretty good jerk not as good as the late great Calypso in Hyde Park but pretty good nonetheless. Good curry chicken, ribs, jerk, oxtails, plantains. read more

I came here because a friend of mine was driving and I really didn't have a choice in the matter. Not a choice that I would have made. Ordered the jerk wing plate and 2 beers. Nothing on the plate was piping hot. Rice was dry, plantains was dry. Wings and cabbage was just ok. Bread was way too dense. All of this and 2 beers: $69. I won't be back on my own. read more

Ja' Grill Hyde Park - Wing plate - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The staff was so very accommodating. Especially when we booked at the last minute for 17 people (only 7 showed). They were so attentive, warm and friendly. The food was amazing! The atmosphere was fluid. It had a taste of a soul food restaurant, the liveliness of a sports bar, family friendly environment and quality of a michelin star. Overall I would recommend! read more

Now serving brunch 10-3 The chicken and waffles are fire Along with a Ja mimosa or Ja rum punch read more

Ja' Grill Hyde Park - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Despite the reviews I've never had a bad meal or bad service here. I came for lunch and had the jerk shrimp. It's spicy and good. The rum punch still strong but I'm a light weight. Music is good, parking is hard, drinks are strong. read more

See all

Congratulations to this restaurant for providing the worst dining experience ever. The manager Marco who was there on 10/3/25 around 9pm was aggressively violent. He cursed out a customer who asked for their bill to be split and had to be physically restrained by other staff members. Not to mention the restaurant was out of cabbage, beef patties, veggie patties and wings! I paid to be assaulted essentially. Never again read more

I was visiting Chicago from Minnesota for the weekend and had to stop at one of my favorite jerk restaurant. The staff is always a vibe and the energy inside never disappoints. I haven't had ground beef in over 7 years but decided it was time to break that and get the beef patty. It's such a simple dish but it was packed with flavor and the crust was perfect. The jerk lamp chops is what will always make me come back. They were so juicy and flavorful and the jerk sauce on the side brought it to another level of spice. Plantains were cooked to perfection and this was such a yummy meal. 5/5 stars every time! read more

First timer, this place is a vibe. Pro: Happy hour is on point, decent prices, hard-working bartenders make good drinks. Chicken tacos is a go to item and jerk sauce has a right amount of spice Patio out front w/ Dj is a vibe. Noticed people brought their lounge chairs. Cons: Observed an unwelcoming mean-mugging, disposition manager (starts w/an "A") and not nice when speaking to patrons. Not good for the business. Besides that I might go back. read more

cute lil vibe. Fast service, and the music was good too! First time trying Jamaican food and wasn't disappointed. read more

See all

I was not particularly impressed I ordered the wing combo/ meal In Jamaica fashion the top sellers were sold out but no worries the wings just tasted like smoke it wasn't very jerk like to me. What was good on their menu was the curry!! Now that I recommend the rice was dry and half of the the plantain were over ripped read more

Ja' Grill Hyde Park - I am assuming this service fee is a Chicago thing - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

In town for a hot second and wanted to see some friends. By the time we caught up to them, they were eating here and we decided to eat too. There was a long waitlist of over an hour here, showcasing how popular the restaurant was. We were lucky and found four spots at the bar and our friends moved to the bar with us. The curry goat, oxtails, AND beef patties were already sold out, which was heartbreaking. We ended up eating three orders of jerk chicken wings, a side of cabbage, and coco bread while drinking overproof rum punches. LET ME TELL YOUUUUUU!!! Everything was DELICIOUS!!!! Just so good. I scarfed down the jerk wings and wished I had more room in my stomach beyond appetizers. I heard the cabbage was good and it sho was; seasoned to perfection, buttery, soft yet with a crunch. Just perfect. And these drinks?!?!! Ask for the drinks to be overproof if you tryna get gone. 15 bucks was the right price for these strong but so so so good drinks. Ask for Steph; she was the best bartender! coming back! This was the spot! read more

See all

About as good Jamaican food as you will get outside of Jamaica! And, it's some of the better food in Chicago, in general.

My colleagues and I ordered lunch from here today. I had the jerk chicken entree which came with rice and peas, cabbage and carrots, plantains, and Jamaican hard dough bread. There are two different sauces to choose from: mild or hot jerk sauce. I like spicy and chose hot. The sauce was on point and added the right amount of heat to the tender and well-seasoned chicken. The rice, cabbage, and plantains were just as delicious. My colleagues also enjoyed their entrees as much I did. Delivery also came about 10 minutes earlier, and we, of course, did not complain! read more

See all

I had the salmon jerk salad with plantains. The food was very good . The jerk wasn't overly spicy but just the right amount of spice. I will definitely order from them again. read more

Raining, ran to the door at 8pm. Doors locked. Stated open til 10:00pm. Called, rude broad states closed. I mention 10pm. We closed. Please go elsewhere where they have professional services. 14 Parish.. thanks for being open!!! read more

See all

Was pretty disappointed with our visit. I was leaning towards 2 stars, but the jerk chicken was tasty so that pulled it up. The service was pretty slow. The inside of the restaurant was pretty run down and really loud, so we opted to sit outside. I think some improvements to make the overall ambiance nicer and more elevated would go a long way! Food: - We started with the cocoa bread, which was really dry and not that tasty. - Jerk Shrimp was okay. Fine, but didn't leave me wanting me more. - Jerk Chicken was good! It was tasty and lots of food. I felt like this was the only dish we got that was worth the $$. The side of rice was kind of dry/tough, but I was happy with this dish. Unfortunately would not recommend this place to others. The food isnI think the place would be great if there read more

Ja' Grill Hyde Park - Jerk chicken with the mild sauce. Would recommend! Mild sauce still had a decent kick. - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It was a pleasant experience, and the drinks were enjoyable. The location was beautiful, and the prices were very affordable. However, as someone with a Jamaican husband, I found the food lacking in authenticity when it comes to true Jamaican cuisine. While I wouldn't revisit, it's still worth trying at least once. read more

Such a good, reliable spot in Hyde Park. The food is tasty and I've never had to wait for a table. The jerk chicken, curries, and stews have all been really good, and I love the beef and curry chicken patties as an appetizer (or even a couple as a lunch). The drinks are fun. I'm surprised people don't talk about this restaurant around Hyde Park more. I know there have been some other exciting restaurants opening, but I'm always happy to come here and have never had a bad meal. In fact when my brother-in-law is visiting from out of town, this is the place he asks for as his favorite restaurant he's been to in Chicago! read more

STOP serving COLD FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! As much as you charge, in NO WAY should I receive COLD CHICKEN PATTIES. I could have gotten better ones from the grocery store. For the amount of money you charge, it should be much better. The only reason why I even continue supporting this place is because of the BARTENDERS. They're good people. The food, however, has been slipping. read more

This place was super nice! First time ever ordering since I don't live in the city. The ambience is nice. The only issue is the construction. It was hard to see the restaurant but I was able to find it, it was a bit from there. The waitress in the front was super nice and gave amazing customer service. She found my order within the quickness. The food was amazing. My only draw back was the chicken for me wasn't as tender as I thought it was going to be. Maybe due to the fact it was drums and not thighs. But everything was delicious. The rice has a savory but sweet taste to it and the cabbage was seasoned nicely. Not to heavily with spices because again you have the rice and beans with the stew chicken spices. Overall, I'd come back again. Next time, I'll get the oxtails. Also that Rum Punch!!!! Baby.... A hit! One good sip and it's lights out. Lol. I'll be back for that as well. read more

Ja' Grill Hyde Park - Stew Chicken Entre - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I stopped by yesterday as part of a food tour but I think there was a miscommunication between the staff about it. The servers seemed super stressed trying to serve us all which is understandable but otherwise, the food was yummy. The chicken wings were juicy and paired with a sauce that definitely offered a KICK (and I like to think I can handle spice haha). The plantains were also delicious. Otherwise, the atmosphere seemed pretty vibrant and loud. The restaurant was packed even before we arri read more

I love the half-chicken plate here. It fills me up and to be honest, I should take some home for leftovers but typically finish it all on the spot! read more