Giving this 5 star review because I went back this weekend during a busy time. Still received kind and timely service. Most importantly, the banana pudding pound cake is so DELICIOUS. Keep it on the menu FOREVER! Overall 8/10 read more

I originally wanted the jerk rice bowl but quickly switched to a 1/4 dark because the price of the jerk rice bowl was outrageous Weekday lunch 1/4 dark (chicken, rice, and cabbage), $12 vs. Jerk rice bowl, says $12 but they charge $15 w/"protein" The young lady who cashiering wasn't confident in knowing how to compensate me for the difference in price since I switched my order. Make note, not sure if their system is setup properly to provide refunds but that is a major concern for an upstart. This place is/was promising but I personally dislike a badly written/price menu than buckle and dime customers. Make the jerk rice bowl $12 w/chicken. Problem solved. Besides it was a bit too spicy. Two stars because they at least made up for the discrepancy however, I'm leaving the review for my own temperament so that I know what I'm willing to put up with if I ever revisit. I really didn't like all of the background talk about why I wanted to switch my order. Just simply switch customer orders without having to hold a conference, eye rolling, and nasty attitudes. I get it that it's family-owned but please invest in some customer service training for the young lady at kiosk or hire someone with some experience. Definitely will have to give this place more time to adjust. read more

My team and I ordered our lunch from here so I cannot comment on the service or ambiance of the restaurant. Two ordered the catfish, another ordered the 1/2 white, and I ordered the 1/2 dark. I chose the mac and yams for sides. I don't know all of the sides the others ordered but two of them ordered the cabbage and they said it tasted sour. Aside from this, everything was tasty and we all enjoyed their meals. We will definitely order from here again. read more

Jerk Yard - 1/2 dark with mac-n-cheese and yams - Chicken Shop Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Nasty Food, dry chicken, service is not that great either , go to jerk villa great service and atmosphere.

I was exploring the area and stumbled upon jerk yard. I order the half chicken dark with cabbage and yams. Rice and peas were also included. The food was 10/10 and the wait was not long at all considering how busy they were! The food was perfectly season and came in generous portions! read more

As far as my food is concerned, the rice and peas are cold cabbage good plantain is hot yams, cold, and in addition to that I had to wait 36 minutes just to get my order. There is no way in the world, A veggie platter should take 36 minutes to prepare, utterly ridiculous! I've heard rave reviews about that about this place, this is my first time experience, will be my last. read more

Jerk Yard - Veggies plate - Chicken Shop Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I passed this place last weekend and vowed to come back and try it. Today I did just that. It's quite a distance from my house so thankfully they had a restroom customers could use because boy did I have to pee. Now to what you really want to know. The food was good. Authentic is an understatement. I'm not quite sure exactly what the flavor on the chicken was, but it taste like either a hickory dry rub, a cinnamon powder or maybe even nutmeg. Definitely some kind of hidden secret ingredient because it doesn't taste like any other jerk. The cabbage and rice were a little bit to salty. The rice was ok but taste like a box of Zatarains. The plaintiffs were cooked to perfection, slightly moist and sweet. The sauce was also good. Unique to say the least. It had a tingy tatse like maybe lime juice is used in the ingredients. Nice upbeat atmosphere and pretty decorum. I didn't interact much with staff except the cashier. She was pleasant. Overall I give it 3stars. I would patron again if I happened to be in the area. read more

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I was so excited to try this place for a second time. My first visit was amazing. I got the chicken wings, rice, sweet potatoes. Plan since everything was good period Now second visit, I was unable to put my order in online, so we had to drive there. And of course, wait because of problems with the system get to the front, find out they don't have any rice, any cabbage, any plantains at this point, the door should be shut and they should be done for the day. How in the world can you serve jerk fool? And you don't have the essentials. That goes with the chicken. The only thing they were offering was chicken and sides that you did not want.You want rice, you want peas, you want cabbage?You want plantains ! THEN wanna charge you six dollars if you did get a side of mac ! WHICH MEANS A TOTAL HIGHER THAN GETTING AN ACTUAL MEAL. BECAUSE THEY CAN COMPLETE THE ORDER! We won't be back ! read more

Jerk Yard - Chicken Shop Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Jerk Yard is an authentic Jamaican cuisine restaurant located in Hyde Park. That serves up some delicious Jamaican cuisine food. I ordered from the lunch special menu the Rasta Pasta bowl without the protein & jerk chicken eggrolls that comes with rice. Nice vibes that has a vibrant and colorful inside decor, outside patio for you to enjoy when the weather is nice. Great enjoyable Jamaican music playing. The customer service was cool and the prices were decent. My food came out hot and freshly prepared. Everything was delicious, the only compliant is that I wish they didn't overly drown my Rasta Pasta in sauce. I didn't have to wait a long time for my food. I will return back whenever I'm in the area. I want to try the Jerk Salmon & Jerk Catfish. read more

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This is my go to spot for Jamaican food. The jerk chicken and Jerk Salmon are delicious . the jerk sauce is the best i've had. 10/10

I passed by The Jerk Hut while running errands. The smoked Jerk smell emanating from grill in the back drew me in. I ordered the Jerk wings which come with rice & peas, plus plantain. I substituted the cabbage for the Mac & Cheese because more carbs of course... Apparently, the order right me before was huge and the wait was long. I couldn't stay so I requested a refund. No managers were there at the time so I decided to come back and sort it out later. Pryce the manager, was cool, calm , and collected. After listening to what happened, I was issued my refund and because I had to come back I was actually able to taste the food. The Jerk Wings were fantastic. They were so juicy and I really enjoyed the deep smokey jerk taste. They paired great with rice and peas. I'm glad I found a local restaurant where customer service still matters and food quality is important. Please keep up the good work. If it wasn't for Pryce, this would have been a very different review. Thanks again. read more

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I ordered from this restaurant through Uber Eats, but unfortunately my order was incorrect when I went to pick it up. The issue was not on the restaurant's end, but with Uber Eats. When I arrived at the restaurant, I walked in alongside a gentleman who was heading toward the back. I asked if he worked there, and he kindly said yes. I explained the situation to him, and without hesitation, he immediately accommodated me. I was very impressed with his professionalism and customer service. This was my first time eating from this restaurant, and to my surprise, both the service from Mr. Law and the food were exceptional. He truly made a frustrating situation into a great experience. I will continue to support this resturant. read more

We ordered the oxtails with cabbage and Mac the Mac was extra 6.50 that we didn't receive on 1/23/26 but the oxtails was so good ! Next day ordered the exact same thing except the Mac , this time the whole tray was absolutely TRASH!! I entered order notes that went ignored over cooked gummy rice and spoiled cabbage literally a whole change a day apart read more

First of all, I am strategic when ordering food from any restaurant. I take into consideration days of the week,weekends and holidays,as these elements relate to traffic and food turnover .Well I hit the jackpot on Mother's Day 5/10/26 !! My order was Oxtails,rice and peas, cabbage, with mac and cheese.At least 10 small oxtails ( falling off the bone and perfectly seasoned)sat upon a heap of rice and peas with extra gravy.Cabbage,with mac and cheese , needed nothing to make them more delicious.My son hand delivered this meal as one of my gifts for Mother's Day. At 75y/o,I was excited and hungry , and forgot to take a picture. Sorry !!! read more

Good location in Hyde Park. Free street parking is on the next block. They were quick and friendly. The inside is small but has seating. I shared with friends. The Cajun chicken pasta was just ok - not the best I've had. The jerk tacos were flavored well and not overly spicy. The plantains were nice and sweet, but next time I'll ask for them to be fried harder. I heard the wings were also a hit. Overall, I'd give this place a B. It's new so I'm sure they will hone their skills and flavors much more over time. Great addition to the neighborhood. read more

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This place always smelled good whenever walking past it. I ordered online delivery, and the jerk chicken (dark meat) was delicious. What brought it above and beyond was the sauce they provided. The rice and cabbage was delicious too, but the sauce was the main star. It had a deep, salty, slighty spicy, almost lemony/vinegary taste to it. Very flavorful, and the food portion was perfect. I've never been inside, so I can't comment on the service, but the food when I received it, was amazing. I would recommend it to try it at least once, if you like Jamaican food. read more

This is THE jerk place in Chicago. Omg, I have been waiting for this for a long time. I have eaten at almost every jerk chicken restaurant in the city and none of them even scratch the surface of Jerk Yard. I got the jerk chicken tacos and they were fire! The sauce was amazing and they were cooker to perfection. They also come on a huge bed of rice and you get SO much food for your money. The sauce was delicious and the meat was tender. I ate inside the restaurant and the vibes were everything. Jamaican music, friendly staff, great smells. If you are looking for top of the line Jamaican cuisine-this is it! Wow- can't wait to go back. read more

Jerk Yard - Chicken Shop Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Visiting Chicago and stumbling across this gem only two doors down from my stay was not on my to do list. But it's hard to turn down my people's food. I ordered the jerk chicken rice and peas with cabbage and plantains. Always my starter dish to see if I'll be back. They have everything seasoned to my liking. The peppers and allspice were turnt up just right. The plantains which I must say I'm not a plantain guy were perfect and I ate them like I was starving. The staff have the music going and we're cooking up a storm and we're friendly, because I didn't just feed myself but the family too. No complaints. read more

On Thursday night, February 26, 2026, I went to Jerk Yard in Hyde Park to order 10 wings. I was told they were out of wings and only had dark, white, or mixed dinners available. Although that wasn't what I originally wanted, I still decided to order a 1/2 dark dinner to support the business. My total came to $17.20. I handed the cashier a $20 bill that I had just received from an ATM. She examined it and asked if I had another $20 because the one I gave her was not acceptable. There was nothing unusual about the bill. When I asked if she was refusing to take it, she said yes and handed it back. The interaction was uncomfortable and embarrassing. I came in ready to spend money and was treated as though my cash was questionable. Regardless of policy, the situation could have been handled with more professionalism and respect. Based on this experience, I will not be returning. If they treat people this way they should not be in the industry of service. At All. read more

I ordered a jerk chicken dinner from Jerk Yard in Hyde Park on Saturday. The cabbage that came with my meal did not look right at all--it looked old and unappetizing, and they should not have served it. I only took about three bites before realizing it didn't taste fresh. After eating the food, I became very sick and was vomiting throughout the night. I normally don't leave bad reviews, but this experience was too serious to ignore. This was disappointing and concerning, especially when it comes to food safety. I hope management takes food quality more seriously so this doesn't happen to anyone else. read more

WOW! Is all I can say. When I tell yall... EVERYTHING I ate was absolutely frickin delicious! Usually when I get Jerk on the south side I may not like the side but the jerk itself will be fye but listen here big backs!!! YOU will NOT be disappointed!!! Please keep yall greedy tales out of here this is the BEST Jerk chicken I've had on the south side hands down! I WILL be back. They are small wouldn't recommend large crowds. Gotta pay for parking or park in Walgreens lot. Soooo worth it! That Mac & Cheese was like somebody grandma made it! The cabbage was so uniquely good I can't explain what the difference was from other spots... but it's special.. read more

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I came to Jerk Yard and got the lunch special of curry chicken and I upgraded to also get mac and cheese. Everything was absolutely delicious, chicken falling off the bone and well seasoned rice. Also, the woman at the front was kind and gave me updates about my order. I see that others complain about the wait but I think it's completely worth it when you're getting made to order, quality food that's served hot. Plus, there's great music playing you can bop to while you wait. Overall, a wonderful restaurant!! read more

Jerk Yard - Chicken Shop Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I waited for a while for this spot to open in Hyde Park. While walking past one day, I saw that they were open and a couple sitting out front eating it said it was good. So I returned that same weekend to try it. Well, as a self-proclaimed "foodie"...and someone who considers Jamaica as my second home (I have family and friends there and had a time-share there many years ago), I was underwhelmed. I ordered THREE all white jerk dinners. The chicken was good, the macaroni pasta shells were over cooked, but the flavor was good. The rice was also over cooked, which made the beans &rice a little mushy. Which brings me to my request for Brown Stew gravy on my beans and rice. I was told that they didn't do that (which is a first for me when eating from ANY jerk restaurant at home and abroad). I was told that they didn't put Brown Stew gravy on anything but Brown Stew dishes because "it takes away from the flavor of the food". It probably could have masked the mushy rice! Something for them to think about considering the competition in Hyde Park. The reason I'm giving it 4 stars was because of the service. When you are a new restaurant, workers should be open to new customers asking questions. 1. The menu on the counter was different from the menu that is posted, so I had a clarifying question. 2. I noticed that they served a side of gravy, so I asked if I could purchase the Brown Stew gravy on the side. Again I was refused. I then asked another, more pleasant cashier if she could explain what the gravy was that they sold on the side that's listed on the menu. She thought it was Brown Stew gravy, but the first cashier jumped in and said that it wasn't and explained that it was just plain brown gravy (whatever that is).‍ Because this is a Black owned business, I will try them again and have recommended them to others. When asked how it tastes, I replied "It was ok, I would go back", but if I want Brown Stew gravy on my beans&rice, Uncle Joes or Ja' Grill will suffice. read more

I would I like to say Welcome to the Hyde Park Community!! Your motto on your menu is "This is not baked chicken!" It sure isn't! Nice and Smokey! Good flavored chicken. My husband went in a hour ago and ordered a 1/2 Dark dinner which comes with a plantain and two sides. He ordered cabbage and yams for his sides. His dinner was missing the plantain and he wasn't giving yams like he ordered. He was given rice and peas...which wasn't what he ordered. The rice in the rice and peas were mushy but had great flavor. The cabbage was delicious too! Not the standard jerk restaurant cabbage. It was full of flavor!! I ordered the Jerk Chicken Wrap but my husband said you guys "didn't have it"...Ugh! I was so bummed guys! Normally I would go on a rant about black businesses not having their full menu available BUT you guys just opened up so I will give it a break until next time. So I had him to get me the Jerk Chicken Rasta Pasta. It was good nice flavor. Personally I think a tad more jerk sauce could have been added to the sauce. Also my penne pasta wasn't "Al Dente" it was very soft. I am thinking maybe you guys were overwhelmed with lots of customers and let the rice and pasta overcook a tad. Everything was still tasty and I do understand that you guys have new restaurant and the kinks will get worked out as time goes on. However, I did have to take off a couple of stars for not having the Jerk Wrap and forgetting the yams and plantain. You guys don't have a phone number listed. We would have preferred to have ordered over the phone or online. I will be back to try other items. read more

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This review is based on 4 visits i've had so far - it's excellent ; it's become my main go to for Jamaican food in Hyde Park; and easily bests the other places with the high quality and attention to detail on the food. I've tried the oxtails; the brown stew chicken, and the jerked chicken. My highest recommendation is for the jerked chicken which is grilled and has a nice smoke and jerk flavor to it. Give this place a try! read more

Food was great and fresh. Customer service was on point and it's right in the heart of Hyde Park. Limited dining inside but i found a nice space by the window. read more

The service is terrible the cashier is very rude and disrespectful. The price is expensive so it's not worth taking the cashiers attitude.

This place came highly recommended so I decided to give it a shot. I stopped in at approximately 3pm and was informed by the cashier that the rice and peas wouldn't be ready for at least 45 minutes. ‍ Not sure if I'll go back read more

It was my first time there. I went in on a Friday around 2:30P. I ordered a four wing lunch special with rice and cabbage. Everything was good, but the staff was mean and ignorant. The girl with the dreads/braids, at the register was loud and cursing. The short dark cook was in the back looking very mean the whole time. I felt uncomfortable while waiting on my food. I don't know if I will be returning there. It was a very bad look for a first visit. read more

At last! I don't have to drive around the block for 20 minutes to find a parking space on 51st and then wait in line for another 20 minutes to pick up an order I placed 30 minutes ago. I don't have to go to 47th St. and fight for a parking space or fear for my life or car. JERK CHICKEN HAS FINALLY ARRIVED TO 53RD STREET! THANK YOU! IT'S CALLED JERK YARD. The food is good and the service is outstanding! Just remember, guys, consistency is the key. read more

Jerk Yard - Chicken Shop Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A very unassuming spot serving up the best jerk chicken I've ever had State side. Came a couple of weeks ago while visiting Chicago and can't wait to return. Nestled in Hyde Park this is the kind of eatery that gives the neighborhood its distinct character. They have a patio with a few tables and chairs but really this is the type of food meant to take home and enjoy without regard for table manners and other such inhibitions They got vegetarian fare but why would you come here for that? The chicken is cooked fresh to order so expect to wait 20-30 minutes depending on the number of patrons. What makes them special is that the jerk spice lands at the right target for heat. Just enough sizzle on the tongue yet leaves room to taste the other flavors in the profile. Chicken is tender but not so much that it winces when you sink your teeth into it. And they have this cabbage which is too good to be merely an option. By the way, excuse the absence of pictures. As I said this is food you roll your sleeves for and go to work! read more

I have tried to support this restaurant a few times but I cannot any longer after this meal. We just ordered two fourth white dinners The chicken is so dry it's unbelievable. The red beans and rice are dry and they're never dry They always have a really delicious gravy on them I guess they forgot to put it on my orders. The cabbage was just plain bland cabbage no carrots no onions nothing and this jerk chicken pasta is a joke The pasta had no red/green peppers as advertised and even worse! No sauce, dry as hell. This was truly a waste of $45. I want my food to look like The TikTok influencers food. Hot, flavorful,moist and saucy. They make sure, their plates are . What a disappointment. read more

Jerk Yard - This chicken is sooooooo dry. Cabbage bland. Hyde Park location btw - Chicken Shop Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The food is good y'all!that rasta pasta has me coming back for more and more , In fact I'm going to get some now if they are not sold out!

The chicken is tasty, with quite forward jerk seasoning that's hot but not too hot. You will have to chew around the bones, but I think that's part of the classic jerk experience. I was at a loss when it came to the sides, but my ears perked up when the cashier told me that their most popular side was the cabbage -- one of my favorite disfavored vegetables, and it was very good! I'm not exactly saying that it's better than the fried chicken place that used to be across the street (RIP, Budlong) but I am saying that I'll probably be back to try it again. read more

The food is a 10 out of 10 the best!!!! I'm obsessed and the service is nice and the young lady at the register is super nice and has great energy. A real ambiance to the place. I had the jerk chicken Alfredo, the jerk egg rolls and the jerk chicken tacos prices very reasonable as well read more

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I returned yesterday. I hadn't had the curry chicken in about a month, since the soft opening. It is no longer something I would purchase. When I first went it was delicious, with full chicken pieces. A month later, the gravy wasn't thick, a watery consistency. There was no coconut milk flavor, although I could taste sugar!!! Then I had more meat in my lunch special a month ago than the $18+ with tax dinner. They literally chopped chicken into small pieces and gave me 4, mostly bone. The pieces together would have made a thigh and the cabbage was oily. read more

They take care of their customers and their food is We ordered here for the first time came across a few minor issues with my order it was addressed and resolved quickly even if just having social media as a outlet to contact them, I was surprised with how fast they responded to my issue and overcompensated me for it. also, the food is very good. we Will be back! read more

Jerk Yard - Chicken Shop Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I really wanted to support this establishment.However I left very disappointed in how this establishment treated me. I ordered uber eats on 2/14/26 due to the website not allowing me to place an order. There was no one answering the phone either to place an order. I went to pick up the order and had to wait an additional 1 hr 45 min. I asked several times is the order ready. The cashier/ desk person was very unpleasant. She could not find my order and then continued to take other patrons behind me. They placed orders in person and received their orders before me! The staff looked very unorganized. Why place an order online if its not filled until 1hr 45 min? There was no apology, no concern to check why the order wasn't filled. Horrible experience and front staff needs or be retrained on customer service. It appears as if this facility is more concerned with being compensated and not delivering quality food. I WILL NOT BE RETURNING!! read more

I was really excited to try them out for the first time but they outta pocket for this catfish tray. They ain't never give me these dehydrated portions of fish and thought this was cool. Everything else was decent, so I could not 1-star it read more

Jerk Yard - Catfish (allegedly) - Chicken Shop Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The place is an alright value if you go during lunch special. The candied yams taste like mee-maw used to make but the chicken is decent at best. The flavor was hella smoky, I'll give it that, and if that's your think you're in luck... but... the buck stopped there. I felt like even though I got the 1/4 chicken, it was mostly bone and I wasn't keen on the flavor of the skin. On the other hand the jerk sauce WAS pretty good and that was a high point for me. Honestly, they should consider bottling it up and selling it locally. Also, a big gripe - the inside is really smoky and hazy, I just about had an asthma attack. Seriously, there needs to be better ventilation in here. read more