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    Uncle Joe's Jerk Chicken

    3.1 (362 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Uncle Joe's Jerk Chicken Takeout or Delivery

    Uncle Joe's Jerk Chicken Photos

    Business Info

    UNCLE JOE'S JERK CHICKEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Uncle Joe's Jerk Chicken

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    Oxtail meal w yams
    Vanity H.

    Pretty solid Jamaican spot - I'm not the biggest fan in general so take my review lightly. I've been to Jamaica and have been trying to see if any place in Chicago can come close and I was told this would be the spot. I'll give them props in saying they were good but I won't say exactly like I had it (which I'd assume is hard to pull off anyway.) It's a hole in the wall spot - don't expect to dine in here. It's also on a busy street in Hyde Park but they've been there a long time! Parking can be hit or miss. We went during lunch but spent around $50 for everything - the 2 meals shown + (2) drinks. A bit pricey for our taste especially for lunch meals BUT they didn't skimp on the food. The oxtails were VERY fatty and we only got 4 - that of course was the pricier meal being in the $20+ range. Very little meat unfortunately but they were tasty. The brown stew chicken was more-so jerk chicken with the brown stew poured over (not how I had it in Jamaica) so that disappointed me a bit. The rice and peas were solid. Yams were just fine. The mac & cheese was a major disappointment - just gave kraft which is not how I desire it, ever. Overall we were filled but I wasn't the most satisfied. My boyfriend said he was also disappointed and he's had them before.

    Jacqueline F.

    Saw the sign for Jerk chicken all the way from across the street at Kenwood Academy and decided to check them out for lunch. Place looked dead and empty but door was open so went inside. Saw a person at the register and asked him questions about the menu and dude literally looked at us like he didn't work there and said "I don't know". Then proceeded to say they had whatever was on the menu except for Mac n cheese. I instantly went on Yelp to see if I needed to walk out that door or look past this bad service and try their food. Saw a few reviews from my Yelp Elite friends that were promising so decided to stay and ordered the half chicken meal. Took it to go as the vibe was more of a no frills place and they didn't really have chairs and tables like that for dining so decided to eat my meal in my car. The jerk chicken was actually decent! I liked the flavor of the chicken but they put way too much gravy on it. My husband's dad's side is Jamaican and I know my jerk. I've never had it with gravy before - just the sauce is all you need. I felt like the whole meal was drowning in gravy so was it trying to make up for something that wasn't there? Not sure. But I did enjoy the meal and felt like the jerk sauce alone would have been better on the chicken minus the gravy. The sides it came with: Rice and beans, plantains, and candied yams were decent too. I do plan on coming back but will take advantage of their lunch menu on weekdays. It's pretty much half the price that we paid for as we came on a Saturday!

    Pineapple ginger beer
    Chardae G.

    Chicken was hot fresh and delicious. Service was excellent and friendly. Definitely coming back!

    Devante B.

    Uncle joes is classic, enough said truly, but the food is always amazing, go at lunch for a quick deal or dinner for a meal and nap combo lol, 20-30 mins of the service time but the food is fresh and made with love so I understand, friendly inside to order your food and even eat if you want but it's a nice spot to wait for your food and enjoy the vibrant colors everywhere

    The line to order...

    Let me start my review by saying that I am a true foodie! I base my reviews based on customer service, quality of food, cost-effectiveness, etc. i have eaten jamaican food in Jamaica, California, NYC, Connecticut, Georgia, Dallas.... Etc. So I know a little something about Jamaican food! My experience at uncle Joe's a few minutes ago was quite disheartening. Customer service: ZERO RATING! I was the first customer of the day. I walked in at 11:02 AM. I walked in an said "good morning!" (3 times!)! The male cashier greeted me with no energy & a blank stare, as if to say "what do you want?!" I asked him what was good. He said " depending on what you want"... with no energy, no smile, no pleasantries, and no enthusiasm. I ended up ordering the jerk chicken lunch. About eight or nine minutes after I made my order another lady came in again. It's now just the two of us in the store. She stood at the counter with with the young man standing right there on the phone for a good 10 minutes and I finally hear her say are you gonna take my order. And I hear him mumbling something about he was counting the Thanksgiving orders. He finally took her order two more people came in. I sat there for 30 minutes. keep in mind I'm the first customer. 30 minutes waiting for him to say here's your order ma'am. The last guy who was in the line got his order before I got mine so I stood up. I said I was the first customer here and I ordered jerk chicken how did he get his order first. My order was sitting on the counter. Don't know how long it had been sitting there while this young man is again on the phone and standing there talking to what I am assuming is the owner of the place they're just chopping it up. As my food sits there never did say ma'am here's your order so when I asked him about my order, the owner said would you order and I said jerk chicken he said oh here it is number four so the young man looked up. I said you gotta do better young man I've been sitting here for 30 minutes. How long is my food been sitting here you didn't think to say, ma'am here's your order... ZERO CUSTOMER SERVICE RATING!! Food: the jerk chicken was a 10/10! The rice & peas was nasty and Was smothered and gravy! ZERO RATING! I've eaten a lot of jerk chicken from a lot of Jamaican places in my lifetime and I've never had gravy put on my rice and peas! That's a hard note for me. The cabbage wasn't seasoned well. Zero rating! I would suggest only getting the jerk chicken by itself without the sides. Overall experience: 2/10. If you do decide to go, I suggest only getting the jerk chicken only not the sides however, I wouldn't suggest coming back honestly. I love supporting my people; however, I hate being disappointed with poor service, like this! Blatant disrespect for pleasantries is a deal breaker for me. As a reminder, you won't have a business without customers. And if you treat the customers like shit, we will not coming back! If all of the food isn't good, we're not coming back. Get it together and do better! Please schedule your staff for customer service classes, and hospitality classes immediately otherwise you're gonna lose your business!!

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    3 years ago

    Down hill the chicken has become drier than normal and the side aren't seasoned the same it's still decent but not what it used to be.

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    4 years ago

    My favorite jerk spot in Chicago! It's a hit every time, sauce is perfect and chicken is juicy.

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    Ask the Community - Uncle Joe's Jerk Chicken

    Do they serve alcohol or have any happy hour specials?

    No, they do not.

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    Garifuna Flava

    Garifuna Flava

    4.3
    (442 reviews)
    5.3 mi
    $$

    A recent evening while wanderlusting in Chicago, I suggested Garifuna Flava because I'd heard…read moreamazing things about it. My fellow traveling house heads trusted my foodie instincts, but there was a little skepticism until our rideshare driver gave it his enthusiastic vote of confidence! Garifuna Flava is a Black-owned restaurant celebrating the rich flavors and traditions of Belizean, Caribbean, Latin, and Indigenous Garifuna cuisine. The restaurant isn't fancy, yet it is warm, welcoming, and one of the owners even took time to share the history of the Garifuna people with one of my friends. And making the experience even more authentic was the soundtrack of Caribbean and reggae music, which had us swaying, singing along, and feeling right at home like a spot in the Caribbean or Brooklyn. As for the food, it was DELISH! I enjoyed tender oxtails with yams, fried sweet plantains, rice, and stew beans. It was comfort food that tasted like a home-cooked meal. A nice cold Ting was the perfect pairing. I couldn't resist sampling a dining partner's shrimp dish, which was also flavorful. Garifuna Flava is located in Chicago Lawn, often referred to locally as Marquette Park on Chicago's Southwest Side. The neighborhood is home to the beautiful 323-acre Marquette Park, designed by the Olmsted Brothers (sons of the designer of Central Park), and holds an important place in the city's civil rights history. Thank you, Garifuna Flava, for a delicious meal and a cultural experience I'll remember. I'll definitely be back. But don't just take my word for it, go experience the yummyliciousness for yourself! Mmmm... #BonAppetit! Cheers!

    I finally had the chance to visit Garifuna Flava in Chicago Lawn, and it was an amazing first…read moreexperience with Belizean cuisine! Everything was packed with flavor. The oxtails were tender, the jerk chicken was delicious, and the rice and plantains were the perfect sides. I also really enjoyed the fish empanadas--they were a pleasant surprise. The only thing that wasn't my favorite was the potato salad, but that's just because I'm very picky about potato salad, so that's no fault of the restaurant. The restaurant has plenty of seats, and is great for a date night. Considering how much goes into cooking this food, the service is quite fast. If you're in the Chicago Lawn area and looking to try something new, I definitely recommend stopping by Garifuna Flava. I'll definitely be back!

    Photos
    Menu along wall and decor.
    Menu along wall and decor.
    Delish Jerk Chicken (Plus 2 Sides) Rice & Beans and Mac & Cheese
    Delish Jerk Chicken (Plus 2 Sides) Rice & Beans and Mac & Cheese
    Outside

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    Outside
    Jerky Jerk

    Jerky Jerk

    4.2
    (194 reviews)
    6.7 mi
    $$

    I was craving plantains so we ordered delivery, and OMG this is probably one of the best chicken…read moreand candied yams I've ever had! The chicken was grilled to perfection! The meat was juicy, the seasoning was delicious and the sauce that came with it was tangy, sweet and wasn't too spicy. But those candied yams OMG! They weren't overly sweet that it hurts your throat but just the right amount to satisfy your sweet tooth! They must have added some fruit like pineapple because it added a little tangy kick that balances so well with the sweetness and added another dimension! We will have to try this place in person next time!

    Jerky Jerk is THE SPOT!…read more We wanted something better than stadium food before the Bulls game. And the three of us love Jamaican food, specifically, jerk chicken and curry goat. So as soon as Jerky Jerk showed up on my Yelp search, I knew my search had ended, and that we found our pre-game dinner spot. Jerky Jerk blew my expectations out of the water. I'm a Chicago native, but I live in LA, where I'm lucky to be surrounded by many delicious Jamaican food spots. But Jerky Jerk has the best jerk chicken I've ever had. When I say that the smoky, slightly sweet, tender, fall-of-the-bone experience hit the spot, I mean that it HIT THE SPOT! Even the rice & peas and cabbage were cooked and spiced to perfection. All three of us devoured our plates in about ten minutes. I also love the colorful and lively Chicago sports murals that fill each wall, as well as the hospitable and vibrant service from the owners. They absolutely rock. They throw a party inside, and they make you feel welcomed and right at home. Jerky Jerk is now a non-negotiable stop when visiting Chicago. This place slaps.

    Photos
    Jerky Jerk
    Two Pick any 2 Meats & 2 Side
    Two Pick any 2 Meats & 2 Side
    Plantain (6)

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    Plantain (6)
    The Wild Hare

    The Wild Hare

    3.7
    (256 reviews)
    6.7 mi
    $$

    I'm back to update my previous review. I finally got the chance to come back to The Wild Hare for…read morethe full dine-in and live music experience. I'm really glad I did. Our server was quick and pleasant. He was refilling and offering new drinks before we even knew we needed them. I'm not even sure I really considered the menu because I really came to retry the oxtail and rice & peas. I was not disappointed, and there was nothing but tailbones left on my plate. Ambiance is fun at The Wild Hare. The live music in the back room int he evenings are definitely where it's at. I would recommend checking out the event calendar on their website to help pick which day you may want to come. My only complaint is that I really wish the DJ played more reggae in the restaurant. I expected to have a full reggae night, but all the way up until the live band, it was mostly hip hop and R&B with the occasional reggae throwback. Give us more; we came for the reggae vibes!

    Came here on a Sunday after. They had drink specials available. We were able to find parking right…read moreout front. On this occasion there were drink specials. Grabbed $7 margarita (special) which was tasty. For food my husband and I shared the full lb of rib tips and fries. We thought they were tasty. We met up with some friends celebrating a March birth (Aries). The bar crowd was friendly...everyone just enjoying the music and each other. Bathrooms were big and never had an issue getting a stall. Security present and overall just a fun experience. Would love to come back when they have a live band playing.

    Photos
    Stage in second room
    Stage in second room
    The Wild Hare
    The Wild Hare

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    Uncle Joe's Jerk Chicken - caribbean - Updated July 2026

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