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    Back A Yard

    4.3 (805 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Back A Yard Takeout or Delivery

    Back A Yard Photos

    Business Info

    BACK A YARD ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Back A Yard

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    Combo w Jerk Chicken, Beef Oxtail, rice n beans and plantain
    Andy V.

    We got here about 11:20am. Restaurant was clean and smells really good. Service was great. Food was so delicious and flavorful. I got the jerk chicken and beef oxtail. Both were tender and juicy. Plantains were also fried perfectly. My son got the BBQ combo w ribs, chicken and hotlinks. All fresh and very delicious! First time having Caribbean food and i can honestly say, it's worth it!!! 10/10 for this first time visit!!

    Vivian T.

    Food was AMAZING. Service was okay but got the job done lol. Everything had so much flavor. Would definitely go back.

    Jerk Pork & Beef Oxtails
    Cameron K.

    This placed really surprised me. It's a hidden gem with some delicious food and great value! The oxtail is super tender and I love how much flavor is packed into the sauce, especially the jerk sauce! The plantains that come in the boxes are amazing, but remember to drink water with this meal because it is very salty.

    Jerk Chicken
    Tim N.

    I have a bone to pick with you. I want to try many of the other menu items, but the jerk chicken is so good that I keep ordering it with the other jerk items. How am I supposed to try something else if the jerk chicken is so good that I have to keep ordering it?

    Jerk Chicken & Beef Oxtails, 3-Meat BBQ Combo, Corn Festivals
    Sylvia N.

    For two people, we ordered so much! We wanted to try the jerk chicken and oxtail combo, the 3 meat bbq, and the fried corn bread. It was soooo much food, but it was only like ~$50 for all that! We also got the mango passionfruit drink. I loOooved the jerk chicken, but my boyfriend loved the bbq ribs. The oxtail was incredibly flavorful, but it was probably our least favorite. Probably can order anything, and it would be pretty good! It came out super fast too!!

    Jerk Chicken & Pork (bottom), Jerk Salmon & Beef Oxtails (top)
    Jarod N.

    My friends were raving about Back A Yard from their work days so I had to stop in for lunch to give this Jamaican joint a try. I ordered the Jerk Chicken & Jerk Pork combo and a couple other friends ordered the Jerk Salmon & Beef Oxtail combo, so I got to sample all of the meats. The chicken, pork, and oxtail were all amazingly flavorful and tender, and the salmon was surprisingly not dry and cooked well! My friends really loved the oxtail, but my favorite was probably the chicken or pork; you really can't go wrong with any of them! Each combo came with generous portions of meat, rice and beans mixed together, and 4 fried plantains which really helped to balance out the strong flavors of the meat. This is an order-at-the-counter establishment with a fair amount of indoor seating and lovely Caribbean decor, notably a huge mural on one wall. Although we fully expected to pick up our food at the counter when ready, the cashier graciously delivered each of our plates to the table we were sitting, with napkins and utensils included. He even brought us all water cups! Phenomenal service and even better food!

    Entrance
    Marc T.

    Finally got the chance to try this place with a friend over dinner on a Friday night! I've been to their location in Campbell but have always missed out on this spot in the east San Jose area. Back A Yard is part of the lion market plaza, so it's unique in its food service and has lots of parking for its diners. It's a medium sized space with tables for solo diners, couples, and groups of 4. Colorful murals with their logo, lots of personality, and great scents wafting from the kitchen. When I entered, they were around already 10 people dining and enjoying their food; everyone was enjoying the food that's for sure. I ordered their jerk chicken + oxtail combo. It was about a 7 minute wait for my food and it was served to my table. The food had a beautiful presentation with lots of food from 4 plantains, 3 pieces of oxtail, rice and beans, and 2 pieces of chicken. It was so filling, meat was so juicy and tender, lots of sauce at the bottom of the plate, rice was warm and soft. The plantains were soft and perfectly sweet and fried. Great price for the quantity and quality of food. I had to take some leftovers home so my family could try! I'm definitely coming here again if my family is shopping around this area.

    Oxtail and Jerk Chicken Plate and cup of Chicken and Pumpkin Soup
    Janet N.

    Love this location, not only is it more convenient for me to visit but the staff is super friendly, the food is consistently good just like their other locations and it's nice and clean inside. Stopped in for a plate and soup, was just really feeling something comforting, hearty and warm. Got the Oxtail and Jerk Chicken plate and a cup of their Soup of the Day which was Chicken and Pumpkin. The food portions here go crazy, super flavorful and they give so many pieces of incredibly tender oxtail and chicken. Love the beans and rice along with the plantains. The soup came with chicken pieces, pumpkin and corn in a clear broth but was so perfect for the cold weather. I love soup and this clear broth soup was delicious. The staff is super friendly and the service is quick. Food came out piping hot and quickly. Great portions here and honestly pricing is super reasonable! Always a good meal dining here.

    Jerk Chicken & Pork
    Elsa J.

    Food was amazing it had great flavor and portions are quite big. I had the jerk chicken and pork combo and did not disappoint, great food oh and Mac and cheese

    Jerk Salmon Filet
    Chassidy T.

    I went to Back A Yard Grill after a volunteer event a little pass 11am. I was surprised to see they've already had folks place orders shortly after opening. I went with a group of around 11 people, our orders came into go bowls with serving utensils. I personally ordered their Jerk Salmon Plate which was recommended by a friend. The food was great, flavorful, and filling. I do have to say that their small sauce is a bit salty with a kick, so I only used it occasionally. Additionally, I tried their Sorrel ginger drink which was good as well -- it reminded me of jamaica / hibiscus. Overall, I enjoyed my meal and would love to try other dishes in the future.

    Farhana M.

    Love Back a yard grill, they have a really good rice and beans. Fries are okay, they're crinkle cut and not as crunchy as I'd like them. Cole slaw is alright too. So I always get a combo as the sides are the rice and beans with fried sweet plantains. The curry goat and oxtail is a great combo

    Beef Oxtails
    Mumtaz P.

    Delicious food - I love the jerk chicken and oxtail! The staff are always cool and friendly. They bring your food to the table which is nice. The hot sauce used to be free but it appears not to be anymore. :-( The prices are on the high side but there aren't many Jamaican or Caribbean spots around.

    Jerk Pork & Beef Oxtails Combo, Coconut Curried Tofu, Macaroni and Cheese
    Kayley C.

    Always a consistent favorite. You can't go wrong ordering here, but our favorites is the jerk pork, oxtail, and Mac & cheese. The service is always attentive and fast. The restaurant is a bit smaller, so can fill up quick when busy.

    Collard Greens

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    3 months ago

    Small little place with some of the most amazing food! Jerk chicken, rice and beans, cornbread and their fried plantains were all delicious.

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    4 months ago

    Went to Back A Yard a few weeks ago. I liked my entree and I bought some of the Jerk sauce they sell.

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    Page 1 of 21

    Back A Yard Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Back A Yard

    Do they have outdoor seating?

    No outdoor seating .just 4 indoors

    Are they still open?

    Call in at 11 am to find out .. should be

    Are they open on Sunday's?

    Yes, at this location they do.

    What are their hours?

    They close at 8:30 on weekdays if I'm not mistaken. I'm not completely sure about Friday. They are pretty strict on that closing hour as they have to clean up and close down. Do your best to come well before 8:30.

    Does anyone know when they will open?

    View All 9 Questions

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    Back A Yard Caribbean Grill

    Back A Yard Caribbean Grill

    4.0
    (147 reviews)
    3.8 mi
    $$

    I've always been a fan of this caribbean restaurant chain. This location, steps away from SJSU, has…read morea simple yet inviting setting. No indoor seating here, but there's an outdoor patio with a couple tables out front. My takeout order was ready in less than 5 minutes on a Saturday afternoon. I selected a bunch of different items, thinking that the "quik eats" on the menu would be small bites. To my surprise, these were pretty much full sized dishes, with bread and fries included, so I ended up with more than enough to last me for days. Everything I got was delicious and exceeded my expectations. The jerk chicken pieces came with two drumsticks and two thighs and had a nice kick from the seasoning. The bbq pork spareribs were tender and juicy and very tasty even before I added the bbq sauce that came on the side. The baked mac and cheese was rich and satisfying. And that cornbread was heavenly, with an ideal texture and nice buttery flavor. It may be the best cornbread I've ever had. They even offer a jamaican version of cornbread on the menu, which the worker explained is more dessert-like and very good too. All in all, this a great option if looking for some good comfort food at great value.

    They have amazing jerk chicken at this location and the sauce that comes with them is incredible!…read moreHighly recommend trying their jerk chicken if you haven't before. You won't regret it!! They also do really well with catering. They can individually pack the food so it's more of a grab and go style (which can be easier and more convenient for a lot of companies).

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Curry goat plate
    Curry goat plate
    Mac and cheese

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    Mac and cheese
    Back A Yard Caribbean Grill

    Back A Yard Caribbean Grill

    4.2
    (526 reviews)
    6.9 mi
    $$

    Updated review! Been eating here 3 years and it doesn't disappoint!!! I was lazy so ordered via…read moreDoorDash and it doesn't matter if you order in store or to go, the quality is always the same! Nicely plated, good portions and consistent. I like the jerk chicken and they always add a little sauce on the side. Good flavor! Plantains are great too.

    Overall Experience 8.4/10 I came here on a Sunday in the late afternoon and it was not too busy…read more The service is nice, and the restaurant is tightly compacted together. I would assume this would be pretty lively when its more prime hours for eating but it was nice and quiet when I came. The Food: I got the oxtail with the goat curry, and it came with beans and rice and plantains. The oxtail was super tender, and falls off the bone with no effort, and the sauce it comes in is very flavorful and filled with spices. I really liked the food, and it had a subtle sweet with its seasonings. The goat curry is subtly spicy, with a hearty goat and meaty flavor. I enjoyed the goat curry over the oxtail as it was more flavorful and I liked the spice on curried goat. The rice and beans have great flavor and the plantains are tender and slightly sweet. Overall: I would come back again if I am craving Caribbean food. The food value is good and gives a great heaping serving. I don't know if I would come if I am not craving Caribbean food, but I would tell someone to give it a try if it is what they are eyeing.

    Photos
    Dining Room
    Dining Room
    Beef Oxtail Meal $17.45 + tax | 05.02.2024
    Beef Oxtail Meal $17.45 + tax | 05.02.2024
    Jerk Salmon and Beef Oxtails Combo

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    Jerk Salmon and Beef Oxtails Combo
    Mama Roc's Puerto Rican & Caribbean Cuisine

    Mama Roc's Puerto Rican & Caribbean Cuisine

    4.8
    (53 reviews)
    3.7 mi

    I am still dreaming about them beans! I had the pleasure of trying Mama Roc's at the Salsa Festival…read morein Downtown SJ. And when I say pleasure -- I mean it!! The line was long but thankfully my boyfriend waited in line, so I could go dance. Hehe. But the food came out fast and it was deeeeliicccious. It was so good half way through we had to see where we could find her food again. So we looked her up! The way I would follow this cute lil trailer just for her food. If you have the chance to find Mama Roc's, definitely stop. Definitely get a plate.

    I highly recommend choosing Mama Roc for your next catered event. Her food was so flavorful and…read moredelicious. I was in search of authentic Puerto Rican cuisine for a special birthday lunch at work for 15 people. I thought maybe we could try one or two dishes but the menu she put together was amazing! We had a delicious rice dish with pork belly, Pernil, fried chicken that was hands down the best fried chicken! Clearly made from the heart! The beans were like nothing I've had before, plantains and the beef empanada were cooked to perfection. Her mamagotchu sauce was a favorites by all, a fun savory condiment that complimented everything dish. Rochelle's communication from the beginning was dialed in and she responded within the day to my text and email inquiry. She met us at our budget with generous portions and every dish had so much flavor. She delivered the food with her warm bubbly personality and I'm so grateful we found her through Yelp. If you want a delicious, catered event with food that folks will be talking about for days after, call on Mama Roc! I will definitely be on the lookout for any events she will be at locally.

    Photos
    Mama Roc's Puerto Rican & Caribbean Cuisine
    Puerto Rican Food
    Puerto Rican Food
    Lechon, beef empanada, plantains Madura, beans, rice, macaroni salad, all were delicious!

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    Lechon, beef empanada, plantains Madura, beans, rice, macaroni salad, all were delicious!
    Jackie's Place

    Jackie's Place

    4.4
    (2k reviews)
    5.6 mi
    $$

    What a great find. Conveniently located near downtown San Jose, this soul food spot serves up all…read morethe classics. Each one that I had I would order again: the southern fried fish plate with green beans, candied yams, and corn bread. Some in my party were clearly veterans and ordered a bunch of food to go. The sweet potato pie was the star of my show. ON POINT. Smooth texture, spicy with a hint of caramel (maybe even citrus), perhaps on the sweet side for some but I loved it, While you order from a QR code at the table, the service is still good and prompt. (There was one server who was really curt, but there was a whole battery of help which meant my overall impression was favorable). Spacious dining and great atmosphere.

    This review is of a delivery order placed on Father's Day. We ordered right at 11am when they…read moreopened and received our order just before noon. I got a fried chicken plate with a side of mac and cheese and collard greens. My husband got the mango habenero wings and fries. The kids shared brisket and mac and cheese. The chicken was crispy, well seasoned and hot, the brisket soft and smoky, the mac and cheese was possibly the best mac and cheese I've ever had in my life (I'm not a huge meat eater in general so this was my favorite)???? The collard greens were flavorful and a hint of spice. We have little kids so we find ordering delivery easier but I noticed on their website they do Soul Sundays with live music from 1:30-3:30...and I really want to try to make that work one day. All in all very pleased with this lovely lunch we had for Father's Day!

    Photos
    Stairs to downstairs bathroom and elevator
    Stairs to downstairs bathroom and elevator
    Scoop's "Not Yo" Nachos with smoked pulled pork
    Scoop's "Not Yo" Nachos with smoked pulled pork
    Chicken & Waffles

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    Maya's Cafe

    Maya's Cafe

    4.3
    (755 reviews)
    6.2 mi
    $$

    Small spot with a welcoming atmosphere and very friendly service. The carne asada plate was packed…read morewith flavor and the portions were generous. Everything tasted fresh and homemade.

    A Hondurian cafe that offers vegetarian, meat, and seafood options. My friend raved about this…read moreplace and I love supporting mom and pop restaurants so I had to try it. I tried the popular baleada, which is a home-made flour tortilla filled with a layer of mashed red beans, queso fresco, eggs and with or without meat (I got it with carne asada). The flour tortilla was just as other described - soft, buttery smooth, almost melt in your mouth goodness. The carne asada was dry and hard so I could've gone without. I bet a braised beef like barbacoa would've been perfect for this item. It also came with salsa and I selected mild which gave it a nice bright flavor. I also ordered a chicken tamale (they also offer pork) and I was surprised to find a whole chicken wing (no skin) stuffed into the tamale! I broke into it using a fork and hit something hard which turned out to be the bones. But honestly, this was one of the best tamales I've tried in a long time. Flavorful, moist, and a nice sized portion. It came wrapped in what I think was banana leaf. The service was fast on a Wednesday night and there were a handful of friendly patrons seated nearby. You could tell that they were regulars. The space was intimate with around 10-15 tables seating about 4 people each. Maya's Cafe menu has a wide assortment of dishes to choose from: serving breakfast dishes like chilaquiles, lunch items such as burritos, or soups and full on dinner plates with rice, beans, and choice of protein. There's even more selection and the whole menu is in Spanish so I'll be sure to use Google Translate next time!

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    Maya's Cafe
    Tamarindo ($5)
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    Camarónes Aztecas ($24.50)
    Coconuts Caribbean Restaurant & Bar

    Coconuts Caribbean Restaurant & Bar

    3.9
    (2.7k reviews)
    21.0 mi
    $$

    I came here on Friday night with a friend. Staff does a good job checking on us. However, one of…read moretheir recommendations was a huge fail. Amongst the items they recommended was the ribs and chicken combo. Ribs were tender but they were just basic bbq sauce ribs. My friend was disappointed since he expected them to lean on Caribbean flavors. I had the chicken and oxtail combo which included rice and beans, and plantains. Decent size portion with a couple of oxtails, two thighs and drumstick. The proteins were moist and tender, but very under-sauced. The collard greens were tender and velvety! I'd suggest that too. It can get loud. But I think that was mostly because people are compensating when one table is loud.

    This was my first time having Caribbean food and it did not disappoint. Everything was flavorful…read moreand cooked so well. First, the plantains were so crisp outside and super soft inside. The sweetness from the plantains paired so well with the savory flavors of the meats. The jerk pork was tender, crisp in some spots, and delicious; the jerk chicken was perfectly cooked, well-roasted on the outside, and not at all dry inside; the oxtail was yummy and so tender. My favorite was definitely the jerk chicken. Then, previous to this plate, I've only had red bean rice, which was soggy rice mixed with red beans, so the seasoning on this rice surprised me, and it tasted so good. Besides the yummy food, the staff at this establishment were super welcoming and generally friendly. I haven't been met with such warm service in a while.

    Photos
    Island vibes inside!
    Island vibes inside!
    Jerk Chicken & Salmon ($24)
    Jerk Chicken & Salmon ($24)
    Jerk Chicken White Meat subbed rice & beans w/ fries ($18)

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    Jerk Chicken White Meat subbed rice & beans w/ fries ($18)

    Back A Yard - caribbean - Updated June 2026

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