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Back A Yard

4.3 (817 reviews)
Closed • 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago
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Order Back A Yard Takeout or Delivery

Back A Yard Photos

Business Info

BACK A YARD ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - Back A Yard

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Reviews With Photos

Scott M.

This place a best kept secret... food is amazing, ox tail is a must have.. live this place.. this location is tucked away and alot nicer than the DTSJ location. Service is fast . Great air conditioning.

Ron P.

First time trying Back a Yard and Carribean cuisine. Got the jerk chicken and pork combo and really enjoyed the pork!! Also tried the cola champagne :) the shop is nice and the staff are so friendly! Would come again.

Fely L.

Still love this place and my oxtail! Just had to dock a star as the inconsistency of the heat and the pork being dry! I was so looking into having the oxtail so I had some delivered but it was just too spicy for me. Yes I had to water it down to eat it but it was still good. Same goes for the pork. Some days it nice and moist and some days it just dry. Also my fritter was over fried.

Jerk Chicken
Daniel F.

Had the jerk chicken and the Jamaican fried corn bread. The jerk chicken was not dry at all, and packed so much flavor. It came with rice, beans, and fried plantains which were also delightful. The fried corn bread was delicious, a lot was given for a single order, very filling!

Jerk chicken
HK H.

Love a local Caribbean restaurant! generous portions, beautiful sauce. The service, though... young dude was too busy checking his phone to pay attention to our order. Rare one-off, but annoying.

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.

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.

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!!

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!!

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!

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.

Vivian T.

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

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 Salmon Filet

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4 years ago

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1 year ago

Delicious Caribbean food!! I would eat this everyday if I could. A fast food type spot with delicious options. Can't wait to go back.

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5 years ago

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11 months ago

every thing i've ever eaten here is fabulous. large portions. i look forward to my next visit!

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4 years ago

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1 year ago

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

One of my favorite restaurants in San Jose. The jerk chicken and oxtail are outstanding

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

Amazing food amazing service. The atmosphere was great !! Good eats ! Brought my brother here for the first time . He loved it

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6 years ago

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1 year ago

Good food, Service Great ambience. Good choices authentic Jamaican food . Good place groups and intimate dinner , lunch

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5 years ago

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2 years ago

I used to drive to San Mateo or something to get their food. I am thrilled that they are in San Jose now. Jerk chicken, jerked salmon, bef

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2 years ago

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6 years ago

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7 months ago

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

Curry goat jerk salmon my favorite also beef patties and Mac n cheese was ok too! Cornbread rum punch! Good portion of food

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4 years ago

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Page 3 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 - Beef Oxtail Meal $17.45 + tax | 05.02.2024

Back A Yard Caribbean Grill

4.2(533 reviews)
6.9 mi
•$$

I ordered the salmon and jerk chicken bowl from this takeout-only spot, so everything was served in…read morea to-go container. It is definitely more of a grab-and-go place than a sit-down restaurant, but the food traveled well and made for a solid meal. The plantains were one of the highlights. They were sweet, soft, and cooked really nicely. The rice was pretty average and did not add much to the bowl, but the proteins helped make up for it. The salmon was cooked well and stayed moist, although it could have used a little more seasoning or sauce. The jerk chicken was excellent, with great flavor and a nice amount of seasoning. I also tried some of my friend's oxtail, and that was easily the standout. It was incredibly flavorful, tender, and something I would definitely order next time. Overall, this was a very good experience and a great option for takeout. I would come back, especially for the jerk chicken and oxtail.

Oh my goodness! I am so glad we came by this spot during our visit to the area. The restaurant is…read morepretty spacious and clean. A lot of customers coming and going. You order at the counter and they bring it to you. This kind of service is ok with me, but the fact that the defaulted tip is always calculated for you without the full dine in experience always gets me. This leaves the obligation to the customer. Anyway, I digress. The food was delicious nonetheless! We ordered: Oxtail and chicken combo 5/5 It was really good, except the scoops of rice were tiny and not in proportion with the protein Jerk chicken sandwich 3/5 Good, but the meat goes better with rice Beef & chicken patties: We prefer the beef over the chicken & ordered extras to go to share with family. Beef 4/5, chicken 3/5 Cornbread 5/5 Perfect amount of sweetness and the butter makes it so much better. Overall, yes, I would go back for the food. It is far for us, but if I am in the area, I'll definitely return. I love Caribbean food and this one is on my top list.

Photos
Back A Yard Caribbean Grill - Dining Room

Dining Room

Back A Yard Caribbean Grill - Jerk Salmon and Beef Oxtails Combo

Jerk Salmon and Beef Oxtails Combo

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Mama Roc's Puerto Rican & Caribbean Cuisine - Beef and veggie empanadas, arroz con gandules, sweet plantains.

Mama Roc's Puerto Rican & Caribbean Cuisine

4.8(52 reviews)
3.7 mi•Quimby, Evergreen

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.

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.

Photos
Mama Roc's Puerto Rican & Caribbean Cuisine - Puerto Rican Food

Puerto Rican Food

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

Lechon, beef empanada, plantains Madura, beans, rice, macaroni salad, all were delicious!

Mama Roc's Puerto Rican & Caribbean Cuisine - Mama Roc's Puerto Rican Pasteles wrapped and ready to eat...absolutely mouthwatering!!!

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Maya's Cafe - Camarónes Aztecas ($24.50)

Maya's Cafe

4.3(762 reviews)
6.2 mi•Dry Creek, Cambrian Park
•$$

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
Maya's Cafe - Tamarindo ($5)

Tamarindo ($5)

Maya's Cafe - Camarónes Aztecas ($24.50)

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Coconuts Caribbean Restaurant & Bar - Jerk Chicken & Salmon

Coconuts Caribbean Restaurant & Bar

3.9(2.7k reviews)
21.0 mi
•$$

My husband and I were looking for a new local spot for late lunch this Sunday (10/11/26). My…read morehusband is Puerto Rican from New York and wanted something that would remind him of home. We found Coconuts Caribbean which felt very inviting and saw it was literally a few minutes from where we live. When we arrived we were welcomed by Tyrel who would make our experience very enjoyable while he looked after us attentively. The restaurant was bright clean and had great atmosphere. Tyrel would talk and discuss food items with my husband and I as we explored their menu. We decided on the patty platter and mixed salad followed by the jerk chicken and salmon platter and we tried the homemade ginger beer along with a traditional Jamaican soda called Kola Champagne. My husband can never resist dessert so he ordered the coconut rum cake to finish. The food was delicious full of flavor and took my husband back to when he was growing up living in New York. The Jamaican beef patties and Kola were authentic reminding him of his childhood. Would highly recommend and we will definitely be returning to our new local spot . We can't stop talking about the patties and the jerk chicken and salmon. Thank you Tyrel for your hospitality!

Unfortunately Coconuts dramatically increased their prices in Sept 2026 and reduced quality; a…read morecombo was $24 and is now $38 and for much less food. What was previously a generous portion has been reduced to maybe 4 oz of meat, a single scoop of rice+beans, and a wedge of grilled cabbage to take up space on the plate. Far less jerk sauce too. SAD! I get increasing prices, people in Palo Alto will pay for anything, but why make service worse? Table service also fell off. We waited an hour for the food and were told this was because of a large party (5 adults, 3 kids) ordered off the new menu but the restaurant was more dead than I've ever seen it. Sorry people came to your restaurant and ordered food from the menu. I nearly offered to go back there and help. Manager gave us 10% off entrees after we asked twice, and claimed that the POS wouldn't let him comp anything-- seems like someone on the staff should know how to remove an item from a tab. Again I thought about offering to go back there and take a look. If you've got time to kill and don't mind a badly skewed price/quality ratio then go to Coconuts, but if you're looking for a normal experience at reasonable prices then maybe this isn't the spot.

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Coconuts Caribbean Restaurant & Bar - Island vibes inside!

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Back A Yard - caribbean - Updated October 2026

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