I have patronized this business more times than I can count but my first happy hour was a SUCCESS. Ja 'Grill never disappoints on the friendliness of their waitstaff, the vibe is always great with good music going, and the food NEVER disappoints I frequently order their jerk wings (not pictured) which never disappoints. This visit I ordered from the happy hour portion of the Ital stew and a mango-tini as well as the Blueberry Smash Gin Martini (not pictured). The stew was a hearty dish that accompanied well with the spice of the wings. The cocktails were both on the sweeter side for my pallet but I would order them again. I HIGHLY recommend this happy hour if you're on a budget my bill came to $40 with the tip. read more

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

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We came here on a my Monday for lunch and we got seated it quickly. The place was mostly empty. They have lots tables/chairs and a full bar. I ordered the jerk chicken entree and curry chicken. The jerk chicken was good, not the best. And the curry chicken was OK I was expecting bigger flavors; the chicken was well made, fallen off the bones. The service was mediocre, didn't get any water refills. Made sense after we got our checks, 15% gratuity was already included on each checks (3 of us). Tipping doesn't bother me, only bothers me when service is whack. I don't know if I'll come back again because there's other Jamaican restaurants that are better. read more

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Was super excited to try to Jamaican spot and definitely want to return to try other things on the menu! We came on a brunch day and instead of getting the brunch, we went with a jerk chicken plate and oxtail curry. While our meals were good, I think we came on an off day. They offer a lot of great indoor and outdoor seating. I was in town visiting my best friend and we had a lot of catching up to do so we sat outside. We were seated pretty quickly and didn't mind that the service was a little slower since we were catching up. They had a QR code you could pay through which we did. Our waitress was really sweet too. I'd come back to try different curries! read more

Ja' Grill Hyde Park - Jerk Chicken Entrée and ox curry - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I visited this place while in town. This was the spiciest jerk sauce ever. However, it was so delicious! I loved the beef patty. The bourbon tini is super strong and so was the rum punch. I cannot wait to go back! read more

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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

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Everything was delicious we had the wings, a patty, lamb chops, oxtails, jerk chicken to drink rim punch, mojito and for desert rum cake everything was outstanding our server was very friendly and attentive the only downside was we wanted an order of oxtails to go but they were out. Definitely going back! read more

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Delicious like really delicious food with generous portion, good service. I sat on the patio. Clean bathrooms although paper towels were low. read more

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

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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

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Food is tasty, music is vibing and the service is on point. Price is consistent with similar sit & stay restaurants in the area.

Curry chicken tasty but there's only one potato and it's supposed to come with plantains... there were none. Super disappointing but overall the food came hot and I would go again. read more

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

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

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Great food! Great service! Great atmosphere! I love great Jamaican food. This is definitely top for me. If I travel to Chicago again I would definitely come back. Highly recommend. read more

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

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

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

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

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

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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

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

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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

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

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

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

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

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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

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

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

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

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

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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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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