The worst customera service I ever experienced if it wasn't for the chicken I wouldn't come here

YKO chicken offers amazing African BBQ in Ottawa. The restaurant does not offer seating; it's a take out only restaurant. The menu is focused on BBQ meat, so vegetarians and vegans, unless you want to eat mostly sides, this place isn't for you. The BBQ at YKO is out of this world; everything tastes of fragrant spices and charcoal BBQ. I was worried about the chicken being dry, but it was tender and wonderful. If you're a fan of goat or plantains, you HAVE to try them! The only reason I'm not giving this place 5 stars is because ordering and picking up is a disorganized mess. If you speak French, it may go easier, but expect to wait. read more

The spicy chicken, plantain & rice plate is so incredibly delicious. I order almost weekly.

My second time ordered from this restaurant. I ordered a whole chicken with a side order of plantains. It had a very unique African spice to it, which I enjoyed very much. The price is reasonable ($35). No dine-in, pick-up only. The place was quite busy. So make sure you place your order before picking the food up. There was a half-hour wait for me. Also, have the order number handy, which would make your pick up smoother, unless you speak French. Overall, I recommend this place, especially if you like BBQ and spicy food. read more

YKO serves up some vicious chicken. This is some chicken that has been held close to fragrant wood charcoal. The only toughness is in the beautiful intensity of its African spices and chili heat. The tender and juicy meat has thoroughly absorbed the smokiness. On the side are some seasoned rice with soft cabbage leaves and golden hot morsels of sweet plantains. read more

YKO Chicken BBQ - ​1/4 Poulet + Riz et Plantains - African Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

So we got takeout from here twice - both times we got one whole chicken with two sides of rice for $35. I really liked the overall flavors of both the rice and chicken. The rice has some big chunks of cabbage in it which was surprisingly perfectly matched with the chicken. However, both times, I found both the chicken and the rice a little dry. The second time, I sprinked some tap water on my plate and microwaved for like 40 seconds and it immediately made the food more moist (!). The whole chicken with the rice easily serves 2 people and I always have some left overs for the next day. read more

YKO Chicken BBQ - Whole chicken - African Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

I was super excited to try this place since I love spicy chicken, and already tried Nando's and Pili Pili, and was curious how this place was different! I came on a rainy day and ordered a whole chicken without any sides. It was $17, which is reasonable, although you can buy a full chicken for maybe $10-13 sometimes on sale. It only took maybe 15 minutes of wait time, and it comes in a foil bag so it stays hot! The taste: it was delicious! I wish I could find out the exact recipe, but the spices go really well together, and some of the oil goes to the bottom of the bag, which is perfect to dip pieces into. The chicken was really tender and NOT DRY (I find pili pili a bit dry). The charcoal taste was infused into the chicken and was to die for; just thinking about it now makes me salivate! The heat creeps up on you slowly, but it's not overly spicy. I don't even mind paying more for the deliciousness, since I can't figure out exactly what spices they use, plus no method to get the charcoal taste at home (I need a bbq lol)! I got a bissap juice to try (small jug is $4) as the menu said it is homemade; the hibiscus taste went really well with the spicy chicken! I'll try their homemade ginger drink next time, and probably one or two sides. Inside there are a couple of tables, but it was really hot, so I didn't eat inside. It seemed like a popular watering hole as there were a couple of groups of people of African descent. Overall, super satisfying, spicy chicken...worth it to drive here and try out! :) It would be better if it was slightly cheaper, but you're paying for authenticity I guess! read more

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So so good. Delicious flavourful food, big quantities and good prices. The wait time is a little unpredictable, make sure you get an order # when you phone. Makes pick up easier, also I like to go a little later than they say as there is usually a wait. I purchased rice, plantain and a whole chicken. Delicious! The rice comes with cabbage on top and they all compliment each other perfectly. I even made a soup with the chicken when we finished it. The flavour of the chicken gave me an incredible soup! 10/10 recommend just don't order from there if you are in a rush. read more

Worst customer service I have ever seen. The food was not for the day. They offered me to use their microwave to heat my order. It is a take out restaurant where I waited more than an hour to get my order. There is no ambiance. I do not recommend at all. read more

Repeatedly my boyfriend would tell me the same story, about this amazing chicken spot on Charlotte and Rideau St.. He was so passionate about the chicken that despite me hearing the story for the millionth time, I felt his grieving process was warranted. Ever since, I have been searching high and low for a similar BBQ'd chicken spot in Ottawa, worthy of mending his broken heart. Keeping true to this mandate, I brought home BBQ one night, anxious for him to try it and be amazed! Only, while we sat there enjoying a great meal the same whimper and reflection of this once amazing BBQ establishment emerged. To which I pulled out my iPad and did some investigating (apparently this had never dawned on him)... What I found, was that not only did the place still exist, it was blocks away from my house, and they now have two locations; one in Montréal. Ha, winning! Entering Yko's you will notice a very empty restaurant, a few tables for dine-in guests, some paintings on the walls and a small take-out counter. There was no heat in the restaurant during my visit and considering it was -8C, everyone seemed rather uncomfortable waiting in line. I ordered the Chicken Combo (1/2 chicken). This plate comes with 1/2 BBQ chicken, rice, and fried plantain. The chicken was good, contained a good amount of spice/heat and had authentic charcoal BBQ flavour. The rice was my favorite part of the plate, it was nicely spiced and was anything from boring. Although we enjoyed our meals, the chicken was not as flavourful or as juicy as I would have expected (considering the stories my boyfriend goes on about). With that said, I will try there chicken again, the meal was good (a little expensive, but good) and I really want to know if the heat comes back on. As for my darling boyfriend, the search for the best BBQ chicken in Ottawa continues, since the flavour of the chicken on this visit wasn't as good as remembered. Although i'm slowly coming to realize this might be a challenge I won't win... read more

YKO Chicken BBQ - 1/2 chicken combo plate. - African Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

The best BBQ chicken in town! The dry spice rub has a very unique taste and the fact that it's cooked on charcoals just makes the experience complete! Highly recommended with a side of plantains. read more

Does anyone remember the amazing grilled chicken place named Yre's? IT'S BACK!!! It's actually been back for some time but I forgot to review it. The old Yre's was one of the most run down places places I've been to in Ottawa. The new place doesn't have that "charm" anymore and the place is actually renovated with new floors, tiles, etc. There are 4 tables that look new and the place looks really clean, especially comparing it to what Yre's was. OK now to the important thing, the food. I ordered a whole chicken with a side of rice and plantains. Yes they have rice again unlike the last few weeks that Yre's was open were they stopped serving rice or just ran out. I was not a fan of the rice. It was cooked with some carrots and I think cabbage. It was a little sour but seemed more like couscous than rice. I still like the plantains and they taste the same as they did before. The chicken is West African BBQ chicken. You can order a quarter, a half or a whole chicken and they have combos. I ordered half a chicken and the chicken is as good as I remember. It's got a great smoky flavour as well as nice spices. It was nicely cooked on the outside and pretty moist on the inside. I was worried that the move in venue might have changed the quality of the food but it's still my favourite chicken in Ottawa and I can't wait to go back. Remember to bring cash and some of the staff might not speak English so be specific when ordering. You might have to point to the menu! The prices have also gone up slightly since the Yre's days but you can still get a combo for $8. read more

You can smell the beautiful scent of the BBQ chicken from two lights away. Delicious!!!

I'm from Toronto and there is only one place that rivals this chicken: O Patio. But it's spicy and it's so good. You have to try read more

PROS: The food is excellent. The chicken is top-notch, the plantains are tasty, but the rice would be even better if they dressed it up a bit with red kidney beans and fried onions. CONS: Just a tad pricey. But what YKO management should really be concerned about are the young layabouts loitering in their parking lot and treating the place as if it's their personal hangout -- it looks "ghetto" and that's going to turn away a lot of potential business. read more

Ok! My mind is changed. I must have went on a bad day the first time. EXCELLENT chicken, on par with Pili Pili, however the sides are better. The service was fast and friendly and it didn't take long for the chicken to be done... 10 minutes max. They must have come up with a way to be more time efficient I guess? I got the 1/4 chicken dinner with rice and plantain. They gave me a little package of a hot spice I could put on the food. So I did! And it was delicious on everything. The plantains were bang on, the rice was deliciously seasoned and it had some cabbage and carrots on it... Absolutely delicious when you added the spice to it. The chicken was nothing like what I had last time... It was seasoned extremely well, slightly spicy and it had an indistinguishable blend of spices on it. It also had a fantastic smoky charcoaley (just invented a word) flavor. Can't wait to come back. I dare say it's a bit pricier than I remember it being last time. $12.50 on the nose for a combo. read more

Good: The dancing patrons. Better: The dancing chef. Best: Definitely the chicken - perfectly spiced, smoky and juicy. It stayed hot for the car ride home and was ample enough to feed my hungry boyfriend and myself for dinner. Plus we had leftovers for sandwiches the next day. We paired it with homemade coleslaw, avocado, couscous and plantains. The couscous from YKO was average and lacked the advertised cassava, but the fried plantains were delicious. Bonus: They have Canada Dry cranberry gingerale - it's like Christmas all year round! Keep in mind that this is foremost a takeout establishment and the seating is bare bones. We ordered on a busy Saturday night and waited about 45 minutes, so I would recommend calling in your order beforehand. The staff isn't organized, so having cash can speed along the process (although they do take credit cards). Only a few minor complaints. The food came out at different times so the plantains were a bit cold (though still very tasty) and they had run out of salad. The side dishes are a tad overpriced, but the chicken is a decent deal. None of this would prevent me from going there again. Dollars: a whole chicken, side couscous, fried plantains and two gingerales cost about $32. read more

Best chicken in town, period! Okay, here's why... their chicken is charcoal grilled which you can hardly find any where else these days, meat is not dry with a bit of juice and work out the magic with the spice. Someone else has mentioned their side is not good, and I'm half agree with that. On a good day, the plantain and fried rice can be sooo good that I can't stop eating. However, sometimes they're not as good, I wish they're more consistent on this. read more

Just went for dinner there this evening after my other dinner plans fell through- the paint job on the exterior and the cheesy sign are nothing fancy, so I wasn't expecting much, but it was open late and local. I must say I was impressed! The food was great, my girlfriend and split the whole chicken combo, with couscous and plantains. The plantains were our favourite- delicious and unique. The couscous had a few lumps, and was plain, but came with a tomato/onion mix that tasted really fresh. The chicken was juicy, had good flavour, and had CRISPY SKIN which I LOVE. There was enough that I am planning on having leftovers tomorrow. Service was fine, the gentleman suggested the meal and it came quickly as we made small talk. The price was fair- 30$ for the meal with 2 drinks- can't complain considering the quality/quantity of the food. I hope to go back soon! read more

The chicken is delicious. Some like it spicy hot. There is a cooler option. I can't wait to try the goat. I didn't know they were delivering during COVID. There is always a long line up (it is pretty much take-out only) so we haven't been there in awhile. I think it is the best chicken in Ottawa. read more

The FOOD is amazing! I eat there a lot. Unfortunately it could be very disorganized and almost always something from my order is missing or I get the wrong order (esp when ordering through UberEats). I recommend going in person if you really want to give the place an honest try. The ambiance/appearance of the place could use a little work too. If the service is more organized, it would easily be 5 stars. read more

Got the whole spicy chicken and loved it. The skin and flavour is amazing, and there was a good amount of quality meat on the bird. The best charcoal chicken I've had so far in Ottawa read more

I really recommend this to everyone! At this place you can find really good food! And their chicken....I've never tested any better in Ottawa. Seriously. read more

I went to the new YKO BBQ Chicken at 523 Glastone this week with a big appetite, I had experienced there chicken at there original location at Charlotte and Rideau. My friend and I both ordered the 1/4 chicken combo that come with rice and plantain. While waiting we could see intio the kitchen there were containers of food on the floor and are server was standing next it wearing open shoes with barefeet. The food is not made there and is reheated. Our plates came it looked good, but we each got a chicken leg not a quarter chicken, there was not breast meat. We mentioned this to our server, she came out with a whole chicken on a plate and tried to tell us that the leg is indeed a quarter chicken. The chicken was tasty but there was not enough and the rest was not reheated enough. The entire afternoon I was worried about food poisening. I would not order from them again, maybe I will try there McArthur location. read more

Amazing rice and plantain. The chicken is also good. Try to order in advance because it can be a wait.

Chicken is good but side are not. Be careful their spicy is very spicy and delivery does not include forks and plate.

This is probably the best African food, let alone chicken, I've ever had. I've eaten here several times, and was only disappointed once when they gave me a. chicken spicier than I had asked for. That being said, it was just a little fluke, and it's always been good otherwise. Highly, highly recommend and be warned: when they say it's spicy, they mean it. read more

The food is really good! You will not be disappointed with the quality of food. I didn't give them a 5 stars because customer service sometimes is not the best. I have gone a few times and my order was either mixed up or the friendliness of the staff was not the greatest. But that doesn't stop me from eating there. Try it out! read more

Food is absolutely AMAZING. So why only one star?? Read on... I've been there 3 times now. On my first visit, we were the only ones in the place, and I ended up waiting about 15 minutes for my food. I thought it was a little long, but the food was awesome. Well worth the wait. On my second visit, there were 4 of us on a business lunch. We ended up waiting 35 minutes, and food was once again amazing. But we got back to work late because of it. Today, on our 3rd visit, we decided to call in our order, to avoid just sitting around for more than half our lunch hour. We called at exactly noon (phone calls every 5 minutes right up until 11:59AM went unanswered, and led to a voicemail that was full). We ordered at noon, and told it would be ready within the half hour. We showed up on location at 12:30. We waited, waited and then waited some more. While we were waiting clients came in, and stood at the counter, ignored completely for 10 minutes until they left in disgust at having been ignored. Then, for the first time in my life, I walked out of an establishment. Having seen no sign of life, and it was 12:55, we had to cut our losses and get takeout food to take in to the office. If you have a hankering for taking a few hours out of your day, and customer service is at the bottom of your list of important things, I recommend this restaurant. BUT... If your goal is to be respected as a client, and getting served in a timely manner, run away; run fast, run far. :( read more

I took out the whole BBQ chicken last weekend, and it was soooo good. I ordered the spicy one, and IT IS SPICY. Probably the best African style charcoal BBQ chicken in town. read more

I stopped by there with my wife last night for the first time , the chicken was cold not sure if it's pregrilled tasted ok but the breast was a little too salty, the red rice and the plantain too oily. Service was average. read more

Me and my fiance ordered take from here this evening. We ordered the mild and spicy BBQ chicken. I had the mild chicken and it was great. The rice was good as well and I like how they put cabbage and carrots with the rice. I look forward eating here in the future. read more