This was one of the stops on A Taste of Black Cleveland Trolley tour. I am glad it was! The food is phenomenal! We had a sample of their bowl with jerk chicken, rice, plantains, chickpeas, bbq jerk and jezabel honey mustard sauce. The flavors complement each other and created a party in my mouth! I ordered a large portion to go. I will definitely be back! The young lady that served us was friendly and knowledgeable. read more

I visited Yum Village while in the area. I was really into the idea of Afro-Caribbean flavors and reminiscing about my trip to the Caribbean (Dominican Republic). The food was bold and authentic. My experience didn't quite live up to the anticipation. The atmosphere had promise. It had very nice African art on the walls that added to the unique accent of this small eatery. To be very honest, the place did not look extremely polished or clean. Service cold and really unlike typical Caribbean hospitality and vibes. That's also compared to local Afro-Caribbean spots. I came at the end of the day (around 8 PM) and was the only customer so maybe that explains this disappointing level of energy. My options at the end of the day were limited. Quick bites menu was available to build my own plate. The ingredients are not upfront within view so it's hard to tell what you'll get until it arrives. I ordered jerk chicken XL plate with all the possible toppings, and asked for a side of plantains (up-charge). The serving was generous but still a bit pricey for $20. I took my order to go. The dinner plate was too spicy for my liking. The plantains were extremely good, very authentically Caribbean tasting. I loved them. The overall experience just lacked that soul I was looking for. Mostly street parking is available in the area. The eatery is within walking distance of the Cleveland State University campus which is convenient for students and visitors. It's always tough to reflect on a less-than-great experience, especially when I want to root for places like this. I know that restaurants--especially smaller, community-driven ones--have off days. Maybe that's all this was. Still, I walked out bummed. read more

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The service was amazing the lady at the register and behind the kitchen was very friendly and respectful but unfortunately she was the only one working in the entire restaurant. The food on the other hand was horrid. It tasted like it had been sitting in the warmers for over a week and the smell was foul. When I left I had an extreme stomach ache and felt sick to my stomach. Would not recommend but the one worker needs a raise. read more

I tried their food truck at the Taste Festival and was very disappointed. I ordered the jerk rice bowl, and honestly, I don't know what it was supposed to be -- it had no flavor and nothing close to what you'd expect from an authentic Jamaican spot. I'm very particular about Jamaican food, and this completely missed the mark. While the staff was friendly, the food itself was beyond disappointing. For the price I paid, I truly wish I could get my money back. read more

Okay, so my funny story about Yum Village is how I had to go all the way to Detroit to discover that there was a Cleveland location, lol. I finished up work early on a Saturday and decided to pop in for a visit. In addition to trying the garlic bbq sauce on my jerk chicken with half coconut/half jollof rice, I also picked up some oxtails with lemon pepper jerk for my aunt. The location is right across from the CSU campus on Chester and it's a bright, cheery and uplifting vibe when you walk in. I was greeted warmly and had a great convo with the owner. I shared my Detroit story with him and he mentioned that they also offer additional dishes through their catering arm of the restaurant; even servicing the Cavs and Cleveland Clinic. They offer beverages from local artisans and I bought a tasty rice drink. It paired well with spicy dishes and helps mellow the "kick". The food fills you up without you feeling sluggish afterwards, you can tell it's quality. read more

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I heard of this place and was excited to go. I should've went to my regular spot for Caribbean food cause this place was a waste of time and money!! When I walked in the place looked messy. Prob should've just walked out then, smh. Service was okay. I'm disappointed because I spent $14 for this!?!? The rice is NOT done!!! The plantains were mushy and the chicken was dry as a well in the dessert. Doesn't even look appetizing at all! Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else!!! read more

Yum Village - Ordered the jerk chicken, non spicy rice and plantain. - Caribbean Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

HOO BOY, I still haven't been to this spot in person, but after trying their food at a catered event, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. Everything we had was vegetarian -- and everything was delicious. In still dreaming about the ginger curry chickpeas and need to go into the restaurant for them ASAP. The akara was interesting, sort of reminiscent of cornbread meets falafel, and the spicy bean stew made for a super-cozy bowl of warmth. Special shoutout to the plantains, which served as my dessert because I couldn't get enough of them. Can't wait to go in and try this spot in person. I might just need to work my way through the entire menu! read more

Well priced unique Caribbean African inspired food. Jollof rice was nice and spicy with juicy not dry jerk chicken and a hint of sweet ginger from the curried chickpeas. The truffle oil greens weren't truffley at all but instead very very greasy. The peanut stew was moderately thick and orange. It was deliciously spicy with a savory sort of flavor perhaps with some tomato and okra and sweet potato? read more

Yum Village - Caribbean Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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Was in the area so I dropped in for a sampling. Ordered a small bowl of jollof rice, ginger curry chickpeas, bell peppers, and sautéed shrimp with a barbecue sauce. Not bad for a "twist" on African and Caribbean fusion. The service was very welcoming, which I found to be commonplace in Cleveland. The restaurant was empty, so I got to chat with the guy working behind the counter. Being Jamaican and Ghanaian, I could go hard on the food. I could stay at home and cook my own authentic dishes, too. I liked the attempts, nevertheless. read more

Yum Village - Jollof, Ginger Curry Chickpeas, Bell Peppers, Sautéed Shrimp, Garlic Barbecue - Caribbean Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Great food with even better customer service. The folks took their time to explain the menu and each item. read more

Yum Village - Jerk oxtail - Caribbean Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Definitely lives up to the name Yum Village, because their food is very yummy! The interior was very clean, the workers were super nice, loved the music, and like the seating right in front of the window. The jerk chicken was seasoned very well and had tons of great flavor and was also super tender, the jollof rice was cooked perfectly and had great spice that contrasted well with the super tender and sweet plantains. I got lemon pepper jerk sauce on my bowl, which was awesome, but they have a lot of other sauces to choice from too. I went to their food truck one time too and it was also super good. Love this place, definitely will be back! read more

Yum Village - Jerk Chicken Bowl - Caribbean Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Delicious, flavorful Afro-Caribbean food. A must try! We visited YumVillage late in the evening. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and spacious. We felt lucky to meet the owner, Godwin Ihentuge. He shared that YumVillage originated in Detroit and recently expanded to Cleveland. He kindly explained the proteins, sides, and stews offered at YumVillage. From what we tried * Ginger curry chickpeas: a little crisp, creamy on the inside, packed with flavor. * Sweet and spicy plantains: perfect plantains. Perfect! Delicious flavor and ripe. * Lemon pepper Jerk chicken: tender and delicious * Coconut rice: slightly creamy, good base for more flavorful proteins and sides * FuFu: plantain and cassava mix packed with flavor * Yam Stew: the star of the meal. So much flavor and texture. Slightly spicy. Every dish we tried has it own distinct and fantastic seasoning that plays well with the other components of your meal. If you like it extra spicy, kindly ask for some pepper spice on the side. I look forward to returning to YumVillage to try all of their amazing food. read more

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The food was good and hot, staff is friendly. I would eat there every chance I get for lunch.

This place is very good. I wanted to try something different and not it is that. The owner is very nice and welcoming. He helped me with pacing my order. Very nice vibe. The food is flavorful and delicious. I will definitely be back! read more

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Amazing value for any "food in a bowl" enjoyer. In a medium bowl I was thoroughly impressed with the generous proportions of Yum Village's well prepared jolof rice, plantains, chickpeas, jerk chicken, and sauce. Each item was clearly made with love as show by each item's deliberate seasoning choices. The service was just as great, as the worker helped me through my first "Yum Village Experience" I am a big eater and the medium bowl sent me packing with seconds. I left a very satisfied yuminite! read more

Yum Village is often the "guest restaurant" in the cafeteria at my employer, MetroHealth, sometimes at the main campus and sometimes at our Old Brooklyn rehab bldg. Today I tried Yum for the first time...and it won't be the last! Absolutely delicious! I got rice, chicken, chickpeas, plantains, sweet peppers and garlic sauce. I was in heaven! And I will be back! read more

The food was AMAZING. We absolutely loved the spice level, intricate use of flavors, and smoky undertones of the peanut soup. However, we were charged $66 for TWO build your own bowls with oxtails. I even asked my husband twice if that was right....he said yes, $33 per bowl for 5oz of bone in oxtails, 5 pieces of plantain, a cup of jollof rice, and 2 cups of peanut stew. The menu prices online are misleading and their online ordering system is completely unusable. Comparatively, there are other Afro/Caribbean places where their bowls are much much less. I want to support local business but the price transparency needs to be more evident. read more

My husband and I finally made it here for a day date! The food was amazing!! We had to stop ourselves from ordering everything ESPECIALLY after we were able to sample things! The owner there was so nice and gave excellent customer service. He was very enthusiastic and descriptive about the food letting us know there was passion and love in each dish. The place was very nice and clean with an open concept kitchen that allowed you to see how clean they keep the kitchen space. We will definitely be back!! read more

Yum Village - a variety of food items on a table - Caribbean Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

OMG!!! You have to check out this place. I drive 25 minutes from Strongsville for carry out. So far my favorite is the jerk chicken with rice, plantains, green peppers, and BBQ sauce. Just off I-90 on Chester. Program your GPS and start driving and drooling. It is so worth it. You can also dine in. Across from CSU. I always get extra to eat a couple days later. read more

The flavor is unreal- so good. I haven't gotten past the Akara (pea fritters). I've been there 5 times and that's the only thing I ordered, I'm going to try to branch out... always worth it read more

Absolutely AMAZING meal!! My son & I had the jerk chicken with the turmeric rice (he had the coconut rice) & chickpeas. The pickled cabbage was a great addition. Highly recommend this place, & the owner is so kind & friendly. He made me feel like I'm having a home cooked meal. Loved it & will definitely be returning! read more

Yum Village - Turmeric rice, jerk chicken, roasted chickpeas, sweet peppers, pickled cabbage & jerk sauce!! - Caribbean Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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My sister told me about the place so I decided to try it. The Jamaican side of things is amazing...but the African food is not it, the jollof is not jollof. The Egusi and fufu I don't even know what to say. I've never spat food out of my mouth before until today. The fufu was raw and powdery. The Egusi was just not edible. As an African please don't use this place to judge African food, because it's not properly cooked. If you want Jamaican food, they have that down, oxtails were amazing!!! I'm giving it a 3 because of that and how amazing the service was! read more

I was very disappointed with the pricing and service. I should have gone to my usual spot on Mayfield Road.

Great new spot downtown by CSU. Incredible food, great people inside, friendly and efficient. 10/10 read more

Yum Village - Yam stew (bottom) build your own bowl (top) - Caribbean Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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I had called to see if they had the egusi soup and fufu he said that he did so I called to place an order and he said they don't do over the phone orders that has to come in so I came into the restaurant and I was not pleased it did not look clean and the cooler has cheap store sodas that's the only thing you could get to drink and I asked him if he had the food that I was looking for the only thing he said that he had was oxtails and chicken no sides I was very disappointed how are you going to have a restaurant in half the stuff on your menu you do not even have read more

The fufu brought me here but I'll be back again and again. Get one of everything-- non-negotiable. The food here is absolutely amazing, authentic and out of this world. The owner does an amazing job recreating these traditional Afro-Caribbean dishes and bringing diversity and a love for the craft to the Greater Cleveland area. read more

Yum Village catered a small, last-minute student event for my class at CSU. The owner was a pleasure to work with, the communication and service were excellent, and so was the cuisine. Great portions! We were all fat and happy after our meals. Thanks, Carasai! read more

Incredible Jamaican jerk chicken offered up by this establishment. I recommend the African cheesy bread on the side This place is a welcome addition to cleveland food scene. read more

Incredible cuisine; responsibly sourced and prepared! It's truly inspirational to find healthy and hearty food options that feel like home.

Customer service was great! I was greeted as soon as I walked into the building. The oxtail were delicious! They have a different flavor profile than I expected or am used to, more citrusy, but very good! They were super tender and the gravy was bursting with flavor. My favorite part was definitely the plantains though! The sweet & spicy was a good take on them! I will definitely be back! read more

Yum Village - Oxtails, Jollof rice, & sweet + spicy plantains! - Caribbean Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

There Jamaican food and plantains are amazing! Absolutely divine but when it comes tot here African food, it's just not it.. maybe I don't like the flavors or just maybe it's not well prepared, will have to try a different restaurant first. read more

First time here and it was amazing. Wonderful customer service and even better food!!! Thank you

I ordered curry goat and it was over priced for the amount of food received. The goat was not curried not sure if it was really goat. I pictured on the sight are very misleading my food I got was least of that. I was very disappointed and displeased and won't be returning. read more

Great service and best jerk chicken in Cleveland, have had many times and always a great experience

You are absolutely not be disappointed with the delightful decadence of Caribbean and flare flickering your tongue The delectable delightful flavor that beat Bobby flay in the heart of Cleveland will send you on your way swooning over your plate begging for more the owner and his amazing nephew will not disappoint as his nephew would say I'll see you on the flip flop be sure to stop and get an amazing taste of Africa in the heartland Cleveland on the corner of 22nd in Chester avenue in Cleveland Ohio their hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. closed on Sunday and they do catering as well read more

I've never had proper Caribbean food, but Yum Village just set the bar high! Go here if you can. The flavors are intense but delicious, the chicken was seasoned and tender, even the chickpeas were so tasty. I will definitely come back here for another bite!!! Welcome to Cleveland, Yum Village! read more

Delicious food, super generous serving sizes! I got the jerk chicken and would definitely recommend

Fabulous meal with nice portions and options to please most palates. The chef truly thought out the cultural protein and side dishes that taste great separately or together. The home made dipping sauces range from mild, spicy, bbq, or added flavor to the dish. This meal is worth the trip or delivery. read more

BEST FOOD IN CLEVELAND HANDS DOWN. The jerk chicken is a 10/10. As someone with a Caribbean background, I guarantee you this restaurant will not disappoint. read more

Excellent Caribbean style food, glad I found this restaurant. Everything I've tried on the menu is good, I love the classic Village combo. The plantain and jerk chicken are delicious and the prices are very reasonable. read more