Back A Yard Caribbean Grill

Jamaican restaurant · St. James Park

Back A Yard Caribbean Grill

Jamaican restaurant · St. James Park

80 N Market St, San Jose, CA 95113

Highlights

Inviting eatery serves up hearty American & Caribbean cooking, including jerk-chicken combos.

80 N Market St, San Jose, CA 95113 Get directions

backayard.net

$10–20 · Menu

@infatuation

"Popular Caribbean joint BackAYard cooks up some ridiculously good jerk chicken. Since opening in 2004, they’ve become a small army of five Silicon Valley locations, including a brick-walled, fast-casual spot on the Capitol Expressway, and a take-out joint with an outdoor patio adjacent to San Jose State. The atmosphere is easygoing, and it’s all delicious—try the jerk chicken, some beef oxtails, the Jamaican fried cornbread, and daily specials like ackee and codfish. With plates and combos that range from $13-19, and snacks and sides under $10, you can (and should) try a little bit of everything." - Shoshi Parks

The 19 Best Restaurants In San Jose - San Jose - The Infatuation

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@infatuation

"Popular Caribbean joint Back A Yard cooks up some ridiculously good jerk chicken. Since opening in 2004, they’ve added three more locations, including our favorite, a brick-walled fast-casual spot on the Capitol Expressway, and one with an outdoor patio adjacent to San Jose State. The atmosphere is easygoing and virtually everything is worth ordering—from the jerk chicken and beef oxtails to the Jamaican fried cornbread and daily specials like ackee and codfish. With plates and combos that range from $11-19, and snacks and sides under $10, you can (and should) try a little bit of everything." - Shoshi Parks

Back A Yard - Review - East San Jose - San Jose - The Infatuation

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Nathaniel Plain

Google

I normally come in on a Wednesday to get their Slow Cooked Brown Stew Chicken, but today was Thursday so ended up ordering the Coconut Curry Shrimp With Vegetables. The shrimp was cooked perfectly with just the right amount of chew, the vegetables were crunchy and fresh, and the coconut curry was the perfectly seasoned so you had the heat, the spice and the cool with every bite. The fried plantains were dense and sweet and the rice and beans are almost a meal in themselves with how flavorful and filling they are. Even if you can't make it in for a specific Daily Special, their entire menu is worth checking out. I personally love their Jerk Pork, and on days where I am not in the mood for Jamaican spices, their BBQ options are delightfully spicy up front and sweet on the back.

frances chau

Google

Like that this place is a fast casual place. They have hot sauce for you to sample was your super delicious. All the stuff for super friendly they keep the place neat and tidy. Portion size was a little bit smaller than expected but not too small. I didn't really like the mac and cheese. But their meat plate was pretty good and the plantain chips were different.

Rachel Windsor

Google

Great (mostly) self-served BBQ place! Fast service & delicious food!!! It is packed at the dinner time even the turnover was pretty fast!!! Personally, I really love their jerk salmon and ox tails!!! Their plantains are very yummy too!!! Highly recommend it!!!

Barry Paiga

Google

Great local Caribbean bbq place. Super friendly staff. The salmon was awesome. The chicken was pretty dry. Like hard to eat because there was no moisture left at all. The rice/beans were super tasty. The only thing that was kind of odd was when one of the workers started putting chairs up on the tables. (See photo) It was 45 minutes before closing. It felt like they were asking us to hurry up and leave. But 45 minutes before closing? We will be back but will avoid the chicken.

David Tao

Google

Simply amazing. I first learned of this place from the jerk turkeys they do for Thanksgiving. A family friend brought it for the holiday once and ever since tasting that I knew I needed more. I've always been a fan of jerk chicken and I am so happy to have found a place that does it well. Came early (around 5pm) to avoid any potential rush. You order at the front and then find any seat - they bring everything out to you. I ordered and thoroughly enjoyed the jerk chicken and jerk pork combo plate. The extra sauce they provide is so tasty I just poured it over the meats. The jerk salmon was also very impressive, grilling salmon is not something always done well in restaurants. Lastly the festival Jamaican fried cornmeal bread is a tasty treat. I intend to come back and often to try the sandwiches, the BBQ, and eat as much more of the jerk anything as I am able.

Ron Goodwin

Google

I'm having jerk chicken (comes dark) Yummy. A bit of spice (leave you lips tingling) such great savory flavor and very authentic. The staff will not baby you so if looking for TLC maybe go another place. The rice and beans are excellent and plantains sweet and fixed just right. Carmel crisp and delicious 😋

Max M

Google

Good. Very loud restaurant during busy times. Recommend getting food to go instead. Chicken was good, BBQ pork was good but had way too much sauce. Rice and plantains are passable, nothing to write home about.

EJ C

Google

The food was tasty but my order was misplaced and salmon cooled off, took 40 minutes to be served. I wasn't given jerk sauce with my jerk salmon... SMH. The cashier was very friendly. Tastes good, a little salty but I like flavor. Gingerbeer was spot on, among the best I've had!