Yaad Style Jamaican Cuisine

Yaad is authentic Jamaican cuisine right in Portland, Oregon! The flavor of the oxtails, jerk bbq ribs, rice and peas, jerk wings, festival and the plantain were perfection! My nephew had the jerk chicken wrap, and he said it was delicious! Oh, and I can't forget the rum punch, which took me back to the island of Jamaica, with its authentic flavor! Also, the customs service and vibe were wonderful! If you haven't dined here; don't sleep on this restaurant. I promise you won't be disappointed!!👍

To clarify, this was my first time here at this area, and I have no idea what authentic Jamaican food tastes like, so I chose this restaurant based on the goods & bads of these reviews. Here is a simplified version of my review: The food is great, not amazing, but it has flavor and is hot when it came out. The service may be slow, but they are friendly upon greeting and I got no attitude from them. The oxtail dish is pretty good, not going into the specific details of it. The whole process from the beginning to the end ended up very smooth and had no problem with them. I loved the atmosphere of the Jamaican decors towards the food.

I had a wonderful experience at this Jamaican restaurant! From the moment I walked in, the staff were warm, welcoming, and truly inviting. Their hospitality added to the overall comfort of the visit. The food was absolutely delicious, rich in flavor and clearly made with care. Everything tasted fresh and authentic, just like a true Jamaican meal should. The atmosphere was also relaxing and refreshing, creating the perfect vibe to enjoy a great meal. Overall, it was a memorable and satisfying experience. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a genuine taste of Jamaica.

Food was top tier! I ordered the Oxtail and it was basically the best oxtail I’ve ever had. The stew and sauce was perfect; the meat was so tender and flavorful, and the sides were brilliantly done. The plantain had sweet chewy edges and was delicious; the veggies were cooked perfectly, and the rice & beans were the best! I will be back!

Rare Vegan Authentic Jamaican Food Probably the only place in Portland where you can eat Brown Stew Tofu with a side of Festival! The flavor of the Brown Stew Tofu is slightly sweet with a main deep tomato flavor, pairing that up with their Rice & Beans and it's incredible. That Festival though, wow, it tasted amazing! It's more so like an old fashioned donut with how sweet is it and tasted too weird to dip it in the savory dish. Instead, we enjoyed it on its own, and it did not disappoint. Very crispy on the outside and pillowy on the inside. They also have Jerk Tofu and Curry Tofu to which we can proudly say are also a delight, but our favorite is the Brown Stew Tofu. Sides also include Sweet Plantains and Slaw. But DO NOT get their mashed potatoes as that is not vegan! The food here is so wholesome. As someone who grew up on Carribean food, the flavors are welcoming and is a delicacy to find in a vegan form. It really tastes like home cooking and not something overally junkie. The portion sizes are generous and can be two meals worth. One complaint is that the staff is particularly unfriendly. You quickly feel like your bothering them when asking for basic service (like where to put a cup with a drink that you didn't finish). Whether you dine in or taking-out, it's certainly should be on you bucket list for Vegan Portland Food.

I don’t normally leave reviews unless a restaurant is a disappointment every time I get food from there because it extremely frustrating to overspend for something that’s not good. This is the 3rd time I have purchased food from this place. The first 2 times were about 2 years ago. As someone who has eaten authentic Jamaican food my whole life from many different places and family from Jamaica, both time the food was very disappointing. I’ve had the oxtail all 3 times. Jerk chicken and curry goat the first 2 times. And the beef soup twice. Back then the curry goat was too salty and bland. The jerk chicken was just ok to be edible, and the rice was old with a lot of hard grains making it inedible. The oxtail is overpriced for what you get, not tender enough, and not the best flavor. The beef soup may as well be bean broth and another overpriced item. There are no provisions or meat in it. Overall I really wanted to give them my business but this will be the last time I try this place. A waste of money and disappointment through and through. I hope the chefs/cooks reexamine their recipes and prices and make a lot of improvements. Who knows maybe I’ll try again in a few years since I’m from the Caribbean and Jamaican food ranks in the top 5 of my favorite cuisines. The reason this food gets 2 stars (even though none of the food was great) is because it’s edible.

To be fair I went there today (Saturday 2th) & there was an outside party going on. I went for the same thing 2 years ago! I got my awesome patties and left!

I drive by these guys all the time and see them smoking meats in the parking lot. Finally came in to try it out. Phenomenal! Got the chicken dinner. I will be back.

Authentic. Yaadie here from Jamaica. I have lived on the west coast now for 10 years and very happy I finally found this place. If you are Caribbean you will know what I mean. I would go as far as to say, best not just in Pacific North West but the entire West Coast. If you are not Caribbean, this is the standard. Getting ready to call my mom and let her know of her competition.

Yes, yes, and yes! Run, don't walk if you've got a hankering for some Jamaican food. Now I haven't had too much exposure to different Jamaican restaurants but this is definitely on my radar to revisit if I'm ever in town again. The oxtail was superb. Meat was fall off the bone tender and had so much flavor. I don't normally eat that much but I polished off the plate. The jerk chicken was moist and flavorful. The pairing of the slaw with the plantains just brought the dish full circle. The beef patty was also something worth mentioning. It had just the right amount of kick to make your tastebuds tingle. I would def order again.

Delicious food! We loved the oxtail and jerk chicken. Really loved the festival too! We just got back from Negril and I'd definitely rank the flavor of the food right up there with what we had on the island. Great stuff!

10/10 Everything. My sister and I both got the oxtail and it was perfectly cooked, perfect portions, perfect flavor. The oxtail, plantains, veggies, and rice and beans were amazing and the young gentlemen working were very kind and funny. The place is also really cute and cozy inside with good music. Looking forward to going back very soon.

Cant wait to go here with my Jamaican Homie. He likes thier Jerk chicken . I like thier chicken and oax tails to. Very good flavor. Plus thier workers are very friendly.

Fire!! Great food, Great Service, and it feels just like walking into Kingston! Great Ambiance! Get the OXTAILS!

I'm not religious but some people's hands are anointed. The food here is truly made with love and you can feel it. The oxtail, the jerk chicken, the rice and peas, all delicious. I'm from the south and this takes me home. Authentic, flavorful, and staff that makes you feel welcome. Where I'm from, you get one of two things from a Jamaican restaurant, good customer service or good food. Here you get both. It's a family operation and I've yet to try something I haven't loved. There's a reason I went here every day for a week straight and will keep coming back. Genuinely my favorite restaurant since I've moved out here 4 years ago

Change in ownership, menu and taste. When I returned to the place, they had the nerve to use tilapia for the ackee and saltfish

Food was ok but the service was really bad. I think it's overpriced for what you get.

Delicious food, even the vegetarian food. Also super friendly service, highly recommended

The 1/2 Chicken Platter came with 2 thighs, 2 drumsticks, and 4 festivals. The chicken pieces were cooked on the very very charred side of things but the meat remained very tender and juicy. The festivals were crunchy on the outside but chewy in a good way on the inside. The star of this dish has to be the sauce. It was KICKIN' to say the least; I immediately bottled it up hoping to keep it around as long as possible. The plate came still warm in a well-wrapped container as well. The Beef Patty was also decent. The crust was oddly chewy and tough, not how I remembered it to be but the filling, again, was packed full of flavors and spices. All in all, not a mind-blowing meal but I liked it!

Yummy food! We enjoyed it so much will be back soon! Love their plantains, shrimps and everything else.

It was absolutely delicious and so fresh. The oxtail was the star, there was zero meat left on my plate, an absolute must try. Wait time was a little long, bit well worth it. Got the yaad wings, pretty sure the yaad sauce was just ranch though, still cooked perfectly, if I could do it over again I would have chosen the jerk wings instead. Definitely recommend.

We had the beef pattie's and Jerk When I tell you they were a great 12/10!!! Yum! I washed it all down with a ting!!! The food was so good, this is the only picture I have ‍

Fire!!! Quick service, great ambiance. Got the jerk chicken dinner and it was delicious, enough food for two of me. Girly got the rasta pasta also a bomb choice!

The food was really good! I loved the oxtails and rice. I would totally recommend! Best Jamaican food in Portland

The oxtail & jerk chicken plates are delicious! The plantains were sweet and perfect after the savory meal. Our waiter/bartender provided excellent service as we celebrated my bf's birthday. Ambience gives a fun and at-home cozy feel, especially when the good food comes out fresh the kitchen.

So much goodness. Every time we order from here we say, "oh wow!". It's just so good. Vegan food that tastes so rich and delish, yet is completely nourishing. I love their rice and beans and all the tofu! Plus their deserts - absolute yum!

Since moving to Portland, I have given restaurants at least two attempts before writing a review. I feel like if the first attempt is good, I think the restaurant is exceptional. Anyway, I came here twice and feel confident with my review. The first time I ordered I got the stew chicken. The rice was bland. I did love the cabbage. Recently I went back with my sister who was visiting. I ordered the curried goat. The goat was mostly made of bones. The meat was a bit chewy, but the sauce was delicious. My rice was hard. Plantains were still delicious. But for$22 the portion size and quality of food is not worth it. My sister thought the seasoning on the jerk chicken was decent, but she was disappointed with the size of the wings (they were wingettes, not full size wings). Her rice was bland and she barely had cabbage. After trying two times, I can say the food is not worth the price.

Great tasting food! Tastefully presented. Good variety in menu, with options for meal combination. Very pleasant service from Jason. Clean,well maintained environment. Will definitely be a repeat customer. Annette

This was my first experience with Jamaican food, but I was not impressed with my meal. I ordered the Yaad Style Chicken Wings appetizer for the table, and it ended up being the favorite part of my dinner. The Island Shrimp dinner was merely okay, and came out a good 10 minutes after my 5 dinner companions had tucked into their own meals. I don't expect that I'll be returning to this establishment, but I'd be open to trying Jamaican food again elsewhere.

Every time I come here the ackee & saltfish is delicious. I've never had to wait too long for my food.

Whats understood doesn't need to be spoken on. Hands down the best Jamaican spot in the PNW!!!

This is literally the best jamican food I ever had and I'm jamican! That should say a lot. Whoever is making the jerk pork should never stop! This is my 4th time this week ordering from this restaurant. I think this restaurant deserves a 10/5. 5 starts isn't enough.

This place does not have a parking lot so you will have to find street parking. The inside is not that big but there has always been a seat available when I came. They play live music or have a DJ over the weekend. I ordered the ox tails plate. The ox tails were great but I wish I got more. The mac and cheese was decent. The plantains were great. The rice was ok. The cabbage was passable. I will return. I like the vibe

The food was great. They give good portion sizes! We visited the spot on what we were told was their first day opening since the new management took over..Not sure if it's just a Portland thing but, they wanted us to pay using Cashapp.. they were not accepting cards.. That kinda sucks if you don't have Cashapp..

Absolutely delicious and tender with the perfect amount of spice 10/10 would recommend

Don't think this place exists anymore. Drove by, parked and walked by and just couldn't find it. Too bad. Sounded like it would be good

We were in Portland for the Vanport Jazz concert and my cousin said had to try this spot and I am so glad she did! The food was delicious! My husband and I had the Jerk chicken it was juicy and flavorful the Rum punch was perfect! If you ever are in the Portland Or. you must try.! You won't be disappointed.

I ordered the jerk chicken and it was SO good. I love that it comes with rice and beans, plantains and vegetables. Mine also came with 4 pieces so I was STUFFED. The jerk chicken is a little spicy as I believe it should be but just putting that here just in case people are sharing with young ones:) The chicken was super moist too and it came with this delicious sauce. Definitely coming back to try more things from here since so many items on the menu sound so good :)!

Popped in early on a Wed for dinner, so place was kinda quiet. Jamaican vibe with reggae on the speakers. First think you notice is the great aroma of stewing chow. Modest place. Friendly staff. I got the jerk chicken and the wife got curried goat. Menu says veggie rice, mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes are also options with a meal, but they didn't have these available; just rice and beans and white rice. Meals came with steamed veggies (which were great and a lot better than you'd think being called steamed veggies) and plantains. Supposed to come with mac and cheese also, but this was also unavailable. Rice and beans was fantastic, as was the chicken and goat. Two clean plates for us. Bold flavors in every bite. We will certainly return and highly recommend. Good stuff!

I love trying different restaurants and different cuisines. It saddens me to say that I don't want to order here again. I wouldn't come here or recommend. But do as you wish

Excellent food. Cool spot. Great atmosphere enjoyed the jerk chicken and cabbage and the sweet potato pudding is the best thing ever..

I really wanted to like this place. It was featured on Top Chef and when my trip to Portland was coming up I made sure to make this a destination. Bad idea. Pro: the waitress was nice and gave us water for the table and the restaurant appeared clean. Con: my food was terrible. Pretty much the worst Jamaican food I've ever had. My wife's wings were burnt TO A CRISP. She basically ate char from the grill on a bone. The jerk sauce lacked much flavor. Not spicy, not tropical in flavor and left much to be desired. Not to mention the jerk sauce is provided on the side and not directly on the chicken. The beans and rice is just that...beans mixed with white rice. Again I really really wanted to like this place, but as a foodie I have to write this unfortunate review. As for Top Chef...do better.

So first of all I will say this is coming from someone who grew up in Jamaica. This oxtail was by far one of the best I've had since being in the states. The meat was soft, tender and fell off the bone. The gravy was a little bit too thin for my liking, I do like when it's a bit thicker and it has the broad beans in it. This one didn't have my many. We also had to curry chicken which was good, but I think the flavour is a little bit downplayed with respect to the taste probably for the presumed clientele. All in all this is definitely a great spot, and will for sure be back. The service was fairly quick and definitely friendly. Parking is a bit tight

We visited Yaad Stayle Jamaican Cuisine April 2020 for food to-go. We were confident based on reviews we would be pleased so we bought a lot. Jerk chicken meal, oxtail meal, jerk wings and festivals. Boy were we more than pleased! The jerk chicken was soooo flavorful and just perfect! The oxtail was mouth watering and literally fell off the bone. Jerk wings?? Really need I say more? And of course the festivals were eaten promptly on the drive home. No waiting on those. The veggies and rice was a beautiful balance to the kick of jerk. The plantains that came with the meals were the perfect morsels to sweetly end our meals with. We will be back...likely every weekend! With a 30 min drive one way, you can bet your bottom dollar that is saying a whole lot about Yaad and their new ownership.

When I say this is the best Jamaican food I've ever had I mean it... I accidentally ate one of the bones it was that good. It's a nice restaurant and the people were very pleasant. It'a a wonderful atmosphere where you can take your family and I can't say it enough, this food is one of the best tasting dishes I've had!

They are under new ownership, and there are VEGGIE AND VEGAN options, so if you're not a carnivore, you can still get something super tasty! My husband loved his Jerk Chicken, and I had a tasty veggie plate - which of course, I had to top with some great Jamaican hot sauce. Service is super friendly, the owner is really cool, AND there's a full bar - and trust me you want to order a cocktail because the owner is also a master bartender.

The jerk chicken meal is insanely good, I mean slap your mama good. Other reviewers claim to be foodies and complain about the char. My chicken every time I've been there has been seasoned and cooked to perfection. These "foodies" don't know the char is what gives anything it's flavor. What do you think the point of bbqing is. If you don't like char, cook your meat in an oven. Anyways the chicken meal is complimented perfectly with rice and beans, the perfect amount to eat a bite full with each bite of chicken, cabbage I think, and some plantains to offset the spicyness. Incredible!

My friend and I had a delicious dinner here last night. She had the jerk chicken and I had the oxtails. Both came with cooked veggies and rice and beans and plantains--all super yummy. We're going back for the curry goat ASAP!

I'm so disappointed with our food! We spent $70 for 2 meals and one side of plantain. My shrimp dish tasted like pure salt, the rice was crunchy, and the cabbage was undercooked. My partner's ox tail was bland -- unbelievable! I feel very sad about leaving this review but my meal is inedible.

Amazing food!!!! We enjoyed this place soooo much. We ordered jerk chicken and ox tails. Oh my goodness they were so good. Even the sides tasted out of this world. If you never had Jamaican food, I suggest you try this place before any other, you will fall in love with the food.

The 1/4 Jamaican in me says: Yeahhh Maaan... The other 3/4 says: This food is very tasty! and not too salty. Can we get this more often? The 1/4 Jamaican in me says: Yeahhh Maaan... I ordered the Jerk chicken, some beef patties, and the fried plantains. I just looked over at my delivery bag and I even like the way they wrote my name. Someone over there has nice, clear penmanship. That's a sign of quality and care. I'm not just making jokes I'm telling you the news. Yeahhh Maaan...

Food was fabulous. Generous portions. Friendly staff. Will be visiting there again.

So I can count on one hand how many times I've eaten at a Jamaican restaurant (tragic, I know). This place was decent but definitely not my best experience. I got the oxtails plate. The oxtails were delicious and the cabbage was cool. The rice had a good taste but was kind of dry. I guess I'm the only one, but I actually liked the slice of macaroni pie. Any real mac and cheese lover would think it was mediocre, I'm sure. The wait for my food didn't seem too long, but there was only one guy working. Customer service wasn't awful but nothing was memorable about it. If I ever want Jamaican I'll probably come here again because its Portland and I don't think there are many more choices. Oh, no parking lot so find a spot on one of the residential streets.

I'm a Jamaican and new to Oregon and I tried this restaurant I'm very pleased. The food was authentic and delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant

The Patty here amazing! The stew is to die for! I love this place. My wife had the jerk chicken and festival and adored it!

This is Portland's best Jamaican sensation! I order the oxtail plate and mac pie which is a nice portion, enough for two people for sure. My son is super picky about what he eats and specifically requests this place! This is the only mac and cheese he'll eat, to the point where I had to learn to make it for variety at home. Everything is flavorful and nothing short of of its name.

They refused my Groupon vouchers, said they were "fake" and that they are not affiliated with Groupon.

The owner was very nice and the location was easy to find. Inside was very clean, good music, with plenty of seating. The jerk chicken tacos and oxtail are the best you will find in the Pacific Northwest. It all went down great with a red stripe