Yaad Style Jamaican Cuisine

Where to Find Stellar Caribbean Food in Portland and Beyond

"Yaad Style has been putting out a full roster of Jamaican dishes on MLK Blvd since it opened in 2016. The menu stretches beyond typical jerk chicken plates and includes Jamaica’s national dish: ackee and saltfish. The traditional breakfast dish combines ackee, a tree fruit originating in West Africa, and salted cod, all fried up together with peppers, onions, and spices. The dish arrives with “rice and peas,” dumplings, and seasonal veggies. Visitors will also find a good selection of vegan Jamaican dishes, a relative rarity in Portland." - Ron Scott, Olivia Lee

"Hungover patrons at Yaad Style, look no further than Jamaica’s national dish: ackee and saltfish. Here, lightly salted cod dots a map filled in mostly by ackee, a yellow savory tree fruit found in Jamaica but indigenous to West Africa. Fried peppers and onions play a major supporting role. This big, salty breakfast helps diners load up on carbs and replenish electrolytes." - Ron Scott, Alex Frane

Jerry Finney

Google

So to be real, this was my first time trying Jamaican food. I’ve been living in the neighborhood for about nine months now, and I decided to make an Uber eats order and take a nice walk up to the Building to pick up my food. $51 got me 6 smothered oxtails with Rice and Beans, Vegetables and 3 fried plantains. I also got a Jamaican Beef Patty and a side order of about 10 Sweet Fried Plantains. Overall the service was ok. The young gentleman who greeted me wasn’t the happiest, but hey everyone has their good and bad days, and who am I to judge? I feel like the oxtails should have came with a few more oxtails for the $37 price. Quality/taste of food wasn’t bad. It came out the kitchen hot. I would like to go back and try something like their Jerk Chicken. I would have given 5 stars but this is my first time trying any of these foods. I do know this place has a ton of good reviews so that says something about the place.

Tatiana Candelaria

Google

It was okay, I got their Jerk Chicken sandwich. My bread was stale hard to bite through and some pieces of meat were inedible. Flavor was there other than that. The service was friendly! If they did a full piece of meat vs. chopped up, it would've been better (just my opinion) & of course fresher bread.

Against All Odds

Google

Had the Fish Stew, sweet potato pie, cabbage, and vegetable rice with plantains. Everything was authentic and extremely flavorful. I had an interesting experience with the gentleman who helped me at the register. I feel like we both went away from the interaction having learned something. Top service and even better food! I was all hands in.

Henissa 473

Google

Authentic Jamaican Cuisine! Literally a 'taste of the Caribbean'. I'm from the Caribbean and new to Portland. Walking into this restaurant reminded me of the small family-owned restaurants in Grenada. The owner was super friendly and welcoming. The food was so delicious. It's definitely worth the travel and the money. Will HIGHLY recommend!

Jaclyn LaMar

Google

The most fantastic and authentic Jamaican restaurant I have even been to. This is my new favorite. The jerk chicken, the ox tail, the beef patty 🤯🥵🥵🥵 EVERYTHING WAS SO FREAKING GOOD! Loved the atmosphere and the staff and I will be back SOON!

Deena Bee

Google

Listen. If I could eat here everyday I would. I do once a week. The vibe feels alot like an east coast restaurant- Philly. The food is authentic and so good- the peas and rice are refreshing! Sometimes when I eat them I feel like I'm drinking water. The beef patties are spicy and flakey - so good. The plates are priced well - you get ALOT of food.

Lambert Adjibogoun

Google

I experienced an awful customer service with this restaurant today. I came this morning with my daughter to the Yaad Style Jamaican which I have enjoyed for years. The parking space was full of trash. Upon entering the restaurant, the server stood and stared at us with no greetings. When asked if the restaurant was open, the gentleman stood quiet. He didn't come to our table to take our order and asked us to come instead to the counter to grab a menu and order. Waited for 40mns with no water served, no attention and had to leave.

Annemarie Beu

Google

We drove down from Lewis County, WA to try out their food for the first time and it was worth every mile of the drive. Their Jerk Chicken, Stew Pork and Beef Patty (the flaky and buttery crust was perfect) were absolutely amazing. I can't recommend them enough!!!

Patrick C.

Yelp

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.

Cheryl E.

Yelp

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.

Marlena S.

Yelp

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!

Randi J.

Yelp

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.

Sonny B.

Yelp

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.

David S.

Yelp

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

Chris B.

Yelp

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

Simone S.

Yelp

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

Amir A.

Yelp

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

Kristina H.

Yelp

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

Ploy N.

Yelp

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!

Maria A.

Yelp

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

Sin L.

Yelp

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.

Angela S.

Yelp

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 ‍

Rj N.

Yelp

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!

Nana T.

Yelp

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

Dee X.

Yelp

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.

Fairy S.

Yelp

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!

Njeri P.

Yelp

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.

Annette J.

Yelp

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

Veronica F.

Yelp

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.

Olivia Jade K.

Yelp

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

Tyler F.

Yelp

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

Sat W.

Yelp

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.

Kevin W.

Yelp

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

Luanda L.

Yelp

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..

Zoe S.

Yelp

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

Willa R.

Yelp

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

LaTonya R.

Yelp

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.

Sharon Y.

Yelp

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 :)!

Mag M.

Yelp

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!

Sofia R.

Yelp

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

Candy Q.

Yelp

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

Brian W.

Yelp

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.

Matthew C.

Yelp

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

Tamee W.

Yelp

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.

Nachomama C.

Yelp

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!

Patti K.

Yelp

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.

Jeffrey O.

Yelp

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!

Hibiki M.

Yelp

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!

Ally L.

Yelp

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.

K J.

Yelp

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 J.

Yelp

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...

Sandra G.

Yelp

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

Leslie T.

Yelp

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.

Donnette P.

Yelp

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 B.

Yelp

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!

Lavosha B.

Yelp

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.

Heather S.

Yelp

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

Joseph S.

Yelp

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

Where to Find Stellar Caribbean Food in Portland and Beyond