Yum Village

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!

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!!!

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.

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!

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.

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 sortof flavor perhaps with some tomato and okra and sweet potato?

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!

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!

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.

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