Back A Yard Caribbean American Grill

So I've always passed by this place growing up on the way to the shopping center. Since working in the area, I've been ordering from this place a lot! The food is always well packaged for take-out. It's so well-seasoned, with excellent flavors. The jerk chicken is so good, and I love the plantains too! The rice with the beans is yummy and balances the seasonings of the chicken. I've also tried the corn fritters which were good too. The mac cheese was okay to me. So glad that this is in the area! It makes for a good meal.

What a flavorful delicious meal! - jerk salmon/oxtail- both meats here were so delicious, definitely the preferred combo. loved the salmon, cooked perfectly, tender, not overdone at all. oxtail had many pieces, came with a sauce- on the saltier side but also nice to have with the rice. - jerk chicken/pork- both were yummy, can't go wrong with these classics. i think the pork had the smallest portion size of the four meats we had. - cornbread- we ended up ordering a piece after reading a friend's yelp review after finishing our food. large size, on the sweeter size, yummy. portion size was very generous, we were able to finish the entrees between two. i think we could've ordered less but the combo meats are such a good deal.

First and probably not my last time having delicious Caribbean food! I got the Jerk Chicken and Jerk Pork Combo to share with my boyfriend and it was enough for the both of us! The portions were decent and the meat along with the plantains and rice paired perfectly together! Our friend got practically the same thing just with white meat chicken with a mango juice. The plantain was grilled to a crispy deliciousness and the meat was very smoky. I've never had such a pairing before. I cannot believe that you could get such good portions and good food for just around $15. That is a steal!Although the food and prices are good I would say the location is quite busy so if you do end up eating outside like we did it is pretty noisy, but it didn't matter to us since we came for good food!

This was my first visit to Back A Yard, thanks to a friend's glowing recommendation about their food and portion sizes. I stopped by for dinner on a Friday around 6:30 PM, and the place was surprisingly quiet--not necessarily a bad thing if you're looking for a relaxed dining experience.First impressions? The entrance was a bit... questionable. There was loud music playing from someone loitering near the front, which gave the area a slightly shady vibe. But once inside, the friendly gentleman at the front desk swiftly took my order, making the start of my visit smooth.The food came out in less than 5 minutes--talk about efficiency! The interior had a run-down charm, like a cozy mom-and-pop joint that prioritizes flavor over flash.I went with the beef oxtail yard plate, and wow, it did not disappoint. The portioning was generous, with the oxtail taking up more than a third of the plate. The meat? Falling off the bones, packed with flavor, and coated in a delicious jerk seasoning that made every bite a party in my mouth.If you're looking for hearty, flavorful Caribbean food, this is the spot. I'll definitely be back for another round of that oxtail--it's worth every penny.

I am such a sucker for this place's oxtail plate. It is plentiful and well seasoned and portions are huge! Fed me for 3 days because I'm small & petite. Friendly serviceAnd it's definitely a grab and go vibe because the place is situated right off the freeway.

I've had the jerk chicken plate a couple times ordered through work now and it is SO GOOD! Super flavorful, huge portion, and overall a well rounded meal! Would highly highly recommend

I called for takeout on a Saturday late afternoon. Years ago, I tried Back A Yard in San Jose and this is my first time trying the Peninsula store. STARS (stand out qualities) -Food is sooo tasty. We enjoyed the goat curry (super spicy!) and jerk chicken. Corn festivals so so fresh and delicious -Food was ready in 15-20 minutes from calling -Prices are reasonable given the portion size -Takeout came with napkins, utensils, leak proof containers and plastic bag -Indoor space had nice decor and color STAIRS (areas of growth)-Customer service was very minimal at least verbally. When I called on the phone, they didn't feel friendly but they got the job done. When I called, they didn't greet with what store and location so I needed to ask to clarify and when I finished my order they just hung up (no bye! Lol) -Would be great if they had compostable utensils but that might be hard to ask for for a small business TIPS-Remember to distinguish whether you want white meat for jerk chicken (I forgot to clarify on the phone) -There is street parking if you are willing to walk a bit (like 2 or so blocks). I saw cars parked on a curb right across from the main side walk and wasn't sure if that was sanctioned parking or not -Didn't see indoor seating but there is outdoor seating and chairs Overall, I would come back to try other items on the menu!

Back A Yard is Flavor Town! Succulent morsels packed with spices and seasoning will have you chomping down your meal bite after bite until you're too stuffed to go on.Tucked in a neighborhood loop just within a couple hundred yards from the freeway entrance, you'll find Back A Yard serving the locals their signature Caribbean cuisine. With primarily outdoor seating, you'll often see patrons dining in under the shade of the trees. Parking can be rough here as most of the street parking spots are occupied by residents but if you drive further down toward the bend, there are more spots.To make things more efficient for us, we decided to get takeout and called ahead to place our order. Their service over the phone doesn't sound too welcoming, so if you prefer to bypass the discomfort, you could consider placing your order online but there is a small convenience fee.Now for the food, they have a pretty simple menu with key staples (jerk chicken, ox tail, pork, BBQ) that are paired with rice and beans and plantains. The menu is available through their website and includes a detailed breakdown of their daily specials, solo protein plates, combo protein plates, salads, and sides. On Saturdays, they serve Jamaica's national dish, ackee and codfish. Well worth the experience if you've never tried it. As we primarily came here for their Caribbean dishes, that's what we focused on but they also have standard barbecue meats for those looking for a change up. Jerk chicken - delicious, dry rubbed with their house seasoning and grilled to capture all the flavor. The meat is juicy and pair well with the rice/beans mix. Plantains are great palate cleansers in between bites. The normal jerk chicken plate comes with primarily legs and thighs whereas the jerk white meat chicken plate comes with breasts. If you want more flavor, get the normal jerk chicken. Curried goat - packed with flavor and seeping with aroma. A bit on the spicy end but if you can handle the heat, this dish is a must get. Juicy pieces of meat and small cuts of tendon and lining are smothered in the tasty curry that go extremely well with the rice/beans. The plantains, again, are great to relieve your palate from the rising heat.Fried corn meal bread (festivals) - bready yet crispy fried corn fritters have a texture similar to fried dough/Chinese doughnuts (you tiao). Nice snack before, during, or after the meal! Kids love it!The portions were large and definitely shareable. For the price you pay, it seems to be a fair deal!Overall, Back A Yard packs a huge punch of flavor in each of their dishes and if you're craving something a bit different, Caribbean food will fit the bill. The flavor and texture profiles of their dishes give a perfect blend to have your mouth dancing. Since they only have a few dedicated dishes, they do an excellent job executing them with great consistency. If you're looking for something zesty and an adventure for your tastebuds, head to Back A Yard at this location or the others out in South Bay and dine like the Caribbeans!

This place never disappoints! We've gotten take out from here many times, and the food is always consistently good! My family is a huge fan of the oxtail, jerk chicken, jerk pork, the beef patties and of course, the corn festivals. I also love their plantains! Nobody else in my family cares for them, so I end up with an entire bowl all to myself. They're so sweet, it's practically dessert! I've been to the other location in downtown San Jose and even Coconuts, the more upscale Caribbean restaurant that has the same owner, but I think the Menlo Park location is the best in my opinion. Not much seating, but the food is amazing!

We've tried San Jose and this location. Jerk chicken and ox tail is our go-to. The NY steak is also a good option.Parking is a bit tricky as there's a small lot in the back, but plenty of street parking.Next door to this location is a small ice cream store with some unique flavors.