Yam Yam's Southern Cooking Barbecue

10/26/07

from the rooter to the tooter

by budderfly at Citysearch

like we know what that means, rooter to the tooter anyone that has that as a saying describing their food BEWARE, excatly from who's rooter and tooter. this so called southern restaurant make southern cooking taste and look bad. it's dirty,nasty not to mention filthy, been on 'DIRTY DINNING has failed every inspection if u ask me yam yams deserve a big fat from the rooter to the tooter ZERO who wants to eat dirty food,, look out of dirty windows sit on old dairy queen seats walk on a hazardous floors and eat from a contaminated kitchen and lets not forgetthe filthy bathroom. the owner needs to give it up or hire some professional, and not his family or people off the street who has know idea of what their doing, if u ask me its a law suit n the making perhaps that would close yam yams doors. remember every thing that comes out of the tooter SMELLS BAD KINDA LIKE TEMPLETON THE from CHARLOTTES WEB ' look mr owner get it together, you nedd to be on CHEF RAMASY"S KITCHEN NIGHTMARE! who in their mind wpu;d give yam yams 4 stars what a joke rea; funny who thought of that a family member or an ilegal ailen, oh stop using illegal people, if you keep it up us american may make u run for the border! lol!

• Pros: soul food restaurant
• Cons: everything about the restaurant

10/09/07

1 Star

by joebonilla65 at Citysearch

I know BBQ folks. Ive judged 50+ BBQ contests across the U.S.

I wouldnt consider this BBQ, it was alot more like hog slop.

BAD service + BAD food = 1 star

Take my advice, try another spot.

• Pros: Found a place I know better than to try again.
• Cons: Substandard food coupled with AWFUL service.

10/09/07

Scary Bad

by 503local1 at Citysearch

We went last week.......Scary Filthy and Rude coupled with awful food. Dont Go!

We still cringe at the name 'Yam Yams'.

• Pros: Got out alive
• Cons: The worst food and service EVER!

10/09/07

Yam Yam's

by uapb at Citysearch

Be warned. This place is a straight up dive - After being on the news numerous time for "DIRTY DINING" and flunking every time, you'd think they'd clean up their act -

It's unfriendly, loud, messy, filthy and they overcharge on the menu - not to mention, they also OVERTAX the patron who just wants some downhome cooking - This place is not a good choice - If anything, hustle yourself over to Sylvia's right off NE Dekum - Dekum has the best service and they actually smile and appreciate you for being there - I couldn't believe there was actually a "COME AGAIN" encouraged.

Unlike the big guy sitting on the stool, with yesterday's dinner dried down the front of his shirt - they need to sell the place and turn it into a REAL warm cozy place with AUTHENTIC delicious southern quisine. Thumbs down for Yam Yam's - ALL FINGERS and TOES UP [because they really step into it] for Sylvias!

• Pros: The building is still standing and somebody needs to turn it into a real restaurant.
• Cons: The guy sitting on the stool - with drool and yesterday's supper on his purple shirt. EEK!

10/02/07

Nightmare BBQ

by pdx_xdp at Citysearch

VERY Disappointing BBQ

My dad came to visit my wife and I here in Portland last month. He LOVES BBQ!!! I have know about Yam Yams for years, Ive seen the commercials, and driven past it on my way home from Widmers countless times. I told my dad we were going to have a BBQ dinner beyond compare. I had no idea what we were in for later that evening. We arrived about 6 p.m. and pulled up to the restaurant. After looking around as we entered the building, it was obvious we were not welcomed. They basically refused to provide any kind of normal service, no greeting of any kind. My eyes wandered back into the kitchen and witnessed what can only be described as the filthiest mess I have ever seen. All types of garbage and food waste were covering all the surfaces from the floor to the counter. I was so uncomfortable there that although I wanted to lead my family straight out the door, however I was simply terrified of what might happen if we just simply left. To characterize the staff and customers as unfriendly would be the too kind. The decision to order To Go was easy. I ordered both beef and pork ribs with mac & cheese and cornbread. We quickly left and took our meal home. The sides were basically trashed, messy and filthy looking. The cornbread was rock hard, the mac and cheese looked fit to throw in the trashcan, the ribs were awful, AWFUL, they had no meat to speak of and tasted like death, and the worst part of all, our beef ribs had obviously been on the ground at one point as there were particles of every kind of trash on one side, hairs, dust, lint, and unidentifiable material. My wife actually cried looking at this meal. It wouldnt have been suitable to serve to any human being. Take my advice, do NOT dine here, its truly awful. :(

• Pros: We made it out alive.
• Cons: Filthy Dirty - Rude Staff - Shocking Atmosphere

09/06/07

Nasty and not "White Friendly", would not recommend to anyone!!

by missjaimelynne at Citysearch

My personal experience with this place was the worst I have had in my life. My family and I went there late after my husband finished work for the evening. I was given a dirty paper menu with a "hurry up and pick something" additude. I ignored that thinking that all the "hype" I had heard about Yam Yam's was true and that the food would be worth it. WRONG!! We ordered some bbq chicken, ribs, corn bread, mac & cheese, greens, and sweet potatoe pie. I also ordered some plain chicken strips and something else for the kids to be sure they would eat. The bbq chicken was alright, the ribs were overdone, the cornbread was a little muffin, mac n cheese was cold, greens were bitter and the chicken strips were so hard and dry they could be considered "weapons". The sweet potatoe pie was tolerable. BUT.......another customer arrived after me and while waiting forever for my food and spending over $50, the black customer mentions some buy one get one free deal with the potatoe pie and recieves the deal but was my white face offered the deal??? NO. I got nothing but dirty looks from the owner and the black customers sprawled all over the place discussing strippers and "ladies of the night" in front of my 6 and 8 year old boys. DISGUSTING. Yam Yam's is a

"HOOD DIVE" and couldnt hold a candle to my BBQ. Any good reviews on this place must be from friends and family affiliated with the owner. Because it aint the "HAPPENIN PLACE" to be. If your ever in OAKLAND, CA. go to FLINT'S, that's "WHERE IT"S AT"for BBQ!!!!!!!

04/24/07

Food was overcooked, no meat on the Beef Ribs.

by sacorbin at Citysearch

I was so excited when I learned that Portland had an outstanding southern style BBQ place, I heard from people that it was the best in town, I even read on the net that the food was great! Being from Alabama, I consider myself a fair judge of good BBQ. My trip to Yam Yam's unfortunately did not translate into a good eating experience. I ordered both Pork Ribs and Beef Ribs because I wanted to enjoy a little variety. The pork ribs were tender and the sauce was good but the beef Ribs did not actually have any meat on them, it was all fat. I realize that beef ribs do tend to run a little fattier than the pork ribs but I could hardly find any meat on the beef rib at all..... The sides were an even bigger disappointment; the collard greens were mushy and not very appealing in both flavor and texture. The cornbread was very dry and needed a lot of butter and honey to make it palatable, hmmmmm, anything with that much butter and honey would have to be good.....The fried okra was good but how can you go wrong with fried okra as long as you do not cook it to death. I guess I am still looking for that excellent BBQ place in Portland.....

• Pros: Easy to find, fairly good Pork Ribs.
• Cons: Beef Ribs are fatty, sides were disappointing

02/25/07

Not good.

by 1_honest_reviewer at Citysearch

I went to Yam Yam's for the first time in a long time today and now I remember why I haven't gone there recently. I ordered a beef rib dinner to go, so I didn't see what they gave me until I got home. When I did I was highly disappointed. They gave me the parts of the ribs where the bones connect, no full ribs and there was almost no meat on them at all. They were covered with a lot of very mediocre sauce, I guess to disguise the fact that there was no meat there. So I basically paid $12.00 for some crappy potato salad, a few collard greens, a tiny corn muffin and some bones with almost no meat on them. I will never go there again and I recommend that you don't either.

By the way, the man whom I assume from the pictures on the wall is the owner was there. He didn't serve me this time, but I had a similar experience the last time I went there (over a year ago) when he did serve me, so I guess that's just how they do things at Yam Yam's. There are plenty of good BBQ places in town but Yam Yam's isn't one of them. Don't bother.

• Pros: None.
• Cons: Complete rip-off.

12/16/06

Yam Yam's Made Us Sick

by jack_dog at Citysearch

After passing by numerous times, and hearing good things about Yam Yam's, my friend and I decided to finally stop in and try their ribs. We both ordered the same dish: the pork rib dinner with sides of greens and mac and cheese. The ribs were tough and dry and two of the four ribs had barely any meat on it. The mac and cheese was decent, but the greens were bland yet salty.

We left feeling that the food Yam Yam's was ok, but defnitely not great, and went on to enjoy our Friday night. Within a couple of hours, we both started experiencing stomach cramps and violent urges to void our bowels. We had to cancel our plans that night and stay home close to a toilet. The queasiness lasted well into the next day. It effectively ruined our weekend.

I'll never eat there again and warn everyone to stay away.

• Pros: ample parking
• Cons: dry meatless ribs laced with botulism

10/07/06

Best Barbecue In Portland--but go to Clay's Smokehouse for service.

by delosfox at Citysearch

Well-priced, smoky and meaty barbecue with so many amazing sides to choose from you'd need to visit at least ten times to try them all (or come on Sunday for the buffet) is what Yam Yam's is all about. The food and the value for your money are without peer. The brisket and pork ribs are magnificent; the beef ribs have a little more "bark" and so I usually stick to the pig. I have yet to try the chicken or the catfish or oysters or shrimp or snapper or wings. The muffins and hush puppies are great, as are the collard greens and macaroni and cheese. The yams and fried okra though--even without the barbecue, you could build a restaurant on those two sides alone. The sweet potato pie and peach cobbler are almost overkill if you had the yams as a side dish (you get two sides, and two slices of white bread--as it should be). I have always been delirious from sugar, meat and fat coming out of this place--it's the right way to be. Yam Yam's is conveniently located with lots of parking. If you want to have fun with your food though, you'll want to drive to the restaurant and order in person...TO GO. It's not easy to order by phone, and they'll take care of you quickly enough so you'll be on your way. If this place livened up its customer service and SMILED it could easily build three more locations around the city. That's the ONLY negative thing I have to say about this new pinnacle of Portland barbecue since the lamented Mr. Brown's BBQ left the scene several years back.

• Pros: Food, value, selection
• Cons: Service, ambience