Yam Yam's Southern Cooking Barbecue

10/07/09

Best Fried Chicken In Town!

by Delectibly Delicious Diva at Citysearch

I love Fried Chicken and am VERY picky about where I eat it from and how it tastes! This is the first place in FOREVER that I can honestly say I am IN LOVE with their Fried Chicken! It is SO YUMMY for the tummy! O BOY the Yam Fries are Delicious! As is the Cole Slaw YUM!

I like the service and they are a family atmosphere. One would have to get acquired to the neighborhood to know that the more you go the friendlier they get. They pride themselves on their food and treat their customers like family once they have come in a few times. At first they seem reserved, but once they get to know you they are VERY loving FOLKS!!!

• Pros: Their Fried Chicken is SOoOoO GOOD!!!
• Cons: bathrooms aren't 'spick and span', but WHO CARES!!!

01/03/08

Can't stand the heat??

by strangewink at Citysearch

SO... After reading the terrible reviews for one of MY favorite places on here, it occured to me that maybe Yam Yams is not for everyone. The food is standard BBQ as you would have it at any stand or small order joint in the south. The staff are not friendly to some, but if you go in there and act stuck up or scared you might have a reason for their behaviour. On the whole I have been to YY many times, I go whenever I am in the area and although the staff has never offered me a fresh hot towel or a back rub, they deliver my order and leave me alone, which is exactly the experience you should be expecting. Their deep fried pork chop is one of the best things I have had to eat in this town, and yes there mac and cheese is not the best in the world, but their okra makes up for it. The place is not as repulsive as some reviews here would lead you to believe, its not a dentists office, but its not a trash compactor either. This is the place to go if you are craving good soul food at a damn fin price! Its not a French bistro, so all you food network quoting arm chair enthuisiasts should go somewhere else!

• Pros: Great deep fried pork, great okra, no over-enthusiastic wait staff
• Cons: small booths

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

12/26/05

Top 2 in Portland Area!

by Dogbert95 at Citysearch

I don't know what people whine about with Yam Yam's. Everytime I've been there, the guy was nothing but nice and polite. Also, what do you expect for "ambience" in a BBQ joint? You want someone dressed up like Aunt Jemima to come out and entertain you? Geesh! The BBQ is about as good as you can get in the Portland area without doing it yourself. Sure, it might not compare to some places in TX or Georgia or South Carolina.... but it's still good! Especially like all the side dishes. And especially the okra. Do yourself a favor and try this place out. And leave your snooty attitude at home.

• Pros: Good food, Good sides
• Cons: Far from where I live

10/24/05

great surprise

by dwomack at Citysearch

after reading the other reviews, I was a little worried about what I might find when calling for a menu or ideas of what to order. What a surprise to talk with Jackie, who was as helpful as anyone I have ever talked to when not knowing exactly what I wanted to order. She said to call back and she would have some suggestions. I called, and talked with a gentleman that was very helpful. And what a feast!!!!! I was worried about not having ordered enough and we had enough and leftovers for days. The food was great, better than any Texas BBQ. I highly recommend pork ribs and the mac and cheese. food for the soul... thank you Yam Yam I will be back...dawn

• Pros: great sauce
• Cons: far from where I live

03/15/05

Southern food made the way it should be made!

by ptown17 at Citysearch

What a great place to eat. They give you so much food you can easily split a dinner or lunch item with another person. Great BBQ and sides. Fun friendly staff too!

• Pros: BBQ, Staff, Value

04/22/04

Yum! Yum! Yum!

by whoone at Citysearch

I agree that the mac n cheese is THE BEST of anybody's in Portland, try the smothered pork chops - EXCELLENT, the ribs are tender EVERY time I go in there, and again, EXCELLENT. Great assortment of sides, great fish and chicken, it's like going to my mother in law's for dinner rather than a restaurant, you can pay 8.00 a plate and deal with the fact it's not the fanciest or you can pay 16.00 a plate and have it decorated. I'll take the excellent food at an excellent price ANY TIME.

• Pros: buffet on Sunday, excellent food, excellent food
• Cons: , Have to drive to NE, wish there were more!

03/16/04

Awesome

by sidesomi at Citysearch

As someone from the South, I can say with authority that this place is the best Southern restaurant in town. It's authentic Southern, not Cajun like half the other "Southern" restaurants in town, and the food is not dumbed down.

Sure the restaurant lacks atmosphere, but this is a place you go to for the food. And you will find yourself coming back again and again.

08/11/03

Great BBQ

by coolbrez40 at Citysearch

Just wanted to say that Yam Yams has great BBQ And The best Mac & Chesse in Portland Hands down.

The staff was very friendly and helpful with your selection. We will be back

06/05/03

Yam Yams is #1

by notorious_m_i_s_s_y at Citysearch

I was very upset to see Yam Yams at #10 on the list. Yam Yams is original and in the heart of my old neighborhood. I am visiting Portland for 2 weeks this month before I move to Orlando, FL and I will be making at least 2 visits to Yam Yams before I leave! I honestly cannot believe that fake BBQ like Tony Romas made the list before Yam Yams! Keep up the good work!