BackAYard

Popular Caribbean joint BackAYard cooks up some ridiculously good jerk chicken. Since opening in 2004, they’ve added three more locations, including our favorite, a brick-walled fast-casual spot on the Capitol Expressway, and one with an outdoor patio adjacent to San Jose State. The atmosphere is easygoing and virtually everything is worth ordering—from the jerk chicken and beef oxtails to the Jamaican fried cornbread and daily specials like ackee and codfish. With plates and combos that range from $11-19, and snacks and sides under $10, you can (and should) try a little bit of everything.