Park Forest is about to get a lot spicier. Jerk Yard, the Chicago-born jerk chicken and rasta pasta upstart that launched in 2024, is gearing up to open its first south suburban outpost in the Plaza West Shopping Center on South Orchard Drive. Owner David Clausell is aiming to fire up the grills around June 19, turning the Park Forest space into the chain’s fourth storefront and, if all goes according to plan, adding outdoor patio seating to the mix. Fans can expect the same late-night-friendly menu and heavy focus on catering that helped the brand build buzz in Hyde Park, the South Loop, and Evanston.
“We’ve been planning it since day one,” Clausell told What Now Chicago, adding that he hopes to open the Park Forest location around June 19 or shortly after. According to What Now Chicago, the new Jerk Yard is slated for 90 S Orchard Drive in Plaza West, which also houses Royal Creations Banquets, Bar & Grill. The outlet notes that Jerk Yard debuted in Hyde Park in 2024 and has since planted flags in several Chicago neighborhoods, with Park Forest pegged as part of the Chicago Southland, roughly a 30- to 60-minute drive from downtown depending on traffic.
Jerk Yard currently lists locations in Hyde Park, the South Loop, and Evanston, which makes the Park Forest restaurant its fourth brick-and-mortar spot. The brand leans heavily on catering and events at its existing outposts, a strategy Clausell says has fueled rapid growth in a short amount of time. For Chicago-area regulars who know the Hyde Park counter-service setup, the Park Forest shop is expected to feel familiar.
What To Expect On The Menu
Diners can look for many of the same dinner plates and “yard specials” that have made Jerk Yard a neighborhood favorite: rasta pasta that can be topped with salmon, pot roast, chicken or vegan options; jerk rice bowls; a loaded jerk turkey leg; and four- and six-piece wing orders, along with sides like mac & cheese, steamed cabbage and rice & peas, according to What Now Chicago. The Evanston RoundTable, which covered an earlier opening, singled out the rasta pasta as a standout and described the Evanston restaurant as an “upscale jerk restaurant with sports” after a remodel. Those familiar flavors and the blend of casual dining and event nights are expected to carry over to Park Forest.
Why Park Forest
Park Forest sits in Chicago’s south suburbs and maintains a small but active commercial core, according to the Village of Park Forest. That combination of local regulars and drive-in visitors has helped other concepts find an audience outside the city limits. For Jerk Yard, the visibility of the Plaza West site and the potential for outdoor patio seating make the location a natural fit for weekend crowds and a steady stream of catering orders.
Clausell said the team will share a firm opening date and hours on social media; follow @jerkyardchicago for launch updates. We will update this story when Jerk Yard Park Forest locks in its hours and grand-opening plans.
