The Jail
490 E Broadway, Eugene, OR, 97401
The Jail Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Eugene for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Eugene for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Eugene for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
490 E Broadway
Eugene, OR, 97401 - Phone (541) 343-8700
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
Categories
Chinese Cuisine
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
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Eric K.
Lived in Eugene for three years so far, went to Jail whenever I was super hungry an didn't want to spend a lot. It's not top quality food, but you pay $6-$8 and get two meals, maybe three in one serving. Highly recommend!
(4)Toby W.
Woohoo! Makes for a Meaty One! This place is Awesome. It is what it is...Lots of food for Cheap! The Teriyaki Chicken with hot sauce is so dam good. This is a College Students Dream! Late night Munchies, low cost, and lots of local traffic cruising by. I am a Big Fan!
(5)Justin M.
The food is pretty good for the price and quantity. I usually get the Thai chicken curry. It's not the best but you get what you pay for. I'm usually full or save some for later.
(3)mike k.
Place is pretty good for what it is -- a student bbq and teriyaki joint. Its not gourmet, and it is not trying to be. The food portions are HUGE, and the teriyaki chicken is tasty. I've never tried anything else here, but the line is ALWAYS out the door and for good reason -- decent, cheap food in HUGE portions. I recommend this if you are craving cheap teriyaki chicken, are hungry, are going to hit the weights, want leftovers... or all of the above. I read that the owner of this restaurant's parents owned the Plaza Coffee Shop. Not sure if this is true or not, but that place was LEGENDARY. Read my review to learn about it.
(4)Ryan C.
This place keeps it simple. Great terriyaki chicken and rice. The portions are huge and the prices are cheap. The inside is dirty and smoky but it's expected and a small sacrifice.
(4)Justin H.
This is DECENT lunch food when you're in a pinch. I suggest the Dang Hot w/Noodles. It is fairly quick for getting in, ordering and getting out. Probably 10 seats total inside, all bar type seats.
(2)Anthony R.
DO NOT GO. On my first (and only) visit, the lone employee of this Asian fast-food joint warned me, in Spanish (he didn't speak English), not to order the Korean ribs and noodle dish. I demanded it and he politely tried to steer me toward the Teriyaki. I persisted. Worst. Meal. Ever. The ribs were just that--rib bones...not a bit of meat on them. The noodles were cold and gummy. The "sauce" was downright offensive. I'd rather eat at the Lane County Jail.
(1)Danica G.
Awesome for what it is: a random establishment serving a uniquely Pacific NW staple - teriyaki. Places like this are usually a little sketchy and serve a lot of great food for cheap. This fits the bill perfectly, and it was delicious! Can't wait to go back.
(5)Jesse B.
horrible, I mean BAD service but when you want to load on the protein and enjoy some seriously large portions, rock the Jail.
(3)B. A.
Mmmm, gristle.
(1)Adam D.
It simple, it's fast, it's cheap, the portions are HUGE.... And it's pretty darn good.
(4)Robert T.
Teriyaki food shouldn't be this expensive, I don't care how big the portions are. 2 stars because this is undoubtedly the grungiest restaurant in the eugene area. Last time I was there, the lady was carrying a baby while serving food. I doubt that's legal in terms of food code inspections. Vegetables are kind of nasty. Just cabbage? really? The rice, too, tastes just a bit off. Like it was sitting in the vat for too long. Chicken tastes good though, and it's one of the few non-hawaiian teriyaki joints in the campus area.
(2)Pete H.
The Jail is one of those places that only has a small number of things on their menu. To me, this usually is a good sign, as many places that do this usually prepare their fare very well. I was not disappointed. Very big portions, fresh and very tasty. Try the spicy chicken. I visit Eugene area only a few times a year. I will definitely be returning.
(4)Amanda R.
This is like THE DIRTIEST place I have ever been to. I'm surprised that they pass health codes. But aside from being afraid that you're going to die from diseases the food is actually really tasty. Also you get an enormous amount for the small price tag.
(2)Joey T.
The Jail was another dive that I visited on my UO trip. Uber close to BHeart it caters to locals looking for a massive heaping of food. On that front, it most definitely delivered. Close, massive, and cheap are some of the best words to describe the jail. However some other helpful words would be dirty, sub-par, and meh. I can applicate a large plate of food, but regardless how big it is I still want it to taste good. I opted for beef and noodles. While the noodles were up to snuff, the beef so closely resembled jerky it was off putting. At the end of the day the poor quality of protein was really what broke this place for me. I didn't even mind that one of the employees was eating his lunch over a burner on the stove, or that there was a little girl just sleeping in her stroller. It was the poor quality of the food that would make me not come back.
(2)Allen N.
If you're looking for a huge portion of street fair-style food, look no further. The quality of the food, however, is more variable. I ordered teriyaki beef and the meat was okay, not the quality I desired, with a high fat content and a couple of morsels that were almost entirely inedible. The cabbage was tasty and I wasn't sure what they used to cook it but I was a fan. They have a good selection of self-serve sauces such as teriyaki, sweet and sour, and chili (which had a refreshing Korean flare). The large portion of the meal was also a nice gesture. I will likely not return however because of the substandard protein.
(3)Aryn R.
Best advice I can give you is to just close your eyes. If you look around this place you may leave as it is kinda gross looking and they always have some slap ass crazy person working behind the counter but the food is good and you get a lot of it.
(4)Ken W.
Nothing has changed. Very low quality food. Slow bad service. Very gross environment. They're generous on quantity, but if that's all you care for, go to a buffet. Otherwise stay away from this place!
(1)LaneCountyClubHopper L.
Dank!!! fresh made and filling oversized portions of hunger cure! Definitely going back again soon.. I don't understand why there were even negative comments about this place. I used to eat here almost every day.. And now I'm Going to start again!
(5)Natasha C.
This place will serve you a hell of a lot of food for not a lot of money. The caveat is that they only prep so much of their stuff each day, so the later it is, the less likely it is that they will have all or most of their menu items. It's a university student-oriented hole in the wall, so expect that you may be dealing with big lines during school, especially toward the weekend. However, the food is pretty damned tasty for the price-to-portions ratio. My only real complaint is that the cashier is a little inattentive and difficult to understand.
(3)Jackson L.
Wow thats alota food for $8. It had been awhile since I had The Jail. The new paint job and menu I likey. Need to eat here more some how it slips my mind.
(5)Shay L.
I eat here about three times a week. The chicken yakisoba is straight fire. Huge portions, inexpensive, fast, and the staff is amiable and yet no-nonsense. A local treasure.
(5)David G.
The teriyaki pork was dry and tasted like salty ass. The employees were rude. The place looked dirty and lacks any charm, character or ambiance. I would rather eat in a real jail than ever step foot in this cesspool again. While I was eating a drunk bum came in to order and his presence actually improved the rat hole.
(1)Jacob T.
Excellent food with huge portions! My girlfriend and I just moved here and decided to try this place while unpacking. We will be back soon!
(5)Jeff W.
The Jail has changed their pricing and menu since my last visit and it's definitely not for the better. Prices for full orders have risen a couple bucks, bringing them in line with every other Teriyaki hut in town. I'm more disappointed that they no longer offer a half order for $3.50 which was just the right size for lunch or a light dinner. Now, you have to buy a "bowl", which is more like a 3/4 order and costs a whopping $6. The food is still pretty good, but their main differentiator was their prices and that's no longer true. The higher prices don't appear to have affected the service or the facilities either. For the same price, I'll go to Hawaiian Time instead.
(2)Kaishu W.
I ordered chicken yakisoba, it tastes good but is EXTREMELY DRY! I feel like my throat is in jail.
(2)Omar M.
Food was tasteless. Chicken did not have any flavor and noodles where bland. Only good thing was portion size. Would not recommend.
(1)Jessica W.
They don't deserve any stars I put one because it makes you. I messed up on my order and the whole time I was there they did nothing but make fun of me and call me bad names thinking I couldn't hear them. I hope no one goes here ever again! They deserve to go out of business.
(1)Kristy W.
Hot dang chicken!! #5 is so good!! You can't go wrong with it, it's spicy chicken over a bed of rice and the portions are HUGE!! And like the other yelpers have wrote it's just a place to grab your food and run. Don't bother with what the place looks like. It's just really good!!
(4)Junglist D.
Been coming to the Jail since my roommate swore by it in 2008. The service has always been lackluster and the environment doesn't exist. It's not meant to be aesthetically pleasing. The food is consistent and it's a heap for the price. I always get the #4 and have never looked back. Keep it up jail but someday hire competent employees please.
(5)ReedNSarahmae Z.
You get what you pay for. If your a germaphobe, do not go there. If you like tasty inexpensive food, then eat it. I'm pretty sure the tofu is cooked in the same fryer as the meat products, so if you are a true vegetarian, it's probably not the place for you. That being said, Reed and I have been repeat customers due to it being tasty, cheap and convenient.
(3)Jason C.
Great food, fast service and wonderful price! Better than Hawaiian Time and half the cost... I would highly recommend this place! Pretty bad parking situation but they're fast and totally worth a little hassle!
(5)Jeremy W.
Lets be clear "Yelpers" and "yelp readers" nobody comes to the Jail to get "great service" or eat at the "cleanness" restaurant in Lane County. What we all come here and keep coming back here for is the best dam deal on a gigantic to go container of the tastiest Hot Dang Chicken you will ever sink your teeth into. It is no coincidence that the meal comes literally in a to go container. The amount of food you get for the price is unheard of anywhere you go and the flavors are simply amazing. There is not a reason to go on about who serves me, or how the parking is etc. The Jail simple slogan is "thou shall not go home hungry" and all the other stuff aside you never have and never will. So when you show up to the jail put your money on the counter step to the side and drain your food with some of that amazing jail sauce that is "so hard to get some of" And go home full and happy knowing you got 3 times as much food as you would of got at the other restaurants in the area serving up this style of food. -- When naming this place I think they should of went with. The Teriyaki Nazi
(5)Victoria J.
Yes, you do get a lot of food. If that is what you want, then definitely come here. If you want better quality and flavor, this is not the place. We tried the standard #1, as suggested by the woman working there. The chicken was so dry and weirdly stringy. The chicken didn't have any sauce really and was pretty flavorless. As for the environment, it's barren. The "napkin" holders are paint rollers stuck into the walls that I assume hold paper towel rolls. This isn't the kind of place where people eat in, and neither did we, but even just waiting in there for the food to be made was an "ehhhhhhh" experience.
(1)Jerame H.
I go to this little hole in the wall place mainly because of large portions. Good has always been OK. Not bad... I have had horrid at other places. But this does not cost a lot. Great food usually costs a lot. But if your in the mood for decent cheap food this is a great spot.
(4)Andrew D.
Cheap food, honestly people come here for quantity not quality. It's totally a dive, so if you're expecting a nice super clean place be warned. Cheap chicken teriyaki with rice or noodles for around 6-7 bucks. I split a dang hot chicken with a friend and it was definitely enough for the two of us, the portions are HUGE.
(4)Lisa L.
The food is ok. The service is horrible the guy preparing the good for me kept texting on his phone while making my plate. Extremely unsanitary. The food was mediocre a lot of food but nothing to brag about.
(2)Harvey F.
For years the jail has been our go to place for when the dreaded "I don't know, what do you want to eat" back and forth hits. Once brought up there was no further argument. That being said we will not be back. We've noticed a severe decline in not only the quality of the food but also the customer service over the last 6 months or so. After calling in, ordering noodles with no cabbage, arriving to find cabbage in the noodles and then being told a little won't kill ya, and then being questioned on whether I like vegetables or not (here's a hint we didn't ask you to pick out the peas and carrots from the rice did we?).... There are too many other places around with appropriate levels of customer service that deserve our money. Those places also lack a severe amount of smart assery. You might want to look in to it.
(1)Philip L.
I was told by the order taker to get a #1. The number one, as many have described is grilled chicken, mostly shredded. It's probably dark meat, but still a bit dry, stringy. I found it a bit in need of more flavor and less stringiness. I saw a picture of something looking deliciously deep fried and with pineapple--pineapple chicken? reluctantly, i ordered what i thought was the shrimp version of that (always suspicious of seafood at dive places)--and was shocked to find it was shrimp fried rice with pineapple (not the fried, general tso/sweet sour shrimp variety). i tried it anyway--and i have to say it was pretty darn good. the shrimp was glossy and plump and in abundant quantity--unike many other places. the container of rice must have weighed over a pound--if anything, i could have had more pineapples and sauteed onions. also tried the kimchee (solid) and mac salad made of little cut rings (like a straw cut into cross sections). The mac salad was slightly not as good as hawaii plate lunch places, but still solid. The cashier was very helpful but speedy/abrupt (typical for a place with a lot of regulars). And the cook (owner?) was very appreciative when he handed us the food. If I lived here, I'd definitely come back--but probably perfect down what I order.
(3)Luka M.
It had been quite sometime since I last had me some Jail. But as I finish eating my Hot Dang with fried rice that I picked up after work I can remember why I loved that place so much. Food is good, not great but I never found it lacking in any major way. I mean it's $7 for a large portion of fried rice and chicken, it's not like I am expecting 5 star quality food or service here. I love the Jail for what it is. It's a dive, and a grease spoon kinda place, but I've never had an issue wether going in or calling and picking up. In my mind it's one of the best places to get good, tasty, cheap unhealthy food in town.
(4)Keir S.
Love the food, but the staff could be a little more personable. Regardless I am a frequent customer. Enough delicious, greasy food for two meals.
(4)Matthew P.
Prices have gone up and portions have gone down. Food was ok for the price and the amount of food you got. Now it's a joke!
(1)Chris R.
Classic hole in the wall but the portions are gigantic and the food is consistently satisfying. I go for the original almost every time but if you like it super hot the dang hot glazed chicken is a good substitute. Their motto, written across a banner menu printed off what must have been a home printer reads "Thou Shall NOT Go Out Hungry." and I must say, I agree!
(4)Fake Reviewer X.
I don't know about The Jail. I mean, I'm American. So, you know, I believe in "freedom" and all of that. It would take a lot to get me to even step inside this place. I'm picturing no cable TV, limited Internet access, smelly toilets and, (it's trite but deeply embedded in our nation's humor-consciousness, so please forgive me) the occasional unwanted anal intrusion. Plus everybody who has written a positive review of this place seems like they are either 1) 19 years old 2) wishing they were still 19 years old and/or 3) a total douchecanoe. And the pictures look like something that got coughed out of Keith Richards' lungs. So, no thanks "The Jail." Change your name and your sign and maybe I'll come by a say hi sometime.
(3)Sophia K.
Yummy, but dang, this place needs a serious makeover because it looks dusty, unclean, and just old. Not old in that good way, but just dry and stained-- old. While I was waiting for my food last time, I was just sitting and looking around and (not) appreciating how broke this place looked. There's that dirty curtain to the kitchen that does not extend all the way so you see the plastic tubs of meat sitting out. Then there's the meat cutter that's just sitting on the bottom of the shelf as people walk in trampling with their soaked or dusty shoes. Luckily the food comes out rather quick so one does not have to sit there looking around too long! And the lighting is incredibly dim. Not surprising. But if looking ugly is what keeps the price down, then fine, so be it. This place is cheap and good. My $7 meal ends up turning into 3 meals for me. I would never take a date here unless we were already going steady or married or unless it was take out. Yeah, that's pretty shallow of me, but really now. It's not like this place is centrally located where we would just stumble in for a quick bite. In fact, parking here stinks, but I've never had a hard time finding a spot. Overall, decent place to get food. Emphasis on the get the food. Because get your food and go!
(3)Jerry H.
I have grabbed food in the past and never been impressed by the decor or service but the food was decent, fast and affordable. This time the beef teriyaki looked and tasted horribly and made me sick. I don't even need to mention the service and an employee leaning over a pan on the line cutting meat with gardening shears. Never ever again.
(1)Rian G.
If you want the most and i really mean the MOST food for your dollar, this is it. I cant add anymore to that. Im proud to say that i stand by my personal quote for my username "Fuck the ambiance, this is about food". And here we go.........If you want one crazy big meal or 2 good sized meals (one now and one for later) for about 6 bucks then this is in your wheelhouse.........and mine. The service is like a donkey kicking u in the nuts with your hands tied behind your back....It seariously straight up sucks ass. Ive been here at least 50 times, and its always bad. But for 3 pounds of food for 6 bucks that tastes good and will make your butthole hate you, this is it. Im not saying its not sanitary, cuz ive never got sick from this place. All im saying is, if your just strictly here for a ton of food for cheap that tastes pretty damn good, your in the right place. They are dickbag virgins that work here but they serve an awesome terriyaki chicken and yakisoba noodles for less than 6 bucks, you deal with the cheesy Jonas Brothers posters and shitface service and munch down like a king.
(3)Cody W.
This place got me through college. Yes, it isn't good quality. And yes, it'll give you mud butt. But where else can you get this much crappy chicken and white rice for $5.95? They even give you some strange cabbage like substance. My friend Jake went in there one time, and the owner was on the phone, so he heard THIS one sided conversation: "Well how many got infected??" [pause] "But I always cook the chicken all the way through!" [pause] "I have a customer, I have to go." and he still ordered the chicken. This place is great. I highly recommend it for a filling meal that is cheap. It is a good break from Burrito Boy. Oh, and they're closed on the Lord's day.
(5)Dmitry K.
I usually don't write reviews for places even if they are bad. This one however had to be an exception. Before I went to this place I looked up reviews that said it took long time to get food ready, how people go there for food and not for atmosphere and that the portions are big. I went there with my wife and she ordered beef terayaki ($6.99) and I asked if I could get half chicken and half beef (mind you chicken is ($5.99). The person that rung me up put $7 and then added a $1 for doing it half an half (the math really doesn't add up in my mind as if she just charged me for full beef I would've been fine with that). Portions: I'm not sure why people were saying that they are big as I've seen a lot of other places that would charge about the same with bigger portions. Most give you twice the amount of meat. Food: Dry and not much flavor in it. The beef was really fatty and gritty. What really bugged me the most though is the fact everything was already pre-made (all she did was scoop the rice, the chicken and the beef from containers that were heated at the counter) and not fresh cooked to order. The cabbage mix was alright although most places serve it with a dressing which makes it so much better. Or give you steamed vegetables. Overall I would not recommend this place to anyone or ever return. They must call it The Jail because the food is about as good as jail food.
(1)Marianne D.
Not sure why Yelp doesn't state the hours. I know they are closed on Sunday and I believe they close at 8 p.m. And by the way, they have gotten a great makeover as previously suggested!
(4)Joshua V.
Dang Hot Chicken, Dang cheap, Dang good size portions, this is grubbin.
(5)Cooper J.
This was my go to spot in college. Simply the best bang for your buck place in all of Eugene. Soooooo much good food all on one plate. Don't be turned off by how this place looks, because it is definitely a total dive. Once you get passed the looks part, you can actually appreciate the amazing food they make here. It definitely follows the KISS method, which works for some awesome cheap food. I still have dreams of it... I would definitely recommend the chicken dishes over the beef, they seem to come out better for some reason.
(5)Keezer K.
Overall pretty good. Love the kimchi , nice size portions. Super friendly family owned and ran
(4)Oregon Food Junkie O.
This place was good back in the day. It's questionable anymore. It's almost as if they switched ingredients. Chicken is almost thigh-like, and not the breasts of days past. The cook who it seems lives there, is a strange strange man. The place is filthy and sticky. Come on Jail, you used to be so good.......
(2)Alyssa M.
Dear reviewers who complained about the lack of sauce, I need to fill you in on a little secret. There is sauce in bottles on the counter. Add that. Also Victoria, dear, why in the world would you come to my favorite little dive and expect atmosphere. Honestly love it's a dive not a 5 star joint. So relax and enjoy. You're at the jail.
(5)Elizabeth S.
For me this place was right in the middle. The place is a dive (that's being quite generous), but I didn't plan on eating in anyway. I have a food allergy to MSG and asked upfront if they use it. They do, however only in some dishes and they could name every place it could be found. To me, that is magnificent customer service, and I will return just because of that. I ordered the Chicken Yakisoba, and got just that, chicken and Yakisoba noodles. It was completely plain and I needed some sauce, but that was my fault not theirs. I did feel that the chicken was burnt (see picture comparison), so the flavor was off, but as others have said there was a lot of it. I say hey, anyone can have an off day, I'm not going to trash a place because I got one so-so meal. It's not the type of place that I would drive across town for, but I'll be stopping in again when I'm nearby
(3)Robert T.
Teriyaki food shouldn't be this expensive, I don't care how big the portions are. 2 stars because this is undoubtedly the grungiest restaurant in the eugene area. Last time I was there, the lady was carrying a baby while serving food. I doubt that's legal in terms of food code inspections. Vegetables are kind of nasty. Just cabbage? really? The rice, too, tastes just a bit off. Like it was sitting in the vat for too long. Chicken tastes good though, and it's one of the few non-hawaiian teriyaki joints in the campus area.
(2)Amanda R.
This is like THE DIRTIEST place I have ever been to. I'm surprised that they pass health codes. But aside from being afraid that you're going to die from diseases the food is actually really tasty. Also you get an enormous amount for the small price tag.
(2)Pete H.
The Jail is one of those places that only has a small number of things on their menu. To me, this usually is a good sign, as many places that do this usually prepare their fare very well. I was not disappointed. Very big portions, fresh and very tasty. Try the spicy chicken. I visit Eugene area only a few times a year. I will definitely be returning.
(4)El W.
It is really hard to review Jail. Taste-wise, it is not that good. However, the price and the portion are definitely worth it, especially for college student like me. You got a lot of rice and cabbage and some chicken. My only complain is the balance between the chicken and rice. I always finish the chicken but not the rice. Make sure that you add more sauce because without more of the sauce, the chicken will be rather tasteless. Customer service at Jail is simply BAD. The cashier doesn't smile. When I asked, "What's in no. 1?", she answered, "chicken, cabbage, and rice." Come on, I would have guessed that. I want to know what kind of chicken, what kind of sauce, etc. Seatings are bad. The place is rather dirty. So, I always take it out. Well, anyway, 3 stars because despite of its tasteless and dirty places, but for the 5-star price and portion, try it!
(3)Andre B.
This place is filthy. Ended up throwing up for 16 hours after I had the Yakisoba chicken. The food wouldn't have been worth it even if I had not gotten sick.
(1)Lisa S.
I stay at the hotel next door every time I come to town and will now make it a point to eat here when Im around. Great teriyaki chicken at a good price! Huge servings. You wont be leaving here hungry.
(4)Vada D.
I got the Teriyaki pork and the flavor was amazing. However, about half of it was fat. I was really disappointed because the non-fatty parts were tender, juicy and full of great flavor. I ended up throwing about half of the "meat" out. Portion sizes are huge. My husband and I shared one dish with a side of vegetables. Speaking of the vegetables, they're covered in oil...and quite possibly cooked on the same grill/pan as meat...at least they tasted like it so if you're healthy conscious or vegetarian steer clear. However, if you're health conscious or vegetarian I'm not sure why you'd be eating here. Anyways, I digress. The place is a hole in the wall, which I like. However, I usually prefer my holes to be a little bit cleaner. There was a thick layer of grease all over the place. Service was quick. The person at the counter was less then friendly. Pros: Cheap Large Quantities Open almost everyday, even most holidays Cons: Fatty cuts of meat Dirty Lobby HOT lobby (no cooling system other then a fan that is bigger then I was) Unfriendly staff
(2)Joey C.
This place is as awesome as it is unique. I can't think of any place, in any city, where you can get so much good food for so cheap. I see there are a lot of reviewers who are not thrilled by the quality of the food; I am not one of them. Chicken teriyaki is their wheel house. It's lean, white meat chicken, served over rice, with a side of cabbage. They have some of my favorite teriyaki sauce, and I would recommend going crazy with it... no such thing as too much: it soaks into the rice and cabbage and it rules. I often get a side of yakisoba noodles, which are great with the chicken too. This place is not much for ambiance or decor, but if you want a ton of good food, you'll get it here.
(5)Alyssa M.
Dear reviewers who complained about the lack of sauce, I need to fill you in on a little secret. There is sauce in bottles on the counter. Add that. Also Victoria, dear, why in the world would you come to my favorite little dive and expect atmosphere. Honestly love it's a dive not a 5 star joint. So relax and enjoy. You're at the jail.
(5)Hsiang-Yun L.
A super duper great place to go :) You can ALWAYS get a HUGE portion of food, and the best one is Teriyaki chicken. The chicken is soft, juicy and be taken out the fat part. Teriyaki chicken also comes with steam rice and cabbage. I would definitely say it's kinda healthy food. I ordered the shrimp and beef yakisobi once and it was really really good. :) I ordered the number ten last nite and it was pineapple shrimp fried rice. The amazing part was that i got "25" shrimps for just 7.5 bulks. Unlike the others, the fried rice was not oily even if i settle it for 2 hrs. The server is really nice. They always remember your name and what u usually get. A good place to get food "to go". :)
(4)Avery J.
Get the #1 Teriyaki Chicken with Yakisoba Noodles! Huge portions for the $5.99, enough food for 2 Meals unless you are really Hungry!
(5)Joey H.
Huge portion of chicken/pork/beef on top of either rice or yakisoba for 6.50. Easily enough food for two meals. The people working can barely speak English and at times are hard to understand but the food is really great to pig out on!
(4)Benjamin S.
Too many uptight folks reviewing this place. You pay $5, you get 2 pounds of rice/terriyaki, word to the wise, "quit your bitchin." This restaurant has wretched service, a filthy indoor seating area, probably passes less health code sanctions than OJ Simpson's Bronco, but is still a MUST visit if your in Eugene. I don't think food poisoning is as bad as everyone says, so, don't be a quitter, check this place out. I eat here 3 days a week for 2 years, and look at me. *but in all fairness/seriousness, check it out, great food for great prices!*
(5)Ashley C.
Don't go in expecting good service, don't go in if you are in a hurry, don't go in if you are expecting choice cuts of meat out of the 6$ you will spend, don't go in if you want a bubbly 16 year old working the cash register. With those notes, the Jail is one of the most tasty + cheap meals you will find in Eugene. With places like this you usually want to stick with what moves (ie: what is sold a lot). I always get the chicken yakisoba and it is very consistant and very good. I'd probably stay away from beef when paying 5-6 bucks but I have never gotten it here. Also, oddly, the tofu there is just out of the world, I really would have never expected it until I ordered it once. The portions are huge, I mean-- gladly share with someone else because you won't be able to finish it huge. They also have two sauces available (not including ketchup and soy) teriyaki and chili. They don't put them on for you, so the folks complaining about dryness now know why. I like the self-serve teriyaki sauce because I like to drown mine in it where my friend only likes a dribble of chili. Also, folks calling this chinese, it isn't really-- it's sort of what you would get on the islands and reminded me of Hawaii where I lived for a while. Just simple dishes, three ingredients at the most. Good cheap food and you can get a Jarrito (mexican fruit soda) to wash it down. I would avoid the soda here on tap. Say hello to the Jonas Brother's poster on the wall near the cash register-- I think by seeing that, you know what the place is. It doesn't try to be anything it isn't and it is completely welcomed.
(5)Elizabeth S.
For me this place was right in the middle. The place is a dive (that's being quite generous), but I didn't plan on eating in anyway. I have a food allergy to MSG and asked upfront if they use it. They do, however only in some dishes and they could name every place it could be found. To me, that is magnificent customer service, and I will return just because of that. I ordered the Chicken Yakisoba, and got just that, chicken and Yakisoba noodles. It was completely plain and I needed some sauce, but that was my fault not theirs. I did feel that the chicken was burnt (see picture comparison), so the flavor was off, but as others have said there was a lot of it. I say hey, anyone can have an off day, I'm not going to trash a place because I got one so-so meal. It's not the type of place that I would drive across town for, but I'll be stopping in again when I'm nearby
(3)Josh W.
The Jail is Great!! Cheap teriyaki chicken with lots of rice and cabbage. All for 6 bucks. I don't eat there often, it's a craving thing. But I enjoy eating there when I do. Get extra teriyaki on your way out in the to go tubs.
(4)Nick G.
Great price, great food. Horrible service and not very clean. But I still go there. :)
(4)F U.
It's usually good food. tons of food for a good value. sometimes you call them and they don't want to make what you want to order. that is fine I'll take my business elsewhere. I really wanted jail tonight but after their rude service of not making me what I want I'm gone!
(3)Heidi W.
Horrible service. I'm assuming they must have lost our order somehow even though there weren't many people there. It took 35 minutes to get our 2 meals & one order was ready 10 minutes before the other & therefore not very hot when we got it. Plenty of people who came in after us got their food before we did. They did give us a lot of food (more than I have received in the past). Of course, that may have just been because they fucked up on our order. I will not be back. It's not worth the irritating wait.
(1)Julie K.
3 1/2 stars are you flippin' kidding me? Not if you value quality in your food. Hands down, no stars. Went there today for lunch because the cart across the street was serving only pork and beef, and we were in a hurry with someone (me) who does not eat pork or beef. We had heard the Jail was good, so we gave it a shot. My complaints, in rough order of seriousness from least distressing to most egregious: 1) Initial impression - looks unclean. Not just plain, but actually like they do not CLEAN it. 2) They had a 2 year old child sitting in a stroller right next to the register by the grill. I am known to have my 3 year old child at work with me in the mornings, so I won't fault them for that too much, but I think my workplace, an office with a room (supervised) full of toys and movies for her, is a much less dangerous and boring environment than a hot, dirty, dingy restaurant right by the grill. 3) styrofoam. Really? That stuff is so bad for the planet and it should be illegal, and I think a good restaurant will not put the food in there because under heat, styrofoam dissolves and releases carginogenic chemicals into the food (plus makes it taste bad, or in the case of this place, worse). 4) My friend accidentally ordered chicken when she meant beef. The difference in price was $1.00. They freaked out. I was second, so I said just charge me for the beef. They refused, and the grumpy cook told the cashier to make my friend pay that extra dollar. For God's sake, I offered to pay it. What's it to them whose bank account pays that dollar?? 5) The food is AWFUL. AWFUL. I had the "Thai" chicken curry. First of all. No. That was not any manner of Thai style curry. Nuh uh. It tasted like the yellow curry sauce from a jar at Trader Joe's, only worse. The veggies in it were much overcooked and soggy. The chicken was overcooked, had been sitting for a while, and was dry. It was also the chicken they serve under the name "teriyaki" chicken (I watched them slop up a teriyaki chicken order from the exact same stash of chicken right before they did my order). I had a few pieces that didn't have the "Thai" sauce on them - hardly any flavor. Overcooked, slightly burned, and just not good. My friend had the teriyaki beef. From the color, I'd say it marinated in soy sauce for about a week before it was cooked. It had a slightly better flavor than the chicken, but was also dry and just not good. The only plus, if one considers this a plus, was the quantity for the price. My dish was $7.49, my friend's was $8.49. But I could not eat more than 5 bites because it was so awful, so I don't feel like I really got a "deal." In fact, I felt sort of taken because I had heard tell this place was good. Good God, it's not even fair. It's not even poor or bad. It's AWFUL. I might give the leftovers to the dog. No stars but Yelp forces me to give it one star.
(1)Mike P.
I moved away from Eugene almost 4 years ago now and I still miss The Jail. Its inexpensive, filling and delicious. It is a place that definitely has some character. I have lived in a couple of cities since and have not been able to find anything that compares. If and when I make it back up to Eugene The Jail will be one of the first places on my list to visit.
(5)Eric B.
Great place to pick up teriyaki fast. I went in during the lunch rush and was out in less than 5 minutes. Good food, fast.
(5)Sherrie V.
Mmm charcoaled gristle. Seriously - there was a time when I loved this place. Lately though I feel like I'm just eating carbonized fat. It's nasty. I actually haven't ordered it in months. My sweetie though, is addicted to the junk, and I have watched the quality go down steadily. I think they'd make me a fan again if they could figure out how to bottle that hot sauce though - that stuff is tasty!
(1)Adam D.
It simple, it's fast, it's cheap, the portions are HUGE.... And it's pretty darn good.
(4)Aryn R.
Best advice I can give you is to just close your eyes. If you look around this place you may leave as it is kinda gross looking and they always have some slap ass crazy person working behind the counter but the food is good and you get a lot of it.
(4)Allen N.
If you're looking for a huge portion of street fair-style food, look no further. The quality of the food, however, is more variable. I ordered teriyaki beef and the meat was okay, not the quality I desired, with a high fat content and a couple of morsels that were almost entirely inedible. The cabbage was tasty and I wasn't sure what they used to cook it but I was a fan. They have a good selection of self-serve sauces such as teriyaki, sweet and sour, and chili (which had a refreshing Korean flare). The large portion of the meal was also a nice gesture. I will likely not return however because of the substandard protein.
(3)Joey T.
The Jail was another dive that I visited on my UO trip. Uber close to BHeart it caters to locals looking for a massive heaping of food. On that front, it most definitely delivered. Close, massive, and cheap are some of the best words to describe the jail. However some other helpful words would be dirty, sub-par, and meh. I can applicate a large plate of food, but regardless how big it is I still want it to taste good. I opted for beef and noodles. While the noodles were up to snuff, the beef so closely resembled jerky it was off putting. At the end of the day the poor quality of protein was really what broke this place for me. I didn't even mind that one of the employees was eating his lunch over a burner on the stove, or that there was a little girl just sleeping in her stroller. It was the poor quality of the food that would make me not come back.
(2)Ken W.
Nothing has changed. Very low quality food. Slow bad service. Very gross environment. They're generous on quantity, but if that's all you care for, go to a buffet. Otherwise stay away from this place!
(1)LaneCountyClubHopper L.
Dank!!! fresh made and filling oversized portions of hunger cure! Definitely going back again soon.. I don't understand why there were even negative comments about this place. I used to eat here almost every day.. And now I'm Going to start again!
(5)Natasha C.
This place will serve you a hell of a lot of food for not a lot of money. The caveat is that they only prep so much of their stuff each day, so the later it is, the less likely it is that they will have all or most of their menu items. It's a university student-oriented hole in the wall, so expect that you may be dealing with big lines during school, especially toward the weekend. However, the food is pretty damned tasty for the price-to-portions ratio. My only real complaint is that the cashier is a little inattentive and difficult to understand.
(3)Shay L.
I eat here about three times a week. The chicken yakisoba is straight fire. Huge portions, inexpensive, fast, and the staff is amiable and yet no-nonsense. A local treasure.
(5)Jackson L.
Wow thats alota food for $8. It had been awhile since I had The Jail. The new paint job and menu I likey. Need to eat here more some how it slips my mind.
(5)David G.
The teriyaki pork was dry and tasted like salty ass. The employees were rude. The place looked dirty and lacks any charm, character or ambiance. I would rather eat in a real jail than ever step foot in this cesspool again. While I was eating a drunk bum came in to order and his presence actually improved the rat hole.
(1)Jacob T.
Excellent food with huge portions! My girlfriend and I just moved here and decided to try this place while unpacking. We will be back soon!
(5)Jeff W.
The Jail has changed their pricing and menu since my last visit and it's definitely not for the better. Prices for full orders have risen a couple bucks, bringing them in line with every other Teriyaki hut in town. I'm more disappointed that they no longer offer a half order for $3.50 which was just the right size for lunch or a light dinner. Now, you have to buy a "bowl", which is more like a 3/4 order and costs a whopping $6. The food is still pretty good, but their main differentiator was their prices and that's no longer true. The higher prices don't appear to have affected the service or the facilities either. For the same price, I'll go to Hawaiian Time instead.
(2)Kaishu W.
I ordered chicken yakisoba, it tastes good but is EXTREMELY DRY! I feel like my throat is in jail.
(2)Omar M.
Food was tasteless. Chicken did not have any flavor and noodles where bland. Only good thing was portion size. Would not recommend.
(1)Jessica W.
They don't deserve any stars I put one because it makes you. I messed up on my order and the whole time I was there they did nothing but make fun of me and call me bad names thinking I couldn't hear them. I hope no one goes here ever again! They deserve to go out of business.
(1)Kristy W.
Hot dang chicken!! #5 is so good!! You can't go wrong with it, it's spicy chicken over a bed of rice and the portions are HUGE!! And like the other yelpers have wrote it's just a place to grab your food and run. Don't bother with what the place looks like. It's just really good!!
(4)Junglist D.
Been coming to the Jail since my roommate swore by it in 2008. The service has always been lackluster and the environment doesn't exist. It's not meant to be aesthetically pleasing. The food is consistent and it's a heap for the price. I always get the #4 and have never looked back. Keep it up jail but someday hire competent employees please.
(5)ReedNSarahmae Z.
You get what you pay for. If your a germaphobe, do not go there. If you like tasty inexpensive food, then eat it. I'm pretty sure the tofu is cooked in the same fryer as the meat products, so if you are a true vegetarian, it's probably not the place for you. That being said, Reed and I have been repeat customers due to it being tasty, cheap and convenient.
(3)Jason C.
Great food, fast service and wonderful price! Better than Hawaiian Time and half the cost... I would highly recommend this place! Pretty bad parking situation but they're fast and totally worth a little hassle!
(5)Jeremy W.
Lets be clear "Yelpers" and "yelp readers" nobody comes to the Jail to get "great service" or eat at the "cleanness" restaurant in Lane County. What we all come here and keep coming back here for is the best dam deal on a gigantic to go container of the tastiest Hot Dang Chicken you will ever sink your teeth into. It is no coincidence that the meal comes literally in a to go container. The amount of food you get for the price is unheard of anywhere you go and the flavors are simply amazing. There is not a reason to go on about who serves me, or how the parking is etc. The Jail simple slogan is "thou shall not go home hungry" and all the other stuff aside you never have and never will. So when you show up to the jail put your money on the counter step to the side and drain your food with some of that amazing jail sauce that is "so hard to get some of" And go home full and happy knowing you got 3 times as much food as you would of got at the other restaurants in the area serving up this style of food. -- When naming this place I think they should of went with. The Teriyaki Nazi
(5)Victoria J.
Yes, you do get a lot of food. If that is what you want, then definitely come here. If you want better quality and flavor, this is not the place. We tried the standard #1, as suggested by the woman working there. The chicken was so dry and weirdly stringy. The chicken didn't have any sauce really and was pretty flavorless. As for the environment, it's barren. The "napkin" holders are paint rollers stuck into the walls that I assume hold paper towel rolls. This isn't the kind of place where people eat in, and neither did we, but even just waiting in there for the food to be made was an "ehhhhhhh" experience.
(1)Jerame H.
I go to this little hole in the wall place mainly because of large portions. Good has always been OK. Not bad... I have had horrid at other places. But this does not cost a lot. Great food usually costs a lot. But if your in the mood for decent cheap food this is a great spot.
(4)Andrew D.
Cheap food, honestly people come here for quantity not quality. It's totally a dive, so if you're expecting a nice super clean place be warned. Cheap chicken teriyaki with rice or noodles for around 6-7 bucks. I split a dang hot chicken with a friend and it was definitely enough for the two of us, the portions are HUGE.
(4)Lisa L.
The food is ok. The service is horrible the guy preparing the good for me kept texting on his phone while making my plate. Extremely unsanitary. The food was mediocre a lot of food but nothing to brag about.
(2)Philip L.
I was told by the order taker to get a #1. The number one, as many have described is grilled chicken, mostly shredded. It's probably dark meat, but still a bit dry, stringy. I found it a bit in need of more flavor and less stringiness. I saw a picture of something looking deliciously deep fried and with pineapple--pineapple chicken? reluctantly, i ordered what i thought was the shrimp version of that (always suspicious of seafood at dive places)--and was shocked to find it was shrimp fried rice with pineapple (not the fried, general tso/sweet sour shrimp variety). i tried it anyway--and i have to say it was pretty darn good. the shrimp was glossy and plump and in abundant quantity--unike many other places. the container of rice must have weighed over a pound--if anything, i could have had more pineapples and sauteed onions. also tried the kimchee (solid) and mac salad made of little cut rings (like a straw cut into cross sections). The mac salad was slightly not as good as hawaii plate lunch places, but still solid. The cashier was very helpful but speedy/abrupt (typical for a place with a lot of regulars). And the cook (owner?) was very appreciative when he handed us the food. If I lived here, I'd definitely come back--but probably perfect down what I order.
(3)Luka M.
It had been quite sometime since I last had me some Jail. But as I finish eating my Hot Dang with fried rice that I picked up after work I can remember why I loved that place so much. Food is good, not great but I never found it lacking in any major way. I mean it's $7 for a large portion of fried rice and chicken, it's not like I am expecting 5 star quality food or service here. I love the Jail for what it is. It's a dive, and a grease spoon kinda place, but I've never had an issue wether going in or calling and picking up. In my mind it's one of the best places to get good, tasty, cheap unhealthy food in town.
(4)Keir S.
Love the food, but the staff could be a little more personable. Regardless I am a frequent customer. Enough delicious, greasy food for two meals.
(4)Chris R.
Classic hole in the wall but the portions are gigantic and the food is consistently satisfying. I go for the original almost every time but if you like it super hot the dang hot glazed chicken is a good substitute. Their motto, written across a banner menu printed off what must have been a home printer reads "Thou Shall NOT Go Out Hungry." and I must say, I agree!
(4)Matthew P.
Prices have gone up and portions have gone down. Food was ok for the price and the amount of food you got. Now it's a joke!
(1)Fake Reviewer X.
I don't know about The Jail. I mean, I'm American. So, you know, I believe in "freedom" and all of that. It would take a lot to get me to even step inside this place. I'm picturing no cable TV, limited Internet access, smelly toilets and, (it's trite but deeply embedded in our nation's humor-consciousness, so please forgive me) the occasional unwanted anal intrusion. Plus everybody who has written a positive review of this place seems like they are either 1) 19 years old 2) wishing they were still 19 years old and/or 3) a total douchecanoe. And the pictures look like something that got coughed out of Keith Richards' lungs. So, no thanks "The Jail." Change your name and your sign and maybe I'll come by a say hi sometime.
(3)Harvey F.
For years the jail has been our go to place for when the dreaded "I don't know, what do you want to eat" back and forth hits. Once brought up there was no further argument. That being said we will not be back. We've noticed a severe decline in not only the quality of the food but also the customer service over the last 6 months or so. After calling in, ordering noodles with no cabbage, arriving to find cabbage in the noodles and then being told a little won't kill ya, and then being questioned on whether I like vegetables or not (here's a hint we didn't ask you to pick out the peas and carrots from the rice did we?).... There are too many other places around with appropriate levels of customer service that deserve our money. Those places also lack a severe amount of smart assery. You might want to look in to it.
(1)Sophia K.
Yummy, but dang, this place needs a serious makeover because it looks dusty, unclean, and just old. Not old in that good way, but just dry and stained-- old. While I was waiting for my food last time, I was just sitting and looking around and (not) appreciating how broke this place looked. There's that dirty curtain to the kitchen that does not extend all the way so you see the plastic tubs of meat sitting out. Then there's the meat cutter that's just sitting on the bottom of the shelf as people walk in trampling with their soaked or dusty shoes. Luckily the food comes out rather quick so one does not have to sit there looking around too long! And the lighting is incredibly dim. Not surprising. But if looking ugly is what keeps the price down, then fine, so be it. This place is cheap and good. My $7 meal ends up turning into 3 meals for me. I would never take a date here unless we were already going steady or married or unless it was take out. Yeah, that's pretty shallow of me, but really now. It's not like this place is centrally located where we would just stumble in for a quick bite. In fact, parking here stinks, but I've never had a hard time finding a spot. Overall, decent place to get food. Emphasis on the get the food. Because get your food and go!
(3)Jerry H.
I have grabbed food in the past and never been impressed by the decor or service but the food was decent, fast and affordable. This time the beef teriyaki looked and tasted horribly and made me sick. I don't even need to mention the service and an employee leaning over a pan on the line cutting meat with gardening shears. Never ever again.
(1)Hsiang-Yun L.
A super duper great place to go :) You can ALWAYS get a HUGE portion of food, and the best one is Teriyaki chicken. The chicken is soft, juicy and be taken out the fat part. Teriyaki chicken also comes with steam rice and cabbage. I would definitely say it's kinda healthy food. I ordered the shrimp and beef yakisobi once and it was really really good. :) I ordered the number ten last nite and it was pineapple shrimp fried rice. The amazing part was that i got "25" shrimps for just 7.5 bulks. Unlike the others, the fried rice was not oily even if i settle it for 2 hrs. The server is really nice. They always remember your name and what u usually get. A good place to get food "to go". :)
(4)Avery J.
Get the #1 Teriyaki Chicken with Yakisoba Noodles! Huge portions for the $5.99, enough food for 2 Meals unless you are really Hungry!
(5)Ashley C.
Don't go in expecting good service, don't go in if you are in a hurry, don't go in if you are expecting choice cuts of meat out of the 6$ you will spend, don't go in if you want a bubbly 16 year old working the cash register. With those notes, the Jail is one of the most tasty + cheap meals you will find in Eugene. With places like this you usually want to stick with what moves (ie: what is sold a lot). I always get the chicken yakisoba and it is very consistant and very good. I'd probably stay away from beef when paying 5-6 bucks but I have never gotten it here. Also, oddly, the tofu there is just out of the world, I really would have never expected it until I ordered it once. The portions are huge, I mean-- gladly share with someone else because you won't be able to finish it huge. They also have two sauces available (not including ketchup and soy) teriyaki and chili. They don't put them on for you, so the folks complaining about dryness now know why. I like the self-serve teriyaki sauce because I like to drown mine in it where my friend only likes a dribble of chili. Also, folks calling this chinese, it isn't really-- it's sort of what you would get on the islands and reminded me of Hawaii where I lived for a while. Just simple dishes, three ingredients at the most. Good cheap food and you can get a Jarrito (mexican fruit soda) to wash it down. I would avoid the soda here on tap. Say hello to the Jonas Brother's poster on the wall near the cash register-- I think by seeing that, you know what the place is. It doesn't try to be anything it isn't and it is completely welcomed.
(5)Joey C.
This place is as awesome as it is unique. I can't think of any place, in any city, where you can get so much good food for so cheap. I see there are a lot of reviewers who are not thrilled by the quality of the food; I am not one of them. Chicken teriyaki is their wheel house. It's lean, white meat chicken, served over rice, with a side of cabbage. They have some of my favorite teriyaki sauce, and I would recommend going crazy with it... no such thing as too much: it soaks into the rice and cabbage and it rules. I often get a side of yakisoba noodles, which are great with the chicken too. This place is not much for ambiance or decor, but if you want a ton of good food, you'll get it here.
(5)Joey H.
Huge portion of chicken/pork/beef on top of either rice or yakisoba for 6.50. Easily enough food for two meals. The people working can barely speak English and at times are hard to understand but the food is really great to pig out on!
(4)Benjamin S.
Too many uptight folks reviewing this place. You pay $5, you get 2 pounds of rice/terriyaki, word to the wise, "quit your bitchin." This restaurant has wretched service, a filthy indoor seating area, probably passes less health code sanctions than OJ Simpson's Bronco, but is still a MUST visit if your in Eugene. I don't think food poisoning is as bad as everyone says, so, don't be a quitter, check this place out. I eat here 3 days a week for 2 years, and look at me. *but in all fairness/seriousness, check it out, great food for great prices!*
(5)Josh W.
The Jail is Great!! Cheap teriyaki chicken with lots of rice and cabbage. All for 6 bucks. I don't eat there often, it's a craving thing. But I enjoy eating there when I do. Get extra teriyaki on your way out in the to go tubs.
(4)Nick G.
Great price, great food. Horrible service and not very clean. But I still go there. :)
(4)F U.
It's usually good food. tons of food for a good value. sometimes you call them and they don't want to make what you want to order. that is fine I'll take my business elsewhere. I really wanted jail tonight but after their rude service of not making me what I want I'm gone!
(3)mike k.
Place is pretty good for what it is -- a student bbq and teriyaki joint. Its not gourmet, and it is not trying to be. The food portions are HUGE, and the teriyaki chicken is tasty. I've never tried anything else here, but the line is ALWAYS out the door and for good reason -- decent, cheap food in HUGE portions. I recommend this if you are craving cheap teriyaki chicken, are hungry, are going to hit the weights, want leftovers... or all of the above. I read that the owner of this restaurant's parents owned the Plaza Coffee Shop. Not sure if this is true or not, but that place was LEGENDARY. Read my review to learn about it.
(4)Ryan C.
This place keeps it simple. Great terriyaki chicken and rice. The portions are huge and the prices are cheap. The inside is dirty and smoky but it's expected and a small sacrifice.
(4)Dmitry K.
I usually don't write reviews for places even if they are bad. This one however had to be an exception. Before I went to this place I looked up reviews that said it took long time to get food ready, how people go there for food and not for atmosphere and that the portions are big. I went there with my wife and she ordered beef terayaki ($6.99) and I asked if I could get half chicken and half beef (mind you chicken is ($5.99). The person that rung me up put $7 and then added a $1 for doing it half an half (the math really doesn't add up in my mind as if she just charged me for full beef I would've been fine with that). Portions: I'm not sure why people were saying that they are big as I've seen a lot of other places that would charge about the same with bigger portions. Most give you twice the amount of meat. Food: Dry and not much flavor in it. The beef was really fatty and gritty. What really bugged me the most though is the fact everything was already pre-made (all she did was scoop the rice, the chicken and the beef from containers that were heated at the counter) and not fresh cooked to order. The cabbage mix was alright although most places serve it with a dressing which makes it so much better. Or give you steamed vegetables. Overall I would not recommend this place to anyone or ever return. They must call it The Jail because the food is about as good as jail food.
(1)Marianne D.
Not sure why Yelp doesn't state the hours. I know they are closed on Sunday and I believe they close at 8 p.m. And by the way, they have gotten a great makeover as previously suggested!
(4)Joshua V.
Dang Hot Chicken, Dang cheap, Dang good size portions, this is grubbin.
(5)Cooper J.
This was my go to spot in college. Simply the best bang for your buck place in all of Eugene. Soooooo much good food all on one plate. Don't be turned off by how this place looks, because it is definitely a total dive. Once you get passed the looks part, you can actually appreciate the amazing food they make here. It definitely follows the KISS method, which works for some awesome cheap food. I still have dreams of it... I would definitely recommend the chicken dishes over the beef, they seem to come out better for some reason.
(5)Keezer K.
Overall pretty good. Love the kimchi , nice size portions. Super friendly family owned and ran
(4)Oregon Food Junkie O.
This place was good back in the day. It's questionable anymore. It's almost as if they switched ingredients. Chicken is almost thigh-like, and not the breasts of days past. The cook who it seems lives there, is a strange strange man. The place is filthy and sticky. Come on Jail, you used to be so good.......
(2)El W.
It is really hard to review Jail. Taste-wise, it is not that good. However, the price and the portion are definitely worth it, especially for college student like me. You got a lot of rice and cabbage and some chicken. My only complain is the balance between the chicken and rice. I always finish the chicken but not the rice. Make sure that you add more sauce because without more of the sauce, the chicken will be rather tasteless. Customer service at Jail is simply BAD. The cashier doesn't smile. When I asked, "What's in no. 1?", she answered, "chicken, cabbage, and rice." Come on, I would have guessed that. I want to know what kind of chicken, what kind of sauce, etc. Seatings are bad. The place is rather dirty. So, I always take it out. Well, anyway, 3 stars because despite of its tasteless and dirty places, but for the 5-star price and portion, try it!
(3)Andre B.
This place is filthy. Ended up throwing up for 16 hours after I had the Yakisoba chicken. The food wouldn't have been worth it even if I had not gotten sick.
(1)Lisa S.
I stay at the hotel next door every time I come to town and will now make it a point to eat here when Im around. Great teriyaki chicken at a good price! Huge servings. You wont be leaving here hungry.
(4)Vada D.
I got the Teriyaki pork and the flavor was amazing. However, about half of it was fat. I was really disappointed because the non-fatty parts were tender, juicy and full of great flavor. I ended up throwing about half of the "meat" out. Portion sizes are huge. My husband and I shared one dish with a side of vegetables. Speaking of the vegetables, they're covered in oil...and quite possibly cooked on the same grill/pan as meat...at least they tasted like it so if you're healthy conscious or vegetarian steer clear. However, if you're health conscious or vegetarian I'm not sure why you'd be eating here. Anyways, I digress. The place is a hole in the wall, which I like. However, I usually prefer my holes to be a little bit cleaner. There was a thick layer of grease all over the place. Service was quick. The person at the counter was less then friendly. Pros: Cheap Large Quantities Open almost everyday, even most holidays Cons: Fatty cuts of meat Dirty Lobby HOT lobby (no cooling system other then a fan that is bigger then I was) Unfriendly staff
(2)Heidi W.
Horrible service. I'm assuming they must have lost our order somehow even though there weren't many people there. It took 35 minutes to get our 2 meals & one order was ready 10 minutes before the other & therefore not very hot when we got it. Plenty of people who came in after us got their food before we did. They did give us a lot of food (more than I have received in the past). Of course, that may have just been because they fucked up on our order. I will not be back. It's not worth the irritating wait.
(1)Julie K.
3 1/2 stars are you flippin' kidding me? Not if you value quality in your food. Hands down, no stars. Went there today for lunch because the cart across the street was serving only pork and beef, and we were in a hurry with someone (me) who does not eat pork or beef. We had heard the Jail was good, so we gave it a shot. My complaints, in rough order of seriousness from least distressing to most egregious: 1) Initial impression - looks unclean. Not just plain, but actually like they do not CLEAN it. 2) They had a 2 year old child sitting in a stroller right next to the register by the grill. I am known to have my 3 year old child at work with me in the mornings, so I won't fault them for that too much, but I think my workplace, an office with a room (supervised) full of toys and movies for her, is a much less dangerous and boring environment than a hot, dirty, dingy restaurant right by the grill. 3) styrofoam. Really? That stuff is so bad for the planet and it should be illegal, and I think a good restaurant will not put the food in there because under heat, styrofoam dissolves and releases carginogenic chemicals into the food (plus makes it taste bad, or in the case of this place, worse). 4) My friend accidentally ordered chicken when she meant beef. The difference in price was $1.00. They freaked out. I was second, so I said just charge me for the beef. They refused, and the grumpy cook told the cashier to make my friend pay that extra dollar. For God's sake, I offered to pay it. What's it to them whose bank account pays that dollar?? 5) The food is AWFUL. AWFUL. I had the "Thai" chicken curry. First of all. No. That was not any manner of Thai style curry. Nuh uh. It tasted like the yellow curry sauce from a jar at Trader Joe's, only worse. The veggies in it were much overcooked and soggy. The chicken was overcooked, had been sitting for a while, and was dry. It was also the chicken they serve under the name "teriyaki" chicken (I watched them slop up a teriyaki chicken order from the exact same stash of chicken right before they did my order). I had a few pieces that didn't have the "Thai" sauce on them - hardly any flavor. Overcooked, slightly burned, and just not good. My friend had the teriyaki beef. From the color, I'd say it marinated in soy sauce for about a week before it was cooked. It had a slightly better flavor than the chicken, but was also dry and just not good. The only plus, if one considers this a plus, was the quantity for the price. My dish was $7.49, my friend's was $8.49. But I could not eat more than 5 bites because it was so awful, so I don't feel like I really got a "deal." In fact, I felt sort of taken because I had heard tell this place was good. Good God, it's not even fair. It's not even poor or bad. It's AWFUL. I might give the leftovers to the dog. No stars but Yelp forces me to give it one star.
(1)Mike P.
I moved away from Eugene almost 4 years ago now and I still miss The Jail. Its inexpensive, filling and delicious. It is a place that definitely has some character. I have lived in a couple of cities since and have not been able to find anything that compares. If and when I make it back up to Eugene The Jail will be one of the first places on my list to visit.
(5)Eric B.
Great place to pick up teriyaki fast. I went in during the lunch rush and was out in less than 5 minutes. Good food, fast.
(5)Rian G.
If you want the most and i really mean the MOST food for your dollar, this is it. I cant add anymore to that. Im proud to say that i stand by my personal quote for my username "Fuck the ambiance, this is about food". And here we go.........If you want one crazy big meal or 2 good sized meals (one now and one for later) for about 6 bucks then this is in your wheelhouse.........and mine. The service is like a donkey kicking u in the nuts with your hands tied behind your back....It seariously straight up sucks ass. Ive been here at least 50 times, and its always bad. But for 3 pounds of food for 6 bucks that tastes good and will make your butthole hate you, this is it. Im not saying its not sanitary, cuz ive never got sick from this place. All im saying is, if your just strictly here for a ton of food for cheap that tastes pretty damn good, your in the right place. They are dickbag virgins that work here but they serve an awesome terriyaki chicken and yakisoba noodles for less than 6 bucks, you deal with the cheesy Jonas Brothers posters and shitface service and munch down like a king.
(3)Cody W.
This place got me through college. Yes, it isn't good quality. And yes, it'll give you mud butt. But where else can you get this much crappy chicken and white rice for $5.95? They even give you some strange cabbage like substance. My friend Jake went in there one time, and the owner was on the phone, so he heard THIS one sided conversation: "Well how many got infected??" [pause] "But I always cook the chicken all the way through!" [pause] "I have a customer, I have to go." and he still ordered the chicken. This place is great. I highly recommend it for a filling meal that is cheap. It is a good break from Burrito Boy. Oh, and they're closed on the Lord's day.
(5)Sherrie V.
Mmm charcoaled gristle. Seriously - there was a time when I loved this place. Lately though I feel like I'm just eating carbonized fat. It's nasty. I actually haven't ordered it in months. My sweetie though, is addicted to the junk, and I have watched the quality go down steadily. I think they'd make me a fan again if they could figure out how to bottle that hot sauce though - that stuff is tasty!
(1)Eric K.
Lived in Eugene for three years so far, went to Jail whenever I was super hungry an didn't want to spend a lot. It's not top quality food, but you pay $6-$8 and get two meals, maybe three in one serving. Highly recommend!
(4)Toby W.
Woohoo! Makes for a Meaty One! This place is Awesome. It is what it is...Lots of food for Cheap! The Teriyaki Chicken with hot sauce is so dam good. This is a College Students Dream! Late night Munchies, low cost, and lots of local traffic cruising by. I am a Big Fan!
(5)Justin M.
The food is pretty good for the price and quantity. I usually get the Thai chicken curry. It's not the best but you get what you pay for. I'm usually full or save some for later.
(3)Justin H.
This is DECENT lunch food when you're in a pinch. I suggest the Dang Hot w/Noodles. It is fairly quick for getting in, ordering and getting out. Probably 10 seats total inside, all bar type seats.
(2)Anthony R.
DO NOT GO. On my first (and only) visit, the lone employee of this Asian fast-food joint warned me, in Spanish (he didn't speak English), not to order the Korean ribs and noodle dish. I demanded it and he politely tried to steer me toward the Teriyaki. I persisted. Worst. Meal. Ever. The ribs were just that--rib bones...not a bit of meat on them. The noodles were cold and gummy. The "sauce" was downright offensive. I'd rather eat at the Lane County Jail.
(1)Danica G.
Awesome for what it is: a random establishment serving a uniquely Pacific NW staple - teriyaki. Places like this are usually a little sketchy and serve a lot of great food for cheap. This fits the bill perfectly, and it was delicious! Can't wait to go back.
(5)Jesse B.
horrible, I mean BAD service but when you want to load on the protein and enjoy some seriously large portions, rock the Jail.
(3)B. A.
Mmmm, gristle.
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