A freind and I drove out to Buddy Boy from Hopkins and let me tell you, it is worth the drive. The burnt ends alone made it all worth it. Best burnt ends I've had in Minnesota hands down. Brisket was a bit dry, beans were good but a bit watery, and Mac and cheese wasn't real creamy, but burnt ends alone make it all worth it. Service was great as our server was attentive and made sure we were well taken care of, and the restaurant itself is really nice, pretty, and clean on the inside. I would highly recommend this place to anyone craving solid BBQ in the twin cities. read more

Buddy Boy Fine Barbeque - Cornbread, Brisket, Mac and cheese, Buddy's Beans - Barbeque Near Me - Minnetrista, Minnesota

This was the worst BBQ food we have ever tasted! Not sure what the pale gray brisket even was but it tasted bland with way too much gristle. Not even the watered down BBQ sauce could make it edible. Then the 4-bean side was mixed with old disgusting shreds of mystery meat which led to stomach cramps that night. Will not be back!! read more

We were in the area so were able to try out this restaurant that has been on my list. Love the industrial, modern vibe inside. I chose the walleye and veggies and it was excellent. My piece of walleye was huge. The soft fish with the crispy veggies was a great combination. Our server was excellent. Since we were first time visitors, she helped us make good choices. Would love to stop again and try a few new things on the menu. read more

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We ordered the Game day sampler for our dinner get together. Well worth the cost. We are planning to go into the restaurant...this is one of the best BBQ places around. Love it. & recommend this place over and over again. Our order was prepared when promised. Thank you Trevor! read more

Absolutely love coming here! Have ordered the platter twice and on the third visit ordered other main dishes -- the chicken and beef rib entrees. Service is always exceptional! Greeted upon entry every time. Hardly any wait for a table when we have gone. Wait staff and bartenders are wonderful! Once, when waiting for a table, sat at the bar and chatted up the bartender about recommendations. The inside environment is welcoming. The outdoor seating is fun with lights, weather permitting! Will be bringing friends with on the next visit! read more

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This place is such truly a hidden gem! I would not suspect that this place would be right off the highway! I came here and got the half chicken which was perfectly cooked and seasoned! Service was quick, knowledgeable and friendly. This is more upscale, I came for lunch during work and did feel a bit under dressed. read more

Yum! As a vegetarian there was a bunch of options! My fiance said the buddy boy sandwich was AMAZING! Such a fun place too with outdoor seating. read more

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Excellent BBQ and kinda strange to order an Eggs Benedict with beef brisket, but it worked! Nice vibes and nice staff. Others had a Fried Egg Sourdough Sandwich and Pulled Pork on a bun. Ordered takeout also. Will be back. read more

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As someone who loves good barbecue and has tried it across North Carolina, Texas, Kansas, and Minnesota, I can confidently say this place stands out for its incredible food. The owner, Joe, is a friend of a friend, and this restaurant was born out of Joe's success in BBQ competitions. He used to serve his competition meats to friends, and they'd vanish in seconds--a testament to the quality. What's good here? Everything. The brisket is perfect--tender, smoky, flavorful, and just plain awesome. The burnt ends are a must-try, with just the right amount of char. The ribs, pulled pork, and sausages are equally impressive, each dish showcasing the care and skill that goes into the preparation. I've tried everything on the menu, and it's consistently very, very good. While I'm not a huge fan of the sides, they do have this magical bread that practically melts in your mouth--an unexpected but delightful highlight. read more

Buddy Boy Fine Barbeque - Meat platter - Barbeque Near Me - Minnetrista, Minnesota

Sunday brunch was totally worth the visit - they've been doing it for 5 weeks! Our group of 7 made a 10am reservation and was super happy with the food, service, and ambiance. The bbq was delicious (we especially liked the beef, goat, turkey, burnt ends, and brisket), all the brunch items were fresh (french toast, muffins, biscuits and gravy), there were made to order omelets, all the sides/fixings were tasty (coleslaw, burnt end potato salad, strawberry salad, grits), fresh fruit, pastries, and cheese were all lovely extras to add on! The adults all had cocktails and enjoyed them - there were a variety including bloody Marys, old fashioneds, mimosas, and coffee cocktails. We'll definitely be back! read more

Buddy Boy Fine Barbeque - Barbeque Near Me - Minnetrista, Minnesota

There are some BBQ joints you have to qualify by saying it is good for the area its in. With Buddy Boy, it isn't just "good BBQ for Minnesota", its just awesome BBQ. This was my first stop after flying into Minnesota for a very quick trip, and I wasn't able to eat inside. I was told there was a two hour wait for a party of three inside, so we ate at the outdoor kitchen outside. The menu at the outdoor kitchen was limited, but we got a sandwich each and split some chips. I thought the sandwiches were a good size and had lots of meat on them. I got the brisket sandwich and also tried some of the pulled pork off another sandwich. The brisket was excellent. It was juicy, had good bark, and a nice smoke to it. The pulled pork wasn't quite as good as the brisket, but still very excellent. I think the prices are pretty high, but that didn't seem to stop people from coming to Buddy Boy's. The place was jam packed the entire time we were there. I'd love to come back at some point when I have more time and get reservations to dine in and explore the full menu. read more

Buddy Boy doesn't disappoint!! We have been here on multiple occasions and always bring family & friends to come along. Whether you enjoy the fancy, indoor seating or the more rustic, outdoor seating...it's always a good time! The Burnt Ends AND Buddy Rolls appetizer/sides are worth the trip alone! The drinks were a big hit too. Another note, they have live music outside! They don't offer service out there, but you can order online, pick up inside, and head back out to listen to the tunes! read more

Buddy Boy Fine Barbeque - Old fashioned & marg - Barbeque Near Me - Minnetrista, Minnesota

Recently moved back to MN from CA. Have had my share of bbq from all over. Saw this place on Yelp and it's not too far from Waconia so I decided to grab some lunch. Driving up I was like Holy Sh*t these guys aren't messing around. Multiple smokers in the lot. Two amazing smokers attached to the kitchen. Nice vibe walking in. Bartender was great. Ordered the Cubano and it did not disappoint. Pulled pork was spot on. Bacon was thick and Smokey. I couldn't finish it so took 1/2 home to my 14 year old son who devoured it on the spot. Looking forward to eating my way through the menu! read more

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I ended up here unexpectedly and was shocked to pull up to such a beautiful space in what was starting to look like the middle of nowhere. The restaurant and bar are gorgeous. I love the natural light, and the space made me feel elegant despite being dressed casually. This place would make a great wedding venue or high-end brewery if the barbecue ever falls through. There were several menu items I would've loved to try, but I ultimately settled on the Brisket Sandwich and a side baked potato. My server made the baked potato work despite it being quite early in the day, and I ended up ordering the Buddy Mule while I waited. It's not often that I get the cocktail I've been waiting for, and it tastes how I want it to taste - this mule changed my life. I love a drink that tastes like juice. The best part though? The food. The brisket sandwich was melt-in-your-mouth good, and the baked potato was excellent. I ate long after everyone at my table was finished because I couldn't get enough of the fries and ranch. Restaurants with great ranch deserve a reward. This was one of those times I just could not bring myself to put the food down. I highly recommend Buddy Boy for anything from a family dinner to a date night out. read more

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BBQ but pinky's up! This joint has gotten a big makeover and boasts an open kitchen concept with large spaces, warm neutral colors and still rocking the smokers that started it all right out front. Service is 8/10, while food and watching the pit masters at work is easily a 10/10. Be prepared to drop some coin on this BBQ, the menu does meat by the pound and sides have a lil bit of everything. I was pleasantly surprised by how good collard greens were and the hush puppies... chile' I could just sit and eat those for every meal. Absolutely love this place and can't wait to visit again. read more

Buddy Boy Fine Barbeque - Barbeque Near Me - Minnetrista, Minnesota

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Delicious Barbeque and super nice place. Full bar with plenty of cocktails on the menu but I imagine they would make anything you might request, large assortment of ice cream at a separate counter and plenty of indoor as well as outdoor seating. Upscale atmosphere but delicious southern smoked bbq. Service was great, waiter was attentive and everyone was polite. I got the Big Buddy and it had a crazy amount of meat on it, side of mac n cheese was also delicious. read more

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Loved the vibes here! We ordered the food outside (had to do an online carry out order of mac and cheese). Sat outside and got to listen to some live music. This place was PACKED! Food service was still very fast. Mac and cheese: 10/10 - super creamy Fries: 10/10 - crispy and great seasoning Ribs: 8/10 - huge ribs. Would have loved more sauce options. Some were fall off the bone but others weren't Cole slaw: 0/10 - VINEGAR BASE!!! BEWARE‼ Ice cream: 8/10 - they weighed the ice cream cone, I've never seen that before?? read more

My dad came here a couple years ago with my uncle and he was excited to take me. We drive over an hour to come here so I was pretty hyped about it! It was a beautiful space, modern and redone. My dad remembered it looking very differently. The brisket and hush puppies were the stars of our show. The ribs were not as tender and flavorful as expected, but the brisket was also so stellar that it would've been hard to match. I wasn't a fan of the beans or the potato salad, as both were twists on the classic sides and had some odd flavor profiles in my opinion. Both those had burnt ends in them but because they were so saucy, the burnt ends were just soggy. It was very busy but the restaurant and staff seemed well-equipped to handle high volume. The process was streamlined and easy! read more

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Great BBQ in the west burbs. Huge outdoor patio, fun live music on the Saturday night we were there. It has a good bar program, lots of taps (but oddly 2 stouts in the summer). Very lively, loud setting but modern and lovely. Amazing brisket and buns. read more

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Always love coming here! It's so beautiful when you walk in. We didn't have a reservation (Saturday around 5pm) and were able to be seated right away. I got the lychee love cocktail and it was well balanced and sweet. The artichoke dip was amazing! The homemade pita sort of chips were delicious and had great seasoning on them. The baked potato was massive and I couldn't manage to finish it all. It comes with all the toppings of a loaded potato if you like. My husband loved his burger and it comes with chips. The pickles must be homemade and were so fresh and tasty. Service was quick and awesome! read more

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Tips to get a star but the portions size is very expensive bbq off the road tips was smoke and juices but the restaurant was very nice and just a high end restaurant but lady was really rude to me when I call to ask about the brunch and got smart with me read more

a little mom's day @buddyboy.bbq did NOT disappoint. worth the extra miles, calories + cash to order that buddy's sampler since we'll have leftovers for days. delicious selection of cocktails, especially mom's margarita with a little spice (mine went down like water - so good!). also tons of perfect small side selections to add with your order - personally LOVED the jambalaya. can't believe I hadn't heard of this spot sooner - the interior is gorgeous and perfect for a date night (sorry for my lack of photos). outside seating is endless, perfect for groups and prepped for live summer entertainment. feel free to bring along your pups, too! without a doubt, add this to your MN summer dining bucket list ...... and when you do, let me know what you ordered so I have an idea for next time ;) read more

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A bit of a drive out of the metro but I promise you it is so worth it! Buddy boy has a great rustic meets modern flare and I am here for it. Very open and gorgeous with views straight into the kitchen! We were seated right away for our lunch date without a reservation and ordered brisket sandwiches with sides of Mac and cheese, coleslaw, cornbread, and fries. Everything was amazing! The cornbread was moist, the fries seemed like they were freshly cut this morning! We had a lovely time and all of the waitstaff were super friendly and attentive. The only thing I wasn't a fan of (I'm a simpleton) is I didn't really care for their BBQ sauce choices. They either had too much kick or tasted bland. read more

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This place is an amazing space with a great outdoor patio, but the potato salad, baked beans and potato chips were SO salty we could't eat them. The coleslaw was just shredded cabbage. We will NEVER be back to this place! read more

I've been wanting to try this place for a long time. I love the vibe--it's rustic-chic. I want to come hang out and drink fabulous drinks. We came for food though....BBQ. It's 'high end' BBQ though. And honestly the food was just ok. My son's spare ribs were not the slightest bit tender and he struggled to get the meat off the bone. The sweet potato soup was not warm and honestly had very little flavor. We did enjoy the brisket potato skins. We had other items that also lacked flavor. The menu is really varied and promising--it just didn't deliver. I'll try it again and cross my fingers it was just a bad night. read more

Another visit to one of my favorite bbq joints in the Twin Cities. I walked into a "lunch special" that was perfect for me! A brisket rueben!! I ordered it and a small burnt ends potato salad. It looked delish on the tray and I could hardly wait to get to the table for the first bite. Everything was great...except the sauerkraut. Now, I am a sauerkraut fiend and get picky about my kraut. I need kraut to really be intense on the sauer/pickled flavor. This kraut didn't make the mark. Tasted like it may have been washed. With a rich, fatty meat like brisket the acid sauerkraut offers is exactly what is needed to cut through the richness and allows you to comeback for more bites. Had the kraut packed the punch it would have been a top notch sandwich. As is, it was still very good. read more

Buddy Boy Fine Barbeque - Brisket Rueben Sandwich and Burnt Ends Potato Salad. - Barbeque Near Me - Minnetrista, Minnesota

This was one of the worst dining experiences we've ever had. We have wanted to eat here for years when it was just a road side stand. It was also my husbands birthday, so we wanted to splurge. We will never be back. First, our burnt ends tasted a bit like fish, I don't even know how that happens. My husbands ribeye was so bland and over cooked. We ordered the sample platter and everything on it was BONE DRY. Pulled pork, ribs, turkey, brisket, EVERYTHING. It was extremely disappointing. The barbecue sauces were a red color, and watery. The best one was the sweet version, the others were inedible. I ordered a side of Jambalaya as well, and I don't know what came to our table but it wasn't Jambalaya, it was tomato paste rice. My husband is from the south and he was completely confused. Service was okay, but I had asked for lemonade and got sprite, we had to ask for utensils and they had wanted to put us at a high top table when we had two young children who needed highchairs(if you don't know, that doesn't work). We were offered a complimentary birthday cake, which my husband politely declined because he's not a cake person and asked if the banana toffee was an option instead. The waiter completely ignored the comment and handed him the check. $350(with tip, we aren't monsters) to have such a terrible experience. I would recommend this place to nobody. Both my husband and myself felt super gross after, our stomachs bugged us all night. Neither of us have sensitivities or intolerances. I wish I didn't have to share such a laundry list of issues, but we waited to come here for years, and we were SO EXCITED and it was the BIGGEST let down. A disclaimer, we have had Texas barbecue, we have friends who are pit masters. We had said to each other in the beginning that maybe we were just spoiled from our barbecue background. As the night went on, we realized that this was exceptionally terrible and it couldn't be us. read more

We arrived at 4:30 on a Friday evening. Despite lots of empty tables we were told we had to wait 10-15 minutes for a table to become available, which was very off putting when you could look around and see table after empty table. I watched the host do this same thing to everyone that arrived for the next 45 minutes. The host was not welcoming, and this behavior felt like an unsavory power play. The food was tasty. We ordered pulled pork and turkey by the pound, coleslaw, mac & cheese, and dinner rolls. The ambiance was nice, although I really hated all of the backless chairs. Given the price tag of the food, I'd expect a seat with a back that I didn't have to perch myself on (wasn't very relaxing). read more

Love the vibe here and the food is outstanding, however, as we were sitting at the bar, I counted how many times someone (including a manager) walked right by our dirty plates without removing them. 6 times and they were still sitting there in front of us after we paid the tab. Such a bummer. Otherwise, a good experience. read more

Buddy Boy Fine Barbeque - Yummy baked potato with pork. - Barbeque Near Me - Minnetrista, Minnesota

I love the new space and the sides were great! We had the brisket before as take out, but this time went with the pork. I think I will go back to the brisket as the pork was a bit fatty, but it didn't affect the stars because that's pork! Beautiful cocktail menu with local distillery options. They also have beer and wine. Large outdoor seating area when the weather cooperates and they often have outdoor live music. This place isn't cheap, so be prepared to open the pocketbook! read more

Buddy Boy Fine Barbeque - outside - Barbeque Near Me - Minnetrista, Minnesota

This place is absolutely incredible and I feel so blessed that we have this location near where we live! They are always busy and their BBQ is tantalizing while driving down Hwy 7! I am not a barbecue fan but I loved this food!! Definitely worth a drive from the cities. They even opened a little breakfast place right next door in their old building! read more

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Since after remodeling, brisket is dry and I ate there at noon. Use to be very juicy before remodeling. Seems to be quantity or quality now. read more

Buddy Boy Fine Barbeque - Beef brisket was very dry - Barbeque Near Me - Minnetrista, Minnesota

Friends recommended it since we would be in area for Big Stone Golf (five stars! Make a night of it and hit both places!). Plenty of parking and ample outdoor seating, including under a tent. Decent indoor seating as well. Lots of options on the menu. We went with brisket, sausage and ribs. For sides, burnt ends potato salad and buddy's beans. The meats were amazing! Brisket very tender, ribs falling off bones and sausage had great skin. There are numerous sauces to dip into, and the medium heat was my favorite. The highlight for me was the beans. They were more like a chili, with meat and beans and just insane deliciousness. I could have had just then. The potato salad was a disappointment though. I was expecting a potato salad with burnt ends in it. Instead it was more of a salad, with corn, veggies, potatoes (but not really potato salad) and some meat pieces. It was good, but not what I wanting/hoping for. I should have read some reviews so I knew what it was. Then I could have ordered two beans instead. Staff was friendly and efficient. read more

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First timers on a Friday night - we got there early at 5:15... the food was delish! We shared the hush puppies and burnt ends appetizers. Highly recommend the burnt ends. It was everyone's favorite part of the meal! For the main meal we shared the the sampler platter (4 people) a side of fries, coleslaw and corn bread. One of us got the brisket Mac and cheese and loved it (definitely enough for 2 meals!) It was all amazing and we had leftovers to take home! Also the ambiance in there is awesome! Love the decor and overall feel! Service was good as well! We will be back! read more

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Ok - we really wanted to love this place but all we can come away with is meh. We even tried it 3 times. The food is always like warm - except the grits the grits are pretty all right. The burnt ends are tough, the pork and the brisket are dry and barely warm at all and the hush puppies chewy skip the cornbread but the chips are good and the collards are very good. Their trio of sauces are sweet sweeter and uninterestingly hot. read more

Oh boy, buddy... ‍ I guarantee you this meal will meat your expectations... and even you think it won't, you should still brisket... I mean risk it! But believe me, this place left our preconceived notions about bbq in smoke! Check out this lineup: Pork Belly Burnt Ends Loaded Macaroni and Cheese Prime Brisket, cheddar cheese, sour cream, bacon, and onions Big Buddy Sandwich Brisket, pulled pork, sausage, and slaw From Buddy Boy Barbecue in Saint Bonifacius, MN Some people like happy endings. I prefer mine burnt The appetizer was an a-muse-bouche of American barbecue beauty Imagine Uber-thick bacon, crisped and cooked, something straight out of a carnivore's dreams It might be an unfamiliar texture for ya, but the flavor will be well worth the adventurous foray My choice was the sandwich as it was the easiest vessel for me to try the greatest variety of meats... and it certainly requires a voracious appetite I didn't even try to eat it with my hands -- it was a holy and harmonious tribute to barbecue House made chips were an appreciated addition! And my buddy Rob went for the loaded Mac. I didn't try any, but I am guessing that he liked it as there was none left at the end of his battle with the dairy-based behemoth The site of the plate is about how large his eyes were when the dish was delivered to our table I almost ordered this one... next time I'll take a crack at this preposterous plate of pasta No shame in saving leftovers from this place as they don't slack on the portions The prices are more than reasonable for what you get. The interior is also awesome -- classically rustic with a touch of 2023 Thank you to Noah for recommending this to me, and Robert "The Goalie" Bymers for trying out these tantalizing tastes! read more

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Had the brisket sandwich at the land castle event. The brisket was delicious. Good portions. read more

Buddy Boy Fine Barbeque - Brisket Sandwhich - Barbeque Near Me - Minnetrista, Minnesota

This is really nice bbq spot. Staff was really great and food was great too. Can't wait to come back and try more things.

All style no substance.....we had to send our food back for being overcooked, tough, and dry. Our server said it is a common problem...not good! They eventually brought us food that we could eat but VERY underwhelming. Ribs should be falling off the bone, my pork chop was dry and tough. We have lived in KC, traveled to TX and NC all BBQ capitals so we have eaten REAL BBQ! The noise level is atrocious as well, so unless you are hankering for a trip down memory lane to the high school lunchroom experience I cannot recommend! Wanted to try and hoped it would be good but not again! read more

We went here on a double date with some friends after playing mini golf. It was a nice lunch spot in the area. My friends wanted to try the jalapeño cheesy sausage, but it was already sold out and it wasn't even that late in the day, so they got the hot links, but it wasn't spicy or hot whatsoever. They said it was somewhat bland and they were disappointed for the price. We all enjoyed the sides those were the best! The greens, pickles, and fresh rolls were bomb that are sandwiches were on! I thought it was cool how you could see the open kitchen and the dining room was more of a fine dining experience like in the name. I did notice while we were leaving they had a food truck outside to order at which might have been more our speed. read more

Buddy Boy Fine Barbeque - Barbeque Near Me - Minnetrista, Minnesota

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