The ribs here are incredible! Not too sweet, fall-off-the-bone tender, and incredibly flavorful. There is the perfect ratio of flavors you'd expect from a sweet, slightly tangy, and bbq-sauced rib. I had it in the sandwich, and although the bun was quite plain, the ribs really stole the show. read more

I noticed I went here three times in a row so I must leave a review. It is challenging to manage a business but good BBQ takes some time. That's why it hits every time!! read more

Great food and the staff is super friendly. I really recommend the sliced beef and brisket. Too bad you can't dine inside because the vibes are always pleasant in there. I'm giving 3 stars because evetime I order they give me white bread instead of cornbread. The menu states food comes with cornbread yet it never does unless you order it separately. Very dishonest. read more

Great food and customer service! It is take out only but go next door to Hilltap city, grab a beer and they bring the food to you!! Side note Hilltap City has a kids play area SUPER BONUS! read more

Emma's BBQ - Pulled pork, ribs, Mac, potato salad - Southern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My first time eating at Emma's BBQ and I'm honestly underwhelmed! Ordered take out 2 hours after Emma's opened on a Saturday and was given overcooked brisket, overcooked chicken thighs, and old cornbread slices! The potato salad is store bought. The Mac n Cheese is made with real cheese but lacking seasoning. The seasoning and smoke flavor of the meats are solid and tasty but having them overcooked made me think it was previously made and reheated?! The cornbread was extremely dry and almost flavorless. The cornbread also gave me day old vibes if not older? I will probably not be back due to the price point for the quality of entrees! The yams were definitely the strong point of our meal and I want to remind you that these are my opinions to the meals we were served on a Saturday afternoon. The food did come out fairly quickly and the staff is extremely pleasant. The inside has limited seating but the booths appeared to be filled with pillows and take out boxes so there wasn't anywhere to sit and enjoy a meal! read more

Never before has $40 been a curse. My partner and I live in Columbia city and were gifted a $40 gift card to Emma's BBQ over 2 years ago. When there is a BBQ sized hole in your heart it must be filled. Every single time we have tried to use it they have been closed. At first it was because they are only open 3 days a week and we were attempting to go on a day they were closed. For the last 18 months we have been trying to use this gift card on days they are open and have never once been able to order food or even talk to someone. Right now it is 5pm on Friday one of the days they are supposedly open, and they are closed. I see nothing online about the business closing, but they never seem to be open. We have gone to Jacks BBQ in Sodo numerous times simply because Emma's was closed and we had our hearts set on BBQ. Jacks is amazing I highly recommend it. Going there again tonight. If you want Emma's BBQ don't even get your hopes up. Odds are they aren't open. read more

Emma's BBQ - Gift card and a hand - Southern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Stopped in for a quick lunch & was so happy we did! The service, food & drinks were all amazing, & we loved it! Will definitely come back for more of the delicious brisket & sides. read more

As one reviewer said a month ago, " they're hardly ever open." Today is no exception. Sign says closed even though their hours list as noon to seven. It's 130pm and closed. Plus, "only one customer at a time" is allowed if/when they're open. So, no matter how good they might be, I am not taking food to go. Long drive for nothing and will not attempt again. read more

The brisket plate with potato salad, yams and baked beans was superb. The customer service was absolutely phenomenal and greatly appreciated! Outdoor setting peaceful with a cool breeze. Just the way I like to enjoy my bbq! read more

Oh my gaaawd! I'm almost too scared to say this too LOUD, but DAMNnnnnnnn this is GOOD! THE BEST BBQ I've had in Washington (I'm a native), and heck, maybe the best considering Everything On My Plate is GONE!!! Brisket was semi thin sliced, moist, flavorful and oh so tender. The bbq thick and not too sweet complimenting every bite. Greens ...I think mustard, and absolutely perfection. Think al dente in texture and not the soggy stringy mess others serve. No overpowering flavors or salt and just gooood. Mac n cheese is probably better than my mamas and yours too. Not too creamy, with those baked cheddar tender chewy pieces throughout. No soggy noodles and no falling apart. Seriously beautiful and tasty mac n cheese! Cornbread so good No butter is needed. Moist and not too crumbly. Verdict: THE BEST!!! $17 for a plate was well worth it. Portion size was perfect, and I honestly couldnt resist eating every crumb if they gave more. It's that good! Ms. Emma, thank you for blessing my childhood neighborhood with your cooking. It brought joy to my stressful week and I cannot wait to return. Take All My Money!! read more

Emma's BBQ - Brisket Plate ....yum - Southern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Excellent BBQ! Brisket was very flavorful (a tad dry, but with the sauce it was delicious), baked beans are amazing, and cornbread and mac were solid! Reminds me of where I used to live in rural Virginia read more

Take out only, super sweet and friendly owners. The pulled pork is so flavorful and good portion. Love the spicy bbq sauce on the side so you can add as much or as little as you prefer. Also got the side of baked beans which were perfectly sweet and tangy. read more

Emma's BBQ - Pulled pork sandwhich - Southern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We really enjoyed Emma's BBQ! Service was very friendly, the space was on the smaller side and currently just doing take out. There is also a small parking lot on the side. We got the 2 way combo dinner which was enough for 2 adults! Comes with 2 meats, 2 sides, and cornbread. We got pork ribs, brisket, Mac and cheese, and potato salad. The meat was very flavorful and perfectly cooked/seasoned. The sides were excellent as well, and it was hard to choose! All in all I'd definitely recommend supporting this local family business. read more

Emma's BBQ - 2 way combo dinner: pork ribs, brisket, Mac and cheese, and potato salad - Southern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

COVID-takeout. Place our order and they brought the food out to you. Friendly black-owned family restaurant. Food was delicious prices are high do the pick two or three to save money to try other meats. Parking on the side streets read more

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We came here after a swim in Seward Park and was craving for some BBQ. This place is located across Sam choys poke to the max and next to a bar. It's a pretty homey environment. We ordered the two way dinner with brisket and ribs, yams, collard greens, and corn bread. I think it was made to order as it was a little bit of a wait for our food to come out. Brisket: good portion but on the dry side, you definitely need sauce for this. Lean cut as there's no fat whatsoever. Ribs: tender, good flavor Yams and collard greens: standard Corn bread: big portion, crumbly, subtle hint of the corn bread. Service was good, the people there are very nice. Price was decent as well. Overall, I thought it was ok. read more

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I recently went in and got some ribs. I normally have only had the beef brisket. Its been twice in a 30 day period. The beef brisket cuts like butter and is pure perfection. Now let's talk about my new addiction. The pork ribs! the sauce ! oh my goodness it's so delicious! Note: both times I got over a pound of each ribs/ beef brisket! I'm all the way in Tacoma thinking about driving down to get both ... and not a little amount ... enough to last me two days! Im supposed to be doing keto so I might grab the greens To distract myself from getting some bread to dip in the secret recipe bbq sauce that I'm also not supposed to have ... when I tell you this Bbq is calling my name ! So delicious. read more

Made plans to meet a friend, double checked the website for hours and when we arrived they were closed. Heard great things about the Mac n cheese from the next door neighbor. Wish I could have tried it myself. read more

Wow! Decided to roam a little and try a different BBQ spot. So glad. Great food and even better people. Outstanding flavors and happy people, does it get any better. So good I had to go back and double the tip. Whatever you do, DO NOT ORDER the mac and cheese. Your waist will hate you!!!! Can't wait for the next visit. We'll be wearing our stretchy pants. Thank you thank you thank you. Oh, did we mention the beans? P.S. It's ok to eat it next door at the brew pub with a frosty one! read more

I never think of Seattle as a BBQ place so I don't try to find/eat it here. Emma's was a surprise - my friend chose it while we were in the area. The price is a bit high but the quality is too good to be mad about it . Ribs were tender and juicy - with their hot bbq sauce 100% . The Mac n cheese was the BEST I've had from a BBQ place. My friend ended up buying a whole side of just Mac n cheese after we ate our plates. The cornbread and slaw was more typical expectation but I bet the cornbread would be even better with extra butter and/or honey . The front desk that day said her grandmother lived on the border between Tennessee and Arkansas so this bbq must be a hybrid . read more

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Excellent food, the brisket is my favorite. The side dish of sweet potato also hits the spot. Nice.

I'll be honest, Emma's food was disappointing. The staff was extremely kind and I went as soon as they opened because I wanted fresh hot food. That's not what I received. My sides were cold and lacked seasoning. As a southerner, sides are served hot! So since I went when they opened, I expected hot food. The greens weren't good at all. They lacked seasoning. The baked beans weren't baked. It seems like they took them out of the can, warmed them a bit, and served them. The Mac and Cheese was dry but shockingly, had a nice flavor. The potato salad tasted store bought. I know store bought potato salad because my dads mom does this and it's horrible. The ribs were fresh, hot, and good. Emma does meat very well. Sides are not their strong suit. Which honestly, most restaurants who claim to cook southern style here in Seattle, don't cook sides well. Sides are harder than people think. The peach cobbler was okay. I like the crust and juice from cobblers. Overall, the food wasn't the best. I won't go again. If I do, it'll only be for the ribs. read more

Emma's BBQ - Slice of Peach Cobbler Pork Ribs Dinner Baked Beans Macaroni and Cheese Potato Salad - Southern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Solid - really good BBQ brisket. Yams were tasty and sweet; baked beans were good too. Bread was fresh and soft. Mild sauce - a little tangy but not "hot". Great Saturday afternoon lunch!! read more

Emma's BBQ - BBQ brisket, yams, baked beans - Southern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Stopped there after the park because it had my partners name. Wasn't sure if we were gonna order but at least wanted to check it out. Thank the lawd we did. Suuper friendly and humble. I loved seeing every generation working together. They even popped outside to give our dog some brisket and water. Family owned hospitality, the kind that makes you just feel good after you leave and happy you spent your money. As for the food AMAZING. I wish I would've bought more. The greens and the yams slap. I wish I would've got a 16oz of greens. I'm sure the sandwiches would've been phenomenal too. I don't think there's anything on the menu you could go wrong. % going back Not pictured : Blackberry Lemonade (made fresh) good but a lot of pulp The Hot BBQ sauce is perfect, not too hot at all in my opinion The only thing is cost, but let me tell you a secret... love is put into your meal and food tastes better supporting your local black businesses. read more

Emma's BBQ - Beef Brisket Dinner - Macaroni and Cheese, Greens, Cornbread (had to remember to stop eating and take a picture) - Southern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Tasty BBQ and tasty sides. The staff is very friendly and a delight to order from. I enjoyed the pork ribs, coleslaw, collards, and corn bread. Coleslaw was well balanced and without too much mayo and the collards were delicious without being too greasy. They even "delivered" my food next door where I was enjoying a beer. I would highly recommend Emma's BBQ read more

Emma's BBQ - 2 sides - coleslaw and collards - Southern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I don't know why it took us so long to try Emma's...and I'm really sad that I've missed out on over a year of really delicious BBQ that's so close by. We tried a four-way of ALL the meats with corn bread and beans - which was shared among two very hungry adults and we had TONS of leftovers for the next day. The meat was tender, juicy, and fell apart. SO good. Cannot recommend this place enough. You can call ahead for your order, which I recommend to avoid a wait and a line at the shop. On the weekends, they can get busy and calling is a must, especially before they sell out of your favorites! read more

Wow, I highly recommend Emma's BBQ in Hillman City. I can't believe the two-meat plate plus a coleslaw fed 2 adults with leftovers! What amazing value and delicious food. Food wise this is my fave BBQ in the Seattle area.. And there was live music outside while we waited for our takeout so it was probably the most fun food experience we had since the pandemic started. We had: - Two-meat dinner with brisket and pulled pork, chose collard greens, yams (amazing!), and corn bread as sides - 8oz coleslaw - Both mild and hot BBQ sauce (I prefer the hot, it's not too spicy) FYI we ordered at 7:45pm and they were out of mac n cheese so go earlier if you have your heart set on that. They also stopped taking orders at 7:50 so we barely made it. They are so vigilent about safety precautions which is great. There's a line on the floor where you order behind, the lady sat behind a big plexi glass, and I love that she yelled at the second person who tried to come in when I was ordering because they only allow one customer at a time. Bravo for keeping customers and employees safe! Go support this wonderful black owned local business and get some darn good BBQ. read more

Emma's BBQ - Brisket and pulled pork with yam, collard greens, cornbread, and coleslaw. IG: @take.a.bite.with.me - Southern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Discovered this place while on a leisurely drive around the area and I'm SO GLAD I DID. I moved to Seattle from the south years ago and have yet to find a place that does real southern BBQ like my granny used to make until today. The owner took our order from across the room (because we're in a pandemic) and they brought it outside to us once it was ready. We decided to split one dinner between the two of us with a double order of pulled pork, that comes with cornbread and two sides - we got the sweet yams and Mac n cheese. The pork was so tender and moist and the homemade mild bbq sauce was incredible. It had just the right about of sweet and tangy that I've been searching for. The double dinner was around $27 and I also got a blackberry lemonade that they made in house. Very reasonably priced for authentic southern food. This is the place to go if you're looking for some good no frills BBQ. The place is pretty nondescript but the food speaks for itself. We will definitely be back! read more

Emma's BBQ - Pulled Pork Dinner double portion with cornbread, yams, and Mac n cheese - Southern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Well... I tried. I can't believe how rude the staff are at this restaurant. I remember calling in the past to order, and being told that they didn't know whether they had what I was ordering and would call me back to let me know. Since that obviously doesn't work for a hungry person, I said "never mind, I'll just try again another time" and the person on the other end just hung up on me. That left a bad taste in my mouth, but since it's been so long, today I tried again to patronize this business. I ordered on UberEats. They confirmed my order but then called to say that they were out of one of the items and I would need to cancel the order myself. However, I couldn't cancel in the app because the restaurant had already confirmed it. She then told me that I need to go ask Uber for a refund. There was absolutely no regret for the fact that I'd paid them for something that they weren't even providing to me and hadn't even updated UberEats to make it clear that my item was out of stock. Then they had the nerve to put a card in the bag (with my partial order that I fully paid for) that said "thank you for supporting small business." Yes, you're welcome, Emma's BBQ. read more

I grew up in Memphis, TN and moved to Seattle six years ago. I've been looking around for a taste of home since then and usually just don't seek out good barbecue in fears of being disappointed in this city. Emma's is a revelation for me. I got the pulled pork sandwich, spicy BBQ sauce, the Mac and cheese, and cornbread. The pork is juicy and smoky while the sauce is tangy with just a bit of heat (the spicy sauce isn't that spicy I highly recommend). To top it all off, the kind lady taking my order overheard me saying how much I loved to see that they had lemon pound cake like my grandma used to make, and when I got my food they had thrown in a slice for me! I would never tell my grandma, but Emma's has the best lemon pound cake I've ever had the pleasure of eating. 10/10 people. 10/10 food. I will be returning very soon! read more

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Saw Emma's BBQ at Lumen Field and was really excited when I saw Brisket and Beans. I asked the woman at the counter what it was and she said a mix of brisket and beans. I guess I should have gotten more clarification because the amount of brisket in the cup was minuscule. I think I found five "pieces" of brisket and all were smaller than a bean. With so many options for food at Lumen Field, I will not return or try their restaurant. read more

Amazing food and service! Simple but honest, the owners and family always go out of their way to make sure you got what you want. Highly recommend. read more

Friendly service, delicious food, and big portions. We stopped here after driving by so many times. Emma's is the quintessential neighborhood spot for BBQ. Upon entering I was greeted by the staff and felt very welcome like family. I truly appreciate that. We got the two dinner meal with ribs, brisket, potato salad, and Mac and cheese. Everything was delicious and the sides were to die for. The corn bread was okay, little on the drier side as others have mentioned. We waited about 15 mins in our car and they delivered it right to our window. I'll definitely be a returning customer. read more

Emma's BBQ - Southern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I've been eyeing this place for such a long time. I finally decided to go today to surprise my boyfriend. Mind you, he is a very picky eater. He inhaled it within seconds and in his words "the meat is so juicy". He also surprisingly ate all the greens. The food came out in 10 mins exactly! Everything was so flavorful. I can't wait to come back again read more

Emma's BBQ - Cornbread Pork Ribs Dinner Beef Brisket Dinner 2 Way Dinner Macaroni and Cheese Greens Cornbread Potato Salad - Southern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This cute mom and pop restaurant. Mac n cheese hot but felt the yams and brisket could have been hotter and brisket a little bit more flavor. read more

Emma's BBQ - Beef Brisket Dinner, Macaroni and Cheese, and Yams. - Southern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Ribs - Fell off the bone. Tender. Juicy. Amazing. Corn bread - A little crumbly. Delicious. Beans - Good for your heart. The more you eat. You want more. Mac and Cheese - Cheesy, and not in an overwhelming sense. Top tier deliciousness. Lemon loaf - Chef's kiss. Blackberry lemonade - Highlight of my meal. Get it. read more

Traffic bit heading down on southbound I-5 from Shoreline (520 was closed this weekend), but it was a mission to checkout Emma's BBQ in Seattle's Hillman City. Due to the traffic congestion, I avoided I-90 to get to Rainier Avenue S. Drove instead further on I-5 and took the Swift/Albro exit then headed west from Graham to Rainier. Turned left into Hillman City, past Big Chickie, with Emma's BBQ directly across the street from Sam Choy's Poke to the Max. Tiny proximate lot, best to access nearby street parking. Entered and was greeted by the most friendliest and helpful person manning the counter as order taker-cashier-expeditor. Even got a high five from her for our perserverance coming from the northend. When we sat down at a 4 top, realized why the crowd was huddled around a flat screen....it was the last few seconds of the Gonzaga-SC basketball game! Bulldogs are off to the national championship! Timed it well before the dinner rush, since they do a brisk dine in or takeout. Clearly this doesn't freak out the experienced kitchen staff...orders were completed fairly fast. From this former Bremertonian, saw a lot of writeups on the walk of previous restaurants in Kitsap County. Ordered a trio of ice cold Pepsis ($1 each), two orders of meaty succulent fall off the bone pork ribs, and one order of hot links. The sides ordered also included cornbread, potato salad, baked beans, greens, and macaroni and cheese. Each dinner combo ($17.75 ribs, $15.75 links)is so generously served that it could easily serve 2-3 people. Thankfully, they are served in sturdy styrofoam boxes and ready to take home. Menu includes the dinners, combo dinners, sandwiches, meat by the pound, sides, other beverages and sodas, and homemade desserts. Will have to return...too full to try their sweet potato pie or peach cobbler. The reasons the fifth star was held back was that the ribs were heavily sauced (next time I'll ask for it on the side) and no compostable takeout containers or recycling of aluminum cans. Amazing indie, family run restaurant in Seattle's Hillman City neighborhood. read more

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This place is literally never open. They are supposed to be open 3 days a week but it's more like 3 times a month lol. The one time I did go, it was being run by teenagers who could care less about the customers. They were on their phones and I had to wait outside in the cold. They said they would take the food out to us. It took so long I went in and the food was sitting there for a while which caused the food to get cold. Won't be returning during their 3 (or less) days they are actually open per month. read more

Today I resumed my mission to try all the best BBQ restaurants in Seattle. Emma's is the best I've tried so far. What a delight for the taste buds! I will definitely be going back for more. read more

Emma's BBQ - Beef Brisket Sandwich - Southern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Emma's is a quality traditional southern style BBQ joint on the south end. For its style, I like it best compared to some of the bigger names in the area. That said, I don't think any menu item aspires to be more than a faithful recreation. If the style of BBQ isn't important to you then there are Haitian, Texas, and Kansas City influenced places around town that are doing more ambitious BBQ in Seattle. read more

We tried the brisket and it was excellent. Service was great and we'll definitely come again. We ordered take out, outdoor seating is available. read more