I had never been here before, came in and bought a pound and a half of brisket and a pound of ribs, took it home. They were delicious, especially the brisket. Four of us ate the whole order. The place was comfortable and authentic, staffed by Emma's granddaughter in front while Emma was running the kitchen. She got a great smoky character in the meat with her smoker. I loved it. read more

This place is amazing. I really like the flavor and tenderness of the bbq. The sides are amazing too. I had the Mac and cheese and greens and the potato salad. I will go back for sure! read more

Incredible family owned & run bbq spot. I came for a casual dinner with my dad. We were immediately warmly greeted. Food was so good and the family was so lovely we stayed an hour longer than typical. Highly recommend the chicken dinner with collard greens! Tender, delicious, and full of flavor. read more

My favorite place for BBQ. Whenever I'm within 10-15 miles of the Columbia City, and it's dinner time I stop !!! Brisket dinner to go, and it was AMAZINGLY GOOD !!! read more

A tale of two visits. The first time, the owner was behind the counter, and the ordering was friendly and the food was very good; the ribs, in particular, were excellent. The second time, the young woman behind the counter couldn't be bothered from texting on her cell phone to take her order. When she finally finished texting, there was no apology of any type. We ordered Ribs again, and were told, "we're out of Ribs". A _ribs place_ is out of Ribs on a _Saturday night_? The poor service left us cold, don't know if we'll give it a 3rd try. read more

This was the first time I ever had craving for ribs. Convenient enough, I was at Hill City Tap House and decided to give Emma's BBQ a try. I was hoping to get a small portion of ribs, but that was not an option. That was the downside of it. You cannot just get the ribs. So, I had to get the dinner, which came with a choice of either bread or corn bread and two sides. I opted for greens and baked beans. It was a lot of food, but it was not cheap! It came to a little over $20, including tax. Ribs were amazing. With the hot dipping sauce mmmhmmm. They were good even after a few days in the fridge and microwaved. Corn bread was a little dry. Greens were good. Baked beans were a little too salty for my taste. I probably will be back if I ever get mad craving of ribs again. I really wish they offer smaller portions though. read more

I just went here recently a few days ago and I'm so upset it took me so long to find this hidden lil gem!! Went with a friend for lunch, they don't have a lot of seating so I'm sure on weekends & evenings it can get crowded. I ordered a hot lin sandwich, mac & cheese.... Mouth watering! My friend had the chicken sandwich with potatoe salad which was really good also. The waitress was very friendly & welcoming. I love the story of the restaurant & that it's still a family run business keeping their Grandma's legacy alive. I highly recommend them if you're in the mood for some good BBQ & sides. The parking lot is a little small but there's usually street parking. Sweet tea is also a must try while there!! read more

My boyfriend brought home dinner from here. I was excited to dig in but unfortunately I was very disappointed. The greens were very sweet and I've never had sweet greens before so that was interesting. I liked the crunch on the Mac n cheese but it was bland and as for the ribs, I've had better! I enjoyed the smokiness of the ribs but I felt it wasn't seasoned well and the meat was dry and had this weird mushy texture to it. Honestly even tho my first experience was bad I plan on going to Emma's and eating there. I feel an experience at the restaurant is better than a pick up order. read more

I love this bbq spot. They make great bbq, the mac n cheese is really special. I know mac n cheese can be hit or miss, but this is definitely worthwhile here, all the good textures and flavors. read more

This place is fantastic. There are only 3 tables and a fee stools. The place is...comfortable. I had the chicken which was juicy and tried the hot and mild bbq sauces. Both were fantastic but the hot was full of flavor with a bite. The baked mac and cheese was full of character. The greens were mellow and cooked to perfection. I also had the peach cobbler and guess what...you could actually taste the peaches. It had a hint of sugar and cinnamon which made it a piece of pure heaven. I should be warn you however: the owner is a cruel, cruel human being. So I wanted the brisket when I first got there but it wasn't ready...so I got the chicken. She was wonderful to talk to and very much in love with the food and her family. I should have known better. She went into the kitchen and sliced me off an end piece preview of the beef brisket. It was cruel and oh so human. It was hands down the BEST brisket I have ever had. To se and taste heaven only to have it snatched away with the words, "it will be another 30 or 40 minutes before its ready." I could have cried. Bottom line: I love the soul of this place. The people and the food are full of love and life. This was is THE place to support if you support nowhere else. read more

I visited right around 6PM to pick up dinner. I got the pulled pork, beef brisket, and hot link with the potato salad, greens and cornbread. After eating it, I'd say that this place is ideal if you're getting a drink next door, but I wouldn't go out of my way to visit. My favorites were the hot link and the potato salad. These remind me of how they taste in Texas, and if that's all you want, then you wont be disappointed. As far as the other things, they weren't bad, but they could be improved. The greens would have been better if they were cooked in a broth. The pulled pork would have been better with a light vinegar sauce. The cornbread was a bit dry, but also tasted like was made with oil instead of butter or lard. The beef brisket was okay, but the fat cap wasn't trimmed off the top and it was a little bit dry. Again, no question about coming back if I was getting some drinks, a hot link or potato salad, but the other things could improve. read more

Jone's BBQ wouldn't answer the phone so I called this place on a whim (having driven past several times but never stopped in). The pull pork sandwich was absolutely delicious! Customer service was fantastic... Totally won over and will make this my new BBQ place. Ps: blackberry lemonade is amazing :) read more

So delicious! We visited one night and came back the next day for lunch. We've tried the beef brisket, hot links, pork ribs and pulled pork. Everything was great. I like having the sauce on the side, so if you're like me make sure you ask for it. The sides have all been fantastic as well. The staff were wonderful, extremely helpful and happy to help us. read more

Emma's BBQ - Pull pork, greens and mac & cheese - Southern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I ordered take out. They told me to show up 5:45pm and I didn't get food until 6:30pm. This was the worst bbq I've had from a restaurant. Over cooked brisket and ribs. Mac n cheese and potato salad was good tho. Wouldn't recommend in the slightest. read more

I love this place. I love the people who work here. Every person has been friendly and helpful, like a true family bbq feeling when you come here. I love the food. I could eat a bathtub full of their mac and cheese. It's the perfect consistency for me, not runny, you can stand a fork up in it. I get the brisket normally and I have not been disappointed. I've also tried the chicken and sausage and those are good, but the brisket is the winner for me. Prices are not low, but considering the amount and quality of food, it is fair. I love that this is nearby and I will keep going back. read more

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

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So delicious. Expect a wait, be patient, and don't be rude if you find yourself waiting like the lady waiting outside with me. The food is delicious and worth the wait. The cornbread, Mac and cheese, and greens are among the best I've tasted. The brisket and pulled pork hold up compared to many of my native Texas barbeque spots. The people there are super nice. read more

This is my spot!! Emma's BBQ is the closest thing I've had to my mom and grandmother's BBQ. The baked beans, collards and potato salad are I'm not sure if they are still open though? I have been trying to get some food here but it doesn't look like they are open anymore? I'd be totally bummed out if they went outta business.... read more

For the price what they give you its not worth it ! I've been tricked and treated all right now 23.95 just wasted it for a hungry man tv dinner read more

Don't know what happened to last review 7days ago? I asked questions Why change sweet potato pie recipe? Why wasn't consumers told? Not like Mother made! Have to hunt down new pie place read more

This place is great. Good atmosphere, very barbecue down to Earth. Everyone working was cheerful and professional. We got two meals. He got some sandwich that came with 2 sides, and I got a ribs meal with 2 sides (collard greens and baked beans). Unfortunately they were out of ribs, and hadnt known til after they rang us in. So about 15 minutes later someone's spicy grandma came barreling out of the back (this is all a compliment by the way, I loved it) to tell me about the mishap and to let me know they had some rib TIPS for me and a coupon for a free rib meal next time I come in! 10 minutes later I had about 1.5 lbs, maybe 2 lbs, of amazing melt in your mouth not on the menu rib tips to inhale and some bonus corn bread AND a free coupon for next time! The quality was also insanely good, great sauce, melty meat. Even if their customer service hadn't been so baller, I would have come back! Parked across the street no problemo. read more

Everything we tasted was fantastic. Excellent BBQ ribs, mac and cheese, greens, potato salad. Brisket sandwich was really good too! Friendly staff as well! My friend, who grew up in the east and south U.S., said Emma's is the best BBQ that they've had in Seattle! Genesee Park is close and is lovely spot to picnic with your takeout from Emma's! read more

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

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Really fantastic bbq. We got the pulled pork dinner and the brisket dinner, both with mac and cheese and greens. I don't know what the heck that one person was talking about in a previous review, but the mac and cheese was stellar. Obviously baked recently, with portions of the crusty top mixed in to each portion. Greens were great, with loads of black pepper and bits of pork. If I were to go back, I'd get the pulled pork over the brisket, just for that deep smoke flavor, which was much lighter on the brisket. Also, the fact that they bring it next door to Hill City Tap House can't be beat. read more

Food is 5-star and tastes great!! BUT service is soooo slow, the food took forever and other people were getting their money refunded cause they were waiting for over an hour. The only reason mine took 40 mins was cause I ordered the chicken. They really need to work on this as well as the price. I literally just got a BBQ chicken with 2 small sides and a cup of water and my bill was $21. It's hard to pay this much money for food that takes so long. read more

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

I came to this place with my friend after reading about all the positive reviews. From the outside, this place does not look fancy but from experience, the best BBQ places are hole-in-the-wall establishments. The business is family run so you know you will get excellent service. The people there take pride in their work. Inside, there are about four tables so it is not very big. However, you do not feel cramped since their are spaced fairly far apart and the decor is very cozy. I ordered a BBQ Rid dinner for $17.75. I have no complaints about the meat but it was not spectacular. The bean does taste a bit like it's heated from the can. The corn bread was a bit on the dry side and did not taste as flavorful as I would have liked it. Lastly, if you tend to eat a lot of meat, even the dinner option may not fill you as you only get about 5 ribs. They quantity is a bit on the low side. I would give this place a 3.5 stars but with spectacular service, it rounds up to 4. read more

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

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Holy smokes! That was amazing BBQ! I had the brisket meal with cornbread, Coleslaw, and greens. This family owned business is definitely a great place to eat. Very nice and friendly too. I'm definitely coming back! read more

Really friendly and great tasting BBQ. I'd definitely recommend this place. We order take out to bring to a picnic

In preparation for moving out to Columbia City at some point next year, my spouse and I decided to take a hands on tour of the local restaurants. On this occasion, we had a taste for barbecue and Emma's was in the neighborhood. We entered the restaurant expecting a decent enough experience based on the other reviews here, but we exited with all of our expectations casually blown away. As an aside, decently done barbecue can be hard to find in the Northwest as compared to the South. I am originally from Texas, with family roots that run deep in Georgia and Mississippi. More than one Northwest barbecue experience has left me sadly pining for the land of plentiful, quality barbecue establishments that I left behind. My standard for barbecue is extremely high, and I am very, very picky. We walked into Emma's, filled out the sheets that they use to take orders and sat down to wait for our meal. The wait time was reasonable for the amount of food that we had ordered, and time flew by as we took in the surroundings. The restaurant had a very pleasant familiar vibe for me. It really made me feel like I was back home in Texas, sitting with family, awaiting the arrival of Grandma's sweet home cooking. My order was for strawberry lemonade, a slice of sweet potato pie, and a pulled pork dinner with a side of greens and baked beans. My spouse ordered the brisket dinner with a side of potato salad and baked beans. Both the pulled pork and the brisket were savory with a perfectly smoked flavor and a pleasant texture. The brisket was easily the best that I have tasted, period - in Texas or otherwise. The pulled pork was quite competitive as well. The strawberry lemonade actually tasted like strawberries and lemons - not flavorless concentrate. The baked beans were sweet and had a smoky flavor and were delicious. Even the greens were pleasant enough that I was able to eat them, and I generally never eat greens (one habit that I never grew out of). I didn't try the potato salad, but my spouse said that the it was magnificent. We saved the sweet potato pie for last, and I was happy that we did so. It really reminded me of the homemade sweet potato pie that I took for granted when it was available at nearly every family gathering. It was sweet and soft, melting in my mouth like orange sugary clouds. The service was fantastic, much more than I would ever have expected from a place where you pay upfront. At several points, the staff stopped by to ask us how things were going. Overall, I would have to say, Emma's met and exceeded all of my expectations - for food, service and the overall experience. Emma's is a family restaurant that does not seem to have ever forgotten what family means. Their attention to detail and high standards are evidence of pride and respect in the history of the restaurant. My grandmother was a skilled cook that excelled in Southern styled dishes. I can say without hesitation that she would have loved Emma's and would have considered this restaurant to be as good as the best Southern barbecue out there. My grandma passed away in early 2015, leaving a gap in my life that will never truly be filled. Unexpectedly, the experience and taste of Emma's barbecue brought me many pleasant memories. I'm embarrassed to write this, but I shed tears of joy after leaving. Emma's isn't just a restaurant, it is a deep, soulful experience. I look forward to returning. read more

The woman that was behind the counter and was also our server...I think she is one of the nicest people on the planet. Their blackberry lemonade was amazing. Their food is fantastic...and if I had the funds to be eating out everyday, they'd be one of our go to places. They should expand the number of tables they have though. read more

I walk by all the time and finally came in. Totally worth it, I had the brisket sandwich with potato salad. It was so delicious and the sweet lady up front took me through the menu and was sooo nice! I will be back and bring friends too! read more

Emma's BBQ - This is how delicious my brisket sandwich was. Ate it so fast there is nothing for me to show - Southern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The meat is really good if you get the fresh ribs. Maybe the worst macaroni and cheese I've ever had though. So dry, clumpy... needs to be made with a roux so it's creamy and so the noodles don't stick together. The greens are good 3/4 of the time, but the cornbread is dry and just feels gritty when I eat it with my greens. Sometimes I just get meat and then go make sides at home. Everyone there is super nice though. Really nice family! read more

Taste-buds are happy and take-out service. Didn't eat in the store but got five star service from phone call to trunk. Will have to try again but much better than BBQ in the area. Spent two years in Atlanta and was deeply reminded of everything I miss about southern barbecue. read more

Emma's BBQ has consistently delicious food. I've gone in for takeout and had it delivered from Grub Hub, and either way it is incredible. Portion sizes are generous, and service is very friendly! Don't miss the mac and cheese - the flavor and creaminess is out of this world. Brisket is also highly recommended. read more

My friends and I were having a picnic and we ve decided to take food to go from Emma s BBQ. What a great deal! The order was ready promptly and everything was delicious. We tried different things from the menu and we loved them all. Highly recommended. read more

10/10 omg so good did not dissapoint. i got the mac and cheese and pull porked sandwich and it was so delicious

Such an excellent addition to the neighborhood! They're still getting situated so for now, make sure you have cash on hand. I've gone around and tried so many different BBQ places in town, and this one had my fave sauce. The rest were just meh, to me. Keep in mind that I only had an order of ribs and double order of brisket ... which seems to be the right combo! :D Loved their greens and coleslaw, too. Will definitely be back... again and again. Owners are super sweet, too. :) read more

I read about this new BBQ place in the morning, and it was on my way home and convenient to stop by. I didn't realize it was their first day! I took home ribs, mac n cheese, and beans, and everything was very good. Great family energy, and clearly cooked and prepared with great care. read more

Absolutely fantastic, a neighborhood gem. Order there first, then go sit outside at Hill City Tap House next door and they'll bring you your order. SO GOOD. read more

WOW. This place was seriously the best BBQ I've ever had, hands down. The pulled pork sandwich with the hot BBQ sauce was just phenomenal! The pork was tender and not chopped too finely with a sweet and tangy sauce that wasn't overwhelmingly hot. The Mac n cheese was also delicious! It was more home style with a lot of good flavor. I'm going back as soon as I can!!! read more

Decided to give this place a try since there isn't any BBQ place around here. Had tried their ribs and pull pork. Portion is good but food is ok. Wish their spicy would have a stronger kick. Corn bread was kind of dry. Mac n cheese was broken in pieces like scramble eggs. Would love to try their brisket next time. Pork rib had really only 3 ribs n rest was just rib tips. Make sure u bring CASH. They don't accept card at this time. read more

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

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Really great food here--especially the yams--omg, they are the best side dish I've had with BBQ in years! It's cute and quaint, only a few seats inside, but a good downhome BBQ joint run by a family that is really appreciative to have you there. They have great hospitality and make you feel at home. read more