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Lil' Barbecue

4.1 (51 reviews)
Closed • 3:00 pm - 11:00 PM

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Joy S.

Excellent BBQ place. We ordered the Holy Matrimony deal for $75 which easily fed our group of four. Order at the bar inside, they give you a number and will come find you to deliver the food when it's ready. You can sit inside or on the extensive patio outside. They have glasses and a water station set up. They bring out plates, silverware, and a condiments basket. The meats included brisket (so good!), chicken (very tasty), pulled pork, sausage, and three meaty ribs. The sides included Caesar salad, Mac and cheese, baked beans (a little too zippy for me), tator tots (looked very different from any I've ever seen before, but delicious) and coleslaw (had a unique flavor profile, but I liked it). We also had several pieces of bread, tangy pickles, and some jalapeños. Would love to eat there when we're in town again sometime.

Lena C.

Such a great barbecue spot! The ribs are a must! I also am obsessed with all of the sides. Definitely try the beats and the tater tots! Great for a summer night, they have a ton of options on the menu.

Sara N.

Coming from Dallas, this is the closest Texas bbq in PDX! The brisket and ribs were my notable favorites! The charred brisket and tender ribs were solid. Even for left overs the next day, it was still delicious. The tater tots were different but good twist to it. Service was great, unique in a bar, lots of outdoor seatings. Really put me back in Texas with the patio.

The Bob w/extra pulled pork instead of chicken
Cynthia L.

We were very excited given all the hype and left disappointed though perhaps just not our style of bbq. We got the all meat platter (comes with 2 sides) and opted to sub the chicken for more pulled pork. Pulled pork 2/5 - thick shredded and fatty. Our group did not enjoy this as it was mostly just meat flavor by itself without heavy saucing. Mac and Cheese 1/5 - soupy velveeta style mac and cheese with some bbq spice flavoring. Perhaps just not our preferred style of mac and cheese. Ribs/Brisket 3.5/5 - tender/juicy for both but note that the brisket is a very thick cut style. Smokey flavor with good spice rub but felt like the flavors were missing something to take it to the next level.

Amanda F.

I moved to Portland from Austin, Texas over a year ago. I was super excited when this place opened and finally got a chance to go. I used to eat at la barbecue when I lived in Austin, so I had high expectations. My boyfriend and I ordered ribs, brisket, and tater tots. Overall, the meat was good, but definitely not as great as real Texas BBQ. The brisket was moist however it lacked something, but I can't put my finger on it. The pork rib ribs were tasty, but they didn't fall off the bone like I'm used to. The tater tots were definitely not what I expect. They're homemade and they're almost like a potato pancake. To be honest, I'm not sure if I would get them again I would've got the beet ends but my boyfriend's isn't as much of a fan of beets. I will say they made pretty good drinks. I got a house margarita that was tasty.

Darren Y.

Solid bbq in ne. Located in a bar it can be pretty noisy but they have seats outside. Pork ribs were excellent. Tender and peppery. Sides - Cesar and Cole slaw were ok. Tots were interesting - got it w queso wish I got it on the side

Steve A.

When you think of the Portland food scene, BBQ isn't usually the first thing that comes to mind, especially good BBQ. So when I heard about Lil' Barbecue, I had to check it out. I moved here from Texas and spent years living in Austin (where their sister restaurant, La Barbecue, calls home). That alone set the bar high. I went on a weekday, early, because it was my first visit and I wanted a little bit of everything. I ordered it to go. The space is roomy with plenty of seating, plus easy street parking. It's located in the Woodlawn neighborhood in NE Portland, which makes it a convenient stop. Let's get this out of the way: barbecue like this isn't cheap. But you're paying for the time, the craft, and the slow-smoked love that goes into it. Service was just okay, nothing over the top, nothing terrible. You're here for the food anyway. The Must-Trys Brisket. Tender with a beautiful peppery bark and flavorful crust. This is the real deal. Sausage. Great snap when you bite into it, nice spice, total winner. Ribs. Fall-off-the-bone tender with that same deep, smoky crust as the brisket. Cheesy Mac. Creamy with a little kick thanks to green chiles mixed in. I loved that touch. They offer two sauces: - Yellow sauce (mustard-based). A fan favorite for a reason. Tangy and bold. - Original BBQ sauce. The perfect balance of vinegar and sweet. I also tried the Caesar salad, it is what it is, but the thin slices of parmesan are a nice touch. As far as taste goes? This is the best BBQ in Portland. It genuinely took me back to my Austin days, just without the two-hour lines. That's where my 5 stars come from. If you want a glimpse of real Texas flavor in Portland, this is your spot. Bring your friends. Come hungry. Enjoy

Breanna A.

Stopped in while visiting Portland with family. Lil barbecue was new but had a good buzz. Quick and easy ordering at the counter and opted for some drinks - margarita and strawberry lemon drop , both great. For food we shared the brisket, ribs and two sides. The rest of the family went all out with the holy matrimony that comes with everything meat, sides, and Texas toast. Everything was good, the Mac and cheese was a little heavy but this is a great spot for meat lovers. Parking lot is a little on the smaller side with some other stores in the same small shopping center. Overall a great meal with great people.

Queso, Pork Ribs, Mac and Cheese, Sausage Links, and Brisket
Alex W.

Excellent BBQ here. Every dish was good. Only thing a little mediocre was the mozzarella, artichoke, and fennel sausage special. Standard sausage was outstanding. Pork Ribs especially had a great flavor.

Chicken thighs, sausage, double brisket (they ran out of pulled pork), ribs
Jon P.

Excited to try this place as the big sister restaurant was a Michelin star spot. We left underwhelmed to say the least. The spot was great with cool vibes inside, tvs playing the football games on Sunday. We decided to get The Bob to try the meats but they didnt have anymore pulled pork which was disappointing. We were impressed with the chicken and the brisket, which were both deliciously seasoned and so tender. However, we felt that we've tasted better ribs and sausage elsewhere. The sides were pedestrian. Didn't expect much with the Caesar salad but the tater tots was disappointing. They tasted more like mochi tots than the crunchy tots we were expecting. Their "Texas toast" wasn't thick at all and seemed like plain white toast. The drinks at Tough Luck looked good and the margarita I had was yums but we'd go again probably for the chicken thighs... highlight of our experience here.

Brisket, pork ribs, chicken wings, sausage, Mac and cheese, Caesar salad, tator tots
Bryan T.

Heard the hype around this new bbq spot in so I knew I had to give it a try. Sides were ala cart all $5 each, we got Caesar salad, tator tots and Mac and cheese. Really enjoyed the pork ribs, fell off the bone, had a great flavor and was cooked perfectly. Brisket was tender and had really good charred flavor. Closest thing I had to real Texas barbecue here in Portland.

From outside
Cindy I.

Still working out the process it seems. So giving a four star for now. We ordered brisket, pulled pork, coleslaw, tots and the Midori slushy . We were sitting waiting for our food and they came around to say they were out of pulled pork and offered chicken or more brisket as they had also ran out of ribs. We picked brisket. They had told us they were already out of sausages. I really need to try the pulled pork which is my normal go to for testing out BBQ. The tots were unique as they were homemade, bigger and creamier but confirmed no mayo or sour cream. The brisket amount was generous maybe since they ran out of pulled pork. Some pieces were more tender than others. The flavor was very good but I still tip my hat to Podnahs for better flavor. I enjoyed the Midori slushy and it did have decent alcohol in it. Very busy on a Saturday night and inside was full but have more outside seating. Not very relaxing atmosphere not really knowing where to order as they say at the bar but no one spot to go to. They need to make that more clear like Fire On The Mountain is a good model. We sat down when some ladies left and saw a server wiping another table so asked her to clean ours. She quickly questioned if the number on the table was ours and if we ordered, yes.... Said nothing and cleaned the table. Lady next to us said something about that was odd, almost scolding us for sitting at the table too soon. They have some TVs around with the sound off. Hopefully they will work out the kinks quickly. There is no fried chicken so not sure why the first reviewer said there was.

Menu (Jan 2026)
Charlie T.

I am glad that I finally got a chance to try this place out. They do open earlier in weekends, which makes easier to get to for me. I would recommend ordering the "Holy Matrimony" as it is pretty much a little of everything including the sides. It makes ordering easier. We also added some chips and queso to the order. The brisket was super tender and easily falls apart. The sausage was full of flavor. The tater tots were probably my favorite side followed by the Mac and cheese. Those tots were amazing! It's not like your typical tots. I can't wait to go back and try some other combination of food or just get it all again.

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3 months ago

No better barbecue in Portland or beyond. Such a fun place either way awesome food. Brisket and ribs are so tender. Love the smoked beets

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Lawless Barbecue - The Lawless Platter

Lawless Barbecue

4.3(194 reviews)
4.2 mi•Central Eastside, Hosford-Abernethy, Southeast Portland
•$$

I may not know algebra or quantum physics but one thing I know for certain is good BBQ. I've been a…read morebackyard pitmaster for a long time, have multiple BBQ pits in the backyard, and while I'm not planning on headed to the World Championships in Memphis anytime soon; I'm pretty good. So, when I walk into a BBQ joint I usually can just kind of feel how it is going to go. Frankly, I wasn't too impressed on my visit to Lawless when I walked in the door. That feeling only lasted until my food arrived. Now when I walk in, I feel so foolish for feeling that way that first time. I have tried about everything, and I could run off a list of the things you should try. But that would be my list, not yours. Everyone likes something different. What I can tell you is what they do better than any other BBQ joint I have been to in the Portland Metroplex. First is the brisket burnt ends; Lawless knows how to make a burnt end that is tender with a flavor that will keep you coming back often. Second is their chicken wings. I don't know where their pitmaster finds these prehistorically large wings from, but they are amazing and juicy. If you are a fan of lemon-pepper I highly suggest that rub, but none of them are bad. Third is the brisket. Worthy of central Texas BBQ praise. Everything else is above average, the ribs, pulled pork and sides are all amazing. You cannot go wrong at Lawless. And if I small voice says this might not be a great place when you walk in the for the first time; tell it to mind its own business and order the burnt ends and wings.

After being on my list for over a year, I finally got to try Lawless. Unfortunately, it puts…read morePortland BBQ back into the category that I declared long ago as just tolerable in the sense that I am from the South and have had better meals out of a Styrofoam box than I have had in Portlands sad attempts of trying to upscale food that needs to be cooked with Soul! I'm not surprised... just disappointed that aside from one wayward, inexplicable New Yorker... this town has yet to produce one Pit Master! The food was tender but was just ok. It had flavor but not enough of the right flavor. The ribs fell off the bone a little too easily and had such a light smoke that they could have easily just been roasted in an oven. Considering they came pre-sauced in a sickeningly sweet Dr. PEPPERESQUE BBQ Sauce...I feel like they are trying to cover up the tasteless of the meat. No bark. No Smoke ring... just copious amounts of sauce! That's a huge Red Flag with BBQ! Truly great BBQ requires no sauce and any self respecting Pit man will not serve it that way. It issues always to be served on the side... let me decide if I like the taste of your meat or if I need it to cover up the lack of flavor. Thankfully, they make that decision for you here at Lawless so you don't get bland meat...unless you get the pulled pork sandwich...meat piled high is nice but like the ribs, no coloring to denote the meat ever touched a smoker. Instead a vinegar slaw and mustard dressing and no sauce. I must have missed the description on the menu describing it as a Carolina approach... I'm just used to having a choice when it comes to a basic pulled pork sandwich. I've lived in Portland long enough not to trust BBQ here... but I had a momentary weakness... one that will now be corrected by me cranking up my own smoker and smoking my own ribs and pork butt... BBQ flavored with salt, pepper, and smoke. No Sauce needed! Oh... and the greens... tasted liked someone in culinary school made them... tough and leafy...minimal flavor to the Pot Likker! And bacon? Everyone knows you don't use bacon to make your greens! It dries out from the long cook time and gets gritty! I really hope whomever runs this place ain't Southern... they granny rolling over in her grave! If you're a lifelong Portlander... or from Iowa... eat here...it is close enough. But if you have a list of your top five BBQ meals of all time in your head... only eat here if you can't make it yourself and you are really missing home. That was me today... unfortunately, I think I left sadder than when I arrived.

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Lawless Barbecue - Inside area where you order

Inside area where you order

Lawless Barbecue - Something for everyone!

Something for everyone!

Lawless Barbecue - House made green chili cheddar sausages with loaded potato salad

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House made green chili cheddar sausages with loaded potato salad

Reverend's BBQ - Ribs, Fried Chicken, Polenta & Collard Greens

Reverend's BBQ

3.8(779 reviews)
7.1 mi•Sellwood, Southeast Portland
•$$

I got the BBQ Meat Platter which was 89.95 for: Half-Pound Each of Smoked Brisket, Carolina Chopped…read morePork Shoulder & Fried Chicken Thighs, A Half-Rack of Smoked Pork Ribs, Pickles and Choice of 3 Large Sides 1. We got mac, beans & fries. The fries were very good, sort of sweet in a way and nicely crisp. The mac was delicious and so were the beans. No complaints with the sides. The toppings for the mac were a great addition. 2. The pork shoulder was my favorite. Not too fatty and was tender. 3. Brisket was good, could have been juicier. 4. The chicken was my second favorite. Pretty delicious. 5. The ribs were honestly last for me. I thought there could have been more flavor, but they were good. 6. Overall, a bit expensive but it is BBQ in Portland. For $90, it fed 4 with some leftovers and was very delicious overall. I just think the meat could use some extra flavor and I think they could add one more BBQ sauce to their rotation. Nice spot! Good happy hour deals Parking was not the greatest in the area Service was okay! Friendly but a bit slow during a rush (no biggie).

I wanted to like this place because of the fried chicken and brisket. I want to be fair because I…read moredon't like giving bad reviews. So I'll start off by saying I didn't return my brisket.. it was so salty I couldn't finish it all. I went with several other friends and they all had good things to say about their dishes. The potato salad was great! I had a bite of my friend's fried chicken thigh and it was also great. The atmosphere was a good vibe. I am not sure I would go back again because there are so many great places to dine in Portland.

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Reverend's BBQ - Happy Hour menu items

Happy Hour menu items

Reverend's BBQ - Ribs, Fried Chicken, Polenta & Collard Greens

Ribs, Fried Chicken, Polenta & Collard Greens

Reverend's BBQ - Inside bar

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Inside bar

Eem

Eem

4.4(1.7k reviews)
1.8 mi•Mississippi, Boise, North Portland, Northeast Portland
•$$

HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND…read more This was hands down some of the best food I've ever had. The server was outstanding and had us cracking up the whole time. ( guy in glasses) we came here for my husbands birthday and it was amazing service and food. From the moment we walked in until the moment we left everything was great!! The drinks were delicious. We ordered almost everything off the menu because we couldn't decide. The chicken was AMAZING. I can't wait to come back!

Was intrigued to try Eem because I saw that they have a burnt ends curry. Hubs & I dined in for…read morelunner, and there was a small wait at around 4:15pm already & a line was forming outside before 5pm! We were glad we came when we did...anyway, onto the food+drink! -Life of Luxury Cocktail, this thing was served in a HUGE fish cup, lol! Bigger than my hand/as big as my face. It's on the sweet side, but I needed something sweet as a buffer since some of the dishes we ordered were a bit too salty. -Thai-Style Ceviche, 11/10. No friggin' notes. I highly recommend. Portion is a bit small, because I could have eaten MORE. -Sweet & Sour Fried Chicken was decent. We ordered the Small and it was about 5-6 boneless pieces. Very unique. I recommend to try if you like fried chicken. -Wok-Fried Yu Choy was wayyyy tooooo salty. Hubs & I wanted some greens and it was fried with generous amounts of garlic, but it just got saltier and saltier as we ate it. -White Curry w/ Brisket Burnt Ends, this dish was a little bit of a mixed bag. The white curry (roasted cauliflower + coconut cream) was delicious, but did it pair well with the Brisket Burnt Ends? Not really IMO. I don't think the flavors match. I'm not exactly sure what would pair well with the white curry, maybe some veg or tofu...but BBQ fusion with the curry wasn't the best. 2 unisex restrooms available, the one I used was clean. Service was a little scattered. We got the Yu-Choy first, followed by the ceviche a few minutes later. But the Fried Chicken and White Curry took a while to come (about another 10-15 mins. to come). We were lucky to find some street parking in the neighborhood nearby.

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Eem - VIBES

VIBES

Eem - Wok fried yu choy

Wok fried yu choy

Eem - Chopped BBQ Fried Rice

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Chopped BBQ Fried Rice

Uncle Earl's BBQ Bistro

Uncle Earl's BBQ Bistro

4.2(47 reviews)
6.2 mi•Lents, Southeast Portland

My family chose to visit Uncle Earl's recently, and even though barbecue isn't my go-to, all it…read moretook was one glimpse of Uncle Earl's great big smile and I knew whatever he prepared for me would be delicious because it was made with love and enthusiasm. Truly, as impressive as the menu is here, the real secret ingredient is Uncle Earl, himself. His larger-than-life personality, infectious laugh, and genuine hospitality create an experience that feels like visiting an old friend rather than a neighborhood food cart. I settled on The Arnold: a half pound of brisket with a side of mac n cheese and a corn muffin. There are a number of sides to choose from, but the mac sounded appealing to me. Indeed, it was very rich and satisfying, but the meat is why people flock to this food cart! Tender, sweet and salty, and oh, so delicious; this is the barbecue I've been missing in my life! I love supporting businesses that embrace community, and Uncle Earl's manages to do that very well. Just take a look at these reviews and you'll find it very clear folks here go out of their way to make sure customers have a positive experience and enjoy their food. What more can you ask for?

The ribs were salty still had the casing on them. The beans had no meat whatsoever in them potato…read moresalad had no flavor. The hot link was good. I wouldn't buy anything again. Everybody got their own taste, but no. I have been wanting to try this and I guess I finally did

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Uncle Earl's BBQ Bistro - Inside the CORE eating area

Inside the CORE eating area

Uncle Earl's BBQ Bistro
Uncle Earl's BBQ Bistro

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Lil' Barbecue - bbq - Updated October 2026

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