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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.

    All the sides

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    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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    MUSE Cheesecakes - Mini cheesecake

    MUSE Cheesecakes

    5.0(10 reviews)
    3.8 mi•Buckman, Belmont, Southeast Portland

    After drooling over their Instagram, I knew I had to go. To my dismay I arrived at something that…read moredidn't look like it was a cafe or even opened. I wasn't even sure I was at the right place, thought they were still transitioning from one location to another. Until someone who shared the kitchen popped out. I was told that I should order online and come by for pick up, and was strongly urged to do so because these cheesecakes were really good. When I saw that they were doing a contactless store front, I knew I had to go. This was my opportunity to try it. I texted the owner to ask if the flavor I had my eye on was available. I was halfway there before the owner responded that they had one slice of pandan cheesecake left. There are multiple forms of payment with a card reader, and various apps to pay with online which made this a breeze. The owner Kiana, even popped to introduce herself which I thought was so nice! The flavors here aren't your typical strawberry, chocolate, peanut butter cheesecakes, even though she does offer some variation of them. There's pandan, ube, lemongrass, ginger mango, passionfruit, matcha, guava, pineapple raspberry, and I heard she even cooks up something with the pickle brine from the other business that operates in that kitchen. I thought this would be one of those situations where the food won't look like the picture. The pictures are obviously styled, they look stunning. Nope! The food looked just like what was on Instagram. I am a long time lover of cheesecake, dare I say it's my favorite of the cakes. The condensed milk ube mirror glaze was a lot thicker than I thought it would be and held its form. It wasn't runny and goopy. Loved that it wasn't a sticky mess. The crust was very very thick, I've always wanted more crust on other cheesecakes. On the description, it says it's "jasmine scented almond shortbread cookie crust" slightly saltier than most crusts I've had, but still very enjoyable. I've only had the traditional graham cracker crust and I'm afraid this almond shortbread crust has ruined all other cheesecake crusts for me. I have been disappointed at a lot of places using pandan, because the flavor just wasn't there, not Muse cheesecakes though. Pandan was present indeed. I would have loved if it was a little stronger, but I think that would have overpowered the cheesecake. Each component of the cheesecake are so different and complex on its own. They come together in delicious harmony to make this beautiful slice. I grew up with a lot of Vietnamese food and pandan has a very special place in my stomach.. heart! I've never seen jasmine used outside of tea and condensed milk outside of Vietnamese iced coffee. Kiana definitely has a way with these ingredients and she's a cheesecake goddess! I really can't wait to try the calamansi, Ube, and whatever else is getting cooked up in this delicious kitchen.

    Muse cheesecakes make my heart sing and gets me doing a happy dance. I first heard of Muse…read morecheesecakes through instagram. She offers durian cheesecake. Whaaaat? Yep, you heard me right. Durian cheesecake!!!! I am Vietnamese-Cambodian and durian is my jam. I love its pungent goodness in all forms -- pure and un-doctored straight from the prickly shell, ice cream, smoothie, topping on mashed avocado dessert and now.. CHEESECAKE! ohhh my goodness. My heart. I have returned so many times and buying extra slices (possibly buying out her supply for the week...) to share with my family and friends, who have all raved about the cheesecake from here. Durian isn't her only flavor though. She has so many creative flavors and I've noticed she's had comfort flavors from different cultures. To top it off, the owner, Kiana, is a wonderful lady. She is a one woman team and is kicking butt at her game from what I've gathered in the short time I've known her. She could be dead tired, but always has a smile on her face. I almost forgot to rave about her TARO BURGER on a vegan bun. I don't know how frequently she makes them, but if you see it being offered, do yourself a favor and get it. The portion is quite large so be prepared for leftovers. Unfortunately for me, my carnivorous sister gobbled the other portion of my burger right up and didn't even miss her meat. It comes with a vegan mac salad on the side. I am not one to enjoy mac salads usually, I think it's due to the mayo (not a mayo fan), but I actually liked this version. I forgot to take a picture of the burger before it all got inhaled. Sad face.

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    MUSE Cheesecakes
    MUSE Cheesecakes - Matcha NY

    Matcha NY

    MUSE Cheesecakes - Ginger Mango NY

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    Ginger Mango NY

    The Pie Spot

    The Pie Spot

    4.3(665 reviews)
    3.1 mi•Kerns, Northeast Portland
    •$

    wow wow wow. i had…read morean early doctors appointment in the area and while i was there i looked up breakfast sandwiches near me. The Pie spot popped up and the reviews were great so i decided to head over to grab one. jackie helped me at the counter & they were so warm and friendly. they recommended the marionberry pie, it was delicious! i ordered the spam breakfast sandwich. it was pipping hot and absolutely insane. the housemade english muffin was soft & fluffy. the perfect vessel for a breakfast sandwich. the egg was perfectly cooked and topped with my fav, american cheese. the surprise was the outstanding sauce they put on it. holy smokes, it was DELICIOUS. super flavorful and complimented everything so nicely. i'm still thinking about how good it was. i got the s'mores pies and a peach pie along with the marionberry jackie recommended. the s'mores was truly exceptional, gimme 15 right now. my perfect dessert. i love the fruit pies as well. the peach was flavorful and the crust was perfectly flaky. the marionberry was delicious, flavorful and paired perfectly with a lil vanilla ice cream :) pricing is SO reasonable for portion sizes. the inside is small but there were plenty of seats while i was in there. parking can be a bit tricky but this place is WORTH IT. i truly can not wait to come back & grab a breakfast sandwich & some pies. The Pie Spot rocks so hard

    Came here during my last two visits to Portland, and will keep coming back!…read more It's a small location next to a bagel shop, so this place can fill up quickly. The staff was friendly and were happy to answer our questions. I'm a huge fan of the breakfast sandwich with Spam. The bread was toasted perfectly, the American cheese was melted just right, and the house Hank's sauce took the whole sandwich up another notch. Definitely a solid way to start the day. I also enjoyed the Marionberry pie, which was a great sweet finish,but not too sweet. They have a ton of choices when it comes to both sweet and savory pies, so there's plenty to keep coming back for. Already looking forward to my next Portland visit so I can try some more!

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    The Pie Spot
    The Pie Spot
    The Pie Spot

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    Cheese & Crack Snack Shop - banana pudding soft serve, cornflake soft serve

    Cheese & Crack Snack Shop

    4.6(779 reviews)
    3.5 mi•Kerns, Southeast Portland
    •$

    Whew! Loved Cheese & Crack Snack Shop and will be thinking about it for a long time to come =')…read more Came here from a recommendation from a friend as an afternoon snack. Hubs & I shared the Beecher's & Brie Brulee and The Cheese & Crack Sundae. The Beecher's & Brie Brulee was honestly very good and shareable for 2 people. I've been a bit obsessed with brulee cheese since having it in Italy, but rarely see it anywhere so I was excited to see it here! And it was delish. Like an adult's lunchables, you can build your own sweet or salty or savory bite! Yum! The Cheese & Crack Sundae was delicious Vanilla Soft-Serve with a chocolate ganache and toasted marshmallow that make it like a s'more ice cream sundae. Really loved it, as it was *not to sweet* and I loved the toasted marshmallow bites. Service was fairly quick. They have one unisex restroom that was fairly clean. Parking is easy (street parking) if you don't mind walking a little.

    Visited on a Wednesday night, thinking maybe there wouldn't be a long line, but I was surely wrong!…read moreWaited about 25-30 minutes, but I felt that it was worth it (for once!). The cones are $4 and you have the option to add flavored "dust" such as espresso, matcha, beet, and malt. My wife chose the malt dust with an added chocolate cowboy hat. She was very pleased with, but found the ganache at the bottom of the cone entirely too rich. Each cone offers a large amount of ice cream, and there did not appear to be sizes, but all in all, a very instagrammable and delicious cone. I opted for the banana pudding sundae, which consisted of the vanilla soft service and banana pudding topped with two Nilla wafers. I do this this could be a bit improved by adding Nilla wafers throughought the cup, but it was creamy and satisfied the sweet tooth nonethless. The indoor space was cozy with a few seats either facing the kitchen or the window. There's also an outdoor platform that most people opted for since the line really made inside feel crowded. Staff was friendly and delivered orders accurately in spite of crowds. I would love to return to cheese plates and/or the brie & marionberry sammy. Would 100% recommend if you're looking for a sweet treat with both traditional and more creative flavor profiles.

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    Cheese & Crack Snack Shop
    Cheese & Crack Snack Shop - Banana Pudding Sundae

    Banana Pudding Sundae

    Cheese & Crack Snack Shop - Charcuterie board

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    Lauretta Jean's - Chocolate Cream Pie

    Lauretta Jean's

    4.3(832 reviews)
    4.7 mi•Clinton, Richmond, Southeast Portland
    •$$

    Holy pie! How does one write a review for the best pie shop and bakery one has ever been to? I…read moresuppose it's one word at a time. So here we go... I've heard about Lauretta Jean's pies for quite some time but have never actually made it inside to get me some and when I finally did make it in, it wasn't pie that I ordered. Overwhelmed by the fabulous display of baked goods that erupted in my face as I entered through the door, I did the one thing I said to myself I wasn't going to do - I ordered something other than pie. Ok, well now, I guess I just have to go back because I know there's some pie there calling my name. Cute and adorable, Lauretta Jean's is all it's reputation makes it out to be. Service was friendly and came with a smile. Ordering my chocolate cream puff was easy and quick, even with a short line ahead of me, and I downed that delectable treat so fast it made my head spin. I wish I'd gone back and gotten some pie as well but hey, you know that just means I have to return. Check out some of the kinds of pies: salted honey, lemon chess, chocolate honeycomb, tart cherry and more. As well as pies, there were brownies, cookies, scones, biscuits, rugalach and more fabulous items filling the display case. Quick - go get you some! And have an espresso to top it off! You won't be disappointed.

    I came here right after having a big breakfast, so I didn't get many things. Definitely regretted…read morethat after returning to Seattle. Service was nice. This place seemed so popular, like a cute bakery breakfast shop where you can get some sweet treats for brunch with friends on the weekend. My brownie was huge and heavy. But I only had literally two bites and forgot its existence, and left it sitting in the hotel fridge. All I can say is, it was a good brownie, sweet, chocolatey and dense, it didn't disappoint me.

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    Lauretta Jean's - Just the tip of the iceberg...

    Just the tip of the iceberg...

    Lauretta Jean's - Strawberry Shortcake pie

    Strawberry Shortcake pie

    Lauretta Jean's - Exterior & line

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    Exterior & line

    Lil' Barbecue - bbq - Updated October 2026

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