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Pig in a Pickle

4.0 (297 reviews)
ModerateBarbeque
Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

Pig in a Pickle Photos

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PIG IN A PICKLE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Good for kids
Good for groups

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Banana Pudding
Yuri H.

After scouting out the eateries at the Emeryville Public Market, I decided to give Pig in a Pickle a try. I love BBQ and wanted to love this place. I was excited about everything being ala carte. The thought of selecting exactly what I wanted was enticing. The macaroni and cheese left something to be desired. It was bland. The BBQ was dry, nothing to write home about. The greens were ok. The guy at the counter was nice and ready to serve. I almost forgot the banana pudding. It was just ok as well. I could have had a better plate of BBQ for $40 elsewhere. All in all it was edible. Will I return probably not. It's a food stall with shared spaces for dining. I took mine to go and ate looking at the Golden Gate out of my window.

Brisket sandwich
Patti C.

The smell when I walked in the market place was amazing bbq smoked smell My first time here walked around with my girlfriend who lives in Oakland Emeryville area to see all of the different places that offered food I thought about the fried chicken, but I kept going back to the smell of smoked barbecue. The staff was amazing and so friendly, I ordered the chicken and the beans baked beans so good. They gave me the spicy sauce barbecue sauce and the regular they were both amazing. My girlfriend got the brisket sandwich and the greens. She loved it and ate the entire plate. I will definitely go back here if I'm in the area it's really good and I've been to a lot of barbecue places. I asked for a lid for my leftovers and they also gave me some more barbecue sauce for my chicken very nice place. I would try it definitely again.

Storefront
Michelle M.

I'm surprised they don't have a Michelin Star.. The quality of the ingredients, preparation, flavor are on the level of one. The brisket (I usually get a 1lb so I ask for half fatty half lean) is perfectly seasoned and the pink ring is evidence of how well it's been smoked. The ribs... Literally when you bite into it, the meat falls off the bone but it's not fatty at all. The exterior has an even crust of seasoning but it's not too salty. A little bit of the mustard sauce adds a hint of acidity to complement the meat. After you bite off the meat, what you're left with is a completely clean bone, which is evidence of how well it's been prepared and cooked. The cornbread is another must - huge, crumby and has little bits of peppers.

Allan Y.

Came in on a late Thursday afternoon after a doctors appointment and the food-court was pretty empty which was great because there's no wait. I love BBQ/Smoked Briskets, so we decided to have Pig in a Pickle. Boy, they didn't disappoint, the brisket was was juicy, packed with flavors and it just melted in you month. I had it with the Alabama White Sauce, which was suggested by the manager/owner maybe, was a complete hit. Cornbread was baked perfectly with roasted poblano pepper and made fresh daily. White Cheddar Mac n Cheese with their home made cheese sauce and blend with New York White Cheddar and 7-year aged Wisconsin White Cheddar is one of the best I have had. Love their house made B&B Pickles. It is a must tried if you're in the area.

Jeff I.

I've been listening to Larry Krueger wax poetic about Piiiiiiig In A Pickle for years, but BBQ in northern CA has a very low bar set. That being said, the brisket was EXECUTED very well. My slices had the fat trimmed perfectly so that when it renders down, it makes subtle transition between the meat, fat, and bark. I didn't get any crunchy/burnt/dry bark, so it appears that the pit master is really watching his fire. I would prefer more pepper, but that's a personal issue (I literally say this about every almost every brisket I review on yelp, lurk my reviews). Parking was easy at 1130 on a Friday. Will be back.

Small unassuming stand in Public Market in Emeryville
Craig Y.

Best brisket anywhere! And I've had brisket in Georgia, in Tennessee, in Texas of all places and this is STILL the best. Ask for it fatty! Pig in a Pickle also has some great other food, too. I like the sausage (housemade) and the pulled pork is delicious. The chicken you could get almost as good at Whole Foods so no need to spend your money there. But man...if you're looking for true BBQ this is the place. FOOD: Brisket! I'll say it over and over. It's the best. Ask for it fatty! Jalapeno cornbread muffins are terrific and not very hot which is perfect. Awesome baked beans and some of the best potato salad anywhere. Potato salad is a bit on the mustard side which I like but fair warning. The sauces are great. And they have a wonderful variety to choose from. Just a very solid and tasty place! SERVICE: Always great! Seriously. Portions are as you like them. You tell them how much you want and in the case of the brisket if you want a leaner slice or fattier slice. But everyone I've encountered here is so nice and helpful. And they take good care in packaging. COST: It is expensive, but no more than what you'd pay anywhere for such high quality brisket! Go here often. Or don't. More for me!

Beef brisket
Sydney J.

I tried out Pig in a Pickle while I was visiting Emeryville. White cheddar mac and cheese, small: I thought it was pretty good, definitely very thick, creamy, kind of goopy with the level of cheese sauce it's in, but I liked the flavor, including the black pepper. Kind of pungent. Beef brisket: It was $32 a lb at the time, but you can choose whatever quantity (like a deli). Sharing thoughts from other person in my party who ate it: salty, crispy, smokey, black pepper on the sides, savory, juicy, there's fatty parts but not to the point that the rubberiness would be off-putting. Very good brisket!

Beef Brisket - 1 lb.
Kelvin C.

Best of the best BBQ in the Bay. I've reviewed this spot already, so I won't do a full review. I've been here 3-4 times, and it's always incredible. The brisket is my favorite, it's juicy, tender, super flavorful. The bark is just perfect. It just melts in your mouth and is pure decadence.

Pulled pork- 1/3 lb sandwich, potato salad, Arnold Palmer drink
Loredo L.

Super glad I came here for lunch. Probably one of the best BBQ places I've been to in all of California. My pulled pork sandwich was 1/3 pound of meat with vinegar based seasoning on a sturdy bun that held up perfectly. I'm from South Carolina and really loved the mustard sauce which I drenched the pork with. Definitely will be back when I'm in the area again.

Collard Greens with Ham Hock - Small (8oz.)
Steve K.

Best brisket I've had in the bay for a while.. The bark was okay, needs more seasoning. The smoke was pretty good. The collard greens were good. The macaroni and cheese, I didn't like it at all. I'll give this place a go. I'll try the ribs next time,

Beef rib, White Cheddar Mac N Cheese - Small 8oz and Collard Greens with Ham Hock - Small (8oz.)
Sistine M.

I love a good beef rib, and Pig in a Pickle got a good beef rib. (Available on Sundays). Price was $41.92 and the weight of our rib was 1.31lbs. My daughter and I devoured it. Great flavor, so damn tender and a perfect ratio of fat to meat. The Mac and cheese is so creamy and cheesy. I couldn't get enough. The collard greens were also delicious with a bright vinegary flavor. I tried the Easter Carolina sauce, mild and hot. They also had Alabama white sauce and a mustard sauce as well. Sauces come on the side. I appreciate that there's a variety of different types of bbq sauces. I'm looking forward to trying more of their offerings!

beef brisket
Alice H.

First time trying Pig in a Pickle BBQ, and it did not disappoint! We ordered the beef brisket, baby back ribs, mac 'n' cheese, and coleslaw, and everything was excellent! The beef brisket was unbelievably tender and juicy, with a perfect smokiness from the California White Oak. The flavor of the meat was so rich and delicious that it didn't even need any sauce. The baby back ribs were equally impressive, falling off the bone with every bite. The mac 'n' cheese was creamy, and the coleslaw was a refreshing complement to the meats. Without a doubt, this is the best BBQ I've had in 2024!

Brisket

Pretty pricey for some brisket- $38/lb. Good but pricey. The spicy sauce was good, I didn't like the vinaigrette that much.

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Ask the Community - Pig in a Pickle

Do they have outdoor seating?

Yes lots of outdoor seating for ALL the different purveyors at @PublicMarket.

The hours are not shown. Don't they close late after lunch to clean kitchen then reopen @ 5pm?

Yes

Do they deliver?

No. But they do cater.

View All 4 Questions

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Smokin Woods BBQ

Smokin Woods BBQ

3.8(1.3k reviews)
1.8 miTemescal, North Oakland
$$

After work Easter dinner. We finally dined in here…read more Really good BBQ spot. Glad we came here. Everything looked so yummy when it came. Good flavors from everything. My favorite was the mac & cheese and brussels sprouts. The meats were so tender! Although, I tried a piece of pork link, for some reason, I didn't like it. It seemed too grainy. The ambience was chill, and they have full bar. Nice and spacious. My only complaint is that I was trying to order & the phone rings & the host took the call. What I learned in customer service in my 20 years +, you attend to the customer in front of you first. Phone calls can wait. When she got off the phone, other workers came over and they started talking about what's next in their schedule. Still, I'm over here, waiting to order the rest of the stuff. That what the unprofessional part of things.. Glad we still came here to try. It still earned a star to come back!

BBQ is not cheap But you would expect a certain quality…read moreOrdered the two combo plate which is about $30 with tip The rib tips were mostly bone or dried out pieces. The beef brisket was tender but lacked the Smokey flavor The Brussels sprouts were crisp but a tad too salty Baked beans were good as was the dinner roll Order was ready early but lacked any utensils or napkins in our to go order

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Blackberry Lemonade

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Fikscue Craft BBQ - 2 Dino Ribs, 2 beef back ribs, one sausage

Fikscue Craft BBQ

4.3(316 reviews)
5.9 mi

Ambiance - 5/5 Walking in I didn't have much expectation…read more But as I step foot into the place. I was fascinated but the wall art. The street art vibe with the cartoon style character. Super awesome. The kitchen is wide open. Everything was super clean and well put together. Service - 5/5 Great recommendations from the staff. The house slaw and banana pudding were clearly popular choices, and they definitely knew what they were doing when guiding the order. I told them it's my first time. These were what they recommended me. One of the staff actually gave a piece of brisket to try. Very nice of them to give a free sample before I order so I know what I'm expecting. Food - 4.5/5 Dish Ordered: Dino Rib, Brisket ( 1/2 lb), House Slaw, Banana Pudding 5/5 Dino Rib Wow. This was the highlight. The meat was unbelievably tender--every single part of it. Usually with ribs, especially the upper portions, you get some toughness or dryness depending on how it's smoked. Not here. This one was melt-in-your-mouth soft, juicy throughout, and you could practically pull it apart effortlessly. The seasoning was perfect--balanced, not too salty, not bland, just right. Every bite hit. 4/5 Brisket ( 1/2 lb) About two slices. Visually, it looked great--nice color, juicy, with a solid fatty portion. But after eating the Dino rib, it felt a bit underwhelming. Still good, just didn't hit as hard flavor-wise. Might be better appreciated on its own next time. 5/5 House Slaw This paired extremely well with the meat. Sweet, tangy, and refreshing. The hint of peanuts adds a nice nutty layer that makes it stand out. It cuts through the richness of the meat perfectly. 5/5 Banana Pudding Not your typical pudding--it's more like a banana cake. The sweetness not too overwhelming, smells amazing, and just hits the spot. A great way to finish the meal. Additional Comments The Dino rib alone makes this place worth it. It sets a very high bar, which honestly makes everything else feel secondary. The best Rib I have ever had in my life so far. Important thing to note is that the rib will be weighed. I don't think you can ask to get the portion you want like you can with the brisket. My Dino rib came out to be 1.6lb. The sides and dessert complement the meal really well and round out the experience. Price is bit is definitely in the higher end but the experience is definitely worth it.

Food ok Service good…read more Ambiance ok One word Overhyped. I'm not saying that the barbecue wasn't good. It just didn't live up to its expectations. Now I saw this place on social media as one of the best barbecue in the Bay Area. Well in my visit, let me just say I was disappointed. The food was OK and overpriced. The brisket was a bit dry so was the ribs. The sausage tasted like sawdust and potato salad was flavorless. Service was good lady that helped me was nice and suggested what to get. The place inside is pretty small, but there's plenty of sitting outside and you could sit inside the brewery next-door, which is what we choose. Now if I was in the area again, I would not come back.

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Fikscue Craft BBQ
Fikscue Craft BBQ - Chicken balado plate, Beef rendang plate and Their famous brisket.

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Fikscue Craft BBQ - The line 30 mins before they opened.

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Horn Barbecue - Mac and cheese, cornbread, coleslaw, and sauce

Horn Barbecue

3.5(319 reviews)
3.0 miOld Oakland
$$

I visited Horn Barbecue and I NEED management and ownership to read this carefully--because what I…read moreexperienced deserves to be recognized on a higher level. First of all, my order was TO-GO. And let me tell you... when I got home and opened that bag, I was honestly blown away. My food was packaged with so much care, precision, and pride--it was neat, organized, and handled like it actually mattered. That alone told me everything about the level of service in that building. Candalen--YOU DID THAT. The attention to detail on my plate did not go unnoticed. You treated my food like it was being served in-house, and that speaks volumes about your work ethic and pride in what you do. Aaron--listen... that peach lemon drop??? BABY. That was my first time trying one and it was EVERYTHING. Smooth, flavorful, perfectly balanced--you made that drink an experience all by itself. I will be back JUST for that. And let's talk about the vibe--the music, the energy, the atmosphere--it all came together in a way that made the entire visit feel GOOD. Not just food... a whole experience. But what really stands out is this: It has been a LONG time since I've experienced service this genuine, this intentional, and this excellent. Not rushed, not careless--EXCEPTIONAL. Management, if you are reading this--please understand--you have some powerful people on your team. Candalen and Aaron are the kind of employees that elevate a brand. They are the reason people come back. They are the reason I will be telling others. This wasn't just a good experience. This was the kind of experience that turns customers into loyal supporters. I will absolutely be back--and I will be bringing people with me. Until next time, WUHAPN NATION

I have been telling my friend about how satisfying and delicious the food at Horn BBQ is, but every…read moretime we came by the restaurant was closed. Finally, we were so excited to see it was open on a Saturday an we came in for lunch. To order you need to scan the QR code and pay plus tip before a single person spoke to us or offered us help. From the menu we saw they were out of beef ribs, smoked chicken, rib tips, no peach cobbler, no banana pudding and no kool aid. I come for their brisket and my friend loves ribs so we went ahead and ordered combo plates to share. Mine was the brisket with a side of collard greens, she had the pork ribs, a hotlink with a side of Mac-n-cheese, & cornbread. For drinks we had lemonade and an Arnold Palmer. I'm not sure what has happened over the last few months but the quality of the food, the service and the expectation to pay and tip up front were very disappointing. The greens, Mac cheese, brisket and ribs were cold. The hotlink wasn't BBQ'ed it was pan fried. Everything tasted like warmed up leftovers and we will not return. For 2 of us to eat it came to $100 and we were not satisfied. The dining room is an attractive space, it was completely empty. The staff was unclear about what we ordered, had to be told to bring our drinks, bartender is also working as server and apologized for his uncertainty. I suggest this restaurant hire and train more staff if they intend to keep their doors open.

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Horn Barbecue - Bar area

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Everett & Jones Barbeque - four meat combo platter

Everett & Jones Barbeque

3.2(2.4k reviews)
3.3 miJack London Square
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Always a 5 start experience. From the management to the staff--SPECTACULAR!…read more I work a few blocks from here and walk over for lunch frequently and I am never disappointed. Food portions are HUGE, and very modestly priced. Everything always tastes amazing and served with a smile. Why go anywhere else for Town BBQ?

In Oak Town for a track meet and someone recommended this spot. Ordered a combo dinner--ribs,…read morebrisket, links, & chicken, with greens, yams, & mac & cheese, with cornbread muffins--to feed two plus. The greens were tasty; cornbread was better than some, as it was real cornbread and not corn cake; the yams were whipped and tasted like sweet potato pie filling, but with insufficient sugar, no butter, no nutmeg, & no caramelization. My nephew, who is 15 and has a voracious appetite, wasn't a fan of any of it except the mac & cheese, cause he apparently ate all of it, so I can't comment on that dish. He kept saying the yams had nothing but cinnamon. NONE of the meats seemed to be very well seasoned, not even the links, which was very puzzling. Maybe they make their own links and just don't put in much seasoning. Ribs and links were moist, but lacked flavor. Chicken & brisket were dry, & flavorless. "When all other meats fail, grab a hot link!" Not at this spot. On the upside, sauces were on the side, and the rib flavor did improve when I dunked the ribs in the sauce This could have been one of their off days, but if the food there is like this all the time, maybe their intended market prefers low to no sodium and dried flavorless meats.

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Pig in a Pickle - bbq - Updated May 2026

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