This is the first barbecue joint since Big Daddy's (RIP) that I've had in the St. Paul area that…read morewasn't disappointing. Brisket: proper render, good smoke ring (this doesn't affect taste but it looks nice), meteorite-black bark as it should be, proper bend on the slice. Fat amount was correct, maybe a little solid from waiting without a warmer. Hot links pretty good, decent flavor, sliced a little thin but nothing to complain about, red, could still get some snap on the casing. Beans were satisfying. Cole slaw was good, no stupid tricks or added herbs, exactly what you expect. Meat platters served with toast which I appreciate more than traditional squishy white bread. They have a whole lot of sauces to choose from; while I don't generally use or advocate sauces with brisket, I tried the Hot and I liked the balance of peppers and vinegar. Alary's (the bar that serves Petey's) validates parking for the ramp next door, which is great because parking is even worse than usual downtown right now. I passed the smoker walking from the ramp, looks like a big charcoal/wood gravity or sidebox wood-fired offset. You can tell from the product that it's run with real skill. Looking forward to my next visit, which is something I almost never say about a barbecue joint.

Service was good for takeout. Ambiance... bar like. We got…read morecarryout...brisket, rib tips, ribs, coleslaw and Mac and cheese on a Thursday evening. The flavors were there but all of the meat and the Mac and cheese were over cooked. They seemed to have been warmed up too many times. The coleslaw was okay.

Yum-o! I've been wanting to go here for years and saddened I've missed out on this deliciousness…read morethe whole time - the whole time! I tried the Firebox Fries with extra meat. Somehow the fries weren't mushy. This isn't something I'd normally get, but I was surprised at how good it was. I went with a group and was also able to try the coleslaw, sticky rice, and pulled pork. The meat was juicy and amazing. I love the coleslaw and even compared it to other coveted coleslaw - this is my favorite. I'm picky with bbq sauce, but their bbq sauce hit hard. They have a small parking lot - maybe 3 or 4 spots, but there is plenty of street parking. Also worth mentioning you order up front and get a number. They will bring out your food, but you will need to grab your beverage, plates/napkins, and utensils. Hands down better than any other famous and/or Dave you may know.

Sensational ribs! We…read morehave been customers of St. Paul's location of Firebox BBQ for several years. Last night we placed a take out order as usual. I love walking into the restaurant as the bbq aromas just waft over you in the entrance and get the taste buds and salivary glands woken up and raring to get to work. We both ordered Rib plates. The menu list that as 4-5 ribs, Texas toast and 2 sides of your choice. We both received 5 ribs. I went with Mac n Cheese and Collard Greens. Let me focus on the star of the show - the RIBS! We've always enjoyed them but these were truly outstanding! Tender, meaty and a perfect kiss of smoke. Everything you hope a rib would deliver! The FireBox sauce was perfect as always and only boosted the experience. The sides were great as always. I ended up calling back to the restaurant and spoke to a staff member and share our feedback on how fantastic the ribs were tonight! I encourage everyone to give Firebox a first try and or a revisit.

Food 4/5 - This BBQ place was worth the try! The chicken was so tender and delicious. The brisket…read morewas the best we've had in MN and the beans definitely have a kick to them. Highly recommend the chicken and side of beans. Service / Ambiance 5/5 - This place is an order at the counter, sit and wait for your food type of place. They had live music outside when we got our food. Really great place we will be stopping again.

Sooo good - 5 stars!…read more I've wanted to check this place out for a few years. But unfortunately, I don't live close-by and the hours & days of operation are limited. But I finally made it. Three of us checked them out for a Friday lunch. It was definitely worth the trip to meet my Wisconsin buddies for some rockin' Q. This is a casual, order-up-front kind of place. Grab your beverage, pick your own spot, and they bring the food to your table. The meats are excellent. I grabbed a half pound of smoked sausage, a half pound of pastrami, and a half pound of beef brisket. My friends both ordered pork ribs. Everything was wonderful! Being a zero carb dude, I really appreciate that you can order meat by the pound (and the half pound). Thankfully, they don't force you to order plant based items. As zero carbohydrate carnivore eater, I didn't order any plant based sides whatsoever. But my friends got broccoli slaw and waffle corn bread (very clever) as sides. They loved their sides. Both of them topped things off with big Texas Brownies and a la mode French Vanilla Ice Cream. The brownies were giant and flavorful. They actually made the whole back dining area smell like chocolate. Finally, the service was excellent. The food came out fast & hot. And the owner popped out of the kitchen a few times to check on us and to chat. Nice guy. They have live music. But we came early and missed all of that...so I can't comment on the music scene. All-in-all, a great place, especially if you're a carnivore. Thumbs up! -Maxx

This place has the makings of a great BBQ joint and it's shockingly flying under the radar despite…read morea lot of great promotion on social media. I'll say I don't love the side options (except the sticky rice). I'd love to see them give their take on classic southern sides like some sort of greens or Texas sides like elotes or brisket beans. Or more Asian sides. What they have currently is just fine. But they DO have the most important part down, and that's the meat. The ribs are as good as the best places in the area (Firebox, Jellybean and Julia's) but they're still unique. They have a few sauce options--the green one is amazing. Their Asian pulled pork is great. And their brisket is above average. I've yet to try their beef rib but it's a goal in the future since I'll definitely keep going back.

Brand new bbq spot owned by a Hmong family. I love the…read moreHmong influence they bring. I ordered the sampler platter for $25. It came with pulled pork, ribs, and brisket. You can tell it was high quality meat. The meats all had a sightly sweet taste to them. I almost didn't need any sauce. I did use a lot of Hmong pepper sauce though because it was so good. For my sides, I ordered the sticky rice, apple coleslaw, bbq sauce, and hmong pepper. The sticky rice was made just how I like it - hot, sticky, and just the right amount of chewiness. The apple coleslaw was good but not memorable. The Hmong pepper sauce was fresh and spicy-- but not too spicy. It gave a good balance to the sweetness of the meat. I docked one star for the following... They provided some tables that look like the ones K12 children sit in at lunch. You can tell they didn't put much thought into designing their outdoor seating (which is currently the only seating available). Additionally, there was nowhere to wash your hands or even hand sanitizer.

This place has been here more than 35 years - it's chicken and ribs are VERY tasty. Many people…read morecome here to bring food for picnics, reunions and family gatherings. Modest prices. They are excellent about having food ready on time.

I've been coming here for years since my kids attended school down the street from here. I normally…read moreget the BBQ chicken which is superb. Always hot and fresh, same with the fries. I've been eating a lot of chicken lately so I decided to get the cheeseburger. It was really good and received it in under 10 minutes. Service is fast and hospitable. Don't be fooled by the look of this place. I don't go to restaurants for ambiance. I go for the food and in this case you won't be disappointed. Their BBQ sauce goes good on ANYTHING!! One of my favorite spot in the Twin Cities.

I've had their brunch 3 times now with the Thai Sticky Ribs, and I think I like them better than…read morethe standard ribs. That comes from both myself and Doll. Dipped in rice powder and deep fried, topped with a light spicy sauce, crispy onions, and herbs. Multiple textures, crispy meat, tender meat. Flavors of lime and light bbq sauce, with just a little spice. So damn good. Perfectly scrambled eggs, light and fluffy with a light dusting of chives. Perfect every time.

Good - Memphis Fries, Location, Sauces. Ok - sides, Ribs and…read moreSausage. Overall, a nice place with good food.

This feels like the bbq place I've been looking for! The tables had bins with sauces and the…read moreseating was very open. They have a good variety of bbq sauces. Nothing was all that spicy, but I enjoyed the blue alot. The service was great, as they let us sub sides as needed. We didn't want the beans and rice, so we had Mac and cheese and dill potato salad. Bother we're amazing. I really like the ribs and especially the hot links too.

Good tasting BBQ in a casual setting. We got the two meat platter with pulled pork and brisket…read morealong with a kids pulled pork. Tasty with an assortment of BBQ sauces. We thought the portions were a little small, but good. Like the coleslaw too.

We got it to go on Friday around dinner time. Everything was great! Wife had the pulled pork…read moresandwich and not only was delicious, they were smart with the packing by putting a meat in a tub and bun separate so you didn't end up with a soggy mess (good thinking). I had smoked chicken wings and jalepeno cheese sausage and both were very very good. We both got mac and cheese and fries, which we liked. We have lived in Eagan for a long time and always wanted to try and I am glad we have tried it now. Wife picked it up and said the place was nice and clean inside and she was able to pack up our own sauces. Cost was great for how much food you get too. We will definitely be coming back!

Zak! Man you've got it down!!! You rank among the BEST!…read more I've been a student of great BBQ since 1989, when I knew, and fretted the original Masterpiece Barbeque in Overland Park Kansas. Next, a proponent and student of 'Strutting Gates' barbecue in Kansa City, not to mention Jack Stack. I'm a Student of 'Q' from the Memphis, Dallas, Houston, and recently, Charleston and Savannah schools too. To find ZZQ to even be IN those neighborhoods in Eagan Minnesota is truly extraordinary. You Z aren't only in the Neighborhood, you're a Key Member in my evaluation. Sliced Smoked Turkey is my favorite!!! Ribs? Superb with the perfect amount of bite to each rib, and deep rich smoke favor that doesn't mask the true flavor of the meat you're eating. Congratulations Zac. You've set a new standard.

We had dinner before a show in downtown St Paul. The location made it easy to get to downtown with…read moreplenty of time to park and get to the venue. We had reservations and were seated immediately. I chose the spare ribs for my dinner and Husband had the pulled pork sandwich. The ribs were served with a zesty dry rub and sauce on the side. They were nice and tender. The meal came with Texas toast which I didn't try because the ribs were sitting right on top of it. It also had a piece of corn on the cob. Wish my meal would have been a titch hotter in temp but the food was tasty. We finished with the smoky crème brûlée which was delicious. The layout was cozy and dark with the bar at the center. I could see it being lively and loud on a busy night. Service was excellent. We took our time ordering and never felt rushed. Our food came out super fast. The staff worked as a great team.

Well Hey Travoodies Hey. I visited the Handsome Hog,…read moreventuring to their patio. I can say it was a very nice day yesterday and the patio was a nice addition. The atmosphere was sunny with no chances of rain and I loved every minute of it. Sundays are for brunch and I went with a hungry stomach. Took my seat around 1115a and started ordering. First up was my drink Prosecco with a side of Elderflower liqueur because there was no St. Germain. Close to the flavor tho! It was actually quite yummy as well. Then I placed my ordered... I went with the HOG BREAKFAST PARTY which contains 2 Eggs, Greens, Bacon or Sausage, Roadside Potatoes, Biscuit. I loved the roadside potatoes, and I opted for sausage was equally good. The green I would suggest a little more umph in it and the eggs were standard. Overall a decent 3 out of 5 meal. I would like to go back and try the regular menu. Remember I said I sat around 1115a, it was long until 1210p that I noticed my food hasn't arrived. Spoke with our waiter who was apologetic and on the hunt to see what's going on. It was in this moment that I realized this business takes their customers seriously. The waiter returned to advise the kitchen was running behind, but his manager would be out to speak with us. Upon arrival the manager advised he had some research and noticed we had been waiting a very long time. By this time food arrived at 1227P. He informed us that the bill was taken care of and gave a gift card for the inconvenience. We assured him that taking care of the bill was enough but he insisted we take the gift card as well. That's amazing customer service. Thank you to the manager and waiter for such excellent care.

Don't know what magic the pulled on the fry's but they were some of the crispiest I've had in my…read morelife. The half rack of ribs was fantastic, juicy and tender. Also had the collard greens which were great. Good stuff.

What I support for this establishment is less about its food but more about its message and the way…read moreit serves communities. Ever since 2020, the climate surrounding the George Floyd Square has changed dramatically, and this establishment has become an even stronger integral part of the community as the square itself had represented how the community thrives with its people. A lot of respect for the establishment from that perspective. In terms of food, I would say the soul food, which contained mostly sides, were the main highlight for me. The mac & cheese was salty enough. The fries were solid in a "you can't really go wrong with it" type of way. The candied yams had enough sweetness. The collard greens could taste better but standards must be lower when they're not homemade. I also enjoyed the catfish fillets as they were fried to preserve enough hotness and softness. A lot of what they served, they made on the spot, which was what may be causing longer wait for some. Meat-wise, a lot of items could use further improvement because they were too dry, such as the smoked wings and the beef brisket. The wings were dry to the point that they condensed and got extremely salty. The brisket relied a lot on the sauce and the existing fat on the meat for juiciness while the meat itself didn't have a lot of flavor or juice. As for the ribs, they had some seasoning, and tasted just fine, and weren't as dry. But I have had ribs in Texan barbeque places before and knew what "seasoned" ribs were like and therefore concluded that the ribs here were not spectacular. With all that said, however, I still will return here as often as I can because I love supporting this business. The person serving me was very hospitable and patient. I still got some pretty solid barbeque even if it's not Texas. Besides, outside just the barbeque food, the soul food was solid, like I had mentioned above.