After work Easter dinner. We finally dined in here. 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! read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - Great combo Easter 2026 - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

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BBQ is not cheap But you would expect a certain quality Ordered 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 read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - Dried out rib tips or mostly bony pieces - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

The ambiance felt more like being at a loud concert than a place to sit and enjoy a meal. As for the "service," there really wasn't any--food was brought out on tin cookie sheets with whatever they had left, since they were out of chicken, tri-tip, and most of their meats. The food itself was extremely disappointing. The potato salad was clearly not homemade and very bland. The collard greens were overly salty. The pulled pork was dry and had no flavor. The brisket came as two very thin, tiny slices that looked more like pieces of bread than meat. I also ordered a sausage, and it was soggy with a ground beef-like texture, as if it had been sitting in water. For $18, I expected something that at least resembled sausage. The ordering process was inconvenient--you place your food order at the register, then have to go separately to the bar to order and pay again for drinks. In total, we spent $100 for two meals (each with one meat and two sides), two IPAs, and the sausage. Definitely not worth it. Would I recommend this place? Maybe if you just want to grab a beer and don't plan on having a conversation due to the noise. But for the food--absolutely not. I'm from Texas, and I've never had barbecue this disappointing. read more

Bad attitude - bad food - bad service - you want mediocre food served with a horrendous attitude, then this is your place.

Portion sizes are really small for the price. I ordered a 2 way combo with link, brisket. I literally got 2 slices of brisket and one link, 2 sides and I had to pay for a bun which was hard and dry. My total came up to 40 dollars. The place is great if you want to visit to have a drink and watch the game. read more

Service, Food.....everything!!! I love it here! And the owner engages and listens to his customers. read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - I am here this evening and look at these links!!!! I'm pleased!!! LOL!!! I love it here - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

Stopped here late Friday afternoon. They have a new host--she was very helpful! She recommended the blackberry beverage that was delicious--and it had real whole berries! She helped me with order for the beef brisket to avoid getting too much fatty meat. Decided to dine-in this time. Ordered the same combo. Good slices of brisket, ribs and beef were tender and smoked to perfection, mac n cheese was nice and creamy, and sprouts were delicious too! I sat enjoying my meal, I observed the service. The bar tender is great at keeping all the service flowing efficiently, while cranking out drink orders and still having a good time with customers! I love the casual seating, TVs at every angle with various sports showing, good music rotation that played low enough to still be able to hear conversations! Great vibe throughout!! read more

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Smoking woods has been my go to BBQ spot for years. I never tried the happy hour options and was very pleased with my experience. I went in around 3 on Friday. The music was GREAT! It was like top hits of hip hop & r&b. The restaurant was fairly empty during this time but as time progressed more people came in. The lemon pepper wings were delicious and the flatbread was decent. Adding their spicy bbq sauce to the flatbread took it to the next level. I wanted to get the banana pudding but they were out unfortunately. I can't wait to come back again and try the sliders and Hennessy bbq wings. read more

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Loved the space , I'm a huge sports fan and they have plenty of big flat screens to enjoy the games. The service was slow ,but I enjoyed my meal. Wish they offered impossible burgers as an option for pescatarian diners read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - Smoked Salmon, Green Beans, Potato Salad - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

So I still come back & get takeout sometimes on my way home from work. Blackberry lemonade always on point & the food is still good! However today on my two meat combo I only got 2 ribs & one piece of brisket? They used to give more than this. I know cost are high but geeze! read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - Two 2 Meat Combo, ribs & brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

Great atmosphere! However, BBQ wasn't that great. Proportions were kinda small. Mac & Cheese was overcooked for my liking. I opted not to get a drink, as I sat by the bar and asked for water. The glass of water was a kid size glass, I had to ask for a bigger glass to enjoy with my meal, as to not go back and forth to the water station. Wait service was a little off. I dont think I should have to ask for a menu to get better service. If checking your messages on your phone is more important than customer service, you definitely dont need a tip. read more

We went to Smokin Woods BBQ for our team lunch and the food was pretty good. The restaurant was a bit cold (temperature wise) and there wasn't much of a crowd during the lunch rush. We all had to get up to place our order because of an issue with table service. We also had to use plastic utensils which took away from the restaurant feel and our formal dining experience. On the plus side, the bar drinks looked good although we didn't try any; I would in the future. I ordered a 3 meat combo with smoked turkey, brisket, and ribs, greens and brussel sprouts. The ribs were delicious. Definitely give them a try if you're in the mood for good barbecue! read more

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Chicken and brisket was super dry. Mac and cheese was completely over cooked. Greens and potato salad had no taste AT ALL. This is my last time ordering from them. Ive tried to give chances multiple times because I've had good food from here but im over it. More misses than hits and this my last one. read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

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The comments/insights here are pretty accurate for the most part: - the food is good - the wait time is beyond horrible and they usually seem to be understaffed - the customer service is pretty spotty I appreciate them hiring people of color but if they did a better screening/vetting process and hired more consistent cooks then this place would be legendary. read more

Solid American bbq restaurant! The restaurant serves various bbq meats by the pound or you can get combo plates. I got the Threes A Crowd plate with brisket, beef hot link, and pork ribs with a side of Mac and cheese and potato salad. I also ordered beef ribs separately. The meats were all well seasoned and moist. The restaurant is clean and there is a lot of seating inside. The cashier that took our order could have been a little friendlier and didn't look enthusiastic about her job. The actual cooks and servers on the other hand were very welcoming and friendly. Parking in this area is all street parking. Overall a great restaurant to come if you are ever in Oakland read more

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Great place to eat and watch a game! There is ample seating indoors, outdoors on their patio where they have heat lamps, and in their parklet. There are many TVs inside and one outside as well. They do a great happy hour, currently $5 bites between 3pm-6pm Tuesday-Friday but best to check their instagram for latest updates. During big games it can get pretty crowded and noisy. They often have a DJ and space echos a bit so it's loud! Service was great, friendly and attentive. You order at the register and they will bring your food. For a counter service place, I was pleasantly surprised with how often they checked on us. The food was also very good. I highly recommend the mac n cheese which is creamy and has a baked top. The brisket was incredibly tender. The tri-tip was a bit dry for my preference. I prefer my tri-tip cut thinly and juicy, but it was still tasty. read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - Tri-Tip Plate with mac n cheese and collard greens - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

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One Star because the last three times they have forgotten to include something in the to go order. Either a side or sauce or bread. It's not that difficult to check off what should be included. Also one star for CASH only. Then they expect a big tip when you pay by card, but still forget part of your order. read more

Ribs were really good, links were ok casing was tough, greens did not have any meat. wouldn't go back they give you 2 ribs & half a link 2 sides $32 you have to pay extra for plain rolls. Got strawberry lemon cake no flavor just reg pound cake with pink food coloring. read more

Bought the three-way, which is brisket, pork ribs, links , along with two sides, mac & cheese, and the potato salad. The ribs was the highlight but because I save those for last, I ended up, unable to finish the second rib because everything was too salty. I didn't even want the second rib packed to go. It's not worth it. Flavors were all totally on point except maybe the mac & cheese. It was just too salty. read more

Exemplary service- My cousins are visiting from abroad and I sent them to Smokin Woods for some authentic BBQ. They couldn't figure out the parking meter, and I believe the owner went outside with them, helped them with the meter, AND further gave some tips on parking with a rental car. But the food. It exceeded their expectations. They ordered the two's a crowd and were impressed with how delicious it was. They brought home some ribs for me, and we ate them over a course of days. They were delicious as leftovers as well. read more

Good: ribs, potato salad, margarita, setting - casual like a sports bar but you can sit away from the TV's. Not so great: understaffed, inexperienced. Sweet bartender said "I can make these two items," okay she made at least one of them well. Real problem was when others in my group tried to get their drinks she ignored them while getting drinks for people who came later. Maybe she decided that she had served some of our group so others in our group could wait 45 minutes before their first drink because somehow it all evened out? We noticed some people came for happy hour, had a drink, and left before some of my group got their first drink despite our ordering first. The mac and cheese and the cake, meh. I would go again for happy hour with one friend, but not as a group, and probably not just for the food, although the ribs were tasty. read more

Straight up this is mid. Overly salty pork ribs, macaroni salad insanely overcooked, the noodles were mush. Cmon man

The quality of food and service has significantly decreased. The food used to be so good and arrived to the table hot. Now they are out of a list of things at peak times, I don't even know why they stay open if you're out of everything! I ordered a 4-way with brisket, tri tip, beef link, chicken thigh and sides: potato salad, green beans, mac and cheese, two honey butter rolls, and 7-up cake. Food was lukewarm and the taste was mediocre. Very disappointing. read more

Drove down from Fairfield to Oakland for a Super Bowl watch party at Smokin Woods BBQ and it was 100% worth it. From the moment we walked in, the greeter was super friendly and made us feel welcome. There was plenty of seating both inside and outside, so we didn't feel crowded even with the game crowd. The food was delicious with a real Southern vibe. The sides were well seasoned like somebody's auntie was back there making sure it hit right. The brisket was tender and juicy, not dry at all. And the ribs... thick, meaty, and fall off the bone tender with a nice smoky flavor. The sauce had that perfect sweet and savory kick without drowning the meat. They also had a DJ which made it feel like more than just "watching the game" it was a whole vibe. The crowd was super diverse, good energy, everybody just there to eat, drink, and enjoy themselves. Shoutout to the bartender Stunna, she was a whole vibe too. Fast, friendly, and kept the drinks coming. Prices were affordable and the pours were solid. I'll definitely be back and I'm coming to sit with her again soon. If you want good BBQ, good music, and a fun game day atmosphere, this spot is it. read more

Smokin' Woods BBQ is fire. The food is packed with flavor, perfectly smoked, and super filling. I had brisket, links and chicken along with mac n cheese and greens! The drinks are just as good--me and girl ordered all the drinks off the new menu and they were a perfect match for the BBQ. Great vibes, friendly service, and everything hit the spot. Definitely worth stopping by. 10/10 read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - Drinks from the new menu - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

So the food it's self was alright I enjoyed it to a certain extent, but the service was horrible out of the last 3 times I been there it's hard to get help and when you do it's usually so unwelcoming. All I wanted to do was order and I met with attitude by the middle age woman af the front every time she makes a snarky comment if I mess up a order or she'll give me a dirty looks and then she try's to belittle you. All around I'll probably order this place on DoorDash because if you go in GOOD Luck! read more

We came on a Friday evening and they were super busy I had no idea .. You order outside even for dine in orders after ordering you proceed indoors to find a seat i was flabbergasted& confused because you buy food and may no have a place to sit.. We luckly found seats at the bar. I'm not sure if it's the norm or only because it was a Friday but the wait was about 40 min for small bites Brisket sliders 3/5 the meat qaa very fatty and cheese not completely melted Wings 3/5 were cold when they came out but had an ok flavor Brisket plate 5/5 it had fat piece but the meats flavor was good it tasted smoked.. Mac & cheese wasn't bad but tasted like kfc .. Baked beans 5/5 I'm not a potatoe salads fan but my friend said it was up to par... you can taste the mustard Regarding ambiance it was crowded with few seats. It's a good venue I would try them again read more

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BBQ was good but not great. I really don't like that they gave us plastic utensils even when we dined in. read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - Plastic utensil when you dine in - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

On the plus side, the music selection has gotten much better and more appropriate. On the downside, the food quality has dropped considerably. I'm guessing that it's due to the fact that the Woods brothers have now opened two additional locations--in Fresno and LA--and aren't in town much to supervise. The pulled pork, ribs, mac n' cheese, and brussels were all underseasoned. The brussels used to be truly roasted. Now they are blanched in water and barely sautéed. The ribs were underdone and lacked bark. And I asked for their hottest bbq sauce (which I had to ask for twice). It is nothing more than the mild sauce with a bit more black pepper. Weak. I should have known there was trouble at the start. The sign at the register said "We are out of all meats except:" and listed just three. I asked the guy at the register if this was true (and if so, I was going to leave), but he said no. It was supposed to read "We are out of the following meats:". Ugh. read more

Went in on a Tuesday at 2:30pm, so I wasn't too surprised to see it dead. Service was hit or miss as the host/server seemed preoccupied with other tasks, at times despite the place being completely empty. I ordered the two meat, two sides combo with the a honey buttered biscuit, brisket, boneless chicken thighs, baked beans and potato salad and it came with a cup of sauce. I opted for traditional not sweet. To drink I had a raspberry lemonade. Being from Texas means that I love brisket, but it also means I have a really high bar for brisket. This one was nothing to write home about, it had no smoke ring, nonexistent bark, the fat wasn't rendered and the meat itself was rubbery in parts and hard in certain parts. The smoke flavor was very/very subtle to the point it was overshadowed by an unseasoned meat flavor punctuated with huge globules of fat in almost every bite. With two big slices there were about four or five bites that really attempted flavor above the aforementioned flavor challenges. The chicken thighs really saved the day. They were very juicy, smoke flavor forward with a hint of black pepper. Textbook. The baked beans were supposed to have pork in them but my order contained no visible meat, which would have cut the brown sugar sweet a bit but they were very sweet. The beans were cooked well but just a bit too sweet. The potato salad was edible but it tasted like it came out of a tub, nothing really special just kind of generic. The honey biscuit was fabulous. It was a white brioche dinner roll with a buttery honey glaze. These were fluffy inside and the sweet of the honey butter was just perfect. I gobbled it up and had wished I had ordered a second. The lemonade was also a real winner. It tasted fresh or house-made and the fruit on the bottom of the cup was real and fresh! It was sweet but had a good deal of fresh lemon flavor to balance it out. It complimented the smoky meat and took the edge off of the fact that there was no sweet tea. The sauce was nothing special. It tasted like it came out of a bottle or was made to emulate the kind of major label brand one finds in the grocery store no real unique character. Usually, if the brisket is cooked right it doesn't need the sauce but I found myself dipping a little bit depending on the bite of brisket. Restaurant was clean and felt very "southern"the wood paneling was a nice touch toward this end. Oh and not too many TVs and they weren't glaringly loud. In fact they were rocking an awesome R&B soundtrack. I can see this place lively for a good weekend dinner or a good spot to catch a game. I'd definitely give it another shot to try other meats and sides but I'm definitely not getting the brisket again. read more

Local reviewer posted about the $5 Friday menu so had to check it! Logistics/vibe: restaurant has indoor and patio seating, but you have to order at the outside window. Due to the recent social media post, there was a line of newcomers all trying to figure out the process. While in line, they had a sign stating it was a 45 minute wait currently for food. Once ordered you get a number to go and find a seat. Light music playing in the background, little loud chatting. Food: though the sign said 45 minutes, it took around an hour to get our food. Wings: lemon pepper and bbq were flavorful. We're not "smoked" wings. 4/5 Collard greens with turkey: appreciated the turkey as I do not eat pork, however tasted as if the turkey was the only seasoning. 1/5 Brisket fries: dry! No pull to the cheese. 1/5 Flatbread pizza: nice spice but the crust was dry and tough. 1/5 Brisket slider: The slaw added some tang. Add bbq sauce which has a good flavor. 3/5 Chicken slider: thigh meat so not dry and flavorful. Same as brisket 3/5 Rib tips: no pork on my fork, but my friends said they were good! 4/5 Rolls: butter glaze on top was good, but overall dry. 2/5 Drinks: drinks can only be ordered at the bar. Again very busy, waited about 20 minutes before ordering. Triple smoke- mezcal and grapefruit based drink. 4/5 read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

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I've had the brisket, the tri -tip, the chicken thighs, and the the salmon. I lean toward the tri-tip being my favorite, the brisket is a close second. The chicken and salmon are good options for people who don't eat red meat. The sides are average. You've probably had better, and you've definitely had worse. The mac & cheese and the fresh green beans are my usual picks. The collards and mixed veggies are decent, they get included depending on who I'm ordering for. In general, I find the portions to be good. A classic plate lasts about two meals for me. The option to order by the pound is really convenient, do some quick math before ordering to determine the most economical option for your needs. It's also easy to plan ahead since the menu is on their website. I've only gotten food to-go (or from catered events). I try to stick to off-peak times because they take a while to fulfill orders, think 45+ minutes. I 100% recommend ordering ahead. Check your bag for accuracy before you leave. read more

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Updated Review - 4 Stars I'm happy to update my original review! After a few earlier home deliveries, where our orders were missing barbecue sauce, I had left a lower rating. Since then, we've returned four more times--and each time the food has been consistently excellent, with sauce included. Most recently, we ordered a rack of ribs, and it was exceptional--tender, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. Plenty of sauce was included! Thanks!! So if you're in Oakland and craving some seriously good barbecue, give this place a try. They've more than earned this updated rating! read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - Half lb: Brisket, Tri-Tip and Links - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

I really never leave a bad review, but I want this business to succeed. So please take this as constructive criticism. Ordered- Three's a crowd plate: Beef brisket, tri tip, pork ribs, butter bread and a pink lemonade. Came here after a baseball game from down the street. It smelled good from outside. Tbh the food was okay. Great flavor, smoky, but the ribs were dry and tough. I would expect a BBQ spot to have moist and tender BBQ. I was a little disappointed. My pink lemonade tasted watered down. The potato salad was a little salty. Service and ambiance was great. Just wish it matched what they're known for BBQ. I know meat is in expensive and it reflected on the bill, but macaroni and potato salad should not be skimped. Will try again read more

Overrated. Place an online pick up around 5:30p and arrived to have to wait over 30 minutes past pickup time. Once I got home, 1/2 of the items were missing, sold out and was not made aware. Plate was thrown together. The meat was drowning in grease. Disgusting and was up sick all night! read more

My brother and I pulled up to watch the games on Sunday. Wasn't annoyingly crowded but it was live and we enjoyed the atmosphere. Staff was hella cool and made sure we were comfortable. Ordered at the counter and got a 3-way with links, brisket and chicken with a side of mac n cheese and some brusselsprouts. Meats were ok, brisket was tender and the chicken wasn't dry but not as much smoke flavor as I'd like, links were pretty good (I like them better at E&Js tho iykyk), nothing I'd be excited about getting again. Sides were fair, mac n cheese was kinda bland and the brusselsprouts were cooked nicely and were ok, tasted very green, not a lot of seasoning. Maybe an off day for the kitchen, who knows. We did have a good time tho and I'll pull up again to watch the games and maybe order something else next time. read more

Smoking Woods BBQ beef brisket and links are delicious! Went for a meeting and was pleasantly surprised by their vibe and fun atmosphere. They have a full service bar and they play hits from the 90's to today. The staff and bartenders are friendly and give good customer service. Fun and casual place to grab BBQ & great for large parties. They have TV 's throughout the restaurant so you can catch your sports highlights and enjoy a game. You order your food in the front and someone will bring your food out to you. You do not have a dedicated server, FYI. Looking forward to coming back in the summer and sit outside. read more

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Smokin' Woods is one of the very few BBQ joints that does Everything Well the brisket, chicken, the links and them lip smackin' no need for sauce ribs just kain't be beat by anybody's meat. And then there's Dominique behind the bar who seems be quarterbacking the whole scene taking food orders, mixing and pouring drinks while scanning the dining area to make sure everybody straight. Every now and then you might get Dominique and Angel at same as what my coworkers called the dynamic duo. read more

Alright here we go. I am an old school Oakland native. I grew up in Oakland spending my childhood and majority of my adult life in various parts of Oakland. Why is this important? Because I grew up in a not only food rich but BBQ rich culture that included Flints BBQ, Walkers, and Everett and Jones. Where a slice a white bread was part of your plate to soak up all that BBQ goodness and the sides shined just as much as the meat bounty. Ok so let's talk Smokin Woods. I have waited so long to try and finally made it on a Saturday afternoon. It's a great location in a historic Oakland area not far from the old school tiny Kaspers ( no longer open ). Inside is gorgeous, beautiful kitchen, bar and dining. Easy to go ordering and at the time 2p not crowded at all. Ordered the rib plate , potato salad, Mac n cheese and peach cobbler. A nice blackberry lemonade to drink to wash it down. Starting with the bbq plate very underwhelming, potato salad was a no no go it was a spoon mess of conflicting flavors that was not tasty at all. Mac n cheese was not cheesy and bland. Ribs were under seasoned and usually the bbq sauce compliment the bbq but I found myself just using it to bring out flavor. In a town full of BBQ heavy hitters and history I was disappointed. Peach cobbler sorta redeemed my meal and sad to say my drink was the star of my experience. Clean beautiful place. read more

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Food is incredible and vibes are always great. My parents want to come every time they visit!