THE 10 BEST BBQ Services in PORTLAND, OR
| Business Name | Key Services | Best For | Address | Hours | PS Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt’s BBQ | Texas-style BBQ, Tacos, Catering | Authentic Texas Brisket | 4233 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97217 | Daily 11:30am-9pm (or until sold out) | 4.7/5 |
| Lawless Barbecue | Kansas City-style BBQ, Burnt Ends, Catering | Kansas City Burnt Ends | 1520 SE 7th Ave, Portland, OR 97214 | Wed-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-8pm | 4.6/5 |
| Podnah’s Pit Barbecue | Central Texas BBQ, Brunch, Full Bar | Traditional Texas-Style BBQ | 1625 NE Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97211 | Mon-Sat 12pm-8pm, Sun 9am-8pm | 4.5/5 |
| Reverend’s BBQ | St. Louis Ribs, Fried Chicken, Patio Dining | St. Louis-Style Ribs | 7712 SE 13th Ave, Portland, OR 97202 | Tue-Sun 11am-9pm (hours vary) | 4.4/5 |
| Botto’s BBQ | Cut-to-Order BBQ, House-Made Sausage, Craft Meats | All-Natural Smoked Meats | SE Milwaukie & Powell St, Portland, OR | Wed-Sun (hours vary, call ahead) | 4.5/5 |
| Uncle Earl’s BBQ Bistro | Southern BBQ, Catering, Wine Pairings | Executive Chef Experience | 3612 SE 82nd Ave, Portland, OR 97266 | Mon-Thu 12pm-8pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-9pm, Sun 12pm-7pm | 4.3/5 |
| Miss Delta | Southern Cuisine, Po’ Boys, Happy Hour | Delta-Style Southern BBQ | 3950 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97227 | Mon-Thu 12pm-8:30pm, Fri 12pm-9pm, Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 10am-8:30pm | 4.4/5 |
| The Smokin’ Oak PDX | Central Texas BBQ, Food Cart, Catering | Award-Winning BBQ Near Moda Center | 1825 N Williams Ave, Portland, OR 97227 | Tue-Sun 11am until sold out | 4.3/5 |
| Bark City BBQ | Texas BBQ, Seasonal Specials, Custom Sauces | Oak-Smoked Texas Meats | 4727 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR 97206 | Wed 11:30am-7pm, Thu-Sun 11am-8pm | 4.5/5 |
| The Smoking Jay | Multi-Regional BBQ, Vegetarian Options, Key Lime Pie | Creative BBQ Combinations | 6305 SE King Rd, Milwaukie, OR 97222 | Wed-Sat 12pm-8pm, Sun 11am-3pm | 4.8/5 |
#1. Matt’s BBQ – Best for Authentic Texas Brisket
Key Highlights:
- Featured in Bon Appetit’s Hot 10 as Portland’s 2019 Cart of the Year
- Considered the measuring stick for all Texas-style BBQ in Portland since 2015
- Offers both traditional BBQ and innovative Tex-Mex tacos at multiple locations
Matt’s BBQ has become a Portland legend since opening in 2015. This food cart sets the gold standard for Texas-style barbecue in the Pacific Northwest. Every morning, their team fires up their offset smoker using oak wood to create perfectly smoked meats.
The brisket is what put Matt’s on the map. It features a beautiful smoke ring and tender texture that rivals anything you would find in Austin. The jalapeño cheddar sausage is another standout with its snappy casing and gooey cheese center. They also serve pulled pork, ribs, and turkey.
What makes Matt’s special is the attention to detail. They cook all their meats fresh daily and often sell out of popular items by late afternoon on weekends. This is especially true for their famous brisket. The homemade sauces include creative options like peach mustard and cherry chipotle.
For taco lovers, Matt’s has expanded to locations at Hinterlands and Great Notion Brewery. The taco cart serves BBQ on lard-infused flour tortillas pressed to order. The breakfast tacos with chopped brisket and migas are worth waking up early for. They also offer catering services for events and holidays with a convenient pre-order page on their website.
#2. Lawless Barbecue – Best for Kansas City Burnt Ends
Key Highlights:
- Authentic Kansas City-style BBQ with famous burnt ends
- Originally served as the kitchen for Little Beast Brewery
- Known for perfectly sauced meats and homemade sides
Lawless Barbecue brings true Kansas City flavor to Portland’s Inner Southeast neighborhood. Owner Kevin Koch, a Kansas City transplant, opened this spot with a mission to showcase the saucy, sweet style of his hometown. This is the place to go when you want BBQ that embraces its sauce instead of hiding from it.
The burnt ends are the star of the show. These flavorful, caramelized pieces of brisket have an incredible crust and melt-in-your-mouth texture. The pork ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender and brushed with Koch’s signature sweet KC sauce. The pulled pork gets dressed with Carolina gold mustard sauce for a tangy twist.
The sides deserve just as much praise as the meats. The mac and cheese is rich and creamy. The potato salad is considered some of the best in Portland with perfect seasoning. Koch spent considerable time developing each side dish recipe. The chili and baked beans round out the comfort food lineup.
You can dine in at their cozy SE 7th Avenue location or order for pickup and delivery. They offer everything from sandwiches for lunch to family platters for dinner. The Lawless Platter gives you a chance to try multiple meats with your choice of sides. Wedding and event catering is also available with stress-free pickup options.
#3. Podnah’s Pit Barbecue – Best for Traditional Texas-Style BBQ
Key Highlights:
- Portland’s original craft barbecue since 2006 and Willamette Week Restaurant of the Year
- Featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives
- All wood-burning smoker fired up daily at 5am
Podnah’s Pit has been serving authentic Central Texas BBQ longer than almost anyone in Portland. Owner Rodney Muirhead named the restaurant after his grandfather, a Texas butcher and pitmaster from Waxahachie. The restaurant carries on his family traditions with serious dedication to the craft.
Every morning at 5am, the team starts their all wood-burning smoker. They use traditional Texas methods to create perfectly smoked brisket, ribs, and sausage. The Pitboss Plate is a crowd favorite that comes piled with brisket, ribs, sausage, cornbread, and two sides. The lamb ribs are a unique specialty that literally melt in your mouth.
The sides are made from scratch with real Southern soul. The collard greens are some of the best you will find outside the South. The black-eyed pea salad and mac and cheese are customer favorites. They even offer multiple BBQ sauce options including classic, mustard, and vinegar-based varieties. You can also get straight-up honey if you prefer.
Sunday brunch runs from 9am to 1pm and features BBQ breakfast combinations you won’t find anywhere else. The restaurant has a full bar with rotating local craft beers and margaritas. The casual atmosphere makes it perfect for families and groups. Catering is available for special events and they offer Thanksgiving turkeys by pre-order.
#4. Reverend’s BBQ – Best for St. Louis-Style Ribs
Key Highlights:
- Specializes in authentic St. Louis-style smoked pork ribs since 2014
- Family-friendly atmosphere with covered outdoor patio
- Part of the Laurelhurst Market family of restaurants
Reverend’s BBQ stands out by focusing on St. Louis-style barbecue. This approach is less common in Portland where most places lean toward Texas or Kansas City styles. The St. Louis-cut pork ribs are meatier and less fatty than other styles. They get rubbed, smoked, and mopped with Ozark BBQ sauce for incredible flavor.
The menu goes beyond just ribs though. The Carolina pork shoulder is smoked until juicy and tender. The beef brisket is always a solid choice. For those who want variety, the Big Boss Plate feeds four people with half a pound each of brisket, chopped pork, and fried chicken plus a half rack of ribs and three large sides.
The fried chicken deserves special mention as a standout item. The smoked and fried wings tossed in Frank’s Red Hot are perfect for sharing. The hush puppies are crispy on the outside and fluffy inside. They also offer a smoked tempeh sandwich for vegetarians which is rare at BBQ joints.
The Sellwood location has cozy booths inside and a sun-kissed patio for warm weather dining. Big screen TVs make it great for watching games. The rotating lineup of craft beers on tap pairs perfectly with the smoky meats. Happy hour specials run daily. They handle catering for all types of events and offer quick pickup orders by phone.
#5. Botto’s BBQ – Best for All-Natural Smoked Meats
Key Highlights:
- Cut-to-order service ensures maximum freshness
- All-natural, locally sourced meats smoked low and slow
- Made-from-scratch sides and house-made sausages
Botto’s Craft BBQ takes a meticulous approach to barbecue. They moved into a brick-and-mortar location after earning acclaim for their food cart. Everything is smoked the day you order it and sliced fresh when you pick it up. This commitment to freshness sets them apart from places that pre-slice their meats.
The all-natural sourcing means the meats have no added hormones or unnecessary additives. The brisket, ribs, pulled pork, and turkey all get the low and slow treatment over oak wood. The house-made sausage is a labor of love that showcases their craft approach. Each meat has a beautiful bark and smoke ring.
The sides are made from scratch daily. The sumptuous recipes complement the rich smoked meats perfectly. They also make their own BBQ sauces with recipes developed specifically to enhance their meat profiles. Daily specials rotate to keep the menu exciting and showcase seasonal ingredients.
Because everything is made fresh and they often sell out, next-day ordering is recommended. You can call their number or use the online ordering system. This ensures you get exactly what you are craving without disappointment. The new location at SE Milwaukie and Powell Street has space to watch the BBQ magic happen. You can see the smokers in action and smell the incredible oak smoke.
#6. Uncle Earl’s BBQ Bistro – Best for Executive Chef Experience
Key Highlights:
- Executive chef with over 20 years of experience including Nike World Headquarters
- Offers smoking classes and wine pairing events
- Family recipe menu with names honoring important family members
Uncle Earl’s BBQ Bistro brings an elevated approach to Southern barbecue. Chef Earl has cooked for clients like the St. Louis Rams, St. Louis Cardinals, and Nike’s world headquarters. He even co-authored the menu for Glo’s Cafe at Nike in honor of LeBron James’ mom. This pedigree shows in every dish.
The menu features family-related names that honor important people in Chef Earl’s life. The Uncle Earl burger tops a half-pound patty with a quarter pound each of brisket and pulled pork on grilled Texas toast. The Get Together package includes ribs, brisket, sides, and corn muffins perfect for feeding a group. The Family Reunion ups the portions even more.
The meats are rubbed with Chef Earl’s signature blends and slow smoked to perfection. The brisket is fork-tender with beautiful smoke penetration. The pork ribs fall off the bone. The pulled chicken and pulled pork are juicy and well-seasoned. The hot link sausage brings a spicy kick. They even offer pork steak which is less common at Portland BBQ spots.
The sides include classics like mac and cheese, baked beans, and Punkins Potato Salad. Each side is crafted with the same attention to detail as the meats. Beyond the food, Uncle Earl’s offers unique services like wine pairing classes and meat smoking workshops. These events let you learn techniques while enjoying wine. The catering team specializes in charcuterie boards, plated service, and custom menus for special occasions.
#7. Miss Delta – Best for Delta-Style Southern BBQ
Key Highlights:
- Authentic Mississippi Delta southern cooking with BBQ specialties
- Full bar with happy hour from 3pm-6pm Monday through Friday
- Brunch service on weekends starting at 10am
Miss Delta brings the flavors of the Mississippi Delta to Portland’s North Mississippi Avenue. The restaurant exudes warmth with its cozy atmosphere and friendly staff. The menu bursts with mouthwatering Southern dishes that go beyond standard BBQ fare. This is soul food at its finest.
The burnt ends are a customer favorite. These tender pieces of brisket come with incredible caramelization. The ribs are meaty and flavorful. The menu also features Southern classics like fried chicken, fried catfish, and po’ boys. The shrimp and oyster po’ boys are especially popular. For a real treat, try the shrimp and grits.
The sides showcase true Delta cooking traditions. The collard greens are slow-cooked with smoky flavor. The black-eyed peas and rice make a hearty combination. The mac and cheese is creamy and indulgent. The cornbread comes hot and fresh. Every side is made from scratch using traditional recipes.
The restaurant offers weekend brunch from 10am with breakfast options featuring BBQ twists. Dinner service runs nightly with a great happy hour from 3pm to 6pm. The bar serves local craft beers, wine, and creative cocktails. The outdoor seating is perfect for warm Portland evenings. Miss Delta also maintains a catering arm for events from 10 to 2000 people. The owner Brian is a Southern gentleman who provides exceptional service and hospitality.
#8. The Smokin’ Oak PDX – Best for Award-Winning BBQ Near Moda Center
Key Highlights:
- Three-time winner of Best of Clark County award (2021, 2022, 2023)
- Uses family recipes passed down through three generations of Texans
- Features two massive 1000-gallon custom smokers fueled by 100% white oak
The Smokin’ Oak PDX is the Portland outpost of the award-winning Vancouver restaurant. Co-owners Bryan Rogers and Erick Gill designed their own massive 1000-gallon smokers to bring authentic Central Texas BBQ to the Cartside Food Carts pod. The cart sits near the Moda Center making it perfect for pre-game meals.
The family recipes come from three generations of Texas pitmasters. Everything is smoked over 100% white oak which imparts a distinct flavor. The brisket is tender enough to cut with a fork with a perfect balance of lean and fatty cuts. The pulled pork has carnitas-like charred ends that add incredible texture. The spare ribs and house-made sausage round out the meat selection.
The sides are made from scratch daily. The mac and cheese is so luscious it’s worth the precious stomach space. The collard greens and jalapeño pinto beans provide perfect complements to the rich meats. Each dish features the same attention to quality and homemade excellence as the meats themselves.
The adjacent Garden Tavern offers drink specials including $1 off whiskey shots and cocktails. You can grab an Old Town Brewing pilsner or Big Red soda to wash down your meal. The rooftop seating provides views of the Willamette River on sunny days. The cart operates Tuesday through Sunday starting at 11am and serves until they sell out. Catering services are available for parties, weddings, and office events with customizable options.
#9. Bark City BBQ – Best for Oak-Smoked Texas Meats
Key Highlights:
- Named Portland Food Cart of the Year by multiple publications
- All meats smoked on local Oregon Oak for unique Pacific Northwest flavor
- Pitmaster with 18 years of culinary experience and chef-driven creativity
Bark City BBQ earned its reputation with what Texas Monthly called the best ribs in Portland. Pitmaster Michael Keskin brought his Virginia roots and love for Southern BBQ to Portland after years of traveling and sampling the finest BBQ across the country. His journey landed him in Portland where he created something special.
The St. Louis cut ribs are tender and smoky with a sweet glaze over a stout black bark. The brisket features perfect seasoning and a beautiful smoke ring. The pulled pork is juicy and full of flavor. The turkey and jalapeño cheddar sausage give you even more options. Everything is smoked over Oregon oak which adds a Pacific Northwest twist to Texas traditions.
The menu goes beyond classics with seasonal specials and creative dishes. Tennessee BBQ Spaghetti nights showcase Michael’s willingness to push boundaries. The banana pudding is made with homemade pudding blended with bananas and Nilla wafers. It’s the perfect sweet ending to a smoky meal.
The sandwiches feature fresh ingredients and house-made sauces. The brisket sandwich comes with Barky BBQ sauce, house pickles, and sliced onions. The Red Eye BBQ sandwich adds coffee cold brew to the sauce for an interesting twist. The sides include classics like mac and cheese, coleslaw, and cornbread. The food cart atmosphere keeps things casual and approachable. They take orders for same-day pickup and delivery through their website.
#10. The Smoking Jay – Best for Creative BBQ Combinations
Key Highlights:
- Influenced by BBQ styles from around the world, not tied to one region
- Meats smoked for up to 20 hours over various woods
- Known for exceptional key lime pie with smoked graham cracker crust
The Smoking Jay takes a unique approach by not claiming any single BBQ style. Instead, owners draw inspiration from barbecue traditions worldwide to create something uniquely theirs. This family-owned restaurant in Milwaukie has earned an incredible reputation with a 4.9 rating from customers.
The meats are slow-smoked for up to 20 hours over various woods. This creates a crispy bark on the outside while keeping the inside juicy and tender. The brisket has a gorgeous smoke ring and melts in your mouth. The pork belly burnt ends are a must-try item that are rich, buttery, and incredibly flavorful. The pulled pork features perfect seasoning and texture.
The sides are made from scratch with creative touches. The BBQ baked beans are savory, sweet, and have a little spice at the end. The corn muffins are made with blue masa and sweet corn then served cut in half, buttered, and grilled. The potato salad includes blue potato, scallions, and bacon for elevated flavor. The coleslaw has the perfect tang.
The key lime pie deserves a standing ovation. It features a smoked graham cracker crust, tangy key lime filling, sweet whipped cream, and smooth caramel drizzle. This dessert alone is worth the visit. The restaurant offers sliders and street tacos in addition to traditional plates. The rotating selection of Pacific Northwest craft beers, ciders, and wines pairs perfectly with the smoky meats. The cozy atmosphere and friendly owners create a welcoming environment that makes every visit special.
What BBQ Style is Portland Known For?
Portland has become famous for Texas-style barbecue over the past decade. Texas Monthly even called Portland “the best Texas barbecue outside of Texas” in 2019. This recognition came after years of dedicated pitmasters perfecting their craft.
The Texas style focuses on simple seasoning and long smoking times. Brisket is the king of Texas BBQ. It gets coated in just salt and pepper then smoked for 12 to 16 hours over oak wood. The result is tender meat with a dark bark and pink smoke ring.
However, Portland’s BBQ scene is not limited to just Texas style. You can find Kansas City burnt ends, St. Louis ribs, Carolina pulled pork, and even creative fusion approaches. Many spots also offer vegetarian options which is very Portland. The variety means everyone can find BBQ they love regardless of their regional preference.
Do Portland BBQ Restaurants Offer Catering?
Yes! Almost every major BBQ restaurant in Portland offers catering services. This makes BBQ a popular choice for weddings, corporate events, birthday parties, and family gatherings. The portions are generous and the food travels well.
Most places require advance notice for catering orders. Some restaurants ask for orders 24 to 48 hours ahead while others need more time for large events. You can typically choose from packages or create custom menus. Popular catering options include meat by the pound, family-style platters, and buffet setups.
Pricing varies based on the number of guests and menu selections. Many restaurants offer different service levels from simple pickup to full-service catering with staff. Some even provide delivery and setup. The best approach is to contact the restaurant directly with your date, guest count, and any special requests. Most BBQ spots are happy to work with you to create the perfect menu for your occasion.
What Should I Order at a Portland BBQ Restaurant?
If it’s your first visit to a Portland BBQ spot, start with a combo platter. These plates let you sample multiple meats so you can figure out what you like best. Most combos include brisket, ribs, and pulled pork plus two sides. This gives you a full BBQ experience.
Brisket is the ultimate test of any BBQ joint. Good brisket should be tender with a dark crust called bark. It should have a pink smoke ring visible when sliced. The meat should be juicy and flavorful even without sauce. Many Portland spots serve their brisket with sauce on the side so you can taste the pure smoked flavor first.
For sides, you can’t go wrong with classics like mac and cheese, coleslaw, and baked beans. The cornbread is usually excellent too. Don’t skip dessert if they offer it. Banana pudding and key lime pie are common BBQ desserts worth trying. If you’re going during peak hours or weekends, arrive early or call ahead. Popular items like brisket often sell out by late afternoon since everything is smoked fresh daily.