Hearty, fun, smokey, and zesty, BBQ dishes are popular for a reason. Accompany this with such as coleslaw, cornbread, and collard greens, and I honestly think you have some of the most perfect comfort food in the world. Are you craving BBQ food yet? If so, from traditional to vegan, here are my all-time favorite spots for BBQ in Portland, Oregon…
Our Top 3 Best BBQ Restaurants in Portland
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Best For Vegetarians and Vegans
Veggie Grill
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Reverend’s BBQ
Reverend’s BBQ specializes in smoked meats, beer on tap, and serving high-quality fried chicken dishes.
Located in the Sellwood-Moreland District, it’s known as “your neighbourhood smokehouse.” Choose from St Louis-style smoked pork ribs, Carolina pork shoulder, and other Southern favourites such as hushpuppies and smoked chicken wings.
If you have a special event that you want catering with food from Reverend’s BBQ, I would suggest contacting them for a free consultation on your catering needs.
Pros
Have a beer on tap
Well-seasoned BBQ
Super friendly waiting staff
Moist and succulent meat
Cons
Some items are higher priced
Can get very busy
Veggie Grill
Veggie Grill is your destination for vegan BBQ sandwiches that feature delicious faux meats and I’m a big fan of this place.
I’d highly recommend trying their signature dishes, such as Buffalo Cobb Salad, Steakhouse Burger, and the Santa Fe Chickin’, for a delicious barbecue taste. The Reuben on Rye and the Tuna Melt are also made with faux meats for a cruelty-free plant-based alternative to the real thing.
With a wide selection of fresh and tasty salads and feel-good comfort foods such as fries and crispy cauliflower, this makes Veggie Grill one of the best places for vegan BBQ.
Pros
Cruelty-free plant-based meat
Ample and generous portions
Perfect for grab and go
Great range of dips
Cons
Chain restaurant
Not for your meat-loving friends
Dirty Lettuce
The Cully District’s Dirty Lettuce offers 100% vegan BBQ dishes, including seitan BBQ ribs and even Konjac shrimp fries.
Dirty Lettuce claims that its dishes are “sinful Southern eats” that are completely plant-based. This means you can indulge in hearty catfish platters, cajun shrimp platters, seitan fried chicken, french quarter krab cake plates, crispy fried pickles, mac and cheese, Southern greens, and so much more!
Try botanical seltzers as a way to wash it all down with flavors, including blood orange, vanilla, fuji apple, lavender, ginger, and other flavors.
Pros
Vegan Southern Staples
Cool and intimate restaurant with funky decor
Tasty seitan-based BBQ ribs
Cons
Small restaurant
Can get crowded
Not for your meat-loving friends
Matt’s BBQ
Boise District’s Matt’s BBQ specializes in serving up Texas-style ribs. They claim to be the best Texas BBQ in Portland and Beaverton, and the confidence in their menu and customers raving over the taste is why this business is one of the best places for BBQ in Portland.
Choose to order online for same-day pick-up, or you can pre-order a meal in advance to pick up within 48 hours or more from the time you have placed the order.
If you have a big family or informal event, consider Matt’s BBQ for catering services.
Pros
Famous Texas-style ribs
Dishes are charred to perfection
Offers catering services
Cons
Slow online ordering system
Busier than usual on weekends
So Kong Dong Tofu & BBQ
So Kong Dong Tofu & BBQ specializes in delicious Korean dishes such as kimchi and bibimbap.
Located in the Powellhurst-Gilbert District in the Fubonn Shopping Center, they serve super large BBQ Combos that feature a mix of beef brisket, beef rib, pork belly, beef bulgogi, and your choice of tofu or soybean paste stew.
Try their tofu dishes as well, including dumplings soon tofu, squid tofu, vegetable tofu, curry tofu, and many more!
Pros
Savory and rich flavors
Finger-licking good menu
Authentic Korean food
Cook yourself BBQ
Both meat and vegan options
Cons
Crowded on some days
Food may be too spicy for some people
Limited menu
Miss Delta Restaurant and Bar
Next time you are in the Boise District and craving BBQ, visit Miss Delta Restaurant and Bar!
Try the Smoked Brisket, Pulled Pork, Burnt Ends, or Blackened Shrimp Po’Boy sandwiches for a hearty taste of their BBQ selections.
Other Southern favourites to indulge in include fried oysters, fried okra, black-eyed peas, coleslaw, cornbread, cheese grits, wedge salad, hush puppies, spare ribs, and fried chicken in their Delta Meal Deals.
Pros
Authentic Southern BBQ flavors
Diverse menu with Southern classics
Quality smoked meats
Cozy neighborhood atmosphere
Smoke Squad
Smoke Squad calls themselves “The real deal BBQ” in the Tigard area, with its restaurant right on the edge of Portland.
When they smoke their meats, they utilize mixed fruitwood and oak wood for a delicious smoke and flavor for their ribs, brisket, tri-tip, pulled pork, and more.
They sell ribs singularly, by half the rack and by the full rack. We imagine that you do not want to eat just one rib or even half the rack. Grab a full rack for the best value and share with family and friends!
Pros
Authentic BBQ flavor
Wide variety of smoked meats
Flexible serving options
Perfect for sharing with loved ones
K-Town Korean BBQ Restaurant
K-Town Korean BBQ Restaurant is best known for its Korean-style DIY BBQ meals.
LA Galbi, Bulgogi beef, Pork Bulgogi, Spicy Bulgogi, Teriyaki Chicken, and Garlic Chicken are just some of the many Korean BBQ dishes that you can enjoy.
Besides their Portland location in the Lents District, there are also two other locations in Oregon, including Vancouver and Beaverton. The Beaverton location is coming soon, and opening day will be announced shortly.
Pros
All-you-can-eat Korean BBQ
Wide variety of BBQ dishes
DIY dining experience
Multiple locations in Oregon
Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que
Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que is one of many locations in a BBQ restaurant chain that offers patrons their signature ribs, burgers, and fries, and delicious Southern-inspired, all in an American Western-themed setting.
Located near the Portland Airport PDX area, choose from St Louis-style ribs, baby back ribs, and burnt ends as your protein. You can order just the protein, or you can make one of them a combo with your choice of sides to customize your delicious BBQ dinner.
Pros
Signature BBQ ribs and burgers
Southern-inspired menu
Customizable BBQ dinners
American Western-themed ambiance
Cons
Closes early on the weekend
Limited vegetarian options
Potential long wait times
Kkoki Korean BBQ
Kkoki Korean BBQ is stationed in the South Tabor neighborhood in the Powell Street Station.
All-you-can-eat Korean BBQ is Kkoki’s claim to fame. If you prefer to eat at home, there are also to-go and take-out options.
For this option, you can get items per round at the buffet, and you and your party have a maximum 2-hour time limit for you to enjoy your meal before you must be dismissed to let other patrons enjoy the all-you-can-eat experience, too.
Pros
All-you-can-eat Korean BBQ
Convenient Powell Street location
Varied buffet items
Ideal for group dining
Cons
Time limit of 2 hours for eating
Waiting time up to 30 mins
Kim Jong Grillin’
Richmond District’s Kim Jong Grillin’ is a Korean BBQ food cart that offers bulgogi, gabi, spicy chicken, spicy chicken, KJG hot dogs, Japchae, and Kim Chee fried rice.
What’s known as Portland’s favorite hangover cure is the Bibim Box at Kim Jong Grillin’. You select a protein to put on top of Japchae noodles. The dish is topped off with a fried egg and Gochujang. Select from one of the first four proteins listed above, or you can choose tofu or vegetable to make it a vegetarian option.
Pros
Fusion of Korean and Southern BBQ
Unique menu with bold flavors
Vegetarian-friendly options available
Convenient food cart location
Cons
Packed on weekends
Limited menu for some dietary preferences
Podnah’s BBQ
Podnah’s BBQ is based in the Vernon District and serves delicious BBQ meats, including brisket, pulled pork, carnitas, smoked links, chicken, and pork spare ribs. You can order just the meat of your choice of meat with 2 sides of cornbread. If you want collard greens or mac and cheese sides for this plate instead, it would cost a couple of dollars extra.
For your drink, select from hand-poured draft beers, cocktails, wine (by the glass or the bottle), bottled beer, fountain drinks, and water.
End your delicious Southern favorites meal with pecan pie with Cool Whip or banana pudding!
Pros
Authentic Texas-style BBQ
Wide meat selection
Diverse drink options
Delicious dessert choices
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Scott Balaam – writer and photographer
Scott started his travelling life back in 1999, when he headed off on a solo jaunt to South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia with just a backpack, a camera and a spirit for adventure. After that, the travel bug bit hard and now he is always seeking to head off somewhere new. Over the years he has lived in Italy, Qatar, Australia, Ireland, UK and the USA but his spiritual home will always be Rome as this is the city which most satisfies his unrelenting thirst for culture, good food and great football. In his spare time Scott loves nothing better than to be behind the camera and also runs his own blog and Instagram page. He also counts Melbourne, the rest of Italy, Amsterdam, USA, Athens, Cape Town and Tel Aviv among his favourite places. Find Scott on Linkedin, Instagram, or Twitter.
Hotel Reviewing Experience –Asked by many tourist boards and many high-profile travel brands to formally review hotels including Visit Sweden, OET (Spanish Tourism Office), Sultanate of Oman and Travel Alberta. Also travelled around the world scouting out and reviewing all the most unique hotels in the world, check out our Instagram page for photos. Also mentioned as a top UK travel journalist.
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