Hearty, fun, smokey and zesty, BBQ dishes are popular for a reason. Accompany this with such as coleslaw, cornbread and collard greens, and 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 the best places for BBQ in Portland, Oregon (in no particular order)…
1. Homegrown Smoker – an awesome vegan cafe serving up their own version of BBQ plates
Homegrown Smoker, located in the St. Johns District, serves up vegan BBQ and vegan Southern soul food dishes to its patrons.
The vegan restaurant just originated in March 2022 and is attracting not only people on a vegan diet but also people on a regular American diet willing to try something different.
Try their Buffalo Chick’n Sando, BBQ Bacon Burger, OG Chick’n Sando, and other vegan BBQ dishes on their menu.
Their gluten-free and vegan hush puppies are reminiscent of the soul food that they offer and they go fast so be sure to get to the restaurant as early in the day as possible to try them!
Address: 8638 N Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
2. Southland Whiskey Kitchen – a casual Southern restaurant and bar with a bourbon selection and plenty of BBQ food
Northwest District’s Southland Whiskey Kitchen offers delicious barbecue dishes and drinks.
Known as the premier BBQ and whiskey location, they serve up the Smokehouse Sandwich, Lamb Burger, Roadside Burger, and a Fried Chicken Sandwich that can be enjoyed with different house cocktails and after-dinner libations. Besides whiskey, Southland Whiskey Kitchen is renowned for its bourbon selection.
Don’t miss their Saturday and Sunday brunch from 10 am to 3 pm. They also have a daily happy hour from 3 pm to 6 pm with select drinks and food for $5. Check out their special events that happen each night such as Tuesdays are trivia nights.
Address: 1422 NW 23rd Ave, Portland, OR 97210
3. Reverend’s BBQ – smoked meats & beer on tap in a contemporary space
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 neighborhood smokehouse”. Choose from St Louis-style smoked pork ribs, Carolina pork shoulder, and other Southern favorites such as hushpuppies and smoked chicken wings.
If you have a special event that you want catering with food from Reverend’s BBQ, contact them for a free consultation on your catering needs.
Address: 7712 SE 13th Ave, Portland, OR 97202
4. Veggie Grill – a vegan chain offering faux meats and sides in a modern, counter-service setting
Veggie Grill is your destination for vegan BBQ sandwiches that feature delicious faux meats.
Try 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 is also made with faux meats for a healthier, 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.
Address: 508 SW Taylor St, Portland, OR 97204
5. Bark City BBQ – a window-serve BBQ joint at the Asylum pod offering smoked meats and Southern sides
Bark City BBQ’s motto is “where wood, fire, smoke, and meat come together”.
Located in the Creston-Kenilworth District, they are well-known for their signature BBQ trays. Select your type of BBQ protein to pair with pickled BBQ onions as well two sides of your choosing and Texas candied jalapenos.
Choose from sausage links, Memphis dry or wet rub pork ribs, smoked turkey breast, or Texas-style prime brisket as the BBQ protein for their trays.
If you want the Pit Master Nap, you get a combination of all 4 of these meat options. You can even upgrade to the Double Nap for double the meat to be able to feed 3-4 people.
Address: 3582 SE Powell Blvd, Portland, OR 97202
6. Dirty Lettuce – a fully vegan restaurant offering plant-based alternatives to the meat BBQ classics
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” which 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 cheeze, 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.
Address: 4727 NE Fremont St, Portland, OR 97213
7. Matt’s BBQ – Texas-style ribs & brisket served from a food truck with picnic tables
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.
Address: 4233 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97217
8. So Kong Dong Tofu & BBQ – a traditional Korean dishes with Korean 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 dumpling soon tofu, squid soon tofu, vegetable soon tofu, curry soon tofu, and many more!
Address: 2850 SE 82nd Ave UNIT 11, Portland, OR 97266
9. Miss Delta Restaurant and Bar – more than your typical neighborhood BBQ joint
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 favorites 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.
Address: 3950 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97227
10. Smoke Squad – offers locally sourced food that is smoked daily
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!
Address: 11540 SW Pacific Hwy, Portland, OR 97223
11. K-Town Korean BBQ Restaurant – a modern buffet restaurant with an all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue
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.
Address: 5450 SE 82nd Ave, Portland, OR 97266
12. Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que – a popular chain of barbecue restaurants
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 nearby 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.
Address: 9911 NE Cascades Pkwy, Portland, OR 97220
13. Kkoki Korean BBQ – one of the best Korean BBQ’s in town
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.
Address: 8001 SE Powell Blvd Ste o, Portland, OR 97206
14. Kim Jong Grillin’ – features Korean-style street food prepared with Southern-style barbecue smoking techniques
Richmond District’s Kim Jong Grillin’ is a Korean BBQ food cart that offers bulgogi, gabi, spicy chicken, spicy chicken, KJG hot dog, 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.
Address: 4606 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97206
15. Podnah’s BBQ – smoked Texas-style barbecue and sides served in a simple, spacious restaurant
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!
Address: 1625 NE Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97211
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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, Ireland, UK and the US but his spiritual home will always be Rome as this is the city which most satisfies his unrelenting craving for culture, good food and great football. Scott loves nothing better than to be behind the camera and also runs his own blog and Instagram page. He also counts Melbourne, Cape Town and Tel Aviv among his favourite places. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @scottbalaam