33 Best Barbeque Restaurants near Berkeley

“Was visiting the Bay Area for BTS concert and found this place randomly and wow, glad I found this place. Probably one of the best thing we had in the Bay Area and we went to a lot of places! The Char Siu was so good! Must try when in the area! Owner was also really nice and friendly!“

“This is my favorite spot to catch a game while enjoying incredible BBQ and drinks.The barbecue here is the real deal, the beef brisket sandwich and crispy tacos are my go to’s and the sides like the oxtail poutine are pure comfort food. They have a fully stocked bar with an excellent selection of beers on tap and an extensive selection of bourbons and whisky’s. More importantly they have a Toki Highball machine!! The staff is super friendly and even remembers your drink of choice! Go check this place out!“

“Picked up dinner twice this week. Delicious.“

“Excellent food , as good as any Hawaiian BBQ“

“I’ve always ordered the teriyaki plate with Mac salad and did order something for others and this place makes the best Hawaiian teriyaki reminded me of the flavors back home on Hawaii and there is a Moku’s back home and I appreciate the food from Moku Berkeley! My go to when I’m craving for food back home!!“

“My dad used to drink there in the 1980s and the Asian husband and wife couple who owned the bar bought him a last drink and told him never to come backThe bar was closed for about 10 or 20 years in the 1990s and the 2000sMy favorite part of the bar is spinning the wheel and trying my luck at free drinks cuz half the time it's a l**** deal but half the time it's a winner deal it's a nice bar most people are really coolFor a while they had a 8-bit Nintendo system and I'd play Castlevania and Super Mario Bros over and over again but they do have some arcade games and pinball games really nice“

“Easy ordering, fast prep, tons of food. The place is cost effective and will satisfy even the bigger eaters.

There are several large indoor tables that can accommodate large groups. The same is true outdoors in front of the restaurant.

The pace caters to students and dies a good job. The food is abundant and simple. Solid choice but don't expect a sophisticated food experience.“

“Great Chinese food with authentic taste. They have a hotel next door which is connected to the restaurant and they are open till midnight. If you want great Chinese kebab, noodles, rice dishes, seafood, and dumplings. This is the place to be! Food is cooked fast and they accept card and cash. Will be coming back for the authentic and delicious Chinese spot next to Berkeley!“

“Love ❤️ this place ! For years now✌️😍“

“From the moment we walked in, we were greeted so warmly—which instantly set a great tone for the meal! We decided to share the pastrami sandwich, and they definitely did not skimp. It was loaded with a generous amount of incredibly tender pastrami.
​What really stole the show for me, though, were the accoutrements. The pickled onions and celery were absolutely delicious and paired perfectly with the savory meat. I highly recommend checking this place out!“

“James beard semi finalist and I can tell why. The fusion is so unique and it works. Food sells out fast which is most of the negative reviews because it’s so damn good. Redang plate was amazing and the slaw was ridiculously good. Highly recommend and grab a tasty beer or three next door.“

“I was wondering why all of the reviews are positive but still giving only 4 stars. We visited tonight and now I understand why. There’s definitely an “experience” aspect missing.

People don’t go out to a restaurant just because they need to eat - they want to enjoy the experience of eating out. Everything was efficient: our drinks were refilled, our order came quickly, we were checked out quickly…but the personal touch was missing. No one asked if we had eaten in a restaurant like this before (we have, once), or if we had any questions or needed help. I have food sensitivities and only after placing the order did I learn that I couldn’t eat any of the vegetables. The waiter was fast at asking the chef and returning for the info, but I would have loved “do you have any more questions? Do you need help finding something you can eat on the menu?” That would have made it 5 stars in my opinion.“

“I met a friend for lunch who had picked this restaurant because he had passed it many times taking his son to school. The food was tasty and seasoned, which I find rare when restaurants try to cook southern dishes here in the Bay Area. I had the fried catfish, while my friend had a combo plate. We shared greens, yams and mac-n-cheese. Come and enjoy the relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Reminds me of an Ole Country Juke Joint! Get there early because the parking lot fills up fast! You might even see Roderick himself!“

“Just incredible Korean contemporary fusion cuisine. Kept the fundamentals of the Korean authenticity with unique broad appealing western gastronomic desires. Well done!!!👍“

“The food was awesome 😋😋 The atmosphere was good 👍👍“

“The most tender brisket I may have had anywhere. 🥰🥰“

“These have to be the best ribs I’ve had in a long time.“

“Chef Horn, is something special💯“

“Amazing vegan soul food! I highly recommend!!“

“Awesome take out smokehouse disguised as a bodega. If you're looking for some awesome take out BBQ just to the east of 880 from San Leandro go to the World Championship Smokehouse. If you need some groceries and some awesome barbecue this place is even better because it has a little store attached. Service is really fast, the folks taking your order are bilingual, the parking lot is huge, and the food is delicious.“

“If you want delicious food, at a good price, with great quality, I recommend this restaurant. The owners are very welcoming and friendly. The chef is consistent with all the food orders I have placed and that says a lot since my family and have been their customers for years.“

“Outdoor seating, yummy food, loved the collards.“

“I’ve just recently discovered ibringdasmoke and I’m glad I did! My first order with them was the smoked brisket…it was so good! I just recently ordered a slab of ribs from them and my friend and I loved it! We got a little sample of the Mexican street corn which was very nice of them. I thought it was ok, but my friend enjoyed it. Their spices and the tenderness of their meats are great as well as their bbq sauce. The meat isn’t overly salty which is great. I have recommended this place to my friends and I will definitely be back!“

“The food was very delicious! I loved everything I ordered! Ribs, beef brisket, chicken, potato salad, Mac-N-Cheese, and sausage! I highly recommend eating here.“

“Stopped by Rue Rue’s BBQ and had a really good experience. The barbecue was smoky, flavorful, and cooked just right, with portions that were definitely satisfying.

The place has a laid-back, welcoming vibe and the staff were friendly and attentive. Great spot when you’re craving hearty BBQ and comfort food“

“Saw this place in Instagram and pinned it to my list to go to in Chinatown.

The menu is extensive and has a little bit for everyone’s craving for the day. You know it’s a good sign when you walk in and you hear the uncs and aunties yappin. It just means this place is authentic !

The Satay Beef Noodle soup was great. It has a spice in it I can’t pinpoint, but it made it unique to any other beef noodle soup I’ve had. I was expecting a taste closer to bun bo hue, but no it’s something different. Still very tasty! The cucumbers innit was a surprise and it worked very well.

The chicken wings came out piping hot and crunchy. The chicken itself didn’t have much flavor tho.

The chow fun is something I’d order again. The beef was cooked with a Smokiness flavor to it.

This spot accepts card for payment, so I am happy that I didn’t have to pull money at an ATM. The staff is very friendly and can give recommendations“

“Want to know what the food was like 60 years ago? The Embers keeps tradition alive with outstanding Hickey Pit style BBQ. Takes me back to the days before LSD, long hair and psychedelic music., when surfers were renegades, teenagers raced on the Great Highway and rock and rock was recorded on 2 tracks.
Long Live the Embers.“

“Went for lunch but skipped the specials since we were gravitating towards the barbecue already. Special Set A made for a very filling meal, which our server also grilled for us. All meats were high quality and went nicely with the wide variety of banchan provided. Will definitely be back to try more of the menu, but will make a point to ask which menu items are marinated just to double check. Super friendly staff, and a private parking lot rounded out a nice first experience here.

Note: the covered tables in the central open space are for Don Blanc, not the neighboring restaurant, if you're feeling outdoor dining!“

“This place has the best Chinese barbecue especially Empress chicken, which is my favorite. They used to be in San Leandro and I’m so glad they moved to Oakland. I used to drive from Oakland to San Leandro just to buy their barbecue now longer need to make that trek. So happy they are in Chinatown now“

“Best BBQ I've ever eaten! Moist, great smoke AND nice people!“

“I recommend the family style dish, gives you an opportunity to try all the different types of meat and sides!“

“This is our local, “go to” place whenever we’re craving Korean food. It never disappoints. At night, they generally project K-pop music videos onto a large wall, which brings the whole room to life. Lotsa fun!“