50 Best Barbeque Restaurants near Emeryville

“Orders the following for a total of $33.
Sausage link: 5/5 seasoned and cooked well with your choice of sauce.

Brisket chili: 3/5 chunky full of meat but lacks flavor.

Mac & cheese: 3/5 cheesy but lacks flavor

*** idea I tried - mix the chili with the mac and cheese - still lacked flavor.

they put their foot in them greens

Potato salad: 5/5 very good!“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Surprise discovery and a great lunch experience!
My wife and I were headed somewhere else when we spotted Ramen 101 from the road—it looked inviting, so we decided to give it a try. At first, parking was a bit tricky since it’s tucked inside a lot, but we ended up parking right in front—lucky find! A woman greeted us nearby and asked if we could buy her a drink before heading in—it was a bit awkward.
Inside, the place looked sharp—great visuals in the windows and a clean, quiet vibe. The menu offered plenty of appealing options, so we both ordered the spicy beef ramen (but mild) and an order of deep-fried vegetables. The ramen looked as good as it tasted (see the picture)—tender beef, perfectly seasoned broth that wasn’t too spicy, and the veggie tempura was impressive—especially the sweet potato slices, which are my favorite and were a delicious surprise.
The service was friendly and attentive, and the environment was peaceful, so we could enjoy our conversation without noise. The total came in under $65, and it turned out to be a really pleasant, unexpectedly great stop. We’d happily come back!“

“Flavorful food & good customer service“

“Incredible food, well seasoned and juicy meats. The service is top notch, they're always looking for feedback and sometimes they seed samples to customers to try as their menu expands. A warm welcoming space for all. There is also a projector playing anime and apparel you can purchase as well. Help yourself to a sticker or two, free with your order.“

“Cute little restaurant. We ordered cucumber salad, bbq chicken set and bbq char siu set. Everything tastes so good. Very very high food quality. A lot of flavors. The spicy and numbing cucumber salad is the BEST I have had in the US. Not exaggerating.

It’s counter service and they have discounts for cash. Staff is very friendly. Great neighborhood restaurant for everyday eats. Would come back again when we are in Berkeley next time.“

“5/5 SO SO YUMMYYY!!! This hit the spot 😍😩 We actually came here after another meal that we weren’t satisfied with. The best were 1. Chicken skewers and 2. Taiwanese sausage skewers. The seaweed salad was also excellent. Next time we’ll come for a proper meal and get some much more!“

“NO LONGER A MALATANG SPOT

food was good, ordered the mapo tofu(it was spicy but not numbing spicy), beef and broccoli, and pork and seaweed soup. we enjoyed the soup the most.

overall had a good experience.“

“Great Food😋 Sports bar atmosphere“

“Old school Hof Brau spot with excellent meats (roast chicken, turkey, beef, pork ribs, sausages). They have delicious sides like spaghetti with meat sauce, coleslaw, bean salad, macaroni salad. Excellent service, the owner is in his 90s and still going strong! Love this place!“

“Man, talk about old -school soul food! This place takes me back to the days of flavorful bbq and sublime sides like we used to get in Oakland. And their fish is off the hook, too(pun intended).
Make your way here when you can and you’ll not be disappointed. They deliver!“

“Chef Horn, is something special💯“

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

“Amazing every time.“

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

“Some of the best BBQ we’ve had in the Bay Area. George helped me out on July 4th for a small family gathering. Everyone loved the food, especially the ribs and green beans.

He told me they also do catering which we will consider for future events!“

“Ordered 1/2lb of Brisket, 1/2rack of pork ribs, Vaquero Beans, Arroz verde, Texas frito pie. The only thing my wife and I weren't happy with was the brisket (a bit dry and tough). Everything else was stellar!!! Will definitely go back! Next time we'll leave off the brisket and try the chicken instead. Yum!“

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

“great food great price you will be back“

“Can’t believe it took me so long to try this place!
I had the brisket and dino ribs, with slaw salad and potato salad on the side.
First of all, I would never in my life order potato salad—but this potato salad is so good I could eat it as a meal! (In fact, I actually had it for breakfast the next morning.)
The slaw salad was fresh and zesty. I loved the dressing, the peanuts, and of course the pineapple.
The brisket melts in your mouth, and the dino ribs were packed with flavor. Honestly, the meat was absolute perfection.
We got a burger to go (very kind lady at the counter!)
The seating is casual, which really matches the kind of food you just want to devour without a second thought.
I’ll definitely be coming back for more - forever!“

“Every single meat cut was cooked to perfection!! The menu is also designed very balanced, with vegetables and steamed eggs between meat courses to balance out the flavors. Chris helped us grill the meat and he’s such a delight to chat with!“

“I ran across this place by accident. It is on 98th Ave., East Oakland.Some might not think the neighborhood is very nice, but there is parking and the barbecue was good for the most part. I did ask for my barbecue to be on my meat because it was very good dark, But they put it on the side instead. You have the choice of getting lunch or dinner. The dinner is gonna cost you a little bit more but it’s a lot of meat.The sauce was rich and seasoned just right I got the beans and the mac & cheese. I was told that the potato salad is actually very good. Traffic is swift , on the outside, looking in, you would never know that they have really good barbecue inside but the most part I’m pleased“

“I visited Mashita Galbi Jjim on a Sunday evening around 6 PM with a party of four, and to my surprise, there was no wait—we were seated right away. With only two staff members working the floor, the restaurant still managed a steady rhythm of service. The space itself is inviting, with a high ceiling that makes it feel airy, a clean bathroom (always a plus), and a generally cozy environment that sets the stage for a comfortable meal.

For food, we ordered two dishes: the pork tonkatsu and their signature galbi jjim. The tonkatsu arrived quickly, golden and crispy, delivering the kind of satisfying crunch and savory bite you’d expect from a well-executed cutlet. The galbi jjim, however, was a different story. It took about 30 minutes to reach our table, which seems to be the norm based on observing other tables. While the wait did build anticipation, it also disrupted the pacing of the meal. When it did arrive, the flavors were solid—rich, hearty, and braised with care—but not quite at the level of depth or complexity I’ve had elsewhere. Personally, I still prefer Daeho’s version, which leans more memorable in both flavor and overall experience.

Service was professional and efficient given the limited staff, though not particularly warm or engaging. It felt more functional than personal, but everything we needed was taken care of without issue.

In terms of ambiance, Mashita balances casual comfort with a slightly polished feel, making it a nice spot for a relaxed meal with friends or family.

Value-wise, the restaurant is fairly priced for the quality and portion sizes. While the food is solid and the dining experience smooth overall, I didn’t find it compelling enough to make this my go-to spot for galbi jjim.

Final verdict: 4/5. A reliable option with cozy ambiance and decent execution, but not quite distinctive enough to stand out in a city with strong competition.“

“Food here is so good and a decent price for plates (I think it was $15 for a 1 meat plate and $20 for 2 meats ). Parked right outside Planet Fitness so a perfect post gym meal. The ribs are very juicy and the BBQ sauce he makes is delicious! The baked beans always hit along with the potato salad. Only complaint is that the bread sometimes gets soggy from the items in the box but that can easily be fixed. Definitely one of my favorite quick BBQ spots and I highly recommend giving him a try!“

“My favorite place to get Chinese food. I’ve tried a lot of spots in Richmond and this place is by far my favorite. The food is freshly made and you can taste the quality of their ingredients. My go to is beef and broccoli with fried rice. I’m from the East Coast and Chinese food out there tastes way different than over here (and better in my opinion). Frannie’s is the closest I’ve gotten to back home <3 So good. My partner loves their Mongolian beef. The staff is friendly and it’s not a long wait. I HIGHLY recommend you try them out!“

“This place is a jewel on E14 at San Leandro Blvd. Food is good and affordable.2 choice with side is $10 with tax. 3 courses family dinner with choices is $39.99.
Credit card accepted with minimum of $15.00
Dinning room sit in available. Chinese BBQ.Roast pork,duck and steam chicken Chinese style are available. Good quality and quantity food at an affordable price.👍❤️“

“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.“

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

“I’m a vegetarian, so I can’t speak about the Q (the men in my house cried when the last wing was grabbed), but this banana pudding is so off the hook I want to cry!! So rich and creamy! I’ve eaten 1/2 of the very generous serving and I’m stuffed. I’m gunna power through it though, because I know if I save it, one of these boys will eat it!“

“Really solidly good Hawaiian food. I had family visiting from France who wanted to try Hawaiian food and they loved it! Especially high praise coming from Parisians used to amazing restaurants. It's a small place and nothing fancy but the food is really, really good. If you haven't been, you should definitely try it!“

“Picked up dinner twice this week. Delicious.“

“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“

“The smoke salmon is absolutely delicious“

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

“las personas muy amigables con los niños...comida riquísima y muy buena presentación“

“On my way to the Bayfair farmer’s market I saw a guy bbq out on the sidewalk today. After the market, I decided to stop and long behold I found this place! 😄. had the delicious “Thank Que bowl and lumpia”. So fresh, tasty and delicious! I will be back.....thank u Chef Rene!“

“We got the Supreme Set A for three people a bit to much food for 3 but go figure it feeds 4-5 people. But overall food and sides were hella good kimchi sour level was great and meat well seasoned. The staff were very attentive and even cooked all the meat for us. Definitely gonna be coming back“

“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“

“Such a great experience eating at this restaurant. The service was top notch and the pizza was to die for.“

“TL:DR -
I'm definitely going to go back 😀

We tried #18 (Loco Moco) and #1 (Hawaiian BBQ Mix).

Gravy (way) too salty. I'd ask for half as much.
My partner got an extra side, since the BBQ Mix was a dry rub.

Order at the counter ‼️

I had multiple issues with the touchscreen menu 💢 and then finally had to order at the counter anyway.“

“Good food, great place for duck, Asian BBQ pork and BBQ ribs etc. Large amount of menu items. Their egg Foo young is amazing. Picture is their wonton and egg noodles with Peking duck pretty good. 11.00+ unfortunately, they haven’t allowed dine in since the start of the Covid pandemic. Prices have also raised $3.00 plus per item since then .“

“Best roast duck & rice plate in SF for $11. I've patronize Top's Cafe since forever! Before covid this was full service restaurant. Still serving the community as a deli like service. Come and enjoy the flavors! You won't be disappointed.“

“The food was truly authentic and exceptional, with incredible flavors. I was warmly welcomed by the friendly staff and decided to try the BBQ pork plate. It exceeded all expectations and has likely set the bar so high that standard ‘Chinese food’ places will never compare.“

“A small hole in the wall right behind the main Safeway in downtown, but, it’s so good! The burgers are generously portioned and there is enough variety for anyone who finds themselves craving a burger but wants it to have unique ingredients. They have enough outdoor seating for larger groups. They offer a half/half of fried and onion rings, which we recommend, too!“

“We eat here about once a month. There’s a large all you care to eat selection, service is fast and they have decent list of beers to go with all the meat. The only problem we’ve had is that their scissors aren’t sharpened- that’s ok, next time we’ll bring our own.“

“Vowed to myself I ain’t leaving Sanfo this time without trying this place. And it didn’t disappoint. Ambience is immaculate. Service was topnotch. And the food is DIVINE. Definitely worth coming back to. I hope they open a branch in LA.“

“I've been here more times than I can count. I've eaten at multiple KBBQ spots to find a place that can best this one...can't find it!

The pork belly at Jong Ga house might be the best quality I've ever eaten. It just melts in your mouth(assuming that you cook it right, of course).

I can't praise this place enough.“

“a ton of food options, check new shops like Rov's Craft Kitchen“

“Loved the pulled pork loaded Mac“

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I recently visited CJ’S and I can't say enough good things about my experience! The customer service was absolutely top-notch—every staff member was friendly, attentive, and genuinely seemed to care about making our visit enjoyable.
The BBQ itself was out of this world! Food had so much flavor, and you could really taste the quality of the ingredients. The smoked meats were perfectly cooked.. I especially loved the ribs.. so good

The atmosphere was laid-back and inviting ..I also appreciated the great selection of sides and sauces that complemented the main dishes perfectly.

All in all, CJ’S is a must-visit for BBQ lovers. I can’t wait to go back for another delicious meal. Highly recommend!“