14 Best Barbeque Restaurants in Oakland

“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!“

“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!“

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

“Chef Horn, is something special💯“

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

“GOPCHANG LOVER’S PARADISE
If you’ve been missing your Korean Gopchang/intestines you had in SoCal, this is the spot to try! The portion is decent and flavor is there! Also love that there’s potato slices in there!

To avoid long lines, come during off hours like 3pm~ They don’t take same day reservations.

Other dishes-
Cold buckwheat noodles are 9/10
Soy sauce garlic chicken 7/10 (wish they weren’t full of fried batter clumps and wanted just wings)
Pork belly single serving 9/10
Spicy tofu soup 8.5/10 (love the tofu in there!)
Side dishes 8/10

Atmosphere-
Very loud and the music just adds to the noise, have to yell across the table for my friends to hear me, vise versa…. During busy hours that is.“

“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.“

“The fried chicken is crispy outside and juicy tender inside. The various chicken combos are good deals. There is a wait for orders because the food is not precooked and sitting under heat lamps. Parking can be difficult and the small parking lot fills up quickly. I will definitely be returning!“

“First timer, great experience and great food! Loved it! Will be going back.“

“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“

“We got the all you can eat and the staff was friendly and responsive. We did have to ask for one thing a couple times… but there were soooo many things and it was a busy Friday night! The food was yummy and fresh. The House wine was nice. We walked in at 7pm and got seated immediately.“

“Delicious food, generous portions, and great service. The chicken combo and aloha bbq mix are a must-try—so flavorful and perfectly cooked. iLava is consistently good every time!“

“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“

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