35 Best Barbeque Restaurants near Palo Alto

“My toddler and I came 30 mins before closing time and they still served us. They even served people who came later than us! They just asked us to pay at closing time but we can stay longer to finish our meal. Everything was yummy. I love going to a Korean restaurant and they serve me purple rice. My daughter ate a lot. Will come back here if I ever visit Menlo Park again.“

“A really good find in the city that is open till late night and the food here is also pretty amazing. It has also a bunch of good deserts along with the delicious food that they have. You probably wouldn’t come here for the ambience, but you’ll definitely come back here for the food and it’s totally worth the price.“

“I made my first order from Empire Armadillo BBQ through DoorDash today. As a huge fan and loyal customer of Armadillo Willy’s, I was so sad when they closed most of their restaurants. However, the ribs I received today from Empire were the best I’ve EVER had. They were incredibly delicious and I’m already planning to visit this place frequently.“

“We came to here to celebrate Mother's Day, and it wasn't too crowded. We ordered quite a few different skewers, including chicken gizzard, beef, lamb, and veggies. One thing I really like about this place was the seasoning was flavorful without being too salty that you could actually tasted the meats flavor. Highly recommended!“

“Amazing experience! I’ve eaten here three days in a row, and every visit has been fantastic. We had a small mix-up with our order today, but Ahmed was incredibly kind and went above and beyond to help us get everything sorted out. The customer service was outstanding, and the food was so good it was literally dance-worthy. Highly recommend!“

“Tried meat only, brisket, tri-tip, and pulled pork since on keto diet right now. Brisket was tasty & tender with a good amount of smoke on it, just how I like it. What's the point of bbq if you can't really taste that the meat was smoked? Also enjoyed the tri-tip & pork. When I am in the area and have a hankering for great BBQ, which is often, I'll be back“

“This place is amazing! The spare ribs are bbq'ed right in front of you along with all of the other meats. The owners are kind and very personable. :) I went here two days in a row. Delish!“

“We’ve been here a few times and each time, our food is delicious. On this June 6, 2026 day, I had the 1 meat bowl which included the smoked chicken and the baked beans.I devoured every bit. Both were so delicious. My husband inhaled his brisket sandwich and my son surprisingly finished his chicken tacos. We even got a greeting from the owner. 😊 We ate outside this time, but the ambiance is good whether we sit in or out. I highly recommend that you try this place if you haven’t already.“

“The best BBQ around. A must try, you won’t regret it.“

“I came here with my family on a whim and honestly glad I did. The tofu soup was on point in this rainy day. perfectly rich broth, soft tofu, and just the right amount of spice. Banchan kept coming without even asking. the food portions were way bigger than expected for the price.“

“A old school broiler with awesome people running the business. I had the French Burger, absolutely delicious. Will be back for another great meal. Also the bathrooms are so clean and nice smelling.“

“the best brunch buffet In Bay area. amazing kitchen. 10 stars“

“Came by for lunch seemed pretty slow. Ordered the brisket sandwich and the young man up front offered a free side of Mac and cheese. Didn’t wait too long for the food which was tender and tasty. If you’re looking for a bbq sport in the area I recommend you check it out.“

“Great food, drinks and people!“

“Walked in not expecting much but was greeted lovingly by a sweet family running shop by themselves. They seemed delighted that we were eating In and the small homey setting really felt like they inviting us to sit at their table. The spam masubi was incredible, served fresh, with a sweet sauce, and a little touch of pork sung in there made all the difference. I got the wagyu beef with egg meal. It also came with that signature sauce and the meat was perfectly seasoned and tender. As we left, packing up the leftovers off the heaping plates of food, the father ran out to give us some extra sauce and make sure we didn’t leave without knowing how much we were appreciated. The incredible food and the family’s hospitality truly made it feel like I was eating a home cooked meal with my grandparents and I would love to come back and support them more!“

“Friendly and helpful staff, great environment, attentive. my first time having Caribbean food and got the jerk chicken, the extra sauce is highly recommended for the extra kick.“

“OLHSO Truck isn’t just a food truck—it’s a fully automated robotic kitchen on wheels. Fresh ingredients are prepped daily by human chefs, but the actual cooking is done by a high-tech robot loaded with Chef Han’s perfected recipes. Once an order is placed, the truck’s system stir-fries everything while en route, so the food is piping hot and fresh just minutes before arrival.

For something made entirely by a machine, the food is impressively flavorful and well-executed.

Wagyu – Boneless wagyu short ribs marinated in a rich house sauce, stir-fried with fresh veggies. The meat is tender, packed with umami, and perfectly caramelized.

Dak Galbi – Chicken stir-fried in a gochujang-based spicy sauce with plenty of chewy rice cakes. The heat is customizable, but the deep, smoky flavor always shines.

SEOUL Food – A bold combination of kimchi, pork belly, soybean paste, and shrimp, all stir-fried together for layers of intense, savory flavor.

Japchae – Glass noodles tossed with mushrooms, fresh vegetables, and a sweet-savory soy sauce. Light yet satisfying.

Orders are placed through their app, and the robotic kitchen times the cooking process to ensure food arrives fresh—not sitting in a takeout container for half an hour. The whole concept is futuristic and efficient, and for a meal made entirely by a robot, the taste is surprisingly impressive.“

“We had a college graduation catered by Arnadillo Willy's. Everything was fine until a fight broke out at the end of the evening when we had to divide up the leftovers! Everything was so good that everyone wanted the leftovers!😁 If we ever have another event, we will order from them again.“

“Our band, Drini & the Bad Kats Band, played at the venue for the first time last night. The entire staff, patrons and owner were great. Our friends loved the venue as well. I’ve been for Karaoke Nights several times and have always had a blast as well. The drinks are strong and delicious, just like I like em. Lots of space to move around too. 🤗🎤🎉“

“The food was fresh and arrived quickly, and the staff were very friendly. Unfortunately, they were out of taro drinks, but the strawberry smoothie was delicious 🍓! Couldn’t ask for more. I’ll definitely visit again if I’m in the area. 😀“

“The staff is friendly and quickly steps in to help grill the meat, making the whole experience smooth and easy. The meat is good quality — well-marinated and tender. They also serve generous portions of large intestine, which is a nice touch many places skip.
Overall, it’s one of the stronger Korean BBQ options in San Jose. The only improvement would be offering more variety in banchan sides.
I’ll definitely return next time I’m craving Korean BBQ“

“Came here several times for the amazing weekday lunch specials (bossam!) and the bbq. Prices are good, the food is delicious, and everything is clearly made with a lot of love and care. They have amazing service and the incredible side dishes. We finished every. single. thing on the table.“

“We ordered the kalua pork and a combo plate seafood BBQ mix with shrimp and chicken katsu.
The combo plate was huge but it felt like an ordinary dish you could get anywhere else. A bit bland nothing special.
However, the kalua pork was right on point. It tasted really good, tender, juicy, and full of flavor. That dish definitely stood out and made the meal worthwhile. If you go, I’d recommend sticking with the kalua pork.
The Hawaiian cookies was such a sweet surprise to see them there that I bought the guava flavor one. It instantly took me back to beautiful memories of a special place in Hawaii with family. Every bite felt nostalgic and comforting. 🌺“

“Decent portions and fast service! My favorites are the BBQ chicken and spam musubi. The dining area is quite large, which makes for a comfortable wait. I usually order via their website because there is no upcharge or fee—it's the same price as ordering at the counter. Fast, reliable, and friendly! (Note: They don’t accept the loyalty program points here).“

“Very nice ambiance and great service. All staffs look professional and prompt.“

“edamame is bomb and so delicious. and service is the best“

“The rose ddeok-bokki is pure decadence, an absolute dream if you love creamy dishes. If you add cheese on top, the cheese gets that blowtorched, charred flavor. I love the chew of the rice cakes. The cabbage adds pops of sweetness to the dish and although it is cooked, it has a satisfying crisp to it. The fish cakes rounds out the dish with its savoriness. I do feel like it could be better with fresh green onion on top though. Nevertheless, it keeps me coming back.“

“Indoor and outdoor dining. Great food, friendly service. Kimchee chige, bbq short ribs, ban chan and purple mixed grain rice was delicious. Plus the tofu is non GMO. 👍🏻“

“My favorite hot pot spot! Im happy theres no extra charge for anything, and I can have kbbq and hot pot.

Ingredients are always fresh, and they have a good sauce bar.

I always go for the pork bone broth, but my friends love the miso and spicy broth.

Service is always good and theyre usually pretty quick with things despite it always being busy.“

“Came to MTV 2 years ago.
This place never fails to fascinate me -- I really like the AYCE perspective and after a while, the restaurant owner knows me personally and my preference when cooking as well.
Highly recommend this place.“

“Bibimbap hot pot with spicey pork, yum. lots of great vegetables and and the pork with egg over rice.“

“i love their food i tried most of them and it's always been cooked perfect and tastes delicious there's also always one lady who works here she's very nice and always is very attentive! a bonus is that it's open pretty late“

“I love the Seapot in San Mateo. This Sunnyvale location is basically the same concept, but I was surprised that they were missing a few things: no cakes and desserts, no sticky rice, no steamed buns, no spring rolls, no smashed cucumbers. There were fewer side dishes compared to San Mateo.

Otherwise, the food options are pretty much the same, the meat quality is about the same (Great for an AYCE), and the decor is pretty similar.

The service in Sunnyvale seemed slower than in San Mateo.“

“Waterfront view, great service, awesome hot pot. What else can I ask for? Yeah. Love this place and will surely come back again!“

“Very tasty Chinese BBQ. I enjoyed the meat skewers, they were seasoned very well. Our group especially liked the grilled vegetables, the grilled green beans were excellent and the grilled mushrooms were truly divine. The atmosphere is great, it's a clean, well-lit place with nice Chinese decor. And our server was very friendly. All in all we had a great experience at this restaurant and highly recommend it.

Parking: Parking is very easy.“