Tough Luck & Lil' Barbecue

Name: Tough Luck & Lil' Barbecue
Address: 1771 NE Dekum St, Portland, Oregon, 97217, US
Telephone: (971) 754-4188
Price range: $$
Rating: 4.4

$$ • Bars, Cocktail Bar, Whiskey Bar

Hours:
1771 NE Dekum St, Portland
(971) 754-4188

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About Tough Luck & Lil' Barbecue

Tough Luck & Lil' Barbecue serves absolutely excellent and delicious BBQ, considered by some to be the best in Portland. The brisket is a real highlight and consistently on point, described as incredibly flavorful, tender, and delicious with a beautiful peppery bark. The other meats are also excellent, including fall-off-the-bone tender ribs, juicy chicken with crispy skin, sausage with a great snap, and tender pork. For a first visit, many recommend going big with the all the meats option or the one of everything meal, which offers good value and often yields leftovers. The Frito pie is noted as spicy but delicious.

The sides are equally praised. The mac and cheese, also called cheesy mac, is rich, creamy, and has a little kick from green chiles. The tater tots are crispy. They offer two great sauces: a tangy and bold yellow mustard-based sauce and an original BBQ sauce with a perfect balance of vinegar and sweet.

The space is roomy with plenty of seating options, including bar seating, high tables, booths, and outside firepit seating, located in the Woodlawn neighborhood with easy street parking. Service is generally quick and staff are polite and informative, though wait times can be long at peak times. The experience is consistently tasty and worth a return visit.