Tough Luck & Lil' Barbecue
$$ • Bars, Cocktail Bar, Whiskey Bar Book a table: 7:00 PM 7:15 PM 7:30 PM MoreAbout Tough Luck & Lil' Barbecue
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If you're a meat eater, none better and the hamburgers are amazing.
As a native Texan this is some of the best brisket I’ve had in Portland. The quality of the meat, tenderness of the brisket and smoked flavor reminded me of the many mom and pop shops I would frequent growing up in south Texas. The pork ribs were also super tasty. I’ll definitely be coming back and would recommend this spot for anyone looking to try some Texas BBQ in Portland.
So good…. Great drinks, great BBQ, nice seating and vibes.
Hours
| Monday | 3 - 11PM |
| Tuesday | 3 - 11PM |
| Wednesday | 3 - 11PM |
| Thursday | 3 - 11PM |
| Friday | 3PM - 12AM |
| Saturday | 12PM - 12AM |
| Sunday | 12 - 11PM |
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.