Matt Wastradowski

Matt Wastradowski is an Oregon-based travel writer who loves writing about the great outdoors, craft beer, and regional history.

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At Podnah’s Pit in Northeast Portland, Rodney Muirhead serves Texas-style barbecue — the slow-smoked meats (some cooked for as long as 12 hours) have been praised by regional and national media.

Credit: Justin Katigbak

Best Barbecue in Portland

Dig into great barbecue at food trucks and sit-down stops across Portland.

Updated June 24, 2024 6 min read

Matt Wastradowski

Matt Wastradowski is an Oregon-based travel writer who loves writing about the great outdoors, craft beer, and regional history.

Barbecue may be most closely associated with the American South — but in recent years, pitmasters across Portland have put the city’s BBQ scene on the map with tender brisket, perfectly juicy sausages and stick-to-your-ribs sides.

These days, the local scene comprises cuisines from barbecue hot spots across the country. That means you’ll enjoy smoky Texas-style brisket, St. Louis-style ribs, saucy Kansas City-inspired burnt ends and even standout Thai dishes with locally smoked meats. Here’s where to enjoy some of the best BBQ in Portland.

Before heading out, though, keep in mind that popular dishes at these spots can sell out early in the day, especially on weekends, so plan a lunch date if you’re eyeing a specific dish. Chances are good you’ll want an afternoon nap after digging into a platter of smoked meats, anyway.

Podnah’s Pit Barbecue

Portland’s modern-day barbecue renaissance began in 2006 with the grand opening of Podnah’s Pit Barbecue in Northeast Portland. Led by Rodney Muirhead, Podnah’s spotlighted flavorful, Texas-style barbecue, where meats are typically cooked over oak, sans sauces, for a smokier flavor. Word spread quickly — no less than the Food Network dubbed Podnah’s the best barbecue in Oregon — and Podnah’s remains a local institution today.

These days, Muirhead still fires up his smoker at 5 a.m. daily to prepare all manner of meats whose influences extend far beyond the Lone Star State. So while you’ll find tender brisket, juicy pulled pork and fall-off-the-bone spareribs, the eclectic menu includes carnitas tacos, trout and a prime rib special on Saturday nights; all of it smoked in-house. The appetizing sides are similarly wide-ranging, including potato salad, coleslaw, collard greens and “Texas caviar” — a fresh bean salad with black-eyed peas.

After your meal, stretch your legs with a short walk around Alberta Park, just two blocks away. The park showcases Portland’s commitment to public green spaces with a manicured forest garden, a children’s play area, a verdant loop trail and an off-leash dog area.

Matt’s BBQ

Matt’s BBQ opened in 2015 and has since become a Portland staple, beloved for its Texas-style smoked meats that swap sweet and tangy sauces for more straightforward (but no less exhilarating) flavors.

Credit: Matt Wastrowdowski

Led by pitmaster Matt Vicedomini, the popular food cart is a mainstay at Prost Marketplace on North Mississippi Avenue. Highlights are numerous but include tender, smoky slices of brisket, double-smoked pork belly burnt ends and sliced turkey. Save room for a side of queso macaroni and cheese, crafted with a house-made gooey cheese sauce as hearty and decadent as any of Vicedomini’s meat dishes.

If you’re hankering for more from Vicedomini, check out Matt’s BBQ Tacos at the Hinterland Bar & Carts food cart pod in Southeast Portland. There, pillowy tortillas are pressed and cooked to order and filled with meats from Matt’s BBQ cart. Breakfast tacos, in particular, are stuffed with fresh brisket, glazed pork belly, scrambled eggs, Tillamook cheddar and other ingredients.

Credit: Justin Katigbak

A short walk south of Matt’s BBQ, embrace your inner outdoor enthusiast at Worn Path along North Mississippi Avenue. The DIY-minded shop sells a variety of creative outdoor-inspired items with an eclectic selection that includes fun apparel, books, playing cards, axes and even skateboard decks.

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Lawless Barbecue

Barbecue and beer go together like, well, barbecue and beer — so it’s only natural the two have found a home together at Little Beast Brewing Beer Garden along Division Street in Southeast Portland. There, the creative brewery has turned its kitchen space over to Kevin Koch, whose Lawless Barbecue specializes in Kansas City-style ‘cue that showcases a variety of meats typically bathed in a tangy, tomato-based sauce.

If you don’t know where to begin, split a Lawless Platter with friends: the behemoth includes slow-smoked pork spareribs, brisket that’s been smoked for 13 hours over oak logs, house-made green chili cheddar sausage and an oak-smoked turkey breast covered with Alabama white sauce. A handful of sandwiches are also available, and sides include a thick macaroni and cheese dish with a panko crust and a mayo-forward potato salad adorned with bacon bits. 

If you save room for something sweet, head next door to Lauretta Jean’s, which specializes in pies, pastries, scones and other hearty desserts. The pies, baked with a butter crust and loaded with sweet and savory fillings, are especially indulgent.

Koch also leads the kitchen at My-O-My, a hip watering hole in Northeast Portland. The menu differs slightly, with additions that include smoked and fried chicken wings (slathered with your choice of three sauces), chicken fingers and a macaroni and cheese dish crafted with pulled pork.

Reverend’s BBQ

Other barbecue joints around Portland may include a cursory nod to St. Louis-style BBQ — most closely associated with spareribs and meats that are typically grilled rather than smoked — but none go all-in on the style like Reverend’s BBQ in the city’s Sellwood neighborhood.

Reverend’s BBQ opened in 2014 and, in the years since, has earned acclaim for its St. Louis-style smoked pork ribs (which tend to be meatier and less fatty than their Texas-inspired brethren), fried chicken, smoked wings and crisp hush puppies. Reverend’s is also the rare barbecue restaurant that caters to vegetarians with a tasty smoked tempeh sandwich. Just as fun as the menu, the eatery’s family-friendly atmosphere, where groups can huddle into comfortable booths, is perfect for lounging on the sun-kissed patio and kicking back with a rotating lineup of local craft beer.

A few blocks away, Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge offers the rare chance to spy migratory birds — including hawks, woodpeckers and mallards — in an urban environment. Walk on the park’s trails while watching for wildlife and enjoying the quiet natural setting.

EEM

EEM, best known for its inventive Thai cuisine and creative cocktails, looks a little different than the other eateries on this list — but has earned plaudits for the fun ways it works smoked meats into its flavorful dishes.

Credit: Matt Wastrowdowski

For starters, you won’t find racks of ribs or snap-ready sausages on the EEM menu, which trends toward fresh salads, curries and wok dishes. Several of those selections are infused with smoked meats from co-owner Matt Vicedomini (of Matt’s BBQ fame) — including a white curry with fall-apart brisket burnt ends, and a green curry with crispy pulled pork and stir-fried kra pao adorned with Thai basil, a fried egg and (of course) smoked pork belly burnt ends. It all pairs well with a lineup of playful cocktails.

On your way to EEM, make a quick, half-block detour to view The Scrap Mural, a piece of public art by local painter Bruce Orr. The painting celebrates Portland’s creative spirit by depicting characters who paint, write, read, sew, sing and more.