So glad Armadillo BBQ is still around! Yes, minus the Willy's, add the Empire. We still get the same quality pulled pork, ribs, salads and sides. Just need to drive further for it since the Willy's one in Dublin closed down. We do pick up now and load up on little containers of their spicy jalapeno BBQ sauce. The restaurant still has that corrugated wall, BBQ joint vibe and smoky air ambience. Service is efficient. IMO it's best to just order in person and wait vs online. Take a moment to check out the shadowbox wall display of the new owner's Silicon Valley roots, his old tech artifacts/knickknacks, as you walk to the register. Plenty of parking at this Dick's Sporting Goods/Sprouts shopping center. But if you're turning left from El Camino Real into the parking lot, watch out for front bumper scraping on the driveway ramp, especially if you come in a little fast. read more

I am glad that this place got renamed and opened by a local tech guy. I love how juicy the brisket was. The food was great! Ribs, cornbread, and sausage were so yummy! The service was also good since it's such a big menu, the cashier helped us pick and explain what was good and preferred. Big place and lots of room!! You can even spot some apple products and Google stuff on a display window. read more

Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli - Barbeque Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

3.5 (mostly for the young lady taking our order who was incredibly helpful!). My husband and I have been out of town for a couple weeks, so after doing some grocery shopping at sprouts, we were driving out of the plaza and noticed that Armadillo Willy's was open again under a new name! Curious, we decided to skip cooking at home and try out their brisket and beans, which are our go to orders at every barbecue spot we visit. We walked in and were immediately deleted by the ladies at the counter. One of them helped us through the menu, and answered all of our questions very helpful. The whole dining area is still spacious and well and was very clean. He ended up getting one large order of the brisket, juicy with beans and tater tots and another one with a small size with the garlic Parmesan fries on the side. The fries and tater tots were amazing, but unfortunately, when your sides are considerably better than the main meat, it's a bit of an issue. We both asked for our brisket to be juicy and got some of the driest brisket I think we've ever had. I rarely get a nice when I'm at a barbecue spot because a fork and spoon are always enough to cut through my cuts of brisket. However, I had one piece that was so tough. I couldn't cut through it. The barbecue sauce is fine, the three bites of juicy brisket we had were all right, but the rub wasn't that great and the bark wasn't that much of a stand out. I was a little heartbroken as soon as the plates came out because I could immediately see how dry the meat was, but I told my husband that was probably for the best that we didn't have a barbecue spot that I really loved that close to where we lived as it would be an issue of a regular visitation hahah. read more

Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli - Barbeque Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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Q the Years After a sudden closure of three restaurants last June, Armadillo Willy's has been reborn like a Phoenix rising out of the oak wood ashes after one of their long-standing customers bought their assets in bankruptcy court, and rehired most of the original staff. The menu is essentially the same as before, but they've tried to add some NY flair to their menu by adding some deli-style sandwiches (e.g., Pastrami, Corned Beef, etc.) to the mix. The Good: *Huge shared parking lot *Outdoor dog-friendly seating *Love that soda machine with a ton of different flavor options. *Armadillo Willy's was never "the best" Q around, but it was always pretty good to great, and I swear it tasted and looked exactly the same. *Ribs were nice and tender, with a nice rub, and great smokey flavor. *Brisket seemed better than usual and had great bark and a nice smokey bite. *Jalapeño-Cheese Sausage is just as good as advertised. *Their Jalapeño BBQ sauce remains one of my favorite BBQ sauces of all-time. *Tots! #NuffSaid *Their Spicy Peanut Slaw is GOAT'd, and even the Slaw Queen herself gives it a big thumbs up. The Meh: *Service at the counter was a little non-plussed, but she got the job done. *I don't see them selling bottles of their BBQ sauce anymore. I really, really, really hope they bring this back. I always had a bottle of their Jalapeño Q Sauce in my fridge. The Ugly: *They have taps but no beers! I hope they get it sooner rather than later. Hard to have Q without some good suds. Conclusion: What's old is new again! Welcome back--we missed you! read more

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It was a great experience at Empire Armadillo BBQ! I ordered the choose-3 build your own platter and chose brisket (juicy), baby back ribs, and tri tip. You also get to pick 2 sides. I got the peanut slaw and onion rings ($1 extra). The restaurant ambiance was great. Lots of seating for families and gatherings. There are also tvs and a foosball table for everyone to enjoy. Service was quick and helpful. Plenty of parking in the plaza. I would come back. read more

Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli - Pick 3 platter - Barbeque Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

The food is so delicious and tender! The service is very good, all of the workers are so kind a respectful! The vibe is so calm and friendly! I would most definitely recommend if you wanna come with family! read more

Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli - Barbeque Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Was craving a NY experience and someone suggested I try their NY deli pastrami sandwich. I came by and got that with a side of tots and tried their matzo ball soup. Unfortunately the best thing was the tater tots. The soup was scalding hot, but the small dense matzo ball in it was room temp at best. The pastrami in the sandwich was boarder line flavorless and tasted like water infused meat. Also I got the empire size which is 2x meat, but to me that was a small sized NY sandwich. Not sure if the owners have actually been to some of the great NY delis. Either way I'm glad to see Armadillo's style food back in business. Next time I'll stick with the pulled pork or tri tip. Place is much the same inside with plenty of seating. read more

Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli - Matzo ball soup - Barbeque Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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Got the pastrami sandwich and the banana pudding. Both were amazing and worth coming back for! The pastrami was super tender and flavorful. There were some fatty pieces in it though, which isn't my preference. The cheese in the sandwich was gooey and delicious with the warm toasted bread. The banana pudding was SO good. You can taste the bananas in it and the pudding is a beautiful whipped, thick consistency. There's plenty of seating inside with booths and table options. It's got a western/Texas theme and there's even stacks of wood at the entrance. Staff was kind too. read more

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Never coming back. First they got our order wrong, so we ended up paying for the difference, no biggie. But they did not redeem themselves with the food!!! We got the brisket, baby back ribs, and the corned beef sandwich. Dry was the theme here. We were very disappointed in this meal. One redeeming aspect was I guess at least the seasoning was adequate, but dry. Ambiance? Well it's the same as Armadillo Willy's, so it's super casual, but good for big groups, if you want some barely mediocre bbq. At least the wait wasn't long. read more

Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli - Barbeque Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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Happy to see the business open back up, great cornbread just as before! Friendly service and delicious brisket! We had just been in Texas and wanted some more barbecue when we got back. Plenty of table space and seating, loved the decor and the little tribute to Apple/tech from the new owner! Will be visiting again to try more! read more

Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli - Barbeque Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

In spite of the new ownership, their brisket remains consistently delicious. On the other hand, the baby back ribs have really declined in quality and cooking. Multiple times now, they been dry with ends that are worse than jerky so I will not order them here. read more

Had to try the long lost bbq as it came back and it is, for the most part, the same bbq that left. The food is good and not that different from the previous Armadillo Willy's. The juicy brisket is always a hit as well as the ribs. The jalapeño cheddar sausage has a good snap and a little kick to it. The boneless chicken is alright, nothing too special about it. The sides are the same, but they're done so wonderfully. The tots and rings and crispy and the corn muffin is excellent with the cinnamon butter. The Mac n cheese is creamy and flavorful. Inside looks exactly the same. Service is nice. The main difference from the previous place is this one has a deli now offering various sandwiches. Overall, not much has changed, but it's still a solid place. read more

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So delicious!!! I along with many others are so glad this gentleman bought the company and re-opened Armadillo Willy's! We ordered the belly buster and had three sides with it. The beans, corn bread and mac n cheese. The sides were delicious!!! The Mac n cheese is to die for, cheesy and delicious..... so yummy! The smoked meats in the belly buster are just as delicious as before! So yummy! The interior is the same as before real comfortable and clean. We were heart broken when the state forced the chain to close, but now we are happy as ever to have our favorite bbq place back! We will be back again and again real soon! read more

Armadillo has been our go-to place for my team's lunch for many years. We love the way they cook their meat and their sauces. The portions are good since I always leave feeling full and satisfied. They have wonderful service -- the cashier is patient and informative with their long menu. I like their timeless decorations. read more

Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli - Barbeque Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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You can't call this in New York style deli. A $28 sandwich should not be made with day old meat that's been refried. It was like eating a jerky sandwich. read more

The large brisket plate was fatty but didn't have much flavor on its own. I think it could've been salted more. The bbq sauce gave the meat most of the flavor. You can choose from lean, fatty/juicy, or combo of both. Mac and cheese was standard but the added bacon on top were dry. The best thing I had was their cornbread. The portions are small for the price. The large brisket plate and a small 8 oz banana pudding came out to about $41. read more

Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli - Banana pudding - Barbeque Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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A part of my order was missed, but when I called, they were gracious enough to drive all the way to my house and deliver what was missed + a little extra. Incredible customer service, and delicious food. Will be frequenting this place many more times. read more

I ordered the Brisket-Small Plate (EA) which I think the portion of meat is way too tiny. The item is $19.99 but I was disappointed when I saw how little the brisket I was provided. Probably won't be back there no more. read more

Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli - Brisket Brisket-Small Plate (EA) - Barbeque Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

It was the soft re-opening of their Sunnyvale location. I arrived for a late lunch to order food to go. I was quickly served at the register and my order of a brisket sandwich with tater tots and a side of peanut cole slaw was ready within just a few minutes. The sandwich, tots and slaw were tasty. The serving sizes of the sandwich and tots were fine. However, the side order of cole slaw was quite small for the price. Overall, the prices were quite high compared to what I previously remember at Armadillo Willy's. Also, I believe the prices are higher than the Smoking Pig or South Winchester BBQ. Thus, I will likely go to the other restaurants in the future unless the portions of the sides and the prices get better at Empire Armadillo. read more

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I have ordered there twice this week because there is a Grubhub promotion. I thought my Ruben sandwich was great. I also had the matzo ball soup. The matzo ball was very hard and tasteless. I like fluffy matzo balls. I am sorry that I deducted for the matzo ball, but it was bad. read more

I was so excited to hear that Armadillo Willy's was being revived by a new owner because I lived and breathed for their juicy brisket. We ordered over $100 of food for a family lunch, including 2 lbs of juicy brisket, 2 large sides and a pastrami sandwich. We received slightly less than the stated 2 lbs of brisket. While not a huge deal, if you're going to charge per lb., you're probably better off erring on the side of giving slightly more food than less than what the customer paid for, especially when it's $33/lb. At over $2/oz., every oz. counts, and it's hard to not feel a little cheated. Brisket was good - not great. A bit tough and a little dry for being the point cut, but sometimes them's the breaks depending on each piece of meat. The meat had great smoke flavor. Really excellent sauce - not too sweet, not too tangy, literally my ideal bbq sauce. Pastrami sandwich was really thin. Depressingly thin. Double the meat would have made it feel more substantial, but for a ~$20 sandwich, a few thin slices of pastrami does not a sandwich make. Doubling it would have just made it feel like a regular sized pastrami sandwich, but would've made it almost on par with The Refuge prices. In that case, I'd 100% rather go to the Refuge where I'm paying a ridiculous price for a sandwich, but at least I know I'm getting a ridiculously large sandwich. Sides are hard to mess up, since they're just deep fried frozen tater tots and onion rings, but they were crispy and tasty. I'll probably give it one more chance, but if the next meal is a repeat of this one, then I guess my old Willy's is truly gone for me and I won't be back. read more

A bbq place with deli sandwiches? I was eager to try it, because Jewish delis are hard to find in this area. This didn't quite make it as such, but it was very good for what it was. Early reviews were very negative on the pastrami, but I read and article that said they'd stopped buying outside pastrami and were now curing their own. So: I stopped in for a pastrami sandwich. I wouldn't call the meat I got really pastrami. It didn't taste brined or spiced as pastrami should. Instead, it was better describable as plain brisket. But it was very good brisket: tender, moist instead of dry, tasty, and plenty fatty, though it was chunks of fat rather than being marbled as pastrami, which is traditionally made from a different cut, should be. It wasn't quite what I wanted, but I was pleased with what I got. Came on rye bread (good) with brown mustard (good). I was also offered cheese, which no Jewish pastrami sandwich would come near. I turned that down. Also got a cup of matzo ball soup. Small matzo ball on the heavy and thick side, light broth, excellent shredded chicken and plenty of carrots. Drinks from one of those machines that has plenty of offerings but only one spout. Large spread-out seating area with plenty of tables. Buzzer lets you know your order is ready. read more

Looks like the old Armadillo Willy's is gone. This is fine with me as they really strayed from made them good. Now, Empire Armadillo BBQ is like the old place I remember! I'm a big fan of the El Jefe sandwich and I got it with the extra meat. This thing was big and let me tell you it held up and didn't break apart! It came with a healthy portion of fries. This place is a throwback to decent prices and healthy portions which lack at most BBQ joints these days. Glad they are here, great job! read more

Been here many times before and this is effectively my go-to BBQ place when I'm in the area. Been very happy with pretty much everything every time. I haven't had the NY style deli sandwiches as much as the Texas BBQ, but I'm sure they're just as good. Hamburger last time I went seemed a little dry though - but that's probably on me and not the restaurant (probably should've ordered rare or medium rare instead of medium). Overall, everything you would expect from a good BBQ joint, with NY pastrami, etc. read more

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Food we had last night: Pulled pork sandwich with a side of bean, Texas ribs, brisket (requested "juicy", garden salad w/ranch dressing, spicy coleslaw and a ¼ lb. of pastrami a la carte. Pulled pork sandwich, spicy coleslaw and side salad were good and beans were tasty with some small chunks of meat in them. Texas ribs were dry and tough. The brisket was smoky, crumbly and dry. The 3 slices of pastrami were reasonably moist and very tender but it had no smoke flavor at all and the flavor resembled corned beef, not pastrami. Their drink machine was out of Coke and Dr. Pepper. (This was the case on our first visit a few months ago as well.) We asked at the counter and were given bottles of Coke Zero - we didn't ask if they would give us another bottle since their soda machine would have been unlimited. This was our second and last visit. Overall, the quality of their brisket and Texas ribs are not worth what they charge. read more

Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli - This is their "juicy" brisket. - Barbeque Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Like lots of folks, we love our slow smoked briskets, sausages, chicken quarters, etc, and some delicious sides New York fries, collard greens along with a pint of Guinness or sodas. The previous Armadillo Willy's wasn't great, though I did go from time to time whenever I got that Texas BBQ urges, especially if a big game was on; Superbowl, NBA Finals, etc. Then all of a sudden, it closed down in the same plaza that's shared & anchored by Dick's Sporting Goods, ROSS and of course, Sprouts. Recently, this joint reopened as a reincarnation of the old one. They even chose to retain the key word "Armadillo BBQ" hoping people will think it's the same one. Well, that's a good idea from a marketing point of view, but if you're going to keep the NAME, you've got to keep the substance, the amount, the flavors, not just on the surface. The original Armadillo Willy's already didn't give much for $~20, now the new Empire gives even less. You know how they say things are always bigger in Texas, but not when it comes to this Texas Empire Armadillo BBQ read more

Very expensive! Service was great. Food was ok but unaffordable for my family. I won't go back. Dinner for two was almost $80.

The brisket and ribs were a little drier than I would expect, but still pretty good. The cashier was helpful and friendly. The dining room hasn't changed, but they did add a foosball table which is a nice touch. My only disappointment - they switched from Pepsi to Coke products. :-( read more

It delivers. Even to a vegetarian! Perfect cheat meal every few months. Had my usual order from when it was Armadillo Willy's: Cheeseburger with Boca patty, Texas toast, potato salad and onion rings. And they got it perfect. In fact, the food and plating were a solid notch above the old brand's experience. I think the new owner has instilled some quality controls and attention to detail that was lacking under old ownership (even if the manager is the same). Speedy counter service and the casual southern BBQ ambience rounded out the experience. Will be stopping by every few months. Guilty pleasure. read more

Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli - Potato salad, onion rings, Texas toast, Boca cheeseburger - Barbeque Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Oh man. I saw the news story that my favorite BBQ place was reopening with the same menu. We ordered the large brisket ($30) and St. Louis BBQ ribs ($20) and the portions were laughably small. We couldn't believe it. Unfortunately, we brought it home and couldn't check to see if they accidentally gave us the small brisket or the three tiny BBQ ribs by accident. For over $60 (meal + tip), we got a meal that was probably worth more than half that. C'mon guys. If you're going to mimic Armadillo Willys at least remember what it used to look like. read more

I had heard through the grapevine that the Armadillo Willy location in Sunnyvale was returning. Since I grew up on Armadillo Willys in Los Altos, Sunnyvale, and Cupertino, I was super excited to see an open sign. My mom wanted to try it out, so we went to celebrate her birthday. I had high hopes, but it quickly turned into food disappointment and anger. My mom ordered the small brisket plate (19.99) and her side was a salad. When it came out it was more like a salad with a side of brisket. I took it back to the counter to ask how many ounces, per my mother's request. They said 5 oz., but I call suspect on that. Weigh that stuff in front of the customers and charge them by the pound like the legit Texas Bbq joints, if we are playing that game. I am paying for meat, not salad. My mom ordered half and half brisket, meaning some lean and some fatty. They did not follow instructions., and my mom who isn't culinary trained or an expert in BBQ could tell. Have your people learn the basics of BBQ and the difference between fatty and lean brisket, a quintessential protein of Texas BBQ. Then we get to my pastrami sandwich (18.99) because I wanted, to try the deli part of BBQ and deli. HORRIBLE. Right away I could tell it was subpar store-bought pastrami on subpar rye and subquality Swiss. It was greasy, overcooked, and gross tasting. Since my mom didn't believe me and my culinary training and judgment ( about the store bought part), she had to go ask to verify. At least they admitted it was bought and not handcrafted in-house. With a 5 figure meat smoker ( at minimum), why wouldn't you make your own scratch pastrami? You did state deli on the door. At least tell your guests it is store-bought when they are ordering and give them an informed choice. Then there was my tater tots. Crunchy over cooked sad potatoes. I always like to try the BBQ sauces, and they had a dispenser on the counter. I dispensed some sharty-looking liquid. No, thank you! I tasted some BBQ sauce from my mom's plate and it was nothing to write home about. I thought the owner bought Willy's, at least that is what it said online. No Willy's BBQ sauce either. Do y'all buy your bbq sauce too? Real BBQ places make their own sauce. The owner was in the building and chose to stay behind the counter instead of talk to guests. When I was there, there were four tables of guests. That isn't too many to walk around and ask their opinion. If the owner doesn't care enough to want to talk to guests about their experience I don't care enough either to talk to the owner about their gross product. Let customers decide. I am angry that the owner didn't care, when he was right there when I asked his worker about the portion size. I am angry this establishment doesn't care about their customers. And I am angry there is no respect for the cattle that sacrificed their life to be presented as a horrible meal. I am not a chef, but have a culinary degree. I was training to open my own place, because I loved the cuisine and recipes from my honorary family's culture. I have trained for years on certain recipes, and am not ready to execute them. Y'all weren't ready to execute BBQ AND DELI and need more practice. If I was a fan of an establishment and wanted to recreate and honor a place, this would not be the answer. I would be embarrassed. Let it be a fond memory instead of this sad disappointment. You insult the produce and animals that sacrificed their souls to make it on a plate. Have some respect for the product. And have some respect for your guests. Do better, because if Armadillo Willys couldn't make it, this place doesn't deserve to. Advice: please take any mention of Armadillo Willy's off of your website as not to confuse your guests as to what to expect. Needless to say, I owe my mother another birthday lunch, because this was not the day to take her here. If you want Armadillo Willys, invest in driving to San Mateo and maybe you will get that memory you are looking for. Don't invest your time, money, calories or fond memories on cosplay Armadillo BBQ and deli, because the NYC/ jewish deli part isn't good either. read more

Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli - Pastrami Sandwhich - Barbeque Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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So excited for the new Empire Armadillo BBQ and deli! I ordered a wedge salad with smoked turkey and it's such a great deal! Menu is expanded with deli items. Ambiance is uplifting and it smells delicious in here! Seems like it never closed. So clean and crisp and fresh tables and chairs. Can't wait to come back for a Reuben and Matzo ball soup - yum! Service was amazing and so sweet and kind. Management is amazing! read more

Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli - Tables - Barbeque Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli signals the return of Armadillo Willy's to the Bay Area! All your favorite menu items are back, along with what will sure to be new favorites from the deli menu. The ambiance is the same as the old Willy's, and the food is as good as or even better than you remember. For the soft launch, service was amazing as the manager was delivering plates to tables. Currently only bottled soda and water are available, but fountain drinks (and probably more) are coming soon. Can't wait to come back here again, or to pick up dinner for the family on the way home from work! read more

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Amazing bbq , had the three meats plate with corn bread and potatoes. It was so good and recommend this smoked bbq . The brisket was so tender and juicy read more

Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli - Three meat plate - Barbeque Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

We're glad that this place is back, thanks to the new owner! We really enjoyed our Belly buster meal for Memorial BBQ weekend! The meat is still tender without being oily. We also enjoyed all the side dishes (corn with cilantro, potato salad, beans). Keep up the good work guys! read more

So delicious and their salads are excellent too. Our pickleball group enjoyed a nice afternoon eating and playing card games. We will definitely be back soon! read more

Looked at the menu and read New York style Pastrami sandwich so had to give it a try. Upon opening this is the saddest pastrami sandwiches I've seen. Could have got a better pastrami at Togo's. $20 for this amount of meat and quality is a rip off. Same thing for the brisket $20 for such a small portion of meat. Won't be returning to this place. read more

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This is an improvement over the previous Armadillo Willy's. The food is better, the meat is better. The staff continues to be very nice. The only thing missing for me is the beer selection. It would seem the owner is not a beer person - unlike South Winchester BBQ, so there is no rotating craft beer at all, just the mass-market Stellas and 805s. So if I'm not craving a beer, I'm coming here! read more

Fantastic! I was so sad when Armadillo Willy's closed, but this is the same great food, including the pepper turkey and cornbread and spicy bbq sauce I like so much, and there's even an expanded menu. Highly recommend for those who miss Armadillo Willy's like I did. read more

Excellent BBQ -- I'm so glad to have these locations staging a comeback! I've had the Tri-Tip, the Brisket, and even a few of their Burgers, and have been impressed with how the new management has upped their game. The Cornbread is a must-have, and the Spicy Peanut Slaw is also excellent, as is the Banana Pudding. Looking forward to trying one of the Deli Sandwiches next time, as well as checking out the newly opened Blossom Hill location. Great flavor, wonderful portion sizes, and good prices, too. If they would consider adding Kansas-City-style Burnt Ends to the menu, I might not ever leave! Welcome back, Armadillo crew -- thanks for bringing solid, satisfying Bar-B-Q back into the neighborhood! read more