Delicious food and great vibes!! Highly recommend checking this place out with friends and family!! I recently moved to San Rafael last year and this restaurant has been my go to spot if I'm craving high quality bbq. When I have family or friends in town, this is the place I take them and it never fails to impress and leave them satisfied. My favorite food to order is the baby back ribs and sweet potato fries! The cherry on top is the free soft serve ice cream if you eat in person at their restaurant.Their staff and service exceeds in hospitality and the restaurant has plenty of seating for large groups! Check this place out! read more

One of my favorite BBQ restaurants disappointed me today. We were served days-old staled ribs. It was the worst meal I ever had. Even the fries were staled. The cashier wasn't sure if they had ribs, so he went to the mini refrigerator and said they did. That is what they gave us to eat. My granddaughter could not eat her meal after a couple of bites. read more

Really good bbq! We eat here every time we come up from San Diego. Great guys at the counter as well!

This is a review primarily for the kid's menu--Roadside bbq is a convenient and kid-friendly option id you're in the Northgate area. I was looking for somewhere to get my daughter dinner to pass the time while my younger daughter was in gymnastics at Flying Dutchman in Northgate mall. We had planned to go to ounces outdoors, but it was closed for a private event. Two of the three other options are Mexican restaurants and my spice-averse kid won't try Mexican food. So we gave Roadside bbq a try. I was particularly pleased that the kid's menu offered some alternatives to the standard chicken nuggets. She chose the kid's bbq ribs, which came in a just-right portion and was not spicy. I had a chicken sandwich, which was also portioned just right (not the usual huge fast casual portions) and was also mild (I wouldn't mind a little more seasoning, but it was fine). Prices were reasonable. Inside, there's a soft serve machine with a sign that says "free soft serve--ask for a cup." So we did after we ate and were given small cups for just right portions of soft serve. We had our dog with us, so were happy with the outdoor tables. read more

Roadside BBQ - Kid's bbq ribs meal - Barbeque Near Me - San Rafael, California

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What a beautiful building! I ordered a half rack of ribs, 3 cheese Mac n cheese and side salad. Then I saw the mini pecan pie - couldn't pass that up! Only one diner in the restaurant, so I was taken care of right away. I thought I would eat in the way home, but the aroma from the smoked ribs had me chowing down before driving away. The salad was fresh and complicated - with a couple kinds of lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, corn and I don't know what else. Really good! The Mac n cheese had a great flavor and texture - simple, just the way I like it. The ribs were super tender and had a nice char or bark. Maybe they were just barbecued, if there was smoke flavor, it was delicate. Mildly spiced as well. The pecan pie was very dense. What is usually a kind of soft custard, has a more dense consistency and almost a brown sugar flavor. Also very rich, as most pecan pies are. The dining areas inside and outside are inviting. All very clean. A lot of decor on the walls. I rarely work in this area, but Katie is from San Rafael, so we may be back! read more

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Service was very good great family ambience. As you walk in it smells delicious. Food tasted amazing. read more

Roadside BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - San Rafael, California

This is nothing like Texas BBQ; the portions are small the bbq isn't smoked enough or cooked correctly; it's simply a total lack of effort to create a real experience. read more

Worst brisket ever. No taste and it looked like it was boiled. When they brought it out the only thing I could think is what the hell even is this stuff??? read more

Have seen this place hundreds of times over 15 years but never tried it. Decided to today, Sunday, for lunch. I thought my sandwich was solid. Nice toasted roll, and a decent serving of chicken veggies and cheese. I typically like cole slaw and theirs is very ginger forward which I didn't mind, not creamy like other places. The order was out in a very reasonable amount of time and over half the tables were full. I'd come here again for this sandwich. Nothing was over the top amazing, but very solid. read more

Roadside BBQ - Spicy Texas Cheesesteak (chicken) - Barbeque Near Me - San Rafael, California

Got my uber eats order wrong and the mistake chicken was dry AF and inedible!!! Brisket was ok but never got my pork ribs!!! read more

Roadside BBQ - Dry azz chicken and burnt azz beef rib - Barbeque Near Me - San Rafael, California

OMG major changes!!! Don't know what Jalend it used to be 5 star!! Had eaten and ordered several times in the past and the food was exceptional. Went into store yesterday and was EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED. 4p on Saturday afternoon... half the tables had dirty plates left. Decided to sit outside instead. .. when finished eating tables still had not been cleared. Ordered Q for two... -Pulled pork- horrible D -Brisket -limp of painful D+ -pork Rib- tasted like smoked rib had good flavor, but was only a step above cold... I'll call it coolish. C- Tried to enhance the food, so asked for some more bbq sauce. Flavor was just nowhere to be found. Very disappointed with the food... Hard future pass! I had brought a friend and exclaimed how great the BBQ was...I was so embarrassed. read more

Stopped in recently and have mixed feelings. Let's start with the highlight: the pickles were hands down the best I've ever had--crisp, tangy, perfectly balanced. I'd honestly come back just for those. They have a free soft serve machine, which is a fun touch, but the ice cream itself didn't have much flavor. The chicken was surprisingly moist with a nice smoky note that hit just right. Unfortunately, the brisket didn't hold up--it was dry, lacked the tenderness I expect and for the price - you don't get a whole lot. We ordered the mac and cheese and mashed potatoes as sides. Both were just okay, nothing to write home about. The mashed potatoes especially tasted like they came from a box. As for the BBQ sauce, it was good, but it tasted exactly like Sweet Baby Ray's--so not exactly house-made vibes. Overall, it felt a bit overpriced for what you get, but there are a few solid items. If they stepped up the sides and brisket, this place could be great. read more

My wife and I pulled into town for a conference and came here for dinner. Since it was close to closing time we didn't expect anything extraordinary. How wrong we were! We shared an order of wings, baby back ribs, & brisket and let me tell you, it was absolutely amazing! Everything was perfect. The best BBQ & Wings we've had in a long time. read more

Wow- the manager / crew leader was very nice and that the star for the visit. I tasted the bbq sauce and it was good. I was told the fried chicken was a go to item and very good. I should have asked if it was deep fried to order. It was not. It was luke warm, dry and flavorless. The oil it was cooked in a few hours ago was old and the chicken was dark in color and tasted burnt. It was pre fried and held hot in a drawer in my guess. The bbq pork ribs - huge disappointment. Smoked ok but held warm and the tossed on the grill for maybe two minutes and the bbq sauce was poured on top. They didn't even bother to caramelize the sauce on the ribs. Ribs were not competition grade as they were way too 'fall of the bone' and lacked structure to them. Just mushy, and not real flavor. Not enough bbq sauce. Again, just poured on top. Bbq sauce should accentuate the flavor of the protein a touch. This was poor execution on various levels, and many of them. Salad are served cold and should not be served with hot sides I t the same plate. Disappointing. Nice counter person/ Manager. Poor food execution. read more

Roadside BBQ - Fried chicken pre fried and held warm and cooked in oil dirty oil - Barbeque Near Me - San Rafael, California

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PRAYING that Roadside doesn't go away. Seems like Northgate's days are numbered, if so I hope they relocate and continue to offer their yummy bbq! read more

Found this bbq place after having really bad cravings. And this place easily satisfied. Ended up getting the Q for two which was really good deal. Got two servings of brisket, two servings of bbq ribs, garlic fries, sweet potato fries, Mac n cheese, and corn bread for all around $40. Brisket was really juicy and tender. Ribs fell of the bone perfectly. All the sides could be ordered on their own. And they have complimentary ice cream. The workers there were super nice and even offered our dog his own ice cream cup! Only reason I don't give a full 5 stars is that I was the brisket portion was a little more. read more

Review based on delivery. The bbq ribs are a must! Nice and tender where the meat slides off the rib. read more

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We ordered the triple meat( ribs, beef and pulled pork). I really love their ribs! So tender and delicious. Combination of corn muffin and ice cream is a hit as well. Service is good! read more

Don't waste your time. Imitation BBQ with a Staff that was not interested in working. Absentee ownership in evidence. Don't waste your money or time. I was in the neighborhood after running errands and didn't want the fast (slow) options Chipotle and Panda Express. My attempt was to give the local owners a chance, "My Bad" read more

Wait time is over 45 to get the food at noon and no one here on a Saturday. Service is extremely slow and miss communication on what we order. The place is read more

Great decor for a BBQ resturant. Nice and roomy, clean and well light. Staff was very polite and answered my questions without talking down which is, honestly, rare for a BBQ resturant. If you are not aware, a BBQ resturant, hamburger joint or most other resturants, a true BBQ resturant can not cook-to-order so the meat will sit around for awhile. Chance are, unless you are in Texas, a BBQ resturant will not taste like the protein you cook in your backyard BBQ because of this. With that said; I ordered the "Texas" brisket split between the flat and "marbled" (which I believe is the point) portion to go. As we all know, we eat with our eyes before we taste the dish. Unfortunately a big turn off was seeing BBQ Sauce on the brisket. No where in Texas will you see sauce near brisket. You let the meat talk for itself. The meat was a little dry but editable. Nothing fancy. Their baked beans were really good and had a familar taste. The cole slaw and the cornbread muffins were another story. If you're looking for something different give them a try. Your may be surprised. Go ahead, support a local business read more

Yummy, yummy and yummy. Roadside BBQ. The ribs were hearty and delicious! Sweet potato fries hot and crispy. So many sides. We chose macaroni and cheese, and fries. I highly recommend them. read more

I ordered catering for a birthday party with 25 people. The service was friendly and helpful to place the order. I got brisket and ribs with corn muffins, coleslaw, baked beans, and mac n cheese. The order was corect and ready right at the pick up time. The food was delicious with great bbq sauces. I got lots of compliments from the crowd. read more

This place is GOOD-we were looking for a good bbq spot and came across this spot. We weren't sure what to expect as it is next to a Kohl's and is tucked away in a mall parking lot. Let me tell you though this spot was awesome and we will be returning. We got the Q for 2 pleats with came with 4 meats, 3 sides, and cornbread then drinks which came out to about $65 (20% tip included). Sure that's costly but for the amount of food it's affordable. Looks like other meals are in the $15-$20 range with sides which was pretty doable. Don't overlook this spot! read more

Roadside BBQ - Q for 2 Wood-Smoked BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - San Rafael, California

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The best bbq ribs I've ever had in my life. Huge. Juicy. Tender. Perfectly cooked. And the pulled pork. Omg. Same thing. Juicy. Tender. Perfectly cooked. I got a family pack II meal for $81+tip and received 2 large containers of corn muffins, barbecued baked beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, and three massive beef ribs in addition to a large container of pulled pork. Our new favorite place. read more

Roadside BBQ - The food I got for $81. The family Pack II - Barbeque Near Me - San Rafael, California

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Got the Brisket sandwich to go and I loved it. Wish it had a little more meat than slaw but it was still delicious. Them buns were soft and honey like which made the sandwich all that much tastier. It came with four mini corn bread muffins. I ended up splitting my meal with my sister but I would definitely come back and try other stuff on their menu. *no photo. I was too hungry* read more

Roadside BBQ: Stopped by the other day for barbecue lunch with my daughter. The food was delicious (pulled pork, brisket, sausage, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, corn muffins and ice cream; the service was awesome. We will definitely be back. read more

Always a good place for a solo rib lunch - $11.50 with tip food great with your attention- yes sometimes slow service but quality takes time read more

Roadside BBQ - 11$ delicious - Barbeque Near Me - San Rafael, California

Solid BBQ in Marin. Got the 3 meat platter: pulled pork, ribs, brisket, coleslaw and cornbread. Would go again for sure when up in San Rafael. read more

MEATTTTTTTT!! OMG remember that crappy BBQ place that was on tv so everyone and their mother stood in unnecessarily long lines to get dry, over-smoked meat? The sides were terrible. It was expensive for poor quality food despite the long line. I don't do hype. A lot of people who smoke meat at home think they know what they are doing - they don't. It's bad out there. This is not that. This is the literal opposite of that . This is Marsha and the other place is Jan. Jan in that black curly hair wig. The new Jan Brady Jan. Oh myyyy. The meat here is so tender whether it's ribs or brisket. The smoke? Delicate, deliberate, beautifully balanced with salty and sweet from the rub and the sauce. You can taste the meat - not just a mouthful of "smoke" which is what I resent about poorly smoked meat. The sides are also delicious, which I appreciate. The tender crumb corn bread is studded with kernels of sweet corn making this a wonderful counterbalance to the perfectly sauced meats. The 3 cheese macaroni is cheesy, tender, delicious. The 2 item combo is good for 2 adults who eat proper portions or 1 hungry, indulgent adult. Order over the phone and pick it up or do what I did and have it delivered so you can dance in your livingroom to burn some calories before your feast. Put on your stretchy sweatpants and a tank top, tie your long hair up in a bun and prepare to eat so much delicious meats and sides until your belly begs you to stop, Meat sweats. It was that. It's just so good. Order. Eat. Enjoy. Thank me later. Fiver for this great small business! read more

Roadside BBQ - Texas Beef Brisket, Baby Back Ribs, 3 Cheese Mac n Cheese, Braised Spicy Greens, 2 Two-Bite Corn Muffin. GET ALL OF THIS FOR YOUR BELLY!! - Barbeque Near Me - San Rafael, California

This review is based solely on the amazing smell of the restaurant once you walk in and the chicken wings. The chicken wings were fried crispy, then sauced in a flavorful, tangy Buffalo sauce. Highly recommend! I didn't know the restaurant was in this plaza, otherwise I probably wouldn't have taken-out from another restaurant. That said, I'm looking forward to going back... read more

Roadside BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - San Rafael, California

I haven't been here since they were new because I found their bbq to be dry and sauce was bland. I definitely would've given it a 1 star then. Now, I'd bump it to a 3. The ribs were decent but the sauce was still mediocre. Personally, I prefer a dry rub on my bbq ribs and dip it in bbq sauce as needed. It was an improvement but not by much. The mac&cheese was okay. Again, lacking in flavor. I added salt which helped. Service was pretty decent, food was ready quickly, and customers were nice enough to let a larger family sit at the big booth than trying to push together tables. I wish we had more bbq options in Northern Marin!!! read more

Roadside BBQ - Small plate: ribs, mac&cheese, and a tiny cornbread muffin - Barbeque Near Me - San Rafael, California

This should be short the food is really good. I do enjoy going to their location in the San Rafael area I do like their spicy barbecue sauce goes great along with the meats and other side items. read more

Inconsistent meat quality, but today's brisket and baby back ribs were delicious. We love their brisket baked beans, and the containers our beans came in were noticeably smaller than our last take-out order in February. What I want to point out to everyone is the "new" 8% Fair Wage Service Charge that I don't believe was on the February receipt. I did not see on the website any reference to this 8% Fair Wage Service Charge. Maybe they added it on April 1st when the Fast Food Worker minimum wage increased to $20? Just wanted to alert all patrons of this "new" 8% fee -- Buyer Beware! read more

Roadside BBQ - Receipt showing 8% Fair Wage Service Charge - Barbeque Near Me - San Rafael, California

I came to the Northgate Mall to watch Circus Vargas that's here only this weekend. I stopped by after watching the show since I remember this place from when it was in SF. Thanks to Yelp, I found out about the free vanilla soft serve ice cream and got a cup to eat while I wait for my food. The cashier didn't mention it to me but I saw it on the summary sentence while checking in on Yelp. I bought the 2 meats combo beef rib and brisket, with sweet potato fries, coleslaw, and cornbread. The beef rib was amazing!! It was my first time eating a beef rib that was so tender and yummy! It didn't need any bbq sauce since it was already well seasoned. The briskets were ok. I wished I ordered the pork ribs instead since I remember those were really good when I had it before a long time ago at their SF location that was closed down. They should use different packaging for the sweet potato fries cause it wasn't crispy anymore when I got home to SF, since it was inside a closed box and there was a lot of traffic back due to the Golden Gate Bridge changing into only 2 lanes. The 2 mini corn bread that came with it was really yummy! I would definitely come back when I'm in Marin county again! There is a 8% service charge for employees benefits which is around $2 for my order even for takeout. read more

Hubby wanted to go to Black Bear restaurant, but I found out: We're in California, we have Black Bear in Portland! So, we found Roadside BBQ and it sounds good at that time, decided to go in. We're the FIRST customers to go in, a second family came after us. They won't be open yet, for another 10 mins. but he started taking our order: Texas Brisket, mashed potatoes & Cole slaw, comes with tiny size corn muffin. (It's a mouthful size). I was watching them prepare ours: They sliced thinly our brisket, poured some soup juice? Then a small amount of BBQ sauce. And just enough gravy. Don't forget the muffin! As we sat down this is what I thought: "Honestly, is their meat really BBQed, more like STEWED, and yes they're very tender!" I was expecting a little bit more than that! The Cole slaw: Made of vinegar, LOTS of vinegar! read more

We were eating at Roadside almost weekly from my son was an infant for 6 yrs. After, COVID we noticed a decline in quality but we kept going but not as frequently. We moved away in 2022 and came back for a visit today 2024. It is back and now it tastes better than ever! Whatever changes they made, it shows! The soft serve machine is working, the food tastes amazing, it feels cleaner than before and the service is still very friendly! read more

Roadside BBQ - 3 meats: Beef ribs, baby back ribs, brisket, garlic fries (garlic on the side), beans, Mac & cheese, corn bread, kale (spicy). Soooo good!! - Barbeque Near Me - San Rafael, California

Highly affordable plate. Honestly small plate (sampler) was enough for me! I chose corn muffins and had expected maybe a couple of corn muffins would come. But actually they gave 4 corn muffins, which I found highly satisfying. Well-seasoned. Slightly dry (the reason I took off one star :(...) but overall I loved the taste! Delicious. Good service, good location to pick up the food read more

Roadside BBQ - Baby Back Rib Sampler Plate with Two-Bite Corn Muffin - Barbeque Near Me - San Rafael, California

I would give it 5 stars but it's my first time going. I found the staff to be friendly and welcoming. Very clean. But the most important thing, the food. I had the beef rib. I've been searching for a beef rib for quite a while. It was tender to the fork. Super tasty. Their brisket beans - ugh delicious! The potato salad? On point. It's an hour away from my house but I see myself making the effort to come when I'm craving a beef rib. Thanks, Roadside BBQ. You made my day. read more

I was skeptical (because I'm a picky eater and all bbq isn't equal. The food was better than I expected. Wasn't the best I've ever had but the sauce was delicious and the greens had just enough "spice". The delivery person was quicker than I expected and the food was still hot. The packaging was eco-friendly and didn't affect the flavor at all read more