Amazing. Outstanding. Exemplary. Hella Good. I can't come up with enough words to describe how good this BBQ spot is in Oakland. All I know is we are lucky to have this in our City! This is deeply smoked, traditional slow cooked style that results in a mouthful of juicy flavor with every bite. You might be tempted out of habit to immediately douse your BBQ with sauces. I urge you to let the smoke tell the story of how much time, labor, and love goes into this. Use the sauces with some reserve. That's how good the meat is AS IS. This trip was our second, and we needed to return because we ate the first visit's order so damn fast we forgot to take photos. We got smoked wings and 2 pounds of sliced beef brisket (each foil wrapped in 1/2 pound wrappers and packed in a box). Service as before was super friendly, efficient, and we felt welcome. The kitchen is sparklingly clean, and the whole space just has a welcoming and comfortable vibe. We took our order to go and once home we pounced on the wings for lunch. As mentioned earlier, the smokiness is the story here, and the smoke flavor evolves as you chew. Don't rush... this food should be savored. We unwrapped one of the brisket packets, but it's gonna have to wait till dinner tonight as we were stuffed from the wings. But our last brisket from Saints Smokehouse was juicy, a good mix of lean and more fatty pieces that added incredible flavor. I'm daydreaming right now of some of this brisket sandwiched between a Hawaiian roll. Pass me the beans on the side and I can die happy. Keep doing what you're doing Saints Smokehouse! We are diehard fans! read more

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Excellent place. Good food and efficient service. Zzzzzzxxxxxxxzzzzzzzzxzcxxxzxxxx Bbbbbbbbbbbbnbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb read more

1/5 -- I wish I could give zero stars. Absolutely terrible experience. They were running a Labor Day special today for full racks of ribs and whole chickens. I arrived 30 minutes before they even opened, waited in line, placed my order, and paid over $150 CASH for ribs and chicken. Then I waited over an hour for my number to be called. When they finally called my number, they told me they were sold out of the ribs and whole chickens that they had already sold me and taken my money for. How does that even happen? What made it worse was that there were probably 30-40 people still behind me who appeared to be in the same situation. Nobody came out and announced, "We're out of ribs and whole chickens." People were just left waiting after already ordering and paying. I spoke directly with the owner. Instead of apologizing and trying to make things right, his solution was basically that I could exchange what I paid for whatever else was left on the regular menu -- at full menu prices. I specifically asked about that because the whole reason people showed up early and waited so long was for the advertised Labor Day special. He then offered me three small containers of rib tips in place of three FULL RACKS of ribs. Those aren't remotely equivalent. The most frustrating part is that this was completely preventable. A restaurant knows how many racks of ribs and whole chickens it prepared. If you have 100 racks, you sell 100 racks and then STOP TAKING PEOPLE'S MONEY FOR THEM. Your ordering system should track the inventory, or at the very least your staff should be keeping count. You don't continue selling food you don't have, collect customers' money, make them wait an hour, and only tell them once their number comes up. Being able to smoke meat doesn't automatically mean you know how to run a restaurant. Specials can get busy and mistakes happen, but inventory control, communication, customer service, and taking responsibility are basic parts of operating a business. I showed up before opening, waited in line, paid more than $150, waited another hour, and walked away without the food they sold me. One star is generous. read more

I finally had a chance to try Saints Smokehouse over the weekend, and I'm so glad I did! The restaurant has seating inside along with a couple of tables outside. Unfortunately, they were hosting a special event, so we weren't able to dine inside. They kindly offered us outdoor seating, but we decided to take our food to go instead. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by everyone. The entire staff was warm, welcoming, and genuinely friendly, which made a great first impression. The decor is also really nice and gives the place a cozy, inviting vibe. I ordered the Smoked Spare Ribs with Mac N Cheese, an extra side of yams, and a Banana Pudding for dessert. The ribs were chef's kiss! They were tender, flavorful, and perfectly smoked. Even though we couldn't dine in because of the event, the excellent customer service and amazing food more than made up for it. I'll definitely be back to enjoy the full dine-in experience next time. Saints Smokehouse is absolutely worth checking out! read more

Saints Smokehouse - Smoke Spare Ribs with Gouda MacNCheese and Yams. - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

This is such a cool location very spacious and clean. The staff was very friendly and patient. I hope I went on a bad day and the food is usually better. The macaroni and cheese was very...different not a fan at all. The ribs are good without their sauce. Unfortunately this isn't a place I would go back to. read more

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Was here for a private party. Sleeek modern dark interior with huge windows to look out onto downtown. Staff were friendly and accommodating. We had ribs and wings and mac and cheese and yams and greens and potato salad. A whole spread! Everything was delicious, rich and so flavorful. The ribs fell off the bone. The mac and cheese was smoky. The potato salad was tangy. The yams were full of cinnamon. We ate until we were full and when there was food left over, everyone scrambled to take some home. I will definitely return during business hours. read more

The meat was good. We tried all three. Maybe a little salty but still cooked well and flavorful.....Ribs, Chicken and Brisket The sides we had were good. Backed beans, Mac and cheese and potato salad. My only grip is that you are not filling the 8oz container up. For 8 dollars a side, please make sure the container is completely packed. The peach and pineapple cobbler is modestly just diced fruit and juice. There is no crust- so if you like that then you are good. Tried to try the cornbread, but it was not in the order when we got home. The restaurant is nice. Spacious and very clean. We like the aesthetic. Staff - very professional and helpful. read more

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Had the brisket and Mac and cheese! Brisket was soft and delicious, a mix of lean and fatty. Mac and cheese was okay, would want to try another side next time. Got here before the lunch rush- it filled up fast! Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area. read more

Saints Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

New restaurant always gonna have some growing pains, I understand that. Today I had a shitty day and my boyfriend decided to treat me out to Saints. We had it once before when it was a pop-up and the only thing that was on my mind was to go get the brisket fries. One order of these fries can easily enough feed two people or one person three times lol. My order was seasoned well. It had Hella brisket. The barbecue sauce was amazing and it was a large quantity of food for the price which I appreciate. I had to take a Star off because we did wait a little bit for our order to come through, but we understood that it was a new restaurant and we just have to be patient. I love the artwork. I love the space when we were in there were people enjoying their food. No one was being lazy. Everybody was working hard to make sure the food was coming out to everyone and to me. It's the effort of the service that means to me and they did make a genuine effort to make sure they served everybody in the best way they possibly can. I'm definitely going back next time. I'm just gonna order one order of the brisket fries and maybe a slab of ribs read more

Saints Smokehouse - Brisket fries - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

Today as a recommendation from a family member, this was my first experience visiting Saint Smoke House here in Oakland. The photo displays the items I purchased as part of their advertised Labor Day special; A full Slab of Ribs, Whole Chicken and Brisket, along with a two sides. The Brisket was very good, just the portion was small. However, the Ribs and Chicken was over charred/cooked. The ribs falling off the bone is okay, but when the falling pieces are so charred and tough, made for an unenjoyable taste and flavor. I would say the same for the whole chicken. Also the two sides portions purchased were very small for the price I paid. I will be back to share my experience today. I am hoping for a much better experience and tasteful flavors of Saint Smoke House. read more

Saints Smokehouse - This is the smoke Brisket. - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

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The service was friendly but slow. I can't speak to the ambiance, as I ordered take out. I ordered brisket with Mac & ribs with greens. Included was BBQ sauce & cornbread. The cornbread was good. I didn't use the BBQ sauce. The greens were tasty but had a little too much vinegar on them. The Mac & cheese was flawless. The ribs were dry except for a small piece right in the middle near the bone. The brisket was the best I've ever eaten. I would definitely return & get the brisket & Mac & cheese. I also want to try the catfish. read more

I can't say enough about Saints Smokehouse and Chef Rashad. His food is amazing, him and his team are so kind and the space is super cute! I've had his catering a few different times and each time was FIRE! I'm always on the lookout for his pop-ups and can't wait until he opens full time. Definitely recommend, 100/10 read more

Saints Smokehouse - Brisket Fries - Memorial Day weekend special - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

I ordered the ribs, chicken, and brisket. Ribs are probably what you want to go far as I enjoyed it more than the others. You get 2 pieces that are nice and tender but on the ends of the ribs were tough and dry. Flavorful and balanced with the smokiness. I didn't need the bbq sauce for it because it was that tasty but it definitely helps enhance it. Brisket - I was fairly disappointed because on this particular day I was craving for it. It was very tough and dry. I was really looking for that tendernism but instead I was spending a lot of time chewing it. It did lack flavor but luckily the bbq sauce was there to help a little. 1/2 Chicken - This was 50/50 to me. The meat pulls off the bone very easily. Some parts were very tender but other parts and particularly the breast was a little dry. But luckily the bbq sauce was there and I used it mostly on the breast which made it more enjoyable to eat. Watermelon lime - A very refreshing beverage. I would get it again. The sides I got were smoked gouda mac n cheese, potato salad, yams, and purple corn bread. Smoked Gouda Mac n Cheese - it's honestly good but it is a little greasy as you can see the fats/oil separating. But who's trying to be healthy eating mac? not me. Potato salad - also very good. It helped cut out the heaviness of the bbq and the mac. Yams - it was the best side I ate like a dessert after each bite of the meal. Purple corn bread - I'm 50/50 with it. I love the crunchy edges or layer on the outside but I also didn't like how the inside was a little dry. Service - I felt welcomed coming in and the staff were friendly with helping me choose my options. Received my order within 15 minutes after placing my order. I know this spot just opened and just like every other new restaurant, it needs some time for adjustments from feedbacks to work out the kinks. I'll come back in either 6 months or a year so I can give this spot another try and hopefully give a better review. read more

So everyone who knows me personally understands my love of brisket and barbecue. This was a a art passed down from generation to generation in my family. My uncles and brother loved to que. Saints brisket is so tender it falls apart in every bite. I prefer the burned end pieces because the favor really blends into the meat and it doesn't disappoint at Saints. The sandwich is fully loaded and plentiful for two and paired with a side like collard greens w/smoked turkey (nice serving) is a great lunch for $17.00. I easily could have taken a nice nap afterwards I was so full and content. The restaurant is tastefully casual and comfortable for a single woman like me, family or corporate lunch outing. They have weekly menu specials and you can order online for pick up. Go check them out. I plan on returning soon. read more

Saints Smokehouse - Fingerlicking Good. - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

Popped in after a friend hyped it up and I see why. Salmon salad was fire, the picture doesn't even do it justice. Fresh, flavorful, and loaded. Super cute space and good vibes. I'm pescatarian so I really hope they keep a salmon option. Heard the brisket is good too. Excited to come back when the full menu drops. read more

Saints Smokehouse - Love the decor - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

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Beware they will charged your credit card after they have cancelled your order !!!! Please beware of this business!! Your order has been canceled. Contact Saints Smokehouse at +1 510-501-5138 for more information. TST* SAINTS SM 07/03 PURCHASE OAKLAND CA -$34.95 read more

Great food prepared by the chef which tastes may I add the flavor from the bbq is awesome top tier for the Bay Area especially Oakland. The spot is cozy with an open kitchen concept and dining with an enough to dance on a Sunday evening. The service was pleasant and nice. read more

I made it to Saint's Smokehouse during there grand opening and had such a nice time. I tried the chicken plate and mac and cheese, and both were delicious. The staff was patient, friendly, and created such a welcoming atmosphere. Wishing the team many blessings and much success. read more

Came here for a birthday. They had a DJ and great food with chill vibes what more can you ask for. I ordered the brisket fries and the portion was very healthy! I still have left overs and its been hours lol. Meat was nice and tender, fries were perfectly crispy, i love the addition of the corn slaw on the side and fried onions on top. The space has easy street parking right out front. The space its self is right on the corner so very easy to locate. The resturant is very open and airy. It was a bright sunny day today and the sun shining through made it feel like a summer day. The DJ was playing nothing but hits everyone was vibing, eating, singing and dancing. Im glad they have a place like this finally open up, really made it feel like i was on vacation being here. Just a moment to chill with your people and have a good time without any stress. Also brought along our little princess and she had a great time. Shes a foodie in the making and loves to dance and people watch so this was her perfect place. Would love to come back and try more food items. Heard the tacos are smackin too! Come visit you will not be disappointed. read more

Saints Smokehouse - Brisket fries - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

Happy Grand Opening Day and congratulations! Omg, I am so happy to have seen the IG post about everything today, and even more happy that I pre-ordered food! Walking up this morning smelled exactly how a BBQ holiday should smell. Absolutely delicious BBQ - Ribs and Chicken seasoned perfectly, all the sides, especially the macaroni and cheese are over the top. I cannot wait to go back and have a sit down meal. Congrats again, well done chef, Rashad Armstead! read more

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I had the chance to try this business at a pop-up once, and the food was incredible. That experience alone made me want to come support the actual restaurant, and I'm really looking forward to trying the full menu in person. I also want to say I'm not going to be discouraged by some of the nasty reviews I've seen written here. I've noticed a pattern in the Bay Area where Black-owned businesses often seem to get a level of criticism and hostility that doesn't always match the energy people give other places. Meanwhile, some businesses can have all kinds of issues and still keep loyal support. I don't understand the hate, but I do believe in giving places a fair shot and forming my own opinion. Wishing this business continued success, and I'll definitely be stopping by. read more

It seems that when black owned businesses open, catering to the community, it's the community that has to suffer the consequences of ill preparation and poor planning. For the grand opening on July 4th, the restaurant offered a pre-order selection of discounted food items with a slot time for pick up. unfortunately, those slot times ended up being a two hour wait time for prepaid items. This made people have to stand in line because there's no option for a refund. Once we finally approached the counter many guests were told that items that we prepaid for were out and no longer available. That's infuriating, not only have I waited, now I don't even have the items that I prepaid for....so much for community. Again it's always the community that has to suffer for ill planned situations. Additionally being told that the food was no longer available, I ordered ribs, chicken and brisket but when I got home, I had two slabs of ribs. So frustrating, the ribs were overcooked and a little burnt and not tasty at all. This is not to say that their food is not good. This is to say that because of this mass quantity of cooking , the attention to detail was lost in the flavor and the service. Although this is a grand opening, I have seen on your Instagram account that you have had several opportunities to practice this craft. You guys need to learn and you need to improve if you want to sustain as a restaurant owner in Oakland and servicing the surrounding community. Black people deserve better, we stood in line for hours today the elderly needed water, the elderly needed seats. The elderly became frustrated. This is the community that your restaurant is servicing and I encourage you to do better for the community that supports you. read more

Completely unacceptable. The City of Oakland hired this vendor for our Juneteenth lunch, and they were clearly unprepared despite having weeks of notice. Employees were standing in line starting around 11:00 AM and waiting close to two hours, only to find out they had run out of food and multiple menu items. The staff were rude and dismissive. The woman handing out sauces acted as if employees were the problem and were holding up the line, when the real issue was the vendor's lack of preparation and organization. After standing in line for nearly two hours, no one should be made to feel like they are an inconvenience for asking questions or requesting items that should have been available. We were told certain items were gone, only for them to suddenly appear later. At one-point people were told there were no ribs left, and then nine more ribs somehow appeared. That is unacceptable and reflects poor communication and poor customer service. The city paid for this event, and City employees deserved better than long waits, limited food, rude staff, and a poorly managed operation. This level of service was disappointing, disrespectful, and unprofessional. Oh, yea and the food was awful!!! read more

Get over there asap! Brisket plate was bomb and they don't skimp! Portions were on point and had to take the rest to go. Bbq sauce was good. This a must for me next time I have a bbq craving. Staff was friendly read more

Saints Smokehouse - Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

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First time going, saw they had the brisket sandwich online and decided to go. Long story short, paid and was told, the brisket sandwich was not on the menu today, a few moments later. sure wish the cashier was informed of that. Ended up getting the brisket plate with one side, wasn't charged extra. The brisket lacked flavor, my side was Gouda Mac n cheese and it was dry and seemed old. Was not gooey or cheesy smh. Definitely gonna stick to SmokinWoods Bbq. read more

I ordered the brisket and mac-n-cheese. Originally ordered their watermelon juice, but the cashier enthusiastically suggested the hibiscus lemonade because he made it. I appreciated his care for his work so I tried it. I don't really like hibiscus drinks. It was one of the best I ever had. Brisket and mac was excellent. Didn't need a knife to break apart the brisket. BBQ sauce worked well with the brisket. This place is a hidden gem! read more

Readers discretion is advised. This may not be suitable for foodies. The absolute worst Bar B Que in ten states. I purchased the two meat combo with the cali beans and collard greens DEPLORABLE!!! The meat was as dry as the Mojave desert. A band of Australian saltwater crocodiles would absolutely run from this food. The taste of propane dominated the meat. I purchased the beef brisket and it was 70% fat unbelievable!! We got the purple corn it was thick and gooey with absolutely no season. I tried to consume this food. It was absolutely impossible. I threw $90 in the garbage can they don't have a large menu however they need to rescue and reconstruct their entire cooking process absolutely ominous I was under the misconception that this was a Christian restaurant. When I walked in the people were two step, dancing and drinking alcohol. I could not believe it. it was more like a social nightclub than a restaurant. People ate on the outside and danced on the inside of the restaurant. The dance floor could've been filled with tables serving great food, but the food wasn't not great. I think this food was designed for people who consume marijuana and alcohol where just about everything taste good. I came up in the era of Flint's BBQ Slim Jenkins and KC's barbecue. if you open this restaurant in a three block radius, where these famous restaurants were located, it would shut down within a week. Go back to the drawing board on your barbecue sauce, bro. It taste like ketchup, kitchen banquet a darkening liquid and salt and pepper. I will never ever eat at this restaurant again. My name is Andre and I approve of this message. read more

Two way brisket' and pork ribs were very good, butt the portions were skimpy! Not like previous patrons photos, brisket looked about a1/4 in sluice off and the ribs were sklinny and Only 3! Not a good value for 40$ The sides were a nice goulda max and cheese and a very over salted collard greens! This place just made me miss Phar Matt's even more read more

Most importantly, the food was excellent. Ribs were top notch; mac & cheese was great; the BBQ sauce was fire. Anyone who doesn't give the food 5 stars needs to have their taste buds examined. This is a perfect example of why Yelp is hard to gauge. As of writing this, 5 people gave this restaurant 1 star. 4 of those people have no more than 3 reviews so you shouldn't listen to haters who clearly have ulterior motives. The other person who awarded 1 star has 47 reviews of which 41 are 1 star reviews - this person needs to stop using Yelp. I hope this restaurant makes it. We need restaurants with this quality food to make it. So if you read this, do what's earned and give this restaurant 5 stars. read more

Now that Horn bbq is gone, Saints Smokehouse best ribs in the bay, PERIOD! Smoked chicken is crazy too. Service was a little chaotic because they are new to the brick and mortar. My second visit very smooth, they got it figured out. Decor and artwork read more

WARNING!! PLEASE DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME ON THIS ESTABLISHMENT!! To celebrate Administrative Professionals' Day, my office placed an online order some 5 days in advance. We got a confirmation, and was charged immediately--so naturally, we expected everything to be ready for pickup as scheduled. When we showed up at the agreed time, the restaurant was completely closed for a private event. No prior notice, no call, no email--nothing. Just a locked door and confusion. When we finally got in touch with someone, we showed them our receipt of purchase, and the only response we received was essentially, "Sorry, the only thing we can do is refund you." That's it. No accountability, no attempt to make things right beyond the bare minimum. We were left scrambling last-minute to figure out an alternative. I'm honestly baffled at how poorly this was handled. If you're going to accept advance orders and take people's money, the least you can do is honor them--or at the very least communicate if something changes. This felt incredibly disorganized and disrespectful of customers' time. This is horrendous customer service! I guess I will never actually taste their food, because I cannot foresee a time when they will ever get my patronage again! read more

Disappointing First Experience at Saints Smokehouse On Saturday July 11th my friend and I were excited to try Saints Smokehouse, a new barbecue spot in Oakland, but unfortunately our first experience was disappointing. We arrived just before 3:00 PM and were told they were out of brisket and greens, which were what we originally wanted. We decided to try something else and ordered ribs, mac and cheese, potato salad, and baked beans. We were then told they were out of ribs as well, but after some back and forth, the owner said they had three ribs left, so we placed our order. After waiting about 40 minutes, we still had no food. The restaurant was clearing out and staff were cleaning, so I checked on our order. We were told it would be another five minutes, but shortly after, we were informed they were out of ribs after all. I requested a refund. The young man who helped us was apologetic, but the owner never apologized or acknowledged the inconvenience. He refunded the meal but initially left off the tip, which I had to point out before it was corrected. I understand that running out of popular items can happen, but the lack of communication, organization, and customer service made this a very disappointing experience. I was hoping to support a new local Oakland business, but unfortunately, my first visit left a negative impression. read more

Brisket isn't good but the ribs are. They are skimpy with the sides and only give 2 little cups of BBQ sauce. I didn't ask for more, the guy who gave me the food wasn't friendly only the guy that took my order was. I think the owner isn't very nice, either way doubt I'll be back. read more

Wow. Some really great BBQ in downtownish Oakland. If you are tired of the chains and of having to travel far for good meat, this is the place. Wonderful owners and staff. Top quality meat. Great vibes. You should go! read more

Great service and huge portions I got the salmon salad and it tasted good I wish they gave me more sauce or offered more

Great friendly staff. Brisket, no flavor on the actual meat itself, slightly on the dry side. Smoked half chicken, cavity not cleaned out, very dry. Mac and cheese tasteless and very oily! Pineapple peach cobbler, heavy on the spices, no salt in the crust.​ read more

My first time back since the official opening - had oxtails sandwich. The menu said specials include a side, but I didn't get one with my sandwich so I'm not sure if they forgot it or if the sign was incorrect but that was a little disappointing. Otherwise, the staffs great, music & vibes are always on par and oxtails were cooked very well. read more

After waiting over 45 minutes for my order, I had to cancel because I needed to return to work. I spoke with Rashad, who identified himself as the manager. My receipt also lists Rashad as the server who processed my order. He asked me to write down my phone number and stated I would receive a text confirmation once the refund was completed. When I asked if the refund could be processed at the register, I was told it would need to be handled at the end of the day. It has now been a week, and I have not received any confirmation or refund. I was also disappointed by the lack of acknowledgment regarding the delay. Best of luck opening a restaurant! read more

Shit was fire best ribs and brisket I had from a bbq place in a lonnnnnnnnnnggggg time ..... and the sides was fire too ....

Went for lunch on a Wednesday. Had wings because it was Wing Wednesday. They came with a really nice bbq sauce that I ended up taking home the extra to use for dinner! The wings are flavorful and fall-off-the-bone tender and didn't need sauce, they were delicious either way. Had collard greens and the Cali baked beans as sides. The greens were perfectly al dente with a nice bite and great flavor and the beans were deliciously sweet and tangy. I judge bbq places by the sides even more than the meat and these were some of the best sides I've had in the area. Also had a chance to taste the mac n cheese and though the flavor was great, but be warned, this is a traditional baked mac n cheesse, so if you're looking for creamy stove-top type, you might find it a little dry. I personally lilke both styles for what they are. Smoked gouda is a perfect cheese for mac n cheese and this didn't disappoint. The peach pineapple cobbler was the perfect way to finish off the meal. The pineapple really does something with the peaches. Delicious! The chef/owner was very friendly as was the rest of the staff and I'll definitely be coming back to try the brisket when I get a chance. Arrive early as the first time I went, they'd sold out by 2:30! read more