I can't speak to the ambiance of the establishment as I had take out. There was a wait, but not extremely long. The brisket was delicious albeit a little fatty. The BBQ sauce was phenomenal. The baked beans were fine. The Mac and cheese was OK. I would go back and try something different like links and collards. Overall good. read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

I visied Smokin' Woods BBQ, for the very first time on Tuesday, August 4, 2026and unfortunately, it will also be my last. I placed my order at 7:15 p.m. and didn't receive my food until 8:30 p.m. The only reason I finally got it then was because a gentleman who had been working in the back came up front to help and pushed my order along. Waiting over an hour for food when the restaurant wasn't even packed is unacceptable. It was obvious they were severely understaffed. The employee with the red braids who was taking food orders at the bar told me it was only her second day, and there was no manager on duty. From what I could see, there were only two people working in the kitchen, plus the employee who eventually came from the back to help in the front. While they were handling a steady flow of walk-in customers and DoorDash orders, the staffing situation clearly wasn't adequate. What made the experience even more frustrating was that I was dining with a group, and several people who placed their orders after I did received their food well before mine. After waiting for a long time, I was finally told the delay was because I had ordered macaroni and cheese as my side, and there was a 45-minute wait for it. Had someone informed me of that when they realized the delay, I would have gladly chosen a different side. Ironically, they did come back to tell me they had run out of pulled pork and asked me to choose another meat, so they clearly had opportunities to communicate. It makes no sense that they failed to mention the issue with the macaroni and cheese at that same time. Unfortunately, the food itself didn't make up for the wait. It was bland overall. The long awaited Mac and Cheese unfortunately was just okay. The collard greens greens had far too much vinegar, my bbq chicken thighs were dry and my son couldn't even eat his ribs because the meat wasn't cooked long enough--it was so tough that it wouldn't come off the bone. I understand that restaurants have difficult days, but the lack of communication, poor organization, extended wait time, and disappointing food made for a very frustrating first experience. I hope management addresses the staffing and communication issues because no customer should have this kind of experience. read more

Food is EXCELLENT however, trying to order from them is a nightmare. They always have to close ordering because they get so busy. I tried ordering yesterday and the ordering was closed at about 11:30 a.m. Because of this I ordered a day early (through Uber Eats). I keep getting updates but wanted to call the store to confirm. Glad I did because they didn't have the order and now at noon the ordering is closed for two hours. They should hire a couple of people just for take out orders for an order for four. After this it will be a while before I order again if at all. Update: at 1:00 they cancelled the order I placed at approximately 11:30 am. Second day in a row- you can't pay me to order from here again. Bad services ruins good food. Update two: I called them to express my frustration and sheer disappointment she listen said she would check on it - took my number and said she would call me back within 10 minutes. If I got a call the person reading this got one as well!!! If I wasn't done with them I definitely am now. read more

While I ordered this on Caviar, none of it was good. The pork ribs were tough, undercooked or overcooked not sure just didn't fall off the bone, utterly inedible, more like Chinese spareribs from a take out only hole in the wall. The brisket was undercooked, which I normally find in California. The baked beans tasted like someone dumped a pile of sugar in them, the string beans had a very off flavor and were overcooked as well. The honey bun didn't even taste good - how do you ruin a fricking piece of bread? The only thing that was OK was coleslaw. read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - My plate - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

BBQ is not cheap But you would expect a certain quality Ordered the two combo plate which is about $30 with tip The rib tips were mostly bone or dried out pieces. The beef brisket was tender but lacked the Smokey flavor The Brussels sprouts were crisp but a tad too salty Baked beans were good as was the dinner roll Order was ready early but lacked any utensils or napkins in our to go order read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - Dried out rib tips or mostly bony pieces - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

After work Easter dinner. We finally dined in here. Really good BBQ spot. Glad we came here. Everything looked so yummy when it came. Good flavors from everything. My favorite was the mac & cheese and brussels sprouts. The meats were so tender! Although, I tried a piece of pork link, for some reason, I didn't like it. It seemed too grainy. The ambience was chill, and they have full bar. Nice and spacious. My only complaint is that I was trying to order & the phone rings & the host took the call. What I learned in customer service in my 20 years +, you attend to the customer in front of you first. Phone calls can wait. When she got off the phone, other workers came over and they started talking about what's next in their schedule. Still, I'm over here, waiting to order the rest of the stuff. That what the unprofessional part of things.. Glad we still came here to try. It still earned a star to come back! read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - Great combo Easter 2026 - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

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Let me say that I have been meaning to come by for so long. Went in to purchase 1 lb of smoked beef brisket to make Texas Twinkies (if you don't know look it up and make them - so good). Not a lot of folks were dining in but seemed like a lot of take out and delivery action. The staff seemed thin and were working their tails off. That said, the wait was about 35 min and it appeared that vegetable items other than cole slaw and brussel sprouts may not have been on offer. The brisket was very good and the smoked flavor definitely came through. The sauce they provided on the side was also excellent. If they could get the orders out a bit more expeditiously I would run not walk back. read more

This is worth the drive weather you are in your car, biking, scootering, skateboarding or hitch hiking. These folks definitely know their BBQ! Perfect seasonings, great smoky flavor and definitely perfect portions. Good people highly recommend!! read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - Rib Tip Plate with collard greens and Mac and Cheese. Freaking Amazing!!! - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

My daughter took me here for Father's Day today. We picked it because they have beef ribs. This big ol' rib did not disappoint! It was the star of the show! We also had tri-tip, brisket, pork ribs, mac & cheese, and coleslaw. Disappointed that they did not have collard greens. Brisket was tender, pork ribs were yummy, and the tri-tip rub was damn good. But that beef rib was amazingly moist and delicious! And almost the size of my forearm!!! I would go back for that beef rib alone! The servers were friendly, especially that bartender. I tried to talk to the owner, but he was busy in the kitchen. Next time, sir. Glad to see you had Uncle Nearest on your Whiskey shelf, too. read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

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Smoking woods has been my go to BBQ spot for years. I never tried the happy hour options and was very pleased with my experience. I went in around 3 on Friday. The music was GREAT! It was like top hits of hip hop & r&b. The restaurant was fairly empty during this time but as time progressed more people came in. The lemon pepper wings were delicious and the flatbread was decent. Adding their spicy bbq sauce to the flatbread took it to the next level. I wanted to get the banana pudding but they were out unfortunately. I can't wait to come back again and try the sliders and Hennessy bbq wings. read more

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Portion sizes are really small for the price. I ordered a 2 way combo with link, brisket. I literally got 2 slices of brisket and one link, 2 sides and I had to pay for a bun which was hard and dry. My total came up to 40 dollars. The place is great if you want to visit to have a drink and watch the game. read more

Loved the space , I'm a huge sports fan and they have plenty of big flat screens to enjoy the games. The service was slow ,but I enjoyed my meal. Wish they offered impossible burgers as an option for pescatarian diners read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - Smoked Salmon, Green Beans, Potato Salad - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

The first time I came to smoking Woods, the brisket was excellent. It was well seasoned juicy and moist and I have gotten other meals from out of there which I've been pretty good but I decided on Sunday, July 5 to go get some more I was pleased at how tender it is, but there was no seasoning no flavor. I don't know what happened. This isn't the first time this has happened before I ordered it before and it was good and then the second time it was not that great. It wasn't well seasoned. I don't know if they have some type of rules to seasoning their meat, but they need to. I am disappointed. read more

Service, Food.....everything!!! I love it here! And the owner engages and listens to his customers. read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - I am here this evening and look at these links!!!! I'm pleased!!! LOL!!! I love it here - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

We went to Smokin Woods BBQ for our team lunch and the food was pretty good. The restaurant was a bit cold (temperature wise) and there wasn't much of a crowd during the lunch rush. We all had to get up to place our order because of an issue with table service. We also had to use plastic utensils which took away from the restaurant feel and our formal dining experience. On the plus side, the bar drinks looked good although we didn't try any; I would in the future. I ordered a 3 meat combo with smoked turkey, brisket, and ribs, greens and brussel sprouts. The ribs were delicious. Definitely give them a try if you're in the mood for good barbecue! read more

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Stopped here late Friday afternoon. They have a new host--she was very helpful! She recommended the blackberry beverage that was delicious--and it had real whole berries! She helped me with order for the beef brisket to avoid getting too much fatty meat. Decided to dine-in this time. Ordered the same combo. Good slices of brisket, ribs and beef were tender and smoked to perfection, mac n cheese was nice and creamy, and sprouts were delicious too! I sat enjoying my meal, I observed the service. The bar tender is great at keeping all the service flowing efficiently, while cranking out drink orders and still having a good time with customers! I love the casual seating, TVs at every angle with various sports showing, good music rotation that played low enough to still be able to hear conversations! Great vibe throughout!! read more

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Solid American bbq restaurant! The restaurant serves various bbq meats by the pound or you can get combo plates. I got the Threes A Crowd plate with brisket, beef hot link, and pork ribs with a side of Mac and cheese and potato salad. I also ordered beef ribs separately. The meats were all well seasoned and moist. The restaurant is clean and there is a lot of seating inside. The cashier that took our order could have been a little friendlier and didn't look enthusiastic about her job. The actual cooks and servers on the other hand were very welcoming and friendly. Parking in this area is all street parking. Overall a great restaurant to come if you are ever in Oakland read more

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Great place to eat and watch a game! There is ample seating indoors, outdoors on their patio where they have heat lamps, and in their parklet. There are many TVs inside and one outside as well. They do a great happy hour, currently $5 bites between 3pm-6pm Tuesday-Friday but best to check their instagram for latest updates. During big games it can get pretty crowded and noisy. They often have a DJ and space echos a bit so it's loud! Service was great, friendly and attentive. You order at the register and they will bring your food. For a counter service place, I was pleasantly surprised with how often they checked on us. The food was also very good. I highly recommend the mac n cheese which is creamy and has a baked top. The brisket was incredibly tender. The tri-tip was a bit dry for my preference. I prefer my tri-tip cut thinly and juicy, but it was still tasty. read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - Tri-Tip Plate with mac n cheese and collard greens - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

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After paying online, you need to provide your state id and proof that you paid. They refused to even check the system to detail if your order is completed sooner. A stark difference from the spot I ordered from online every Sunday throughout Covid. This place in terms of smokiness in the meat and general courtesy went downhill. Why is it hard to get good barbecue in Oakland and not treated like a criminal. read more

So I still come back & get takeout sometimes on my way home from work. Blackberry lemonade always on point & the food is still good! However today on my two meat combo I only got 2 ribs & one piece of brisket? They used to give more than this. I know cost are high but geeze! read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - Two 2 Meat Combo, ribs & brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

Bought the three-way, which is brisket, pork ribs, links , along with two sides, mac & cheese, and the potato salad. The ribs was the highlight but because I save those for last, I ended up, unable to finish the second rib because everything was too salty. I didn't even want the second rib packed to go. It's not worth it. Flavors were all totally on point except maybe the mac & cheese. It was just too salty. read more

....RedFlags... 1. Hostess (Juliette on the receipt)was rude and nonchalant 2. Lots of food items were not available including collar greens that's what I wanted to try. Our receipt says 1:22 , you opened at 1:00 on Sunday? Right? . Why are you out of all these items 22 minutes in ..No preparation? I forgot to mentioned it's Father's Day 6/21/2026. I said to my husband do you want to go to Everett and Jones? He said let's give them a try ..$77.52 later..dry sausage...tough ribs, fatty brisket . I didn't say anything to the owner regarding the red flags (who the hostess said they were there ) because I saw another review where the owner said to the person who gave a 1 star.."Thank you for trying us out." The attitude of the hostess was "oh well you want it or not." Neverrrrrr again ! read more

Exemplary service- My cousins are visiting from abroad and I sent them to Smokin Woods for some authentic BBQ. They couldn't figure out the parking meter, and I believe the owner went outside with them, helped them with the meter, AND further gave some tips on parking with a rental car. But the food. It exceeded their expectations. They ordered the two's a crowd and were impressed with how delicious it was. They brought home some ribs for me, and we ate them over a course of days. They were delicious as leftovers as well. read more

I really hate to write a negative review. I truly like this place and wanted to have a much better experience. I have ordered from this restaurant through Doordash and have been happy with the quality of the food. Today I decided to visit the restaurant and dine-in. I was shocked by the condition of the bathrooms and part of the restaurant. The cushions were absolutely filthy. Both bathrooms (unisex) had a strong urine order and there were flies. The meat was also somewhat tough. This was definitely not what I was expecting. I will most likely go back to E&J and have a better dining experience. read more

Chicken and brisket was super dry. Mac and cheese was completely over cooked. Greens and potato salad had no taste AT ALL. This is my last time ordering from them. Ive tried to give chances multiple times because I've had good food from here but im over it. More misses than hits and this my last one. read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

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The Food , Service , Ambiance are on point !! Food omg they have the best of all I've seen . read more

Bad attitude - bad food - bad service - you want mediocre food served with a horrendous attitude, then this is your place.

We came on a Friday evening and they were super busy I had no idea .. You order outside even for dine in orders after ordering you proceed indoors to find a seat i was flabbergasted& confused because you buy food and may no have a place to sit.. We luckly found seats at the bar. I'm not sure if it's the norm or only because it was a Friday but the wait was about 40 min for small bites Brisket sliders 3/5 the meat qaa very fatty and cheese not completely melted Wings 3/5 were cold when they came out but had an ok flavor Brisket plate 5/5 it had fat piece but the meats flavor was good it tasted smoked.. Mac & cheese wasn't bad but tasted like kfc .. Baked beans 5/5 I'm not a potatoe salads fan but my friend said it was up to par... you can taste the mustard Regarding ambiance it was crowded with few seats. It's a good venue I would try them again read more

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Great atmosphere! However, BBQ wasn't that great. Proportions were kinda small. Mac & Cheese was overcooked for my liking. I opted not to get a drink, as I sat by the bar and asked for water. The glass of water was a kid size glass, I had to ask for a bigger glass to enjoy with my meal, as to not go back and forth to the water station. Wait service was a little off. I dont think I should have to ask for a menu to get better service. If checking your messages on your phone is more important than customer service, you definitely dont need a tip. read more

The food was good but very underwhelming for the cost. Service was not the best. People were nice but not super helpful or communicative.

Dear lord this is the worst bland brisket I have ever tasted, this is the 3rd try. Have to douse in bbq sauce for flavor, horrible job smoking woods read more

Local reviewer posted about the $5 Friday menu so had to check it! Logistics/vibe: restaurant has indoor and patio seating, but you have to order at the outside window. Due to the recent social media post, there was a line of newcomers all trying to figure out the process. While in line, they had a sign stating it was a 45 minute wait currently for food. Once ordered you get a number to go and find a seat. Light music playing in the background, little loud chatting. Food: though the sign said 45 minutes, it took around an hour to get our food. Wings: lemon pepper and bbq were flavorful. We're not "smoked" wings. 4/5 Collard greens with turkey: appreciated the turkey as I do not eat pork, however tasted as if the turkey was the only seasoning. 1/5 Brisket fries: dry! No pull to the cheese. 1/5 Flatbread pizza: nice spice but the crust was dry and tough. 1/5 Brisket slider: The slaw added some tang. Add bbq sauce which has a good flavor. 3/5 Chicken slider: thigh meat so not dry and flavorful. Same as brisket 3/5 Rib tips: no pork on my fork, but my friends said they were good! 4/5 Rolls: butter glaze on top was good, but overall dry. 2/5 Drinks: drinks can only be ordered at the bar. Again very busy, waited about 20 minutes before ordering. Triple smoke- mezcal and grapefruit based drink. 4/5 read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

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The comments/insights here are pretty accurate for the most part: - the food is good - the wait time is beyond horrible and they usually seem to be understaffed - the customer service is pretty spotty I appreciate them hiring people of color but if they did a better screening/vetting process and hired more consistent cooks then this place would be legendary. read more

BBQ was good but not great. I really don't like that they gave us plastic utensils even when we dined in. read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - Plastic utensil when you dine in - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

I've had the brisket, the tri -tip, the chicken thighs, and the the salmon. I lean toward the tri-tip being my favorite, the brisket is a close second. The chicken and salmon are good options for people who don't eat red meat. The sides are average. You've probably had better, and you've definitely had worse. The mac & cheese and the fresh green beans are my usual picks. The collards and mixed veggies are decent, they get included depending on who I'm ordering for. In general, I find the portions to be good. A classic plate lasts about two meals for me. The option to order by the pound is really convenient, do some quick math before ordering to determine the most economical option for your needs. It's also easy to plan ahead since the menu is on their website. I've only gotten food to-go (or from catered events). I try to stick to off-peak times because they take a while to fulfill orders, think 45+ minutes. I 100% recommend ordering ahead. Check your bag for accuracy before you leave. read more

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Updated Review - 4 Stars I'm happy to update my original review! After a few earlier home deliveries, where our orders were missing barbecue sauce, I had left a lower rating. Since then, we've returned four more times--and each time the food has been consistently excellent, with sauce included. Most recently, we ordered a rack of ribs, and it was exceptional--tender, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. Plenty of sauce was included! Thanks!! So if you're in Oakland and craving some seriously good barbecue, give this place a try. They've more than earned this updated rating! read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - Half lb: Brisket, Tri-Tip and Links - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

Drove down from Fairfield to Oakland for a Super Bowl watch party at Smokin Woods BBQ and it was 100% worth it. From the moment we walked in, the greeter was super friendly and made us feel welcome. There was plenty of seating both inside and outside, so we didn't feel crowded even with the game crowd. The food was delicious with a real Southern vibe. The sides were well seasoned like somebody's auntie was back there making sure it hit right. The brisket was tender and juicy, not dry at all. And the ribs... thick, meaty, and fall off the bone tender with a nice smoky flavor. The sauce had that perfect sweet and savory kick without drowning the meat. They also had a DJ which made it feel like more than just "watching the game" it was a whole vibe. The crowd was super diverse, good energy, everybody just there to eat, drink, and enjoy themselves. Shoutout to the bartender Stunna, she was a whole vibe too. Fast, friendly, and kept the drinks coming. Prices were affordable and the pours were solid. I'll definitely be back and I'm coming to sit with her again soon. If you want good BBQ, good music, and a fun game day atmosphere, this spot is it. read more

Smokin' Woods BBQ is fire. The food is packed with flavor, perfectly smoked, and super filling. I had brisket, links and chicken along with mac n cheese and greens! The drinks are just as good--me and girl ordered all the drinks off the new menu and they were a perfect match for the BBQ. Great vibes, friendly service, and everything hit the spot. Definitely worth stopping by. 10/10 read more

Smokin Woods BBQ - Drinks from the new menu - Barbeque Near Me - Oakland, California

Went in on a Tuesday at 2:30pm, so I wasn't too surprised to see it dead. Service was hit or miss as the host/server seemed preoccupied with other tasks, at times despite the place being completely empty. I ordered the two meat, two sides combo with the a honey buttered biscuit, brisket, boneless chicken thighs, baked beans and potato salad and it came with a cup of sauce. I opted for traditional not sweet. To drink I had a raspberry lemonade. Being from Texas means that I love brisket, but it also means I have a really high bar for brisket. This one was nothing to write home about, it had no smoke ring, nonexistent bark, the fat wasn't rendered and the meat itself was rubbery in parts and hard in certain parts. The smoke flavor was very/very subtle to the point it was overshadowed by an unseasoned meat flavor punctuated with huge globules of fat in almost every bite. With two big slices there were about four or five bites that really attempted flavor above the aforementioned flavor challenges. The chicken thighs really saved the day. They were very juicy, smoke flavor forward with a hint of black pepper. Textbook. The baked beans were supposed to have pork in them but my order contained no visible meat, which would have cut the brown sugar sweet a bit but they were very sweet. The beans were cooked well but just a bit too sweet. The potato salad was edible but it tasted like it came out of a tub, nothing really special just kind of generic. The honey biscuit was fabulous. It was a white brioche dinner roll with a buttery honey glaze. These were fluffy inside and the sweet of the honey butter was just perfect. I gobbled it up and had wished I had ordered a second. The lemonade was also a real winner. It tasted fresh or house-made and the fruit on the bottom of the cup was real and fresh! It was sweet but had a good deal of fresh lemon flavor to balance it out. It complimented the smoky meat and took the edge off of the fact that there was no sweet tea. The sauce was nothing special. It tasted like it came out of a bottle or was made to emulate the kind of major label brand one finds in the grocery store no real unique character. Usually, if the brisket is cooked right it doesn't need the sauce but I found myself dipping a little bit depending on the bite of brisket. Restaurant was clean and felt very "southern"the wood paneling was a nice touch toward this end. Oh and not too many TVs and they weren't glaringly loud. In fact they were rocking an awesome R&B soundtrack. I can see this place lively for a good weekend dinner or a good spot to catch a game. I'd definitely give it another shot to try other meats and sides but I'm definitely not getting the brisket again. read more

My brother and I pulled up to watch the games on Sunday. Wasn't annoyingly crowded but it was live and we enjoyed the atmosphere. Staff was hella cool and made sure we were comfortable. Ordered at the counter and got a 3-way with links, brisket and chicken with a side of mac n cheese and some brusselsprouts. Meats were ok, brisket was tender and the chicken wasn't dry but not as much smoke flavor as I'd like, links were pretty good (I like them better at E&Js tho iykyk), nothing I'd be excited about getting again. Sides were fair, mac n cheese was kinda bland and the brusselsprouts were cooked nicely and were ok, tasted very green, not a lot of seasoning. Maybe an off day for the kitchen, who knows. We did have a good time tho and I'll pull up again to watch the games and maybe order something else next time. read more