My family chose to visit Uncle Earl's recently, and even though barbecue isn't my go-to, all it took was one glimpse of Uncle Earl's great big smile and I knew whatever he prepared for me would be delicious because it was made with love and enthusiasm. Truly, as impressive as the menu is here, the real secret ingredient is Uncle Earl, himself. His larger-than-life personality, infectious laugh, and genuine hospitality create an experience that feels like visiting an old friend rather than a neighborhood food cart. I settled on The Arnold: a half pound of brisket with a side of mac n cheese and a corn muffin. There are a number of sides to choose from, but the mac sounded appealing to me. Indeed, it was very rich and satisfying, but the meat is why people flock to this food cart! Tender, sweet and salty, and oh, so delicious; this is the barbecue I've been missing in my life! I love supporting businesses that embrace community, and Uncle Earl's manages to do that very well. Just take a look at these reviews and you'll find it very clear folks here go out of their way to make sure customers have a positive experience and enjoy their food. What more can you ask for? read more

I got the three meat w/ brisket, ribs and pulled pork and hands down, the very best bbq I've ever ever had. I'm a picky b but omg. The Mac & cheese and greens, also amazing. RIP my cholesterol cuz ima eat this allll the time now. read more

Best barbecue in Portland! Come get you some! The flavor don't lie amazing Service, and in a great spot! read more

Uncle Earl's BBQ Bistro - Food Trucks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I tried Uncle Earl's by accident. A happy accident. I found myself in a food cart pod on 82nd, long story there. I'd been on the hunt for Thai food, and while I was waiting I saw Uncle Earl's BBQ cart. Not being home to ignore fate, I picked up a pound of pork ribs. I am a picky BBQ person. I've eaten many a point of that delicious, smoky meat over the years, and I do not tolerate blandness nor poor service. These pork ribs were delicious. Not fall-off-the-bone, but had a nice chew that allowed me to experience the flavor. The ribs were very well seasoned--and I mean perfectly so. They had a nice smokiness. I ate them dry, didn't need sauce. The meat stood on its own. The staff in the cart made me feel right at home, not like my purchase was a transaction. I appreciate that homeyness and engagement with customers. If I lived here, I would be a regular. Unfortunately I live 1500 miles away. If you are a BBQ fan, and you're nearby, eat here. read more

Oh my goodness... the best brisket ever! Uncle Earl's BBQ's extensive menu makes it so hard to even choose what to order but I think brisket is a good way to determine how good a BBQ place is. So of course, that's what I went with. Truth be told, though, I was so hungry that I went with the same thing my son ordered, which was The Arnold - a 1/2# of brisket, a side and a corn muffin. We both chose mac 'n cheese as our side and I gobbled it right up, along with the corn muffin. We were very impressed with how tasty and tender the brisket was - and that sauce? Holy BBQ sauce! What a delicious sauce! Uncle Earl is delightfully charming, serving up a big huge smile along with his food. He personally delivered our meals to our table inside the building and insisted on taking a picture with all of us. He is wonderfully happy and his laugh is so infectious! Not only is his food fabulous, his presence makes the entire day that much better. Oh yeah, he even had doggie treats for Penelope, the little pug we had with us. I can't wait to go back and try something else from his menu; I'm sure everything is beyond delicious! I'm thinking it might be hard to pick something other than that brisket because it has to be the best brisket ever but I'm sure gonna try! read more

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I can't comment on the restaurant because I used DoorDash to get my meal. However, it was delicious. The ribs were nice and tender, the sauce was extremely balanced and good and the cornbread muffin was moist. I'm going to have to visit the restaurant itself one of these days soon. But the food was excellent. read more

Uncle Earl's BBQ Bistro - BBQ ribs and cornbread - Food Trucks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

When our nearby go-to wasn't accepting delivery orders we decided to order from here. I hate to say it, but this has to be some of the worst BBQ I've had. The price for the amount you get does not compare to other places. I was excited to see how it was but it was dry and pretty flavorless. You get a little cup of sauce which is honestly just not enough, plus you get a little soggy corn muffin. We ordered extra sides and they were bland and overpriced for the very small portions. And the burnt ends beans really had no meat. None of us will be back and I can't recommend this place. read more

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Uncle Earl's BBQ Bistro There's a food cart pod just off of SE 82nd Ave in Portland, Oregon. A side street called SE Lafayette heads off at a right angle just before SE Powell Blvd heading north. I happened to see it on my way home from Pensey's Spices and a restaurant supply store where I bought a cast iron tortilla press. Tacos may ensue. The cart pod, called Collective Oregon Eateries, seemed inviting enough, so I parked, and got out of the car. That's when the sweet smell of smoked BBQ hit me. I find it hard to resist that smell, so I made a bee line to the source, which is Uncle Earl's BBQ Bistro. Uncle Earl gave me a wave when I took a picture (included here) of his cart to send it my wife to let her know that there was BBQ afoot. She was agreeable, so I ordered. Brisket was the obvious starting place. Brisket is key to knowing whether a BBQ joint knows its business. Rounding out the meal were pulled pork, and a half a chicken. Our sides were mac and cheese, and corn bread muffins. After a ten minute wait, I had a bag of BBQ to take home. Which I did. This is where it gets complicated. Fear not. The outcome was satisfying. I don't answer phone calls while driving, yet Uncle Earl tried to call to tell me that he had forgotten the pulled pork. I got the voicemail when I got home. I called back, and I made arrangements to pick it up later. So, missing the pulled pork, we dove in. The Brisket: Cut-it-with-a-fork tender, juicy, and smokey, it really was the star of the show. There is no doubt that Uncle Earl knows brisket inside and out. There really is not much more to say about it. Gather your best superlatives in a basket and fling them at it. See what sticks. The Chicken: Chicken is a demanding bird. Prone to dryness, and yet hard to cook all the way through without becoming dry, it's easy to cluck it up. This chicken was midrange moist, but not dry. The rub was nicely spiced with a satisfying amount of smoke, and it went well with the BBQ sauce provided. Mac and Cheese: Much better than I have gotten from other BBQ places. It is not an afterthought. It even has a little smoke to it. It is not the gloppy style. The macaroni had a good coating, enough to hold everything together, but not too much. Some types of mac an cheese demand a lot of sauce, but I think that Uncle Earl's would suffer from too much. It had a fairly intense flavor. Too much sauce could overpower the noodles. Corn Bread Muffins: Corn bread tends to be dry, and this was no exception. It was, however, moister than most, and I could eat it without butter or honey. In the South, there is a distinction between corn bread and what is derisively called "Johnny Cake", which is Sahara Desert dry, and requires copious amounts of butter to make it palatable. This was not Johnny Cake. Lighter in color than many an inedible corn bread muffin that I have had in the past, it had a fresh, corny (not corn-mealy) flavor, with what looks like a small amount of diced red peppers inside. Pulled Pork: After finishing the meal, we drove back out to the cart to pick up the pulled pork. I know that mistakes happen, but Uncle Earl wasn't giving himself any slack. He apologized a number of times, and threw in some ribs to sweeten the deal. Like the brisket, the pulled pork was a masterwork of smoked meats. Tender and juicy with all the appropriate superlatives flung at it, it shines brightly between the teeth. Ribs: The bonus ribs were likewise excellent. Not wanting to be too repetitious, I will leave it at that. If you are in the area, follow your nose from 82nd and Lafayette Street, and settle in for some excellent BBQ. Try not to notice the self-inflicted boot print on Uncle Earl's back side. He won't be forgetting your pulled pork. read more

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We eating, the Family Reunion Smokin' Racks and prepin' Sides Uncle Earl is on the Barbecue grill Jill Scott braggin' 'bout the record she made For every new baby on her way Even though them chompers ain't really ready That child gonna Smack yo Auntie anyway Punkin made her famous Potato Salad Somehow it turns out great Maybe it's all the mustard Could it be deviled eggs But oh, Portland loves it Hey Bo, here comes my favorite Burnt End Beans He says he doing fine, making ends meet But in my heart, I know it ain't easy Whoa whoa-o-whoa whoa-o-whoa whoa-o-whoa What can you say? Thankfully Momma Gene's been Puddin' again It's only 1:30 in the afternoon Everybody gathering 'round her We all know Bananas gonna be, toe-up soon Saying all the things we like to say Hope we get around to Grannies Favorite 'Cause we all know everybody gets a Triangle slice Whoa whoa-o-whoa whoa-o-whoa whoa-o-whoa What can you say? Thankfully Oh Brisket! The Arnold and Smoked Chicken are fightin' again Make way, somebody might get King of Cuts Aw look at that what happened is worse They knocked over Cornbread You know the Muffins we barely, ever share I'm gettin' filled up, I want more to-go Somebody turn up "Bedda at Home" on the stereo Customers start rockin', shakin' their good hips and bottoms So we all fall into Platters, eating and dancing Whoa whoa-o-whoa whoa-o-whoa whoa-o-whoa What can you say? Thankfully read more

Uncle Earl's BBQ always hits the spot! The brisket is melt-in-your-mouth, and the Mac n' Cheese makes you want to slap your Auntie. Best BBQ in town read more

Uncle Earl's BBQ Bistro - Epic Mac n' Cheese with pulled pork! Yum! - Food Trucks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Too much use of black pepper in everything. The greens also were on the salty side. The pulled pork was good but BBQ sauce tasted store bought. The corn muffin was savory and not good. I think it had pieces of meat in it. I was looking more for a corn muffin that was on the sweeter side. The baked beans were good but nothing special. Tasted like store bought. read more

First I'd like say, I am a "foodie". I don't mind spending money!! Especially on some yummy food! I enjoy fine to dive restaurants. The service was GREAT but the food was just barely OK! The price was RIDICULOUS for what I received! The greens tasted like doctored up cans of greens and the meats were just ok. I got one of the platter's, ..UNCLES FEAST. For what I spent, I really was excepting more! I was VERY DISAPPOINTED! I wanted to take it back and get something from another cart! This is my opinion. Well I'm still on the hunt for good, tasty BBQ with quality servings! read more

Uncle Earl's BBQ Bistro - Uncles Feast at Uncle Earls BBQ - Food Trucks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Terrible. I was going to treat myself on a Friday night so I decided on BBQ. I found this place online and ordered takeout. They told me it would be a half hour, but I decided to come early, and I'm glad I did because by the time I got there the food was stone cold. I ordered the half-pound brisket platter which comes with mac and cheese and cornbread. The brisket portions were tiny - 5 little strips of shoe leather with some mediocre BBQ sauce. The "cornbread" was some kind of batter baked into a smallish cupcake paper. The mac and cheese was at least a substantial portion. Too bad it was awful. Not sure what kind of spice was in there (it tasted sort of sweet, so maybe brown sugar?). It had macaroni, and it had cheese, so I guess it's technically mac and cheese, but it tastes nothing like you might think it would taste. Anyway I was hungry so I managed to get it all down, and somehow keep it down. Unfortunately the portions were so small that now I need to fill in with either leftovers or cheese and crackers at home. So much for my "Friday Night Treat". Do yourself a favor and skip this one. read more

I got the Arnold, which is a 1/2lb of brisket, your choice of side and a corn muffin. For the side I got the burnt end beans. The brisket was so good, had a good amount of meat to fat ratio which kept the brisket really moist and juicy. They also have a side of bbq sauce to dip in. The burn end beans were good but didn't see any burnt ends on the beans I had. The corn muffin is good. Definitely will be back for the brisket and to try other sides too. This is a new food cart inside CORE PDX so there is indoor seating, and parking too. read more

I've been meaning to try this spot for months and finally got a chance- glad I did! The ribs were cooked perfectly, flavorful burnt end beans, great flavor and texture for the corn bread muffins, and tasty mac n cheese. I'll definitely be back. read more

Great meat and great service. If you're lucky, you'll get to try their mustard bbq sauce.

We hired Uncle Earl to cater a lunch birthday party of 20 people. He was very communicative, delivered the food on-time, and did a nice set up of chafing dishes. We ordered brisket, ribs, Mac n cheese, potato salad, green salad, corn bread, and a fruit platter. It was delicious! My party guests were raving about the food all afternoon. Thank you, Uncle Earl! read more

Uncle Earl's BBQ Bistro is amazing. The food is impeccable everything is mouth watering and tender. To add to an already amazing experience the service, is the friendliest most welcoming I've experienced my entire time in Oregon. Uncle Earl's is an immersive experience filled with good food, music and amazing customer service! I'd show you the food, but it was so good there's barely crumbs left!!! read more

My goodness, Earl's food is nothing short of amazing! I should also add he is a genuine, honest man that keeps to his word! He promised no one would leave hungry and we wouldn't run out of food and boy was he right! Everyone took a to-go package home. Earl catered the most tender brisket, the tastiest chicken and out of this world St Louis Ribs with some of the best BBQ sauce I have ever tasted! Highly recommend the baked beans for the sides. His pricing is very fair and he was right on time! We will certainly use Uncle Earl's BBQ again!!!! read more

The nicest man and family. Amazing bbq. If I could give him 10 stars I would. Oh and the sides are the best around.

If you're looking for some good barbecue here it is! Some of the best service I've ever had, the owner is one of those just infectiously happy guys and goes above and beyond. The brisket melted in my mouth and the gumbo was awesome! I will be back to try the rest of the menu. read more

Uncle Earl rocks, the barbeque is fantastic. The brisket was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the flavor was deep and smokey and just right. But my favorite part of the experience was Uncle Earl himself. I immediately liked him, he was engaging and made great recommendations. So much so that my partner and I are planning on signing up for a barbeque event he's hosting. Later, when my partner realized he had forgotten his side dish, Uncle Earl insisted on giving him a banana pudding to make up for it. 10/10 experience here! And bonus points for having the single greatest handshake ever. I wish I'd taken photos, but I was living in the moment with that brisket... read more

Delicious BBQ and sides, and plenty of it. I was drawn in by the aroma and then charmed by the man in the window. Service was super friendly and fairly quick. As quick as you can be when serving amazing food. The ribs were tender and plentiful and didn't even need sauce they were so well seasoned. I got the spicy sauce and it was a good compliment, although not as spicy as I'd like. The mac and cheese was as heartwarming as you can get if you're not getting it straight from your own auntie. I'm finishing the Burnt End Beans right now and I'll be sad when they're gone. Good thing Earl's is close by. Thank you for the yummies! read more

Pork ribs tasted heavily of propane and were very tough and chewy. Greens we're burnt and too salty. Straight into the garbage. Very disappointing. read more

I have only tried the beef ribs. 2 ribs for $24. Absolutely no meat on the large bones. It was so disappointing that I won't go back to try his other offerings. I really wanted it to be good, it's so difficult to find decent BBQ around here. Maybe it was an off day, what a shame. read more

When I say this is the best brisket I've ever had, I mean this is the best brisket I've ever had. I got nothing but good vibes from Earl, and we had a great conversation about food, where we're from, and intrests among other things. Without a doubt will be coming back soon. read more

Grey brisket that just wasn't flavorful, received three riblet end instead of full ribs that were dry and stringy. Mac and cheese was broken. Go elsewhere for BBQ read more

I asked Uncle Earl to give me his best and he for sure enough did. The brisket is amazing! My son and I feasted on that, the ribs, the beans, the potato salad, and the corn bread. Can't wait to go back. read more

Uncle Earl is developing a BBQ Frenzy in his little corner of the world !! Outstanding Service and Delicious BBQ !!! A MUST VISIT !! We will be back !!! Thanks UNC !! read more

The food was phenomenal!! Beyond my expectations!! My order was ready in less than 10 minutes of placing my order!! read more

I ordered the pulled pork platter and an extra side of potato salad ($5) and the meat was dry, and the bbq sauce tasted store bought, they didn't include a pickle, and the corn muffin was dry and flavorless. They also didn't include the side of potato salad. I was the only customer in the pods so I'm not sure why my order was messed up so badly. Will never go back and do not recommend unless you want to shell $20+ plus tip to get maybe half your food and that food being very dry and store bought-tasting. read more

I'm so happy I found this St. Louis-influenced BBQ joint. The smoked chicken exploded with flavor. The potato salad was spot on, transporting me to summer picnics with the family. Earl took time to chat with me about his influences. He's a quality guy with a knack for A+ service. I cannot wait to go back and try the ribs. read more

DAMN good food. I loved the ribs. Was planning on sharing with my fiancé, ended up being too good to share with him. Definitely recommend, absolutely will come back. Oh and the guy here was super super nice. read more

I have never done a review on yelp and this one will be my first as I had to do one after eating here. I have had tons of different brisket here in oregon, but nothing has come quite close to what I am used to down in Texas. I can say this was one of, if not the best, briskets I have had in oregon. It was so tender and juicy, and the spice was damn near perfect! That paired with the near fall off the bone ribs was one of the best BBQ experiences I have had since I left the south. The service alone was enough to commend as it only took around 15 min for the get together, which is a ton of food. Just the smell you get from being around the truck is enough to make anyone want to go for bbq and I know for sure I will be back! Also if you are into spicy at all, as I am, ask for his spicy sauce. It is amazing! read more

The food was phenomenal we had the ribs, the brisket, the beans, collard greens, cornbread muffin. all of it was amazing. The collard greens were the best that I have tasted except they were a little on the hot side. Otherwise I could've ate them all. I wanted to eat them all and I'm suffering because of it they're just a little bit hot for me, but if you're a person that enjoys hate then you'll have it made.! it was all very delicious service was fast and friendly and the ambience was excellent. We enjoyed ourselves and will definitely go back. The amount of food was great for the price. It was just so tasty. I didn't wanna stop eating it, but it was just too much heat for me. If uncle Earl will make a version with a little less heat it would be ideal for us elderly . yes that's a hint read more

I happened upon Uncle Earl by accident and boy am I glad I did! Food was excellent and the service and conversation was good for my soul! I highly recommend and will most assuredly go back! read more

Ordered delivery tonight and holy moly is this place awesome! Totally different flavor profiles than any other bbq place in Portland. Brisket and pulled pork were out of this world and the sides.... Deviled egg mustard potato salad, jalapeño corn bread and Mac and cheese I couldn't make at home. Whip some honey butter up for the cornbread and you're in heaven. read more

Super friendly service and the best BBQ I've had since coming to the west coast. The brisket fell apart and was so flavorful and the ribs were meaty and smoky and unbelievably tasty. As a mac n cheese lover i will be coming back to this place again and again just for the sides. The baked beans and mac n cheese had generous portions for the price and were delicious, reminded me of home. (Don't skip the banana pudding!) read more

The brisket was moist and tender. Rib meat was well cooked and attached just the right amount. Perfection! The sauce was delicious. Also. Earl was as nice and personable as one could possibly be. I'll be back! read more

We decided to do something different for Xmas dinner this year so we got our meats from Uncle Earl's and wow, incredibly happy we did. We got 6 lbs of brisket and 2 racks of ribs to feed 13 people. Everyone was more than satisfied, plus we had lots of leftovers. The brisket and ribs were so tender and flavorful, the best I've ever had! Earl even threw in a whole tray of their delicious mac n cheese after hearing it was my daughters favorite. So kind! Amazing food and amazing service. I can't wait to try everything else. We will be regulars. read more