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Easygoing bar with a patio for craft cocktails, beer & Asian-style street snacks & mains.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 1771 NE Dekum St, Portland, OR 97217
Phone: (971) 754-4188
Website: http://www.toughluckbar.com/
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Tough Luck – Portland
YES, LIL’ BARBECUE IS NOW OPEN! HELLOSTIFF DRINKSLIL’ BARBECUESINGLE BARRELSWE ARE HERESTOREBUY A GIFT CARD! TOUGH LUCK. WOODLAWN NEIGHBORHOOD / PORTLAND …
LIL’ BARBECUE — Tough Luck
My dad, Bob, is fond of a Captain’s Platter. My mom, Cindy, doesn’t eat meat—but she’ll mess up a side. Choose your fighter or bring them together in Holy …
Tough Luck (@toughluckbar) · Portland, OR – Instagram
Proud to be your local Woodlawn neighborhood bar with excellent food from @lil_barbecue , creative cocktails, and an extremely large patio. · Photo by Lil’ …
Reviews
Nani
First time visiting, we walked up to the bar and the bartender explained the menu and all the options. Took our order, we ordered The Bob plate, Hazy IPA, Hibiscus Paloma, and a strawberry lemon drop shortly after. They gave us a number and we had a nice options of seating. Bar seating, high tables, booths, and outside by the firepit seating. We chose a booth to watch the Blazers vs Bulls. They staff were polite and informative. I had a good time, the bbq was delicious and the sauces were great too! The bartender did a good job on my cocktails and the Blazers WON! Definitely will be coming back.
… moreSteve Abrahao
When you think of the Portland food scene, BBQ isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind, especially good BBQ.
So when I heard about Lil’ Barbecue, I had to check it out. I moved here from Texas and spent years living in Austin (where their sister restaurant, La Barbecue, calls home). That alone set the bar high.
I went on a weekday, early, because it was my first visit and I wanted a little bit of everything. I ordered it to go.
The space is roomy with plenty of seating, plus easy street parking. It’s located in the Woodlawn neighborhood in NE Portland, which makes it a convenient stop.
Let’s get this out of the way: barbecue like this isn’t cheap. But you’re paying for the time, the craft, and the slow-smoked love that goes into it. Service was just okay, nothing over the top, nothing terrible. You’re here for the food anyway.
The Must-Trys
Brisket. Tender with a beautiful peppery bark and flavorful crust. This is the real deal.
Sausage. Great snap when you bite into it, nice spice, total winner.
Ribs. Fall-off-the-bone tender with that same deep, smoky crust as the brisket.
Cheesy Mac. Creamy with a little kick thanks to green chiles mixed in. I loved that touch.
They offer two sauces:
– Yellow sauce (mustard-based). A fan favorite for a reason. Tangy and bold.
– Original BBQ sauce. The perfect balance of vinegar and sweet.
I also tried the Caesar salad, it is what it is, but the thin slices of parmesan are a nice touch.
As far as taste goes? This is the best BBQ in Portland. It genuinely took me back to my Austin days, just without the two-hour lines. That’s where my 5 stars come from.
If you want a glimpse of real Texas flavor in Portland, this is your spot. Bring your friends. Come hungry. Enjoy
… moreSo when I heard about Lil’ Barbecue, I had to check it out. I moved here from Texas and spent years living in Austin (where their sister restaurant, La Barbecue, calls home). That alone set the bar high.
I went on a weekday, early, because it was my first visit and I wanted a little bit of everything. I ordered it to go.
The space is roomy with plenty of seating, plus easy street parking. It’s located in the Woodlawn neighborhood in NE Portland, which makes it a convenient stop.
Let’s get this out of the way: barbecue like this isn’t cheap. But you’re paying for the time, the craft, and the slow-smoked love that goes into it. Service was just okay, nothing over the top, nothing terrible. You’re here for the food anyway.
The Must-Trys
Brisket. Tender with a beautiful peppery bark and flavorful crust. This is the real deal.
Sausage. Great snap when you bite into it, nice spice, total winner.
Ribs. Fall-off-the-bone tender with that same deep, smoky crust as the brisket.
Cheesy Mac. Creamy with a little kick thanks to green chiles mixed in. I loved that touch.
They offer two sauces:
– Yellow sauce (mustard-based). A fan favorite for a reason. Tangy and bold.
– Original BBQ sauce. The perfect balance of vinegar and sweet.
I also tried the Caesar salad, it is what it is, but the thin slices of parmesan are a nice touch.
As far as taste goes? This is the best BBQ in Portland. It genuinely took me back to my Austin days, just without the two-hour lines. That’s where my 5 stars come from.
If you want a glimpse of real Texas flavor in Portland, this is your spot. Bring your friends. Come hungry. Enjoy
John Bounnam
Brisket is very good, as expected. I ordered the platter and got a slice of flat and point. Tendernism; 10/10. Flavor profile 8.5/10. Pork ribs tendernism; 8.5/10, flavor 9.5/10. As a consultant guy, the pork ribs are great on their own. Looks like they use mustard seeds in their rub. The unsung heroes are the chicken, Mac & cheese, and tots. The tots are actually fried mashed potato squares and they are amazing. Other notables, the sausage link & pork ribs. Pulled pork was just ok to me, but I think most pulled pork is really so-so. We got there at 11:30, they open at 12, and had no issues but it really started getting busier after 1. Love assorted in-house pickle items; pickles, jalapenos, onions. Amazing service too. Mac & cheese feels like it’s queso style, love that it’s shells. Highly recommend going here for Q.
… moreHak Williams
Yes, Top notch BBQ. I liked the ribs, the tots, and the slaw. The tots are different and they take about 5 minutes to get used to and then you love these. Very mashed potato inside.
One exciting item is the beet burnt ends known as “beet ends”. They are made out of beets and are very lightly fried to give the outside a tiny bit of texture, and then they are coated with a sweet barbecue salad dressing kinda sauce. They are pretty tasty!
… moreOne exciting item is the beet burnt ends known as “beet ends”. They are made out of beets and are very lightly fried to give the outside a tiny bit of texture, and then they are coated with a sweet barbecue salad dressing kinda sauce. They are pretty tasty!
Charlie Te
I am glad that I finally got a chance to try this place out. They do open earlier in weekends, which makes easier to get to for me. I would recommend ordering the “Holy Matrimony” as it is pretty much a little of everything including the sides. It makes ordering easier. We also added some chips and queso to the order. The brisket was super tender and easily falls apart. The sausage was full of flavor. The tater tots were probably my favorite side followed by the Mac and cheese. Those tots were amazing! It’s not like your typical tots. I can’t wait to go back and try some other combination of food or just get it all again.
… moreT F
Top notch brisket. It’s really solid Texas BBQ. The bbq beans were also outstanding. The Chicken abs sausage were also great. My wife loved the pork ribs, while I just thought they were good. We both agreed that’s the pulled pork sucks though. It was bland and dry. Skip it, but one can’t expect good pig bbq in a Texas spot.
The sides were good. Loved the pickled veggies on the side. Should be in a Tupperware container by the water bucket though for that true Texas vibe.
All in all. Very happy to have solid bbq in Portland and I hope they stay consistent. Other Portland bbq joints fail in that respect. They will be great one time, then dry as clay the next.
… moreThe sides were good. Loved the pickled veggies on the side. Should be in a Tupperware container by the water bucket though for that true Texas vibe.
All in all. Very happy to have solid bbq in Portland and I hope they stay consistent. Other Portland bbq joints fail in that respect. They will be great one time, then dry as clay the next.
Jessica Warrick
My God. The best bbq. We were blown away by the deliciousness and the huge portions!! That chicken…hard to say which was our fav but that chicken visits me in my dreams. Luscious chickeny dreams. The banana pudding was enchanting too
OH! And Lilly our server was amazing and deserves a restaurant trophy of some kind – she made our experience even more delightful. Thank you for an incredible meatastic experience everyone!
… moreOH! And Lilly our server was amazing and deserves a restaurant trophy of some kind – she made our experience even more delightful. Thank you for an incredible meatastic experience everyone!
Monte Hoover
Wow. when the Meats Platter came to our table it looked delicious we could not wait to dive in.
So sorry for the half eaten picture….yummy. Lol Lil BBQ cooks their totally tender and delicious meats to perfection. Tasty meat sauces, In addition the pork and beans was a huge hit at our table. The Pickles, garnish and the Texas toast all flawlessly prepared. Add a beverage and you will be smiling all the way home
Our awesome waitress Lynn was attentive to all our needs. Thank you for such a great experience and delicious food.
… moreSo sorry for the half eaten picture….yummy. Lol Lil BBQ cooks their totally tender and delicious meats to perfection. Tasty meat sauces, In addition the pork and beans was a huge hit at our table. The Pickles, garnish and the Texas toast all flawlessly prepared. Add a beverage and you will be smiling all the way home
Our awesome waitress Lynn was attentive to all our needs. Thank you for such a great experience and delicious food.
A M
Update: came back for the burger. Decadent but very good, and love the grind on the beef. Ribs were more to my liking this time, but almost as if I went to different bbq spot – ribs were smoked much harder (in a good way) and had a much more pronounced – and peppery – bark.
********
Lil Barbecue brisket is out of this world. Ribs aren’t my favorite in town but very good. Sides are superlative.
… more********
Lil Barbecue brisket is out of this world. Ribs aren’t my favorite in town but very good. Sides are superlative.
Elizabeth
Lil Barbecue is the TRUTH of Texas BBQ. The meats hold their own, and the sides and desserts proudly scream Lone Star State.
You walk in off the street and are immediately greeted by friendly, welcoming staff. The liquor wall is impressive—but the real showstopper? Their proper frozen margaritas. For the traditionalists, they’ve got Shiner Bock on deck, too.
We ordered the brisket, pork ribs, and a sausage link, with mac n’ cheese on the side. There’s no “moist or lean” option for the brisket—but you don’t need it. The cut is beautifully balanced: lean, with just enough of a ribbon of fat for richness. The bark is perfectly seasoned, smoky, and flavorful enough to stand alone.
That said, their sauces are too good to skip—one mustard-based and the other a vinegar-forward thin sauce. Both complement the meat without overpowering it, but the vinegar sauce was my personal favorite.
The ribs? Superb. Tender, flavorful, and just the right kind of “fall off the bone.” My only caution: check the bone cuts before diving in—I almost caught one the wrong way. The sausage is made from brisket trimmings, and it’s fantastic. Juicy, melt-in-your-mouth, and packed with smoky depth.
The mac n’ cheese deserves its own spotlight. It tastes like Austin—creamy comfort with a little spicy kick.
If you’re craving authentic ATX BBQ, Lil Barbecue delivers. We miss home, but this place brought it all rushing back.
… moreYou walk in off the street and are immediately greeted by friendly, welcoming staff. The liquor wall is impressive—but the real showstopper? Their proper frozen margaritas. For the traditionalists, they’ve got Shiner Bock on deck, too.
We ordered the brisket, pork ribs, and a sausage link, with mac n’ cheese on the side. There’s no “moist or lean” option for the brisket—but you don’t need it. The cut is beautifully balanced: lean, with just enough of a ribbon of fat for richness. The bark is perfectly seasoned, smoky, and flavorful enough to stand alone.
That said, their sauces are too good to skip—one mustard-based and the other a vinegar-forward thin sauce. Both complement the meat without overpowering it, but the vinegar sauce was my personal favorite.
The ribs? Superb. Tender, flavorful, and just the right kind of “fall off the bone.” My only caution: check the bone cuts before diving in—I almost caught one the wrong way. The sausage is made from brisket trimmings, and it’s fantastic. Juicy, melt-in-your-mouth, and packed with smoky depth.
The mac n’ cheese deserves its own spotlight. It tastes like Austin—creamy comfort with a little spicy kick.
If you’re craving authentic ATX BBQ, Lil Barbecue delivers. We miss home, but this place brought it all rushing back.