The BBQ Joint

This place has great food. I haven’t had this good bbq since I was in Pensacola. The ribs and pulled pork are great. The potato salad is pretty on point too.

Pricey food.
I got the sandwich with two sides: Pulled pork is average. Collard greens were good. The macaroni salad was ok.
Added extra $$, I got the pecan dessert. It was horrible and expensive. Enough said.
My husband got the plate: The chicken was terrible. Beef brisket was good. The potato salad was alright (it has a bit if dill in it). The beans were utterly forgettable.
Added extra $$, the corn bread was ok.
Our lunch bill was $ 31 and some change… we were told at the register it was worth it. Sat down and found out it was just so-​so.

Let’s face it: The Pacific Northwest will never be known for BBQ. Smoked salmon, maybe, but not it’s own unique style of BBQ like St. Louis, Memphis, Texas-​syle, East Carolina Style, Carolina-​Style, etc. There will never be a «Seattle Style». Let’s be real with that, it would probably taste like grungy hippies that drive Subaru’s. As long as it go into it with that mindset, I think you will find some solace and some decent BBQ up here.
I think that is where the BBQ Joint fits in. I have only been to this restaurant a handful of times over the last four years. Their prices are really what keep me from frequenting more. Having lived in more than half of the places that are known for BBQ listed above, I’m also used to paying their prices for those locals of Que.
I have really only stuck with two different plates here: The two meat combo, which I have always ordered either the brisket and pulled pork for those two meats, otherwise I have ordered the pulled pork sandwich in other visits.
Both of these meats here are good. They are not dried out, they have flavor, and even if it is «fake» Que (I have not ever seen smoke rising from the back of the building, so I have my suspicions), it will satisfy your pallet. The sides really shine here. While it has been a few months since my last visit, I really want to head back for their sides. Their beans are very good. They give you a serving in a cup that is just enough to fill you up, but will have you yearning for more. I normally do their beans and their cole slaw. I like that it is creamy and not too vinegary. I like to add a dash of pepper to theirs, but otherwise it goes down very smooth.
I recommend forgoing the white bread and throw in a dollar and get the cornbread.
I will admit, I do not frequent the BBQ Joint. I bought a smoker shortly after moving up here to avoid paying an arm and a leg to have decent Q, so I make my own with my own smoker more often than I visit. The reason I normally go is when a group from work wants to head to lunch and they want Que, I go with.

Love this place. The ribs are fantastic! The first few times we ate here the ribs were tasty, smoky and delicious, but not quite as tender as we like. Lately they slide off the bone and melt in your mouth with all the smoky, wonderful flavor they have always had.
The pulled pork is also really, really good. And even though I’m not usually a fan of brisket, here it is awesome. Love the BBQ sauce (tastes like the South), and the cornbread is worth the small up charge.
Not a huge fan of the sides, pretty basic but fine. Pecan bars are a better option.
The staff is always super friendly and treat you like family, true hospitality.

I’ve moved from Washington to Texas, and I miss The BBQ Joint!

My favorite BBQ place in WA. What makes it the best is the sauces are great and combined with their various meats makes it my favorite. I go there every chance I get.

Only place I know around here to get this quality of barbecue. The plates are as good as anywhere. But while this caliber of barbecue might be on par with world-​renown barbecue (Memphis, Texas, the Carolinas), be prepared to pay an out of town price for that quality.

We stopped in for the very first time and we were blown away with the service and food. The collard greens with the vinegar dressing was off the hook. The smokey bbq sauce Amazing. I will definitely be back again.

We just moved here a few months ago and I as craving some BBQ and decided to check out this place. I was very unhappy with how overpriced 2 dinners were $ 30+!!! And the BBQ and the sides weren’t even worth it. The ribs were dry like they had been out all day, the only thing that was eaten out of the entire meal was the sausage. Not sure I’ll try this place again.

I got the 4 meat plate combo with Memphis Ribs, Carolina Pulled Pork, Spicy Sausage, and Texas Beef Brisket.
For my sides, I got corn bread in sub of the white bread and cole slaw and potato salad.
Personally, the potato salad had too much mustard other wise it was really creamy and the potatoes were cooked perfectly.
Cole slaw I didn’t quite enjoy because it was some what bland. This is the first time I had to add salt to a side salad dish.
Cornbread was amazing. It was really moist even without the butter. I wish I had more of it. I will probably go back here just for it’s cornbread honestly.
Now let’s talk about the meat. I’m not the best judge of BBQ but I have had my fair share. I think BBQ Joint just a had a slow night because the meats I got were all some what dried out, or maybe it was the togo aspect.
The brisket I’ve always had them in some of the juice it was cooked in but they served one that was dry and even with the BBQ sauce on the side I felt it was a bit tough to chew.
The ribs I enjoyed I wish I had gotten more of it though but it was a combo so that could be why. The ribs itself was cut into perfect bit size strips so it was fairly easy for guests to enjoy. I truly wish I had ordered two servings of that in replacement of the brisket.
Next item on the line, pulled pork. Everyone has a different opinion and mine is; I don’t think the pulled pork had enough fat on it. Eating healthy is important but I felt that without the fat, again the meat lacked moistness so chewing on it was a bit tough. There wasn’t much seasoning with it either. The BBQ sauce provided certainly did give it a boost.
Sausage! This item particularly caught my taste buds. Even though all the items were somewhat dry and so was the sausage; it had so much flavor and the inside was still moist. I enjoyed this a lot. Now the spice level for this is not that high so if you have a high spice tolerance like I do you may be disappointed with the spice level.
If I went with the 4 meat plate again I would get 2 of the ribs and 2 of the sausage. Those were my favorite meats because even with it being dry, those items still maintained it’s flavor.
The atmosphere was very western and homey. When I walked in I notice the dining area to be clean and well kept. The staff was super friendly. I will definitely be going back there again. Just a different selection on the sides and meats… and of course for myself… EXTRA CORNBREAD!

OMG the sliced brisket sandwich!!!
OMG the sliced brisket sandwich!!!
The brisket was unbelievably moist & melted in my mouth! I almost cried as i was eating the sandwich because it reminded me of my childhood in Texas. I can honestly say that It is the best sliced brisket sandwich I’ve ever had! You have got to try this. Did I mention how moist the brisket is? If you haven’t eaten here in a while it behooves you to try it again!

Best BBQ I’ve had in Washington, hands down! The owner, Miss Sonna was so kind and friendly towards my little boys and I. The other two gals working there had smiled on their faces and greeted us as soon as we walked in. Great customer service! I love that they support local military families. I don’t think the food was overpriced AT ALL, and I got a laugh out of the reviews stating that it is! Hello ma’am/sir… The prices are clearly stated on the menu board, you chose to order knowing what you were gonna spend, don’t come on here giving a bad review because of a decision that you made! Lol… Anyhoo, we will most DEFINITELY be back!

Decided to give this another try. Ladies were nice and into what was going on in the joint, but I still feel they are overpriced for what you receive. Even my 6 year old wanted to eat as soon as we got home. If you want an overpriced «mid meal» this would be your place to go. Meat is ok, sides are blah and VERY small. Don’t waste the $ 1 on an extra side of cornbread, it was super dry. Find a friend with a smoker and buy the meat, you can eat to be full.

As someone who grew up eating Carolina BBQ I was surprised by the good taste of their BBQ. I had the 3 meat combo with pulled pork, sausage and TX brisket.
The sausage was perfect. Melt in your mouth delicious. I shared it with my coworkers who all enjoyed it. The pulled pork wax good and not fatty. Had a light smoke taste and was very good with their sweet BBQ sauce. The tri tip was good but a little on the dry side. It was good with the BBQ sauce.
I also got the honey butter corn bread which was ok but also a little on the dry side. The BBQ beans were pretty good and are on the sweet side.
The one thing that confused me was the potato salad. It didn’t have a Mayo or sour cream taste. It had a slight basil taste but was inedible. I threw it away after a couple of small taste.
My lunch buddies all had the BBQ sandwiches which the quickly devoured as if I was going to steal them from them. They all said they were very good. They also had the collard greens which they said were very tasty. One of them let me try his praline pecan cookie which was really good. I would definitely come back to this little gem on Whidbey Island.

Bbq pit is great for bbq. They have there bbq down pat. My issues with them are there bbq sauce is one of the worst I have ever had and I love bbq sauce! Also close a little to early as well. They have a wonderful mustard sauce for the sausage. But there macaroni and potato salad are horribly bland.

Food was great. I had the brisket and sausage. Portions are good and price is decent. Try the banana pudding. Counter service so it’s quick. Staff was very friendly and polite.

I am a regular customer.
BBQ is good, but overpriced, especially with the mizerly servings.
Tiny little cups are used for side dishes and are more like taste samples, than servings.

Everything about the BBQ Joint is great! The brisket is my absolute favorite and the corn bread is so fluffy and moist. Everyone who works there is so nice and they donate their tips to local charities

3.5 stars. BBQ joint has been a decent pick for work parties for the last year. Recommended my friends!
Need some picks? Rack of ribs, macaroni salad, corn bread, and beans. Not something to-​die-​for, but solid receipes that do well for an individual or group setting. Good for a picnic takeout in the summer or indoor dinner during the wet winters.

One thing that irritates me more than anything coming from a restaurant is when you order take out and you get home only to realize your order is either wrong or incomplete.
Went to the BBQ Joint after discovering on Unilocal they offer homemade desserts (which is something this island lacks, among many other things). We ordered two sides and an order of banana pudding, got home and there was no banana pudding in my bag; not a surprise sadly. I called about this and was asked why I didn’t grab it out of the cold case, well let me ask you this; how are FIRST time customers supposed to know that when we order food from a person behind a counter and are NOT directed to pull our order from a case in the restaurant? INFORM your customer of this…
The place was open, airy and VERY clean so that is a plus; but getting home to discover missing items in a to go order trumps that,. This island is lacking and assuming business owners here are aware of such, they get a free pass to be mediocre.