People’s Pig

Awesome awesome awesome! Hell for vegetarians, though. That’s okay, more for the rest of us!
Love this place – one of my favorite restaurants in Portland! Food is delicious and fast, and service always great. Prices are decent and portion size good.
Small, but charming (and dark) location. Just a few tables, but you’ll wolf your food down quickly enough.
BBQ pork plate: Tasty – great smokiness and sauce, moist meat.
Smoked fried chicken (prefer over the pork!): BEST. CHICKEN. EVER. Seriously. It’s so different from any chicken I’ve had at any other restaurant. Great breading/​batter – not too heavy. Moist chicken. Delicious smokey flavor in every bite (and burp afterwards!).
Sides
* Love the cornbread! Crispy on the outside, moist inside and served atop honey. So yummy! Almost regret not ordering more to take home!
* Macaroni salad is tasty – not too sweet or heavy on the sauce
* BRING BACK THE JOJOS!
* Mac and cheese would be great too
* Black eyed peas are ‘okay’
Highly recommended for meat eaters!

Sometimes some food is so good that you can forgive some missteps.
I got the smoked pork plate. Usually I’m a little skeptical of pork as usually it’s the pulled pork that can just hide behind a sauce as long as the texture is sufficient. These were big thick slices for pork. Coated in a smoky flavorful rub and served with BBQ Sauce. Now I just criticized another establishment for having only one sauce. However this sauce is Boss. It’s smoky, sweet, spicy and vinegary in all the right proportions. You really don’t need any others.
My complaint is the lack of hot sides. However with the small kitchen I guess I understand. The black eyed peas were flavorful. I didn’t not like the mac salad at all. Very vinegary and pickle forward. Not a pleasant bite, but you know what, with the quality of the meat, I don’t care.
The space could turn off some people. It’s small, real small. Even the seating that it does have makes you feel cramped. I’d go there with a plan B in case it’s raining and you can’t find a seat.
When it comes to BBQ I prefer beef, but I got no beef with the People’s Pig. (Now if that doesn’t get me a featured review, I don’t know what will.)

I am an admitted food snob when it comes to a few things but BBQ is not one of them. BBQ is like pizza — everyone has their favorite style. For me, like pizza, it’s just a matter of good eats. And the People’s Pig is damn good eats!
As you cruise up N. Williams and your heart sinks a little when the ever-​looming gentrification comes into view; hang tight because there it is… a roadside BBQ shack seemingly dropped into place from the country backroads of Louisiana or the Carolinas. Walking in, you are greeted with a heady olfactory patina of lovingly smoked goodness. Ya just get the feeling that you will be well-​looked after.
Being a first-​timer, of course we had to try the sampler. A $ 60 tray of pretty much everything on the menu. A mixed bag of ‘just fine’ to ‘more please!’. For my palate the ribs and pork shoulder were the rock stars of the day. I also really enjoyed the balance of sweet/​smoke/​spice bbq sauce. The collard greens were my side of choice. And, washing it all down with a People’s Pimms made me giddy with delight.
I’m still in a state of disbelief that they pulled this off. It does NOT feel like Portland AT ALL! And, these spots that are able to transport you to another place and time should be celebrated. As I say, I’m no BBQ snob but this place is worth a visit!

Tried the ribs and smoked pork shoulder which were scrumptious! The ribs are smoked, not grilled so there will be some burnt pieces but if you truly appreciate slowly smoked meat you’ll know what I mean. Ribs are crunchy and bursting with flavor on the outside with soft moist meat on the inside. I’m normally not a fan of bbq sauce but the one they have here is awesome, not overly sweet like most bbq sauces, smokey and flavorful with just the right amount of sweet.
The smoked pork shoulder will melt in your mouth. Crispy layer on the outside with just a bit of fat trimming and then a soft, moist inside.
Sides are large and generous, you will not leave here with an unhappy tummy! Staff is very friendly. It is a bit dark inside, they have a little too much ambiance going on heheh. but thankfully they have outdoor seating.
Definitely check this place out esp if you’re like me and you come from a state that just doesn’t do bbq like this: p

Went to PP over the weekend and had a great experience. Food was good (but not life-​changing), ambiance was cool, and weather was beautiful… but let’s be honest, an 80 degree, sunny day in Portland in May could probably get McDonald’s a good review if it had a patio!
My wife and I split two plates so we could try as much as possible while being cost effective (plates come with two sides). For the meat we went with the two most-​talked about items: the pork shoulder and the smoked fried chicken. The chicken was really interesting, in a good way… the name should be self explanatory but I was still surprised at just how smoked it was, which made for an interesting flavor combination. The pork shoulder was also good, but I was a little disappointed in it. It was cut thick and was a bit dry, so it wasn’t that fun to eat… maybe I don’t have enough experience with smoked meats but I was expecting more tender meat. Flavor was on point though, and I highly recommend eating it with the jalapeño jelly that comes with the chicken.
The side dishes were also solid. We got the mac salad, collard greens, potato salad, and coleslaw, of which the potato salad was a clear standout. We both got a cocktail, and I’ll shamelessly admit I liked wifey’s strawberry mojito better than my sweet tea and bourbon.
As for ambiance and décor, it’s got a relaxing, funky old-​school vibe, but in an authentic way unlike many of the the try-​hard hip spots these days.
All in all, the food was tasty and the experience was a good time. We will definitely be back to try some other dishes and sink a few more strawberry mojitos!

People’s Pig reminds me of a hole in the wall bbq joint that I went to once in Austin. A cozy casual restaurant with only a few tables. You place your order at the register, then take a seat, we opted for a booth, and ordered a couple of IPA’s. It was well past the lunch rush, and it was pretty empty inside.
We opted for the brisket and ribs. Our sides consisted of potato salad, collard greens and coleslaw. These plates are of size! You could easily split a plate, as we had plenty of leftovers for the next day.
I honestly didn’t care for the bbq, it might have been an off day. The brisket was flavorful, smoky and tender but had way too much fat on it. It wouldn’t be bad, if I cut off all the fat, but some of the fat had leeched onto the meat leaving an oily residue. The ribs seemed like they would be amazing, but had this chewy exterior, as if it had been in the smoker for too long. If you look at my picture, it looks like charred pieces of meat. The bonus, is that the sides were excellent. Creamy potato salad, one of the best potato salad’s I’ve had at a restaurant. I might have to come back and try it again!

Once in a blue moon you experience food and drink that truly leaves a lasting memory. Tonight, that happened to me at the People’s Pig. I had to try the Smoked Fried Chicken sandwich after seeing it on the Food Network. It was simply the best sandwich that I have ever tasted. What I was not prepared for, however, was the overall experience at The People’s Pig… This gem of a restaurant takes you back in time, when restaurants had character and distinctiveness and people say together and talked instead of playing with their smart phone. I was simply amazed at the authenticity and character of this 1960s esque Classic restaurant. The smell of smokey meats made me want to stay there forever. The bar area reminded me of a classic luncheonette from the 1960s. But the food… That is another chapter altogether.
At first bite, I was mesmerized by all of the complex flavors working together at once. The smokey taste, along with the fresh greens and the delicious homemade bread made my chicken sandwich one for the ages… It was simply one of the best single bites of food that I can remember eating in a very long time… Additionally, the cocktail program here should not be overlooked. The Smoked Old Fashioned was absolutely perfect with my meal. They put in the extra effort create such a unique craft cocktail to pair with their smokey meats (providing the absolute definition of a complimentary cocktail pairing). While most people come for the food, I could make a serious case for coming here for the cocktail. Taking the time to create craft cocktails to pair with their amazing food makes the People’s Pig one of the best dining experiences that I can remember in a long time.
Thank you for doing such a great job and I can’t wait to return here on my next trip to Portland!

The BEST BBQ pork sandwich I’ve ever had, hands down!!! This place is soooooo good. It’s for sure a little hole in the wall place, I past it up almost twice because it’s pretty small or it could be my lack of direction in that area and terrible eyesight :) I actually ordered take out, my husband and I were at the hospital around the corner and needed some food that didn’t taste like cardboard.
I left about 15 – 20 minutes after I called it in. Once I stepped inside I was instantly hit in the face with the sweet aroma of pork rump being smoked. The inside is small, dark and eclectic, we’ll say. There are also a few small tables out front of the joint.
I was greeted by a friendly young gal. Food was all packed and ready to go. I ordered the pork BBQ sandwich, collard greens and black eyed peas. They were all fantastic, though after having their collard greens I still prefer Pine state biscuits and Southland Whiskey Kitchens more. More of that vinegar flavor I prefer. My husband got the fried chicken sandwich, creamy coleslaw and cornbread (cornbread was a little dry but good nonetheless). We ate every crumb and drop of meat and sauce, my husband tried to trade for my BBQ pork sandwich because he loved it so much, clearly that didn’t happen!
We will be back, this time to actually sit inside. Great meal and it was inexpensive, only 24 bucks for all of our food and the portion sizes were generous. I’d recommend this spot anytime for a yummy BBQ meal.

Very disappointed… On vacation and was recommended here and the pictures looked amazing so I was looking forward to it for a while but not what I expected.
Pros–
1. Great customer service; friendly
2. HUGE portions. Bang for the buck and $ 2 sides are massive
Cons–
1. Long piece of hair came out of the mac salad
2. Very bitter slaw and mac salad
3. The inside was very dirty

I ordered take out from here and it was real good.
I wish they had said that the smoked fried chicken plate was boneless. I probably would’ve ordered something else… BUT… it was REAL REAL good for boneless fried chicken.
I also ordered a BBQ Pork and that was REAL REAL good.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the potato salad, but I just prefer sweet relish with egg potato salad and not dill potato salad. All in all a good BBQ joint with beer on tap if I had stayed to imbibe with my BBQ.

Best American BBQ I’ve had in a while… The sauce was so finger licken’ good…
We sat at the booth seat, the seats were bouncy and felt like they’ve been used for few decades but once our food arrived, no body cared if the seats were uncomfortable or not. I really enjoyed the «cubano» pork shoulder sandwich too. We shared two entrees between 3 adults and a child, portions are definitely on the superduper generous side.

See the pics I posted. No more words needed.
Just…wow.
(Plan to wait a good while to order)

Probably the best fried chicken I’ve had in my life. Smoked first and then flash fried to crispy perfection.
My cousin lives nearby and has been going to them since they had their food truck so we let her do the ordering. She ordered the mixed platter ($ 40 for 4 types of meat and 5 sides) so we could sample everything. We all ordered som drinks. Living in NY/​NJ has made me start accepting crazy prices for mixed drinks. Mixed drinks here were all under $ 7 and they did not skimp on the liquor.
Everything was cooked to perfection but the chicken was my absolute favorite.
Don’t let the appearance scare you away. It really is a shack and looks like a dive inside. Don’t try to come with a large group. Seating is very limited.

Yes Yes Yes. A thousand times yes.
So, I’m a tough cookie when it comes to BBQ. I’m from cattle country, in one of world’s best BBQ cities. My bar is set high, and thus far little (i.e. nothing) in Portland has really cleared it. But then I visited People’s Pig. Ladies and gentlemen, this is my favorite BBQ in PDX.
With a name like People’s Pig, you’d expect them to focus on pork, and you’d be right. I sampled the smoked pork sandwich, the bbq pork sandwich, and the sausage, and all were fantastic! Clearly the meat is the most important ingredient, and they do it right. But also, the sauces are excellent, they’re served on fantastic bread and, and if the mashed potatoes are a good representation, the sides are on point.
Also, the environment is perfect! I would lovingly describe it as «ramshackle», and it perfectly encapsulates the hole-​in-​the-​wall feel of some of my favorite BBQ spots back home. You order at the counter, and they’ll bring your food to you. And extra rare for Portland? They clean up your tables for you! I wouldn’t come here with a group larger than 4, and even that could be tough if one of the few booths aren’t unoccupied. If you’re flying solo, you can sit at the counter.
I might give them more of a fair shake than other places, as I typically get into beef bbq which isn’t an option at People’s Pig. But they don’t need qualifiers to be considered excellent. They are by any standards. I’ll be back, over and over and over again.

This place is a divey dive… And I like that. I was really hoping the food would be outstanding and we could make this our regular BBQ spot. We got the ribs and the fried smoked chicken with potato salad and so JoJos. In Sacramento we called the potatoes broasted potatoes… its a good way to eat potatoes.
The deep fried smoked chicken was good but not great but it was fun eating something really different. I really liked the potatoes but the potato salad was a bit too dill for me. My wife loved that taste.
The ribs were good too just not great. I think they needed more sauce. Sauce was provided but it was full of mystery stuff… maybe long slips of onion or jalepeno??? It tasted good but it made be wonder what we were eating.
We may be back to check out their sandwiches because they looked really good.
So almost 4 starts but not quite.

Made another pilgrimage into the People’s Pig. To mix up things, this time I opted to get the Smoked Pork Platter and a beer. As always everything was great and the generous portions means I get to take some home.
Yes the food here is awesome and the place is quaint, but what really makes it for me is the people. We were chatting with the chef/​owner about his food, and asked about his recipe for his greens, his answer was the best possible answer: «you start with some meat trimmings and a lot of love.» And that my friends is what makes this little place so special — you can taste that these meals are prepared by people that love what they are doing.

I avoid barbecue joints because of the high cost. I decided to try out this place on a whim. Then I decided to try it out again, what turned into two visits eventually ended up at visit number six. Consistency was spot on every time, enjoyed everything. Great service, great food. A nice addition to the neighborhood.

Stopped by for dinner with my daughter at the perfect time: 6:30 pm on a Tuesday. No lines and we sat at the counter. I had the smoked lamb sandwich and my daughter had the smoked fried chicken sandwich. Both delicious and we ended up taking half of each home. Our sides were the macaroni salad (ate it all) and the Jo Jo Potatoes (spicy and crispy). The young lady who took our orders has an aura of friendliness that truly made us feel welcomed. We’ll be back!

Came here while on a work trip. I got the Smoked Friend Chicken Sandwich, potato salad, and an IPA.
The sandwich was outstanding– chicken, bread, and jalapeño jelly were a fantastic combo. The potato salad was excellent as well. The $ 10 price was a great value.
The place was much smaller than I anticipated, with what appears to be hand-​me-​down furniture.
I loved the experience.
From looking around– the meat plate portions were generous. Nobody is leaving hungry.
I am returning to Portland in the second half of February and plan to take my friend.

I like the dark, casual vibe of this place but the food is just too terrible to recommend. I ordered two meats and two sides and everything that was cooked was burnt, literally charred. I thought the cook was joking when he set it front of me.
They chop up the sausage before re-​heating so there’s no way for it NOT to be dried out but this was basically dog food. The BBQ pork was half fat and burnt, completely dried out.
Coleslaw is basically mayo with a splash of cabbage. Depressing. Jojos were also burnt. How do you burn potatoes besides putting them under the fire and just forgetting about them all together? This food was so bad I didn’t even want to send it back or complain because the person who cooked it is the one who brought it out. Clearly he thought this was OK. Yuck.
My friend ordered the BBQ pork sandwich and had to pick off about 50% of the meat because it was all fat. Disgusting.
BBQ sauce tasted like cheap ketchup.
The bathroom is a horror show.
All my friend and I talked about for the rest of the day was how horrible the food was. This is the kind of place you eat and wonder if these people just hate their customers, BBQ, food in general. Beyond depressing.
Good BBQ is hard to come by in Portland but decent food is not. Avoid this place.

Tangy potato salad ³⁄₅
BBQ Pork sandwich ³⁄₅
Sweet tangy spicy BBQ sauce ³⁄₅
Cream cole slaw ³⁄₅
Cornbread in honey ²⁄₅
Jo Jo fries ²⁄₅

The worst margarita I’ve ever had in my life. My ribs where dry and cooked to death. The pork shoulder was half fat unedible. We went with my mom all 3 of us said we would never go back

Had a mix up with the order that took awhile to figure out but I have to say it was worth it! Drinks were good too! Love the spicy Bbq sauce and it was my first taste of smoked fried chicken. Damn that was so amazing! Wish I could take some home with me to CA!

Walked in and immediately got an old western saloon vibes ~
Can’t say the place was well-​lit nor did it have a lot of seating, but in my mind this lil bbq joint holds a certain charm! I ordered the BBQ Pork Sandwich with a side of cornbread (a side of your choice comes with the order). The sandwich was huge! Thick slices of sauced pork with the slaw falling out from under the top bun. There were some really good flavors going on the in sandwich, with the bbq sauce, smoky pork, and light coleslaw BUT some observations:
The cuts of pork were quite fatty in some parts, and the bottom half of the bun was drenched and soggy. I could’ve done with some more slaw in my sandwich as well, since the cuts of meat were so thick. But the top half of the bun was a winner, crisp outer shell with a soft, dense middle. The cornbread I would pass on if I came back, the texture was too dry and they put some sort of syrup over it that made it too sweet.
Cool, unique place with reasonable prices. I liked the BBQ Pork Sandwich, but I would give the Smoked Fried Chicken Sandwich a go if I came back, which was the other option I was considering when I ordered.

Dingy, dark, and disgusting.
The smell of the smoker inside is overwhelming.
My barbecue pork sandwich was so messy I couldn’t even use my hands to eat it. The meat overall was fatty. The «creamy slaw» made the bun soggy and lacked flavor.
The macaroni salad was too sweet and bitter tasting, there’s a thing called salt.
The jojo’s were the peak of my lunch today. Didn’t finish the sandwich or the mac salad.
Never going back there again! They should’ve stuck to being a food cart!

great service and even greater food — at reasonable prices. I had the smoked fried chicken plate with cole slaw and green. OMG — the greens were the best and the smoked chicken was just totally what I was hoping it to be. Flavorful, moist and finger lickin good!

Pure bliss and euphoric experience. The flavors still dancing in my mouth. The homemade BBQ sauce hands down, one of the best we’ve had. Thank you, your NEW REGULARS! A MUST visit if coming to portland!

Had lunch with my son at the pig today, he’s a huge chicken fan. He proclaimed the fried smoked chicken to be the“best piece of chicken I’ve ever eaten”. I’m inclined to agree with him. We moved here from the south east where fried chicken is an art form, by smoking it prior to frying they have created a masterpiece. The sides were excellent as well.
Overall it’s a typical portland dive, gotta love that.

I was extremely skeptical coming here as I walked past this restaurant this weekend. The restaurant itself is in an old shack, yes, literally a shack next to a garden patch surrounded by construction. However, you can smell them smoking the meat from a couple blocks away and it smelled really good!
The restaurant itself is really small, the room is cold, drafty, and the seats are broken. Ordering was a little confusing in that you place your order, find a table and they’ll bring out the food to you. Water, utensils, and to go boxes are all self serve.
My friends and I couldn’t decide on what we wanted so we ordered the $ 40 combo, which came with ribs, chicken, and pork bbq with a little of each of the sides. The combo itself is very large and we ended up eating the leftovers later that evening for dinner. I also ended up getting the blood orange sour which was really good as well!
My favorite was the pork, which had a nice balance between the fat/​meat ratio. I wasn’t too big of a fan of the ribs since there was more charcoal than meat. The fried chicken was good, but I thought that the crust on it was a bit too salty for my tastes. Out of the sides, I was particularly fond of the macaroni salad which had a nice touch of vinegar to it– helping cut the fatty meat.
Overall solid food, I would definitely come back again.

I had high hopes for this place, alas, it did not meet the high standards I have when it comes to BBQ. The pork was a little dry and much more tasteless than I imagined a fatty cut of pork shoulder to be. The sauce it was served with was a bit too tart and again, lacking flavor. The greens were basically just greens and vinegar … once again, void of the richness one would expect such a dish.
The staff was great, however, as they were very welcoming and friendly, and also attentive to everyone who made their way through the door.

I have not eaten anything in my life that can compare to the Smoke Fried Chicken sandwich. I hope some day I will experience the same joy and delight that this pile of perfection brought to me today. But if I don’t, I will die a happy man.
Mind blowingly good.

Amazing.
It is about the easiest way to put my experience here. After passing by this place for months and months and months on bike rides to and from work, I finally had the good sense to stop in today. All I can tell you is that the gentle wood smells and sizzling meat that has wooed my nose have materialized into the ultimate pay off in my experience this afternoon.
When inside, i looked at their ample menu and was pleasantly surprised by any number of things that could tantalize my taste buds. My choice: a classic pork sandwich. Was I disappointed? No. Oh no I was delighted, entranced and quite simply I was sublimely seduced by the marvel that was the pork sandwich topped with house made coleslaw. With a nice side of some of the best dill infused potato salad that I have had in a very long time. Beware dear reader, you enter this place at your own risk and to risk of all shirts and pants you are wearing. Grab at least half a dozen napkins and dive into the marvel is the People’s Pig. Beware, seating is limited (everyone realizes how amazing this place is).
You will not be disappointed. Actually, you will be rolling yourself out with a smile on your face.

Great first experience!
I had the pulled pork sandwich, which was respectably good BBQ on a bun that actually held it together. This is rare! The bread was delicious, and the collard greens were some of the best I’ve ever had. (Sorry Southern Ladies, you make excellent greens, but it’s true)
The spicy margarita was a good drink, and I was torn between a cocktail and Shiner in a bottle. In other ways it reminded me of a TX or OK hole-​in-​the-​wall BBQ place — restaurant is a stretch in some regards. But, service was very friendly and the food came out before too long.
This is well worth a visit, and you won’t leave hungry.

The Rolling Stones, Elton John, (a lot of) Paul Simon, Fleetwood Mac and Jim Croce are just part of the soundtrack of what you will hear while digging into your BBQ goodness at the People’s Pig on North Williams. What an experience. Let me tell you about it.
Sue and I came here on a Saturday afternoon for some lunch. I had heard good things and wanted to see if the hype was justified. I can honestly say that it was. First off, the place reminded me of many TX holes in the wall BBQ joints I went to while my brother was living down there. I can’t really say that about many of the other BBQ places in Portland. They also have Shiner in the bottle here.
The menu is pretty simple. Sandwiches, plates and specials. Prices run in the $ 10-​$ 12 range with some of the bigger plates going for $ 20-​$ 40. Those are meant to be shared so all in all not overly expensive.
I had the Smoked Pork Plate ($ 12) which came with a choice of 2 sides. I went with the collard greens (because I can’t not have collard greens) and a slice of corn bread. A few of the other side dish choices included black eyed peas, fried green tomatoes and mac salad. The beautiful thing is that they don’t serve you this food on a plate. It comes out to you on paper on a cafeteria tray. Don’t worry. They do have napkins and utensils. We aren’t savages after all.
For $ 12 they give you a lot of food. A large portion of smoked pork, and a very nice sized dish of greens. Plus the hunk of corn bread as well as some (house made?) BBQ sauce. The pork didn’t need any sauce, but I used it here and there anyway. The pork was very moist with a nice bark. The collard greens were spot on and the corn bread was moist and on the lighter side (not a paperweight).
Service was very friendly. You order at the counter/​bar and they bring your food out to you. The girl behind the register was on top of everything. Taking orders, ringing them up, taking money, mixing drinks, cleaning tables so that others could sit, etc. All done with a smile on her face.
A wonderful experience. Looking forward to trying more.

I was in last week and was blown away with this barbecue. All week I was telling everyone that would listen just how good this food is.
Back this weekend split a sandwich and had a beer there. Also picked up the big combo to take home.
The combo has some of everything. There was plenty to go around when we had it later. Everything was amazing.
I’m looking forward to my next trip to The People’s Pig!

Portland, day 2, stop 2, take out lunch.
Smoked pork shoulder sandwich — ⁴⁄₅ — Solid pork, good bread
Smoked lamb sandwich — ³⁄₅ — Good sauce, meat too tough
Cornbread — ¹⁄₅ — Not good.
Smoked corn — ³⁄₅
Overall, «A-​OK.»