Bob's BBQ Pit

Very tasty hot food!!! With the old fashioned style and deep history in Tacoma. You can't beat this place. Amazing people and customer service. I'll be come back here 10x over.

Small establishment but BIG flavor! Limited seating but the food was excellent. I had a 3-meat platter. Brisket (Medium sauce on the side), chicken breast, and a hot link. Sides were collared greens and baked beans. Brisket was cubed up in pieces and had no extra fat. Smoke flavor of the meat was great and the meat was tender. Smoke flavor on chicken was also fantastic and meat could be taken off the bone with your fingers. Sauce on the side is recommended. Ate most of the meats without any sauce. I prefer my collared greens a like spicier, but these were still good. Owner was in and enjoying the customers.

I'm unclear if this place is actually open or not. As some of the other reviews here have said, either their hours are wrong on Google Maps or they decide when they want to follow them or not. I couldn't see any hours on the door or anywhere else. A friend and I arrived for lunch at 12pm, which is when they say they're open, but the door was locked, and there was an elderly man inside who seemed to be telling us they weren't open (but he didn't come to the door to tell us when he'd be open). So this place might have great BBQ, but only if they decide they want to serve it to you...

Ok. How I've not stopped here before is crazy! First off. The service was great and everyone was so friendly. I like that when I visit a new place. We both got the two entree dinners and enjoyed ALL of it. The sauce was full of flavor and the meat cooked perfectly. The greens were delicious! We also each got dessert I went cobbler and no regrets. Thank you all for making this a great experience!!

Barbeque places are few and far between here in Seattle and Tacoma.... and if you want good barbecue PLEASE DONT COME HERE!!! Everything was BAD!!! Sauce gives ketchup and hot sauce, the sides came straight out of a can/ box no seasoning no love EVEN THE TEA WAS NASTY and had the audacity to charge almost $70 for 3 plates! NEVER AGAIN🤢🤮

The people here are incredibly friendly and kind and the food was fantastic. I grew up in hilltop but somehow never ended up here and I’m sad to have missed out for so long but so happy to have found this place for my future bbq needs. They are a fantastic piece of hilltop culture

This place is amazing! Friendly staff! Great portion of food. The meat just falls right off the bone super juicy. Baked beaks hit so right! Mac n cheese is creamy and very well seasoned! I will most definitely be returning here!

As a certified BBQ judge, I take my barbecue seriously—and I always focus on how well the meat is cooked. While seasoning preferences vary across regions, properly cooked meat is a universal standard. I had the pleasure of meeting the owner and (I believe) his mother—both incredibly kind and welcoming. Their hospitality alone makes this place worth visiting. I ordered the two-meat plate: ribs and brisket. The ribs, which the owner proudly recommended, were excellent. They had a perfect tender pull without falling off the bone—just how properly cooked ribs should be. The flavor was solid, though I would have preferred to try them without the sauce, which was poured over the top. The brisket, unfortunately, was a bit tough. The flavor was decent, but the texture missed the mark, especially since brisket is a personal favorite of mine. Overall, the ribs were a standout, and the warm, family-run vibe made the experience memorable. I’ll definitely be back—if not just for the ribs, then for the people.

Oldest Bar-B-Q restaurant in WA! Not only are the owners amazing community members with sweet souls, the food is full of flavor while remaining economical.

Our first time here. Food is on point! Legit Soul Fool! *Keep in mind this may not be considered Texas/Kansas style BBQ, this is honest to God Soul Food!* The mac & cheese and greens do not disappoint. Service is great, lovely little family-owned/run shop. Ambiance is typical of an eatery, small dining area with about 6 dual-seat tables. It would be difficult to feed a family of more than 4 people, however, they specialize in take out anyway.

This place is the real deal. Not fancy. Not new. Just making great food in a place with an authenticity that runs so deep it can't be faked.

If you're looking for the most delicious BBQ and sides check out Bob's Bar-B-Q Pit! We ordered a bbq pork sandwich (delicious!!) and "The Real Deal" which was ribs (but they ran out so we got rib tips instead) two sides and cornbread. The meat was so tender, nicely smoked flavor that was not overpowering, drizzled with a tangy bbq sauce. The sides we chose were Mac and cheese and greens. Both tasted amazing! Cornbread was also very good! We had a nice chat with the owner Jonathan who was so friendly and hospitable! What a great family business that we will definitely support again and again. They're incredible chefs and you will not be disappointed with the fantastic food they serve!

Love the history and vibe of a true hole in the wall food joint in Hilltop. Food was good. I got the rib tips, chicken, Mac n cheese, greens, potato salad and beans. The Mac n cheese was very good. The greens were good but better with hot sauce. The chicken was definitely dry and over cooked, however the smoky bbq charbroil taste was the best part so I enjoyed it. Hot bbq sauce was yum. Loved the cornbread. I could do without the rib tips. I will come back.

native Texan looking for connections to my Texas roots which includes smoked BBQ Texas style. i sat with Kay and talked about growing up in Texas and learning hardcore BBQ'ing from my dad! She and her family were a delight to chat with and I'm highly impressed with the food I'll be bringing family and friends here to chow Tim from Texas

They've been around forever and staff was very friendly. The food was iffy. My link was undercooked and the Mac and cheese was watery so I didn't finish it.

Just go there! Fantastic food and a great atmosphere. Loved the burnt ends and mac and cheese. We spent most of our time talking with Bob's daughter, Mrs. Clark, who sits at the front of the restaurant greeting the customers, most of whom she knows by name. The history of how Bob's BBQ Pit came to be and the continued family tradition was fascinating. Tacoma is lucky to have them. We will back often.

On the strength of my Mom telling me about a BBQ joint in Tacoma, she saw on the news and had been in business for 70 years, I decided to check them out. I ordered a slab of ribs and a two meat plate for my Mom. The slab of ribs were chewy to tough, partially burnt and not truly BBQ'd. The medium flavored sauce was good. The dinner platter came with chicken, two cut up wieners disguised as hot links. The hot links tasted like hot dogs and the chicken was old tasting and dry again and partially burnt. The potato salad looked runny and could pass for banana pudding in appearance. My Mom said the greens & baked beans were good. I agreed the baked beans were good. I wish them the best and hope they one day get back to low slow cooking because hot n fast bar-b-que is just grilling and thats what I got served some sub par grilled meats. Overall I can not recommend this place as a BBQ establishment and they will not receiving anymore of my money. $90 including the tip I should've kept!

my experience with Texas BBQ is very central texas/ hill country, so to me, this is a different take on Texas BBQ. Very Saucy. Some days you can find these folks out at the smoker turning meat and mopping it with sauce. This is a family run little dive. Folks were happy to help me navigate the menu and make a choice. There's not a whole lot of space to eat inside, and there are a couple seats outside on nice days. I wouldn't depend on eating there. Food automatically comes in a to-go container.

If you're looking for quality bbq, look no further. This is a family owned joint. It's small but delicious- I loved the rib tips!

This is a fantastic, family-owned, local business that has graced our Hilltop neighborhood for decades. Anybody who has driven along S. 11th on Weekends has certainly gotten a whiff of the smoky goodness that comes out of this tiny, unassuming place. My dining partner and I have been recently getting weekly take-out to explore local places (and he's not yet ready to eat indoors) and find new favorites. I'm so happy we tried Bob's. We were greeted in such a friendly way by the matriarch and steady rock of the place. Our pick up order was ready in a few minutes and the spicy BBQ sauce is our favorite sauce we've ever had. My DP is a big meat eater and really enjoyed the meat sampler he ordered. I think the ribs were his favorite. There were lots of 'nummy' sounds coming from his side of the table. I loved the sides. We ordered the creamy mac-n-cheese, zesty baked beans with just enough spice and little vinegary zing, creamy coleslaw and collard greens that my DP said were the best he's ever had! We also had corn muffins and they were moist and fantastic. We will definitely be back!S

Absolutely stellar, coming from a Mississippian! We had pulled pork, ribs, chicken, baked beans, Mac n cheese, peach cobbler, corn bread, and sweet tea. Everything was OUTSTANDING! All the meats were tender and super flavorful. The sauce was vinegar based but not too runny (and they have varying heat options in case you like it mild or spicy). Sides were fabulous! Sweet tea is the best I've had in nearly a decade. Peach cobbler was perfect hot or cold. I mean just stop reading this and go eat there. And speak to Miss Kay if she's at her table by the front. She is amazing and has a lot of the history of the restaurant to share if you're curious!

One of the best BBQ ribs I've had in Washington. Service is great as well. Small family owned business for sure.

Roger was a great host during our first visit to Bob's BBQ Pit. The pulled pork was AMAZING! The brisket was AMAZING! The potato salad and coleslaw were AMAZING! My only issue... it took me so long to find this place . When you crave BBQ in Tacoma, you are craving Bob's BBQ Pit.

The BBQ was awesome, I tried it for lunch and purchased the spicy BBQ and it was off the hook good! I'll be back for some more good cooking BBQ! Yes I will!

This place was good. Met the owner, great personality. This has been open Since 1948. Food was good good Smokey taste. Had a blast. Love to see a Small family Business stay in the community.

I had my first real Louisiana Bar-B-Que somewhere near a Greyhound Station back in the 70's...on a Bus Trip through the South on Army Leave...and this is that good. They say it's Texas BBQ, and I guess they know...but what I know is it's the best I've ever had. Just the right 'hot' in the hot (if you like stuff macho-hot, you gotta ask)...just the right spices. I had the Lunch special, beef sandwich...piled high, had to eat it with a fork. Wife had the Lunch Chicken...best she ever had, too. Place is about 75 years old and shows it....I knew to stop 'cause I spent part of my wasted youth in the South...and down there they just get to the cookin' and leave the foo-foo and the paint for another time. If you are white collar, hipster, or just plain stupid, please don't bother these folks...go for the food or don't go at all. I would drive 100 miles to eat here, and probably will.

Such a great find - we love local family-owned businesses, and this was an amazing addition to our list that we experienced for the first time today! The ribs were fantastic - the perfect blend of tender, fall-off-the-bone quality with smokiness paired with a mild BBQ sauce (I recommend the medium or hot but was cautious due to our kiddos as this was our first visit). Our other favorites included the rib tips, coleslaw, and baked beans. OMG. I could have eaten a vat of those baked beans. My older son loved the pulled pork "samich," corn bread, and the Mac 'n cheese. We are looking forward to having all of the above plus want to try the chicken and the brisket next time around. Yum!!!

The sonic samich was so good. Full of sauce and flavor! The Mac n cheese was the best seasoned we've had in the PNW. The greens were also superb. The seating is homey and comfortable. The staff are so nice and the owner was telling us stories of the neighborhood. 10/10

This place is a trip. A time and location warp. This place would look the same in a southern TX town in the 1960s. They prioritize great BBQ and service, nothing else. I spoke with the owner and his mom for awhile, they preside over the oldest BBQ joint in the state. We ordered half the menu, all of it was awesome. I will be back.

Great food, great service. I had the ribs, my partner had a combo plate. Everything was delicious, the greens were particularly good. Can't wait to go back, next time I'll save room for the sweet potato pie!

Tried this place for the first time yesterday and it was hands down the best bbq place I've ever been. I will be going here from now on every time I'm craving bbq :)

Sooo, I heard of this BBQ place from my daughter, I'm from the Chi and the bar is set high for BBQ, so with that being said. "You're not home Dorothy" Anyway it's ok. Not the best but not the worst ‍ the portions for the price could be a lot better

Food really good, wait was pretty long, but overall worth it staff was amazing and super helpful! 100% would come back next time I am in Tacoma

What a serendipitous great lunch if bbq! I've driven by here 100x and today the smell of bbq got the best of me. The welcome in from the owner was warm, the counter service happy, polite, genuine and the food being prepared behind the counter smelled delicious and was delicious. I ordered a 'rib samich' and bery lemonade. I received a healthy portion (and super delicious) of bone-in ribs with their in-house sauce. I asked and they make everything in-house. They have informal seating for 15-20 and are prepared for table service or take out. I must say the love and overwhelming 'family quality' restores faith in the family business. I will be back and will tell all who can hear about this wonderful experience.

My fiancé is born and raised Tacoma; the Hilltop specifically. He brought me here tonight and oh my goodness this food is good!! I'm from the south and I haven't had southern style REAL BBQ since I moved here until now!!!! This food was delicious and the service was terrific!! We got The Real Deal. Slab of ribs, Mac and cheese, greens, cornbread, berry lemonade and sweet tea. I judge bbq my overall look, taste, tenderness and would I enjoy it with or without bbq sauce. Oh it passed my test with flying colors. I cannot wait until Mr Jordan brings me back here!! Bravo Bobs BBQ....Absolutely BRAVO!!

When you walk into Bob's Bar-B-Q Pit, you might feel like you are walking into someone's living room on the way to the backyard for a cookout. The atmosphere is casual and friendly. The food is just what we had hoped for. We ordered the rib tips, a pound of ribs, 1/4 chicken, and sides of collard greens and coleslaw. We got the sauce mild and it still had a kick. I can only imagine what spicy tastes like! Next time we're in the neighborhood, we'll be back for burnt ends (new to the menu!) and we will definitely save room for dessert!

The ORIGINAL BBQ, Bob's was the very first BBQ spot in Washington state. Bob's is a family ran establishment that has been in the family for generations. As authentic as it gets. Get in there and get yourself the real deal BBQ. Accept no imitations, Bobs is the genuine article. Lip smacking finger licking good! Good Bless The Bob's BBQ family!!!

As much as I wanted a great rib shack this place was just so so. The greens were sort of bland. The ribs are ok, the seasoning was good. The sauce took the flavor up a notch. I am not a sauce fan but on these ribs I'll go with it. For me, the rib meat fell off of the bone too easy. I know, I know some ppl really like that but not me. The reason I get ribs is to eat with my hand and naw on the bones. You grab one of these ribs and the meat don't stay on the bone long enough to get it into your mouth, but the tip meat was a bit tough and chewy. If the temperature of ur smoker was right that shouldn't happen? Then the slab was cut into small peices, like you would for small children, or some Japanese restaurant were you could use chop sticks. I don't want rib tips, baby back or St. Louis style. I want a good ole slab of bbq ribs, cut at the ribs. That's it. I will be back cause, the service was friendly, it is local not a chain joint, and I haven't tried the sweet potatoe pie or corn bread. My fingers are crossed for good pie.

Really sad. I heard this place was amazing so we ordered for a yummy dinner. Spent $18.99 on a meal with 2 main meats and 2 side with a corn bread and bread. Our meats were cold and a side was missing plus our bread was gone. After microwaving the food it was not as exciting as we hoped for. I don't know if we will order here again.

On my first visit I got the half pound of ribs ($10.99) which were five assorted pieces of very chewy meat, in a thin and watery sauce. My second visit a week later the ribs were now cut from the same rack and very tender. The Mac and (no discernible) Cheese ($5.65) was still mushy and tasteless. Having observed how shredded pork is made at other places I would never order it, so no comment. The parking out front is very convenient, but the ribs were only average at best.

The best BBQ around! The order took longer than expected, so we walked to a nearby cocktail bar and had some great cocktails while we waited. Definitely worth the wait! Our go-to BBQ from now on!

It's a pretty decent BBQ spot. I really liked the baked beans and macaroni and cheese. It's a hole in the wall type joint so if that bothers you then it's clearly not the place for you. The customer service was nice. It's a pretty standard BBQ spot. .

Just gross and ghetto AF. This isn't BBQ. It's smoked meat with sauce poured on top. Spicy sauce not BBQ sauce. Texas BBQ? Don't even think you can call it that. Ribs come with some nasty cheap white bread I wouldn't feed to the birds. Place is filthy. $10 for 1/2 lb. Not even worth that. Takes forever to order.

Yesterday was my first opportunity to eat at Bob's Bar-B-Q Pit. What a wonderfully flavored meal. I ordered the two item combo dinner with mac and cheese and coleslaw. The mac and cheese was delicious and the first thing I ate. The coleslaw had just the right amount of dressing. With the dinner combo, I got the try both the ribs and pulled pork. The meat fell right off the bone and was wonderfully flavored sweet and tangy. The pulled pork was also delicious as could be. In addition, I ordered some corn bread and got an Arnold Palmer. All in all, some of the best BBQ I've ever eaten. Thanks for the wonderful dinner, I'll be back!

I literally do not understand how this place has this good of a rating. I went there to try it because I've been dying to find some good southern bbq, and being from Texas, I like to believe I've had a fair share. The only thing "Texas" about this place is when your dad makes a huge bbq and there is left overs to eat tomorrow. And your mama makes you microwave some for lunch the next day. Here at Bob's NONE of my food was fresh. It was pulled out the cooler and microwaved. Yes, I'm sure. I saw him do it. It even had that zapped, left over taste to it. I paid a good chunk of money for left overs. I was kind of disgusted by it. I could have done that at home. But I wanted to have fresh, bbq so I made the mistake of going there. PLEASE, save your money and go elsewhere. I wish I would have

OMG! This is some great food! AND the people are amazing! Ordered the rib tips and greens and man & cheese. Small hole in the wall place- it is clean! And the food is great!

Delicious Pork Ribs and Pork Tips. Will try the BBQ Chicken on my next stop. Baked Beans and Potato Salad were my favorite sides. We did take out.

I probably would have never come here as I could barely even tell it was anything from the outside but my boyfriend brought me here and holy crap, the food is absolutely amazing! The rib tips and wings are to die for and the mac and cheese is addicting. The greens are amazing as well. I literally want to eat here every day! Soooooo good!

If you are a fan of classic delicious bbq then I would recommend bobs to you! The smell approaching the building is so good you can't help but pull in. A classic landmark of Tacoma the prices are good and the food is better. It is a must!

I will say who ever didn't give this place a 3-4 star is an idiot when it comes to BBQ this place was the best I have had in town. Beats dicks and famous daves. Will be back again and again. I will have to see who's better mine or his. Close call though. Only bad thing is sauce needs to be hotter for a mild and more napkins upfront but all in all great friendly restaurant.

Was craving BBQ for a minute and I drove by this place and saw the BBQ smoking so I stopped on in. I ordered the rib tips, greens, and berry lemonade. It all hit the spot.

Ordered on Doordash, this restaurant is phenomenal. Excellent quality meats expertly seasoned, a very well balanced sauce with just the right amounts of sweet and heat, and the macaroni I had tasted like my grandma made it.

Been seeing this place for years but never stopped in. Looking for links and decided to try these guys out. The smell of bbq walking up to the place was amazing, once inside all I could smell was collard greens. Got my food and immediately started on the greens and the taste was better than the smell. Will definitely be back here to try out more items on the menu

* See the review from Stephen J. It's spot on. My review would be identical to his however six years later Bob's hasn't really changed much to improve. I ordered the pork sandwich, my friend had ribs and tips.The barbecue sauce is mediocre, my friend said the ribs for okay and the sauce was more of a tomato sauce. Like Stephens review, I I have to say the best part are people, they were really nice it looks like a family-run establishment. But the barbecue missed the mark, the collard greens for okay but mediocre also and the cornbread... it didn't come from a southern kitchen. My friends and I agree that you have to manage your expectations for where you live and Tacoma is not known for amazing BBQ. If I want barbecue in the Tacoma / Fife area I'd go to warthog in fife and that's still only 3 starts. Sorry Bob, I usually don't like to do but seems like negative reviews but you just kind of miss the mark. Keep trying, good luck.

wtf, worst mac n cheese I've 3ver experienced. Literally mush, no noodle structure, hair on my chicken skin still.... ate less then 2 hours ago n I'm gradually getting stomach cramps horribly...I feel foolish for eating here.

This place is, in a word, awful. Our food took 25 minutes. The mac and cheese and greens were good, but that doesn't make up for chicken that tasted like it was boiled, brisket cut too thin and completely void of flavor and the worst burnt ends on the planet. The sauce is sparce and that's okay because it's basically jazzed up ketchup. Someone needs to show these folks how to use a grill/smoker. It's really that bad. The people are nice, so you get 2 stars.

Best chicken ever. But don't go here if you're hungry or low blood sugar. No one in front of me, no one else in the restaurant at all, and it took over fifteen minutes to get served two pieces of chicken and some greens(also good). I am hypoglycemic, had asked if it would take long or was it already cooked, and was told it wouldn't take long at all. The man behind the counter didn't start working on my order till ten minutes after I gave it to him. "What did you want again?" Not a single other customer there. Wouldn't serve me-after I paid and tipped, mind you- till I raised my voice. Homophobic? Something else? I don't know. But really poor service and excellent food. If you have a bunch of time to wait, might be a good choice. I myself wound up with a hypoglycemic episode which I had tried hard to avoid by asking as soon as I came in, will this take long. 15 minutes for takeout with literally not another customer in the place is too much.