Buster's Texas Style Barbecue

Always see this barbecue place and my family and I finally decided to stop. I have to say it gives a cafeteria feel. You grab a tray, say what kind of meat you want then sides and pay. My daughter got pulled pork and macaroni and cheese. The mac was good. She didn't really like the pork. I got the 6 baby back ribs with fries and I wanted a baked potato. But was a 20 min wait so got the potato salad which was not good. The ribs were dry and tough. My son got the full rack of baby back ribs. His were better then mine but not the best. My husband got the brisket. He says it was ok. The sweet BBQ sauce was bitter not sweet at all. The Chipotle BBQ sauce was good. For the price you definitely don't get much meat and sides are pretty small. My husband has had the catering before and he really enjoyed it. Wasn't dry, very juicy and lots of meat.

Busters is a classic. It’s got that American….older style? Vibe ? Great atmosphere you expect from a place like this. Food wise you have tons of options- this trip I snagged a Po Boy sandwich with Brisket and Pulled Pork, and a side of mashed potatoes. They were amazing. While Busters might not be the “best” bbq they’re not trying to compete like that. It’s a rad chain with that timeless feel and they are really good at what they do. The staff is super friendly and the place is clean. It also has a salad bar for the rabbit food eaters.

Wowzaa! I normally do not leave crappy reviews. This one is definitely deserved! We haven't been there in a year, or so. We went on a Friday afternoon, around 4. A young man was attending the meat services. He was sooooo slow. I thought he was having a stroke! The quality of the meats was horrid! One of the baby back ribs tried to take out 7k in dental work! Portions very small. Yes, the kid did put it on a scale. We were unable to see the actual weight. Very very very dry!! Spare ribs had no meat! I repeat, no meat. Truly disappointed! Come on folks!

It's been a while since I had Buster's BBQ and I will say they don't disappoint. We used to have one in Salem but unfortunately, it closed down years ago and it really sucks that we don't have it anymore but I'm glad this one is still here to enjoy in the Portland area!!!

I got 2 beef ribs and 2 sides mashed potatoes & French fries. A Arnold Palmer to wash it all down. My man could have given me a healthier pair of ribs, though!

Hadn't been here in years. Decided to go in on a Sunday. It was pretty busy with the after church crowd, surprisingly. As far as the food- Quality is sadly not what it used to be. Brisket was dry and overcooked, honestly not very flavorful or smokey. The potato salad and BBQ beans were decent enough. Just overall not good, and was sick within an hour of eating the little amount that I did eat. Really wanted to love it, but sadly with prices going up, quality has gone wayyy down. 2/10

Came here for the southern barbecue. My friend told me this is the best southern barbecue in Portland , and he was right!!! We ordered the brisket, pulled pork, full sack of pork ribs and sausages. This is the best pork ribs I’ve ever tasted! The sauce was good too. The brisket has such a good flavor smoked in, but it shows better in the fatter pieces. Recommended to get all the above ☝️

Their BBQ is always great. Just had a Po Boy sandwich for lunch with Brisquit and ham and sweet sauce. Amazing. And their fries are delicious.

BEST - MEATIEST !! BBQ's Beef Ribs ANYwhere. GReat Service also. Just a great 'stop-over' place for a wonderfully delicious break.

Horrible meat serving sizes at this location. The person cutting the meat doesn't even know how to cut the meat properly, weigh or use a knife. Person in front of us was served the worst turkey poboy I've ever seen (chopped turkey pieces, not sliced). She questioned the portion size and had him add more chunks. We ordered 3 meat dinner with ribs, brisket and sausage. We received 1 rib, 1. The rib was apparently 6oz. Picture attached. Smh. Brisket was also dry. Side servers were excellent. Served portions adequately. Gresham location is much better and more efficient. As I'm writing this review another customer brought up the quality of meat and serving size.

I had the BBQ Brisket dinner. It came with two sides. The coleslaw and baked beans were very good and the BBQ Brisket was tender and smoked to perfection. It had a nice atmosphere that you would expect to see at a BBQ restaurant

Went there for lunch. Staff was friendly. It's a typical BBQ place. It was clean, but not fancy. The food was just OK. The brisket looked great, but didn't have the BBQ flavor or moisture I like. The Beef ribs were also just OK. I'd eat there again, but not gonna rush back.

wanted to include some Brisket for a bday party we were having on Sunday so decided to try Busters as it was close... for $29 / lb i expected something excellent...we have gone to Matts and Peoples Pig and the brisket was incredible...I didn't expect Busters to be on their level ... but -i wish i would have decided to make the drive as the brisket we got at busters was dry and flavorless...no smoke ring to speak of...and basically no one ate much of it i guess that what you get when u go to a 'chain feel/style' bbq place...appears that they are buying inexpensive meat and it shows disappointed and surprised was an understatement...

Nothing has improved since my last visit. Dated interior, dark and feels unclean. Very friendly staff. Side portions are small. Beef ribs aren't worth the cost. Despite having a good flavor/taste, they are not meaty beef ribs; they are mostly bone. At $7.95 for each beef rib or 7 for $42+/- it's a rip-off actually. Best to try other places.

The service folks were really nice and the setting was decent but the food....expensive, cheap and sadly not worth it. It's too bad that folks don't have better options for the amount of money spent. It was $58 dollars for two plates with two meats each and and two (1/2 cup) portions of sides each. Options were instant potatoes, instant mac & cheese, green beans, baked beans, or cool fries. Oh, and one (fountain) soda. And, when you come to the end of the self service line and pay, they ask for a tip....ON TOP OF THE $29 each plate that you just had served on a tray. (Drives me nuts that folks ask for a tip for doing nothing...it's basically like shopping at the super market - grab and go.) And, by the time you actually pay, the gravy on your instant potatoes is congealed. Fogo de Chao is $49 for a basic dinner (lots of delicious meats) and a fabulous (fresh) salad bar. It's NOT as convenient and it IS more expensive but the value is tremendously different. Same with Mongolian - much better options for meat and vegs with similar price tag and food is HOT when you sit down. I went to Buster's once about two decades ago and only went back because Mongolian was closed and it (Busters) was nearest option. Gladstone/Milwaukie has a HUGE, gaping hole in decent restaurant offerings. Someone should open a nice place!! :) And, let Buster's go to pasture.

Overnighted in Clackamas and thought I would give it a try. Food was good and chicken was juicy. Generous portions for just under $20. Highly recommend!!

CAUTION, you can get thrown out if they don't like you. We went yesterday and had a terrible server (Nathan) and we left to get better service down the street. We came back again tonight and after ordering one drink and food we were asked to leave because the server didn't like us the night before. No question from the manager (Leo) to improve the customer experience, just kicked out. We've been eating here for 20+ years and the leadership clearly doesn't care about the customer, just employees whining.

Quality of food is super bad. They purposely pick out the most leathery crusty old meat they can find it's really pathetic. I don't even know why they allow that kind of meat to be served. It's beyond ridiculous. I wish I would've mentioned something, but when there's a crowd, you don't wanna make a scene! Overpriced and low quality!! They wouldn't know a good quality Texas barbecue if it hit them in the face!

Nice staff and clean establishment. Decent food with lots of options! There is a restaurant and a separate bar as well. Lots of parking.

Walking in, Buster's smells of heaven! It's easy to navigate up to the counter, and you get to watch the magic of your sandwich being made. The choice of sauces can be a little overwhelming, so sample a few and load up on your favorite. I got a pulled pork sandwich and it was everything you could hope for. Juicy, flavorful meat on a soft fresh bun. My mouth is watering thinking about it! The interior of the place has a fun western theme, great for the kid in all of us. Great food, check it out!

A dark and dated place with all the atmosphere of an all you can eat buffet. I had brisket and baby back ribs,, the ribs were dry. sides were uninspiring,

I ordered via uber eats. the delivery was perfect. however I was sent day old food, not even recooked. I ordered the sampler appetizer and it arrived stale just like if I brought left overs home and left them on my counter over night. every piece was rubbery. Completely uneditable it would be dangerous. the "chicken strips" were about the size of my middle finger. So that's what I'm giving this establishment that takes no pride in thier food. Just nasty

I've never been to a Texas BBQ chain restaurant before. So I thought this was pretty interesting. Getting your food is very much like a high school cafeteria set up. You line up, get a tray, pick your meats, pick your sides, pick a beer/grab a cup for soda or water, and pay. Once you pay, you can go over to the the sauce bar where they have the fountain drink dispenser, bbq sauces, and salad toppings. The is better than cafeteria food, but I don't think it's as good as real Texas BBQ. It's just reasonable and okay. The tables aren't cleaned very well cause they feel a bit sticky. The sauce bar gets pretty messy too due to being used throughout the day. It's not so terrible that you wouldn't want to get your sauce. Although, I did notice the sauce had some clumps a bit in it. I feel like that isn't normal since sauces tend to be smooth usually. But I still poured it over my meats cause I did not want them to be dry. I just added a conservative amount and hoped that was enough. I didn't realize they had bottled beer and draft beers available. So I cut through the line just for a drink a bit afterwards. Goes well with the bbq. I think I'd only come back if someone I knew really wanted to go here. But I don't think I would choose to come here on my own. Just isn't for me I guess. Maybe it'll be something worth going to for you. At least once maybe?

I rolled over into programming at a block of bbq shows, and it made me hungry, so I ran into Busters to put the fire out. Well kind of. I was surprised at how the brisket dried out after opening the container it was in. Glad I bought some sauce. The pulled pork was good, the seasoning I especially liked. Likewise, the potato salad & pecan pie was good. The pie wasn't charged with sugar, it balanced well. This cost me $45 plus some change, and I left a ten dollar tip. I'm on the fence about if I'd go back. Would you? I took this home and ate, so all I can say about the ambiance is, I arrived and said "hi" to two employees, and never heard a response back. Inside was dark like a bar atmosphere.

The more I try other BBQ restaurants, the more I realize how disappointing Buster's really is. Compared to what I've experienced in-house, and thru catering, Buster's meat is dry, the beans flavorless, and the mac n' cheese consistently overcooked. Buster's brisket is probably the biggest offender -- it's a bit on the tough side, and has a metallic aftertaste. Combine all that with a cost that is higher than better BBQ joints -- for either dining or catering -- and 2 stars is much more appropriate. Now that I know where to go, I don't ever need to come back to the dirty, dingy, outdated décor of Buster's.

Food was outstanding, even the brisket sandwich and the macaroni and cheese, it was playing country music. People were nice, and they gave me an extra side since my friend didn't want an another side which was the potato salad which was good. It was like a country restaurant which was good! I would recommend this place if you are in Portland craving some BBQ!

I love that they have beef ribs and good ones! And the Knuckle meat brisket.... So good

First of all we had looked at the menu online and didn't see that it wasn't a restaurant with table service. It's cafeteria style. Not what we were expecting or wanting with my 91 year old mother along. But we had been wanting to try this nearby place so what the heck. Heck, it was terrible. The disinterested staff stared at us until we figured out we were supposed to order meat here, then sides. Everything was barely warm. The baked beans so sweet I couldn't eat them. The green beans seemed to be from a can with no seasoning. The garlic toast only toasted on one side, soft and white on the other. Is that normal? It was not busy at 4pm yet the unbussed tables remained so throughout our meal. My pulled pork was good and it was fun to try the different bbq sauces. Will not return.

I picked this restaurant, it was along the way where we dropped off products of mine, and I wanted to have lunch around this area. It was a Cafeteria style, you tell get to pick what you like, and those meats he was cutting, ordered from customers ahead of us, all looked good! We ordered a Beef Brisket Sandwich on Poor boy bread, potato salad, & green beans. Just a perfect size to fill up our belly! The sauce we could pick up from an island (behind us). The room was spaced out so there are proper distances (just getting back to normal), and I like that! The family in front of us, got up to leave the same time we did! LOL We WERE NOT disappointed! We shall be back! BTW: As we were heading out the door, to our car, a large cart of boxed up food (I'm 100% of that), was being led by a lady to her car, as one of the kitchen staff was wheeling them out the door. I could see, it was for a very large party! Imagine, them doing the catering for your next party! What a good idea! And why NOT?

We surprised the team at Buster's today with a party of nine with no reservation. We sat in the saloon and got phenomenal service. She (darn, I didn't get her name) took our drink order timely, served our food in a hurry, split all nine checks and did it all with a smile! Big kudos for great service. We will continue to hold our quarterly reunion lunch at Buster's because of great food and great service. Keep up the good work!

What I do not understand is why is the bar ALWAYS understaffed?? Went in last night the place was packed and one person working the restaurant in the bar and the bar. We walked out with two other couples. This has happenend a few times, and do not know why they do not have a waitress wk the tables and a seperate bar tender. I guess they do not care about service and how long customers have to wait to get served! Do better!

3 baby backs plus 2 beef ribs. The ribs were so burnt there was hardly any meat left! Just charred and unedible. Horrible especially for the price. Maybe enough meat altogether to qualify for one bone worth. Extremely disappointed! Nice people though. Would have put higher score for service if they selected better cuts of meat, but all of it may have been the same.

Had lunch here earlier in the week. We were both hungry and the place smelled so smoky and delicious. I chose the baby back ribs with two sides and husband chose brisket with two sides. Luckily we kind of shared the sides which included baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad and Mac and cheese. The only thing I had a problem with the sides was that the Mac and cheese was in shell form and not elbow Mac. The meat was good but could have been a little more moist. Luckily we could have as much sauce as we wanted.

Worst coleslaw I've ever had. This place is truly a vegetarian's nightmare. They don't even give a crap about anything that doesn't have meat in it. So good job you live up to your banner page. Hope my work never uses you guys again.

Really nice to find a spot that serves beef ribs on a regular basis. Beef ribs are decent but tend to be a little light on amount of meat you get, and a bit on the dry side - probably from being kept warm for hours. Price is fair. Although dining in, dining room is pretty much just a spot to eat your take-out since no plates are used and no table service. I do appreciate the availability of ribs w/o having to drive long distance.

Trust me, fellow Yelpers, I am 76 years old and have been eating barbecue meats since I can remember, and I want to say beyond any doubt whatsoever that Buster's barbecue is the absolute best barbecue west of the Pecos Mountains in Texas!! When you walk in the door, prepare yourself because your knees will buckle as to the incredible and tasty smells of what they are doing within the confines of their restaurant! I would travel cross country to come to this place to eat! Yes! It is that good!!

Meat is dry, walls are covered in dust (skin cells & dirt), it's dark & dingy & way over priced. My sides were cold. What happened!?!

Was super bummed on my takeout, small proportions, decent at best brisket, and wrong order (pulled pork instead of soare ribs) Then the beans came thru and carried, they have some mean bbq beans but terrible proportions and cant get seemingly simple orders right but wow these beans

I love this place but it seems the brisquit is a bit dry these days. I love the atmosphere.

Always drove by and never stopped. This night when wife asked what I wanted for dinner, BBQ popped in my head and I thought of Busters. So off we went. We were not disappointed. It wasn't what I expected which was to sit down and be served. You walk down a line and get your meal that way. Cafeteria style. Not a problem for me. Team behind counter were friendly and food looked great. I went for a half chicken dinner and wife went for pulled pork dinner. My chicken was tasty. They only reason I kept review to 4 stars is chicken was not perfect, as in juicy. Still had good flavor. I rotated between the sweet and the spicy BBQ sauce. My sides were yummy pinto beans and a side salad. Salad was nice. Came in small bowl but you get to top off with items in a salad bar. The pulled pork was excellent. Tons of flavor and juicy. Our meals came with a piece of garlic bread so I put the pork on the bread. Yeah, my wife shares. No one came by table to check on us, but that was fine cause there is a napkin holder on table which I hit pretty hard. Yes I would go back.

Just don't order onion rings unless you're willing to have a salt shaker emptied on them! Threw 2 orders away! Inedible! Unless you like salt licks! And by the way should you be saying to yourself did you complain? Why yes I just did. The manger said that's too bad well watch how much salt we ,put into onion rings next time! No offer to replace anything! As we've been steady customers for 4 years and the very first complaint,I'm shocked at how poor a manager Buster's hires!

Best Texas style barbecue! Better than those in Texas! Brisket has good flavor profile! Babyback ribs always cooked just right. Top it off with their heated barbecue sauce, a little piece of heaven. We always opt for a side of their crinkle cut fries. Add some of their homemade ranch dressing, you'll be coming back for more! Their people are always helpful and friendly! Love the old Texas feel! Would love to see a location open back up in Vancouver! Come back up North. Save us the trip, for outstanding barbecue!

We have been eating at Buster's for at least 25 years and have never had a disappointing meal. Their food is consistently outstanding and the people that work there are friendly and outgoing. We have taken visiting family and friends to Buster's. They loved it so much they have asked us to ship it to them! Great job, Buster's!!

We keep coming back. There bar-b-que is tender and moist. The service is prompt and efficient. I appreciate having 4 styles of sauce to choose from. I usually have the brisket sandwich and today it did not disappoint. The wife went for ham with a side salad. Even though French fries aren't on my diet, they do a great job here. The side with a sandwich is a basket, enough for two easily. Seating is comfortable. During Covid they have a had to make some changes, so make sure to get your silverware and condiments before you leave the register. I believe this is one of the best values for your money in terms of full service bbq.

So SAD. TERRIBLE experience today. We stopped for an early dinner. 3pm.. Carver should NOT have served this food. "Baby backs" and Ham, both terribly dry today. I showed it to mgr, he made me feel like I had done something wrong by bringing it to his attention. He said, well i can get you 2 more ribs...? ..Im good. Never should have served them...period. over $20 for the dinner..completely disapointed today. We spent almost $50. We wont be back anytime soon..whick is bad. We really liked coming here.. I was SUPER SAD.

Deliciousness!! Yummy BBQ and fixins to celebrate Mariah's birthday!! Brisket and bbq beans are my fave

I've never walked away from a BBQ place thinking "well that wasn't enough" until now. Got the 3 meat dinner thinking it should be more than enough. Well you end up with a 1/4 pound of each meat apparently. Chicken was dry. Brisket was bland. The only saving grace was the sausage which had a nice bite to it. Their sauce seems over vinegared to me. Even the sides of Mac and green beans were small and bland. It felt like it was a half heartee attempt ment to be served at a cafeteria or buffet and not a true bbq restaurant. It's worth a try for a bbq fix but not somewhere I'd be back to often

I sent my husband to pick up food from Busters for the first time last night. He was like a kid in a candy store! Glad he had such a fun time and mentioned how friendly the staff was.

Went for the first time, craving BBQ. Walked in and was met with a cafeteria style food, they told me to grab what I can think of was a school lunch tray and then gave me food, my date got ribs asked for pork 3 times and was repeatedly met with "beef?" we got the food and sat down, my meal was cold with in a couple mins, her ribs were super tough. The flavor reminded me of golden coral. I don't believe I will be back unless I am dragged in. Was really disappointed.

My favorite bbq place in the Portland area. We've been coming here for years and it never disappoints.

I come here pretty regularly and during covid I hate to leave a less than stellar review. But... I came for a take away and they were out of chicken but did have chicken breast which they offered to sub. I agreed but! I received barely 2 ounces of chicken. So not close to the price of a combination meal, I wish they would have disclosed that the amount would be so small, I would have ordered the single dinner. Not worth the price at all.

Let me start by saying 3 stars isn't bad, just average. I have enjoyed busters at this location for about 35 years, and it has never been 5 stars but a healthy 3 star average. The reason for no higher? The baby backs, a standard of measurement in BBQ, are not prepped to a high standard as they do not take the time to remove the membrane. This lack of detail is the Achilles heal for Busters. The portions are decent and the sides rate from average (Cole slaw) to exceptional (love the mashed potatoes). Give them a try as they are definitely worth the money, but you won't be blown away either.

One of my favorite places! Super good BBQ for a chain restaurant. Been here many times

Great food! My first time writing a review so best believe it was awesome. Also has a mellow vibe inside.

The food was so disappointing. The ribs were the consistency of jerky. They had no moisture left. The bread was tasteless. The teeny, tiny baked potato was the best part of the meal.

Ribs are still the best around. The bar staff are friendly BUT.... They took the doors off the video poker area. If you play you're exposed to the public eating or if you're the public eating you're exposed to the poker machines going crazy. Bad move! I know of at least 12 people who won't go there because of it. Also, smaller portions and higher prices on the food.

This Buster's is the best The food is awesome the barbecue sauce has a sweetness to it that you won't soon forget The wait staff is extremely friendly and is always looking forward to serving you. If you like and or love Barbeque I would strongly recomend you giving this a place a chance Enjoy