FireBox- BBQ

This is a really cool spot for a nice BBQ meal. We’ve ordered takeout several times and always been satisfied. We dined in this week and ordered the Firebox Feast - a good value with side options that each of us could pick.

For MN, this place is average at best or almost as good as most BBQ places in the Upper Midwest. I've been to most of the best BBQ places in Texas, so I know how BBQ to perfection should taste like. I ordered the brisket, tips, pork ribs, wings, and Mac N cheese. Brisket: 7/10 a little dry, lacking that tick flavorful crust and ring. The flavor was okay. Tips: 5/10 same situation as the brisket. Pork ribs: 6/10 I've had better in MN. Same as the situation as the brisket and tips. There is a trend here that I picked up on really fast. Wings: 3/10 One of the worst smoked wings and almost flavorless... Mac N Cheese: 3/10 Very dry, hardly any cheese except for the sprinkle of shredded cheese on top of it. I won't be going here again for BBQ.

Some of the best Barbecue I've had in my life. Great atmosphere, clean, beer on tap, and spacious. Their hmong pepper paste has a nice spice to it. I would definitely recommend everyone to come try.

FireBox BBQ is the best Barbecue I have had in the Twin Cities. This place has that actual real smoke that you can taste and smell. I had the 2 meat platter with brisket and ribs. Both were phenomenal. The brisket was tender and juicy with a nice crust. Same with the pork ribs, always having a nice smoke ring in the meat. Coleslaw was great. Prices were reasonable. Service was great. The house BBQ sauce was also one of my favorite BBQ sauces I've had.

The parking here is awful. If you're in the area for an event, you'll be able to have top notch BBQ (I fully recommend the Firebox Fries and avoiding the wings). If you're picking up a take out order, you'll likely need to park blocks away and lug your food back to your car with a 50/50 chance of the bag falling apart halfway back littering your toast all over the sidewalk. Sadly, I'll be back when there's a place to park but probably not until then. Edit after reading other reviews: y'all aren't in Texas anymore. Knock it off.

We just had Firebox cater our grad party for about 300 guests... the food was amazing! Lots of compliments! We had pulled port, potato salad and mac and cheese. All were a big hit. Worked with Vaneda on the order and she was super helpful and helped us get it all setup. We hope to visit the actual location with our neighbors soon!

I was craving BBQ, and this place is close to my work, so I gave it a shot. I placed an order online, and it was a standard wait of 40 minutes, no big deal. It took an extra 20 minutes on top of that, but it was still no big deal, just plan accordingly if you order to go. The ribs were tender, the brisket was great, the potatoe salad was good, and so were the greens, the mac was mid, but that could be from travel time. I liked their BBQ sauce but would have loved some more heat in it. Parking is across the street just a heads up. I'd definitely go again and have no regrets!

First and last time here. I was told how good their collard greens were so I stopped by after work to try this place out. Upon arrival we were greeted. We told the staff that we were dining in so the young man said we could seat ourselves. After we sat for about 5 minutes and no one came to take our order we approached the register and ordered. I got the 2 meat combo with rib tips and chicken. My 2 sides were collard greens and mac n cheese. My friend got the brisket sandwich and coleslaw. Our food came in a short time. I didn’t care for anything I ordered except the Texas toast. The Mac and cheese was watery and lacked flavor. The greens were ok but nothing I’d recommend. The chicken was dry and bland. The rib tips were fatty. My friend liked his brisket sandwich but said that the coleslaw tasted like vinegar. My friend liked the greens. You can get a small size for $5.22 which is about 4 forks, ( not worth the price or amount). The bbq sauce tasted like ketchup and black pepper. Overall, I wouldn’t recommend dining here, especially for $41. Oh and the parking lot only holds about 3 cars. I forgot to take photos!😒

Sensational ribs! We have been customers of St. Paul's location of Firebox BBQ for several years. Last night we placed a take out order as usual. I love walking into the restaurant as the bbq aromas just waft over you in the entrance and get the taste buds and salivary glands woken up and raring to get to work. We both ordered Rib plates. The menu list that as 4-5 ribs, Texas toast and 2 sides of your choice. We both received 5 ribs. I went with Mac n Cheese and Collard Greens. Let me focus on the star of the show - the RIBS! We've always enjoyed them but these were truly outstanding! Tender, meaty and a perfect kiss of smoke. Everything you hope a rib would deliver! The FireBox sauce was perfect as always and only boosted the experience. The sides were great as always. I ended up calling back to the restaurant and spoke to a staff member and share our feedback on how fantastic the ribs were tonight! I encourage everyone to give Firebox a first try and or a revisit.

FireBox St. Paul for the family's early Christmas celebration Pork Belly was nice and crispy, I prefer more meat than fat so this is perfect to me Firebox Feast w/ Spare ribs that are juicy, chicken wings with a great smoked skin, brisket that holds its moisture Service was great. They helped me check in, let me know if there was a wait time, and it was ready before I knew it Check them out! They have such a great layout in the interior

It's been a long time since I visited Firebox. In fact it was when they had a North Mpls location. We had a guys night out and ordered way too much. Steve didn't get my message that we ordered a feast and it's at the table... So he got even more. What did we get? The feast. Comes w wings, ribs and choice of pulled pork or brisket. We also got some tips. You get four sides so we did two collard greens and two Mac n cheese. They added some fries... Which is great. Noah got some hot sauce and super hot sauce. Which if you.ix w the barbecue sauce is excellent. It was all great and you have a big challenge finding a place to park. Otherwise it's great. The staff is super nice and family owned.

You want good bbg or place that's serve amazing food come here it will be no doubt one of the best food experiences you'll ever have in my opinion better than famous Dave's The brisket is so mouth water it melts in your mouth The rib tips and bbq so tender packed full of taste Sticky rice Mac n cheese and there fries all top tier

Ordered a four bone combo! Ribs were thin/skimpy. Sides fries & Mac n cheese was fresh & delicious! Call to complain about ribs - Firebox fixed the problem immediately. Undecided if I'll go back. Thanks

Excellent BBQ - 4 stars. GOOD: 1. First of all, the meats are very good. And that's the most important thing. 2. You can order meat by the pound (or half pound). That makes it easy to eat zero carbohydrate carnivore style since you aren't forced to buy plant based sides. 3. The employee who took my order was very friendly and patient (this was my first visit). NEEDS IMPROVEMENT: 1. There were no meat based sides. All plants??? It would be nice to have something like hot links, wings, beef tips, shrimp, maybe even calamari...or something like that as an animal based side. (I would have purchased at least 2 sides if that was a choice.) 2. My pulled pork was cool, verging on cold...not warm at all. That was a big buzz kill, especially since that was exactly half of my food for lunch. In addition, the order taker/server person forgot my beverage cup and she forgot my receipt (I asked for it). I always, always, always pay cash and I always like to take a pic of the receipt for Yelp. Not this time though. 3. The parking sucks!!! I'm not quite sure since the handicap spots aren't marked well (old paint) but I think there are 3 (possibly 4) off-street parking spots plus one handicap. Not cool at all. In addition, there's construction for many blocks and currently none on Marshall Avenue. I lucked out and I got one of the 2 off-street spots right at the front door. But I actually witnessed 2 arguments at 2 different times with 4 completely separate groups of FireBox customers (in the dinky little parking lot and driveway entrance) through the window while I was eating my lunch inside. They got out of their cars and looked like they might come to blows in both incidents. That was a bad look and a super ugly vibe - for sure. I'd definitely go back. The hits outnumbered the misses. And I have a feeling the glitches were flukes, not a common occurrence. Hopefully, the road construction will be over soon. -Maxx

I drove by this business most days and wondered what it was ... no sign indicating it was a restaurant, much less a BBQ eatery. I even thought it might be an HVAC sales & repair place. Get a sign.

Firebox Deli is easily one of the best barbecue restaurants I've ever been to. I've visited their former location in Minneapolis, and I was blown away by the quality of the food. The ribs are tender and flavorful, the brisket is melt-in-your-mouth good, and the sides (sticky rice, collard greens) are all delicious. What really sets Firebox Deli apart is their attention to detail. The flavors aren't too salty, and the meat is cooked to perfection; especially paired with the BBQ sauce. The staff at Firebox Deli is also fantastic. They're friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. They really know their barbecue, and they're happy to share their passion with you. Overall, Firebox Deli is a must-try for any barbecue fan. The food is amazing, the staff is great, and the atmosphere is perfect. I can't wait to go back!

Surprisingly great bbq I found in St. Paul, MN. I wasn't expecting it at all but this place is awesome! Ambiance - 4/5 - Solid place to sit and grab a quick bite. Plenty of seating area and it is self-serve for sauces and soda Price - 5/5: I thought the price was very reasonable for the amount of food you get. I got 2 meats, 2 sides for $24 and the portions were fantastic. Food - 4/5: I loved the brisket and highly recommend getting it. Their bbq sauce pairs so well with it and it super tender. I also got the rib tips but wasn't as big a fan of those as I was of the brisket (still good though). I thought the mac and cheese was solid and the potato salad as well. I'm definitely hoping to come back and try some of their other sides Service - 5/5: Quick, efficient, and didn't have to wait too long to get our food. Which was great because we were starving when we got there. I will definitely visit again when I'm in town

Wonderful barbecue! Best in St Paul, in my opinion, and I'd eat there every week if I could! (Also, try the brisket...it's SO good!!)

Ribs are on fire here! The presentation had me drooling. Sticky rice and mamma sauce seals the deal! Cool staff, good service. Cool place. The stomach was too full, and I will be back to try the brisket and pull pork next.

The food was delicious! The greens were the best I've had from a restaurant! The meat was juicy and fall off the bone. We had so much food leftover it was amazing. The service is fast and fantastic. They are super kind, attentive and just all around good vibes. The ambiance is very comfortable and chill. Definitely recommend if you haven't tried it you should.

The service is very prompt. I had a full rack of pork ribs. They come naked, which I prefer. It was quality worth the price. The brisket our friend had was better, and the pulled pork was good. It's a cool modern place. For the Twin Cities, it's good.

The brisket is top choice! Quality tasting meats and this place is great to order for catering.

Was on the lookout for some delicious Mac and I found it! Get here now! I got the beef brisket sandwich with fries and Mac and cheese. Holy moly so delicious! The mac is really creamy and the brisket is so tender! Service is rather quick and the staff is really friendly!

Stopped by for dinner on a Tuesday evening 45 minutes before they closed, the place was empty but the food was delicious! Pretty spendy but an insane amount of brisket with the plates we got. The mac & cheese is the best I've ever had at a barbecue joint, and the Texas toast was hot, buttery and grilled to perfection! The cashier was super sweet. Couldn't quite figure out the ambience, they have TVs with sports on, and the chairs and tables seem fairly new.

After being recommended by a friend to try Firebox Deli several times I finally stopped by! I was told the smoked wings were really good, so I got those and a few sides; Mac'n'cheese, greens, fries & cole slaw. I thought all the sides were pretty good especially the greens. I will admit I'm not used to eating smoked meat (I'm not a meat eater in general) so when I bit into the chicken and it was mostly red I asked a staff member if it was normal and she took it back to the kitchen and they offered to remake it but came out to explain that smoked meats would have a bit of redness/pink inside but they would cook it a little more to make us more comfortable but the chicken would be a little dry. It came back very dry and just not the best flavor In my opinion. But I do appreciate how they handled everything & educated us. The price was a bit spendy (honestly these days everything is). They have a smaller parking lot & street parking. We went at a good time I guess and lucked out in getting a parking spot in the lot. Overall okay food, cool staff & establishment!

Find yourself in Minnesota and looking for some good BBQ?... there is no place like Firebox. They blend spices and seasonings together that give their brisket a delicious flavor profile cooked to utter perfection. A place you will indulge in as it magically takes you to a banquet of smoked goodness. Don't forget those sides either folks. This place is good... go hangry - you're welcome.

Great place for large parties! I loved the family-style combo. The house sauces (especially Mama 's Pepper Paste) give them the extra flare from other BBQ joints. Service was quick and food delicious! A menu item available for everyone! Definitely plan to return when we are in town.

Whenever I'm craving food BBQ, Firebox is my go to! Very consistent & delicious meats. The sticky rice and mama's pepper are great additions to the meat!!

The combo plate is bar far the best deal and gives you two meats and two sides. I went here with a couple of friends and was able to sample one of everything. By far the most flavorful is the ribs. The pulled pork, chicken, and brisket were dry and over cooked. But that could have been caused by a variety of factors. So I'm not giving up on the Deli, but for now I'm sticking the ribs

Smoking hot! This spot I happened upon from the smoke aroma that is a scent near and very dear to my heart and very difficult to find in this area. Total fusion delight smoked meats with Asian inspired sides and sauces. And it is Asian heritage month, so two birds with one rib bone! Had the two meat platter, brisket and ribs with a side of get this....sticky rice, yes sticky rice and it was delicious and some Texas toast thick sliced grilled bread, STOP with the carb overload nonsense this worked. Meats were tender and nice smoke ring the ribs fell off the bone, didn't need sauce but added some because it was their own blend of fusion flare. So many other side I need to return and try now that it passed the Q test! A+ Not a big dining area but they have a bar and fountain drinks. The folks running the spot were super hospitable and accommodating, looks like a family owned business, and they stay busy!

Their brisket is amazing! Quickly, friendly interactions with staff and a very clean establishment.

As part of a business retreat my team and I decided to try this spot. Upon entering the smell is just awesome and the place is clean. We order a few platters, combos, sides, and of course some good tap beer to wash it all down. The meat for the most part was awesome. The pulled pork, rib tips, brisket were super moist and delicious. I was a little disappointed with the beef ribs. They had a great smokey taste but they were a tad tough and dry. The sides were all good, but my favorites were the mac and cheese, and potato salad. They had egg rolls too but I could not even finish one, just not very good. The service was excellent and they went out of their way to make us comfortable. All in all an excellent place for BBQ. I will definitely be making regular stops here.

Incredible. Ordered pickup online for two meat combo - pulled pork and rip tips. So delicious. Best BBQ (or tied for the best) I've had in TC. The coleslaw was surprising tangy. I prefer vinegar coleslaw but this was the creamy kind and yet had that vinegar taste. Very good. I ordered that special hot sauce on the side bc people were mentioning it. It's really great! A unique taste when most hot sauces are the same imho. And very hot!! It's $2.50 for a small side, like 2 Tbs, so know that before ordering so you're not crabby about it. I think it's worth it. It's very paste-y. The staff was so kind when I picked up. It appears to be a familiar affair and I love that. Note: I read on a picture of an in-house menu that Texas toast comes with the 2-meat combo order, but the website wasn't clear so I ordered it on the side. It *does* come with one slice of Texas toast. Which was really good btw My only suggestion would be some sort of dessert bc we would have added it. Maybe a traditional southern BBQ dessert would be hard to make and have on hand; you could sell pints of or serve ice cream! Would have loved that, our mouths are on fire. (In a good way.)

Excellent bbq joint. Go early because they tend to sell out Get their Mac and cheese! The potato salad is great too! Any and all of their meats are superb! I tend to prefer the pulled pork & brisket. Melt in your mouth! The guy behind me ordered the firebox fries they come with meat! I still gotta try the wings too! And the sticky rice. This place is awesome! Whatever you choose will be amazing!

brisket a little hard. the brisket sauce is so liquidy not thick enough. over price for sticky rice. and that special sauce they have i bought four taste once and threw all away.

I've heard so many good things about Firebox but never tried it so I was excited to finally give it a try when they opened up this location as it's super close to my workplace. I was most excited to try the beef brisket and dragon sauce. I ended up ordering the ribs, tips, and beef briskets with the toast, mac and cheese, sticky rice and the dragon sauce to go. I wish I could say it was good but everything really was just FLAVORLESS and boring. Did they even put seasoning on any of the meat? The dragon sauce was a major disappointment as well- although it was smokey it was not spicy and needed more salt. Then I thought and really hoped the mac and cheese would make up for it...boy that was a disappointment too! I like supporting local small businesses and this place really has potential in the bbq scene so I really hope the flavors improve in the future. Things to keep in mind: small parking/limited parking and not many chairs for waiting/take-out

Cute and very friendly place. The food was very nicely smoked, and very quick friendly service. It just opened in the last few days, and for just opening they have got it running smooth and the food is good. Loosen your belt good is what honey says. Stop by and give them a try

Great portion size. The 2 meat combo was perfect for 2 people. Meat was fall off the bone tender and you could cut the brisket with butter knife. The wait was a little long, considering we were the only ones. But, overall, a good experience. I will definitely come back.

We bought just about half the menu probably to get a good taste of everything. We ordered the family feast which comes with a full rack of ribs, choice of brisket or pulled pork, fries, toast, and choice of 4 regular sized sides. We opted for brisket, coleslaw, Mac and cheese, greens, and sweet potatoes. The fries could have used salt, but were decent. The greens were probably my favorite side. Could use more flavor, but not a bad effort. It was great with their spicy paste ($2 extra sheesh). The other sides were not really worth typing about. A pass for me. Very bland. The toast was toast haha but it was buttery and good. Onto the meat! The chicken wings are smoked and then fried I believe. They had excellent flavor, but were literally so dry and overdone. Such a shame. The ribs were next best, very good! A bit too much small cartilage pieces but meat is flavorful and tender. Tasty with or without sauce. The best thing on the menu by far it the brisket! Chefs kiss for that. I will keep coming here just to pick up brisket. I'll make my own sides or pickup elsewhere. All in all the feast was worth the hefty $77. There was a ton of meat and plenty leftovers. I recommend just ordering meat that being said unless you know you don't need a lot of flavor in your southern sides. But then are they even southern sides at that point?

Got 2 of the any 2 Meats Combo to get a good taste of everything. Sweet potatoes were my favorite side but the Mac and cheese is a chose second just a little on the dry side but amazing crust on top. Beef Brisket was the favorite meat and the chicken wings came in a close second with the crispy skin.

Best BBQ around! The dining room could use a little work (feels a bit like a wide open, noisy cafeteria, which is probably why most people don't use it - it needs to be split up with some partitions and booths, something to make it feel cozier and minimize the noise) That said, for takeout BBQ, there's nothing better for miles in any direction. Fantastic brisket, pulled pork and ribs. Good fries, too. Service is minimal, but they're friendly people. Happy to have this gem in the neighborhood for takeout. Hope the dining room improves someday.

Very disappointed. This is our local go to for bbq. Tonight we order two sandwiches, extra meat with a few sides. First my husband had to wait for 1/2 hour past the order time to get the food, and as always bbq sauce on the side. Well the sauce was on the food, which made the side meat not usable for what I needed it for. By pulled pork was way fattier than usual, the bun was not grilled so it was soggy and greasy. My husbands sandwich was cold. The Texas toast was nearly toasted cold and greasy. I called to give them feedback in a friendly way and was totally blown off. Guess they just don't need our business. So bummed I'm

Delicious ribs, fantastic brisket, satisfying fries. Saint Paul has needed a down-to-earth comfortable eat-in BBQ place for a long time. Highly recommend! My grandparents love it when we bring over their takeout family meal.

Brisket is excellent! Great bark and smokey flavor. Nice amount of fat as well. Being a Texan, this is great BBQ away from home.

The food was SO DAMN GOOD. Came here because I was craving mac and cheese and this place did not disappoint. Also got the brisket and rib tips. Doesn't need the sauce, the meat is freaking delicious on its own. Def coming back for more.

Tried Firebox Deli for the first time at their new location. Was excited about a Hmong-owned business and had high expectations but below is my honest review. They have a small parking lot for maybe 3-4 cars. One accessible parking spot but it didn't seem like it was van-accessible. Street parking is available but it's located on a pretty busy street. Arrived around 2pm on a Tuesday for a late lunch. Very spacious and plenty of seating. Only about 4-5 people dining in since it was in the afternoon. I was surprised that it was counter service. We ordered and sat down with our number. Food came out really fast. Drinks were also self-serve at the pop machine. Ordered two combos - Ribs with mac and cheese & fries and brisket with sweet potatoes & sticky rice. Also got the pepper- $2 is kind of a high price to pay for 2oz container of pepper, but I wanted to try it anyways. Ribs and brisket- both very good Mac and cheese- mediocre, kind of disappointing Fries- good fries Sweet potatoes- undercooked Sticky rice- so glad I can order this with my BBQ!! Would definitely recommend this place to family and friends to try but not sure if I'd go out of my way to come back for a while.

This place is well run and delicious. Always good customer service, always clean inside, always well staffed. Always great BBQ. My GF and her daughters love the sticky rice. This restaurant and the family that run it are an asset to the city of St.P.

We loved the ribs, pulled pork sandwich, brisket and the mac and cheese. The sauce was great too! The coleslaw didn't have enough dressing and didn't sit long enough to absorb the flavor. The sweet potatoes needed more butter and brown sugar. The only side I would pick again is the mac n cheese. Parking was a little limited but will go back again!

Great food and great service! Cooked up a feast for 8 in quick time. Got the bundle and added a few extras. Got all the meats - super yummy. Added greens, Mac and cheese - both were big hits. Comes with fries and toast. We sat around nibbling for hours. I am gluten free and there were options for me which was nice!

Consistently the best brisket and ribs in the area. Very friendly staff. Clean place. Get out and support them

For BBQ in the Twin Cities, this is a pretty decent and interesting pick, though you have to keep in mind that it's in the Twin Cities and you're not going to get what you'd get somewhere in the South. There's a slight Asian lean in the menu with some of the sauces and sides, and based on the two times my partner and I have been here, I think the move is really to embrace that in your order rather than trying to go conventional BBQ. The rib tips were easily my favorite meat, and they go great over the sticky rice side and with the pepper sauce you can add to the order for $2 (and if you can handle a pepper sauce, order it--it's spicy and tangy and acidic and bright and has just a touch of umami funk from what I assume is fish sauce). Fries, pulled pork, and mac were all fine but unremarkable. Collards are a good side order. Good enough that I imagine we'll probably be back at some point.

They gave me the best service my meal didn't come with macaroni and I asked for it she said just for you I will this is a 10/10 high recommended

Road tripping and stoped in St. Paul to get gas and noticed this place on the way. Circled back and grabbed dinner here. Indoor dining was closed due to COVID-19 but the atmosphere seemed enjoyable. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with fries. The meat was incredibly tender, not too dry but not sloppy wet either. The bun was soft and buttery which I quite enjoyed. The fries were solid as well but I would try the Mac and Cheese if I came back. Overall the food was hot, service was great, reasonably priced and the pulled pork was fantastic. Would definitely recommend. Didn't examine the menu too intensely but a spicy BBQ sauce would have been appreciated with the sandwich as well.

Take out. Half rack of pork ribs was okay. Not great, not terrible. French fries were overfried and mostly inedible. Anyone could see this coming out of the fryer. I only discovered after I got home with my meal.

We went here during the pandemic on our bikes. We were biking from St Paul to Minneapolis and Firbix was on our route. We stopped and placed an order for a meat combination plate at the door. The person helping us was very nice. They don't really have any sides without dairy. I decided on the sticky rice-not the best decision, should have went with the French fries! However, the Mac n cheese looked amazing and I would have been all over that if I could eat some dairy! I loved the brisket and the pork. I also liked the sauce, my partner not as much. The place was hopping so we had to wait a little bit for our food but nothing crazy. They also gave us silverware which was much appreciated because we were on our bikes. There wasn't a ton of food but enough to fill us up so we could then continue biking. I would go back!

Firebox exceeded all expectations. The ribs were some of the best I've ever had. The meat came right off the bone with every bite. Very tender with no fatty pieces. The beef brisket was also very brag worthy. We ordered the two meat platter with two sides (second order of Mac and cheese not pictured - can't get enough!). Just the right amount of food for two people, under $20! Take out was easy and quick from their St. Paul location. We'll be ordering from here again very soon!

We love Firebox Deli. We alway order the family meal when we have guest over! Service and food is on point.