Hole In the Wall BBQ
Barbecue restaurant · Pioneer Square ·
Brisket, ribs, hot links, chili, sandwiches, and sides
Brisket, ribs, hot links, chili, sandwiches, and sides
"To get your hands on a spicy BBQ sauce affectionately named the “hole burner,” head to this Pioneer Square spot. At Hole In The Wall, you’ll find subtly sweet baked beans, a paprika-dusted potato salad that keeps its chunky integrity, and most importantly, the lipstick sandwich. This sandwich tops all other BBQ pulled pork sandwiches in the city, with pickles that cut through saucy shredded meat and coleslaw that adds a fresh crunch, all smothered in even more lipstick sauce, which is a tangy mustard-leaning sauce that makes the whole dish a lot more savory and light." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley
"When Midwestern pitmaster Chuck Forsyth opened Hole in the Wall BBQ in 1989, he was one of the only restaurateurs in Seattle serving Texas-style barbecue, and the office crowds have flocked to this tiny storefront on James Street ever since. (His son John and John’s wife, Diane, have been running the show since Forsyth passed in 2006.) Today, the barbecue is a hodgepodge of Texas, South Carolina, and St. Louis styles, offering a mustardy Carolinian sauce option to adorn the dry-rubbed STL pork ribs and the low-and-slow Texas-style brisket, replete with smoke ring. House specialties include the smoked meatloaf sandwich and the chopped hot link sandwich. Hours are limited to lunchtime on weekdays, so plan ahead." - Meg van Huygen
"This aptly named barbecue joint was started by Chuck Forsyth in 1989 — back when Texas-style barbecue was a rarity in Seattle — and is run today by Chuck’s son and daughter-in-law, John and Diane, who only serve lunch and only open on the weekdays. Come for the brisket, the smokey barbecue sauce, and the dry-rubbed St. Louis–style ribs. The only bummer about the place is you have to go back to work afterward." - Harry Cheadle
"To get your hands on a spicy BBQ sauce affectionately named the “hole burner,” head to this Pioneer Square spot. At Hole In The Wall, you’ll find subtly sweet baked beans, a paprika-dusted potato salad that keeps its chunky integrity, and most importantly, the lipstick sandwich. This sandwich tops all other BBQ pulled pork sandwiches in the city, with pickles that cut through saucy shredded meat and coleslaw that adds a fresh crunch, all smothered in even more lipstick sauce, which is a tangy mustard-leaning sauce that makes the whole dish a lot more savory and light." - Kayla Sager-Riley
"I watched Drew Marquis's Bootleg Barbecue pop-up, launched in 2020, build a ravenous fan base in Seattle; it was such a hit that it sometimes spawned hours-long lines and would remain open only until Marquis ran out of meat, which usually didn’t take very long. The pop-up’s menu featured brisket, pulled pork, and pork belly burnt ends, so if you want to sample it I recommend showing up early—maybe with a book to read." - Harry Cheadle