Pork Barrel BBQ

Amazing! While there’s street parking available, you’re better off parking behind the restaurant in their parking lot, and it’s free. When going in, plan to order at the counter and get seated. Meaning plan on a casual meal, but enjoyable. Plan on what i think is some of the best BBQ in the area, and for very reasonable prices. Even better. I had the Cowboy Cuban, which was great (and my wife loved most). My wife had the brisket sandwich (which was my favorite). And son the Redneck burrito (also delicious). Bottom line, everything was amazingly delicious.

The pulled pork was fine. It was a little dry. The brisket was described as "hot garbage", mostly tough and fat. The jalapeno cheddar sausage was completely inedible. It was like a slim jim but much much worse, the cheese on the inside made it slimy. The ribs were decent but I needed to add a bunch of sauce. The sauces were nothing special. I would recommend skipping this place all together, just get a burger from next door or drive to a different bbq joint. The service was really nice and everyone was friendly, but the food subpar.

Restaurant was very comforting. Service was fast and friendly. Menu had alot of amazing looking options. Food was delicious. I always have to try out a bbq places pulled pork sandwich and this one hit home perfectly. Next I had to get the burnt ends because they’re one of my favorites and they didn’t disappoint at all were so juicy and you could pull them apart. The sides the Monster max and cheese was delicious and had a great classic taste with a spicy twist. The coleslaw was also one of a kind and was perfect. 10/10 can’t wait to go back and try the ribs and brisket next time!

I ordered delivery and spent about $30. I had high hopes for this food due to the reviews but I was unfortunately disappointed. I ordered chopped pork, pulled chicken, half rack of ribs, mc and cheese, coleslaw and bbq beans. The cornbread that came with the order was crumbly and dry. The ribs were almost tasteless, and so was the chopped pork. The pulled chicken was just okay. Only the coleslaw and bbq beans were good but then again, it's kind of hard to mess up baked beans. I will not be ordering again from this place.

Best birthday lunch ever! I ordered the Green Acres salad with brisket and added boiled egg.This was the best salad I've ever had. The Ranch is delicious. I could eat it with a spoon. I will definitely be going back frequently on my lunch breaks. They're only 8 minutes from my job and service is super fast!

Stopped by for lunch after church. This is a great location in Del Ray. The food is really good and lots of great BBQ sauce options. I often get one of their salads to eat healthier with less carbs, but you still get to enjoy all the great meats. We took advantage of the weather and ate outside. It was a lovely day and we really enjoyed the experience!

If you come for the bar and get a little food it’s great but to come here just for the food it is a little underwhelming. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed my lunch but it was also just meh. I love the atmosphere as the inside is really cool but I also saw them microwaving my food… Service is fast but you understand why when you come.

I ordered takeout online, and the food was incredibly disappointing. The ribs are dry and chewy, barely edible. The brisket is tender but also dry. None of it came with any sauce. The pulled pork is decent. The collard greens are good, but the beans are below average. I feel totally ripped off, like they microwaved someone's leftovers and wrapped it in foil and served it to me. It wasn't even that warm, and i picked it up 5 minutes after the scheduled time. I don't spend money on takeout very often, so when I get something that costs this much with such horrible quality, it's just so depressing.

I'm in the South! South of the Potomac! To this Northerner, that means all BBQ is legit, so I wandered down Pork Barrel way and I can say that, well, I'll let the rating speak for it all: * Atmosphere is kinda woody, definitely feels like a BBQ joint. 1 star. * The Wi-Fi here is Porky McPorkface. Plus 1 star. * Half priced rib Wednesday? Plus 1 star. Do try that out midweek. * Service is quick, once you leave your name you should already be listening for it to be called. Plus 1 star. Total: 4 stars. So I got the full rack of ribs for a sweet deal. Nice. One rack was overdone but other two pulled apart nicely. Good flavor and a bevy of sauces to play around with, just like BBQ should be. I wasn't hungry enough for sides, but since I'm at a conference here every year, I feel like I will plan to come back and give this a more thorough shake.

Amazing! While there's street parking available, you're better off parking behind the restaurant in their parking lot, and it's free. When going in, plan to order at the counter and get seated. Meaning plan on a casual meal, but enjoyable. Plan on what i think is some of the best BBQ in the area, and for very reasonable prices. Even better. I had the Cowboy Cuban, which was great (and my wife loved most). My wife had the brisket sandwich (which was my favorite). And son the Redneck burrito (also delicious). Bottom line, everything was amazingly delicious.

Went to watch Game 5 of the NBA Championship. I asked the bartender if he would turn the volume up on the game and the guy lectured me that they had golf and baseball on in addition to basketball. It's a Monday! And then he just said, "we don't do that here, sir. We don't do that here" and walked away. Are you kidding me?! Do what? Watch sports?! It's game 5 of the NBA Championship!!! Your sports bar doesn't turn the volume up on sports?! I can't imagine in Super Bowl Sunday them not turning the volume up. The World Series. Sunday on The Masters. But "we don't do that here" for the NBA Championship?! Nah. I'm good.

Not gonna lie, I wasn't expecting much from a fast casual barbecue place in Alexandria, but I was delightfully surprised at the quality of food, especially for the price. I ordered the platter with 2 meats, 2 sides, and it also came with cornbread. The brisket was definitely not the best, but better than anything I've had this northeast in the country. I really loved the pulled pork, and it paired nicely with the array of sauces available. I was surprised at how much of the sides you get--and honestly they were pretty tasty! The mac and cheese has a little kick and using cavatappi was a nice touch. The baked beans were really good and had a little meat in it, which clearly shows how much love went into it. Considering how much takeout is these days, I appreciate having a decently priced option for dinner!

Came here for my husband's birthday and we had a great time! I ordered the pulled pork sandwich and it was so juicy. The homemade BBQ sauces were tatsyyy! The Mac was so so but all the proteins were great! The food was made quickly too.

I hadn't been in to Pork Barrel BBQ, but since I was in town and hungry decided that I'd make the trip and am glad I did. I got a spot at the bar and was quickly greeted by the bartender. She was very attentive. There was a problem with the tonic from the dispenser which she couldn't fix. She was very apologetic and offered to comp me a drink because I didn't want any other alcoholic drinks. The place is comfy and looks just like a BBQ restaurant should. I ordered the 2 meat platter- choosing burnt ends and brisket. The sides were classics for BBQ; creamy coleslaw and baked beans. They added a chunk of moist cornbread to my platter to round things out. The BBQ was exactly how you'd like it. Tender, smoky, and delicious. I won't wait as long to return next time!

Walked in and was immediately greeted. I expressed I was walking by and it smelled good, so here I am... we giggled and I was shown the menu and the best options for a starter. Ended up with a pulled pork sandwich with a ceaser salad. I split the meal with my JR so he of course tried all the sauces available on the table. George makes the best fresh lemonade.

The portions are super small. I ordered burnt and it was horrible. No flavor they charged me $26. They forgot to give me the barbecue sauce and no fork I ordered extra meat. They was gonna Let me walk out the store without the extra meat. if I didn't look in the bag. service sucks and their food is garbage

They had no barbeque just a list of bar food. The time listed for business is midnight. It is a bar after some point in the evening. They should update restaurant hours.

I've been working down the street for 4 years now and honestly I can't believe it's taken me this long to try Pork Barrel. I'll admit the first time I tried it, I got one of their chicken wraps and was kind of unimpressed but I didn't want to write a review until I tried their bbq. I got a lb of pulled pork to go and their spicy bbq sauce (yum). I thought it was delicious. Best bbq ever? No, but pretty darn good and worth coming back for. I also enjoyed their potato salad and would like to try more things. Unrelated to my rating, I do wish they did a better job with descriptions/ingredients on their online ordering. For example, "pasta salad" is pretty generic without listing the things that are in it

Have been here a few times and the barbecue is alright -- the meat tends to be on the drier side, with the exception of the pork and the burnt ends. For sides, love their macaroni and cheese (it is made with jalapeños, so has a bit of a kick) and their collard greens. The cornbread also tends to be a little dry but has actual kernels of corn in it which is tasty. They have great specials and a bar where they play sports games, so definitely a good spot for that!

Food - excellent BBQ - offer meals and sandwiches- we both tried the pulled pork sandwich. Good sized portion of meat served on a large bun. Pork was juicy and tender. There were the standard NC, sweet and spicy sauces available at the tables. Even without sauce it tasted great. The meal is offered as a special and comes with a drink and sides. We tried the baked beans(sweet), cucumber salad and Mac cheese(spicy) . Drinks consisted of old fashion bottled sodas (root beer) and a variety of fountain flavors Ambience - the restaurant is half sports bar and half dining area. It supports both families and casual diners. The restaurant is self service with food ordering directly from the BBQ station. Our wait staff was Renee and she was very helpful in guiding us to select the deal if the day; and in providing quick, professional service. Overall, I thought this was another hidden gem of a restaurant in Del Ray. Hope you give it a try sometime.

Be sure to call ahead to see if they have what you want on the menu. We showed up on a Saturday night for dinner, and they were out of the pretzel, burnt ends, brisket, tortillas for the burrito....and to cap it off, out of the beer listed on their board. After being disappointed on all the items we wanted to eat, the food we ended up with was decent. The pulled pork was decent and the Mac and cheese was pretty good. I'm sure they aren't out all the time, but make sure you check before getting your taste buds set on something.

Growing up in the inner city of DC, the best thing that was introduced to me was a pulled pork sandwich during my summers in Smithfield NC. Being four hours away from my parents resting place, Pork Barrel has reintroduced me to a flavorful pork sandwich. Don't get me wrong with having southern roots, I do miss being able to satisfy your pallet with some gold old fashioned southern cooking. Pork Barrel does an amazing job of bringing a southern atmosphere located just outside the nation's capitol. Check out their daily lunch specials and the Sunday dinners prepared just after 5pm. Definitely, happy eating and enjoy its neighboring burger spot of Holy Cow. Now go grab a plate w/nothing but Love!!!!i

Purely okay BBQ joint that was much better in years past. Food has gone downhill along with the customer service. Staff often act like they can't be bothered to help you and the product is pretty average. Also, do not suggest ordering takeout unless you want the food to be cold.

Clean, fast and friendly, with a good beer selection. The 'cue is just okay, though. Not bad, but there's definitely better in the region.

I don't really have much exciting things to say about this restaurant, but it may be because I'm from Texas, and I'm accustomed to Texas BBQ. The brisket sandwich was plain. Im used to brisket sandwichs to have at least onion and pickles. The Mac and cheese was a little spicy. It didn't taste bad, i just wasn't expecting it. The highlight of my dinner was unfortunately my bottled root beer.

Having gone to school down south I consider myself to be a BBQ connoisseur. This meal from @porkbarrelbbq was an interesting take on BBQ with eclectic options like nachos and burritos. If you're new to the world of BBQ give this place a shot. Definitely go for the nachos and baked beans Follow us on IG: @BrwndButter

meat came out cold. Mac and cheese is extremely spicy and not good. disappointed no fries on the menu

I wish the counter lady with colored hair was more friendly and less rude. Employees eating and drinking sodas in front you while waiting for food.

Best bourbon bar I've ever been to! Ryan made it the best stop in town while I visited family. Will be a stop every time I'm in town.

Did someone say BBQ? I'm always down for some porky sandwich goodness, and Pork Barrel has the carnivore fix I crave. I stopped in here after the bestie told me that she had just turned vegan.. "Say it ain't so, D" I could think of no better way to celebrate her decent into madness than with a toast of pulled pork and brisket. Yum! Loaded with succulent brisket and pulled pork, Pork Barrel's meat platters are beyond a carnivore's wildest dream. Moreover, their bbq sauces are subtle taste enhancements that must be tried. On the whole, my visit to this Barbecue Heaven was a delicious journey down brisket goodness; however, although my side of coleslaws was yummy, I felt that my second side of Mac n Cheese was a little off the mark. Still I would venture down to Pork Barrel for a mouthwatering meal any day of the week.

I ate here ten years ago and didn't like it. I tried again, and while there were some improvements, overall it took a step back, so I figured I'd talk about it. Chopped pork is over-seasoned and under-groomed (too much fat). It does not give you the option of using any of the bbq sauces available, because it is already saturated. Brisket is just plain pathetic. Nothing about it said "bbq." It was just some poorly cooked beef, which I threw away after three bites. Collard greens were undercooked and tough/chewy, but at least they weren't soupy and sweet like before. Coleslaw was drowning in mayo, but I wouldn't complain about the flavor too much, aside from a little vinegar deficiency. Corn bread... is basically pound cake with cornmeal added. Some will love it, some will prefer the rustic, coarse unsweetened variety. I prefer somewhere between rustic and too sweet. Basically they still haven't figured out how to make real bbq. I'm guessing the bar keeps them in business, which is a fairly decent/plausible bar with a nice staff.

This spot was ok but not excellent in my bbq palette experience. The staff was great and amazing, the food was a bit bland for my taste. I had heard a lot about this place but not sure that they met my expectation with the food. Perhaps for some drinks, it seems like cool place.

The brisket is juicy and delicious! The sausage and chicken were fine. Mac and cheese had a nice kick so just dipped the sausage and chicken for my bite and voilà... enjoyed the potato salad since they don't over do it like others with dill. Best part is the deep voiced guy calling out your name for your order just makes you feel extra special.

I had the Goldie and the baked beans. When it got here it smelled amazing. I took one bite and realized there was no bbq! I was disappointed but then checked the bag! BBQ! I appreciated the sauce on the side, Which is something some places don't do. With the bbq the sandwich was even better! The brisket was cooked perfectly and had that Smokey taste to it. The baked beans had a Smokey taste to them as well which I also liked. If my baked beans aren't cooked right I won't eat them but sure enough they are delicious! Definitely recommend. And it's a good bang for your buck seeing as inflation has caused all restaurants to raise prices they haven't done so yet as it seems but I'm sure they will soon but I definitely liked that it was cheaper than most places in the area.

We went there in June for a working lunch. Staff was pretty friendly. They were out of a few menu items at 12pm in the afternoon, which was disappointing. Food items we ordered were tasty. Decent portion sizes. I would go back if I'm in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way.

Standard BBQ joint, not really anything special about it. We enjoyed our food but it didn't wow us like we expected it to. Service was very very quick - order at counter and ready in minutes to pick up and sit down wherever. They have some nice picnic benches outside with umbrellas. Friendly staff as well. They have four different kinds of BBQ sauces on the table so you can pick whichever you want as well as the amount I would skip the coleslaw next time and choose a different side. It was pretty bland. Baked beans were great though! Priced fairly!

I was surprised when I went in there to see how great the whiskey selection was the bartender Charlie was very pleasant and I highly recommend this restaurant

I would Give them a 3 cause when I walk in, I said hello to everyone. Everyone just looked at me ... BUT THE FOOD..... Man , I tell you pure deliciousness . The Food Made up for every thing Give the Food 5 Stars

First visit I ordered the pulled pork and coleslaw ... really good and filling I spoke with Brian who was extremely helpful over the phone ..... excellent customer service Did curbside pickup ... quick I would recommend them and will return again

It is restaurant week in Alexandria and the deals are too good to turn down. For $35, we got a dinner for two which is shown in the photo. The salad was delicious and had cucumbers soaking in a brine that i need a recipe of. The chicken chili is one of the best I've had, and I have had a lot of chili. It could use a little more cheese but that is more of a personal preference. We chose the 1/2 pound of pulled chicken option. It was good, what you expect from BBQ. Our sides were coleslaw and mac and cheese. The coleslaw was okay, the mac and cheese definitely hit the spot for the cheese lovers we are. Finally, the dessert was marble cheesecake with raspberry. We both agreed it would be better if there wasn't raspberry. We also filled our fountain drinks with the freshly squeezed lemonade and it was very sweet, which i like. Final note, apparently the bathrooms are clean and have the added bonus of provided products for women according to my wife. Thanks Pork Barrel, we will be back soon.

Been going here for over a decade. Great BBQ and sides but the beer prices are steep.

Today I came in and I ordered some beef brisket from you about a quarter pound and it was very quickly delivered to me on a tree service that was very good at pointing out the sauce is nearby where I could get plastic eating utensils I give this place and " A " for atmosphere as the music and decor are uplifting As for the brisket beef I did see a little bit of pink on the outside and some fat but for the most part it was gray on the inside Show me this is indicative of something that is baked not smoked because it would be pink on the inside I did ask the staff if they use wood smoke and they did but this doesn't show it so the quality of the meat as to smoked barbecue I would have to say is quite low. Add best you use high heat smoking which is the same as baking Last week I came in and I ordered pork spare ribs and they were delivered dry I found them pink on the inside but not very flavorful they did come off the bone at best they were mediocre I've had two separate visits to try the barbecue sauce is in there quite good especially the spicy sauce and the mustard sauce I can taste the seasoning in those and the sweet sauce It's nice and thoughtful that you offer a vinegar sauce I ordered macaroni and cheese and I didn't notice the elbow type macaroni is a cavatappi style with an outer ribbed texture The seasoning of the cheese sauce was slightly spicy like capsicum with a cheese sauce being on the light side. I like a thicker more flavorful cheese sauce that represents the cheese natural flavor I did notice you were going to close I think on 27 January for a staff appreciation party I'm going to guess you probably have challenges getting quality experience help with good customer service skills like a lot of other food service businesses and restaurants

My wife and I were visiting my Daughter and her husband in Alexandria Virginia. Before we caught a flight home, we needed to get some food. My daughter suggested this place. I consider myself a BBQ connoisseur. I saw the Smackin Big Daddy sandwich online which sounded delicious. Unfortunately that was an older menu and they don't have that sandwich anymore. Renee suggested the Goldie as a staff favorite, so I listened to her. She did not steer me wrong. My wife had the pulled pork sandwich with the Mac n Cheese. I had the Goldie with the sweet baked beans. They were both really good! Renee was very helpful and extremely positive. One thing I look for when I go to a BBQ place is the smell. It definitely had that down home smell of smoked to perfection meat! You know it when you smell it. If you don't smell that smell, get out of their immediately! Thank you Renee for your recommendation and your hospitality! I apologize for not having pictures. Overall I would give the place a four star but Renee and her great hospitality made it a five star experience! I will be back next time we visit.

I wanted BBQ nachos and this place did the trick. They even let you choose from any of the meats! I went with brisket and liked it just fine. If I got them again, I'd just ask for extra cheese because I'm a glutton. I will say that they certainly give you a large portion. So plan on sharing or taking home leftovers! the casual atmosphere was perfect. Order at the counter, get your own drinks and pick a table. I was happy to see so many other families there at dinner time. I knew my baby girl's chatter wouldn't bother anyone.

We enjoyed the decor, customer service, atmosphere & food at this place. We had the meats plate & coleslaw, beans, Mac & cheese & cornbread. The Mac & cheese has a little kick to it, but it made it better, IMO. Stating this in case other don't like Mac & cheese this way. Giving 5 stars as we really had a great experience & will definitely be back in the future!

This is based on trying curbside pickup during COVID. I think this is awesome. 3 restaurants and one setup. I got a bbq sanfwich on a lark and my friend got finner for her and het boyfriend. You call or order online and wait 15 minutes for sandwiches. I was saying YAY. My friend was saying yay. Absolutely delish bbq and keeping a lid on COVID. Good prices, fresh food, outside--what's not to love. I will ramp thus up agter more visits.

The brisket was dry and very bland, the ribs were overcooked and chewy. It's BBQ, but not really good. It tasted like it was cooked the day before and just re-heated in a microwave. I can't say there's better around because I haven't looked, but there has to be better around. Either way it was bad enough that I'm not going to give it a second change.

Everything about this BBQ joint is 3 stars. The food is ok and that's about it. Nothing outstanding flavor wise...average.

Average. I'm a big fan of BBQ between time spent in the Carolinas and Texas. The good: Nachos, Smoked Turkey, and Happy Hour Beer Prices. Everything else? Underwealming. The pork was dry and the brisket lacked flavor. The sides were decent but nothing to rave about. Will keep trying BBQ around here.

Terrible bbq don't go here. Watery Mac n cheese, undercooked collared greens, dry and chewy burnt ends, couldn't even break apart ribs with my hands, had to use a knife, membrane was still on. All that for just shy of $50 for 2... Need I say more

Summary: Fast-casual, microwaved food in a loud room with screaming kids and a bar. Weird, right? Pros: Cornbread, Sauces, Free parking Cons: Had to go back up to ask for butter for my cornbread (who would want that?!); Had to go back up to have them cut my ribs (how would they know that plastic knives don't go through bones?!); Shakey shared booths where you feel the guy behind you moving in his seats

My partner and I went to Pork Barrel BBQ for dinner, and overall, the food was pretty authentic and the ribs were outstanding. The location is very central in Del Ray, it's a huge space with both indoor and outdoor seating. There's also a bar area with cocktail tables if you don't want to be seated down at a restaurant. (But the whole place is self-serve.) For food, they have all the standard BBQ options. Because I have never been here before, I completely over-ordered so that I could try all the main dishes. The ribs were very tender and outstanding, some of the best I've had outside of Kansas City. The burnt ends were also pretty good quality, and they had them late into the evening, and didn't run out. I would say the pork was the only disappointing dish, and there is basically no difference between the cubed pork and the pulled pork. The sides were hit or miss. The baked beans were delicious, and I appreciated that they had a healthy option with the cucumber salad - it was fresh. The mac & cheese was nothing to write home about, a bit too watery. Overall, the main dishes were tasty and the food was served relatively quickly. If you are seated outside, make sure to tell them, or else you're food will be sitting waiting to be picked up inside.

Tim was the best bartender I have ever had. He served me a virgin daiquiri five years ago and it was the best I have had.

Just a great all around spot. Great food, service, and vibes. Another Del Ray bright spot.

In the mood for BBQ, my husband and I racked our brains to come up with a BBQ place we had yet to visit and decided on Pork Barrel BBQ. I'll admit, I was a bit nervous about the 3 stars on Yelp, but recent reviews and reviews from other elites calmed those nerves of impending disappointment, and, after all was said and done, my husband and I both agreed we would (very) quickly return in the future! Located in the heart of the Del Ray neighborhood, parking is typically on the street; however, they do have a parking lot behind the building (labeled "for burgers, bbq, and sushi"), and we were able to find a spot here. We walked in around 7:30pm on a Saturday evening, and it was relatively crowded as expected. There were a few tables in need of busing, but we ended up finding a high-top that was clean in the bar area. There are also picnic tables outside. The ordering process is simple: order at the counter, pay, and they call you when your food is ready. Two tips: 1. hang around the counter if possible because the food actually comes out quickly and it can be loud in there, making it difficult to hear your name being called. and 2. Have a member of your party save a table to ensure you have seating when your food is ready. The booths look big and can probably be shared by two parties of two, but I know myself (and most others) would rather not share with strangers. My husband and I split the 3 meat/2 side platter, which also comes with a huge chunk of cornbread, for about $20. We were both stuffed following the completion of the platter, so I'd recommend that as a great option to try a few different meats and sides between multiple people. For meats, we chose brisket, pulled chicken, and pulled pork. The brisket was on the lean side, had a nice char on the outside, but I found the meat to be a little dry. This was my least favorite meat. The chicken was smokey and tender-very delicious! The pork was my favorite meat-very tender and flavorful on its own. I really liked the variety of sauces too: original, spicy, sweet, mustard, and Carolina vinegar. Mustard is always my favorite (paired especially well with the chicken and pork) with Carolina vinegar being a close second (definitely paired well with the pork). The brisket paired well with the spicy and the original as both were thicker-style sauces. My husband enjoyed the cornbread (I am never a fan) as it had a sweetness to it, real pieces of corn, and easily crumbled which is always a good sign of quality cornbread. For sides we chose the Monster mac and cheese and cheesy grits. I LOVED the mac and cheese! It had large chunks of jalapeno which added a nice kick. It was very creamy (like extra creamy) and cheesy, and the big, thick noodles were great for sopping up extra cheesy sauce. The grits were also tasty-creamy and nicely melted cheddar cheese. I wish jalapenos were also in the grits but that is just a personal preference. I really enjoyed the BBQ experience overall at Pork Barrel and would happily return here for a meal in the future!

I had the opportunity to try this restraunt. And it was absolutely horrible. The macaroni and cheese was disgusting and was more like Something out of the box with powdered cheese. The potatoes in the potato salad were almost raw. And the coleslaw was just as bad. The veggie burger was mush and has zero flavor. I wish I could go into their kitchen and show them how to properly season the food. I'm not sure how these folks are in business.

Fantastic barbecue joint with great workers. All very kind and funny. Great management. Could not recommend a restaurant more than pork barrel- so welcoming.

All of the staff are really great but especially Hudson Chiow! He is a really good worker super nice and kind and hilarious he needs a raise