Horn Barbecue — Restaurant in Oakland

Man, this is some delicious bbq!

The pulled pork sandwich was calling my name so I got that. My friend got the brisket sandwich. We then got a cornbread each and shared a small potato salad and mac & cheese.

I'm glad we got the smaller portions because we were stuffed! The pulled pork sandwich was delicious! I added more bbq sauce that was available on the table, but that's because I like things saucy. The pork was so juice and the bun was so soft. The slaw gave it enough acidity that I forgot to add pickles.

The cornbread was huge! My friend and I could've shared one. Though a sweet sauce was poured on top, the bread itself was on the drier side. But I kinda like that considering that my whole sandwich, including the bun, was juicy. It was a good textural contrast.

I really liked the potato salad and I'm not even a potato salad kinda gal. It wasn't heavy on the mayo and it also provided the acidity needed to balance the sandwich. The mac and cheese was yummy. I actually likes it with the bbq sauce on top. Shout out to my college dorm mate White Tornado for introducing me to mac and cheese with bbq sauce!

The outdoor seating area is great! I love the string lights and tunes from the dj. The tables are picnic tables so parties of two will have to share one with others. But that's part of the ambiance to get to know people in your community.

We got there maybe 30mins after opening and there was already a line. It's street parking and unfortunately a car nearby got broken into. If you're from the Bay, you should already know not to leave anything in your car. But to get back to the positives: Horn Bbq was fantastic! Delicious food and friendly service. I need to come back to...

Ok, to start this review off, so you don't have to read the rest. This is the BEST BBQ I have had, period!

My friends and I’ve been planning to come to Horn since it opened, and we finally got a chance to go today. Arriving at 10:45 AM, there was already a line down the street. It was a beautiful day to wait in line for about an hour before we're able to order, and I can tell you even after looking at the menu 100 times, my mind had changed ten times after I got to that little window towards the front where I could see the steaming meat unwrapped, sliced, weighed and packaged. My mind was racing, trying to choose what I would buy and what I had room to eat. I skipped dinner last night in anticipation, and I only weigh 145 pounds but don’t be mistaken, this little guy can put down some serious food! So when I stepped up to the counter, a lovely young lady with warm eyes said, “how can I help you?” So I greeted her warmly and asked for 1 pound of brisket, 1 pound of short ribs, Jalapeño and cheese sausage link, a brisket sandwich, mac and cheese, collards greens, and the bbq beans. Pretty much 10 times as much food as I could possibly eat because I plan on eating this for the next few days, and maybe I’ll share a bit with my family. I sat down with my crew at their excellent turf-lined picnic area around the back and proceeded slowly and methodically devour my brisket sandwich, so there was no more. Mmmmmm, Mmmmm, Mmmmm, that was the best brisket sandwich I have ever had! It was simply outstanding and uncomplicated. Full of flavor, perfectly blended, and served on a large fluffy bun with pickled onions.

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WORST ORDER EVER SINCE I HAVE BEEN STAYING AT THE HYATT HOUSE IN EMERYVILLE CALIFORNIA!

Horn Barbecue located in oakland California, today on Friday April 18, 2025

I recently ordered delivery from Horn Barbecue, and I must say, my experience was extremely disappointing. It felt like I paid a premium for a meal that was far from satisfactory.

To start, the total for our order was over $140, which is outrageous for the quality of food we received. The portions were small, served in flimsy paper containers, leaving me feeling like I was cheated out of a decent meal. While the brisket and ribs were passable, they certainly didn’t justify the hefty price tag.

Unfortunately, the food arrived cold, which is unacceptable for barbecue. The meat tasted like it had been sitting out for too long, and the overall temperature was less than appetizing. The macaroni and cheese was another letdown; it was obviously not homemade but rather tasted like the cheap, boxed stovetop variety.

The baked beans were a strange mix of pinto and red beans that were overly sweet, making them difficult to enjoy. The potato salad was bland and lacked any real flavor, coming off as basic and uninspired. Although I didn’t try the coleslaw, given the quality of the other sides, I can only imagine it would be just as disappointing.

Overall, this delivery experience was far from what I expected. For the price we paid, I anticipated a much better meal. Regrettably, I will not be ordering from Horn Barbecue again, nor would I recommend it to anyone. Save your money and look for a place that truly values its customers and their...