Roderick's BBQ — Restaurant in Oakland

I'm from the East Coast (NY) and recently my Brother in-law and I visited a few cities in the state of California. First, we spent a few days visiting family in Los Angeles and Santa Ana. At the last minute of booking the trip, my Brother in-law decided he wanted to visit an old college buddy named Roderick (Roddy) in Oakland.

He mentioned that Roddy had a BBQ restaurant named Roderick's BBQ. So the plan was to fly down from Santa Ana to San Francisco, make the drive to Oakland and spend our final evening in California hanging out with Roddy at his restaurant. I didn't know what to expect because I had never met him. Well, he rolled out the red carpet along with some of the finest food (not just BBQ) you will ever have in your life.

You name it, we had it, and it all tasted incredible. Ribs, Tri-Tip, BBQ Chicken, Hot Links, Fried Chicken, Fried Catfish, French Fries, Mac & Cheese, and Potato Salad. The Ribs were tender and perfectly cooked, as was the BBQ Chicken. The Tri-Tip was tender and just melted in your mouth. The Hot Links had the perfect amount of flavor and heat. The fried chicken and catfish was perfectly seasoned, juicy, and tasted great. The french fries had a light dusting of their in-house seasoning that was absolutely amazing.

The Potato Salad and Mac & Cheese was incredible as well and to wash it all down was some of the most amazing Kool-Aid ever. The type of Kool-Aid that takes you back to your childhood. You better believe the next time I'm on the West Coast, I'm getting me some Roderick's BBQ. This place is a hidden gem and if you live in the Oakland area, you should run (not walk) to Roderick's BBQ immediately and try some of this amazing food. If you live 1-2 hours away, it's definitely worth the drive. Pull up a chair, enjoy the food, and tell Roddy that Chris and Sean sent you and he'll take good care of you. Plus, he's a great guy, a great storyteller, but he's an even better cook.

Kudos to...

Roderick's BBQ in Oakland is hands down one of the best dining experiences I've had in a long time! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by Roderick, the owner, with warm smiles and an inviting atmosphere that made us feel right at home. The vibe here is laid-back, yet you can tell they take their food seriously.

We decided to dine in and went all out with the mini combo plate and catfish, along with an array of sides: greens, potato salad, mac-n-cheese, yams, beans, and cole slaw. Every single bite was packed with flavor! The BBQ was perfectly smoked, tender, and juicy, with just the right amount of that smoky goodness that keeps you coming back for more. The catfish was crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and seasoned to perfection.

But let’s talk about those sides—each one felt like a dish on its own! The greens had that soulful taste you only get from someone who knows what they’re doing in the kitchen. The mac-n-cheese was creamy, cheesy, and absolutely indulgent. The yams and beans brought that sweet and savory balance that complemented everything else on the plate. And don’t even get me started on the potato salad and cole slaw—they were the perfect cool and creamy counterpoints to the rich BBQ and fish.

The service was impeccable. The staff, (Roderick's son) checked on us regularly, making sure we had everything we needed without being intrusive. You could tell they genuinely cared about making our dining experience special.

The atmosphere was cozy and comfortable, with a welcoming vibe that made it feel like we were eating in the home of a close friend. Whether you're coming in for a quick bite or planning to savor a full meal, Roderick's BBQ is the place to go. I can’t recommend it enough—this is soul...

The first time I had the Cajun catfish was from Roderick's several years ago at a Blues, Brew & BBQ event in Alameda. About a week later, Roderick's was at the Eat Real Festival in Jack London Square. On both occasions, he was operating from his truck. Then he had his food truck on Wednesdays during the lunch hour at the Snow Park on Harrison Street in Oakland and some Fridays at OTG (Off the Grid) at the OMCA (Oakland Museum of California). Yes, he appeared with his food truck at the Championship Plaza at the Ring Central Coliseum where the Oakland A's play.

I have been one of his regular customers and a huge fan, enjoying not only his Cajun catfish but also the sliders and the loaded nachos. Unfortunately, he doesn't do the loaded nachos and that entree was bomb-diggity good. He also serves desserts - banana pudding and peach cobbler.

I highly recommend Roderick's BBQ. Cajun catfish isn't the only item on their menu. They have fried chicken wings, barbecued meats (brisket, ribs, links, chicken). Side dishes include greens, mac 'n cheese, coleslaw, potato salad, candied yams and baked beans.

Support this black business and enjoy the view of the...