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Buster's Texas Style Barbecue
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Southwest Portland
11419 SW Pacific Hwy
Tigard, OR 97223
(503) 452-8384
11419 SW Pacific Hwy
Tigard, OR 97223
(503) 452-8384
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
13 reviews for Buster's Texas Style Barbecue
It is hard to beat Buster's for BBQ meat and sauces. I have been to Kansas City's most popular locations and I still say Buster's can beat them. I have been to several places in Dallas TX and I still say Buster's is right up there.
The Brisket is soft and flavorful but I know to ask for moist cuts. The house made pork link sausage with Jalapenos is awesome. The chiken, pork, and ribs are great as well, but I have to say that I am a brisket and sausage guy.
IF, and that's a big IF, Buster's explored into corn bread, beans, and cole slaw with much success, I will move my rating to five stars. If Buster's and the new Dave's BBQ in Tualatin were side by side, I would never go into Dave's, see my review of Dave's.
I have been going to Buster's for over 13 years now; having worked next door to this location for many years it was hard to not get lunch there often and break the burger/taco spell. Now I am a big barbecue fan and I feel confident that I know good from bad, genuine from poser.
To me Buster's is good barbecue. It does not blow my mind, it does not make me forget about meals I have eaten in Texas or Kansas City, but it gives me a good barbecue fix when I need one. There are superior barbecue places in our City of Roses, but this one is most conveinient for me.
High marks for the mild link sausage, turkey and pork loin. The brisket is a little less than inspired for my tastes.
I think they went a little overboard on the decor, they could dial it back a little. Drink selection needs more diet options. I do like the fixin's bar and the sauce bar. Buster's has been there for me since my earliest days in the PNW and as long as they don't go messing with a good thing I will keep willingly handing over my hard-earned money.
I could talk about the food and ambiance, which were both fine. But there is something much more important to note here...
... I found an approximately one inch piece of thick hard gray plastic in my potato salad.
Um what? How does that happen?
And to make it worst, I didn't notice it until it was in my mouth and I bit down on it. Yeah, that was a little nasty.
Enough said.
Damn.
Just, damn.
Beef brisket + mashed potatoes + cole slaw + hottest BBQ sauce they've got = Heaven.
They were good. Really, I almost feel bad for not giving them a 4, but I just can't justify it, having had absolutely phenomenal home made smoked BBQ in my life.
But, this stuff is good. I had the brisket and pulled pork end enjoyed it. The mild BBQ sauce is good, as is the sweet BBQ sauce. I didn't much like the baked bean though.
The decoration was kind of campy in that same way that any other BBQ place is. It was kind of amusing.
In a nutshell, the food was good. What more do you need from a barbecue? Service? Pffft. You go to a backyard BBQ, and you're serving yourself. I didn't expect waitstaff. And I was pleased when I didn't get it!
Food was tasty but the ambience (with the trays and hokey western memorabilia) reminded me of Ponderosa back East; I've lived in the "real" West and too much cheesy decor takes away from the good food. That being said, I thought it was good and will go back.
Seriously, a must-visit if you're in Portland for the first time.
So much tasty stuff here. I'd give it a half star less for the prices, which are probably on the high side to the casual diner, but seriously--plunking down $20 for a rack of ribs this good is way more memorable than a steak at Morton's or Ruth's Chris, and you can't beat the sauces.
My recommendation to the Buster's newbie is to go with a friend and split the ribs and one of their sandwiches. The brisket po' boy is the bomb, and so is the BBQ chicken. Like I said before about the sauces, there's mild, medium and hot, and if you're smart you'll make a mix and dip with every bite.
Bonus points for the old school fries and salad bar selection, which is always seems pretty well stocked with fresh ingredients, even near the end of the day.
Yum. The ribs are to die for. Other reviewers make good points about the sauces. I most definitely will be back for the sweet BBQ sauce. Yummy.
The prices are a bit on the high side, but the amount of food is just right. I went for the 9 ribs and came out feeling satisfied. Not too full, but just right.
Not a bad kids menu, and lots of kids points for quickly getting the food at the table and a no hassle highchair and eating situation. I didn't feel bad about the smallest one dropping a few fries on the cement floor.
All the great BBQ without the time and fuss. I had the beef brisket, and it was perfectly tender and flavorful. I bit dry, but that is what BBQ sauce is for ya'll! Baked beans were very good as well. Down home, goodness...
The food isn't good enough to wait in line for - cafeteria style at full-service prices. This reminded me of a grade-school cafeteria - and the portions were about the right size for a 3rd grader too! We weren't sure to carry our tray or push it down the line - and then we had to pick up all the little condiments at the condiment bar. Definitely NOT a place to take a date! Nothing convenient, nor comfortable about Buster's...... Service and ambiance should be part of the meal; Buster's just doesn't hit the mark - in any way.
I have the fondest memories of taking my daughter when she was small to Buster's in Tigard on a summer's night and how much fun we had. I love the choices of meat: brisket, baby back ribs, turkey, sausage. It all tastes good and even if the sides are not spectacular, they fit the bill and are quite satisfying. It's cafeteria style so you get the food and pay quickly and then pick a booth. The decor is fun too.
I myself find the prices pretty reasonable.
I give Buster's a big A+ only for how well they cook they're meats......very tender and tasty (even without the sauce)(btw i've tasted better sauces). The sides are trash.....totally inedible, tastes frozen-warmed up. The room setup is a little high schoolish and the service sucked. There's some spikey-haired douche that can give a f@#k less about customer service@ the register. I might try one of the other locations to get a better feel, assuming that not all cooks are the same.
If you like meat...this is the place for you. I'm really picky with my BBQed ribs and Buster's passed the test. Their meat is smoked and not slathered and basted with sauce...I loved it. The sides were not the best...but they were edible. It's so hard not to compare but I miss the spicy peanut cole slaw at Armadillo Willy's in San Jose.
