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Highlights from the Business
Delivery during COVID-19
Established in 2012
Review Highlights
“I had the burger, pulled pork sliders and tri tip with Mac n cheese, coleslaw, baked beans and potato salad as sides.” in 75 reviews
“I tried the German potato salad which I didn't care too much for, but the alcohol selection was an A +++.” in 115 reviews
“ST Louis ribs are pretty good, I also enjoyed the pulled pork sliders, beans and the maple bacon cake and bread pudding..” in 95 reviews
Location & Hours
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Amenities and More
About the Business
Business owner information
Dan F.
The East Bay's Best BBQ & Catering! The Slow Hand Way... We slowly smoke our meats over oak logs, this is our spice, seasoning the meat through to each bite and giving it that true smoke taste and aroma. It s what great BBQ is all about. We make our sauces from scratch (although we feel you don t really need sauce). Our food is served family style on a tray of butcher paper, grab a fork and dig in or use the plates provided on the table if you d rather enjoy the goodness all to yourself.
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Recommended Reviews
Overall rating
1198 reviews
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- Rick L.San Francisco, CA01361Feb 15, 2015
This place is the REAL BBQ deal! I've yet to find a BBQ place on the West Coast that even comes close to the taste and quality of the BBQ from Slow Hand.
The Tri-Tip is amazing! It blows away the Tri-Tip from that other place that's sort of nearby. Slow Hand serves Mary's Air Chilled Chicken which is the best chicken one can get. OMG, the chicken is tasty. You MUST try it! I also recommend their two sauces, just don't drown the meat in it because the meat tastes amazing on its own! The Mac and Cheese is amazing. I could eat a whole big container of that stuff.
Oh, and then there's the beer selection. All sorts of good brews abound. We'll take Lyft the next time we go :).
The decor is basic which is fine as it's a down-to-earth BBQ place. The fake cow skin booths are a neat touch. Be sure to check out their smoker which is visible through the windows on the outside of the building.
Want REAL BBQ? Then get your bad self to Slow Hand!Helpful 1Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 0 - Lynnelle E.Daly City, CA1203728Mar 31, 2024Updated review
I've been going to this place for a few years now. For a BBQ spot, this is very spacious on the inside and well decorated with cow hide and longhorns. There is so much to look at. It has such a good and welcoming vibe.
Restrooms are superclean, and I was surprised that they have a changing table and provide disposable changing pads for the babies. They also provide tampons and pads for women. I was a little surprised and amazed that they provided these. There are not a lot of places that you can go to nowadays that even provide any of these.
We have tried a few items here, and I highly recommend:
1. Brisket nachos - The chips are fresh, and it's just a cheesy brisket goodness. Don't mind the messiness.
2. Beef rib - Only available on Sundays. It's reasonably affordable and comes with a side. Good enough for 2 people. I only recommend getting there early for it because it does sell out
3. Corn beef special - this was only for St. Patty's Day. I have never had a corn beef brisket before, but man, I've been missing out. It was well seasoned, tender, and so flavorful.
4. Loaded baked potato - this is one of the best I've ever had. It's a good-sized potato.
5. Bacon wrapped jalapeno - a good appetizer to start with. They do not skimp on the bacon, and it packs a little heat to get you going.
6. Key lime pie - if you like key lime, this has a good tartness with a small hint of sweetness. I especially love the crust.
7. Maple bacon cake was different but reminded me of the maple bacon donuts you can buy.
I didn't really care for the mac n cheese and the ribs. I was a little disappointed that the rib didn't fall off the bone. It was a little tough.
Service was above and beyond, and you can't go wrong with the complimentary fountain soda.Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0Apr 25, 2022Previous reviewI've been to this place a few times. I always can't wait to get my grub on that I always forget to take pictures.
I highly recommend the beef rib, honestly that's all you need. Loaded baked potato is fire. Maple bacon cake was different but reminded me of the maple bacon donuts you can buy. If you enjoy those you'd love this
I didn't really care for the mac n cheese and the ribs. I was a little disappointed that the rib didn't fall off the bone was a little tough.
Service was above and beyond. I can't wait to come back and try the brisket nachos and sweet potato tots - Hoda S.Oakland, CA1547372Mar 2, 2024
Absolutely incredible. From service to food to ambiance. Josh and Randi were so friendly. We came on a Wednesday and they had karaoke and it was so much fun.
Let me say this again tho, the foooood is amazing!!! Tri tip, brisket, corned beef yummmm
Moral of the story, I went right back in a few days. And I don't live close. :)Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - 1793051703Jan 27, 20241 check-in
Nestled in a cozy corner, Slow Hand bbq offers a cozy atmosphere, creating a delightful dining ambiance.
Now, let's talk about the food - The brisket sandwich was very flavorful boasting tender meat and just the right amount of smokiness. The nachos were piled high with savory toppings, each bite bursting with deliciousness.
But it wasn't just about the main courses - the potato salad was a creamy, tangy delight, perfectly complementing the rich flavors of the BBQ. And the half chicken? Cooked to perfection, with juicy meat and a crispy skin that left me craving for more.
The staff's warmth and attentiveness made the dining experience memorable. A must-visit for BBQ lovers!Helpful 62Thanks 16Love this 55Oh no 0 - Apr 8, 2024Updated review
I was not sure if we over- or under-ordered but the combo for 2 was just right for us. We had the brisket and the baby back ribs, with the cole slaw and beans. We had a fairly thick slice of brisket, which was amazingly tender. The baby back ribs were also very tender. The cole slaw and beans were okay, but sides were always just okay here. I would love to see something like collard greens or corn bread, but the meats here are just awesome.
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0Feb 28, 2020Previous reviewWas in the mood for some BBQ - not the fancy BBQ places, but just meats and sides on a platter. Slow Hand delivered! This is a complete low-key place, with lots of craft beers on tap. Order at the counter and they'll bring you your food. We did a three item order with chicken, tri-tip and brisket, mac and cheese, rolls, and cole slaw. The chicken was pretty good but really needed the sauce (they do a great job of explaining the sauces when they bring the food to you). The tri-tip and brisket were awesome and were fine without sauce (the right amount of smoke). Mac and cheese was just okay, but the non-mayo slaw was awesome. We should have ordered a big container! We'll be back.
- 17240287Mar 21, 2024
I came here for lunch one afternoon to slow hand bbq. When I came in I was seated immediately. The waitress was very friendly and very polite. I ordered the 2 meat combo with salad and sweet potato tots. The two meats I had were chicken and ribs. The ribs and chicken were smoked to perfection and the sauce was nice addition to the meat. The sweet potato tots were very tasty and very flavorful. The ambiance is very customer friendly and has a lot of parking. This is a great place to come get some good bbq.
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 0 - Jan 14, 2024
I'm gonna say this loud, proud, and with my chest:
THE SMOKED CORNED BEEF RUBEN IS MY FAVORITE SANDWICH IN THE EAST BAY.
Sandwich supremacy is not to be trifled with. I am a sandwich GIRLIE. I take them SERIOUSLY. The confluence of perfectly tender smoked meat, melted swiss, homemade sauerkraut, strong mustard, and marbled rye?!?? Eaten after a long hike around Las Trampas?!!(*@ It's enough to make a sandwich girlie levitate. I have like 12 pictures of this sandwich across 3 phones but I've only included the most recent.
TBH I've had a bbq plate from here before and it was p good, but this sandwich is where it's at.Helpful 2Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Mar 16, 20241 check-in
We've never had a chance to visit this place. Only heard good things about them. We came in at 5:30 on a Saturday evening and it was busy but not packed. We received a friendly greeting at the counter. Place smelled great btw. We ordered the two meat platter with fries and potato salad. I got their version of a McRib with Cole slaw, a Cobb salad with chicken, loaded baked potato, and the brisket nachos. Food was really good; moist, not too Smoky, and good portions. The slaw was a tangy version with an Asian taste, potato salad was not too creamy. Fries were nice and crispy. All the meat was tasty. They had live music which went well with the vibe. Service was friendly. We'll be back-
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Jan 3, 2024
I've lived in Pleasant Hill most of my life and have driven past this joint many times. I finally tried it recently for takeout. I went with the brisket and baby back ribs. The BBQ was not bad but not the best I've ever had. The thing I liked the most was the tater tots! They were fried to perfection and it came with the sour cream sauce that tasted amazing. If I come back, it'd be to dine in with a beer since they have a great selection.
Helpful 5Thanks 1Love this 4Oh no 0 - Sep 4, 2023
LABOR DAY WEEKEND BBQ
Summer technically ends on September 21. However regarding vacations summer for most of us ends after Labor Day. While enjoying the last few days of summer vacation I came to Slow Hand BBQ the night before Labor Day. When I go to BBQ joints there has to be an item that has to be special or "jumps out of the menu". One of the items I noticed was the smoked corned beef. That was one reason why I went to Slow Hand BBQ. The other reason is the beef rib, which is only served on Sundays. My initial plan was to get a pound of smoked corned beef and a beef rib. As my birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks I thought about ordering from the catering menu. At the last minute I ordered a 1/2-pound beef brisket, 1/2-pound smoked corned beef, and a beef rib plate that includes a side order, which I choose coleslaw.
Instead of eating inside I decided to eat outside where there were wooden picnic tables. Several minutes later the BBQ tray arrived of all the items I ordered. I glanced over the items then proceeded to devour. The beef brisket was moist and flavorful. The beef rib was juicy and rich. The best item I ordered was the smoked corned beef. I love corned beef at restaurants yet never had smoked corned beef. The corned beef at Slow Hand BBQ was succulent as the fat melted inside the meat. I am not going to say that this was the best corned beef I ever ate at an eatery, but it was the best item I ate that night. The combination eating the beef brisket and corned beef eventually made me too full to finish the beef rib.
I like how pickles and raw onions were served. They act as a compliment texture to the fatty meats. The rolls were soft. The coleslaw was a major disappointment. I love coleslaw with mayonnaise as that is my preference. I understand there is no mayonnaise with the coleslaw served at Slow Hand BBQ but there is vinegar, which besides cabbage is the main component for coleslaw. The more I ate the coleslaw at Slow Hand BBQ there was aftertaste. That might have to do with the bell peppers. I like bell peppers, but not in my coleslaw.
Other than the coleslaw I really enjoyed my meal at Slow Hand BBQ. I plan to come back again. My "go to" item will still be the smoked corned beef. I will try new items such as the St. Louis Ribs, hot links, and chopped pork, which sounds really intriguing.Helpful 5Thanks 2Love this 5Oh no 0 - Jayne C.Walnut Creek, CA23912Apr 22, 2024
Food is excellent. Used to dislike their sides but last time I went they were good. I believe there may be newer owners. If you want some bbq head on over to them and belly up.
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