Lil' Barbecue

Lil' Barbecue
Interactive map of Lil' Barbecue
Restaurant information
EstablishedOctober 2025 (2025-10)
Owners
  • Ben Vaughan
  • Ali Clem
Location1771 Northeast Dekum Street, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, 97217, United States
Coordinates45°34′20″N 122°38′49″W / 45.5721°N 122.6470°W / 45.5721; -122.6470
Websitelilbarbecue.com

Lil' Barbecue (also known as Lil' BBQ) is a barbecue restaurant in Portland, Oregon, United States.[1][2] Established in October 2025, the restaurant is affiliated with La Barbecue in Austin, Texas.[3]

Description

The barbecue restaurant Lil' Barbecue operates in northeast Portland's Woodlawn neighborhood.[4] It is an outpost or "sister" establishment of La Barbecue, a Michelin-starred barbecue restaurant in Austin, Texas.[5][6] The menu includes chicken thighs, "beet ends" (a vegan version of brisket burnt ends), sandwiches, a La Barbecue cheeseburger, Frito pie, and chips and queso. Sides include Caesar salad, coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, and tater tots.[7][8] The restaurant also serves Texas-style kolaches.[9]

History

In January 2025, news outlets began reporting on Ben Vaughan's plans to open Lil' Barbecue later in the year. Vaughan, who is the general manager and pitmaster of La Barbecue, is opening Lil' Barbecue with permission from La Barbecue owner Ali Clem. Vaughan and Clem co-own La Barbecue. Eater Portland said two smokers were being built in Texas ahead of the restaurant's opening. A rotisserie smoker was built by M&M BBQ Company and 1,000-gallon[10] offset smoker was made by Mill Scale Metalworks in Lockhart, Texas. Clem planned to travel to Portland in June to help Vaughan decide where to operate.[5][6][11][12]

In September 2025, Eater Portland described plans for Vaughan and Clem to operate Lil' Barbecue from Tough Luck Bar on Dekum Street in Woodlawn. Tough Luck will run front of house operations. Vaughan ordered two smokers from Texas, which were expected to reach Portland in September ahead of a planned opening in October.[13]

The restaurant opened on October 14, 2025.[14][15]

Reception

Alex Frane included the business in Portland Monthly's 2025 list of restaurant opening that defined the city in 2025.[16] The Ali's burger and tater tots were included in Willamette Week's 2026 list of the city's best "cheap eats".[17]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Russell, Michael (2025-09-15). "Michelin-starred Texas barbecue joint lands location for first Portland sister restaurant". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  2. ↑ Russell, Michael (2026-04-30). "At Michelin-starred Texas BBQ restaurant's new Portland outpost, smoked beets — yes, beets — outshine brisket (review)". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  3. ↑ Odam, Matthew (2025-06-17). "Michelin-starred Austin barbecue restaurant opening sister spot in Portland". Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on 2025-06-18. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  4. ↑ Gebel, Meira (2025-11-13). "Michelin-starred barbecue debuts in Portland's Woodlawn". Axios. Archived from the original on 2025-12-06. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
  5. 1 2 Guzman, Dianne de (2025-06-13). "Portland, Get Ready for Stellar Michelin-Starred Texas Barbecue Royalty". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2025-06-26. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  6. 1 2 Russell, Michael (2025-06-09). "This Michelin-starred Texas barbecue restaurant is opening a Portland 'extension'". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  7. ↑ "The Hottest Restaurant Openings in October 2025". Portland Monthly. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  8. ↑ Houck, Brenna (2026-02-11). "This Texas Barbecue Import in Woodlawn Has a Way With Tater Tots". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
  9. ↑ Bakshi, Henna (2026-03-24). "Portland Is Having a Kolache Moment; Here's Where to Find the Best Ones". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  10. ↑ Russell, Michael (2025-06-12). "Why a Michelin-starred Texas barbecue restaurant chose Oregon for its first 'sister restaurant'". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2025-06-12. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  11. ↑ Chmais, Sahar (June 12, 2025). "Michelin-starred La Barbecue opening restaurant in Oregon". Austin Business Journal. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  12. ↑ Thompson, Kelsey. "Hollywood's favorite Texas BBQ joint sets eyes on West Coast". MySA. Archived from the original on 2025-06-12. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  13. ↑ Houck, Brenna (2025-09-16). "Hyped Texas Spinoff Lil' Barbecue Will Start Smokin' Brisket in Woodlawn in October". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
  14. ↑ Russell, Michael (2025-11-06). "New Portland restaurant openings include Michelin-starred Texas barbecue, Italian comfort food". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2025-11-25. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  15. ↑ Guzman, Dianne de (2025-11-04). "Say Hello to Hey Luigi, the Latest From Chef Gabriel Pascuzzi". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  16. ↑ "The Portland Restaurant Openings That Defined 2025". Portland Monthly. 30 December 2025. ISSN 1546-2765. Wikidata Q137647863.
  17. ↑ "Portland's Best Cheap Eats". Willamette Week. 2026-06-24. Archived from the original on 2026-06-24. Retrieved 2026-06-24.
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