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Oakland County BBQ Restaurants

Oakland County BBQ Restaurants – Reviews, pics, and menu info for BBQ restaurants in Oakland County and Metro Detroit MI. Our favorite BBQ restaurants in Oakland County complete with reviews and pics.

Here are some of the Oakland County BBQ restaurants we’ve tried since I started OCM, and these are some of our favorites. This BBQ restaurant list is by no means complete. You can click on each listed for full reviews and pics. I know a few off-hand I’ve heard about and I haven’t tried yet. At the rate we’re going, we should have ‘em all covered soon enough! In the meantime, please contact me (lisa@oaklandcountymoms.com) if you know any Oakland County BBQ Restaurants we should try/review that aren’t on this list and deserve to be.

Oakland County BBQ Restaurants

Clarkston BBQ Restaurants

Union Woodshop BBQ – Clarkston MI
18 South Main Street, Clarkston, MI 48346, 248-625-5660, www.unionwoodshop.com
Union Woodshop in Clarkston is the Holy Grail of Oakland County BBQ Restaurants. Long waits for tables (even at off hours), Union Woodshop packs ’em in. Numerous, regionally unique BBQ sauces compliment meats which are fresh-smoked for up to 14 hours. Classy dark woods and dim lighting add to the “nicer than a BBQ joint” atmosphere. The prices are a little higher than most BBQ restaurants and I have a small problem with the lighter than average portion sizes but the quality BBQ is worth the money (and the wait). Full Review – Pics.

Clawson BBQ Restaurants

Woodpile BBQ Shack – Clawson
303 S Main, Clawson, MI 48017, 248-690-9362, www.woodpilebbqshack.com
Walk-up, carryout-only, roadside-style BBQ in Clawson. Ala-carte menu isn’t easy on the wallet (none of the entrees include sides) but the food is tasty. Try the Jalapeno Cheddar Sausage. The Woodpile Signature sauce is also noteworthy – lots of sweet and lots of heat! Full Review – Pics.

Commerce Twp BBQ

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit – Commerce Twp
4825 Carroll Lake Road, Commerce Charter Township, MI 48382, 248-360-4055, www.dickeys.com
In & Out chain restaurant BBQ. Casual, rustic decor. A smaller budget version of Famous Dave’s but I’ve never complained about a lunch I’ve eat there. They also have a Kids Eat FREE day on Sundays. There’s another Dickey’s in Novi.

Lake Orion BBQ Restaurants

Bad Brad’s BBQ
437 S Baldwin, Orion Twp, MI 48359, 248-977-5910, badbradsbbq.com
Huge menu, huge dining room, huge patio, huge flavor. High-end BBQ done right in an ALMOST “too fancy for BBQ” location. Macomb County’s best BBQ comes to Oakland County and compares very well with Oakland County’s BBQ Gold Standards – Union Woodshop. Full Review – Pics.

Madison Hts BBQ Restaurants

Woodpile BBQ Shack – Madison Hts
630 E 11 Mile Rd, Madison Heights, MI 48071, www.woodpilebbqshack.com
Walk-up, mostly carryout, roadside-style BBQ in Madison Hts. Extensive menu for roadside BBQ. Try the Jalapeno Cheddar Sausage. The Woodpile Signature sauce is also noteworthy – lots of sweet and lots of heat! Full Review – Pics.

Northville BBQ Restaurants

Mission BBQ Northville MI
20420 Haggerty Road, Northville, MI 48167, 734-256-7031, www.Mission-BBQ.com
Military and first responders motif. Great walk-up BBQ, decent portions = decent value. Better than Dickey’s & Billy Sims for walk-up style BBQ. Add a star to your ranking system if you’re, like me, patriotic. Add another star if you’re a BBQ sauce junkie. Full Review – Pics.

Novi BBQ Restaurants / Oakland County BBQ Restaurants

Dickey’s BBQ Pit Novi 
48975 Grand River Avenue, Novi, MI 48374, 248-923-1227, www.dickeys.com
In & Out chain restaurant BBQ. Casual, rustic decor. A smaller budget version of Famous Dave’s but I’ve never complained about a lunch I’ve eat there. They also have a Kids Eat FREE day on Sundays. There’s another Dickey’s in Commerce Twp.

Royal Oak BBQ Restaurants

Lockhart’s BBQ – Royal Oak
202 East 3rd Street, Royal Oak, MI, 248-584-4227, lockhartsbbq.com
The large, warehouse-like location is a great atmosphere for a festive lunch or dinner. Some smokers are located out in the open near the front entrance and the aromas are intoxicating! Lockhart’s is easily one of our faves thanks to their signature sauces, great portions at reasonable prices, awesome sandwiches, and unique menu items. Full Review – Pics.

BBQ

Troy BBQ Restaurants

Mission BBQ Troy MI
890 E Big Beaver Rd, Troy, MI 48083, 248-340-3860, www.Mission-BBQ.com
Military and first responders motif. Great walk-up BBQ, decent portions = decent value. Better than Dickey’s & Billy Sims for walk-up style BBQ. Add a star to your ranking system if you’re, like me, patriotic. Add another star if you’re a BBQ sauce junkie. Full Review – Pics.

Billy Sims Barbecue – Troy
1977 W South Blvd, Troy, MI 48098, 248-688-9291, billysimsbbq.com
Walk-up counter ordering style BBQ (just like in the South), Billy Sims Barbecue is an attempt to bring a BBQ shack-like restaurant to Detroit while keeping some chain restaurant sensibility. Thin on frills and a tad generic, Billy Sims delivers decent BBQ in a beyond-casual manner (think styrofoam plates and plastic utensils). Great for lunches and VERY kid-friendly. The sides aren’t anything to write home about but the service is fast and friendly. Full Review.

Oakland County BBQ Restaurants – CLOSED – Blue Ox BBQ in Lake Orion, Famous Dave’s Rochester Hills, Burning Oak Smokehouse in Oxford. Dickey’s BBQ Troy, Zeke’s Rock n Roll BBQ in Ferndale, Slow’s BBQ in Pontiac, Lockhart’s BBQ Lake Orion location, Billy Sims BBQ Southfield location, Billy Sims BBQ Royal Oak location, Concho Pearl Icehouse in Oxford, Shark’s BBQ Troy, Fletchy’s Oxford.

CLOSED :( Oakland County BBQ Restaurants

The Concho Pearl Icehouse – CLOSED
955 S Lapeer Rd, Oxford, MI 48371, 248-800-4222
Creative menu items, great atmosphere, but hardcore BBQ fans might be a little irked by the lack of BBQ sauces & side dishes to go with meat platters. Still, a nice place to go for families and classy enough for a date night. Full Review – Pics.

Slows BBQ – Pontiac – CLOSED
8 North Saginaw St. Pontiac, MI 48342, 248-409-5329
The menu at Slows BBQ in Pontiac is not identical to the Detroit location’s menu offerings, but the basics are still there. Plus all the VERY unique appetizers and menu options that made Slows Detroit famous. Non-traditional decor (not your typical signs on the wall, cafeteria tray service). The sandwiches feature bread from Zingermans! Full Review – Pics UPDATE – Slows BBQ Pontiac is now CLOSED

Lockhart’s BBQ – Lake Orion MI – CLOSED
37 E Flint St, Lake Orion, MI 48362, 248-690-9362
Same great taste as the Royal Oak location but with a slightly different look and a slightly different menu. Expect an expansive menu with unique (to BBQ) menu items, a comfortable yet refined atmosphere, and some of the mustard-based BBQ sauce (Carolina Gold) north of the Mason Dixon line. Full Review – Pics.

Sharks BBQ – Troy MI – CLOSED
4845 Rochester Rd, Troy, MI 48085, 248-250-6412
Authentic no-frills southern BBQ on Rochester Road. Sharks BBQ menu items can be ordered as a Sandwich, Plate, or by the pound. The items include Angus Brisket, Amish Turkey Breast Beeler’s Pulled Pork, Beeler’s Pork Ribs, Hot Smokey Links, plus the BBQ tasting plate. Full Review – Pics.

Zeke’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Barbecue – Ferndale MI – CLOSED
240 W Nine Mile Rd, Ferndale, MI 48220, 248-206-7130
A relative newcomer, Zeke’s packs a punch in terms of authentic BBQ, a great bar, and an awesome atmosphere. Classic rock and old-school dominate the speakers and the wall decor at Zeke’s and the tunes fit well with the incredible food and truly unique BBQ sauces. Great prices, great atmosphere, and plenty of bang for the buck in a tasteful, uniquely Ferndale environment. Highly recommended. Full Review – Pics – UPDATE – Zeke’s is now CLOSED. Not gonna lie, this one hurts a little

See our REVIEWS/RESTAURANTS tab for more Oakland County BBQ restaurants reviews and photo galleries.

See related posts below for extensive reviews of Oakland County BBQ Restaurants.

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