Very friendly and helpful staff. Great atmosphere. Looks like I stepped into Texas. Food was great, really tasty. Looking forward to bringing the entire family and coming back.
(5)
Brooke D.
Went here for dinner and really decided I needed to take a star away. The inconsistency with the meat, their main deal, just requires a downgrade. Again, pulled pork is delicious, the turkey breast is perfect. This time the brisquet was a little juicier, but the pork tenderloin was like shoe leather. Potatoes were ok, but the Texas rice is pretty bland. The happy hour prices are fantastic, but Buster's probably wouldn't be my first choice for BBQ otherwise. Having a dry brisquet and pork tenderloin is no bueno.
(3)
Tyana G.
Mediocre BBQ. Filled my stomach but far from the best I have ever had. Had the brisket pulled pork and pork spare ribs. Brisket was ok. The other two meats tasted like propane. Servers were quick and friendly, but weren't big on providing suggestions for a first timer in the restaurant. Overall I would not recommend this BBQ joint to any of my friends.
(2)
Cam N.
Just as with everything else in this world the pricing has been etching up every so slightly to keep me wondering... "is that how much it cost me last time" but I can't ever remember but it seems to be getting a little more expensive each time. The food is stellar! The BBQ pulled pork is all I could ask for on my plate - not because the rest of their food isn't great, but because the pork is to die for. I'm not a country boy by any means - I love the city way too much, but I did have Buster's cater my wedding dinner. Let's just say when they charge you per plate you might want to think about their "portions" and how much you get. The DON"T skimp by! We had estimated 100 people for the dinner paid I think around $8 bucks a plate.... Best part was I cam home with pork coming out my ears. 1 portion can really almost feed 2! I didn't have to worry about food at all. The options they give your are plenty for the sides. The restaurant itself was clean inside, quick service and very friendly guys in there. You get the country feel when you walk in, dim lighting, cabin almost like. There's always plenty of space to sit so your not wondering around looking for a table away from everyone if your looking to get away and have a more 1 on 1 conversation. But it's also small enough the employees don't over look cleaning the tables off or making sure it's up to par. I wish they had 1/2 stars because this place would get 4 1/2... if I'm looking for BBQ, hands down there is where I'm going and recommend everyone give it a shot.
(4)
Holly K.
It had been awhile since I'd been in Buster's since Outlaw opened up the street, so we stopped in. It was lunch and things were just picking up. I got the smoked turkey breast and brisket. I got the green salad and my son got the baked beans. That said, my turkey was like eating turkey tree bark it was so dry. The brisket was a little better, but not by much. I have had their turkey when it wasn't so dry, but since we were one of the first people in the door after they opened, I didn't understand why it was so dry, its not like we were getting heat lamp scraps at closing. The BBQ sauce is okay, we had the sweet and the mild on the table and I dipped in both, I couldn't tell a difference, but my son said the beans were basically beans floating in one of those sauces, did I want a taste? uh, no thank you. The flavor is pretty smokey, so I can eat their turkey with no sauce, when it is not dry. I am not giving them another shot though because the last time I was there, I remember the same issues with the meat being dry. I did ask how much it would be to add ONE beef rib and it is $3.95 for ONE rib, to me that sounded kind of expensive, since the last bee rib I had in there was pretty much a bone with smoke flavoring and no meat. Needless to say, I passed on that one.
(3)
Stephen S.
I like Busters. I usually get the Turkey Po Boy...then dip it in one of the sauces. It's true that, on occasion, the meat is a little dry, but usually, it's good. Like I said, for some reason, I usually ge the turkey (as opposed to pork at most other bbq places), so I can't really comment of the other meat.
(4)
Chris E.
Meh - usually pretty dry. Sauces are mediocre. Sides are dull. Prices are ok.
(2)
Bree C.
Why... I know this is Gresham, but this place is not good. Seriously overpriced for what it is. I'm fine with paying good money for good barbecue, but that is not what this is. Maybe if they put in a drive-thru and lowered the prices. There is a place on 223rd and Stark, Outlaw, that is much better. Besides that, while placing our order cafeteria style, the person taking our order kept asking my husband "What else" over and over despite our protests; until we figured that another choice came with his meal. Apparently the guy thought my average sized hubby needed 2 full meals and they tried to charge us for 3 meals for 2 people. Language barrier aside, the food was pretty unflavorful, small portions for the price, and I'd rather buy ribs from safeway's deli department. The cart on 50th and Division is my place for BBQ. I'll drive the distance, or at least to Outlaw, on 223rd and stark, like 4 minutes from here.
(1)
Chris K.
I have been going here for years for lunch. I always get the same thing, 2 meat po boy with brisket and links with the sweet sauce from the salad bar. I don't remember if its on the menu but, you can ask for "Texas Size" and get extra meat, for additional cost of course.
(4)
Chad P.
I'm not a BBQ expert, but this stuff was pretty good! Mild sausage sandwich was delicious with the sweet sauce. Also had the Mac and Cheese and potato salad. Mac and Cheese did not live up to the hype, but the potato salad was delicious! Was surprised at the casualness. Thought this was a sit down and get waited on kind of place. Instead it's more cafeteria style. I was not disappointed though!
(4)
Jeremy G.
Got a to go order of brisket, mashed potatoes and beans. Beans were over saturated with BBQ flavor, potatoes were simply ok and the brisket was dry. Their sauces were OK but nothing special. Would not recommend.
(2)
Jack P.
We moved to Gresham (the East-Eastside of Portland) a few months ago and, little carnivores that we are, immediately set out in search of GREAT MEAT, specifically GREAT BBQ! Our quest was rewarded with our first stop-off at Buster's Texas Style Barbeque (we have been back 3 times already). The baby-back ribs are meaty and expertly crafted to that "fall-off-the-bone" perfection. Someone knows their shit back in the smokehouse for sure! I can't speak for all of the side-dishes, but the mashed potatoes are righteous and the smokehouse beans are just ok. The two sauces available, hot and mild, are quite tasty as well...tangy-sweety-smokey. If you are looking for table-service and fancy decor, this ain't it. This is a belly-up to the cafeteria-line with your tray and fill your own drink thing. If you can survive with a rustic, rough-hewn, down-home atmosphere, this is your place. Two suggestions: First, offer an "amped-up" version of the hotter sauce. Some of us like to sweat bullets and see smoke coming out of our ears when we dig-in to a pile of lip-smackin' ribs! Second, lose the blaring country music please. Yikes. Those who like it can bring their iPods, but for those who don't...there is NO ESCAPE. A little silence never hurt anyone. Overall though, Buster's rocks...see you there SOON!
(4)
Jeremy M.
I really wanted to like Buster's. I did. But I have been let down 3 times by this place. My first visit was when my ex-wife had our son. We were in the hospital for a few days so I went to pick up dinner there. The meat was dry, I mean really dry and it didn't taste very good going down. The sauces were bland and not what I would call traditional BBQ sauce and the food was not very hot which added to the overall taste. I had the ribs and my wife had a sandwich (I cant remember which one). After we ate we both looked at each other and gave the look "never again". Well about a year later (2009) we tried it again, it was dinner time, we were headed home and thought that this time we would eat at the place and see if that made a change. Verdict? NOPE. We were greeted by a young girl who didn't seem to like her job very much. We were then seated and waited a little longer than I had liked. Our server was nice, friendly enough but I kept hearing her talk to another server about how she couldn't wait to get out of there and go home. Does Busters not treat their employees very well? Anyway, I once again ordered the ribs (I am a sucker for ribs, its my fav.) and the wife ordered a burger. The food came quick enough but the same, familiar feeling came back to us. The quality just wasn't good. My ribs were SLIGHTLY better than the first time but not by much. I asked for some better sauce and I was told that the sauce provided was what they had. My wife's burger was dry but it actually had a bit of flavor to it. She managed to eat half of it before boxing it up. I ate a good amount of my dish and didn't save the rest. The way I saw it, if I didn't like it much at the actual joint, how good is it going to be reheated at home? So we left and again gave each other the look. 2nd time was the nail in the coffin, we aren't going back. 3rd time! Well I was with my buddies and we are being lazy having a night in. Someone said they were hungry and one guy called out "Busters". I warned them it was a bad idea and nobody listened. Long story short on the 3rd time, I didn't order anything but I shared a friends pork sandwich. The overall opinion of the place amongst everyone was "What a rip-off" So with that being said, there are plenty of better BBQ joints around town (see my review of Outlaw BBQ). It goes without saying that if someone asks me about good BBQ around here, Busters is never coming out of my mouth. And and before I forget, their prices are a bit outrageous for what you get.
(2)
Brian H.
I usually go for lunch..... Their selection is good,and their prices are ok. I like their link po boy.....I think their sauces are pretty good. The place is usually very clean and the staff friendly
(3)
Levi L.
I REALLY like this place. Not a lot of sauce selection, but the meet and sides are really good. Very high quality for reasonable prices. If my wife weren't a vegetarian, we'd probably eat there more- they don't have any decent vegetarian options, though...hence 4 stars instead of 5.
(4)
Isaiah C.
Great food for a decent price. Service was great as well
(4)
Seiji N.
This place is a good reminder that there are people out there with no taste buds. I had the brisket, dry and flavorless. I would never ever eat brisket here again. I had the BBQ beans, meh. Not anything I would pay to eat ever again. The atmosphere? Lunch line full of old fat white people. The price? Normal for a bbq place, but I consider it way overpriced for the quality of the food. For the money I would spend here, I would much MUCH rather eat somewhere else. Customer service was decent though.
(1)
Laura B.
We each ordered the Combination Dinner with two meats and two sides. I had the baby back ribs and the spare ribs with Cole slaw and baked beans. My husband went for the beef ribs and pork spareribs with the same sides. Neither meal was horrible and neither meal was outstanding. The meats were cooked with a nice dry rub and sauces are available on the condiment bar. The sides were disappointing. Each was fairly tasteless. Additionally we chose desserts. The Pecan pie was overcooked and weeping. The Truffle Cake overly sweet. All in all a very lackluster meal. I won't be visiting again.
(3)
Angie M.
HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE The chicken had ZERO flavor, the ribs were dry. The BBQ sauce Sweet tasted like vinegar Mild tasted like Worcestershire Sauce WE WON'T BE BACK!!! Explains why every time we drive by the parking lot is empty.
(1)
Paul P.
Terrible BBQ the ribs very very dry & hard no flavor. Chicken looks good but also dry and no flavor. What is good is the brisket and the Mac & Cheese. The beans taste like can beans. All eight of us that ate here today had the same feeling about the ribs.
(1)
Jonathan K.
Great food, fast line, great prices! Try the turkey, it's juicy and healthy. Not a classy place, but they make up for it in every other way. Friendly staff at the kitchen and in the lounge.
(3)
Greg B.
OMG Buster ' s are you kidding me passing off these ribs as beef ribs for the same price as the big beef ribs you use to have...commented to the server those are pork ribs. SHAME ON YOU!!! I was forced to leave a star.
(1)
Deyen S.
Very expensive for how mediocre it is... I got a small amount of mac and cheese a small amount of potato salad a quarter rack of ribs and a few slices of beef brisket for seventeen dollars. Not a good deal. There are 20 better bbq joints in Portland.
(1)
Stephen K.
Buster's in an interesting place, and provides a good value. This is a cafeteria-style establishment, so you grab a tray and order you food as you go along. This lets you see everything before you choose, and avoids any wait staff. There's not even a place on the receipt to add a tip. This is good because you get your food right away, you get free refills on the drinks (which you get yourself), there's a "serve yourself" condiment bar, and plenty of napkins at the tables. How's the food? Passable. The brisket and chicken have a good smoky flavor, but are REALLY dry...REALLY, REALLY dry. I made the mistake of trying the beef ribs, and they just barely qualify as "fit for human consumption" - tough is an understatement (think beef jerky or a leather belt), and barely had any usable meat on them (lots of fat, though). Went back and ordered baby backs, and they were certainly better, but were also overly dry. I'm no pit master, but two in my party said that the ribs I make were "much better". The pulled pork was the best protein: smoky, comparatively tender, perfectly-sauced (quantity-wise), and pretty tasty. Steer clear of the "Chicken strips" kids meal. The chicken is more processed than McNuggets, and one bite was enough for my son. The fries taste like generics, not even as good as those frozen garbage Ore-Ida horrors. The potato salad was the real surprise - it was actually very good. Lots of big chunks of hard-boiled egg, and the potatoes in it were cooked perfectly. The macaroni and cheese was definitely on the better side of average, too. It is sad to say, but the highest-rated item by all in my party was the toast. All told, $53 for five of us is really cheap, but I wound up spending an extra $20 for some baby backs due the horrific beef ribs and a macaroni and cheese kids meal because of the nasty chicken strips. If you're just dying for smoked meats and can't get to anyplace better, it will do in a pinch if you stick with the pulled pork.
(2)
Guy G.
I got the BBQ plate. The BBQ pulled pork was plentiful and pretty decent. The baked beans were awful, had a funny aftertaste. The Texas toast slice was without flavor so I ate a bite and left it. Gonna conclude this place is a cash cow. Big portions but little flavor means it's not a price issue, it's a lack of care. Someone simply isn't steer-ing the ship and now they are milking it for all it's worth. Put this place out to pasture.
(2)
Loren K.
Very good ribs and brisket. Good deep smoke, rub is top notch. Other meats are so-so. Good sauce. I mix sweet with a touch of hot. Pretty good sides. Beans, fries, green salad are good. Not the greatest potato salad, but adequate. Also very good clam chowder on Fridays. I have had exceptional BBQ in Kansas City which is why I'm critical. But I also know that Texas and Kansas BBQ are different. In the top 5 for Portland though. Grade B
(4)
Marty R.
I've been visiting this BBQ joint for many, many years... so long in fact, that I can remember when they had an " all you can eat Ribs Special " on their menu ! At the end of the day, you either love their Sauces, Meats & Buffet style of serving, or not. I happen to LOVE all three of these things. I highly recommend at least giving the Gresham, Tigard. or Milwaukie restaurants a try. The food is very tasty & the prices are more than reasonable. Additionally, since you are not being " served " at your table, you can save a bit on the " Gratuity " part ; ( I still leave a tip for the bus-folks if I eat my meal there, versus to-go ) : Ask yourself , Do I like BBQ Pork Ribs ? If so, I can guarantee you they are way better @ Buster's , than @ some other place, where the guy calls himself " Famous " & Buster's are a smaller, locally owned restaurant chain; gotta support local businesses.
(4)
Travis M.
Every time I come to Buster's I remember why it's been a year or so since my previous visit.. I so want to like this place, but it's just really hard. Perhaps it's because I've had real Texas barbecue, in Texas, in some of the Hill Country's finest places. (Salt Lick, Stubb's, Rudy's, Coopers, etc.) Perhaps that makes me spoiled on good BBQ I'm pretty sure I've tried just about every thing on Buster's menu throughout the years, so you can't say that I haven't given the place a fair shake. If you're looking for good brisket go somewhere else. Every time I've tried the brisket, it's tastes like dry pot roast with a hint of smoke flavoring. They cut it paper thin, and there is absolutely no bark (crust) on it at all. PS Where did all the fat go? You need fat on your brisket to keep it moist.. Pass on the brisket, trust me. However their smoked turkey is great, tender, moist and juicy just like it should be. The rest of their meats are eh.... Ok. Busters sides leave a little something to be desired as well. Don't get me wrong they're all edible... I will say this, Buster's Pecan pie is Legit. It's probably some of the best pecan pie around. All in all this place isn't horrible, but I feel like over the years they are putting a lot less effort in the product they deliver. The staff is always friendly, the place is always clean. However when it comes to good barbecue, I'm all about the brisket, Which I've mastered at home on my smoker. Overall... this place isn't horrible, it isn't great either. Just a mediocre bbq joint. I'm sure I'll come back again if I'm really craving bbq and too lazy to fire up my smoker at home.
(2)
Douglas C.
It's Texas style so that would explain the music. I grabbed a plastic tray with a cowboy motif on it and some flatware, and moved to the order counter. "Pork ribs please", and within one tenth of a second he slapped three large ribs and a limp piece of toast on my cowboy tray and was gone. I moved a little further down the counter and found sides. "Mac & Cheese and Cole Slaw please", and within five tenths of a second she slid two bowl across. I moseyed over to the cowboy motif booth and took a seat. The ribs looked like a cross between beef ribs and pork ribs. Do they genetically splice cows and pigs these days? Now good pork ribs should fall off the bone. As a matter of fact, you should be able to simply put one end in your mouth and suck the meat off off the bone. These were more like jerky. If you like to gnaw - this might just be your thing. My dog loved what I didn't eat, but it took him awhile to gnaw through it. The Mac & Cheese was beige - a little lighter than butcher paper. I've never seen cheese this particular color, but it had no taste except for maybe salt. The Cole Shaw looked like shredded cabbage in a bowl of milk. It was tasteless as well. There's nothing to see here - move along.
(2)
Eric P.
Texas checking in...Y'all know fat on a brisket is a good thing, right? You don't have to cook it all out. I'll give you credit for the bark and smoke ring, but if you have to rehydrate your brisket with your (tasty) sauce, what's the point? Just shove it in a bag in the oven, then. The pinto beans were good, as was the potato salad. Three stars instead of two, 'cause mesquite wood must be a chore to get up here, you had traditional sides, and you didn't automatically sauce the meat--though how you fought the urge is a study in self-control. It'll do in a pinch. Bless your hearts...
(3)
Jennifer S.
Yuck. This place earned two stars for being clean and friendly. Also the meat was at least tender. The good ends there. The brisket was 100% flavourless. It wasn't seasoned, and there wasn't even a smoke flavour or scent. The baby back ribs were moderately better with at least a little smoke flavour and a bit of a honey crust, but it didn't permeate the meat. The macaroni and cheese is not homemade and tastes of cheap processed American. Not good. Pretty sure the mashed potatoes are the dehydrated kind, or at least premade and frozen out of a bag. I'm the last one to recommend a chain, but Famous Dave's has this place beat and lapped.
(2)
Brian O.
Let me start by saying I love good Texas style BBQ. I have always been satisfied with the quality, cleanliness, and service of Busters. The overall impression is good maybe not over the top great or the best but a good experience. I have had a few of the different locations as well as the catering. The Gresham location has been better than all of the other experiences and the catering is also best from Gresham. If your looking for a good overall experience and are close by you definitely won't be disappointed. Price is also a bit higher than you would expect.
(4)
Duane P.
I had to get a to go lunch from Busters and opted for the Pulled Pork on Garlic Toast. It was kick ass good. Perfect grill on the toast and right amount of Barbecue sauce mixed into the pork. It also had the right amount of char on the pork edges. Along with that I also had the Texas Chili. With a little cheddar cheese on top it was the right compliment to the sandwich. I would recommend the combo to anyone.
(4)
Ron B.
We are from out of town and ordered right before closing so maybe that has something to do with it but we were very surprised with how little we got for how much we paid. Four of us ordered the sandwich and side combo deal. The sandwiches were plain...only bun and meat. The sides were also small, the mac and cheese was bland but my buddy says the potato salad was very good. I was also expecting the meat to be drenched or at least prepared with sauce but the meat was plain with the sauce on the side. My brisket was ok tasting. This was not a good value for our money.
(2)
Jordan R.
I've lived in Portland for about six years now over this time I've seen 100's of tv commercials for this place but never tried it. Today my friend and I decided it was time so we headed out. I've never been more disappointed in my life. The meat they call BBQ is a sad "cafeteria" style quality you would expect to find at an all you can eat buffet. I ordered the beef brisket dinner that comes with 2 sides. I choose Mac & cheese and mashed potatoes included is Texas toast. The toast was really just bread with butter on it laid on the grill for a few moments (one side only) it was cold and not toast like at all. Mashed potatoes and Mac we decent but again the quality I would expect at an all you can eat buffet. The beef brisket was so tasteless and fatty I did not even finish it. Portland has some amazing BBQ places around town that blow this one out of the water. Sadly my friend a do won't be back. I gave it 2 stars for the friendly staff and clean dinning room.
(2)
Toni D.
Busters has the best BBQ hands down! The beef brisket has an amazing smokey flavor! The turkey is also delicious and moist! They have a good mixture of sides and BBQ sauce that you can add to your sandwich so it's not drowning in sauce like most places. Staff is always very friendly and have smiles on their faces :)
(5)
Bo Y.
Told servers it's our first time there, they argued about who should explain how to order to us, Fail. The beef brisket was dryer than cardboard. The beef ribs were just that. Sides Mac n Chz, cole slaw, beans are far worse than a Safeway deli. It was way OVERPRICED. In short, this is a fast-food bbq joint with big prices that fail to deliver. The tastiest item I had came from the fountain drinks.
(1)
Dana Z.
Love this place! The food is delicious and very reasonable priced. The cafeteria style dining ensures quick service. This is a great place for the family!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Jessica W.
Very friendly and helpful staff. Great atmosphere. Looks like I stepped into Texas. Food was great, really tasty. Looking forward to bringing the entire family and coming back.
(5)Brooke D.
Went here for dinner and really decided I needed to take a star away. The inconsistency with the meat, their main deal, just requires a downgrade. Again, pulled pork is delicious, the turkey breast is perfect. This time the brisquet was a little juicier, but the pork tenderloin was like shoe leather. Potatoes were ok, but the Texas rice is pretty bland. The happy hour prices are fantastic, but Buster's probably wouldn't be my first choice for BBQ otherwise. Having a dry brisquet and pork tenderloin is no bueno.
(3)Tyana G.
Mediocre BBQ. Filled my stomach but far from the best I have ever had. Had the brisket pulled pork and pork spare ribs. Brisket was ok. The other two meats tasted like propane. Servers were quick and friendly, but weren't big on providing suggestions for a first timer in the restaurant. Overall I would not recommend this BBQ joint to any of my friends.
(2)Cam N.
Just as with everything else in this world the pricing has been etching up every so slightly to keep me wondering... "is that how much it cost me last time" but I can't ever remember but it seems to be getting a little more expensive each time. The food is stellar! The BBQ pulled pork is all I could ask for on my plate - not because the rest of their food isn't great, but because the pork is to die for. I'm not a country boy by any means - I love the city way too much, but I did have Buster's cater my wedding dinner. Let's just say when they charge you per plate you might want to think about their "portions" and how much you get. The DON"T skimp by! We had estimated 100 people for the dinner paid I think around $8 bucks a plate.... Best part was I cam home with pork coming out my ears. 1 portion can really almost feed 2! I didn't have to worry about food at all. The options they give your are plenty for the sides. The restaurant itself was clean inside, quick service and very friendly guys in there. You get the country feel when you walk in, dim lighting, cabin almost like. There's always plenty of space to sit so your not wondering around looking for a table away from everyone if your looking to get away and have a more 1 on 1 conversation. But it's also small enough the employees don't over look cleaning the tables off or making sure it's up to par. I wish they had 1/2 stars because this place would get 4 1/2... if I'm looking for BBQ, hands down there is where I'm going and recommend everyone give it a shot.
(4)Holly K.
It had been awhile since I'd been in Buster's since Outlaw opened up the street, so we stopped in. It was lunch and things were just picking up. I got the smoked turkey breast and brisket. I got the green salad and my son got the baked beans. That said, my turkey was like eating turkey tree bark it was so dry. The brisket was a little better, but not by much. I have had their turkey when it wasn't so dry, but since we were one of the first people in the door after they opened, I didn't understand why it was so dry, its not like we were getting heat lamp scraps at closing. The BBQ sauce is okay, we had the sweet and the mild on the table and I dipped in both, I couldn't tell a difference, but my son said the beans were basically beans floating in one of those sauces, did I want a taste? uh, no thank you. The flavor is pretty smokey, so I can eat their turkey with no sauce, when it is not dry. I am not giving them another shot though because the last time I was there, I remember the same issues with the meat being dry. I did ask how much it would be to add ONE beef rib and it is $3.95 for ONE rib, to me that sounded kind of expensive, since the last bee rib I had in there was pretty much a bone with smoke flavoring and no meat. Needless to say, I passed on that one.
(3)Stephen S.
I like Busters. I usually get the Turkey Po Boy...then dip it in one of the sauces. It's true that, on occasion, the meat is a little dry, but usually, it's good. Like I said, for some reason, I usually ge the turkey (as opposed to pork at most other bbq places), so I can't really comment of the other meat.
(4)Chris E.
Meh - usually pretty dry. Sauces are mediocre. Sides are dull. Prices are ok.
(2)Bree C.
Why... I know this is Gresham, but this place is not good. Seriously overpriced for what it is. I'm fine with paying good money for good barbecue, but that is not what this is. Maybe if they put in a drive-thru and lowered the prices. There is a place on 223rd and Stark, Outlaw, that is much better. Besides that, while placing our order cafeteria style, the person taking our order kept asking my husband "What else" over and over despite our protests; until we figured that another choice came with his meal. Apparently the guy thought my average sized hubby needed 2 full meals and they tried to charge us for 3 meals for 2 people. Language barrier aside, the food was pretty unflavorful, small portions for the price, and I'd rather buy ribs from safeway's deli department. The cart on 50th and Division is my place for BBQ. I'll drive the distance, or at least to Outlaw, on 223rd and stark, like 4 minutes from here.
(1)Chris K.
I have been going here for years for lunch. I always get the same thing, 2 meat po boy with brisket and links with the sweet sauce from the salad bar. I don't remember if its on the menu but, you can ask for "Texas Size" and get extra meat, for additional cost of course.
(4)Chad P.
I'm not a BBQ expert, but this stuff was pretty good! Mild sausage sandwich was delicious with the sweet sauce. Also had the Mac and Cheese and potato salad. Mac and Cheese did not live up to the hype, but the potato salad was delicious! Was surprised at the casualness. Thought this was a sit down and get waited on kind of place. Instead it's more cafeteria style. I was not disappointed though!
(4)Jeremy G.
Got a to go order of brisket, mashed potatoes and beans. Beans were over saturated with BBQ flavor, potatoes were simply ok and the brisket was dry. Their sauces were OK but nothing special. Would not recommend.
(2)Jack P.
We moved to Gresham (the East-Eastside of Portland) a few months ago and, little carnivores that we are, immediately set out in search of GREAT MEAT, specifically GREAT BBQ! Our quest was rewarded with our first stop-off at Buster's Texas Style Barbeque (we have been back 3 times already). The baby-back ribs are meaty and expertly crafted to that "fall-off-the-bone" perfection. Someone knows their shit back in the smokehouse for sure! I can't speak for all of the side-dishes, but the mashed potatoes are righteous and the smokehouse beans are just ok. The two sauces available, hot and mild, are quite tasty as well...tangy-sweety-smokey. If you are looking for table-service and fancy decor, this ain't it. This is a belly-up to the cafeteria-line with your tray and fill your own drink thing. If you can survive with a rustic, rough-hewn, down-home atmosphere, this is your place. Two suggestions: First, offer an "amped-up" version of the hotter sauce. Some of us like to sweat bullets and see smoke coming out of our ears when we dig-in to a pile of lip-smackin' ribs! Second, lose the blaring country music please. Yikes. Those who like it can bring their iPods, but for those who don't...there is NO ESCAPE. A little silence never hurt anyone. Overall though, Buster's rocks...see you there SOON!
(4)Jeremy M.
I really wanted to like Buster's. I did. But I have been let down 3 times by this place. My first visit was when my ex-wife had our son. We were in the hospital for a few days so I went to pick up dinner there. The meat was dry, I mean really dry and it didn't taste very good going down. The sauces were bland and not what I would call traditional BBQ sauce and the food was not very hot which added to the overall taste. I had the ribs and my wife had a sandwich (I cant remember which one). After we ate we both looked at each other and gave the look "never again". Well about a year later (2009) we tried it again, it was dinner time, we were headed home and thought that this time we would eat at the place and see if that made a change. Verdict? NOPE. We were greeted by a young girl who didn't seem to like her job very much. We were then seated and waited a little longer than I had liked. Our server was nice, friendly enough but I kept hearing her talk to another server about how she couldn't wait to get out of there and go home. Does Busters not treat their employees very well? Anyway, I once again ordered the ribs (I am a sucker for ribs, its my fav.) and the wife ordered a burger. The food came quick enough but the same, familiar feeling came back to us. The quality just wasn't good. My ribs were SLIGHTLY better than the first time but not by much. I asked for some better sauce and I was told that the sauce provided was what they had. My wife's burger was dry but it actually had a bit of flavor to it. She managed to eat half of it before boxing it up. I ate a good amount of my dish and didn't save the rest. The way I saw it, if I didn't like it much at the actual joint, how good is it going to be reheated at home? So we left and again gave each other the look. 2nd time was the nail in the coffin, we aren't going back. 3rd time! Well I was with my buddies and we are being lazy having a night in. Someone said they were hungry and one guy called out "Busters". I warned them it was a bad idea and nobody listened. Long story short on the 3rd time, I didn't order anything but I shared a friends pork sandwich. The overall opinion of the place amongst everyone was "What a rip-off" So with that being said, there are plenty of better BBQ joints around town (see my review of Outlaw BBQ). It goes without saying that if someone asks me about good BBQ around here, Busters is never coming out of my mouth. And and before I forget, their prices are a bit outrageous for what you get.
(2)Brian H.
I usually go for lunch..... Their selection is good,and their prices are ok. I like their link po boy.....I think their sauces are pretty good. The place is usually very clean and the staff friendly
(3)Levi L.
I REALLY like this place. Not a lot of sauce selection, but the meet and sides are really good. Very high quality for reasonable prices. If my wife weren't a vegetarian, we'd probably eat there more- they don't have any decent vegetarian options, though...hence 4 stars instead of 5.
(4)Isaiah C.
Great food for a decent price. Service was great as well
(4)Seiji N.
This place is a good reminder that there are people out there with no taste buds. I had the brisket, dry and flavorless. I would never ever eat brisket here again. I had the BBQ beans, meh. Not anything I would pay to eat ever again. The atmosphere? Lunch line full of old fat white people. The price? Normal for a bbq place, but I consider it way overpriced for the quality of the food. For the money I would spend here, I would much MUCH rather eat somewhere else. Customer service was decent though.
(1)Laura B.
We each ordered the Combination Dinner with two meats and two sides. I had the baby back ribs and the spare ribs with Cole slaw and baked beans. My husband went for the beef ribs and pork spareribs with the same sides. Neither meal was horrible and neither meal was outstanding. The meats were cooked with a nice dry rub and sauces are available on the condiment bar. The sides were disappointing. Each was fairly tasteless. Additionally we chose desserts. The Pecan pie was overcooked and weeping. The Truffle Cake overly sweet. All in all a very lackluster meal. I won't be visiting again.
(3)Angie M.
HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE The chicken had ZERO flavor, the ribs were dry. The BBQ sauce Sweet tasted like vinegar Mild tasted like Worcestershire Sauce WE WON'T BE BACK!!! Explains why every time we drive by the parking lot is empty.
(1)Paul P.
Terrible BBQ the ribs very very dry & hard no flavor. Chicken looks good but also dry and no flavor. What is good is the brisket and the Mac & Cheese. The beans taste like can beans. All eight of us that ate here today had the same feeling about the ribs.
(1)Jonathan K.
Great food, fast line, great prices! Try the turkey, it's juicy and healthy. Not a classy place, but they make up for it in every other way. Friendly staff at the kitchen and in the lounge.
(3)Greg B.
OMG Buster ' s are you kidding me passing off these ribs as beef ribs for the same price as the big beef ribs you use to have...commented to the server those are pork ribs. SHAME ON YOU!!! I was forced to leave a star.
(1)Deyen S.
Very expensive for how mediocre it is... I got a small amount of mac and cheese a small amount of potato salad a quarter rack of ribs and a few slices of beef brisket for seventeen dollars. Not a good deal. There are 20 better bbq joints in Portland.
(1)Stephen K.
Buster's in an interesting place, and provides a good value. This is a cafeteria-style establishment, so you grab a tray and order you food as you go along. This lets you see everything before you choose, and avoids any wait staff. There's not even a place on the receipt to add a tip. This is good because you get your food right away, you get free refills on the drinks (which you get yourself), there's a "serve yourself" condiment bar, and plenty of napkins at the tables. How's the food? Passable. The brisket and chicken have a good smoky flavor, but are REALLY dry...REALLY, REALLY dry. I made the mistake of trying the beef ribs, and they just barely qualify as "fit for human consumption" - tough is an understatement (think beef jerky or a leather belt), and barely had any usable meat on them (lots of fat, though). Went back and ordered baby backs, and they were certainly better, but were also overly dry. I'm no pit master, but two in my party said that the ribs I make were "much better". The pulled pork was the best protein: smoky, comparatively tender, perfectly-sauced (quantity-wise), and pretty tasty. Steer clear of the "Chicken strips" kids meal. The chicken is more processed than McNuggets, and one bite was enough for my son. The fries taste like generics, not even as good as those frozen garbage Ore-Ida horrors. The potato salad was the real surprise - it was actually very good. Lots of big chunks of hard-boiled egg, and the potatoes in it were cooked perfectly. The macaroni and cheese was definitely on the better side of average, too. It is sad to say, but the highest-rated item by all in my party was the toast. All told, $53 for five of us is really cheap, but I wound up spending an extra $20 for some baby backs due the horrific beef ribs and a macaroni and cheese kids meal because of the nasty chicken strips. If you're just dying for smoked meats and can't get to anyplace better, it will do in a pinch if you stick with the pulled pork.
(2)Guy G.
I got the BBQ plate. The BBQ pulled pork was plentiful and pretty decent. The baked beans were awful, had a funny aftertaste. The Texas toast slice was without flavor so I ate a bite and left it. Gonna conclude this place is a cash cow. Big portions but little flavor means it's not a price issue, it's a lack of care. Someone simply isn't steer-ing the ship and now they are milking it for all it's worth. Put this place out to pasture.
(2)Loren K.
Very good ribs and brisket. Good deep smoke, rub is top notch. Other meats are so-so. Good sauce. I mix sweet with a touch of hot. Pretty good sides. Beans, fries, green salad are good. Not the greatest potato salad, but adequate. Also very good clam chowder on Fridays. I have had exceptional BBQ in Kansas City which is why I'm critical. But I also know that Texas and Kansas BBQ are different. In the top 5 for Portland though. Grade B
(4)Marty R.
I've been visiting this BBQ joint for many, many years... so long in fact, that I can remember when they had an " all you can eat Ribs Special " on their menu ! At the end of the day, you either love their Sauces, Meats & Buffet style of serving, or not. I happen to LOVE all three of these things. I highly recommend at least giving the Gresham, Tigard. or Milwaukie restaurants a try. The food is very tasty & the prices are more than reasonable. Additionally, since you are not being " served " at your table, you can save a bit on the " Gratuity " part ; ( I still leave a tip for the bus-folks if I eat my meal there, versus to-go ) : Ask yourself , Do I like BBQ Pork Ribs ? If so, I can guarantee you they are way better @ Buster's , than @ some other place, where the guy calls himself " Famous " & Buster's are a smaller, locally owned restaurant chain; gotta support local businesses.
(4)Travis M.
Every time I come to Buster's I remember why it's been a year or so since my previous visit.. I so want to like this place, but it's just really hard. Perhaps it's because I've had real Texas barbecue, in Texas, in some of the Hill Country's finest places. (Salt Lick, Stubb's, Rudy's, Coopers, etc.) Perhaps that makes me spoiled on good BBQ I'm pretty sure I've tried just about every thing on Buster's menu throughout the years, so you can't say that I haven't given the place a fair shake. If you're looking for good brisket go somewhere else. Every time I've tried the brisket, it's tastes like dry pot roast with a hint of smoke flavoring. They cut it paper thin, and there is absolutely no bark (crust) on it at all. PS Where did all the fat go? You need fat on your brisket to keep it moist.. Pass on the brisket, trust me. However their smoked turkey is great, tender, moist and juicy just like it should be. The rest of their meats are eh.... Ok. Busters sides leave a little something to be desired as well. Don't get me wrong they're all edible... I will say this, Buster's Pecan pie is Legit. It's probably some of the best pecan pie around. All in all this place isn't horrible, but I feel like over the years they are putting a lot less effort in the product they deliver. The staff is always friendly, the place is always clean. However when it comes to good barbecue, I'm all about the brisket, Which I've mastered at home on my smoker. Overall... this place isn't horrible, it isn't great either. Just a mediocre bbq joint. I'm sure I'll come back again if I'm really craving bbq and too lazy to fire up my smoker at home.
(2)Douglas C.
It's Texas style so that would explain the music. I grabbed a plastic tray with a cowboy motif on it and some flatware, and moved to the order counter. "Pork ribs please", and within one tenth of a second he slapped three large ribs and a limp piece of toast on my cowboy tray and was gone. I moved a little further down the counter and found sides. "Mac & Cheese and Cole Slaw please", and within five tenths of a second she slid two bowl across. I moseyed over to the cowboy motif booth and took a seat. The ribs looked like a cross between beef ribs and pork ribs. Do they genetically splice cows and pigs these days? Now good pork ribs should fall off the bone. As a matter of fact, you should be able to simply put one end in your mouth and suck the meat off off the bone. These were more like jerky. If you like to gnaw - this might just be your thing. My dog loved what I didn't eat, but it took him awhile to gnaw through it. The Mac & Cheese was beige - a little lighter than butcher paper. I've never seen cheese this particular color, but it had no taste except for maybe salt. The Cole Shaw looked like shredded cabbage in a bowl of milk. It was tasteless as well. There's nothing to see here - move along.
(2)Eric P.
Texas checking in...Y'all know fat on a brisket is a good thing, right? You don't have to cook it all out. I'll give you credit for the bark and smoke ring, but if you have to rehydrate your brisket with your (tasty) sauce, what's the point? Just shove it in a bag in the oven, then. The pinto beans were good, as was the potato salad. Three stars instead of two, 'cause mesquite wood must be a chore to get up here, you had traditional sides, and you didn't automatically sauce the meat--though how you fought the urge is a study in self-control. It'll do in a pinch. Bless your hearts...
(3)Jennifer S.
Yuck. This place earned two stars for being clean and friendly. Also the meat was at least tender. The good ends there. The brisket was 100% flavourless. It wasn't seasoned, and there wasn't even a smoke flavour or scent. The baby back ribs were moderately better with at least a little smoke flavour and a bit of a honey crust, but it didn't permeate the meat. The macaroni and cheese is not homemade and tastes of cheap processed American. Not good. Pretty sure the mashed potatoes are the dehydrated kind, or at least premade and frozen out of a bag. I'm the last one to recommend a chain, but Famous Dave's has this place beat and lapped.
(2)Brian O.
Let me start by saying I love good Texas style BBQ. I have always been satisfied with the quality, cleanliness, and service of Busters. The overall impression is good maybe not over the top great or the best but a good experience. I have had a few of the different locations as well as the catering. The Gresham location has been better than all of the other experiences and the catering is also best from Gresham. If your looking for a good overall experience and are close by you definitely won't be disappointed. Price is also a bit higher than you would expect.
(4)Duane P.
I had to get a to go lunch from Busters and opted for the Pulled Pork on Garlic Toast. It was kick ass good. Perfect grill on the toast and right amount of Barbecue sauce mixed into the pork. It also had the right amount of char on the pork edges. Along with that I also had the Texas Chili. With a little cheddar cheese on top it was the right compliment to the sandwich. I would recommend the combo to anyone.
(4)Ron B.
We are from out of town and ordered right before closing so maybe that has something to do with it but we were very surprised with how little we got for how much we paid. Four of us ordered the sandwich and side combo deal. The sandwiches were plain...only bun and meat. The sides were also small, the mac and cheese was bland but my buddy says the potato salad was very good. I was also expecting the meat to be drenched or at least prepared with sauce but the meat was plain with the sauce on the side. My brisket was ok tasting. This was not a good value for our money.
(2)Jordan R.
I've lived in Portland for about six years now over this time I've seen 100's of tv commercials for this place but never tried it. Today my friend and I decided it was time so we headed out. I've never been more disappointed in my life. The meat they call BBQ is a sad "cafeteria" style quality you would expect to find at an all you can eat buffet. I ordered the beef brisket dinner that comes with 2 sides. I choose Mac & cheese and mashed potatoes included is Texas toast. The toast was really just bread with butter on it laid on the grill for a few moments (one side only) it was cold and not toast like at all. Mashed potatoes and Mac we decent but again the quality I would expect at an all you can eat buffet. The beef brisket was so tasteless and fatty I did not even finish it. Portland has some amazing BBQ places around town that blow this one out of the water. Sadly my friend a do won't be back. I gave it 2 stars for the friendly staff and clean dinning room.
(2)Toni D.
Busters has the best BBQ hands down! The beef brisket has an amazing smokey flavor! The turkey is also delicious and moist! They have a good mixture of sides and BBQ sauce that you can add to your sandwich so it's not drowning in sauce like most places. Staff is always very friendly and have smiles on their faces :)
(5)Bo Y.
Told servers it's our first time there, they argued about who should explain how to order to us, Fail. The beef brisket was dryer than cardboard. The beef ribs were just that. Sides Mac n Chz, cole slaw, beans are far worse than a Safeway deli. It was way OVERPRICED. In short, this is a fast-food bbq joint with big prices that fail to deliver. The tastiest item I had came from the fountain drinks.
(1)Dana Z.
Love this place! The food is delicious and very reasonable priced. The cafeteria style dining ensures quick service. This is a great place for the family!
(5)