Downtown Salem / State Street, Salem, Portland, Oregon

Adam's Rib Smoke House

Dining
Tavern & Tap
4.1(1145)

Known For

  • Baby back ribs
  • Pulled pork sandwich
  • Goliath burger
  • In-house BBQ sauce selection

Insider Tips

Best Time

Weekday lunch for a lively crowd; mid-afternoon is noticeably quieter.

Ideal For

Casual lunchCollege students and groupsBudget-friendly dinnersTakeout

Pro Tip

Ask for extra house-made BBQ sauce when your plate arrives; staff will gladly bring more and it helps with drier cuts.

Editorial Review

Adam’s Rib Smoke House is the kind of neighborhood joint that refuses to pretend. Tucked a block from Willamette University on State Street, it’s a compact, family-run pit where plates come piled and sauces are taken seriously — a wall of house blends that invite argument. The room is casual: picnic tables, a handful of outdoor seats, and the steady hum of students and locals trading slices of life over ribs and burgers. Some meats land perfectly smoky and tender; others run a touch dry, which the staff usually tries to fix with extra sauce or a replacement. You’ll pay modest prices and leave full; the Goliath burger and baby back ribs are the showpieces, and the beer list leans local. It’s not polished fine dining, it’s a humble anchor for the neighborhood — a place where alumni bring friends, students grab late lunches, and regulars keep coming back for the sauce stash and familiar faces.

Price Level

$$

Contact

+1 503-362-2194

Outdoor Seating

Hours

  • Sunday: Closed
  • Monday: 11AM - 8PM
  • Tuesday: 11AM - 8PM
  • Wednesday: 11AM - 8PM
  • Thursday: 11AM - 8PM
  • Friday: 11AM - 9PM
  • Saturday: 11AM - 9PM

Frontier Insights

Acclaimed spot with broad recognition

TripAdvisor: Top 25% (#78 of 639)

Popular With

FamiliesFriendsCouples

Tourist Awareness

LevelModerate

TripAdvisor: #78 of 639 Places to Eat in Salem

  • Outdoor seating available
Data confidence: high(5 sources)
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