Tomm’s Bar-B-Q & Deli

I did some research for a good BBQ spot before heading to Tomm’s BBQ, I live in Hayward so the drive was not too far and I’ve hit up most spots throughout the Bay Area. I’ve been to Quincy Jones BBQ off of A street in Hayward and was not impressed, I was hoping that Tomm’s would make up for the lack of good southern BBQ here in the Bay.
I was greeted when I walked in, pleasant staff and helpful with questions when it comes time to order. The dining area is spacious and the art on the back of the wall was pretty cool. Tables looked clean and I decided that I was going to dine in. There was a bit of a wait as the line was full of people whom didn’t know what to order. For goodness sakes, just look up at the huge menu it’s OBVIOUS is it not?!
So I ordered the Beef Brisket and the Beef Ribs, all I gotta say is that it was damnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn good. The ribs were falling off the bone and the brisket was so soft, it almost disintegrated in my mouth. Not sure but my taste buds were telling me that the smoker they used had Almond Wood as I remember the taste distinctly at other BBQ spots. Is Almond Wood the norm?
For my first time there, it was a treat. I told the owner/​manager this and he gave me a free desert on the HOUSE! Now that’s customer service! My stomach was happy, warm, full, and I was getting drowsy from my food coma so I left. Total time including the wait, was 35 minutes. Thank you Tomm’s! I’ll DEFINITELY BE BACK!

Okay. if you really want some really, really good BBQ!!! Go! The prices are very affordable too! I ordered the combo plate and the beef brisket! Yummy! You get 2 sides and the supply you with they napkins to wipe up the juiciness!!! GO!

Solid 3 star Bar B Q. Had the beef brisket and creole potato salad. Relatively inexpensive at 6.50 with a drink. Beef was juicy smothered in bbq sauce and ample in portions. Not too fatty or lean. Quick service.

What is with the hate? You can’t judge a BBQ place by Broaster or deli crap.
I’m a strong believer in getting the best thing available wherever I am. That means either whatever people on Unilocal are touting, or whatever the place specializes in.
I heard that this was the best BBQ in the entire Bay Area, and that specifically it was one of the only places where you could get sauceless ribs. Now, I’m not barbecuist — I’m not even sure that’s a word — but barbecuists sure do love to talk and write about the ‘cue. So I’ve heard plenty about how, whether you like sauce or not, in order to REALLY know if somebody’s doing it right you need to try their meat without sauce. Because they can hide a lot of flaws with that sweet tangy drippy goo.
So I got the pork ribs, sauce on the side.
Those are some damn good pork ribs.
Occasionally, the ones at the end can get a little dried out. That’s the only flaw I have ever found in them, after many many orders.
They taste smoky and meaty and good, with a natural porky sweetness. They are coated with a dry rub that leaves my fingers pleasantly orange and makes them super-​tasty. (My fingers, I mean. Also, the ribs.)
I’m torn. I want to give them four stars because I haven’t done the Ribs Tour that I want to do, comparing their ribs to other bbq ribs in the area. And because you once in a while get a small dry one.
On the other hand: amazing ribs, and on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays you get a whole slab of ribs for I think $ 14.99. That’s enough ribs to feed me and my wife for at least half a week!
And frequently, when you order sweet potato fries you get sweet potato TATER TOTS instead, which are just sheer pure genius. Pure! Genius!
How bout if we just call it 5 stars and you make sure to get the ribs?

Okay, my turn! I come to Tomm’s for one thing, and one thing only. I always get the pork ribs with NO sauce (I really don’t care for their sauce), and I usually wait until Mon, Tues or Wed, when the whole slab is on sale. The staff is super friendly, and they know me when I go in to order. «Whole slab of ribs with no sauce, right?» LOL!
I take the ribs home and heat up my fave bbq sauce with some cayenne pepper for a little kick. Make a side of your choice, heat up a coupla ribs and dip ‘em in the sauce… mmmmmmmm! Smokey, tender meat with a chili-​based dry rub. Doesn’t get any better, unless you go to the trouble of bbq’ing your own ribs of course!!!
I happen to like the fried chicken. Tastes like you cooked it at home, and I believe that good fried chicken isn’t all spiced up with unneccessary stuff. Salt and a good dusting of flour is good enuf for me! I think the key is getting the chicken when it’s been freshly fried. My son usually orders the eight-​piece meal, and it’s always been fresh… and good!
There! You got my 2-cent’s worth!

Baby back ribs: perfect
BBQ beans: perfect
potato salad: perfect
Service: perfect
Neighborhood gem!

** fried chicken review **
I came to get some BBQ, but my eye wandered to the large Broaster Fried Chicken section of the menu and went for the 2-​piece w/​potato wedges and corn-​bread for $ 3.x9 (49? 59?). What I didn’t notice was the pile of fried chicken in the plexiglass hot box. OK, not fried to order, but that’s how it is at Churches, KFC, Popeyes, etc.
When I opened the box I was surprised at the mess (
) especially the cornbread which was in multiple pieces all over the place. The pieces of chicken (leg & thigh) were dinky. Very lightly breaded, little to no seasoning, and dry. No bueno.
The potato wedges were OK. Nothing special. The cornbread was my favorite part. It was moist and the whole kernals of corn added good texture and flavor.
Fried Chicken: 1.5 stars
I’d come back for some BBQ, but not for the fried chicken.

*********Review based on the brisket******Every time we pass Tomm’s BBQ my husband never fails to remind me how bad the brisket was — today he finally asked me, «did u ever write a review?» I said, «Noooo» (since I’ve never eaten here) So he usually goes off on a tirade of how he was served nuked frozen brisket doused in BBQ sauce. Now my husband is no BBQ expert but he has a decent palate — I think his tastebuds are in good shape.
So I do apologize for this review since it’s really not my experience but I do believe him, shoot, I married the guy and he seems so adamant about me writing a review for him. and for grimey sakes man, I can finally say, «Yes I did write a review as you requested.»
So — don’t order the brisket according to the hubby!

I finally stopped today and ordered the slab (special on Weds. $ 15.00) and a pint of potato salad. Service was very friendly and when I asked what sides were good, she gave me a taste of the potato salad. The potato salad tasted natural with a strong black pepper flavor. Just under the line of too much, the pepper gave the potatoes a distinctive taste.
The ribs were done perfectly for my taste, with plenty of smoke and a fine dry rub. Sauce was not my style, but I always get my Q to go and use my own sauce. Tomm’s sauce was at least not overly sweet, so it wasn’t obnoxious. I will go back to taste the pork that many are talking about. Great value.

I have literally been on a three year quest for decent Memphis BBQ in California. I have tried all the famous restaurants, the side of the road shacks, Unilocal favorites, everything– each time ending up more and more disappointed. This week, my boyfriend and I drove past Tomm’s looking for another BBQ place that sold «Tennessee BBQ». When we couldn’t find it, we decided we would settle for the Tomm’s place because it looked ok and we were ready to eat.
I will thank the BBQ gods until the day I die that we couldn’t find the other restaurant.
My boyfriend and I were born-​and-​raised in Memphis so we did what any true Memphian would do… we both ordered the Jumbo Chopped Pork sandwiches. When we told the very nice woman that we wanted a side of cole slaw to put on our sandwiches, she informed us that the sandwiches come with slaw on them already. My boyfriend and I looked at each other and smiled… this just might be the place…
The sandwiches came to the table wrapped in butcher paper and foil with nothing but a napkin and a plastic fork– awesome and authentic.
We unwrapped the sandwiches, bracing ourselves for yet another disappointing BBQ experience. I took that first bite and had to hold back the tears. I was home. In a BBQ restaurant in an Oakland hood, with a random framed picture of the Happy Days cast on the wall, I was home. With each gloriously juicy, tender, smoky bite– almost choking by saying «Oh my God!» too much– I was transported 2100 miles away to Memphis.
The bun was fresh. The pork was perfectly smoked and tender. And the BBQ sauce was authentic Memphis sauce– smoky, sweet, and a little spicy. It wasn’t too thick. It wasn’t too runny. It was perfect. I wish we had ordered some sides– they have all the classics and corn bread to boot– but we wouldn’t have had room anyway. Jumbo means Jumbo here. And at $ 4.69, it it’s a total steal.
I will be back, and soon, to try the ribs, the BBQ chicken, and the fried catfish… did I mention they have strawberry shortcake and peach cobbler?!
I only have a couple of criticisms. They don’t have Coke– only RC Cola. Eating BBQ and not being able to wash it down with an ice cold Coca-​Cola is a sin against nature. Also, this is pretty nit-​picky, but Memphis style cole slaw is chopped while Tomm’s is shredded– it was still tasty though.
I could care less whether or not it has any affiliation with the Memphis Tom’s BBQ and Deli. Frankly, I lived in Memphis for 22 years and I’ve never even tried Tom’s– which is actually located in my old neighborhood.
Oakland Tomm’s is the real deal. It may not float your boat if you’re used to other styles, but if you’re looking for honest-​to-​goodness, tried-​and-​true, down-​home-​lip-​smacking Memphis BBQ… This is the place.

I love this place I go as often as I can or when ever I get the hankering for some damn good BBQ chicken or pork. Haven’t tried the beef yet.
I vote this place my personal favorite BBQ in the bay area. its cooked like BBQ should be cooked. I’ve tried a lot of the other places around and I’ve never been satisfied with the taste.

What can I say about this place. I had their BBQ links and I don’t think I could have been more disappointed. The meat and sauce had no flavor at all. AND What kills me is that the first time I went they were out of links. I came back a second time to get the links. It was the second and last time we will be going there. NO!!!

Decent beans, decent deviled eggs
Pulled pork was dry but smoky
Sauce was spicy and slightly sweet
Ribs were cooked well but meat was gray on the interior with no smoke ring
Links are decent but nothing special really
16 bucks for 3 meat and 2 side combo
Overall there was nothing too memorable about this place one way or the other.

I ordered a BBQ Pork Sandwich because i love BBQ Pork Sandwiches. For around $ 5.50, you get a pretty big sandwich that will definitely fill you up. And for $ 5.50, you can’t really complain about the value. But it really stops there.
The pork was a little dry and in dire need of the sauce they added. However, the sauce was a very basic BBQ sauce that was thick and tasted similar to (though it was not) KC Masterpiece. Frankly, i dont want that kind of BBQ sauce on my sandwich. I like the thinner, juicier kind of sauce that runs down your hand when you take a big bite. Mmm.
Overall, the staff is friendly and the place is kept clean. The food is a great value for the price. But if you’re looking for really great BBQ Pork Sandwich, you may want to explore another spot.

I had another great slab of pork ribs last night, enough for four folks. Having had a long relationship with the long-​gone original Flint’s not too far away, Doug’s, and E & J, this is not the same, but just a good in it’s own way. The meat is really smoky, still quite firm with a dry rub. You can order it with the sauce on the side, which I think is a good idea, since the sauce is pretty basic, and you can then take it home, and add pepper, molasses, vinegar, or what you desire.
These are real ribs, not baby backs. I agree with the other reviewer, that the service is friendly, the place is very clean, and the pork sandwiches are piled high and wonderfully flavored. The slab price is very reasonable.
There’s a couple of tables, and a counter, but this isn’t really a sit down restaurant, more like a quiet lunch counter. For those who may be concerned about the neighborhood, this is not really a ghetto location; it’s in a west Oakland neighborhood of nicely kept homes, near a freeway entrance; black doesn’t mean ghetto.
Give these guys a try; the meats are really great!

This review is specifically for the Smoked BBQ Pork Sandwich. Succulent, moist, beautifully smoked pork with a deliciously tasty barbecue sauce that rivals any I’ve ever had, and I’ve had a lot in my life. i don’t know what the other stuff tastes like because i can’t get past ordering this sandwich every time. They’ll happily serve it open face with a fork if you ask them to.
The service is decently fast and always friendly, and the price– $ 4.59 special for a very generous jumbo pork sandwich on a big toasted bun– can’t beat it!
I’ve had this sandwich three times in the past 5 days, and I’m getting hungry now for another. I recommend you do as I’m about to do, and go get yourself a big ol’ smoked bbq pork sandwich from Tomm’s!

I tried to give this place the benefit of the doubt. They are nice people, and they are in a «ghetto» location.
I had the Q twice. One time it was decent ans smoky. The next time it was dry and lacking the smoky flavor.
My main gripe is the Broaster chicken. The stuff they serve has a terrible after taste, like some sort of chemical. I really love the stuff, and I have driven to SF just to get some-​so I guess I’ll have to do that from now on.

F the haters… who cares if the name is similar to a famous name. i am coming to a spot like this for one reason… BBQ!
i have not found too many good bbq spots in my fair city. all the big names (minnies, roadside. etc) always leave me wanting something more. something is usually not there, close but not all there. well ladies and gentleman… this place rocked out socks off. GREAT ribs, nice hot links, good brisked and a nice pulled pork. as with most bbq places, the ribs were the highlight. a nice smokey flavor, soaked after in sauce. and these weren’t small ribs, these ribs had girth to them.
the sides we had were ok (corn, cole slaw and beans. beans were the best) but they were also out of some of the more wanted sides (fries and mac&cheese). but you dont’t usually go to a bbq place for sides, you go for meat. and i’d come back to Tomm’s for some ribs again.
the staff was also very friendly and nice. they answered our newbie questions and were able to accomodate us easily. also, before we left they dropped some free desert on us. i LOVE me some banana pudding. these guys do it right (as opposed to that thing that roadside makes. blech) and the pecan pie was out of this world.
so don’t come here because you think it may be related to some place down south, come here because you want good bbq.

tomm’s offers a barebones, clean seating area after you get your order .
menu items approximates items and prices posted on webssite: roasted chicken, ribs, pulled pork, catfish.
music: xmas music
sampling:
–3 meat combo & 2 sides (12.99)
*meat given is roasted chicken, chopped beef, chopped pork, no choices
–very dry roasted chicken, had a funny taste. was it smoke?
–chopped pork: dry, tender, no taste, no sauce
–chopped beef: dry, tender, no taste, no sauce
–macaroni & cheese: tasteless, little cheese flavor
–potato salad: initially tasted very cold and commercial, an hour or so later when it thawed out. potato salad tasted normal but not outstaqnding.
–2 pieces wheat bread: pigeons will eat almost anything.
take outs:
–friendly servie
–boyd coffee (not a favorite)
–this tomm’s isn’t related to the tom’s of memphis (lzbeth s.)
–the menu posted online creates a false impression tom’s and tomm’s are related, they aren’t.
–ribs, etc. may be great but i dislike misleading information.

It turns out this restaurant is not related to the Memphis Tom’s.
The pork ribs are excellent and the smoke bbq beans are very good.
Sauce should be ordered on the side because too much is slathered on the que and it is best to apply it yourself.
The beef and pork are good, but this place is about the ribs.