In 1928, Emil Villa’s Hickory Pit started a journey of delectable barbecue & irresistible pies in Oakland, CA. Founded by Italian immigrant Emil Villa, the restaurant’s warmth and passion spread through generations. Emil’s signature California-style barbecue and delightful desserts became town legends, drawing crowds from near & far. Clorox’s acquisition aimed at a national chain, with 19 stores, but original spots in Livermore, San Leandro, Hayward, & Walnut Creek endured. They’re still owned by families who share Emil’s love for great food & companionship. Today, as we celebrate 95 years of Emil Villa’s Hickory Pit, we honor not only its flavors but also its values of family, passion, and tradition. Let’s toast to Emil Villa, his legacy,
Barbecue specialists offer familiar breakfast, lunch & dinner eats in a humble grill known for ribs. Based on 422 reviews, the restaurant has received a rating of 4.2 stars. Price $
✔️ Dine-in ✔️ Takeout ✔️ No-contact delivery
Address:
3064 Pacific Ave, Livermore, CA 94550
Phone: (925) 449-1499
Website:
Social Profile: 
Hours
| Friday |
7:30 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday |
7:30 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday |
7:30 AM–8 PM |
| Monday
(Labor Day)
|
7:30 AM–1:30 PM, 4–8 PM
Hours might differ
|
| Tuesday |
7:30 AM–1:30 PM, 4–8 PM |
| Wednesday |
7:30 AM–1:30 PM, 4–8 PM |
| Thursday |
7:30 AM–1:30 PM, 4–8 PM |
Menu
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Menu Photos
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Reviews
Raul Piscoya
First time stopping by on mother’s day too.
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M. Boring
The food here is really good & and the service is fast & friendly!
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Tobesmash
Breakfast deal is pretty decent for the price. Food was alright.The gravy seemed to be a bit gelatinous. Eggs, hashbrowns, pancakes,, and French toast were good.. Service was very slow and we found ourselves waiting a short while to be seated, get our order taken, and to get refills. Drink prices are too high @ $3.49, even for coffee. Id say its worth going if you have time to kill but it’s not quite a place to desire to eat at.
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Tyra Crider
What truly sets Emil Villa’s apart is the dedication to quality and authenticity. You can tell that they take pride in their craft and the legacy of their founder. The attention to detail and the commitment to preserving that traditional barbecue taste is truly commendable.
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Mewzette Stroughter-Brown
Attended a meeting there in the banquet room. Food was ok, my ribs were a little chewy and not tender. The BBQ sauce on the side was good, but was spilled on top of my mash potatoes instead of the brown gravy, but the BBQ sauce was sweet and favorable. Service was good as well..
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Anne Loyola
Emil Villa’s breakfasts are my favorite. Pork Chops and Eggs get the top rating with Vegetarian Scramble next in line. If they offer the seasonal Swedish Pancakes, don’t miss out!
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Jennifer Pizzolla
Very friendly people here! Great food! The bbq is excellent. Everything I have gotten has been really good! Dessert cobbler that comes with vanilla ice cream is $1. So good! Good selection, good prices. If you work at LLNL, you get a discount!
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David Reed
I love these Restaurants. I volunteer in Walnut Creek. I always have lunch at the Hickory Pit next door. I I live in Livermore, and I hardly ever go to this one. Nice, smiling, helpful waitresses. OMG I’m going back. Soon! Thank you
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Jacqui Greenland
Food was generally good, had ribs and they were cooked a little tougher than I would like but that’s a preference thing rather than a criticism. Really liked the BBQ sauce and onion rings tho. The service wasn’t the best when we were there, but they were busy. Ordered a garden salad as a side, got coleslaw but hadn’t intended on eating the salad anyway so … Similarly ordered a plain baked potato with only butter, got it fully loaded so had to scoop everything out before eating it as I hate sourcream. Since our server wrote our order down I can only assume the kitchen fouled up and I couldn’t be bothered to send it back as by that time I just wanted to eat.
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Adam Ansari
Where else can you get a half pound hotdog (loaded) with kraut and a heaping plate of fries for 9 bucks. Definitely the largest portioning in Livermore for the price. The Frank was something else. It’s larger than I could have imagined it to be. The soup is good and so was everything else. Friendly servers and good service to top off the meal explains how this place has been open since ever.
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