BBQ Express Aruba is a takeaway-focused barbecue spot tucked away on Palm Beach 6D in Noord — the kind of unmarked local-favorite where you order at a counter, watch the meats come off the grill, and either eat at a small picnic-table seating area or take it back to your villa. The 4.5-star rating with 320+ reviews tells you the kitchen runs hot and consistent.
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About BBQ Express Aruba
The format is fast-casual: counter ordering, generous portions, very local pricing. Meats are grilled or smoked over charcoal in the open. The menu rotates between ribs, chicken, brisket, sausage, and Caribbean-style chuleta (pork chops). Sides are classic — rice and beans, plantains, fries, coleslaw. Cash and card both typically accepted; takeaway is the dominant order pattern.
Signature Dishes & Menu Highlights
Order the BBQ ribs (the standout), the smoked chicken, the chuleta plate, or the combo platter for sharing. The mac and cheese side is comfort-food perfection. House BBQ sauce is on the sweet side — ask for hot sauce if you want a kick.
Practical Information
- Address: Palm Beach 6D, Noord, Aruba
- Phone: +297 594 1250
- Website: bbqexpressaruba.com
- Google rating: 4.5 from 321 reviews
- Map:View on Google Maps
Hours:
What Diners Say
Reviewers describe BBQ Express as ‘the real deal’ for Caribbean barbecue at honest prices. The portions are called ‘huge,’ and the chicken in particular gets repeat praise. A favorite of villa renters who want to bring food back rather than dine out.
Plan Your Visit
Practical details worth knowing
Aruba sits outside the hurricane belt, which is why the weather here stays reliable when much of the Caribbean does not. The island runs on the US dollar alongside the Aruban florin, so American visitors rarely need to change money, and English is spoken almost everywhere alongside Dutch, Papiamento and Spanish.
Distances are short. The island is roughly 32 kilometres long and 10 wide, so nothing is more than about 40 minutes from anywhere else. Most visitors base themselves on Palm Beach or Eagle Beach and reach the rest of the island by tour or rental car.
When to go
Rates and crowds peak from January through April. May to early December is quieter and noticeably cheaper, with calmer seas and the same near-constant sunshine. Rainfall stays low year-round, and what does fall tends to arrive as brief afternoon showers rather than washed-out days.
Booking ahead
Tours sell out faster than hotels here. Reserve 24 to 48 hours ahead in low season and three to five days ahead in peak months, particularly for catamaran sails and sunset cruises. Most bookings cancel free up to 24 hours before, so there is little downside to locking something in early.
Compare the options and prices
These are the best-reviewed trips in this category right now, ranked by rating weighted against review volume so a single five-star review does not outrank a thousand. Prices update automatically and free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before on nearly all of them.
| Experience | From | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Island Jeep Safari with Natural Pool Baby Beach and Lunch | $139 | 5.0★ (9,891) | Check dates |
| Turtle Snorkeling Tour in Tres Trapi, Aruba | $125 | 5.0★ (476) | Check dates |
| Half day Tour | $60 | 5.0★ (77) | Check dates |
| Aruba 2-Seater UTV Tour Adventure with Kini Kini | $120 | 5.0★ (776) | Check dates |
Live prices and ratings from Viator. We earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which never affects the order above.
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