50 Best Barbeque Restaurants near Encino

“Ara’s Shawarma is absolutely amazing! I love the food here! Everything is flavorful, fresh, and made with care. Their new crispy shawarma is next-level delicious and easily one of the best shawarmas I’ve had.

Huge shoutout to Mike for the top-tier service, he’s incredibly nice, welcoming, and makes the experience even better. The atmosphere is great too: clean, comfortable, and inviting.

Highly recommend Ara’s Shawarma if you’re looking for incredible food and outstanding service. I’ll definitely be back!“

“My first time eating at a Korean BBQ restaurant. I really enjoyed the experience and the food.“

“First restaurant I ate in 1982 and the bbq is still great.“

“Delicious Memphis style BBQ!“

“Kaif has great food, not only is the is the staff beautiful the were so attentive. Alessandra went out of her way to make sure we were happy with our food and such. They have Hookahs too. I'm not a Hookah smoker but I was very tempted when I saw others enjoy. Try for yourself and let me know what you think!“

“Our waiter ( mario) best person I know. Service was beyond amazing, would recommend to all! Thank you Mr.’Mario for the best service ever!“

“Just finished a fabulous dinner at the DTLA location! We got the Block Bowl and a Combo plate with Brisket and Pulled Pork - everything was delicious, the service was really warm and friendly, and the whole vibe was great! We’ve been eyeing this place for awhile and will definitely be back!!“

“Great food and staff! You guys rock !!!“

“Whatever type of food you're craving, be it a sandwich, soup, English style breakfast, or BBQ plate, this restaurant would have it. This place is rich with menu options AND flavors, served by a friendly and personable owner. Deserves more love from locals and tourists alike“

“I recommend the Bbq chicken, Rack of Ribs and Brisket overall everything I ordered was delicious.“

“Great Bbq! Great service!“

“In San Fernando on business. Decided to have dinner while waiting for traffic to die down a bit. Doing a search Carbon Grill sounded good. When we got there we were the only customers. Nice little place but other reviews suggested something else and parking for some reason was non existent. Had to park two blocks away! Good menu and prices were fair for these times. Food took a bit long even though it was only us. That is a good thing since it means freshly cooked. Ordered a burger, salads and fried Yucca. Good meal overall. Clean place with outdoor patio along with inside tables. Only complaint was too much plastic used for this level of dining.“

“Came on a Saturday to enjoy Mediterranean BBQ. Staff was amicable, a little slow in serving and taking orders and came to our table with someone else's order. I would highly recommend they do a number system (assign table number to customers for staff to reduce confusion). It was decent food, spices and grilled veggies were good. Chicken was a little thick and hard to cook all the way through those meats. Steak was a bit dry. Seasoned fries and hummus, Pita bread was good. Ambiance was settle, no music or noises. A little pricy but portions are good. Clean establishment. Parking can be a little tight in the parking lot.“

“Love it mane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’“

“the staff is very friendly, service is fast, and the food is delectable!“

“Ribs and chocolate cake, and sweet smashed potatoes and mac n cheese were superb. As was the tri tip salad. Service was the best. I wish I could teach ALL restaurants how to make regular mashed potatoes, especially if they aren't serving gravy. Never the less, 5 stars.“

“I like the pork ribs and all the fixings Try the potato salad“

“Jesse is the best he is a delight and has better food than anyplace on earth you have to make this one of your favorite places to go and when you do you will get hooked 🪝 like a fish 🐟 not just for the food but the homemade beers that they make and tv's are everywhere you will have to try them all and great music and mention me and get some good laughs“

“Second time coming to ZEF'S and will be planning on coming back for more brisket, burnt ends, tri-tip, pulled pork, and ribs soon. We got the platter and it easily had enough food to serve 4 for lunch with the sides and everything. Logan and the guys were friendly and made picking up the order an easy and worthwhile trip.“

“We’re been going to Gus’s BBQ a long time, but recently, their brisket has become STUPENDOUS. It was always good, but oh my... I’ve had brisket all over and this is as good as brisket gets. On a pandemic note... usually when ordering take-out, something goes wrong. A missing side, etc. Not here. Each order has been perfectly accurate. Thank you, Gus’s. Our favorite.“

“What a hidden treasure in WLA! The restaurant is a combination of delicious food, a wonderful staff and a fantastic owner!!!! The wings (and many other choices) are delicious and made with loving care. The food makes me smile!!!!!!“

“Ribs were great, slow cooked to perfection I would guess because the meat fell off the bone the first time I picked up my slab. The mozzarella sticks were also great, the only thing that’s a bit confusing at first is the location if you pick up is in like a commercial warehouse type structure and I couldn’t find the pickup window, but they are quick and responsive… I called and they brought it right out to me! Will definitely order again!“

“A great combination of flavors for rub. Great for any type of smoked meat and it's sure to get the family together everytime!“

“convenient, and easy on your wallet. the food is quality, and service there is good“

“Outstanding food, baby back ribs fall off at the touch, no frills menu, it’s a bbq joint, if you’re looking for Foo-Foo items ? Wrong place, simple menu, something for everyone, friendly staff, family owned. Outdoor dining, live music on occasion, takeout and pickup available…. Hole in the wall, rustic and comfortable, it’s really a unique inviting establishment“

“If you are looking for halal Mexican food, that's the right address. I always take my guests to any of the Papi restaurants if they want to try Mexican cuisine - but I like the Santa Monica vibes more. Definitely recommended! And don't skip their beverages, each of them is an authentic gem.“

“The flavor is outstanding!! I wish I lived in the area so I could eat it more often. Cooked to perfection with a rub that tickles the taste buds and warms the tummy. So Yum 😋“

“Friendly staff and servers. Good selection. Good meat . They seated us right away . Good parking. First time and if I am in the area again, will definitely eat here again.“

“Food was very delicious and fresh and the prices are very affordable. Stuff were very friendly and helpful, great service 🙏“

“It's hard to find old school BBQ places like this anymore. Most of the Chris 'n Pitts places are gone and places like the Bear Pit are far and few between. The baby back ribs were tender and tasty, and I love their barbeque beans! It isn't cheap, but you get what you pay for. Great place!!“

“אלופים ברמה אחרת! גם השירות פצצה וגם האוכל טעים נורא! מומלץ!!“

“love everything food is the best“

“favorite food truck ever! awesome food, more than just tacos and burritos, tri tip is available on everything, sandwiches, tacos, burritos, ribs, wraps, cheeseburgers, etc“

“I had the best time here! I’m usually overwhelmed by bbq spots like this, but the service made it very easy and fun. Luis, thank you for being so kind and energetic! We loved having you as our server. All of the food was incredible. It’s a great spot for groups especially with the preset menu. Will be coming back again soon!“

“Such a great kebab and in convient place to“

“Great service n food. Try it out.“

“That’s what I’m talking about!This is some real serious BBQ. I had the two meat combo, which was pulled pork, brisket with mac & cheese, and baked beans. Let me tell you, I’m real picky when it comes to mac & cheese, and this was killer! The baked beans were awesome too. Full of flavor.It’s really hard to find a good barbecue nowadays, and I’m so happy that they are down the street from where I live.Favorite was the brisket ?“

“For me, the menu highlights are the grilled meats, jambalaya, gumbo. I saw how the Pit-master grilled the meats. He was very clear about no shortcuts or rushing the process.The jambalaya and gumbo were the best items I ordered today (11/11). I will definitely order these again. They were the best I ever tasted. Perfectly seasoned with high-quality meats, and very good. It’s the best I’ve ever tasted. I’ve only had commercialized gumbo and jambalaya at chain restaurants.I didn’t order any grilled meats. I anticipate the grilled meats being tasty because I tasted some of the meat in my gumbo and jambalaya at it was good and cooked to perfection.The sides were disappointing and I will not order again:Mac and Cheese:A little dry. Too much salt, too much unmelted cheese. Lacked a creamy inside. The bottom and top were just globs of unmelted cheese. Will not order again.Collard Greens:Tasted bland as if from a can. Mixed with spinach and mainly tasted like spinach. Will not order again. I added the greens to my gumbo so I didn’t waste them. Let’s be clear, the greens weren’t horrible. I grew up picking and eating freshly picked collards so I have high standards for greens.Red Beans & Rice:Beans were cold and tasted like they were from a can. Not the Louisiana red beans and rice I was expecting at all. Rice was undercooked with a slight crunch. I added the rice to my gumbo when I reheated it on the stove. I will figure out what to do with the beans.Customer service was good. The lady was very attentive and went above and beyond to ensure every customer was taken care of. She even gave out peanut butter cookies while we waited. Bring your patience as this is a small-scale (lean) food-service establishment.I spent $30 for 2 half orders of gumbo and jambalaya ($10 each), and 3 sides. I probably could have saved a few dollars if I ordered a veggie plate. It was a little pricey for the portion sizes. I charge it to the gumbo and jambalaya which was $10 each and served in 8oz containers. I usually pay $8 for 12oz or 16oz of soup.On a positive note, I got to sample the menu. I know what I like and don’t like. I don’t expect to like every menu item at any restaurant. Bottomline, I will go again.“

“Great food!! The staff is friendly!“

“It’s surprisingly hard to find great brisket in the west San Fernando Valley, so discovering Slab at Topanga Social felt like stumbling onto a hidden gem. I’ve tried a lot of barbecue spots across LA, and this is one of the few that truly gets brisket right. The meat is incredibly tender, with a deep, smoky flavor that doesn’t overpower. The bark is seasoned well, slightly crisp, and full of flavor, with just the right amount of fat running through each slice.

Every time I go, I tell myself I’ll try something new, but I always end up ordering the brisket again. I don’t even browse the menu anymore. It hits every time. That level of consistency is rare, and it’s what keeps me coming back. I wish I could comment on the rest of the food, but honestly, I’ve never made it past the brisket. That should tell you something.

The setup inside Topanga Social makes it easy to grab your food and find a spot to hang out. The staff is friendly, the service is quick, and the vibe is casual, but the quality of the food feels like it belongs in a more traditional, dedicated barbecue joint.

If you’re in the area and craving real brisket done right, Slab is absolutely worth a visit. It’s become my go-to BBQ spot in the valley without question.“

“Came here with my whole family and we all loved our food. We got beef snd pork platters and chicken and shrimp tacos. Also tried the dumplings. Everything was delicious. And the staff was fantastic and friendly. Atmosphere is very casual clean and nice.“

“If I could give this place 10 stars I would. My husband and I love trying new places. We found this place on the hunt for the best khinkalis. We visited the actual store front first. The woman helping us could not have been more helpful, patient, and kind. I do sometimes look a bit Armenian which leads people to assume I can speak Armenian or Russian which is always a good laugh. She made excellent suggestions and gave us a very accurate timeframe of how long it would take to prepare. Since then we have ordered via UberEats 2x more and each time things were EXPERTLY packaged - literally the nicest to-go bag and perfectly portioned condiments. We were blown away. The food itself is so flavorful and the ingredients are high quality and you can tell they take pride in what they do.“

“This place is fantastic. You walk in and are immediately greeted and informed how things work. The man inside is very nice and loves talking to everyone that comes in. The food is so good. I got beef and noodles and veggies. Then topped it off with the flavor sauces and garlic. They have a lot of options so you can make it your own. They cook it all right in front of you. I even grabbed a mochi ice cream. Over all I highly recommend this place, a diamond in the rough.

Wheelchair accessibility: It is accessible“

“Been going for the last month, tried almost all KBBq’s this is by FAR the best one. Quality is always great and the owners is very nice. I’ve noticed a diversity of employees that makes the experience all more genuine. The price is beyond affordable, the arrays of meat are delicious, and the side dishes add authenticity that can’t be replicated. The staff are beyond attentive at refilling waters, providing meat, cleaning, and checking in. I’ve noticed the owner takes the time to remember his customers and is always having a pleasant conversation that is heartwarming. Parking is accessible, the restaurant looks aesthetically pleasing and their grills are impeccable. I urge everyone and anyone to try this restaurant! ❤️“

“Just went tonight. The smash burgers are to die for. The staff is the best! Will definitely be back! 💖“

“muy buen pollo los recomiendo“

“This place is pretty good for quick food similar to L&L BBQ. The food came out quick, was fresh and the people working were nice and friendly. There is limited seating and parking. We ordered the Bento. 1 Teriyaki chicken and 1 katsu chicken. Both came with macaroni, 2 fried dumplings rice and some salad. Overall, this place is yummy for the price! Will come back again!“

“Tried a sample of "Breathe" from the Crooked Path and it was lovely! I was kind of mad I didn't have more of it.“

“Longtime fav childhood classic.“

“5 STARS SUPER DELICIOUS EVERY TIME“