Swinging Door BBQ

This was long on my list of restaurants to try after hearing good things about it, but unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed. 1. This is not a dine-in restaurant. Yes, you can sit outside but there are flies everywhere since the garbage can has no lid on it. The pictures posted here are misleading because they showed an indoor dining area, which is completely non-existent.
2. Pretty pricey for what I got. I ordered burnt ends, brisket with mac n cheese and baked beans and sides for $30 excluding tip. While tasting decent, I can think of other bbq places that offer better taste for similar money.
3. What kind of bbq place does not carry wet naps?

It's also located right next to Shell gas station and an auto shop so if you like your food with a smell of gas and grease, this place is for you.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 3

Service: 2

Good BBQ, but would of luv to know that they ain't opened on Mondays. But over all great food

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Pulled Pork, Fatty Brisket

Exceptional Brisket!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The ribs are delicious here. But, The sides are not very good. The garlic mashed potatoes are bland. No butter, no milk, just taste like potatoes and garlic. The fries were just ok. I found that the side salad was the best of the sides. Huge portion of salad (I was able to make two salad meals) plus enough tomatoes cucumber and onion!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

Excellent BBQ tri tip, brisket, spare ribs, beans, mac & cheese to go!

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 5

Service: 4

2022 review: Really really tough tri-tip sliced the wrong way, unseasoned mashed potatoes, tasteless garlic bread, baby-back ribs were tender but lacked seasoning and flavor. Pickles were good!

This place has potential but they are not tasting their food. The lack of flavor and incorrectly cut meat indicates more training is needed.

Update: The owner called me and apologized for the food and gave me a refund. I added one ⭐ for that follow-up.

July 2025: I tried Swingin Door again without reading my last review from three years ago so I wouldn’t influence myself.

On the positive side, the person taking the order was pleasant and the order was completed quickly.

The food was again bland and unseasoned. The ingredients appeared to be high quality, but there is a marked lack of seasoning in every dish. The pulled pork (sandwich) was tender, but needed salt. The brisket (sandwich) also needed salt. The garlic mashed potatoes were lacking salt, pepper, and butter and needed a lot more of all three. The sauces were good but don’t make up for the lack of seasoning. The macaroni and cheese was fine and just lacked a bit of salt and possibly some butter such would have made them creamier and delicious. The coleslaw was actually my favorite, although my preference is not to have it chopped so finely as that detracts from the authenticity.

My request to the owner or chef is to please reconsider your seasoning amounts on all dishes. Taste the food or better yet have a neutral third party test the food with your seasoning and then with the seasoning amped up (along with more butter when appropriate) and see which one they like better.

Meals from this restaurant are not cheap, probably because the meat is good quality, so if you are not offering your customers a super-flavorful and memorable meal, I don’t think I could recommend this restaurant to anyone.

Best damn BBQ in town. We drive across the valley for it.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Hear me out Folks this BBQ joint is on point with everything hands down probably Best BBQ In Town...my suggestion is to try that Brisket 50/50 you will not be disappointed 😋 💯🔥

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Fast, friendly service. Small parking area in front with more parking in back. Tender meat with smokey bbq flavor. A bit on the expensive side. ($40 for a dinner with 3 meat choices and 2 sides). Recommend you try it out!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Pulled Pork, BBQ Baked Beans Coleslaw, Brisket Sandwich

No frills bbq spot but the meats were delicious. The burnt tips and Mac and cheese are the way to go. Toast was a bit dry and corn bread average.
There are a few tables outside with a view of the gas station. We came for the food, not the ambience. Will definitely be back. The staff was welcoming and offered recommendations.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 4

Service: 5

After a few years of living at the edge of KTown and DTLA, I had been driving far and wide in search of a treasure such as this place. Leave it to a tiny smoke shack to provide the best in class for SoCal BBQ. Tritip is second only to baby backs, though it ties at second place with brisket. Often the sauce makes or breaks the tie and at Swinging Door BBQ, slotting 1st, 2nd, 3rd, is really difficult, all are too notch!!! Pricing of BBQs with a Western flair can be tricky whether Texan, Tennessen, Memphisean, S.Carolinan. This place strikes a flavorful and cost conscious balance that hits the pocket and taste buds just right. Those familiar with BBQ smoke houses outside of SoCal will find much to enjoy here whereas those with a closed bubble may be taken back by the lack of sophisticationz as though posh trappings is edible. I love the atmosphere and reminder of how applying focus to the culinary arts can be lost on some people. Five other BBQs nearby don't rate nearly as well, beaten by culinary contrivances or cost, or both. Unfortunately this place isn't All You Can Eat but I blame KTown for that supposition and expectation. How much for ayce babyback ribs isn't the question but Swinging Door is the answer. Just ask!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Pulled Pork, BBQ Baked Beans Coleslaw, Smoked BBQ Meats, Combo, Coleslaw, Potato Salad, Baby Back Ribs, Spicy BBQ Sauce, Combo Plate, Cornbread Muffins

The best BBQ in the valley!! ... (maybe in L.A.). Clearly has roots in TX. GET THE FATTY BRISKET. Ay Dios mio. Amazing.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Delicious fresh bbq and sides!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Smoked BBQ Meats, Coleslaw, Potato Salad, Baby Back Ribs, Spicy BBQ Sauce, Macaroni \u0026 Cheese, Cornbread Muffins

Solid, no frills bbq. Good slaw. Burnt tips, delight. Order online for pickup. Ready on time.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 4

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Smoked BBQ Meats, Coleslaw, Baby Back Ribs, Spare Ribs

Sooooooo goooood

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Pulled Pork, Brisket Sandwich, Smoked BBQ Meats, Rib Meat Sandwich, Baby Back Ribs, Kale Greens