43 Best Barbeque Restaurants near Santa Monica

“Great Bbq! Great service!“

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

“Longtime fav childhood classic.“

“I absolutely love this place! I've tried several birria places but all have been inconsistent when it comes to the taste and service. Although I have to travel around 30 minutes to get here, I can always count on consistency and the delish food! There birria tacos and quesatacos with consume are my favorites. Two thumbs up!“

“My first time to dine here. Enjoyed the food n I got just enough for me to eat.Food was really good.“

“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!!“

“Bought the 2 meat combo....brisket and BBQ chicken with a side of mashed potatoes and a side of BBQ beans..and a half rack of baby back ribs side salad and corn bread...food was on point...loved the chicken and ribs over the brisket..mashed potatoes were tasty no gravy available but not necessarily a bad thing...the beans have hint of spiciness that slightly kicks in...dipped a piece of the buttery corn bread into the beans and oh man that hint the spot..paid $63-$67 bucks..it was a lot of food..good deal easily would feed 3 people..food over all was good ...parking in the back...nice clean location...service was super good I initially tipped at the register dropping a few bucks into a plastic container but I left a second tip at the table cause the young man working there was super attentive and genuinely a good person even offered the availability of the restroom and brought out a box as he observed that we had three ribs left over...honesty food was crazy good ...im a big fan of Harris Ranch off the 5 freeway up in the central valley ..but im from los angeles and out at the beach in the el segundo area several times a week...definitely will stop by again“

“A very pleasant lounge bar with a wonderful atmosphere and great cuisine. Everything felt cozy and well thought out. The service was excellent — special thanks to our waiter Nikita for being attentive and friendly. We had a great experience and would definitely recommend this place!😉“

“The food is fire! The service is mediocre, and the atmosphere is trash (literally). There was a city trash can right outside the restaurant door overfilled with garage and reeking of piss. As for inside of the restaurant, it is very small and crammed. You’re almost standing on top of other people as you wait in line to order or wait for your food to be ready.

As for the food… wow!! 10 out of 10. I ordered the Koren fried chicken (sweet & spicy) and a side of steamed rice. I cannot wait to go back and order this again. I killed the entire meal and did not leave anything behind. My wife ordered the Spicy Mayo Chicken bowl and the Fried Chicken Dumplings. The portion size was huge! She could not finish it. The spicy sauce was too spicy and overpowered the flavor of the chicken, rice, and veggies. Rating this bowl a 4 out of 10 on the spicy overkill.

The prices here are AMAZING! We only spent $25 for our food, drove to Manhattan beach, and enjoyed it while watching the sunset. Our food was still hot after the 35 min drive.“

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

“I worked at the Hollywood location in 2010. Its probably the best BBQ I ever tasted and glad I was a part of!“

“Really good, healthy food. When we went there, she made the sesame bread while we waited. And it was delicious. My beautiful wife and I have been going here for more than 20 years. And I've never had a bad meal here.“

“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.“

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

“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’m visiting a new area and I took a chance and ordered from DoorDash. I ordered a half a rack of ribs and even though they came very odd looking there was an extremely healthy portion. (There were not a lot of rib bones, but a lot of the bottom portion of the spare ribs, but I did not mind because it was a generous serving) The barbecue sauce was outstanding and all of the side dishes were delicious. They were running a two for one on some of the sides so I got a ton of food.“

“Love it mane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’“

“Great owners, long time staff who are really good people. They all care about their food and their service“

“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 😋“

“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“

“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!!!!!!“

“I took the risk yesterday and went to pop-up BBQ joint APL. They were working out of a restaurant in Marina Del Rey, so I thought reluctantly to give them a shot. I knew they were expensive and likely not the “traditional” BBQ quality that I grew up with in L.A. I’d seen on social media that APL Barbecue almost always sold out, so I arrived 2 hours early. No one was in sight. I thought I’d gone to the wrong location. I looked around and saw 5 large pallets of fire wood stacked up in the rear of the building. Had to be for the smokers I thought. This must be the right place. I was just super early. About 30 minutes later I noticed 4 pillars of smoke coming up from behind the hedges in the patio area. I failed to look there before and walked over to find 4 large BBQ smokers at work. They were being attended by an African American gentleman. He seemed to know what he was doing. I started feeling a bit better on the potential quality of APL’s BBQ upon seeing this brutha handling the cooking. This was my opportunity to maybe find out the truth about APL’s suitability to my discerning taste buds. I walked over to him and said, “Bruh, lemme holla at you a minute. I’m new to APL and want to get your read on the BBQ. You know that there’s a difference between what some people call good BBQ, and what you or me might consider good Q.” He gave me a wry smile and a knowing nod. I knew he understood what I was cryptically saying. He asked about my regional knowledge of BBQ, from which I explained my preferences for North Carolina, and Texas styles of Q. He said it was more like Texan BBQ, which happens to be my favorite. He said that APL was the “real deal”. I was feeling good and hungry now. They opened the doors at 12:30 pm. A kid started passing out cornbread samples. I happily took one. I’m as critical of the sides as I am with my Q. Cornbread is rarely great and mostly just ok of from most BBQ joints. I took a bite. It was moist and very good with a honey taste but not too sweet. Kind of a cornbread-cake combo. Another very good sign! When I got to the front of the order line, the Bruh offered me a sample of the pork ribs. I took a bite. It was spot on. Had a nice light tug but was very tender and easy to pull off the bone. I couldn’t ID the flavor profile, but liked it a lot. I ended up buying 1 beef rib bone, 1 rack of pork ribs, and some cornbread for a total cost of $150. More than enough for 2 people for a couple of days or so. The beef rib was the best I’d ever had. Tasted more like a very good brisket. The pickle relish was outstanding. I wish I could buy it in a store or better yet get the recipe. Needless to say as a BBQ skeptic and traditionalist, that APL is real and highly recommended even with their high prices. I’m told they will be back in MDR at the same spot next weekend. It’s located Washington Bl. & Abbot Kinney. Go on Sunday when they will also sell smoked cowboy ribeye steaks. I’m told the rack of lamb is also outstanding. Before I walked away with my heavy bag of Q, I saw the the brutha I’d spoken to earlier chopping up some meat. It was loud and crowded in the restaurant. I spoke loudly in a manner I knew would get his attention and said, “Bruh! You were right. Thanks!” He smiled and responded back with the “brutha nod”.“

“Chose this place because of their STAR rating on google and it did not disappoint! Robert was very friendly and professional! We had the beef brisket and beef rib dinners with salad, potato salad and beans.. the ribs were huge and delicious! The brisket was well cooked and tasty! HIGHLY recommend this place! It was definitely worth it.“

“Very affordable and chill place to swing by with friends after work. The owner is very sweet and all staff is very attentive and care that you're having a good experience.

Place is open late and definitely recommend for a casual hang out with friends!“

“Great Bbq! Great service!“

“it's an awesome place to eat and chill with friends“

“#23 lemon pepper its the best ��� Great restaurant awesome food great service“

“Best Korean bbq in Los Angeles. 강력추천합니다.“

“So delicious and savory!!“

“Had to leave a review I never leave reviews but this place has incredible shawarma!!. My parents did a to go order and I loved the crispy beef it’s delicious, the meat is halal aswell. I can’t express how much I loved it. I’ll personally come visit soon!. Thumbs up 👍“

“Formerly Gooey Looey’s from the’70’s Their Food is some of the Best“

“We met up with some friends when visiting Marina Del Rey and enjoyed a premium experience. They cooked up everything right in front of us, switching out the grill plates between meats and keeping things fresh.

Our group of 4 shared:

🥩 Set A - brisket, boneless shortrib, signature bulgogi

🍗 Namoo House Chicken

🥟 Dumplings

The set was for 2 people, but it comes with sides like salad, corn cheese, veggie pancake and typical bonchon. They even make ramen at the end, so coupled with the chicken and dumplings we ordered, this was more than enough food.

Excellent service, gorgeous clean interiors, generous portions and perfectly seasoned meats - this spot ticks all the boxes 😋“

“My sister and I come here there food is always tasty she buys the beef ribs she let me taste one it was soo good worth every bite and meaty bone loved it. She always ask for no sauce or on the side the flavor is so good you dont need no sauce. Just texting about how good it was makes me want some. We don't live in the area my sister lives in Banning ca. Close by morongo casino. 84 miles one-way. I live in Rancho Cucamonga CA. She bought two slabs of beef ribs and she bought me 2 orders of rib-tips she ask for sauce on the side. Unfortunately. My food had sauce and the sauce for me had heat. I couldn't eat it had to give my tips away cause my sister doesn't eat pork but I saved it for my brother he lives in Simi Valley he was glad to get them. I had them before without the sauce rib tip they were tasty, just this time they made a mistake and my food was at the bottom of the bag it had so much sauce on both rib tips the brown paper bag was soaked. My sister beef ribs was on top she was ready to go back home because we came so far trying to get on fwy get back before all that traffic. 84 miles driving back home. We bought meat only.“

“Incredible spot. I’d describe it as “mexican smokehouse”. Everything I had was delicious. Smoked wings were perfect, as were tri tip tacos. Not necessarily cheap (although what is, anymore) but very good and very worthwhile.

Will be returning.“

“Sakura House – Sizzling Skewers of Kushiyaki\n\nSakura House has become our favorite restaurant in the Los Angeles area. Having traveled to Japan many times, I can say with confidence — this place is the real deal.\n\nThe kushiyaki here is outstanding — perfectly skewered and grilled to perfection over special imported Japanese charcoal, which gives every bite an authentic smoky flavor. In addition to the skewers, their bacon-wrapped creations are a must-try! From asparagus, okra, and string beans to tomatoes, enoki mushrooms, and jalapeño peppers — each one is packed with flavor and cooked just right.\n\nWe also loved the fresh edamame, Yoshi’s Owari Chicken, and the incredibly tasty black pepper chicken wings. Everything was expertly prepared, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious.\n\nIf you’re looking for an authentic taste of Japan in LA, Sakura House is a must-visit. Highly recommended!“

“Always fun arcade area fun dart games fun cool family environment also nice environment for co- workers music is ok. Drinks 🔥🔥 family loves the Ribs. The Sauced Team…. 🔥🔥🔥🔥😁👍🏾“

“The restarauntvwas very busy, but they seated us without a reservation at 8pm on a Saturday night. The Japanese BBQ experience was awesome. Two of us shared a Sumo beef platter, a bowl of Tokyo Negi Rice and the Manpuku Salad. The rice was rich and earthy, the salad was light and fresh...a good juxtaposition. The beef was tinder. This was my first experience with Kobe beef. Iwas not disappointed. This was less than $100.“

“We visited Nanban-kan last night and had such a fantastic experience from beginning to end.

Even though we arrived earlier than our reservation time, we were seated immediately despite the restaurant being completely packed. Right away, you could tell this place is run with professionalism and care. The owner himself, dressed sharply in a beautiful suit, personally greeted and seated us with such kindness and politeness.

We ordered the Edamame, Shiromi (Chilean Sea Bass), Yaki Onigiri with Salmon, grilled corn on the cob, Australian lamb, and the Onigiri — every single dish was delicious, beautifully prepared, and full of flavor. The sea bass was especially phenomenal, buttery and perfectly cooked. The Yaki Onigiri had an incredible crisp texture with amazing flavor, and the lamb was tender, juicy, and cooked perfectly.

Our main server, Ako, was absolutely wonderful. She had such a radiant smile and calming yet upbeat energy that made the whole dining experience feel warm and welcoming. Although multiple staff members helped throughout the evening, everyone worked together seamlessly and attentively.

One thing that really stood out was how incredibly hardworking and detail-oriented the entire staff is. Nothing goes unnoticed. Empty plates are cleared immediately, tables are kept spotless at all times, and the service flows so smoothly from one dish to the next. Even with the open kitchen concept, the ventilation is excellent — you somehow leave without smelling like food, which is impressive.

The owner also deserves recognition because he truly leads by example. He wasn’t just standing around supervising — he was constantly walking around, helping staff, serving tables, observing details, and making sure everything ran perfectly.

Also worth mentioning: the bathrooms were exceptionally clean, which honestly says a lot about a restaurant.

Fantastic food, outstanding service, beautiful energy, and an incredibly well-run restaurant overall. We will definitely be back.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“I had a craving for BBQ.. it was close to the area I was in so decided to go. There was no long line so that made everything easier and quicker. I had a combo plate of chicken, ribs and sliced beef with mixed sos..(sauce on the side) it was so good. I'm definitely coming back.“

“We ate inside at the counter and tried a little bit of a few things off the menu. The sweet & spicy fried chicken and fried chicken dumplings were delicious. 😋🍴 We also tried the bulgogi and spicy chicken bowl and both were so delicious. As a side note, the man that waited on us (not sure if it was the owner or not) was very nice and hospitable. ☺️“

“This was delicious. Wow. Servers were great and informative“

“one of the best! good food,good service 👍👍“