50 Best Barbeque Restaurants near Santa Monica

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

“Great Bbq! Great service!“

“Wonderful place to eat and engage in good conversation because of the atmosphere/setting. Staff extremely polite and friendly. Food is definitely worth the visit !
I frequent the Wilshire location in Santa Monica every time i get the desire for next level Mexican Food . 🏆🏆🏆“

“Longtime fav childhood classic.“

“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!!“

“I’ve been to Kaif several times, and it’s always a great experience! The hookahs are amazing and full of flavor, the food is delicious, and the staff is always friendly and attentive. The atmosphere is great, and everything is consistently on point. Definitely one of my favorite spots — highly recommend!“

“So I found this place on Google since I was on my lunch and decided to give it a shot, honestly, I was expecting the bowl to be a little bit small but it’s actually a pretty good size, the meat is very delicious, very well cooked, moist, and just full of flavor, the people that work there are super friendly and made the food pretty quickly, maybe because I just barely opened up, I’m not sure. But for $13, I’d say it’s worth it. I’m definitely coming back here again“

“I stumbled upon this place as I was heading to the beach, but I was needing a bite to eat. I looked online first to see the menu and I like what I saw there wasn’t anybody in there as it was a Thursday afternoon but that’s probably because people were at work still the customer service I got when I first entered. The restaurant was fabulous. The guy was very knowledgeable pointed out some suggestions and I ordered a pulled chicken sandwich with coleslaw, side of mac & cheese barbecue baked beans and french fries the meal came out within 10 minutes. It was very flavorful. It was hot. The baked beans had very good seasoning and the mac & cheese was doing what it was supposed to do the barbecue sauce that was included for the pulled chicken sandwich was spicy, but not too hot. Needless to say I devoured everything. I would definitely recommend you going by this place. They have a vast menu with a lot of options. Take my word for it.“

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

“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.“

“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!!!!!!“

“Came here for valentines with my boyfriend and we made a reservation in advance. There’s some parking available in their lot but it can be crowded, so we opted for street parking. We ordered the garlic noodles, fried rice (which was my mom’s recommendation), and two cuts of meat. We left satisfied but not overly stuffed. The waiter was nice and though it did get a little smoky at times, it was a nice vibe. The fried garlic noodles had a great texture and the fried rice had an umami taste. The meat was tender and you cook it yourself. They have an omakase option if you’re looking to be more structured.“

“waitresses went out there way to make sure you were 100 percent satisfied..“

“Good KBBQ near Cape Town with convenient parking.

I have been here a few times now and always with a large group. Their staff does such a good job handling so many people.

The meat is always fresh and I particularly like all of the sides they offer for your barbecue.

They kept the drinks coming too, which was much appreciated when we were there was such a large party.“

“Best Korean bbq in Los Angeles. 강력추천합니다.“

“My son told us about this place so we tried it out. Earliest reservation we could get on the Saturday was at 9pm. Nice atmosphere with warm lighting. Staff was friendly and customers all seemed to be enjoying themselves. We sat at the bar so we got to see the chefs grilling up the sticks. Everything we ordered was grilled just right nothing overcooked. If I had to pick a favorite for the night I'd choose the duck but enjoyed everything. Definitely would come back the next time we're in Southern California.“

“Love it mane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’“

“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“

“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.“

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

“I was craving ribs & collard greens- so we went out and got some! What I was not expecting was the largest rib I’ve seen in a WHILE!
Thank you for explaining your menu to us and for the woman on register for genuinely being such kind people to us and others as we sat to eat. :)“

“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 😋“

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

“Sakura House is one of the best kept secrets in Los Angeles. A tiny little spot tucked away in the corner of a strip center, you would never guess how special a hideaway, and how delicious the food is! I have been going there for years because the yakitori skewers and other dishes are consistently delicious and very satisfying. If I’m going to order something unfamiliar, it’s always a happy adventure. The service is excellent also. What’s great about this place is, it’s not the “place to be seen“ with people looking down their noses at you.
Instead, it’s a welcoming and casual secret refuge from all that, with excellent food and fair prices, and so comforting it will keep you coming back.“

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

“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”.“

“super tasty food and amazing service!! it felt like such an elevated dining experience. and there’s also a lot of parking in the lot it’s located in!!

i order the combo a, house chicken, steamed egg and we had some leftovers!

will be coming back!!“

“Great food, service and atmosphere“

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

“Great Bbq! Great service!“

“The food was amazing. Got the crispy shawarma with chicken and I was taken for a ride to flavor city. Idk what wizardry they did in the kitchen but I was hooked at the first bite.

The crispy shawarma with beef was pretty good too. It is cooked with a little lamb fat, so it was slightly gamey. Not really what I like, but if you like lamb then you'll probably really like the beef.

I also got a chicken thigh plate. It's your standard chicken plate that you'd get at Mediterranean places. Char on the chicken tasted great as well as the chicken itself. I'm not usually the biggest fan of hummus but the hummus here tasted better than other places.

Next time I'd probably just get one crispy shawarma chicken. It's pretty filling. Can't wait to come again!“

“Very good food. The meat was tender and delicious. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Hi I haven't been there in awhile this was an company Rothstein, Kass yearly tax season lunch and since I lived near there I picked it up, they loved it delicious 😋 I fully recommend them.

Regards
JD Wilson-Hawkins“

“10/10 every visit. I’m addicted to the gringo tacos with the habanero sauce. It’s a spiritual experience to see how much I can handle. The people are great. It’s a low key and clean environment. And you may expect some more riff raff coming directly off Lincoln, but you wouldn’t know just hanging out in the back. Plus they have a great little parking lot.“

“Casual dinning atmosphere“

“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. ☺️“

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

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

“On our way from UCLA to Santa Monica, did a quick Google search, trying to avoid the solid but predictable Santa Monica places, and found Tokyo Kalbi. So glad we did! No reservations online but we called ahead and they had room, seating us in a comfortable booth just outside the small kitchen. Located in a typical LA strip mall, it's not much from the outside but the food is quite superior! Took a chance and so glad we did! For the grill, we had a few of the meat selections, plus the seafood and mixed veggie. Small but appropriate portions and good quality. The charcoal grill let off minimal smoke and no noisy hood above. We even ordered extra corn, which most of don't love, but it was so good with the tasty sauces. Appetizers were all hits: shishito garlic, beef tartare with egg, and a soft eggplant dish. Every single dish was delicious and crave-able. The green tea soba noodle was yet another highlight, so we ordered it twice. I've been to Japan numerous times and this soba was on par with my favorite soba shop in Kamakura. Our family is also a lover of kimchi - my husband lived in Korea for 2 years and we eat it regularly at home, and this was some of the best. We were all so happy we just kept ordering more dishes. With lots of re-ordering and 2 pitchers of beer (and dessert), our family of 4 spent about $350, so it's not cheap, but you get what you pay for. The staff was helpful and attentive and comped my husband a dessert for Father's Day. We also ordered the pineapple sorbet which was tasty (nothing exceptional) and placed in a small frozen pineapple which was a whimsical touch. Wish we lived closer so we could be regulars. I'm glad this place exists.“

“Every thing look so yummy n fresh ... Every body pls join n try it at Chinatown Express“

“Genuinely incredible. It is in a small plaza that doesn't get a lot of traffic, but I do hope that they thrive! When we walked in, I was initially pleasantly surprised at how the place did not smell smoky despite several occupied tables actively grilling meat. It wasn't until we directly walked past the tables that you got a small whiff--their ventilation is evidently top notch.

They do have a smaller meat selection for the AYCE but that wasn't a dealbreaker to me at all. The quality of all of the cuts were so good that despite NEVER getting chicken at KBBQ, we ordered a portion of chicken just to try it out. It was such good chicken.

The sides were delicious, perfectly fermented kimchi, pancake was delightful.

Service was so attentive (5pm on a Wednesday). Servers would ask us if we would like refills of sides when we had finished them and would even ask us if we would like more meat when they saw that we had finished grilling that type of meat!

Will absolutely be back here over making the trek out to ktown in the near future! :)“

“Food was super tasty! Price was great for the portion they give and they really load up the bowl. Service was quick and my cashier was nice!

I got the spicy mayo chicken bowl and the chicken was juicy with a crispy batter. The sauce was really spicy which I loved and it went great with their house made pickles! Rice was perfectly cooked and soaked up all the sauce. I also got a side of their kimchi and it was good not as spicy as I like my kimchi but it had a good brine and crisp flavor and was a perfect combination with the spicy chicken.

Overall I will be coming back and am very happy that they’re a quick walk from my job!“

“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…. 🔥🔥🔥🔥😁👍🏾“

“So delicious and savory!!“

“Ribs were well seasoned and the mild and spicy sauces were loaded with delicious heat. The grilled veggies were my personal favorite and the beans were off the hook. A great meal towards the 4th of July.“

“Yummy food and the portions are perfect so you don't get full quick. Their addicting cucumber salad is yummy and def addicting. Heads up, the spicy chicken and spicy shrimp are suuuuuuper spicy, I wish I was warned! $2.50 beers, refreshing steal! I love their sides too.“

“If you are in LA, you need to come by here and get this barbecue. They authentically smoke although their needs like you can actually see them go out and get the wood chips to put in the smoker. I always get the red tips and the chicken it is smoked to perfection. The potato salad and the barbecue baked beans are in as well.“

“Absolute worst Hawaiian food on earth 45 minutes I waited for my order and I went through the drive-through“