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Los Angeles has arrived as a barbecue city on the national stage. Gone are the days of overcooked tri-tip and too-saucy ribs. Today’s scene is all about growth and personality, as newcomers mix with longtime barbecue restaurants across the region to create an eclectic, unique moment for smoked meat.
Pitmasters are turning to family recipes from across the diaspora for inspiration while the term barbecue “restaurant” grows to include pop-ups, backyard hangouts, garage setups, and just about everything in between. Here are the best barbecue restaurants in Los Angeles. Zef BBQ This weekly Simi Valley sensation is part pop-up, part restaurant, and part meme-generating Instagram sensation.
Chef Logan Sandoval makes whatever he wants each week, including smash burgers, beef ribs, curry noodles, and smoked housemade Spam musubi. Check the rotating menu first but expect fast sellouts, long lines, and lots of banana pudding for dessert. Swinging Door BBQ For a glimpse of simple, high-quality barbecue prepared with love and for the local community, come to Swinging Door BBQ.
Lightly charred ribs, fatty brisket, and more come off a unique two-forked off-set smoker, and big take-home platters are always available. Get the garlic herb french fries. They’re always hot and flavorful.
A post shared by Swinging Door BBQ (@swingingdoorbbq) The Memphis Grill For a taste of Tennessee-style barbecue, get to the Memphis Grill in North Hollywood. The restaurant has been turning out delightful pulled pork, brisket, and ribs, and has big plans to grow its menu and restaurant in the future. Owner Manu Aka has perfected his restaurant’s dry rub and smoky tomato-based sauce.
Order ahead to ensure the menu doesn’t sell out. A post shared by The Memphis Grill (@thememphisgrill) Moo’s Craft Barbecue Moo’s Craft Barbecue began life as an East LA backyard pop-up before becoming a staple tenant at Smorgasburg. These days the family-run setup operates an always-busy restaurant in Lincoln Heights, serving up impressive brisket and sausage links with LA-specific sides like esquites to match.
Bo Daddy’s BBQ Bo Daddy’s puts every ounce of effort into his barbecue. The no-frills operation is designed to get hungry patrons in, out, and wherever they want to eat smoked chicken, spare ribs, and links with sides like mango coleslaw and baked beans. If there’s room left, try the smoked Philly cheesesteak sandwich.
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Please enter a valid email and try again. Bludso’s BBQ Bludso’s is a local institution turning out reliable Texas-style smoked meats in a sports bar-like environment along La Brea and at a spacious restaurant in Santa Monica . Co-founder Kevin Bludso is LA barbecue royalty, so it’s no surprise this place still draws a crowd.
Maple Block Meat Company Maple Block has earned plenty of press over the years, including praise from the vaunted Texas Monthly magazine. With a second location in Grand Central Market, Maple Block continues to turn out barky brisket and tender ribs. Also featured in: The Best Los Angeles Restaurants for Thanksgiving Dinner The Best Places to Get Thanksgiving Takeout in LA, 2021 Edition Woody's Bar-B-Q Big, sticky takeaway platters of pork ribs and slices of brisket are the main attraction at Woody’s, a staple Southern spot that’s been cooking in South LA for a generation.
Far from the delicate, salt-and-pepper-only Texas-style barbecue, this is a saucy place to get those hands reliably messy. If the Slauson location is packed, head to the others in Inglewood or View Park. Also featured in: 22 Incredible Restaurants to Try in South LA 11 Delicious Takeout and Delivery Spots in Crenshaw, Leimert Park, and Hyde Park Steve's BBQ Head into Steve’s BBQ for exceptional barbecue mac and cheese, pulled pork, tri-tip sandwiches, and baby back ribs.
This neighborhood spot also has a full bar that cranks out strong cucumber jalapeno margaritas, pineapple martinis, and a Mexican Candy cocktail made with Malibu rum, peach Schnapps, and pineapple juice with spice. A post shared by Steves BBQ (@stevesbbq) The Wood Urban Kitchen Part sports bar, part late-night patio hangout, part barbecue restaurant of Inglewood’s dreams — it’s hard to pin down the Wood Urban Kitchen because the restaurant can do it all. Swing in for big platters of saucy meats and extra-barky ribs.
Also featured in: The Best Sports Bars in Los Angeles 22 Incredible Restaurants to Try in South LA Kitchen's Corner BBQ Fans travel from across the U.S. for a plate of Kitchen’s Corner superior barbecue, with some standing on the corner of Atlantic and Rose for hours for a taste.
The wait is worth it for beautifully smoked meats, including gargantuan dino beef ribs, brisket, and greens. A post shared by Tomas Lobato (@thommymontolla) Axiom Kitchen The beef ribs are a show unto themselves at this east Long Beach pop-up, but the real flavor comes from the family that runs Axiom Kitchen. As one of the area’s hottest food vendors, Axiom is tasked with feeding crowds that come early and stay late, looking for said beef ribs, brisket, and candied pork belly morsels.
Also featured in: 14 Elegant Twin Cities Restaurants With Private Dining Rooms Where to Eat and Drink Near U.S. Bank Stadium Smoke Queen Barbecue Smoke Queen, a pandemic pop-up sensation turned Smorgasburg vendor, opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Garden Grove in 2024.
Pitmaster Winnie Yee uses a trio of 1,000-gallon steel smokers to prepare signature meats like glazed pork belly char siu, prime brisket smoked over white oak, and gochujang beef ribs on Sundays only..
