Diners' Choice: Barbecue restaurants in Los Angeles

OpenTable

Updated 05 November 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Barbecue cuisine in Los Angeles? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyses more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favourites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Naples Rib Company

4.7

4.7 (1407)

$30 and under

Barbecue

Long Beach

About the restaurant

Widely recognized as the premier barbecue spot in Long Beach, Naples Rib Co. offers their signature Baby Back Ribs, St. Louis Ribs, & Beef Ribs. They also serve Slow Roasted Tri-Tip, Prime Rib, Steaks, Shrimp, Fish and innovative Salads. The main dining room consists of mostly cozy booths. The bar has 3 TV's tuned to local sports with 7 seats at the bar counter top and 7 tables. We accommodate large parties in out Banquet Room which can seat anywhere from 6 to 50 guests and is perfect for family celebrations. We have a 15 minute grace period on all reservations. Please contact us if you will be late. We look forward to welcoming you!

Top review

Jeff

Dined 4 days ago

No this isn't hot Texas or Cajunn style BBQ. It is sweet and yummy. The service is always terrific because the servers all act like they really enjoy working there. We have never had a touchy server or a ding bat! We probably eat dinner there once a week as our special treat. They also give you ample servings. We always walk away full and with a bag of delicious left overs. Family atmosphere, great music from the 50's, 60's and 70's. Right now they are playing Christmas music! My husband says they make the best Margaritas in town!

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Popular dish

French Dip Ala Prime Rib

Popular dish

Senior Prime Rib (6 oz)

Broken Spirits Distillery

4.5

4.5 (41)

$30 and under

Barbecue

Long Beach

About the restaurant

We are Broken Spirits, a distillery born from a love of forgotten recipes and the desire to create something new from the echoes of the past. Step through our unassuming door and be transported to a bygone era. Our speakeasy-inspired interior is a warm embrace of exposed brick, plush seating, and the gentle hum of conversation. Worn leather-bound recipe books line our shelves, whispering secrets of forgotten cocktails, while vintage lamps cast a romantic glow. Our culinary creations are chef driven and locally sourced. Join us for a meal and stay for a memory.

Top review

Mark

Dined on 9 Nov 2024

Great experience. Good food with attentive service. I really enjoyed my meal and drink.

Gus's BBQ - Claremont

4.6

4.6 (815)

$30 and under

Barbecue

Claremont

About the restaurant

Since 1946, Gus’s has been serving true Southern hospitality and some of the best real pit BBQ around. Housed in the iconic Claremont Packing House, Gus’s is a tribute to Southern life, where family, tradition and celebration are of the utmost importance. A menu filled with traditional Southern cooking is complemented by an impressive range of whiskies, wines, cocktails and local craft beers. Today, Gus’s is a space for a warm welcome, a cold mint julep, and a big plate of the best flavors from the American South and Midwest.

Top review

jason

Dined 2 days ago

Always enjoy my time at Gus with my wife! Food is a hit every time!

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Popular dish

BBQ Brisket Tacos

Gus's BBQ - South Pasadena

4.6

4.6 (2037)

$30 and under

Barbecue

South Pasadena

About the restaurant

Since 1946, Gus’s has been serving the good folks of South Pasadena (and beyond!) true Southern hospitality and some of the best real pit BBQ around. Housed on historic Route 66, Gus’s is a tribute to Southern life, where family, tradition and celebration are of the utmost importance. A menu filled with traditional Southern cooking and authentic, wood-smoked BBQ is complemented by an impressive range of whiskies, wines, cocktails and local craft beers. Today, Gus’s is a space for a warm welcome, a cold mint julep, and a big plate of the best flavors from the American South and Midwest. You’ll leave knowing exactly why Gus’s food has been hailed, “….so good that we found ourselves eating more than we’d imagined” by S. Irene Virbila, Los Angeles Times and was named one of the top 10 BBQ restaurants on the west coast by Sunset Magazine.

Top review

alex

Dined 1 day ago

First time here and was not disappointed. Had the fried chicken and brisket which were seasoned perfectly. The smoke on the brisket was amazing. Will definitely be back.

Maple Block Barbecue

4.3

4.3 (211)

$30 and under

Barbecue

Culver City

About the restaurant

Maple Block Meat Co. is a tribute to the craftsmanship of butchering, smoking and grilling meat, paying respect to the deep-rooted traditions of American barbecue. Located on Sepulveda Blvd between Venice and Washington Place in Culver City, Maple Block Meat Co. specializes in authentic, wood-smoked meats prepared with the classic technique of smoking with whole peach wood and incorporating a variety of subtle flavor profiles that we love. Guests can expect a familial casual atmosphere, friendly attentive service, seasonal menu based on the traditions of American barbecue and a bar featuring craft beers, interesting wines and handmade sodas.

Top review

Mel

Dined 2 days ago

Meat dishes were very flavorful but the “lean” instructions were problematic. Some of the slices were lean but others were fatty. We asked them to try again but received pushback from the kitchen. “This IS lean.” We complained to the wait staff with much better results. Sides were good to outstanding. Service friendly and helpful but we had to ask multiple times for extra napkins and never got salt, which would have helped one of the vegetable dishes. We were able to get a small portion of BBQ sauce although it seemed (without being obvious) as though they took it as a bit of an insult. Maybe the salt as well. I get that but the customer is always right, eh?

Gus's BBQ - Porter Ranch

4.6

4.6 (941)

$30 and under

Barbecue

Northridge

About the restaurant

Since 1946, Gus’s has been serving true Southern hospitality and some of the best real pit BBQ around. The third Guss location makes its home in The Vineyards, one of Los Angeles premier lifestyle centers offering world class entertainment, dining and shopping. A menu filled with traditional Southern cooking is complemented by an impressive range of whiskies, wines, cocktails and local craft beers. Guss is a tribute to Southern life, where family, tradition and celebration are of the utmost importance.

Top review

Steven

Dined 1 day ago

Great pulled pork sandwich. I thought servers were very fast and did a great job taking care of us.

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Craft by Smoke and Fire - Pasadena

4.1

4.1 (640)

$30 and under

Barbecue

Pasadena

About the restaurant

At Craft by Smoke and Fire, we see ourselves as more than a restaurant; our mission is to be a cornerstone in the community. A place where you can find great food made by great people. Craft by Smoke and Fire offers an emotional souvenir in every dish. Craft dishes, Craft cocktails and great entertainment. We don't just feed the body; we focus on the soul. Please note to serve more families in our community, every party has one hour and a half to dine at the table. Thank you again for choosing Craft by Smoke and Fire Pasadena

Top review

Vikki

Dined on 10 Nov 2024

Our food was delicious! The tables around us needed to be bussed. Many dirty dishes left for up to 20 minutes after customers left. Our waitress was attentive but needed to ask for refill. Overall we will probably return.

Sauced BBQ and Spirits El Segundo

4.1

4.1 (258)

$30 and under

Barbecue

El Segundo

About the restaurant

Authentic, southern BBQ with Axe Throwing, Shuffleboard and Bocce Ball. Warm up with one of our amazing whiskeys, house brews, or fancy craft cocktails and finish off the night with a rack of slow smoked St. Louis style ribs or some of our tasty brisket.

Top review

Jamesvip

Dined on 23 Nov 2024

Good barbecue. Good sauces. Decent sides. I’ve cold beer.

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Experience

Sippin' Santa at Sauced

Craft by Smoke and Fire - Arcadia

4.4

4.4 (374)

$30 and under

Barbecue

Arcadia

About the restaurant

Top review

Steven

Dined on 15 Nov 2024

Cool atmosphere and unique menu items. Very attentive

Craft by Smoke and Fire - LA Live

3.5

3.5 (21)

$30 and under

Barbecue

Downtown

About the restaurant

Top review

Garcia

Dined on 20 Oct 2024

Waitress took forever and restaurant was empty. We didn’t even eat , we left before she could ask us what we wanted to drink. That’s how long she took

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