BBQ Food in Los Angeles.
I was recently reading an old issue of Sunset magazine, from last July as a matter of fact. The article that caught my eye was titled The West’s Best BBQ and it featured some of Los Angeles’ top BBQ restaurants. I was disturbed by the fact that I had been to most of these restaurants, but have only reviewed one thus far, Dr. Hogly Wogly’s. For this I apologize. But, how can a do an honest review of a BBQ restaurant without having been there recently. Plus, what good is a restaurant review with out current photography of the food? It’s gotta look as yummy as it sounds. If you can’t wait for my review of your favorite BBQ food in Los Angeles, here is a list of restaurants that I plan on visiting soon.
Phillip’s Bar-B-Que
4307 Leimert Blvd. Los Angeles
323-292-7613
Mr. Cecil’s California Ribs - BBQ Junkie Review
12244 W. Pico Blvd, West L.A.
310-442-1550
13625 Ventura Blvd. Sherman Oaks
818-905-8400
Woody’s Bar-B-Que
3446 Slauson Ave. Los Angeles
323-294-9443
Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill - BBQ Junkie Review
540 New Los Angeles Ave. Moorpark
805-523-7253
Web Site
Lucilles’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que
7411 Carson St. Long Beach
Web Site
Dr. Hogly Wogly’s Tyler Texas BBQ - BBQ Junkie Review
8136 Sepulveda Blvd. Van Nuys
818-780-6701
Web Site
By no means are these restaurants going to be the extent of this blog, but their BBQ food has earned them enough respect to move them up the list. If you have other BBQ Joints that you feel I should review or have recently visited one of the restaurants mentioned, let me know.
Have you ever tried JRs Barbeque? http://www.jrs-bbq.com/
They are located in Culver City, 3055 S. La Cienega Blvd. My favorite is their 1 pound rib tips at $7.75. Compared to Baby Blues, that’s a good price and it is good.
I might have to do that restaurant during the “7 In 7″. Thanks for the suggestion.
JR’s Barbeque was great, thanks for the suggestion. check out the review here… JR’s Barbeque review
BBQ Junkie
I gotta tell you about a couple BBQ places.
Jay Bees Avalon and the 91 Freeway. Great Memphis style ribs. Sauce is very good.
Bad to Da Bone BBQ. Century Blvd about a mile or so east of the 405 freeway. Take out ONLY. $11 gets you five meaty pieces of pork ribs, two sides, and dessert!!! Great stuff though the sauce is a little spicy for my tastes.
Every Fri and Sat, a Church on Avalon Blvd has a bbq. Take out only. The ribs and chicken are awesome. But the sauce is not good. Ask for it on the side or bring your favorite bottle of sauce.
If you want to make a trip and compare both the Church BBQ and Jay Bees, let’s do it. Both are within 2 miles of each other.
Mr. BBQ Lover, thanks for all of your posts. You have really offered some great suggestions. I really hate pre-applied sauce… especially when the sauce ain’t that good. I will let you know when I plan to review Jay Bees and/or the churches BBQ.
Here are the addys and phone numbers of the places I have posted about.
Prayer Assembley of God Church. BBQ
442 East El Segundo Blvd.
Los Angeles, Ca 90061
(310)523-2470
Sorry gave you wrong info. The church is on El Segundo Blvd but Avalon is the major cross street.
Jaybee’s BBQ
15915 S. Avalon Blvd
Los Angeles
310-515-9221
J&J Burger & Bar B Que
5754 Adams Blvd.
LA, CA 90016
323-934-5390
Bad 2 Da Bone
4565 W. Century Blvd.
LA CA 90304
(310) 671-6600
Benny’s Bar B Q
4077 Lincoln Blvd
Marina del Ray, CA 90292
(310) 821 6939
Have you tried or heard of the following:
Grandpa Fred’s Bar-b-que
21040 Victory Blvd.
Woodland Hills, 91367
818-593-4269
Heard they do not serve pork at all.
Zeke’s:
2209 Honolulu Ave.
Montrose, CA
(818) 957-7045
I think they opened a second location.
Some co-workers and I found a great new BBQ spot in downtown LA (actually in China Town!)
Spring Street Smokehouse
640 North Spring Street
Downtown LA
213-626-0535
Everything is smoked, even the pasta, and the sauce is to die for! Although the inside is a little quirky the food is worth the stop. Next time you are in downtown give this place a try.
After reading great reviews on “Zeke’s”, I recently visited the location in Montrose. The beef brisket sandwich was not bad for $10 (with one side) and was flavorable. The long-horn beef ribs on the other hand were a huge let down and quite honestly should be renamed to Long-Bone. I even asked the waitress “is there a lot of beef” and after many good comments on them from her, gave them a try. Here’s the deal, I don’t care how good of a barbeque you have, if there isn’t any beef on your ribs you suck! I’ve had far better ribs at Tony Romas in the way of having something to bite into and their sause is actually thick and not watery like Zeke’s. The ribs at Zeke’s were $18 (with two sides & a slice of texas toast) - a rip off considering there were no more than ten bites of beef and many bones.
If anyone knows what happened to Noonan’s on S. Western Ave. in LA, since 1948. I would appreciate a post. I just discovered your blog and find it very informative. In my opinion Noonan’s made the BEST BBQ pork ribs (outside of Chicago). Theirs were the leanest & best tasting I have ever eaten–& that’s a lot of tasting! . They sold only wholesale (& on their doorstep outside) to a few fine markets and also to a few restaurants.
As MrBBQLover said - The Church BBQ just plain ROCKS my world. However It is ONLY open Fridays and Saturdays. I often plan my week around this fact! Your tax dollars at work!
The Smokehouse, downtown, Is quite nice. The Owner is K-RAZY about his smoker, and with little interest shown, he’ll take you behind the counter for a tour. He ran a commercial kitchen for years and dreamt of running a really BBQ restruant. When he found this smoker unit for sale, it made up his mind to make the change. Got to love folks that show the passion for the real deal BBQ life!
OOH! While I’m at it, I gots another to share. Just love this place. True slow smoked over wood - NO STINKIN PAR BOILIN! Just good. Pops retired and went back east, but the family is continuing the tradition.
Business name The Rib Rack
Hours: Sun. & Mon Close Tues. - Thur. 11:00am to 8:00pm Fri. & Sat. 11:00am to 9:00pm
Phone: (818) 897-5128 (818) 897-5132
Specialties: Soul Food Pork/Beef Ribs, Bar-B-Que Chicken, Hot links, Fried Buffalo Chicken Wings
Web-Site/Address: none 10755 Glenoaks Blvd. Pacoima, CA. 91331
The Church is the spot ( i just happen to be 1st cousins with the main PIT dude, Jack) they start smokin at 4am ! on friday and the size of these pits is just crazy you can smoke CASES at a time and the RUB is the best youll find in LA , try the turkey necks !! just ask for no sauce on them have it on the side , they use a bit of the rub to season the sauce which takes away the slow cooked goodness of the necks . those necks and a Becks and its all over, lol
the best RIBS and chicken I think i ever had and i’ve been to alot of spots that serve up hard grissle with an attitude like “you better take it and smile” when ya take a bite and chew on it like jerky ya want to ask for your money back cuz you can do better yourself with and over and a broiler blindfolded . TIP if ya dont want to wait in the often longggg lines at the Church BBQ go early before 12 , lol and then 4:30 on fri and sat. they sell out , which is amazing considering the amount of food that is cooked people phone ahead huge orders and come to the side of the catering truck to pick up tray upon tray of the ribs
SWIFT is the brand they use , those that know pork know swift is the best when it comes to spareribs no parboil here folks these suckers are rubbed then allowed a lil time to take it in then its off to the pit to get smoked
to perfection ,SLOWLY
Did anyone ever try Original Barbecue on Eighth & Alvarado about 20 or more years ago. This was my first BBQ restaurant as a teen. The a coleslaw was to die for. The ribs were also awesome. But that coleslaw. What happened to them and does anyone know what was in that slaw?? It had an oil/vinegar/or lemon based dressing. Very simple but what the hell they put in there still haunts me to this day.
I tried to find a place in Los angeles area and not one place had Bar-b-q fried wing in assorted flavors.I travel everywhere and In the northeast and the southeast. they have fried chicken Tossed in any flavor of barb-q you can imagine. How is it possible that Cali out of all places doesn’t have one of these joints. Please let me know where, Cause I’m about open a resturant for the real Barbeque Junkies.
Benny’s is now known as B-B-Q, Co., but as far as I can tell everything’s the same. I found this place by the smell as I was driving down Lincoln. Personally I love it, though sometimes the ribs can be a bit tough. I’m no expert, but I love the beef sandwich, pork ribs and chicken. They deliver but not all the time. $5 for a sandwich, $10 for pork ribs long end. $2.50 for doggie scraps, mmmm.
B-B-Q, Co.
4077 Lincoln Blvd.
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
310-821-6939
My husband and I are big fans of the BBQ served by the church located on El Segundo Blvd, just west of Avalon. It’s located just on the border of Compton and Los Angeles. We think the sauce is great with the meat. I have not yet tried the turkey necks but I may after reading the review. I’ve been buying ribs there for years and I have yet to find out the name of the church so we always refer to it as “The Church of the Living BBQ” and everyone always knows which one we’re referring to.
This is to echo Sam Rose’s comment about Noonan’s ribs. I come from a long-time Los Angeles family and we still talk about them and wish we too knew any place that still makes them. We’ve never had anything that comes close.
Wally, you and I share the same Love, and that is Original BBQ’s cole slaw ! My folks would take us there on the weekends. I can’t believe that restaurant just vanished. The BBQ beef sandwiches and sauce were to die for as well. Thank you for asking the most burning question that haunts me as well, what was the dressing used in the slaw.
Still trying to get info on Noonan,s ribs S Western, LA
any word would be greatly appreciated
thanks for your great site………….
Still trying to get info on Noonan,s ribs S Western, LA
any word would be greatly appreciated
thanks for your great site………….
I also would like to know in Noonan’s ribs are available?
Any tips? Any markets?
Please advise
I am looking for Noonans bar b q. Your website came up. It said the best ribs outside of Chicago–my home town. I am looking for a bar b q caterer for a group of Chicagoans. I live in Palos Verdes.
Can you help.
Thanks
Ellen
I was just reminiscing about Noonan’s. I googled it and this website came up. I grew up around the corner from Noonan’s and the smells from that place…. oooh weeee!
Anyway, I’m going back over there soon, and I’ll let you know what I find out.