Now that Father’s Day is quickly approaching and California is loosening social distancing protocols, this holiday is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate dads over a great meal. Because we know all dads unanimously love BBQ, treat the special fathers in your life to grilled feasts, smoked meat platters and mouthwatering sides. Whether your old man prefers to dine at home with family or dine out to get the full experience, these BBQ joints have you covered. Below is a list of recommendations for the best BBQ in California!
Badlands BBQ
Badlands BBQ is a small restaurant serving up big flavors! It’s a fast-casual BBQ joint with counter-service offering Southern classics like baby back ribs, BBQ sandwiches, smoked meats and hearty sides. Serving big potions and tender meats that are bursting with flavor, its no wonder why it has become a local favorite.
Buckle And Boots
Buckle and Boots Watering Hole is Los Angeles County’s newest BBQ restaurant and bar with live country music, line dancing and yard games. Located in Lancaster, CA, make sure to arrive hungry and bring a few extra mouths to share its large BBQ family dinners. With a great atmosphere, fun specialty cocktails and delicious food, you are bound to have a great time!
Burgess Brothers Restaurant
Twin brothers, Jonathan and Matthew Burgess created their fast-casual burger restaurant with the goal of creating a specialty burger. With a unique blend of herbs and spices, they created their signature BBQ burger that led to a food truck and a food product line. Burgess Brother Restaurant has earned plenty of praise over the years, from Food & Beverage Magazine and Fox40. Today, they have expanded to sell cornbread mix, BBQ sauce, smoked sausages and cooked meals from their website and can be found in amusement parks in Southern California. Its feature items are some of the best burgers in California: grass-fed Angus burger, Smokehouse Burger with bacon cheese and Tactical Blue Burger with blue cheese bacon.
Cali Comfort BBQ
If you’re in San Diego, get ready for a mouth-watering BBQ! Cali Comfort BBQ is a laid-back sports bar and grill known for its slow-cooked food served fast. Its pitmasters smoke meats overnight in an Ole Hickory Smoker using aromatic California cooking woods over a live fire. You can order a Tailgater BBQ Feast or meats by the pound to feed the entire family with online ordering for pickup or delivery anytime in the San Diego area. Don’t forget the Wicked Peach Cobbler and Cali BBQ Cocktails-To-Go!
Fat City Brew & BBQ
Fat City Brew & BBQ is a hidden gem that brings St. Louis BBQ to you! Its lengthy menu of pub food and smoked meats has something for every regional BBQ fan from family meat plates to grilled sandwiches and a plethora of bbq sauces to choose from. Grab a craft beer for the full experience.
Felix’s BBQ With Soul
With four locations across Southern California, Felix’s BBQ With Soul’s brings Southern comfort food to your neighborhood. Combining soul food with BBQ, it keeps the regulars coming back with Louisiana-style okra, smoked tri-tips, baby back ribs, hot link sausages and PO-boy sandwiches. If you opt for catering options, expect heaps of slow-cooked meats!
Iron Pig Alehouse
Iron Pig Alehouse is an upscale Texas BBQ restaurant that serves straightforward meats and house-made sauces. The Meat Madness Platter gives you a taste of everything smoked! It includes baby back ribs, pulled chicken, pulled pork and includes Texas toast and family-style sides. For a taste of high-quality BBQ at home, check out its catering menu!
Jeffry’s Wine Country BBQ
Jeffrey’s Wine Country BBQ offers some of the best in wood fire smoked meat sandwiches and scratch-made sides from Award-Winning Chef Jeff Wiesinger. It offers a unique style of “wine country comfort food” paired with local wines and craft beer in a beautiful, relaxed outdoor courtyard setting. Its menu features dry rubbed smoked premium meats, including tri-tip, pulled pork, pork loin, beef brisket and vegetarian-friendly options served in freshly baked buns.
Phil’s BBQ
With three locations in San Diego, Phil’s BBQ has established itself as a local favorite. It lures fans with items like mesquite grilled baby back and beef ribs, chicken, and sandwiches all of which are seasoned with a top-secret BBQ rub and sauce. The sides are no afterthought either as homemade cornbread, loaded fries and onion rings are all excellent. It has been awarded “Best BBQ Catering” in San Diego year after year.
Sid’s Smokehouse
Sid’s Smokehouse prides itself on its “slow and low” Southern-style BBQ motto, cooking meats up to 12 hours each with local oak and almond wood. It believes BBQ should only be served with a dry rub and never sauced but welcomes guests to pour on the sauces as Sid’s makes all of its BBQ sauces. Alongside BBQ, they also serve wood fire pizza, Angus beef burgers, and a rotating selection of beer and wine from West Coast breweries.
Smokey & The Brisket
Smokey & The Brisket is all about the old-fashion techniques it uses to take its food to the next level. One taste and you’ll understand the pride it takes in proper spicing, texture and smoking techniques and how they translate to a fantastic flavor experience. Set in a vintage 1960s diner, you can enjoy seasoned ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and chicken specialties straight out of the in-house smoker while watching the latest car races.
Urban Roots Smokehouse
If you’re craving BBQ and a good beer, Urban Roots is the place for you! Located in Sacramento, CA, Urban Roots is an independent craft brewery and smokehouse that specializes in hearty BBQ fare and tasty beers, and provides a huge outdoor dining space with plenty of seating creating a great spot to hang out with friends and family.
