Diners' Choice: Barbecue restaurants in Los Angeles

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

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

Gus's BBQ - Porter Ranch

4.8

4.8 (985)

$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

Kimberly

Dined 6 days ago

We enjoyed our time at Gus’s bbq. We had a great booth for 5. Hosts were very welcoming and service people even through a shift change, were seamless. Food was super with great flavors. Bbq perfect. Wonderful complimentary sauces. They had very fun social drinks too!

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Gus's BBQ - South Pasadena

4.8

4.8 (2048)

$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

Jackson

Dined on May 24, 2025

Gus’s should be a household name. The cornbread was table-serviced and the pork sandwich made a delectable leftover!

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Popular dish

Rib Sandwich

Maple Block Barbecue

4.6

4.6 (234)

$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

TakehikoVIP

Dined on Apr 26, 2025

Always enjoy their Steak and Martini night. The steaks are always cooked to perfection. And, the collab w/ a vodka producer is great. Top-notch martinis

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Experience

Steak & Martini Night

Experience

Steak & Martini Night

Gus's BBQ - Claremont

4.6

4.6 (849)

$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

Jessie

Dined on May 18, 2025

Outstanding! In everyway….. Food was some of the best BBQ I’ve ever had Service was outstanding…. Food was brought out quickly and every dish looked amazing. Our server was incredibly attentive and friendly, ensuring that we all had what we needed and our drinks were refilled. She was very knowledgeable about the menu and made some excellent recommendations that we really enjoyed. One detail (among many others) that stood out to me right away was the quality and presentation of thier kids menu items. Gus’s BBQ is a place that makes you want to come back again and again. In fact we enjoyed it so much that we reserved a table for breakfast tomorrow. If you haven’t been to Gus’s BBQ I would encourage you to put it on the “bucket list”

Naples Rib Company

4.6

4.6 (1456)

$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

ScottVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Our server, Nick, did a great job! The food was great! We could do without the magician coming by the table.

Broken Spirits Distillery

4.2

4.2 (61)

$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

Jessica

Dined on May 3, 2025

I love this place! They have great happy hour and their food is delicious!

Cork and Batter Roadhouse - Simi Valley

4.2

4.2 (89)

$31 to $50

Barbecue

Simi Valley

About the restaurant

Cork & Batter Roadhouse is your new destination for modern Texas BBQ in Simi Valley. Led by Executive Chef Jimmy Weathersbee, our menu fuses slow-smoked classics with fresh, bold twists—think melt-in-your-mouth brisket, tender ribs, and creative cocktails. Enjoy the roadhouse vibe with vintage décor, live music, pool tables, and TVs for every big game. Whether you’re gathering with friends, hosting a family celebration, or just craving a hearty meal, we’ve got you covered. Come experience the warmth of genuine hospitality, the excitement of live entertainment, and the irresistible flavors of Texas BBQ reimagined for today’s diner. Reserve your table now and taste what makes Cork & Batter Roadhouse unlike any place around.

Top review

Greg

Dined 2 days ago

We were celebrating a birthday. Food was great, ambiance was great, prices are reasonable, they had run out of some stuff in the menu, it was a weekday, not a weekend. You expect them to have food. But overall, it was a good experience. We would definitely be back.

Craft by Smoke and Fire - Pasadena

4.1

4.1 (664)

$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

Reese

Dined 6 days ago

Server Brandy was great very friendly and attentive

Craft by Smoke and Fire - Arcadia

4.0

4 (385)

$30 and under

Barbecue

Arcadia

About the restaurant

Top review

lisaVIP

Dined on Apr 5, 2025

Scarllete Sky is the most amazing server! Very friendly and personable. She helped us with our picks from the menu and she was super sweet. She constantly came over to check on us to make sure we were ok. Kept our drinks refilled. She’s wonderful. Thank you!

Sauced BBQ and Spirits El Segundo

4.2

4.2 (272)

$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

Kathya

Dined on Jun 1, 2025

Great server, very attentive. The location was great and the amenities were so much fun.

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