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    Aptos St BBQ

    4.2 (2k reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Aptos St BBQ Takeout or Delivery

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    Business Info

    APTOS ST BBQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Aptos St BBQ

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    "Mini" plate of pulled pork, macaroni, corn bread
    Annie T.

    Aptos Street BBQ is DA BOMB DIGGITY!!! If you like BBQ, this is the real deal. It has meat that is tender and smoky; there is homemade BBQ sauce; there is live Blues music (some days); there is fantastic local beer on tap; and fancy soda. It's a seat-yourself and clear-your-own-dishes kind of place, but that feels right for a true BBQ place. They have wet wipes and lots of napkins at the counter because you'll need them. Prices can be a little steep for the bigger plates because of the cost of meat, but I get the "mini" plates that come with smaller portions of meat, one side (your choice), and bread (your choice of corn bread or garlic bread). If you're lucky, they may remember to give you a little chocolate in your tray. (They don't always do this, for some reason - sigh.) The only downside is parking isn't the best here. It's street parking, but I've never had an issue.

    Brisket Baked Potato (sour cream on the side)
    Andrea D.

    I'm from the Los Angeles area, closer to Long Beach, and I have no good local BBQ spots that I've found for myself yet. This place is always so delicious and such a treat for me when I come up to visit the Santa Cruz area. My go to is the Baked Potato with brisket and I get the sour cream on the side. One of the best baked potato's I've ever had! The service is always nice. You order at the register and wait for them to call your name when your order is ready. It's a very classic looking BBQ spot and they have live music some nights. It's always very clean but I've heard it can get super super busy during certain times of the day. I'd definitely check it out if you're in the area :)

    Live music daily 6-8pm plus 1-4 Sat
    Scott F.

    This location is part of a chain that also includes Mission St BBQ. 4/5: Brisket is OK but a bit too salty, and not enough smoke flavor. It came room temp. 4/5: White mac n cheese pretty good 3/5: Cornbread They have live music daily 6-8 pm. It's a little over amped but OK.

    Beef Brisket Mini Meal
    Winston L.

    We had spent most of the day hiking and arrived a bit late to Aptos St Barbecue. Arrived at around 7:45 PM on a Sunday to a pretty busy restaurant with a band playing. We waited in line to place our food order. They were out of some meats including Beef Ribs. Even the pork ribs, we had to negotiate with the cashier. We asked for a full rack, they countered with 4 ribs, and then we finally landed on a half rack. By the time we ordered, the band was wrapping up since their set ended at 8 PM. The food: Pork ribs - tender, but not fall of the bone Brisket - medium slices from the flat - nice flavor and texture Mac & Cheese - my favorite of the sides - good cheese flavor with al dente pasta The other items were fine - coleslaw, potato salad, garlic bread, corn bread. Worth noting, the corn bread is a sliced of corn bread (not a muffin). We also got some pulled pork, but that was a bit too dry for my liking. My advice - definitely get there earlier in the day so you don't miss out on the meat that you want. Everything is self-serve including ordering, getting food, and bussing your table.

    Susie C.

    The best BBQ place you will ever be!!! The food is delicious and the brisket is not dry at all, they have live music and a new side that is sausage with jalapeno. The place is really pretty and they serve your food quite quickly. They have artesanal beers which is nice! They have seating inside and outside of the restaurant. Will be coming back!

    Tri Tip Sandwich
    Joyce Z.

    I never thought I would find a tri tip sandwich I would like better than Firestone in SLO but I did at Aptos St. BBQ during the summer. The sandwich upgraded to a large for an additional $6 is loaded with tender meat sandwiched in between garlic bread is so flavorful on its own without the need to add BBQ sauce, which is rare. You can have the meats in a sandwich with one side or a meal with two sides and a choice of bread. We did one of each, large tri tip sandwich with Mac n cheese and regular brisket meal with baked potato (for an additional $3), beans and cornbread. Although they are known for their brisket, I fell in love with their tri tip. The sides were just okay, but it really is the meat that you're here for. Just be prepared that the tri-tip does sell out, even before dinner as we discovered recently.

    Allison C.

    Knew in advance I would be traveling through the area and after looking into a few places, I knew Aptos St BBQ was where I would be stopping for lunch and I am so glad I made the decision. The tri tip sandwich was exactly what I was looking for on that chilly afternoon - the garlic bread it was served on, the bbq sauce, and the tender meat was the perfect pairing. I ordered a side of mac n cheese which was super creamy and garlicky and also so so good. A really great menu of options that I had a hard time choosing what to get - the woman at the register was friendly and helpful when answering any of my questions and making recommendations. Lots of soda and beers on tap as well for those who are into that. The food came out quickly and was reasonably priced for the quality. The space itself is very casual and there was also a good amount of outside seating, though it had rained overnight so the seating was wet but on a nice day I can see how eating outside would be lovely. I would definitely come back if I ever pass through Aptos again and would be a regular customer if this were local to me.

    Yessenia G.

    I stop by Aptos BBQ whenever I'm headed to Santa Cruz. Aptos is at the top of my list for brisket. I've been here at least 6 times. I will say I'm not a big fan of the sides but the brisket makes up for it. Once in a while we get lucky and get live music. Service is quick and friendly. Enough seating inside and outside.

    Brisket Meal
    Paulette D.

    Considering the reviews, I thought this place would be better. Got the brisket meal with the potato salad, beans, and cornbread. The brisket was too fatty, meat was tender but with all the fat there wasn't enough meat to enjoy. The sides were just ok, beans had a spice to it and the potato salad was average. The pickled cucumber and onion were good but minimal portion. The cornbread did not have any flavor. It's a crispy thing and that's pretty much it. I feel like they gave the honey and butter to give it something but that really shouldn't carry the flavor, it should enhance it.. The staff were nice and the food didn't take long to get at least. They also have an outdoor section if inside is too crowded or you want to step out from the live music (they had that when we were there)

    Brisket
    April W.

    Brisket was beautiful, good flavor, great smoke ring, very tender and juicy. Coleslaw is more vinegar based which is how I like it.

    Brisket, Mac and Cheese
    Christine S.

    Came in around 6:30 on a weeknight and it was pretty crowded, but we were still able to snag a table. Great BBQ. We really enjoyed the ribs and the mac and cheese. My nephew highly recommends adding BBQ sauce to the mac and cheese (his idea, not mine ).

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    1 year ago

    The food is amazing, beer cold, service is spot on. Be a good person and go here for BBQ. Spend your hard earned money!

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Our go-to for whenever we are in Aptos. The 2-meat combo is always enough food for two to share. Amazing beer selection too.

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    7 months ago

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    10 months ago

    The brisket is to die for! It's a good thing I don't live closer. I'd go broke eating there.

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    1 year ago

    Great food little over priced for what you get . But the food was good and the desert just not worth the price.

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    1 year ago

    One of the best BBQ spots in NorCal and reasonably priced. Excellent breakfast tacos!!

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    Ask the Community - Aptos St BBQ

    Do you use a delivery service?

    Yes, we use Door Dash. You can either order straight through the Door Dash app or you can order online through our website aptosstbbq.com! Please let me know if you have any other questions!… 

    Where is their meat sourced from? Is it grass fed?

    The animals eat the foods.

    Will you be open on Monday Jan 21 for the holiday, celebrating my 56th bday?

    Yes

    Do they smoke their meats?

    Yes!

    Do they have any gluten free options?

    I can confirm that everything outside the bread, berry cobbler, and bread pudding is gluten free.

    Are dogs allowed?

    Yes, outside only...with limited tables.

    View All 7 Questions

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    Chunk’s Sandwiches

    4.4
    (144 reviews)
    3.9 mi
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    Family-owned & operated

    This place is gold. We stumbled upon it looking for a good sandwhich spot and success! Both had…read moreturkey, bacon, cheese with pesto Mayo. Delicious! The inside is small with a few table, a few tables outside as well. A drink fridge and chip options. The service was wonderful. Very nice and accommodating. My site is terrible and the young lady at the register was very helpful. We will definitely be back!

    The sandwiches here are pretty fresh, tasty and a good value. Order at the counter & they'll bring…read moreyour order to your table when ready. Indoor and outdoor seating available. * BTO sandwich - Choice of protein, cheese, bread, and standard condiments and fixings. We ordered grilled chicken, Swiss cheese on toasted sourdough with a garlic Mayo and tomato and lettuce. (They threw in slices red onions even though we said no onions.) Chicken chunks were nicely grilled and tasty. Would have liked a more noticeable toast on the sourdough. * Reuben - Generous portion of pastrami, melty Swiss, sauerkraut on a rye bun. Good flavor and filling was nice and hot, but again would have liked a more noticeable toast on the rye bread and it would have made it nearly perfect. Service was friendly, but our order took a while as they had a late lunch crowd and apparently they only have one grill so hot sando orders can back up and make things slow. Overall good food and value.

    Photos
    This grilled chicken salad  is serious business.
    This grilled chicken salad is serious business.
    The Reuben of your dreams...
    The Reuben of your dreams...
    The Drayton. Freshly grilled chicken breast, shaved ham, grilled pineapple, Swiss cheese, and red onion all nestled in a toasted baguette.

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    The Drayton. Freshly grilled chicken breast, shaved ham, grilled pineapple, Swiss cheese, and red onion all nestled in a toasted baguette.
    The Hideout

    The Hideout

    4.2
    (843 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    Great Food, Great Service & a Manager Who Actually Says Hello!…read more Loved this place! My bride and I had a fantastic experience from the moment we walked in. This restaurant has an incredible indoor and outdoor space, a great menu, and an atmosphere that somehow manages to be both chill and professional. You'll find a wonderfully diverse crowd here, and everyone seems to fit right in. Now, let's talk about the food! I highly recommend the meatballs--they were fantastic! And the garlic bread? Fabulous. Honestly, I could have made a meal out of the bread alone, but I exercised some restraint...because I'm an adult. My bride ordered the hamburger, and she loved it. The salads were excellent, the bread was outstanding, and the dessert selection was enough to make someone suddenly forget they were "too full for dessert." Our server was incredible--attentive, friendly, and genuinely welcoming. And then, as if the experience couldn't get any better, the manager actually came out and welcomed us! You don't find that everywhere. That personal touch says a lot about how this place approaches hospitality. Everything was clean, the service was excellent, the food was delicious, and the ambiance made us want to hang around longer than we probably should have. One warning: Parking can be a bit of a challenge. But trust me, this is one of those places where you circle the parking lot a few times and say, "Lord, give me a parking space!" Yelp Elite verdict: Absolutely worth the hassle! Great food. Great people. Great atmosphere. Great service. And apparently, great managers who actually come out to meet their guests. My bride and I will definitely be back! #YelpElite #FoodieFind #DateNight #GreatFood #GreatService #Meatballs #GarlicBread #DessertLovers #RestaurantReview #WorthTheHassle #FoodAndFun #FiveStars

    Really enjoyed our first visit to The Hideout! We had the fried chicken sandwich with sweet potato…read morefries and the prime rib. The sandwich was delicious, and the chipotle aioli was especially good--creamy, flavorful, and one of the better ones I've had. The sweet potato fries were crispy. My partner really enjoyed the prime rib, and the portion was large enough for leftovers. Service was quick, attentive, and friendly. We sat outside with our pups, which we appreciated. The only suggestion would be to update the patio layout a bit. Our table was directly across from the waiting area, so it felt like we had very little privacy while people waited. Other than that, we had a great experience and would definitely come back.

    Photos
    Indoor dining area
    Indoor dining area
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    Brussels w/ Bacon ($18)

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    Aptos St BBQ - bbq - Updated August 2026

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