Who doesn't love a little nostalgia? The Kodiak Special is where it's at…read more I've been seeing more negative reviews lately, and honestly, I just can't relate. This place has been serving great BBQ long before every trendy social media food craze came along. If you appreciate history, tradition, and supporting a longtime local business, this is the place for you. If it's not your style, that's fine--just move on instead of leaving bitter reviews. I'd absolutely recommend this place to friends, family, and anyone looking for old-school BBQ done right. The service has always been friendly and consistent. Don't forget to ask for the relish tray. Love that special treat....

Bear pit has been in Mission Hills forever and it's always delicious, service is great and the…read moreatmosphere is nostalgic and so welcoming It's great bbq Hope you enjoy it !

I came there for lunch and been there many times. The food never disappoint and one of the best bbq…read morein the area. I like the Baby Back Ribs which taste really great and meat was good, very tender too. So nice in every bite. The Mac N cheese was well-cooked and so cheesy. Perfect with the bbq. The portion size was good and very reasonable price. Quick service. The food served while still warm.

Gosh, I love this place.. I mean, all bbq places nowadays are extremely expensive, but I feel like…read moreyou get a decent amount of food here. They have outdoor seating only.. the inside is just for ordering and they do have a restroom available. The service is always just whatever, but they're never rude, so it's fine. The bbq itself is amazing. I definitely recommend stopping by if you're ever in the atea. It's also never crowded, which is great.. to me, at least.

I ordered off Uber Eats and the food is very PRICEY!…read more However... Beef ribs: 10/10 SO damn good. Definitely the star of the entire order. Chili beans: 10/10 Also really good. No complaints! Baked beans: Honestly, it's pretty hard to mess up baked beans. Very standard, traditional baked beans, good. Potato wedges: 8/10 Also kind of hard to mess up potato wedges unless they're undercooked or overcooked. They were seasoned too. So pretty standard tasting Mac & cheese: 3/10 I'm from the South, so there's just a certain baseline I reference when it comes to mac & cheese, and unfortunately this wasn't it for me. I would never order the mac again. Cornbread: 10/10 Southern girl approved!!! Collard greens: 4/10 Not a slither of seasoning but I got them together myself. Fish: The fish is actually why I ordered in the first place because I was craving some fried catfish. On Uber Eats, it just said "fish of the day," and I assumed it was catfish. It was, in fact, NOT catfish. I'm not sure what type of fish it was, but it tasted more prepackaged like something you would get out of the frozen section at the grocery store vs. freshly prepared, so I was a little bummed about that. It didn't taste bad, but I probably wouldn't order it again. I was also extremely disappointed by the portion sizes of the sides. They are VERY small, especially considering the prices. I would definitely keep that in mind before ordering extra or individual sides. I still gave them 5 stars because those ribs were so damn good that they made up for everything else. I'd absolutely order the ribs again!

I have been wanting to try the bbq here for some time now and I finally got the opportunity to do…read moreso. Big Pops is accommodating to dine in and take out but I will say it can get quite warm in there as you are eating which for me it was they do however have two tower fans for the guests when it gets hot but it was just me in there and so it was off but still I run hot and I was starting to warm up while eating. With that being said I think the service for what is worth wasn't too bad. This place is nice and decorated and very quiet other than the radio playing in the back ground for the cooks. There are a few tables inside that can seat about maybe 10-12 max and they do have a drink fridge for you to choose what drinks to get. The person helping me out was very quiet didn't ask me if it was my first time or anything like that maybe just the hello and such but he was polite but just not welcoming I suppose. Since it was my first time I didn't know what to get and I think it's my fault for sure for not asking more and engaging on what I should get because I only asked like one question about the Tri tip plate and stuff but I ended up getting that and I will say it's quite a bit of food but at the same time it can get pricey I paid about & $29 for the plate with tip ended up being $34 in total. It's about what you would expect from a barbecue place. So with the plate or any plate as show on the menu, you do get a small side of fries, a piece of corn bread and a small side. The small sides are about $2.99 for and as shown in my picture they are that small like a tiny ramekin like double or triple the size of what you get from a sample from Costco. So the fries are fries nothing special about them but they were fried well and it had a nice crisp outside when you bite into it and the inside was cooked right. The corn bread was spectacular in my opinion! It was moist and flavorful with every bite! I used it to dip into my Tri tip plate because of the sauce and it was great! The Mac and cheese I will say was ok. Barely any flavor and it honestly reminded me of getting Mac and cheese from the grocery store hot deli like Ralph's and Vons because the consistency and texture of it really felt like it was made the same way and flavor wise as well because there as no flavor now with that being said I will say maybe my tastebuds were already saturated and nuked by the sauce from the Tri tip (which I'll get to a moment) and I couldn't appreciate the Mac and cheese as well or tell if it was salted or peppered or something. But to me it was pretty bland Mac and cheese like I wouldn't pay for it as my side. Now I will say that's the only side I got I didn't buy the others which I regret because maybe those sides were the ones you should be eating like the baked beans or collard greens which is the more essential sides of any barbecue eatery. So definitely the Mac and cheese was a miss for me and next time I'll get the other sides instead. Now the main course which is the Tri tip. I loved the Tri tip it was nice and tender and you get about 10 ounces and in the photo I have it's a lot! But I will say this, there are people who love wet barbecue and dry barbecue I'm a person who loves the dry barbecue as in only into dry rub and stuff I dont mind saucy meat but an over abundance of sauce just ruins it for me and this was the case for my Tri tip. In my photo you can definitely see that it is heavily drenched in their barbecue sauce which by the way is very flavorful no doubt about it! But it was so sweet and so saucy also it wasnt spicy as I had the option to choose from regular or spicy but there was no indication of spiciness at all. Like maybe I'm just used to spicy food but whatever is meant to make that spicy didn't really shine out and that was a big disappointment. I'm not really into sweet foods which most barbecue sauces are sweet or very vinegary based. This is very sweet and very acidic like my mouth was nuked. But the Tri tip itself was amazing! But my plate had too much sauce and it was too sweet and vinegary like I could swim in the sauce is how saucy it was. No matter how I felt about my saucy Tri tips that's how you're supposed to eat it as is because that's how they made it and it would be a disservice to do so differently. With that being said over all the food was great except for the bland Mac and cheese and heavily sweetened barbecue sauce all over my Tri tip other than that it was great.. Again if you're not into eating super saucy barbecue or you're a dry rub type of barbecue eater like me then I would warn you again that it gets saucy here hahaha at least for my plate. I'm still gonna come back because I'd like to try their other stuff and also it's a local business and helping support them and any other local business is great! So for me it's 4 stars out of 5! Thank you again! :)

Smoky brisket is so delicious for a Friday night fun…read more Got myself 2 lbs of brisket, and just went to town on this juicy, tender meat. It melts in my mouth. Amazing! Come try this juicy brisket cooked Texas style.

My family and I had been looking for a good BBQ restaurant in the Valley and came across Bludso's…read morein Van Nuys -Take out only. We were genuinely excited to find a BBQ spot we enjoyed, and for a while, we were happy customers. Unfortunately, over time, our experience became increasingly disappointing, particularly when it came to the size and consistency of the ribs. The first couple of times we ordered, the ribs looked like a standard, reasonable portion. But on our later visits, we noticed that the ribs appeared noticeably smaller. It wasn't just a one-time observation; after seeing the difference several times, we decided to call and ask about it. We weren't looking for anything unreasonable, we simply wanted an explanation and some consistency in what we were paying for. We were told, "Sorry, we'll have our manager get back to you." We appreciated that someone would supposedly follow up, so we gave them the benefit of the doubt. It has now been a couple of months, and we have never received a call, email, or any kind of follow-up. That part is honestly just as disappointing as the portion issue. Bludso's prices are high, and when you're paying premium prices for BBQ, you expect the quality and portions to be consistent. We understand that food costs, labor, and operating a restaurant are expensive, we're not expecting bargain prices. But when a restaurant charges what Bludso's charges, customers have every right to expect that the portions will be consistent and that legitimate concerns will be taken seriously. In a time when the cost of everything continues to rise and people have to think carefully about where they spend their money, spending more at a restaurant should come with the expectation of getting a quality experience. If we're willing to pay higher prices, we expect the food and customer service to reflect that. What really sealed the deal for us was that we actually tried to address the issue directly. We didn't immediately leave a negative review or complain online. We called the restaurant, explained our concern, and gave them an opportunity to respond. Unfortunately, the fact that nobody ever bothered to follow up after promising that a manager would contact us left us feeling like our business and feedback simply weren't important. We enjoyed Bludso's when we first discovered it, which makes this even more disappointing. But there are plenty of BBQ options out there, and at these prices, we don't feel there's a reason to continue spending our money somewhere that doesn't provide consistency or follow through with its customers. We tried. We gave them multiple chances. We reached out and gave them an opportunity to make it right. Unfortunately, we've moved on. No more Bludso's for us.

BEST BBQ I'VE EVER HAD! Service was quick, establishment…read morefelt very inviting and customer service was great. I asked the customer in back of me if he'd been coming to this establishment since he was a kid and highly suggested the beef ribs, so I ordered them. The pie was delicious 10/10. The meats were incredible 10/10. The sauces 10/10 and you can actually taste the heat in spicy bbq sauce. The sides were on the sweet side but they were fantastic 10/10. If you're ever in the mood for some amazing bbq and your in town I highly recommend this spot.

Got a sampler platter to go and the service was fine, but putting all the pieces together I'll say…read morefrom the start, this place's atmosphere exudes the kind of authenticity that makes me regret not getting a table in their dining room. However old it is, it looks and feels like a memento from simpler times. Framed posters and photos that have been there for decades. No frills and no need for them. Considering what we got, it was fairly priced. For about $42(including tax) we got a decent sized portion of brisket, two hot links and 1/4 rack of baby backs with sides of baked beans and French fries. And, of course, their bbq sauce and house bread (kind of like a cheaper version of Parker House rolls), which were both really tasty. The sauce was tangy and sweet but not cloying. The bread was way better than the standard white loaf you'd usually get. Both were great compliments to the food. The brisket was good. No fat. Perfectly tender. Good flavor. The hot links were good, too. Well-seasoned. Great snap. The ribs, however, were forgettable. Tasted slightly stale. All in all, their food is pretty good, but I have to imagine their ambiance makes it taste a little better with some friends and a few beers. Definitely worth a try.

I really enjoyed the food at this restaurant. It was fresh and very tasty.. reminiscent of a really…read moregood home-cooked meal.

Hopefully the owner of the place reads this. But I went at 2:15 May 23rd because I wanted a Kebob…read morePlate, but had my dog with me intending to sit outside. His two employees were sitting at the only table outside smoking and told me I couldn't take my dog inside and wouldn't give up the table. So I left and went next door to Daniel's taco and spent my money. By the way, no one was manning the order counter, no one was inside, no one was coming and they literally drove me off with my dog when they were taking up the only patio seating smoking and could have made the sale. You have two employees who are rude and doing more to lose you money than make you money. Obviously your location is suffering, so why are you turning away business you easily could have accommodated. Rude.

Ribeye Steak People working there are awesome…read more Guilty. I'm a regular get something almost every time drive by

Went to the original location and found out it was closed. Sign on the door said they're located…read morecloser to my house happens to be by the Ralphs that I go to every time I need food walked in and there was somebody in front of me so I waited a minute and they came right over. This is a grill so they also cook food there and you can eat inside nice clean interior black-and-white I don't remember anything standing out about the place except for the outside sign that says chop shop. I got a ribeye and a pound of pork belly. The pork belly I turned into Chicharron. The ribeye I seared on both sides and cooked for three minutes each side. It came out, medium rare to rare and was super delicious. I will go back to this place next time. I got a hankering for a fancy steak. They got tomahawks and Wagyu ribeyes.

The best BBQ. The breakfast sandwich is awesome. Looking…read moreforward to my Rib Tips for dinner. Thanks Jagger.

Got to sample some of the tasty, Cuban-inspired BBQ from Nia & Jags at the Global Grill Festival in…read moreNorthridge. The friendly duo of ladies (I'm assuming they were the titular Nia & Jags) greeted me with smiles and friendly conversation, and quickly served up the sample I was meant to get as part of my package "Passport Deal." This was a small bite of Cuban pulled pork on a bed of pita chips. The pork was tender and very juicy without being fatty at all. Yes, the meat was juicy and lean, so these folks must be doing something right in the kitchen. The flavor itself was distinctly Cuban, with Caribbean spices and a bright, citrusy burst that provided a welcome contrast to the rest of the American-style smoked meats at the festival. The pita chips, while not homemade, also provided a welcome change from the standard breads and tortillas served at the other booths. Though I didn't get to sample the rest of their wares, now that I'm well-aware of their names, I'll be looking for Nia & Jags at other events so I can taste what else they're cooking up... I'm gonna go ahead and assume it'll be just as good. I mean, juicy AND lean? That ain't easy!

It was a Sunday a little after 5 PM, and I was starving. My husband said he'd meet me at Wood…read moreRanch. When I got there there were people waiting outside people waiting inside. I was afraid there was going to be a super long wait. They quoted me 10-15 minutes and internally I groaned, thinking there is no way this is gonna be just 10-15 minutes. We were seated within 15 minutes, our server was super welcoming and nice even though we just wanted to share one plate. We got the four piece, beef ribs with the peanut slaw and mashed sweet potato, and we added a salad. Good thing they had rolls for us to nibble on while we waited for our food,... I chowed one down in three seconds flat. And honestly, our food came so quick, I didn't need to worry. We were right around the bar area, so I don't know if the rest of the restaurant was as loud as it was near us. Even so, I had no problem hearing my husband from across the table. So all in all, it was a great dinner! We wondered if they would charge us a split plate fee, but they did not. We were very happy about that. And even splitting the plate, we could not finish everything... We'll have to go back again to try out their desserts!

We stopped by Wood Ranch for lunch on a weekend. We came in around 1pm and were seated immediately…read moreby the host. This eatery was busy yet not congested. There were only 2 families with bigger parties in the waiting area when we arrived. As the host takes us to our booth we noticed all the booths and dining seats were occupied. Excellent customer service by Junior. Thank you Junior. We informed him our child has peanut and tree nut food allergies. He made sure to inform the kitchen. Junior also checked on us several times, asked how we're doing and replenished our water. Our order was brought out within 15 to 20 minutes of ordering. Today's lunch order consisted of Wood Ranch Tri Tip with Mac & Cheese, Cheeseburger sliders and BBQ Chicken breast with fries. We were also given fresh garlic bread twice. It was good and fresh out of the oven. The BBQ chicken was flavorful and tender. It was not over cooked. The Tri Tip was medium rare just how my husband likes it. Mac & Cheese was not over saturated which he enjoyed. The Cheeseburger sliders were all tender and not over cooked. We look forward to dining at Wood Ranch Northridge again.