Bridget is amazing She's the reason I'm coming back. Great personality, really takes care of her customers, even though this is my first visit. read more

A delicious dineLA meal! For $25 you can get 2 meats and 2 sides. Everything was delicious and the portion was pretty big- we had leftovers. read more

Bludso's BBQ - Dine LA special- brisket, burnt ends, pastrami, and pork ribs with coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, and Mac n cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

You get James Beard awarding winning bbq at pit master Kevin Bludso's place. Love the family and historical photos on the walls and menu. Vegetarians, choices are limited but they do have smoked jack fruit. Excellent service from German P. One sauce per orders he offered both regular and spicy. Nice inside, good for groups. TVs showed sports but are muted. Came for DineLA lunch, a great deal for 2 proteins, 2 sides and corn bread. It was so much food. PORK RIBS - excellent, meat falls off the bone BRISKET- looked like had fatty not lean piece. Underseasoned, do not recommend PULLED PORK - thumbs up! Moist, smoky COLLARD GREENS - with pulled pork. Very good MAC N CHEESE - not good, pasta was overcooked, room temperature CORN BREAD with Honey Butter - absolutely delicious! Really appreciate their very big parking lot, some with tandem spaces. Would definitely come back for pulled pork, ribs, try other stuff like banana pudding. read more

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Came here after a soccer match. We called in and they said they could take a party of 16. The hostess was super nice. We waited an additional 15 min which was not bad for such a big party especially last minute. We sat down and the waitress took our drink orders. The drinks took a while to come out, and that was fine, but the rest of our party still had missing. Drinks. We were disappointed that sandwiches are only served in the weekday. That a was a big letdown for these soccer boys. We ordered the 3 meat combos and two meat combos. The only juicy meat was the brisket. The ribs were over cooked and dry. Disappointed that they don't give you BBQ sauce in the table, the spicy one was good, the other was not. The sausage was a good size, but even that was a bit dry. The flavor was there and had a good kick, but again dry. The husband and friends liked the beans, Mac and coleslaw. I actually thought the coleslaw was great, still had a good crunch in every bite and flavorful. The service, was bad, but I don't think it was the waitresses fault. It looked she was the only one there. She brought the food, the drinks, and checked on us, but dishes were still forgotten. The cornbread ( which was amazing, and we purchased more to go), and fries, and drinks. We just could not find her, cause she was helping others. I don't think I would come back for their combos, but maybe a sandwich if they bring them out on the weekends! Overall clean restaurant, friendly atmosphere, just need some quality control on the ribs and sausages, cause the flavor is there, but nobody wants to pay those prices for dry meat. read more

My friends and I came here over the weekend to celebrate one of their birthday. They were craving American BBQ so we choose this place because the pictures looks amazing. I made reservations ahead of time off Yelp for a party of 4. I got a reminder email and text to confirm my reservation. We were lucky to find parking in the back lot because it's limited and was almost filled up. We arrived early to the restaurant but they were still able to sit us. We decided to go with the Bludso tray that is meant for 10 people. We also order a side of fries which was very good, the level of seasoning was amazing and the taste was my favorite part. The Bludso Tray came out quick and it was a lot of meat. I like the brisket with the spicy bbq sauce, whole chicken was perfectly marinated, the ribs and tips were amazing and the Texas red hot sausages was delicious. I only tried the mac and cheese from the side, which I thought was okay. The rest of the sides like potatoes salad, slaw greens and bean my friends like. They give you a lot of cornbread and pickle which we didn't even eat much. So we had a lot of boxes for to go because we couldn't finish the tray meat either. The customer service here was amazing and I would recommend this place. read more

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We were in the area for a dentist appointment and still had time on the meter, so we popped in for lunch since it was the next block over. No wait right at opening. Little guy had the pulled pork sliders off the kids menu and I ordered the bbq chicken salad from their Lunch specials. The chicken meat was diced in large pieces and a bit chewy, I would say the bbq sauce was its saving grace. It was also a decent portion of meat for a salad. I forgot to ask for dressing on the side--that being said, it was dressed well in a blue cheese ranch. My kid liked the Mac and cheese and pulled pork sandwich (doused in bbq sauce, of course). The meals are served on trays and they give extra napkins. I didn't try any of the heavier smoked meats, but for it being lunchtime, I think I preferred the salad. I think it'd be a fun, relaxed place to celebrate with friends or take the kids out for a meal. read more

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I decided to try this location since I usually visit the La Brea location. As always, the service was consistently friendly, and the food came out quickly. The smoked wings were delicious, packed with smoky flavor and a well-seasoned dry rub that never disappoints. They're always one of my favorites. Unfortunately, the brisket was dry and lacked the tenderness I usually expect from Bludso's. The ribs also tasted like they had been sitting for a while and weren't as fresh as I'm used to. Bludso's is still one of my favorite BBQ spots, but based on this visit, I'll be sticking with the La Brea location for the quality and consistency I've come to expect. read more

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It was my first time going w my friend & both of us had heard great things via our Texan friends regarding good bbq in LA! It hit the spot! We ordered the dinosaur beef rib that fell off the bone with a quick knife cut -- so good- and split it between us two, including the fries which had some sort of magic seasoning that was incredibly (it's somehow tangy and bbq like but kind of teriyaki esque) I loved them. As well, we ordered a small portion of the Mac and cheese, and dessert aka the blackberry pie à la mode (which was perfect sweetness - not too sugary) although the pastry part was a bit hard to cut, it all came together and was still really tasty. Huge thanks to our server Deilon (sp?) who helped us figure out it portion size what to order and gave us the the best recommendations every time! We also met the GM and Head Chef after -- will def come again. Great service and food! They were playing the World Cup (soccer/fifa) game so people were watching that. read more

Bludso's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Bludso's is popular for a reason! They do authentic Texas-style barbecue in LA. Bludso's has three different locations, but I went to the Santa Monica location. The other two locations are La Brea and Van Nuys. They have a variety of different meats to choose from including brisket, pulled pork, pork rib tips, chicken links, dinosaur beef ribs, and more. My favorite was the lean brisket since they trim off a lot of the fat. There is still fat within the meat, and it's still moist and tender! They have two different BBQ sauces, mild and hot. The hot wasn't too spicy, but I preferred the regular. We also got their Hushpuppies, which came out warm and crispy. It come with a BBQ aioli sauce for dipping. Make sure to add on some of their classic BBQ sides as well. I really enjoyed the mac and cheese and baked beans. They also have corn bread with a yummy honey butter. The best part is, everything is made in house from scratch! Friendly service! Their seating options range from smaller tables to larger tables to accommodate midsize parties and bar seating. read more

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I originally left a 1-star review because I was genuinely disappointed with what I received compared to what was pictured when I placed my order. However, I'm updating my review to 5 stars after the manager, Oscar, personally reached out to me the very next day. Oscar apologized for my experience and offered to refund my entire order. He also told me that the next time I'm in the area, I could ask for him personally so he could make sure my order was fulfilling. I honestly can't remember the last time I left a negative review and had a manager reach out so quickly and genuinely make an effort to make things right. Customer service is extremely important to me, and I really appreciate when a business stands behind its customers and takes feedback seriously. Oscar definitely went above and beyond. I also want to clarify that my original review was not about the quality of the food. The food is actually amazing! I've been to their other locations plenty of times and have always been happily satisfied. My issue was specifically with the portion and what I received compared to what was shown when ordering. At the end of the day, things happen, but how a business responds to an unhappy customer says a lot. Oscar turned a disappointing experience into a positive one, and I truly appreciate that. Thank you, Oscar, for reaching out and making things right. That kind of customer service deserves 5 stars. I'll definitely be back! read more

Bludso's BBQ - What I got! - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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I was in the neighborhood and decided to stop by for their dineLa lunch deal. First, the "good." It's a decent value. One of the choices was for two meats, two sides and cornbread. The bad: the meats were only ok. Calling it Texas-style is false advertisement, imo. I lived in Texas for a long time and had more than my fair share of bbq, and sorry to say, this doesn't even come close. My two meats were brisket and pork ribs. The ribs were flavorful but dry. The brisket faired a little better, but was also dry. It was the spicy bbq sauce that saved it. The ugly: yikes, the sides. I got the mac n cheese and the collard greens with smoked turkey. I didn't care for either. The mac n cheese was mushy and too salty, trying to mask the lack of any flavor. The collards greens were not that much better. The smoke turkey should be called smoked jerky. I really felt like the greens were a delivery system to get rid of unordered leftover turkey. The cornbread wasn't much better. It was a corner piece that was dry and tasted stale. Such a disappointment. I probably should have walked right out when I was greeted with a "what can we do for you today?" Seriously? Do you think I came in for an oil change? Yeesh. My server was ok. She was busy with a big table of ten, so that evidently was at my expense. No worries, I won't be back. read more

Bludso's BBQ - DineLA lunch special - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Such good food!!! Their collard greens are made with their delicious smoky turkey; it's one of my favorite foods. All the sides are amazing, though, so it's hard to pick. The meat falls off the bone, soft and absolutely finger-licking good. Service was excellent, and the joint has a soulful ambiance that matches what comes out of the kitchen. There is parking in the back, so no stress about driving around looking for it. We shall be back. read more

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Mother's day cravings were beef ribs, it helps to make reservations here sometimes gets pretty busy, a little parking located behind the restaraunt. We ordered enough food to create a mountain of meat. Beef Dinosaur ribs are massive and the beef fat renders a lot, making it kind of "greasy" if you aren't used to it it may catch you off guard like it did for me. The brisket was similar to the dino ribs. Pork ribs were really good not greasy at all. Mac was good. When they served us we never really saw the server again, I needed water bad! The hot BBQ sauce was my favorite, they have a really good dill ranch thing that came with our rib tips appetizer that was awesome. Overall decent BBQ, come hungry because the helpings can be alot. Dining room ambiance was chill lots of tables. read more

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Party of 4.... It was my first time dining here and everyone else's 2nd time. Soon as we walked in, we were greeted right away. The wait was about 2 minutes. There were plenty of open tables and booths. They also have bar seating options with TV's as well. Once we got seated, our server Daylin (I hope I spelled it correctly) greeted us and gave us a rundown of the menu. He was very knowledgeable about the menu and made some excellent recommendations. He was very attentive as well. Everything on the menu looked delicious. We ordered beef ribs, dry rub wings, brisket, salad, Mac n cheese, fried okra and cornbread. Where do I begin!? My absolute favorite..... the wings. Do not dine here without ordering the dry rub wings. You get the entire wing seasoned to perfection! Delicious. As for the drinks, they do have a nice selection of cocktails. I ordered the CC rita (made with Henny) yum! They have a parking lot in the back (free) or you can look for meter parking. Definitely give this place a try! read more

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The barbecue here is one of the best you will find in LA. The brisket is slow roasted for 14 hours, and you can taste how tender that meat is. The lean brisket, is also super tender and really good. My favorite meat, however, was the rib tips, they are so tender, you have to get them! The mild and medium barbecue sauces that come with all the meats are absolute perfection, and they have a lot of dimension to it. The mac & cheese is incredible along with the cornbread. Service is fantastic here, they are so nice and friendly. They are extremely busy, but the food comes out pretty quickly, and our server checked in on us pretty frequently. read more

Bludso's BBQ - Corn bread, Rib tips, hot links (top) Brisket, ribs (2nd row) Chicken link (3rd row) Mac n cheese, Cole slaw Lean brisket (bottom) - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Been going to labrea since they opening, Im always afraid when new stores are opened Will the quality go down. I neednt have worried Sides chicken links alk top shelf read more

Bbq cravings for a weekend dinner. We ordered corn bread perfect side dish for the juicy and tender baby back ribs. Hush puppies and loaded French fries these alone are filling. We got seated right away, serve water and server got our order. Music playing on the background while huge screen TV surround the wall. A very chill vibes family friendly restaurant serving comfy foods. read more

Bludso's BBQ - Loaded French fries - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

This place was okay, but honestly not my favorite. The chicken was very good, which we ordered on the side. The mac & cheese was similar to chic fil a. Corn bread was good but not amazing. Ribs were okay, but kind of dry. Everything came out Luke warm, not super fresh. Service was very friendly! Inside is warm and community friendly read more

Bludso's BBQ - Dine LA plate $45 - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Back when Chips & Queso was on the menu, this was hands-down the best Texas BBQ in California. Now that Chips & Queso is no longer on the menu, Bludso's is merely the best Texas BBQ in California _that I know about_. Plausibly there's better, if Chips & Queso was on the menu somewhere else that had meat this good. But I doubt it, and I really do love this place, but it absolutely has to be said: Chips & Queso desperately needs to come back onto the menu. read more

This place is one of the best place for BBQ in California, As a BW born & raised in California, I have tried many bbq places from San Diego, IE, Temecula, San Bernardino, Riverside, and S &E side of LA and Bludso BBQ is also on point, hitting in favorite and quality.....hands down!!! read more

Small portions for the price. And disgusting collard greens. Not sure when the quality changed, but def won't be back!

We stopped here for dinner while our car was charging and it was such a great experience! The hostess and servers are very kind and helpful, the ambience is vibrant and fun without being too loud, and the food was very good. The fried okra with homemade ranch is probably one of my favorite appetizers ever- my husband who normally doesn't like okra ended up surprised by how much he enjoyed it! We ordered the brisket and pork ribs and you can taste the smokiness from the wood on them in a really satisfying way. We definitely will visit again when we come back to LA and bring our kids. It's was a fun date night spot but would also be really fun for the whole family. read more

Awesome food! Went there this past Fourth of July for my son's birthday and the food was really good. The staff were friendly and attentive. Would go back again. read more

Bludso's BBQ - A little bit of everything! - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I did not have much, but what I had was incredible. The pork ribs were the best I have ever had aside from my own. I have been cooking BBQ, 25 years. And the cornbread was stellar. Prices were reasonable. BBQ is usually too expensive, and most is not that good. This is. I wish I lived closer. The service is great too and it's clean. read more

Only get the ribs everything else was super disappointing. Ribs were okay, everything else was a waste of money. My first time ordering from here. Probably the last. Some of the reviews shared the same sentiment. read more

Bludso's BBQ - Cornbread, ribs, Mac and cheese and fried okra lacks flavor - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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I was in town for work and needed a quick lunch near my hotel. Bludso's popped up in my Yelp search and it was an easy choice! Plentiful lunch specials (dine in only) including a lunch plate for $25 (1/4 lb meat) with choice of 2 meats, 2 small sides. Meat choices are brisket, pulled pork and turkey. A sandwich for $19 with two small sides and drink with choice of brisket, chicken, turkey, pulled pork, brisket & hot link. Or salad and drink for $17 and choice between bbq chicken salad, or turkey Caesar. I decided to do the sandwich and get the brisket and hot link, with Mac n cheese, baked beans, and an Arnold palmer. Everything was super delicious, and the only thing better than the food was the service. I was blown away by how friendly and attentive the staff are here. read more

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Best BBQ in the Los Angeles region IMO. Brisket was amazing and their collard greens are elite. Restaurant was clean and staff was attentive. Great service, drinks were refilled without having to flag anyone down. FIFA world Cup games were playing on the TVs. Solid lunch specials - $19 sandwich, 2 sides & drink combo. Excellent quality, I'd definitely come back. read more

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Great bbq. Staff super friendly. Enjoyed the Pics on the wall ! Rib tips super delicious. I asked for more celery to dip in the amazing dill ranch dressing. Super fresh dill. Mac n cheese really cheesy. Smokey flavored. Brisket sandwich great per hubby. read more

Bludso's BBQ - Wall pics - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

When I miss home Texas Bbcue this is THE PLACE that saves me! Quality of the meats and the sides are unmatched against other LA Bbcue places. Edith my waitress server was super sweet and very welcoming EXCELLENT SERVICE by all the STAFF.... Love their potato salad, baked beans, brisket, ribs. Fav Bbcue place in L.A. read more

Bludso's BBQ - 2 meats - brisket, ribs, baked beans, potato salad, AMAZING CORNBREAD.... sweet Bbcue sauce - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

10/10 with best bbq food in west LA. Staff is extremely friendly and welcoming. No waiting time- can't recall the day we visited but they seated us fairly quickly. We ordered all the sides ofc! We also ordered brisket, ribs and sausage - this was sweet for me I like mine spicy but still very tasty this is subjective to your liking ofc so not going to discredit my review for the restaurant. I absolutely devoted my meal- btw this was a two person meal. I would highly recommend stoping by if your craving BBQ. We skipped out on the dessert, wished I wasn't so full for it. Thanks to the staff and manager for also checking up on us this is very rare nowadays so I always appreciate the small gestures. read more

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Outstanding BBQ! The Family Meal is an amazing deal featuring the best smoked chicken you will ever have, plus 2 pints of sides and cornbread with honey butter. Brisket and pulled pork are also highly recommended. We usually get our orders to-go and service is fast and friendly. Best choice for BBQ on the Westside. read more

Bludsos Santa Monica First of all other restaurants should come here to learn how to train your employees on service. Our waitress made us feel like family. So kind so friendly and courteous. I had to make this as I was eating. Our food literally came out like 5 minutes after we ordered it. The atmosphere, Sunday dinner all the way . I just felt like I was at home . Music on lock . It's bright and cheerful . The corn bread is like cake with a crunch . Fries crispy, hot crunchy. Beans are killer, Mac and cheese, whole other level . Smoked turkey is the bomb . That chicken beats my uncle's hands down and that's saying a lot . Lemonade not too sweet. Edith was the queen that provided us with a level of service that you don't even find in 5 star restaurants these days . Edith is employee of the month, period!!!!!!! You go Kevin! read more

Bludso's BBQ - Lunch for the next two days - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Just randomly saw this place driving and decided to go in. What a great decision! Upon walking in I was greeted immediately. The atmosphere was great. Lively and happy. It was rather busy. Whole bar was packed and I'd say about 5 tables. It's not super big inside. But definitely enough room to be comfortable. They do have a full bar as well so that's a plus! Let's get into the food. I ordered the pork ribs, Texas hot link, Mac n cheese with baked beans. I opted to try the mild and spicy bbq sauce. Let's start with the pork ribs. Seasoned very well. And I do mean VERY well. Smoked to absolute perfection. With an excellent seasoned crust. Honestly? You don't even need to put bbq sauce on it. It's that good. However I did try both sauces. Mild is definitely more sweet than the hot. But the hot isn't too spicy either. And I know everyone's spice levels are different. To me a grilled jalapeño is mild. So figure from there. Moving onto the hot link. Cooked well. Juicy with great taste. Can't go wrong. The sides. WOW. Ok I would legit come back for just the Mac n cheese if you wanted Mac n cheese. It's creamy, rich gooey and just excellent. Melded cheddar layer on top. Baked beans. It's heavy on the mustard. But don't let that make you stray away. It's a different taste and it's well worth the try. I greatly enjoyed them. Overall this place was a fantastic experience. I will 100% be back. It's clean, it's fun, the food is great and the atmosphere is excellent. Food: above average Staff: good people Cleanliness: clean Atmosphere: upbeat, happy and inviting. read more

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Driving by and the whiff of the que! How can you not! They even have jackfruit for the vegans. The sides are the best! The music is on point! My 77 year old hubby was bopping along to the beats of Motown, Marvin Gay, Al Green! Oh he's happy and eating .... Awww, me and misses Jones is playing by Billy Paul! O. M. G. Keep up the vibes! Ok! Gotta go. Foods arrived. Burp! Food was on point. The greens need work, i should have asked how they're prepared, they were just not good. Lesson learned. No complaints on the staff. We were warmly greeted and able to pick out our own table with a smile. Our waitress, Daphny, was greattttt! She looked like a blast from the past, in a good way, of a person we know! Hey, I've a huge request!!! Yellow Mustard! I'm taking my bread and sausage home for the mustardddddddd sandwich tomorrow! That is all! read more

Bludso's BBQ - Lunch anyone? Even have jackfruit!! - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Stopped by Bludso's BBQ in Santa Monica on Santa Monica Blvd. and 14th Street with my husband for lunch, and we left completely impressed! We ordered the six-piece wings with a turkey Caesar salad and fries, and everything was spot on. The wings were perfectly seasoned with just the right amount of crispiness, while the turkey Caesar salad was fresh and well-balanced. The fries came out hot, golden, and addictive--exactly what you want in comfort food. My husband's been coming to Bludso's since the early 2000s, back when they were in Compton on Long Beach Blvd. and Mr. Bledsoe himself was smoking meat in the parking lot. The food is still top notch and tastes the same after 30 years--authentic BBQ done right. This Santa Monica location was spotless, with plenty of seating, ample parking in the back plus off-street parking. Page and Terry's attentive, welcoming service made the visit even better. Bludso's is still the real deal! the Ambiance is amazing! read more

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Bludso's BBQ has some of the best authentic Texas-style BBQ in the Los Angeles area. Our waitress, Paige, was super as was the floor manager, Tarri. The friendly and efficient service took our visit to the next level. Bludso's mouthwatering, succulent meats are slow smoked until they are done to perfection. Our selections of their Dinosaur Beef Rib (it's HUGE!) and Pulled Pork almost melted in our mouths. Along with these, we ordered their delicious house-made 3-cheese Mac & Cheese, a side of cole slaw, and enjoyed all with a glass of Red Ale. This SaMo location is of good size and can fill up fast as it is popular, so I suggest a reservation if you're thinking of chowing down around dinner time. There is off-street free parking in the back of the restaurant which is a real plus. read more

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I've been to the Bludso's in Los Angeles. This location was in Santa Monica. I don't know if it's just the vibe but I liked the location better here in Santa Monica even though it was good in LA too. Your greeted warmly it smells so good inside of their cold beers. What else could you want like everything was delicious the sausage, the coleslaw, the greens! If you've ever watched bar rescue with John Taffer... Eventually, you'll see chef Bludso. He often creates barbecue menu items for bars to serve their patrons. The food is some of the best barbecue I've ever had. If you're ever in the area, I suggest you stop by whether it's the location in Los Angeles or Santa Monica. Bludso's is delicious! read more

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The last time I had Bludso's was at the original Compton location, back when that was THE only Bludso's. I still remember the coarse pepper on the brisket like it was yesterday. While I was charging my car nearby, I started reminiscing... and thought, why not? I walked over and debated between the lunch specials, building my own plate, or just grabbing some wings. I ended up going with the 3 wings and a side of greens. Simple, but exactly what I wanted. Shoutout to Dalen (hope I spelled your name right!) who was incredibly sweet. We chopped it up while I waited for my food, and he recommended the dry rub, which I can confirm, he was absolutely right lol. BBQ is easily one of my top 5 and this visit reminded me I really need to come here more often. The food, the warmth, the hospitality was just as I remembered it. Appreciate the good vibes. See yall next time! xo read more

What a treat. We came in hungry and left full and happy, and somewhere in between we had one of those easy, good meals you don't want to end. We worked our way through the rib tips, chicken, turkey, and brisket -- every single one delivered, no weak link in the bunch. The sides held their own too: coleslaw, baked beans, mac and cheese, and a potato salad that genuinely surprised me in the best way. And the hush puppies? Don't skip them. The real delight was spotting Cheerwine on the menu -- a fun little throwback that turned a classic BBQ spread into something that felt like an occasion. The staff were warm and helpful, parking was painless, and the whole place has that casual, comfortable feel that makes you want to settle in and stay a while. We'll absolutely be back. read more

I placed an order for pick up, and it was actually ready before the scheduled time. Upon entry, I noticed how empty the restaurant was on a weekday afternoon, so I decided to dine in and eat the food that I had ordered, at the restaurant. There is a bar and booth seating available. The waitresses were really nice. There was one with interesting hair, but she kept checking on us and brought us waters and utensils, so I appreciated the service. I ordered the $25 lunch plate special which includes 2 meats and 2 sides. I chose the 1/4 pound brisket and pulled pork for the meat, and collard greens and Mac and cheese for the two sides. I really like the flavor of the meat, especially the edges and seasonings on the brisket. The pulled pork and collard greens were good. The macaroni was decent, a bit dry in my opinion. Their bbq sauce was good, I tried the hot and original. I would definitely give this place another try. Thank you! read more

Bludso's BBQ - Outside - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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