It's so hard to find a good barbecue place but I found one!! Saw on yelp that a line forms early on so my friends and I got there at least 30 min before it opened. It was a nice day so we opted to sit outside. Theres plenty of tables outside and inside. Live band outside is a plus. The owner makes an effort to say hi to the customers and helps out too. Food wise, the brisket melts in your mouth and so does everything else (but highly recommend the brisket) :) the Mac n cheese was made fresh, you can tell bec the cheese wasn't hard, corn bread was just as good. Great variety of beers on tap for you beer drinkers. Parking gets packed but there's residential parking around the area. read more

Breakwater Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - El Granada, California

This bbq place doesn't sell bbq on weekdays..... wtf wasted the 45 min drive here. Dont come on weekdays. read more

My friend and I came here on a Monday, so sadly, they weren't serving the BBQ menu, but they did have their coastal menu which included sandwiches with the meats. I ordered the pastrami on rye, which was delicious! It's also a big portion, so at some point I gave up on the bread but ate all the meat. My friend got the burnt ends bahn mi and it was also great. Lastly, we got the loaded fries to share and man, they were delicious and the portion was ginormous! Will definitely have to come back on a weekend for the meat! read more

My friend and I came here last weekend for lunch. We ordered the tray with brisket, ribs, sausage and two sides. The ribs and brisket had a good amount of smoke flavor and plenty of seasoning, so I didn't use any sauces. These were the stars of the meal. The sausage wasn't anything special - not a lot of flavor and super oily. The mac and cheese isn't the typical piquid cheese because they added a layer of cheese on top and melted it. The meats made this my new favorite bbq spot. I'll definitely be back in the future. read more

Breakwater Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - El Granada, California

Tried for the first time on a Friday. We got there at around 12:15 (they start serving BBQ at noon) and it was about a 20 minute wait in line. Good BBQ. Indoor and outdoor seating. Shared the Texas Trinity family platter that serves 2-3 (brisket, ribs and links with 2 sides - we chose mac n cheese and slaw) with order of cornbread and chili, and my nephew had the brisket sandwich, too, as they ran out of pulled pork. They almost ran out of sausage links as well but we may have gotten one of the last few! So suggest you get there early, even before they open, for guaranteed selection!! Was it the best BBQ I have ever had? Maybe not, but overall it was good and tasty. Ribs were the best of what we had and brisket was juicier on the fatty pieces. Link was okay. Sides were pretty good, too. Would I come back? If in the area, then yes....but otherwise, wouldn't drive 30-35 minutes from SSF and then have to wait in line for another 20-30 just to have BBQ. Glad we tried it though. read more

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Visiting Half Moon Bay, I tried this place on a whim. Parking was very easy in the large lot, no street parking required. There are numerous outdoor tables, but they are in close proximity to Highway One and all its fumes and car/truck/motorcycle traffic noise. Indoors was my preference. The restaurant is spacious, and very much in the American BBQ mode. The tables are in several shapes and sizes, all with polished plank surfaces. Mine rocked easily though, despite a circular base, and no steady position could be found. My order was the Brisket Melt ($18). The bread was very nicely done grilled sourdough. The brisket was generous, falling out the side with each bite. It had a jalapeno taste which quite effectively masked the actual flavor of the meat as well as any complexity of the BBQ sauce. Too bad, since I like the flavor of brisket, so a star off for that. The menu description of this sando included caramelized onions, mayo, pickles, BBQ sauce and melted cheddar cheese. I did not ask for jalapenos, and they certainly did not contribute to the flavor. A bright spot was the availability of bottled Lone Star beer, quite rare here in California. read more

My family came on a Saturday afternoon and it was ofc pretty busy. We waited a bit in line and unfortunately waited a LONG time for our food. There is a good amount of seating; we found a nice covered table outside. We tried the ribs (yummy!), brisket (a bit dry and not too flavorful), cornbread (so good!), and beans & greens (6/10). The bbq sauces are fantastic. The sandwich is what took super long. They accidentally gave it to another customer and gave us more free ribs & brisket as we waited, which was really nice. I'm giving 4 stars for the price to portion size ratio. This place is pricey and the portions were pretty small. Without the free meat (for waiting years) we would've left hungry. This is a fun place with solid food.....but not worth the wait and price in my opinion! read more

Breakwater Barbecue - Ribs, Brisket, Cornbread, Beans & Greens - Barbeque Near Me - El Granada, California

Came here right when it opened on a Saturday. There was a line but it moved quickly. We ordered a combo platter with 2 ribs, 2 slices of brisket, 1 sausage, and 2 sides. Beer selection was great - lots of local California brews. Ribs: 5/5 Delicious - didn't even need sauce Brisket: 5/5 - juicy and tender Sausage: 2/5 - way too much pepper flavor for me Mac n cheese: 3/5 - pretty decent, but again too heavy on the pepper I'd come back for the ribs and brisket! Staff were friendly and tables were plentiful (though inside filled up quickly after opening). read more

Breakwater Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - El Granada, California

Came on a Saturday afternoon around 5:30pm. Not much of a like or people eating inside but it packed 15 min later. Was only able to get brisket and burnt ends left so we ended up getting the brisket sandwich, wings, fish taco, and chili. Best thing we had was the chili. Brisket sandwich was ok. Not too flavorful definitely need their sauce. Was not too tender, not much fat. The wings also didn't have much taste, definitely need to rely on the sauces for flavor. The fish taco was ok, their yellow sauce wasn't my favorite. read more

Breakwater Barbecue - Wings and fish taco - Barbeque Near Me - El Granada, California

This place is a solid choice every time. It's a bit of a drive for me, but so worth it! The bbq and the sides are all great and the location being by the beach makes it that much better. Always kind and helpful people. Casual vibes. read more

Breakwater Barbecue - Ribs, chili, and Mac & cheese - Barbeque Near Me - El Granada, California

Elevated Ole South style BBQ. Stopped on Sunday and the line gathered at 11:30 AM for the 12 Noon opening service. Yes, it is worth the drive and absolutely worth the wait in line till doors open. They sell out so get there early. California finally has a true Southern Style BBQ. The management included George were very welcoming and organized. The staff were friendly and great music that meets the Cali vibes. The brisket Sando was moist and I appreciate the attention to detail with thinly sliced pickles and juicy white onion as a garnish. The price point $18 and they also asked me to sample a pork rib too. Hit the road and make the trip just north of HMB to this Michelin recommended restaurant. read more

Breakwater Barbecue - Elevated Basic Brisket Sando Simply Amazing !!! - Barbeque Near Me - El Granada, California

My wife loves BBQ and we keep seeing Breakwater BBQ near the Pillar Point Harbor. We decided to give it a try. As we approached it didn't look busy but we still parked. First of all any BBQ I have been to you can smell it before you enter. There was no BBQ smell or wood burining. As we went in the tables were dirty and I still didn't smell any BBQ. I ordered the brisket melt with fries and coke. My wife order the brisket sourdough dip. We got our food and both sandwiches looked great. My wifes didn't have a dip for her brisket dip. Both had a large portion of seasoned fries which were really good. I bit into my sandwich and didn't taste any brisket flavor. My brisket melt had a strong flavor of pickles. I honestly couldn't taste anything, it was as if I had covid. There was no flavor there. My wife felt like she was choking on her sandwich because the bread was dry and the meat was dry. I tasted it and they must have used a cinnamon or brown sugar rub on it. It didn't taste good and the bread was really dry. We are still talking about the flavorless BBQ and how let down it was. We won't be back. read more

Mac n cheese is meh...tastes like basic mac n cheese, a lil seasoning on top but nothing to write home about Potato salad is meh...has a bit more mustard flavor if ur into that..seems like just paprika sprinkled on top but doesnt change the flavor much Coleslaw is semi bland too. Has a small amount of apple and pepper taste but nothing much else Ribs are good, better than gorilla for SURE! And they have a lot of smoke, seasoning is good, just not blow your sox off Link is good, smokey, can def taste the cheese in it... Brisket flavor is better around the fatty areas. The thicker piece was pretty dry and cold already within less than 3min of getting food. Pickles look like they are bread and butter type but a lot more vinegary Sad they only have choc sheet cake for a dessert. Really hoped like in TX for bread pudding or something. I will continue my search for amazing TX Q through the bat area. Would i go back? Maybe, it's a bit far but still WAY better than Gorilla in Pacifica. read more

Great bbq spot with a nice sized parking lot. The staff there are friendly and fast, and it was very cozy inside. The food is amazing! The brisket melts before you even chew it. The ribs can be pulled off the bone with a piece of their tallow cooked tortillas. What impressed me is that everything seems to be hand made in house, the sauces, pickles, sausage, tortillas. Everything was delicious, it wasn't just the meat. read more

Breakwater Barbecue - Outside - Barbeque Near Me - El Granada, California

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Best brisket sandwich with caramelized onions cheddar cheese.Their fries also very good Service is excellent.Ribs or not sold Monday Tuesday or Wednesday Street parking.I recommend this place read more

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Finally, went to the new location and it's nice. It's bigger and has plenty of parking. The food is just as delicious as I remember. My only request is, they need to bring the beef rib back. I heard it's been a while since it's been back. read more

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Amazing food! I do miss bbq since moving back from texas and this place has it down. You have to get there early or they'll probably sell out of the ribs and brisket which is what happened to us, but we tried the chicken legs, poblano sausage, bahn mi w burnt ends, and pulled pork w/ sides of Mac & cheese, beans & greens, and potato salad. We loved everything except the bahn mi. We felt like the burnt ends were a little too dry but we really want to go back to try the ribs & brisket. They have delicious sauces too! The carrot hot sauce was delicious on the sausage and pulled pork and the bread they serve it with (although not toasted) is very fluffy. The staff was super nice and for how many people were in line, the food came out pretty quick! read more

Mmmm my belly so fat after that meal. Yummy meat yummy Mac and cheese yummy chilli and the loaded fries are fire asf read more

Breakwater Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - El Granada, California

I tried the brisket with a side of beans, potato salad, a slice of toast, pickled onions, and pickles. The brisket was incredibly tender and practically falling apart--it was cooked perfectly. The BBQ sauce was a bit runny. It wasn't my favorite pairing with the brisket. The potato salad was disappointing. It tasted generic, like something you'd pick up at a gas station deli. The beans on the other hand, were phenomenal. They tasted like a cherished family heirloom recipe and were honestly the best cup of beans I've ever had. The difference in quality between the beans and the potato salad was striking. Whatever you do, don't skip the beans. The toast that came with the meal must have been afterthought. Overall, the brisket was delicious, the BBQ sauce could use some work, and the potato salad needs a serious upgrade. The beans are an absolute must-order, while the bread doesn't really add much to the meal. We got our food to go but the place looked busy when we arrived. It has a super chill atmosphere and a great location right across from the beach. read more

Made our way to Breakwater on our last trip to half moon bay. They moved locations since our last visit. It was way busier this time but it was also a holiday weekend and a gorgeous day. The outdoor patio is still dog friendly. The food is still great and are big portions. I had a brisket sandwich with a small side of chili. My husband had a brisket melt. Both delicious and filling. read more

Breakwater Barbecue - Brisket melt - Barbeque Near Me - El Granada, California

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Ohhh, that fatty brisket MELLLLTTTS!! Their bbq meat platters are only available Thurs-Sun. We were a big group, and shared the "breakwater" platter. Also ordered the banh mi, the french fries, one each of the sausage links, and cornbread. Faves/must try -FATTY BRISKET! The leaner brisket was quite good as well, but the fatty brisket is where it's at! Nice they give a few slices of both to try. -ribs are yummy, although not fall off the bone. They were enjoyable and had a tasty flavor to them. -cornbread was scrumptious, I wanted more! Sweet, moist, a slight chew to them -french fries! Okay honestly those were some goooooodass fries! Crispy, thin but still fluffy, salty, seasoned. It was a favorite amongst our group! -chili gave cozy and homemade vibes. I love a homey chili, and this delivered. -sausage links were flavorful and had a good bite to them. Pass/mediocre -we collectively weren't a fan of the pulled pork, more on the dry side. (Personally if there's brisket and ribs on the table, I'm not going to go for pulled pork anyway, heh) -Mac n cheese was just a filler unfortunately, quite bland and nothing special -Apple coleslaw wasn't bad, nothing stood out. If you want something fresh and light to accommodate the heaviness, this is the one -felt like the two bbq sauces they offer were also mediocre and lacking in flavor. No punch /tang/spice at all! I've been to Austin twice solely for Texas bbq, and I'm always on the hunt for that Texas bbq experience here in the Bay Area! This place is reminiscent of that, and I'm for sure coming back for my faves! read more

It was the okayest of times it was the worst of times...... Dickens aside, that sums up our experience here. Backwater has been on our to visit list for a while now and since we were at the nurseries there (post pumpkin festival madness we took the opportunity to stop by. Nice big space and the staff was friend and on point. The draft I ordered was served in a cold glass and was tasty. The food..... Brisket Bahn Mi: Okay I know Bahn Mi at a BBQ place but hey it was on the menu and it was a mess. This just did not work. Way too much mayonnaise, and while the description did not claim the cucumber and carrots were pickled, had they been, it may have helped things. Good burnt ends are glorious but these look like they had trimmed a regular slice and then griddled them. They had a really overly tough mouthfeel and required a fair amount of chewing to get through. Baja Fish Tacos: The cod was well fried, moist and tasty. The aioli added a bit of heat and richness, but the slaw just did not work. The slaw was super bland and it one noted these tacos in a subtraction by addition way. Its a pity as again the fish was great but it desperately needed a acidic element to it like say pickled onions. The Burger: The burger was actually really good and makes the top 15 at #12. The meat was tasty and well seasoned. The chopped brisket on the top added a nice element and I wanted more of it. The caramelized onions added a nice sweet element to it. The fixing were fresh and the bun while soft held up. It was a well executed burger Potato Salad: Its was good. I normally prefer a chunky style but this one had good flavor and was quite good. unlike the slaw it seemed to be well seasoned Because we did not get the brisket I will defer a BBQ ranking despite the disappointing burnt ends. There is plenty of parking and there is a proper intersection at the junction which can be an issue on Hwy 1. Burger and BBQ standings 1) The Office Burger - Fathers Office - Los Angeles, CA 2) The Best Damn Cheeseburger - 4505 Burger and BBQ, San Francisco, CA 3) Burger - Moo's Craft BBQ- Los Angeles, CA 4) Tie: Ed's Favorite, King City Grill, King City, CA 4) Tie: Bacon Cheeseburger - Cafe Arbor, Stanford, CA 6) The Big Boy, Big Boy, Indian Springs, NV 7) The Hot Farmer, The Barn, Half Moon Bay, CA 8) The C&H Burger, Clove and Hoof, Oakland, CA 9) Cheese Burger, Sketchers Food Spot, Gardenia, CA 10) Burger, Dad's Luncheonette, Half Moon Bay, CA 11) Single Burger, Paper Plate, Long Island City, NY 12) Breakwater Burger, Breakwater BBQ, El Granada, CA RIP Golden State - Los Angeles, CA LOCOL - Oakland, CA Dan Gordons - Palo Alto, CA Inaugural BBQ Rankings: 1 - Moo's Craft BBQ - Los Angeles, CA 2- 4505 Burgers & BBQ - San Francisco, CA 3 - Salinas City BBQ - Salinas, CA 4 - Chicken In A Barrel - Kapaa, HI 5 - Kinder's Meats Deli BBQ - Walnut Creek, CA 6 - Mighty Quinn's Barbeque - West Village, NY 7 - Armadillo Willy's BBQ, Los Altos, CA RIP Texas Smokehouse BBQ - San Jose, CA Horn BBQ - Oakland, CA read more

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This past weekend, I decided to give Breakwater BBQ a try in their new location, and all I have to say, THIS IS SOME OF THE BEST BBQ I'VE EVER HAD! I came in the early afternoon and they still had plenty left. Went with the brisket plate and a side of sausage, which came with two sides, mac and cheese and potato salad. They ask if you prefer the fatty side of the brisket, or you can ask for a mix of both. The fatty side is the best side for sure, at least for my preference. The mac n cheese was hella creamy and gooey cheesy, perfect mac. and the potato salad was solid. We also got a side of the beef tallow tortillas, 1000% get these. Fresh, handmade, some of the best tasting tortillas I've had for sure. I enjoyed it so much that we ordered more brisket and 1/2 lb of ribs to enjoy later, and honestly the RIBS were the star of the show for me. Fall off the bone, perfectly seasoned, easily the best ribs I've eaten in the Bay Area! There's no way I'm ever coming here and not getting the ribs, it's a must try in my book. We also tried the chopped cheese because I'm on a chopped cheese kick, so have to get it whenever I see it on the menu. I thought the flavors were there, just too much bread for my liking. Not my favorite, but glad I tried it. The new location is beautiful. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, along with a giant parking lot. Definitely plan to get there close to open if you want any specific cuts of meat because they do sell out on busy weekends. As for pricing, it's definitely standard BBQ pricing for the Bay Area. Not an inexpensive meal by any stretch, but honestly, worth every dime due to the high quality meats and flavor profiles. The staff from start to finish were super nice and you can tell they love what they do. Definitely going to be a stop whenever I drive down coastside! read more

I am impressed! The ribs were done but still juicy, the sausage was extra tasty and the brisket was not overcooked. I have to say this started from a really good place and kept it up. Nice restaurant with excellent sides as well. I think the one that stands out is the slaw, very good. It was a counter service place but still quite pleasant and very clean. Located just across from mavericks beach. I will definitely repeat read more

The Bay Area tends to be a wasteland of bbq. What should be reasonably priced accessible food is either not done well or stratospherically expensive. Breakwater is definitely not cheap but it was pretty good. I felt like both the potato salad and the Cole slaw could use a bit of salt, an my brisket was not bad. And not bad brisket is something not many places can claim - a lot of the bbq places in the Bay Area pass off way worse. After seeing them, the brisket sandwich was the way to go - I think they heaped on as much or more meat on the bun (one of our party's sandwich was ridiculously large) and you got both buns rather than one slice. read more

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To my surprise Half Moon Bay has a BBQ gem!! Breakwater is the real deal!! Tender Smokey bbq and fantastic portions!! Brisket is the absolute best! Ribs are delicious and they have giant beef ribs that are quite expensive but! Worth it!! The sausage has cheese in them. I'm not a fan of sausage with cheese inside but I loved them! The corn bread is addicting as well as their house made pickles The chili was on the lighter side which I really enjoyed. The BBQ sauce wasn't for me. It was a bit watery. But the service and location was great. This will now be my go to spot for BBQ. I highly recommend this place. Trust me, GO! Next time I'll take it to go and picnic on the beach Keep up the great work!! read more

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Right off the bat, I can see parking being an issue here. Luckily we came during off hours, so we were able to find parking just fine in their lot. Their ordering process needs to be overhauled . Yes, you can go to their website or third party apps to find pictures of their menu, but that's a hassle customers shouldn't have to adjust to. They have menus as you get close to the register, but it can be hard to decide in that short of time. Maybe place a menu outside, where the line forms, so people can take a pic and have enough time to make an informed decision. Food: 2/5 Wife had the brisket plate ($28) that came with toast and 2 sides (we got the mac&cheese and potato salad) - toast, might be brioche, was really dry. Imagine an airy Popeyes biscuit: 0/5 - Mac & cheese was super pepper forward. The cheese that they used didn't provide much flavor. 0.5/5 - Potato salad: had a strange taste. I thought it tasted like paint, but my wife disagreed. But she did agree there was an off putting taste to it. 0/5 - Brisket: Decent. Nothing mind blowing. 3.5/5 - Brisket sandwich ($18): Fair amount of chopped brisket. The brisket was not cold, but definitely not warm either. 3.5/5 Fries ($4): Amazing. Best thing here. Might be the best fries I've ever had. Really crispy, well seasoned, and perfect thickness. 5/5 They had 2 BBQ sauces. Both didn't really taste like anything. .75/5 Service: 3.5/5 Just your basic order at the counter, pick up your own food, bust your own table. The employees were pleasant and nice. Atmosphere: 2.5/5 Smoky (which is to be expected from a bbq joint), but luckily there's outside seating. Many of the tables were not cleaned off. They allowed a non service dog inside the restaurant for an extended period of time (if that kind of thing bothers you). Bathrooms were clean enough, just some standing water by the drain hole. Overall: 2.5/5 Definitely wouldn't wait to eat here. We gave it another try after being disappointed the first time at their old location. My wife and I have tried many BBQ spots in the Bay Area (Horn's before they got busted, Everett and Jones, Capelo's, Fikscue, Armadillo Willy's, etc). At the end of the day this is just my opinion. Everyone's taste buds are different. If you are around the area during off hours, maybe it's worth a try. Just wanted people to know what to expect. read more

Breakwater Barbecue - Brisket sandwhich, brisket plate, fries, Mac and cheese, potato salad, brioche toast. - Barbeque Near Me - El Granada, California

Best brisket and ribs that I've ever had in norcal by a significant margin (think they'd be middle of the pack in texas, but that's still a huge get for the Bay). Handmade tortillas in beef tallow were spectacular, but since they brought them out 15 minutes before the rest of our food came, they definitely weren't as warm or soft as they could have been. Sausage, pulled pork, and sides were all decent. Sauces were a big letdown, which isn't particularly important with texas style bbq, but it feels like it'd be an easy oversight to correct. Service, vibes inside, decor, live music, all spectacular - it was packed and I'm honestly surprised there weren't even more people. read more

Breakwater Barbecue - Texas trinity pus extra meats and tortillas - Barbeque Near Me - El Granada, California

I was in town and wanted to get some brisket from here. I decided to try the salad this time and it did not disappoint. Fresh lettuce and crunchy croutons with the addition of the brisket was perfect. I didn't want anything too heavy, so the salad was a great option for me. When I am in town, I would get food here. Service is fine and plenty of seats inside and outside the place. read more

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This is clearly a local watering hole and I love that kinda sh** haha There is super cute wall paper and an indoor and outdoor seating area. They play the music a little too loud but the vibes are there! Ordered the bahn mi and it was delicious with pickles, peppers and burnt ends! My husband got the grilled cheese type thing and that was also creamy and warm and yummy. We ordered the cake dessert which they serve in a little fries boat which is cute and old fashioned. Small joint, good food, a few wine offerings by the glass and what appears to be a full bar. Would for sure come back, especially when its warmer. read more

The food is the superstar here. We got the handhelds. I got the pastrami Reuben husband got the chopped cheese. Husband devoured his sandwich and absolutely loved the barbecue sauce. My Reuben was delicious however one side of the toast arrived wet, so when I picked it up, it was already separating in my hand immediately after arrival. Good beer, selection and excellent scent inside and out. The pickles were unique, which was a delightful surprise. They were not sweet and they were not sour. They were the in the magical spot in between. If you add fries, there are a LOT; best to split between two. read more

How have I not reviewed this place yet?? Came on a sunny Friday afternoon and it wasn't crowded, but there was a good crowd. Love the brisket and ribs! Next time I'll have to try the chopped cheese or burger, but I always come back for the ribs. Their new location is so spacious inside and out, but I do miss their old location that had the smoker parked out front. HH Thursday and Fridays 3-6pm! read more

The brisket birria tacos are out of this world. So good! Also, the fries have a delicious seasoning on them. We got things from ribs, chicken leg, brisket banh mi (yummy) really can't go wrong with anything. The service was great and the outside seating was dog friendly which is a plus! read more

Eh, maybe this is the best BBQ in HMB, but anyone saying this rivals Texas or KC has clearly never been there. You can get better at any random BBQ joint in KC let alone one of the well known spots. We arrived on a Saturday a bit before they opened and the line started about 10 minutes before noon. They could probably handle more customers if they had more than one register but maybe they want the line. They had no cornbread on our visit, which is a strange thing not to have. We got the Texas trinity which is brisket, ribs, one link and two sides for $65. Food came out in about 5 minutes which is nice and you can see them preparing the trays. The brisket was tender and moist with a good bark. The ribs were tender but not mushy. The sausage was pretty tough and mildly flavored. Their rib is fairly bland and their sauces are not good. One is a vinegary mustard something which does not belong and the other is a too peppery BBQ with no sweetness. For sides we got beans and coleslaw. The slaw was not good. It was bitter and sour. The beans were more liquid than anything else and not what you would get at any BBQ joint. It was black eyed peas with collards and maybe yesterday's cuttings from the meat station? The best part of the meal was the live music. The musician was very good. We all left disappointed and won't be back. read more

Visited on a Sunday afternoon around 2pm, restaurant was was very busy. Most tables were taken but the line to order was fairly short about 2-3 other parties ahead of me. Order at the counter and drinks are served shortly after, a table number is provided and food is brought to your seat when ready which took about 10 minutes for my order. Drinks: draft beers, wine, and non-alcoholic options are availible. Brooklyn Brewery Brown Ale - pretty good, nice malty flavor, balanced not too heavy, complimented the BBQ well Food: Birria Brisket Tacos - came with two large tacos per order along with a little bowl of consume to dip as well as lime, tacos were filled with smokey tender brisket which had a nice peppery crust, lots of cheese, diced white onion and cilantro, these were pretty greasy but overall had a great taste, wish this came with a bit more of a BBQ sauce flavor but they do have some availible that you can add Service was fine, pretty standard fast casual style just order are delivered to your table, but expect to pick up everything else you need, water, napkins, condiments, etc. Overall enjoyed Backwater BBQ, a great casual spot to get BBQ. Liked that they had a nice variety of options at various price point. Would definitely come back to try other items on the menu. read more

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There is a line but well worth it. We ordered the fish taco, and Texas pack. Fish taco is on-point . The Texas pack includes brisket, ribs, sausage link, two large sides, and pickles. As a side, the beans and greens were delicious (not vegetarian includes meat. We really enjoyed the food, generous portions and really tasty. Highly recommend when you are visiting half moon bay. read more

Fantastic BBQ! Love their new location with more seating and parking. The pulled pork sandwich, brisket, and Texas sheet cake are particularly good. The burnt ends, pork, and brisket were all tender and juicy with good smoke flavor. read more

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The BBQ is quite good, especially the ribs! Perfectly cooked and not mushy fall off the bone and over seasoned. The brisket is delicious too. The sauces are good too. Where this place falls flat are the sides. The Mac and cheese is just a pile of textureless and flavorless mush, and the potato salad is more like mashed potato salad, again just slop texture. The other negative is the service. The staff are terrible at wiping tables down as people leave (I witnessed this across a few tables), there were also no cups for water and it took 30 mins for them to bring new ones (even after multiple people asked for them). Finally, they could totally fit more tables and chairs inside and outside, people were battling around for tables and it wasn't even that busy. read more

We visited the new location in El Granada and ordered take out. It took about 15 minutes to receive our food upon ordering. There's some seating available but the location has more potential for additional seating. The benches, tables and floor look unfinished or incomplete. This is our 3rd visit to Breakwater and first time at the new location. We are noticing inconsistency with the quality of the same dishes (our favorites) & their popular choices. The most consistent has been the brisket sandwich for us. I do not recommend the fish taco and banh mi. The fish taco lacked flavor and the banh mi was too spicy and the meat was dry (I personally like spicy food and this was beyond what I enjoy). read more

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The barbecue here is solid, not Texas-level but still pretty good quality. We made the drive out here in weekend traffic from San Mateo just to sink our teeth into some juicy smoked beef flesh. It was a Saturday in July around 2pm and actually wasn't that crowded. No lines and we got our food in around 10 minutes. We got the Brisket Tray with sides of Mac and Cheese and Smoked Brisket Chili, as well as a House Smoked Link. Brisket Tray (4/5): The brisket has good flavor and a nice outer rub, but I think the lean pieces are a bit dry. The fatty pieces are juicier. The Mac and Cheese is very velvety and creamy, and I like the touch of crispy breadcrumbs on top. The Smoked Brisket Chili has big chunks of brisket inside with a nice consistency. House Smoked Link (4/5): This girthy fella is so juicy that on my first bite it literally squirted out meaty liquid all over my jacket sleeve! It has a good snap with crispy exterior and also some bits of pepper and cheddar inside. There were some negative aspects not related to the food that affected our experience here though: The food isn't served on very sturdy wax paper like most bbq joints, instead they used parchment paper. This allows the grease from the meat to soak through and rip the paper underneath and now your food will be directly touching the tray. The outdoor seating vibes aren't that great. You're directly exposed to all the loud traffic on Highway 1 -- I wish they'd add some patio or potted plants or something to make it more inviting. The parking lot entrance has a MASSIVE vertical dip onto the street -- if you're driving a sedan or lower height car make sure to go slowly to avoid scraping your front bumper... Overall, solid bbq but probably wouldn't go far out of my way for this unless you're really craving some MEAT. read more

Breakwater Barbecue - Brisket Tray with sides of Mac and Cheese and Chili, + 1 House Smoked Link - Barbeque Near Me - El Granada, California