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 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

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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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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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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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

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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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

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

Food was tasty and will return to try the tacos. The day I went they had a band and a fundraiser so the ambiance was great.

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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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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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

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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The food here is delicious. The brisket, the Mac, the potato salad. The CORNBREAD, the cornbread, the cornbread was top notch!! I loved it all. They also serve my favorite beer. If you're in the area give them a try. read more

It was my first time trying Texas-style barbecue, and it was definitely a different experience. The brisket was flavorful, portions were generous, and the sides were solid. The vibe is casual and the staff are friendly. read more

Breakwater Barbecue - Texas Trinity $65 - Barbeque Near Me - El Granada, California

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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First their food is amazing. This is the best BBQ place I've been to in the Bay Area so far. I have had so many bad and dry brisket in the past in other restaurants, their brisket is so moist and tasty and not overly fatty. The house link and rib are also done well. I've also ordered a smoked chicken leg to go. Very well seasoned with nice smokey flavor and very moist and tender. Their prices are surprisingly reasonable, I said that because as you know a lot of Bay Area restaurants really cut corners now by serving you less food for same price or even higher price. The Texas Trinity family platter we've ordered will feed 2-3 people at $65 pre tax and tip. We (me and another female) shared and still have plenty of leftovers. Lastly I was very surprised when the manager, George made an effort to our table and say hi and introduce himself . This place is mostly you order at the counter and they will bring you the food and plate , you grab your own utensils , but George was so kind to offer me the refill before I finished my soda. That's what great service is about, to go beyond and check with customers when you don't have to . Kudos to George for being such a welcoming manager ! read more

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Honestly we never get Brisket anywhere but Ft Worth Texas when we visit family This was actually so good ! My friend and I had the Brisket sandwich that had cheddar cheese , carmelized onions in perfectly grilled sourdough or Texas toast ..Wow wow wow yum Husband had the brisket plate with potato salad and coleslaw and also really liked it . As good as what we've had in Texas Highly recommend! read more

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

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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We went here for lunch. The parking lot was pretty big or decent size. The food was really good. We had the loaded french fries which was jampacked with lots of flavors. The roast beef sandwich was really good as well. The staff were nice and there is indoor and outdoor seating if you come here with a group, it might be difficult but possible. read more

Breakwater Barbecue - Loaded fries - Barbeque Near Me - El Granada, California

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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

Great spot Near some cool hiking areas These were good: Tray: _ribs _Mac & cheese _bean n greens Sandwich: _gold rush pulled pork read more

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I know people hate on horn bbq but I think that is one of the best bbq places in the bay. I think this place is on par. Similar prices. Good food. Only difference is minus the ahole owner and location. Simple 1 page food menu. Wine, 6 beers on tap, soft drinks. We ordered the brisket tray $28, ribs tray $26, 1/2 lb of ribs $15, and 1 lb link $8; came with sides of mac and cheese, potato salad, apple cilantro coleslaw, beans and greens, chili. We got an extra side since they gave us the wrong one. Brisket - good. Balance of meat and fat, tender, seasoned well. I think only South Winchester BBQ does it better Ribs - very good. Easily comes off the bone, good flavor, balance of fat and meat. One of the best I've had Link - good. High quality, but a bit salty and greasy Mac and cheese - decent. Had better Potato salad - good. Exactly how it should be Coleslaw - decent. It's the creamy kind Beans and greens - very good. We all thought this was the best of the sides Chili - good. Second best of the sides Bread - ok. Basic Be prepared to wait in line. There's only 1 line to order and they will call you when your order is ready. There's no way to pre order whether online or over the phone for meat trays or meat by the lb. Only for sandwiches, sides, etc. Arrived at 12:20 pm on a Sat and didn't get our food until 50 mins later. The line did not die down until after 2 pm. They get a lot of business and usually sell out of some meats around 3 pm. Open seating. 4 large unshaded picnic tables outside. 9 tables of variable sizes inside. Some bar seating. I recommend start looking for a table when you get to the door when waiting in line. 2 clean bathrooms. Self serve water station and utensils. Parking isn't too difficult with the medium sized parking lot and street parking Overall, good food, long wait, typical BBQ prices, good portions, nice staff. I recommend it read more

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Great spot for BBQ with a great view - only reason for -1 star is that some items are really above and beyond compared to others. Personal recommendations: Brisket - amazing brisket cuts here that are made with a great rub. I was super surprised when my fork just slid into the brisket cuts Sausage - big cuts here with just the right seasoning Wings - the wings were cooked near perfect for tenderness, and it's also seasoned light enough to not be overwhelming like some other places. Great ranch too! Sides I felt were a bit underwhelming, and the pulled pork was not worth it compared to the brisket. The ribs were nice, but inconsistent between cuts I'd return with a big party as it is a nice place to hang out. Recommend coming earlier rather than later tho read more

Breakwater Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - El Granada, California

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The brisket melt was fantastic. The brisket smoked to perfection and then added to a sandwich with toasted bread, melted cheddar, caramelized onions, and pickles. The Beans and Greens are a great side. Friendly staff and the Coastal Trail is only a short way away. @76steve_eats_and_cooks read more

Breakwater Barbecue - Coastal Trail. - Barbeque Near Me - El Granada, California

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I'm from Texas, so I've been searching for great barbecue in the Bay, and I've had this on my "want to go" list for ages. I was super happy with it! The place is fast casual like a standard barbecue place, with a nice-looking, modern interior. While the pulled pork sandwich was quick, the chopped cheese probably took 15 or 20 minutes. My brisket sandwich was the best thing I tried. The brisket was fairly tender tried straight, as it tasted like it was made correctly but they didn't do anything too crazy. However, the grilled onions made the thing taste spectacular, juicing up the sandwich and adding flavor. The sandwich held together well. The Mac & cheese was a solid amount for a "side" portion, topped with some flavored breadcrumbs adding a nice texture. It was as good as you'd expect for Mac & Cheese at a BBQ place, so it was delightful to see them get this right. The chopped cheese seemed a little less perfected, as the bread was not staying intact. I liked the taste; the cheese made it taste like In N' Out. I didn't try the pulled pork but my friend liked it. I'm excited to come back here after surfing! What a great find. read more

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We attended the soft opening on May 4th for my friend's birthday lunch. The new location is incredible and the food is exactly what you'd expect from a Michelin starred restaurant. We recently went to Austin, TX on a brisket tour and this is as good as any of the spots we tried including Terry Blacks and Loro. The brisket caesar salad was so fresh and a generous portion! I would absolutely run that back but wish it was tossed in the dressing. The brisket on its own is beef candy and perfectly cooked. I'm not a fan of the Mac and cheese but my friend loved it! The best side is hands down the *beans and greens* with the chili coming in at a close second. If you love chili this one will impress you for sure. Loved the bar, tables outside, huge parking lot, and such an upgrade from the last location. I appreciated the staff coming to offer us to-go boxes (time to go!). Seating is limited and this place will be packed!!! My only regret is that we didn't try the tallow tortillas. So happy to see Breakwater thriving! read more

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This place smells like heaven the second you walk up, and there's a LOOOOONG line to get your appetite worked up. Good food, chaotic experience. When I went, it was shoulder-to-shoulder inside with a line out the door, people waiting for food, folks camped at tables... just zero breathing room. Maybe it's been renovated since, but at the time it felt like an uncomfortable lunch waltz: order at the counter, hover awkwardly, grab whatever seat opens up, then fight your way back through the crowd for utensils and sauce. I managed to snag a bar top seat by sheer luck. The barbecue itself was worth it -- tender, smoky, and full of flavor -- but between the line and the sardine-can vibe, I don't know that I'd dance that dance again. If they've expanded since, I'll happily give it another go, because the food deserves a better stage. read more

Pleasantly surprised at how good the food was when this was just a spontaneous pit stop! We were a party of 3 just cruising down the 1 when hunger suddenly hit us. We ordered brisket and ribs to share and we came of that place extremely satisfied. That portion was perfect for 3 as a snack (or a meal honestly.) This place is pinned forever on my list. read more

Breakwater Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - El Granada, California

Who goes to the coast for BBQ ? Me !!! Always down to try a new BBQ place in the Bay so made the gorgeous drive to try it out. Clean family friendly with lots of seating indoors and outside. Easy yo find with plenty of parking. But we aren't there for parking we wanted BBQ ! Ordered the large platter that came with ribs, links, brisket , 2 large sides - potato salad and Mac n cheese for us and cornbread. Sauces on the table but honestly the rubs don't need sauce that's the sign of good BBQ you don't need sauce and just can enjoy the great flavor of the meat. Nice pink smoke ring on the brisket as well. All of it really good happy to try and def better than most bbq places I've been to recently. read more

Breakwater Barbecue - Large platter enough for 4 ppl to share - Barbeque Near Me - El Granada, California

Solid BBQ place in the HMB. There will likely be a wait during lunch time on the weekends but the line tends to move pretty quickly. There are plenty of seating inside and outdoors so shouldn't be a problem to get a spot to sit once you have your order. We had the Texas Trinity to sample a bit of everything. The sausage was the best, brisket was decent, and the ribs was a bit dry. Worth checking out if you're craving BBQ. read more

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My 2nd visit (at the new location) was disappointing. They seemed to be out of a lot of things like ribs and brisket and only had the sandwiches - which tasted a bit dry and not nearly as great an experience as the 1st visit (at the first - original locatin). read more

Finally. A great place for bbq outside of half moon bay. Chill vibe. Live music. Great ribs. read more

Breakwater Barbecue - Ribs & slaw - Barbeque Near Me - El Granada, California

Ribs weee ok but cold. Sauce is so so. Nothing great. Cornbread is good. I like beans with my ribs. Instead of "beans" I got a lot of other things in the beans and that leaves little beans. And all this stuff they put in them does nothing to help them. Just serve beans please. Id give the place a 5. Could be so Much better. . read more

After weeks of drooling over Breakwater Barbecue's food photos on Instagram, my boyfriend and I made the drive up from Santa Cruz for lunch. After the first bite we looked at each other, and I knew we would be coming back many times. The best barbecue I've had in awhile! We arrived around 12:30 and it was just starting to get busy, it is seat yourself, and there were a few tables and bar stools still open at this time. Definitely come early, because they do sell out of items daily. We sat at the bar and both bartenders were extremely helpful and friendly. I was thoroughly impressed by the great service. They walked us through the menu and gave us some recommendations on what to try since it was our first time. I loved The Texas Trinity Platter because we were able to try a lot of things, three meats and two sides. The brisket was perfectly cooked, and so tender, and the sausages and ribs had great flavor. We will definitely be back soon. We plan to work our way through the whole menu! Everything looked absolutely delicious. read more

Breakwater Barbecue - Texas Trinity Platter with Beans & Greens and Potato Salad - Barbeque Near Me - El Granada, California

Breakwater Barbeque is a great spot close to the beach, with a small uncovered patio area to enjoy the moody misty weather El Granada offers year round. There is a small private parking lot as well as a small strip of parking along the main road. The interior is spacious with plenty of seating. Utensils and water is self serve inside. The restaurant is fast-casual and you can expect a line especially on weekends. You order at the counter, grab a table, and wait for your buzzer to go off. Pulled pork sandwich - This was delicious. The bun itself is soft, quite substantial with a subtle sweet fluffiness. The pork is smoky and quite tender. The coleslaw is what really makes this sandwich as it brings the brightness and sweetness with green apple bits. The gold rush sauce was tangy but could use more sauce to complement the rather unsalted meat. Texas trinity- This is a great deal for a platter that feeds 2-3 people. The brisket breaks down like butter in your mouth. The ribs nearly fall apart with a simple touch of a fork. The seasoning is great already, so I didn't really reach for any BBQ sauce. The mac and cheese was delicious- rich and cheesy. It could definitely be elevated by adding bits of meat! The chili was probably my least favorite of the meal. It was meat forward and thick in consistency. I typically like a thinner more savory chili. Cornbread - This was the best cornbread I've had in a long time. The cornbread is spongy with a moist interior. Each bite gives you that strong cornmeal taste which I absolutely love. Honestly, I would come back for the cornbread and brisket alone. I would come early because it took about 40 minutes to order and almost 30 minutes to come out- and mind you, we came before opening time. Perhaps my only complaint is the efficiency here. Most BBQ places have the food prepared in advance so its just a matter of slapping food on a plate or assembling a sandwich. Here at Breakwater, the workers are slow and theres just one person preparing sides/slicing meat, etc..meanwhile theres a line out the door full of hungry customers. This place is either severely understaffed or undervalues their customers time. For customers who get there well before opening time, please expect to wait at least an hour before having a bite to eat. Would I return if I'm in the area? Yes, if I wasn't hungry or in a rush to go somewhere else. read more

Breakwater Barbecue - $90 for 3 items - Barbeque Near Me - El Granada, California

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TEXAS MONTHLY & MICHELIN GUIDE The first time I heard about Breakwater Barbecue was in the Michelin Guide as one of the two Bay Area BBQ joints listed. In addition Breakwater Barbecue was featured in Texas Monthly, which is like the Michelin Guide of BBQs. The first time I ate here was the first Sunday of December 2023. On the website it stated that the first and third Sunday of the month beef ribs are available. Even though Breakwater Barbecue opens at Noon on that day I left my house at about that time. I arrived at Breakwater Barbecue close to 1:00 PM. When I got to the front of the line one of the cashiers informed me that the beef ribs were sold out. WTF?! I decided to get the Texas Trinity, which consisted of pork ribs, brisket, and link. Of all the meats the ribs stood out as there were dripping with juices. I knew I wanted to come here because of the beef ribs. I noticed on the website it lists that beef ribs are served on the first and third Sundays of the month. Two weeks later I came back again hoping for some beef ribs. To my disappointment I was informed that the beef ribs would be out of the season. I decided to go back to the item I enjoyed. I ordered the rib plate, which consist of pork ribs. I also decided to order the brisket burnt ends banh mi. This was a unique take on banh mi. The bread was airy and light. The burnt ends were moist as most burnt ends I've eaten tend to be dry. The following January I came back for the first Sunday of the month I was informed that the beef ribs were out of the season. Then in March for St. Patrick's Day weekend when I came here for a Reuben sandwich on rye, which was from a local bakery that Breakwater Barbecue collaborated for the Reuben. I came to the new location last two Sundays ago as that Sunday was the first of the month. Being at the old location multiple times I knew what I wanted to get. I ordered a rib tray, burnt ends banh mi, cornbread, and Texas Sheet. Yet again the beef ribs weren't available. When I come here on either the first or third Sunday of the month I'm disappointed that beef ribs aren't served. One of the servers said go to their Instagram page to find out it beef ribs are served. I'm not on Instragram and in the past the website said beef ribs are served on the first or third Sunday of the month. After eating at Breakwater Barbecue multiple times the best items is the pork rib because it taste like char sui from Chinese BBQ due to the glaze. I contend Breakwater Barbecue has the best pork ribs in the Bay Area. The one item I don't like is pulled pork because I am not a fan of it in general. I'm not a fan of burnt ends, but the burnt ends at Breakwater Barbecue is the best in the Bay Area. The burnt end banh mi is tasty but if the Reuben sandwich is available I would recommend that over the banh mi. Based on the pork ribs I can see why Breakwater Barbecue is listed in both the Michelin Guide and Texas Monthly. read more

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Definitely lives up to the hype that the Chronicle touted. If you are in the Half Moon Bay Area, definitely visit Breakwater Barbecue. Yes, you should go before they open and get in line. Like all good bbq places, there's only so much they can smoke for the day and when it's sold out, it's sold out. It's worth it. read more

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