Copper Top BBQ on Highway 395 is a must try! It was a rustic, clean, and welcoming spot, and the restrooms are immaculate! We stopped by on a Sunday afternoon and there was live music playing, which made the atmosphere even more charming. We ordered the Big Pine Mega Platter (says for 2), and it was just perfect for my husband, teenage son, and I to share without any leftovers. All the meats were juicy and tender! Potato salad was good and mac was nice and creamy! We love the spicy bbq sauce as well! Overall everything was delicious and food came out fast. Really glad we stopped in, and we're already looking forward to coming back again soon. read more

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You can immediately spot this BBQ joint on the rode with the all smoke from the grilling out in front. You order at the window, then wait at the inside window for your order to be called. The BBQ already comes in reusable to-go containers so you can grab a table or take it home to enjoy! * Big Pine Mega Platter (2 person) - 9.2/10 (i love how this plate includes four different types of bbq so you get to taste test a little bit of everything! the tri tip is cooked to the perfect amount of pinkness, but the cut itself was a bit tough to my liking. the pulled pork was tender, & the flavor was sweet & smokey. the ribs had a beautiful glaze & was quite tender & juicy. the chicken sausage was huge & had a very nice bite to it. it was also super juicy, not too salty, & addictive. the Hawaiian bread is just your average Hawaiian bread. the mac & cheese was creamy, & the noodles are cooked just right. the green chili is light & hearty. overall, this plate is worth the try for bbq lovers!) read more

Copper Top BBQ - Big Pine Mega Platter (2 person) - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

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Great BBQ! Clearly a popular place as it opened at 11 and there was a line when we pulled up at 10:57. Super fast service with very helpful staff and great quality BBQ. They have indoor tables and outdoor depending on the weather conditions. I got the pulled pork sandwhich with a pickle add on that was so flavorful and hearty. The mac and cheese is a MUST- it's so creamy and decadent. Great as a pit stop going to or from Mammoth, definitely adding this spot to my road trip list. read more

Copper Top BBQ - pulled pork sliders with a mac and cheese side - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

I came here a little while ago on my way home from vacation and I'm so sad I'm not closer to eat this more often! The food and service was amazing!!! The girl taking orders was so kind and patient and helpful!! The food came out quickly and was so fresh and amazing! Had such a good experience here, I'll be back when I have the chance! read more

Copper Top BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

Decent experience as a whole at Copper Top. This was on our way to Mammoth, and we had heard this was a spot to stop at. The ribs were really excellent, perfectly smoky and just the right texture. I liked the pulled pork as well. The tri tip and mac and cheese didn't quite do it for me, but that may just be personal preference. I loved all the dog imagery everywhere too! read more

Copper Top BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

My friends and I along with our wives stopped by this restaurant to eat on our way back to Los Angeles from Mammoth Lake. We arrived around 10:30 am and were told by employees they don't open until 11 am. Which is perfectly fine. Employee even recommended a coffee shop which we tried. However, the employee never said about the line and wait time when they open. If he had mentioned anything we, would've just wait at the restaurant. We ordered nine well done hamburgers and the food was just amazing. I really recommend folks to stop and try the food. The wait is worth it! Female cashier was very wonderful and helpful. Super patient with our large order. However, after waiting for almost 25 minutes, I asked the gentleman serving the ready food about our order and he was clearly bothered by my question and rudely said, it's going to take a long time since you order nine well done burgers. If you show up shortly before 11 am sitting will be fine. However, I really wish this restaurant had some rules and regulations about dogs in the restaurant. Multiple people with their dogs just walking around the place with no care for other customers. With my situation my wife was attacked by a dog when she was a child and has bad trauma. While our group sat at a table to eat, my wife was crying inside the car and I was standing by the car in the street eating my food. The restaurant should designate an area outside for dog owners to sit, making it easier for others to sit inside. Restaurant overall is very clean. However, I think this will be my last time here due to our experience. I hated seeing my wife in stress and will not repeat it again. *** To the business owner. Thank you for responding to my review. However, your reply is not accurate. If you want to reply and talk down to customers make sure it's appropriate. Traffic heading down was actually very little, at no time did we bother or interruption your workers. Yes, the female cashier did tell us it could take a little time. I only asked your rude employee once!!! Thank you again for your reply and it clearly shows who you are as a business owner. If there was any chance of me giving your establishment a chance again, that is completely out of the question. I don't support business owners who can't take criticism well. read more

Copper Top BBQ - Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

Great food experience here! In the middle of nowhere is the copper top bbq. It doesn't look like much on the outside but food is something to look forward to here. The seating is essentially all outdoors and food is basic ready the second you order it. I wish the food overall was a little hotter but that's my only ask. This places really does have great tasting food. read more

Copper Top BBQ - Meal for two combo 9.5/10 - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

As a gym athlete who loves good food, I recently visited Copper Top BBQ after a long drive from Southern California to Mammoth Mountain. I ordered their 1/2 lb tri tip with potato salad, and I must say, I was quite impressed with the quality of the food. The 1/2 lb tri tip was cooked to perfection with a smoky flavor. The meat was tender, juicy. It was evident that the meat had been slow-cooked, and the seasoning was just right. The potato salad was a great side dish that perfectly complemented the tri tip. The potatoes were boiled to the perfect texture, It was a refreshing contrast to the richness of the tri tip. In terms of service, the staff was friendly and accommodating, and the ordering process was straightforward. The only minor downside was the limited seating arrangements, which may be an issue during peak hours. However, the food was well worth the visit, and I would highly recommend Copper Top BBQ to anyone who loves great food and is passing through the Bishop area. read more

Icees were the best! Reverse gravity beer is so cool, I didn't even want a beer but I had to have one for the experience. Definitely order the big platter! It was so good, we loved it! Staff was amazing as well! read more

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Wow! Have been driving past here for years and years on the way to Tahoe and can't believe I haven't stopped until this year. Truly this BBQ is so good, on the way up we got the mega platter to eat for dinner and then on the way home we picked up vacuum sealed bags to take home with us for a later date. No wonder it is always packed here! Everyone at Copper Top was so nice and chatted with us about their sauces and the process. The ribs and tri-tip were my personal favorites, and the Mac n cheese and the coleslaw sides are also delicious. There's plenty of tables to eat at over there at the restaurant, and it's so nice to smell the smoke coming off the grills while everything is cooking too! I definitely recommend making a stop here if you're on your way up to Mammoth or Tahoe. read more

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actually such a good spot the tri tip was so good i need more they play country music n smoke smell is amazing would get a larger plate nxt time but their food is pretty reasonable n potato salad was bomb read more

Copper Top BBQ - tri tip - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

Visited Copper Too BBQ because our friends mentioned it had great BBQ. Had a nice experience. I ordered the tri tip, which was good and tender, with a generous portion for one. The atmosphere was relaxed, with plenty of seating inside and outside, and the staff was friendly with quick service too. read more

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I remember this being amazing years ago. This time, it was just OK - the ribs and pulled pork were alright I suppose, but I have had better. Beans were pretty darn good but not super amazing like before. Also, it seemed more built-out and commercialized than I remember, which I suppose comes with some level of success and notoriety. I'm afraid I have to downgrade this from a must-stop on the way to Mammoth, to a reasonable choice if you have a hankering for BBQ but otherwise missable. read more

Copper Top BBQ - BBQ next to the Sierras - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

I have driven through Big Pine multiple times a year my whole life and we have regularly commented on how nice it would be to stop here sometime. I am so glad we finally did! They have a very nice and comfortable indoor/outdoor seating area and everyone is very friendly and helpful. On top of that, the food was just absolutely spectacular! I had the Tri Tip Mac and Cheese which was perfectly cheesy and the meat was tender. All of their sauces were also fantastic! My whole family just loved their dinner and it was perfectly located on the roadside for us to continue on our way! Will be back soon ! read more

Copper Top BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

Every time I drove by, I always saw smoke and would think that they are barbecuing around the clock... However, I found out that they just burn wood all the time to create the thought that they're always cooking. After you park in the small lot, if you find one, you come to the front left side to wait in the line to go up to a window to tell the cashier what you want. We tried a variety of stuff, but nothing was great. Nothing was good. Some of it was ok. Sorry, actually, the Mac N' Cheese was the only thing that was ok. Everything else was below par, but considering it's out there in BFE, it's probably good because that's all they really have. There is another place down the street, but I haven't tried that yet. Ambiance is good, lots of seating that is covered from the sun. Try it if you must, but don't have high expectations if you are already reading this. The best thing was the chili. read more

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My husband and I have drove past this place the last time we were leaving Mammoth and finally had the chance to try it this past trip! We stop by 30 minutes to close and you're able to place our order with no issues. I ordered the tri-tip sandwich combo and my husband ordered the pulled pork sandwich combo. The food came out fairly quickly. You pump your own sauces so you can decide your spice level. There is plenty of outdoor seating with a small indoor seating section as well. Our sandwiches were really tasty and great quality meat. If you're interested you can also order some tri-tip to go from their vending machine, which I thought was hilarious. Really cute stop for bbq, glad we were able to check it out. read more

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I have wanted to stop here on my drives many times but it was never a good time. We will be stopping here again, I have no doubt. The BBQ here is really top notch. I had their Tri-Tip Burger with all the toppings and it was excellent. As a side I had their Green Chili which was also very good. My son enjoyed his Pulled Pork Sandwich and my wife loved her Tri Tip Mac and Cheese. Everyone left full and happy after a wonderful meal. Additionally, they were very patient with us while we made our selection and helped with toppings. They have a nice seating area inside on colder days and plenty of out door as well where you can sit and enjoy the amazing smells wafting from the grill. This is the place to stop on your long drives. read more

I am a little surprised at the reviews and the amount of people that stop here. I get the tourist attraction, but the food really wasn't as good as I expected. You do get a decent amount of food. I wasn't able to finish mine. The ribs were really good, juicy with loads of flavor. The pulled pork was a soggy wet and hard to eat, everything else was surprisingly dry. The sides were okay, but I was not happy that it was over $5 for a very small toddler sized side. They have a large selection of drinks and the BBQ sauce is pretty good. Overall I wouldn't come back unless it was for someone else or there was no where else to stop on the way through. I'd suggest they put some BBQ sauce by the tables so that you don't have to stand in line again to get more. read more

Love this place never disappoints, for all travelers this is a great stop for BBQ but hop and skip from Bishop. Tasty pulled pork, green chili mac n cheese. Outdoor covered tables and indoor barn style seating read more

Unreasonably good BBQ in the middle of nowhere. Delicious, delicately smoked meats. Best-in-show tender tri-tip, great flavorful pulled pork, and pretty good ribs, and the fixins (we got mac + greens) were solid. We've eaten our share of 'cue in the South, TX, and AZ and this one is surprisingly comparable in yumminess. I know them's fightin' words but I'll put myself out there because the food deserves it. Service is great, and the place is a pleasant oasis in the middle of nowhere. Would totally go out of my way to drive through here when we hit up Vegas next just to eat here again. read more

Copper Top BBQ - 2 person platter - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

Sweet amazing BBQ. I bought the meat plate. Super yummy! Has a very homey feel to the place. You must stop by when in town. read more

Copper Top BBQ - Meat sampler plate. Mac and Cheese is a must! - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

The reviews on the food quality are bit high relative to the meats, but its decent. A very pleasing respite after several days in the backcountry of death valley. read more

Ordered the sampler plate for one individual & it was the perfect size & great smokey flavor on the ribs. Bartenders were super nice inside & Lorena in the front was very sweet. Beautiful view, indoor and outdoor seating what's there not to love. read more

Copper Top BBQ - Patio - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

A must stop on our way back to la from mammoth. Staff is very friendly and you will always see a line at the counter. The dining area is very clean and it has a very homey backyard bbq ambiance to the restaurant. The meat is always cooked right, juicy and tender - we got the platter to share, additional sides and extra meat. This time we got coleslaw and mac&cheese with extra tri-tip. I am not a huge fan of pulled pork in general but mind you their meat was tender, not dry! and pairs well with a roll that is served in a platter. Tri tip is cooked just right in medium rare, well seasoned and got smoked flavors. Last but not least, everyone's favorite, the ribs. Cooked so well that the meat falls right off the bone. We will be back! read more

Copper Top BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

Stopped by on the way back to OC from Mammoth. There was a pretty big lunch rush, which I wasn't expecting since it's in a small town-- looks like this is a pretty popular place amongst both travelers and locals! The ambiance had a family backyard bbq feel. They had smokers cooking the meat right outside, smelled delicious! In terms of food, we ordered the bbq sampler platter with mac and cheese. My favorite meats were the ribs and tri-tip. Ribs were very tender and flavorful. The tri-tip was also very good, but could use more smokey flavor. The pulled pork and sausage were okay, nothing memorable. The mac and cheese was delicious, very cheesy! Overall, great pit stop on the 395 if you're looking for some family-style bbq! read more

Copper Top BBQ - BBQ sampler plaster for 1 - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

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Oh man. This place was delicious! I'm so glad we listened to the reviews. Got the tri tip Mac and cheese and big pine platter that served one. And it fed two. Definitely coming back! Loved the cleanliness, sanitizing wipes and everything. Owners seemed so friendly too. read more

Copper Top BBQ is a very popular barbecue spot in Big Pine which most people hit on their way to Mammoth. Their signage is clear from the roadway and they've got American flags whipping in the wind, you can't miss them. Appreciate that they have two small parking lots, one right before the restaurant and one right after. So despite being busy they've got a good deal of parking. I'd definitely recommend coming right at opening 11am as anything after 12pm starts to get a bit of a line. I've also heard coming off hours it also isn't too bad. This place is clearly popular and the locals and tourists love it. Service was definitely five stars. Everyone that worked here was really nice and made you feel welcome. From the gal working the register to the gentleman calling out the numbers and helping you get your order. Everyone was very kind. They have a good system where they call your order out and essentially package everything to go, which just makes it a lot simpler and you can carry it back to your table or take it on the road with you. We opted to sit outside on the picnic benches and it was really nice, but for the days that are a little cold, they also have some indoor seating. Pricing was pretty average for barbecue. I was content that a barbecue sampler plate for two people is about $50 and it was just right for the two of us. That's definitely the way to go if you want to try a little bit of everything. Now that I had it though, next time I would definitely come back and get a tri-tip plate or some sort of a sandwich but I do think a sampler is always a good start. Overall, I would rate the barbecue 4 put of 5 stars. It definitely hit the spot and everything was pretty good. They cook all the meats fresh on a big grill and smoker in front of the restaurant. My two favorite bites were definitely the tri-tip and the beef ribs. You definitely have to order one of these two dishes when you come these dishes were 5/5. The tri-tip was cooked a perfect medium rare, and I love the fattiness of the beef ribs with a good barbecue sauce. I'm glad I tried their chicken sausage, it was very mild and cooked well but just not one of my favorites. Also, I could do without the pulled pork but that normally isn't one of my favorite dishes anywhere so definitely try it for yourself if you're a big pulled pork person. Every bite was good though, but if I had a rank a top two, definitely the tri-tip and ribs. With the sampler plate, you get to try two sides, we went with the mac & cheese and the coleslaw. They were both pretty good. The mac & cheese was mild but better than I've had at other places. My favorite definitely was the coleslaw because it was nice, creamy, and cold, which was a great balance for all of the heavy barbecue and meats. If you are on the way to Big Pine or the mountains for some snow, you definitely gotta try the barbecue here. The staff are really nice and it has a very comforting local small town vibe. You get a good amount for your money and the food was pretty decent, glad we stopped to try this spot. read more

Copper Top BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

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This BBQ place is on the way to Mammoth located on highway 395. Parking on the side alley. There was a line when I got here, but it was moving along very fast. They have 3 big smokers in the front, and I saw steam since I drove by in the morning. I ordered half rack of ribs, pull pork sandwich, and Mac and cheese. Staff is very friendly here. There were tables and benches set up in the front. Tables at indoor area are limited. The ribs were a little bland and dry, but still tender. The pull pork sandwich was a great surprise! The pork was flavorful and the coleslaw was crispy! The Mac and cheese is on the watery side. BBQ sauce is on the sweet side. Food was overall decent. read more

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You order at the outside window, then they give you a buzzer for when to pick up your food at the inside window. We ordered the Big Pine Mega platter, with our two sides as potato salad and Mac & cheese. The platters come with tri-tip, pulled pork, chicken sausage, and ribs. It's a great way to have a little bit of everything and there is plenty to share. I loved the ribs- they just fell off the bone. All the meat was flavorful, tender, and soft. There are different sauce options in case you like it spicy- I chose the mild sauce. I really liked their potato salad- you can taste the dill. The Mac & cheese is extra cheesy and hits the spot. This place is always busy and the food comes out fast. There's indoor and outdoor picnic benches with wipes at every table. They are dog friendly too. Parking- parking lot read more

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Oooof! This place was very delicious and I will definitely be stopping by Copper Top every time I pass through this town. I can only speak on the ribs since that's all I tried but my friends were happy with their brisket and Tri-tip. I ended up getting the $21 Rib meal that came with one side, bread and a drink. The meat was practically falling off the bone, the spicy bbq sauce was on point. Just a heads up they have no table service, you will need to order at the front and find a place to sit. They have anti-bacterial tub wipes at each table to clean up after you are done for the next clients. This establishment is well run and very clean. Gotta try it if you are craving for great bbq. read more

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Back in July 2024, we made a quick lunch stop here with our dog for some BBQ! It's definitely a convenient stop with some shaded outdoor seating, which was great for our dog. There was a parking lot for small vehicles and some more parking on the street beside the restaurant. Ordering was pretty quick at the window, and our food didn't take very long to come out. Now, for the food: a one person platter with a side of potato salad and a Weird Tea. -The tri tip was smoky and light on salt in terms of flavor. Texturally, it wasn't necessarily tough, but it wasn't super tender. Definitely eat with the bbq sauces! -As some others have mentioned, the ribs are not fall-off-the-bone, but still mostly soft-ish? Flavor-wise, it was even smokier than the tri tip. We did get an end piece that was too dry/tough, but that's just the nature of that piece. It wasn't our favorite, but it wasn't bad. -The sausage was tender and juicy, but light on flavor and salt. This was also better with their BBQ sauces. It's not a showstopper, but it was interesting in it's own way. -The pulled pork was more flavorful and saucy than juicy and tender, but it was definitely one of the ones we enjoyed more! -I really enjoyed the potato salad! It was seasoned well, creamy, with soft chunks of red skin potatoes and small, crunchy chunks of celery. Overall, it was all right as a stop. We wouldn't go out of our way to visit, but we wouldn't mind stopping by if in the area, especially if we were with our dog! read more

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My husband and daughter and i absolutely love stopping by here anytime we are driving through! The food is phenomenal the staff is always amazing and the food is too notch. The price is well worth the taste and quality of the food! We love sitting outside and eating is so relaxing after being in the car for hours! If you're thinking about trying this spot I highly recommend you do! read more

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On the way home from Lake Tahoe we stopped here for lunch and ordered 1 slab of Pork spare ribs! Fantastic we ate half and took the rest home! The service was fast and lots of tables inside and out front on the patio! To bad we live so far away I could here 3 times a week! read more

Copper Top BBQ - Side view - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

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This is a must hit on the way back from Mammoth Mtn. The Bbq here is made fresh and the sides tasted perfect amazing. Their service is fast even though there could be a line out front. there's seating outside and also in the room next door. read more

Copper Top BBQ - 3 meat + 1 side - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

Passed by here to eat dinner on our way to Mammoth. This was just a very random choice but it turned out to be the best barbecue place I've been to. No wonder cuz I saw the reviews that it's the #1 place to eat by yelp in 2015. I had the big pine platter which was recommended by the cashier in the order window. And I do agree with her that it's the best choice for first timers cuz it has a little bit of everything in their menu. The cashier also recommended their best seller for a side which is Mac & cheese. I admit I'm never a fan of this but I went ahead and ordered one. It was so good! The staff was great. After ordering you can go inside to wait for your order and then proceed to the dining area. The entire area and restrooms are clean. I'll definitely be back! read more

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This is 2 towns away from Mammoth, roughly an hour drive but very much worth it! The food is bomb! There's plenty of parking. There's tables outside with wet wipes so you can wipe down that BBQ after. We got the Big Pine Mega Platter to try all the different types of meat. The tri tip was the absolute best!! The chicken sausage was big and juicy, not too salty either. The sides that we chose, Green Chili and Mac n Cheese, were also really delicious. The 1/2 lb tri tip burger was packed full of meat. Everything was cooked perfectly! read more

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The food and service here is always good. We like to stop by on our way to other cities and we purposely make a stop here around lunchtime, as the BBQ here is amazing!!! They offer tables indoors and outdoor. They have fans and AC and the restrooms are usually clean. See you guys soon! read more

Hadn't ate all day and came here for lunch and my first meal. Let's just say it got the job done. Ribs were solid, great smoke on em if your into that, but the tri tip sandwich was just exceptional. Such a good portion, pickles to cut through, so goooood. Also, got to get the spicy sauce!!! Mac was seasoned and had a little peppery kick. Loved it all. Gonna be my go to on the road spot. read more

Copper Top BBQ - Ribs, Mac n cheese, tri-tip, coleslaw on the side - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

My beau and I often past COPPER TOP BBQ on our way to fish in Bishop from Southern Cal., but this time we stopped. We ask the delightful woman at the counter, if there was somewhere inside to eat, as there are tons of outdoor tables, but it is January, after dark, in Lone Pine. Buurrr to cold for me. She pointed to the right and said, yes in the "heated barn". We could not decide what we wanted, especially after she said, "Everything is really good." After debating for several minutes, she suggested THE SAMPLER PLATE". Every single restaurant should have a sampler plate!!! So we had ribs, tri tip, chicken sausage and pulled pork. Which one was best??? EVERY. SINGLE. THING. BEST BBQ I HAVE EVER HAD! Hands down the best! Every member of their team was welcoming, friendly and helpful. We will return! read more

Best bbq on the way to mammoth. My friends and I got some vacuum sealed ribs and crushed them even after eating a full meal here.