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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Stopped there for dinner. The food was awesome. Best tri tip sandwich ever. I liked the decor with all the American flags and the Military flags. I believe the owners of this business are true patriots and Trumpers. Great place. When here in Big Pine stop here to eat. read more

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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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

We got dinner here one evening after hiking the big pine lakes and we couldn't be happier. The staff are very pleasant and their service quick. There's plenty parking and they have booths for indoor seating and plenty outdoor seating too. The poring of the ipa into the cup was the most unique things we've seen. We got an ipa along with a tri tip sandwich with pickles, onions, jalapeño, side of coleslaw and pork ribs. Everything was cooked perfectly and meats were juicy and tender. We ate our fill and had plenty leftovers. Do give them a try while in the vicinity. 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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The food is amazing. We got the platter for 2 and the pork Mac n cheese. They were both awesome. And the people were extremely friendly. Big Al is amazing. Will definitely be coming back. read more

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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Without a doubt the best bbq I've ever had. The ribs and tri tip are absolutely phenomenal. So tender and great flavor!

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

We are staying in Bishop in an RV park. Went fishing at Glacier and wanted ribs to take back to enjoy. Heard this was best bbq in area. The St. Louis ribs looked fantastic. We had a half slab and tried both sauces. A little dry IMO but great flavor. Probably could have been taken off a little sooner. However it was one of the better bbqs I have had. I would definitely stop by again when in the area. They were not overcooked to where they fall apart when you pick them up. Solid 4 star. read more

Copper Top BBQ - Half slab St. LOUIS pork ribs. - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

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

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 ribs were meaty and tender and the Tri-tip was cooked perfectly. Glad you recycle the plastic. Sad we didn't see a Navy flag hanging among all the other service flags. Overall it was great even for a KC BBQ girl like me. Thanks! read more

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

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.

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

The restaurant was very clean they stated that it is cleaned daily, and I can tell that it is. The food was amazing the brisket was exceptional and has truly changed my life. It's the most amazing meat I've ever tasted. I shared with my mother but despite usually eating small portions of food, I took a lot of servings of brisket after this photo was taken read more

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

We stopped by here for lunch on our way out of Mammoth. The BBQ smelled and looked good. I shared the Big Pine Mega Platter for 1 with my hubby and it was more than enough for us. It comes with 1 side but we added an additional side because we wanted to try the potato salad and coleslaw. All the meats were cooked perfectly and everything tasted delicious. I'll be coming back for sure the next time I visit Mammoth. read more

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Been passing by this place for the last 3 years and every year my friend and I always say we're going to stop and never do. Well, we finally stopped and oh man were we disappointed we've been sleeping on this place. Order at the counter through a window. Pick up food inside. Very little communication with the staff, which is fine. Tables outside. We ordered the Big Pine Platter. 4 beef ribs, tri-tip, and pulled pork. The sides we went with were the baked green beans and potato salad. Beef ribs (5/10) were on the tough side. I now know I prefer pork ribs. I would never order this again. I like my meat to fall off the bone when it comes to eating ribs. Tri-tip (10/10) very juicy and tender. Great taste. Very well made. Pulled Pork (10/10) hands down the BEST pulled pork I've ever had. So flavorful and juicy. The potato salad was just that a potato salad. Nothing special. The baked green beans were delicious. Adding the green chilis to it definitely gave it another layer of flavor. Overall, great BBQ spot. Will come back. read more

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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

Saw this place on our drive up to Lake Tahoe, but had already had lunch so missed that opportunity. On the way back to SoCal, we had a second opportunity, so we decided to give it a try. You can't miss this place. Great billows of smoke escaping three ginormous smoke grills. And the smell of smoked meat... divine! Plenty of parking on the street. You order right in the front. I was a little lost at first and didn't know where the end of the line was. It stretches from the front of the window and all the way down the front of the business on your right hand. Ample seating. The restaurant, including their two small restrooms, were pretty clean. Restrooms are located in a small room where you pick up your food, drinks and utensils. We ordered the tri-tip (1lb), pulled pork (1lb), and a full rack of pork ribs. For the sides, we ordered mac and cheese (8oz), green chili (8oz), and two orders of the sweet rolls. The tri-tip was tender and well seasoned. The pulled pork was dry and not as flavorful as I had hoped. The ribs though, was a big hit. Well marinated, so tender that it fell off the bone, but wasn't overcooked/dry. We are a family of five (two teenagers), and we thought that this was plenty of food for us. We even had a little leftover to take home. There's a vending machine out front where you can purchase vacuum sealed bbq meats. Yep. You read that correctly. There's a signage in the front of the machine that read: IF YOU ARE HUNGRY AND CAN'T PAY, PLEASE DON'T BREAK MACHINE! CALL ME (MATT THE OWNER) AND I WILL DRIVE DOWN AND GIVE YOU FOOD FOR FREE! And he actually has his number posted. With a generous and kind owner like this, why wouldn't I want to support his business? Kudos to this human being. We will definitely re-visit whenever we come back this way. A must try. read more

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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

Very friendly staff. Clean dinning areas. Coke freestyle soda machine is a plus for beverages. Now the food...amazing. Tri-Tip was Smokey and salted perfectly. The ribs were tender and not fatty at all. Chicken sausages were big and had a GREAT snap. Pulled Pork was good. Not oily, with the perfect amount of sauce. The coleslaw was good, and very fresh. IMO it was better the next day. The Green Chili was the best side, that we ordered. Very tangy, and not too spicy, perfect. (We passed on the Mac and cheese). Definitely don't miss this if BBQ is your choice. Or just grab some to go, either from the window, or the vending machine... Yes, you can, they have a vending machine read more

Copper Top BBQ - Big Pine Mega Platter for 2 - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

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My family and I ate at Copper Top BBQ for lunch yesterday, and unfortunately it was the only meal we all had that day. Several hours later that night, every one of us became sick with food poisoning symptoms. We didn't eat anywhere else in common, which makes it very concerning that this meal appears to be the source. It was a miserable experience for all of us and not something you expect after dining out. I'm sharing this not out of spite, but to raise awareness and hopefully encourage better food handling and safety practices. Food poisoning is serious, and no one should have to deal with this after a family meal. Only thing that preventing this from a one star is that the food tasted alright. The sauce was cold and the meat was a tad dry, but the restrooms were very clean. Other than that, our experience was ruined. read more

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

The first time I went there, their food was some of the best I've ever had. This time around I took my fiancé so that she could try some bbq and we were disappointed in the quality and pricing. We got the plate for two and it was around $55 just for the plate, plus drinks and a large side that came out to about $93. The tri-tip was beyond rare, the pork ribs did not taste fresh, and were dry. The pulled pork was good, and the Mac and cheese was good too. There was a sign over the forks, knives, and condiments saying "only take what you're going to use, costs are high". Same with their soda machine. We weighed the plate for two and it was just over a pound with the container. Definitely won't be going back. I've added pictures so you can see for your self. read more

Copper Top BBQ - Cute sign. I asked the owner what kind of wood did they use and he said Almond. I could have sworn they had a sign that said oak. - 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

I was here last year and it was a good experience, this year I don't know what's going with customer service and the food quality but not it this time. The only kind person was the women at the register. I was looking at the drink options literally there for like 5 seconds when this male employee with glasses comes up and says if he can jump in since he knows what he wants. I thought that was rude, he's pouring the drink into his yeti cup. Again I was there for like a total of 5 seconds looking for the drink I wanted, the system is the not the easiest to navigate so the employee should've waited since he's on the clock and waited his turn in line. The tri tip was a bit dry. Also, the sign at the bathroom door is misleading. Because I went and knocked on the door to see if it's occupied, but then there's this other employee who scolded me by saying to read the sign to check the handle instead of knocking, I think this is dumb, because I think it's rude to turn the handle because sometimes people don't lock the door properly and you invade their privacy. That's why I gently knock to see if it's occupied, but that employee seemed to be so upset with my choice. To sum it up, customer service lacked. read more

My husband and I both enjoyed our meal of pulled pork sandwiches. It was incredibly soggy and hard to eat but we just used a fork and got dirty. I felt like it had really good flavor and I liked the grilled pretzel bun. The Mac and cheese was only ok. I love how this place is dog friendly! read more

Our favorite BBQ place so far in CA. We were told about this place during our annual mammoth trip and had to make a stop. Portions are large, even for the small bites/kids menu! My husband ordered the Tri tip burger, I had the tri tip sliders and oh my goodness! Perfectly seasoned and tender slices of tri tip packed on slider rolls. The burger had to be made fresh, but it was worth the wait. Probably the best burger my husband has ever had and it was amazing. Juicy, tender, flavorful, he would have ordered another to go if we didn't have 6 hours of travel ahead of us. We opted to pick up a pound of tri tip to go instead, excited to cook it up for an easy dinner once we return! read more

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

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Good BBQ, and great vibe with both the indoor and outdoor seating! Price is right, and the best part is that there is a sign outside that says if you are hungry and need food to call the owner and he will come give you some for free!! What a great thing!! read more

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

Stopped here on our way up to June Lake, and boy was this place a treat! They have all the smokers lined up outside as well as the wood they use for them. The meats and sides are so juicy and delicious, this has been our favorite spot to stop when we are passing through. read more

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This place is awesome and what a great find on our way to Reno last year. This time around we decided to invite as many as we could from our baseball team and even ran into some of the other teams as well when we arrived. The food is amazing and I was so excited to bring home leftovers. It's plenty of food and at such a good price. They sell quality cuts of meat and the seasoning is spot on. The vegan chili is a must as well. It's a fun place to eat and very casual. They have plenty of parking around the place but get ready for the rush of people in line waiting for the best meal ever. read more

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

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Best bbq ever! We're from Fresno. My husband found these guys on YouTube. We came a week ago and ate here. We're back again and nothing has changed. Best ribs, best pulled pork, best green chili and coleslaw! Wonderful people working here! read more

Copper Top BBQ - Pulled pork slider (had a ton of pulled pork for a slider! This is only half! So dang delicious! Green chili and coleslaw were awesome too!! - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

Great Food!!! We ordered the Tri tip sandwich and a side of mac and cheese. The food here is consistently delicious. They seem to really care about their customers and the quality of food they serve. Best barbecue in the valley. Lorena was very helpful. read more

The staff are amazing, from the woman taking orders and especially the guys manning the pits. To me, this, and the overall cleanliness of the place, suggests excellent management, and that is appreciated. For a first timer, the system was a bit confusing. In summary, one orders at the window that faces 395 and the pits. Then, one needs to go inside via the glass door and listen for your number, to fill beverages, and get some BBQ sauce. Once your number is called and one has their order, you exit the building and find a table outside near the pits or inside the mini pavilion where there is maybe 10 sharable picknic style tables. This place is very, very clean, including the pit area, the pickup area, the table areas, and the restrooms. Each picknic table has a 2 gallon tub of cleaning wipes, something anyone that eats BBQ will appreciate. I used three wipes at least! I had the tri-tip sandwich with everything, and it looks like there was some upcharge for going beyond meat on a bun. The sandwich came with two rolls and a side of slaw, with the meat atop of sort of a pretzel looking roll....the later being a surprise to me. The slaw was very good, with just enough moisture. The rolls were the sweet variety and were wrapped in foil and were quite crushed, but tasted like King's Hawaiian Rolls, so not bad, just crushed. The BBQ sauces were excellent, both the Regular and Spicy, with the latter preferred. The Tri-Tip sandwich was a disappointment. The meat appeared to have been sliced with the grain and placed sparingly on the bread. The problem with cutting the meat this way is when one takes a bite, an entire slice of meat pulls out of the sandwich and one needs to use their hands to tear the meat into a chewable piece and then put the torn off part back onto the bun. I would have expected a BBQ place to better know how to cut meat for a hand-sandwich. I'm torn on the overall score. I'm going with 3 Stars and hope that the owner and management get the meat prep for their sandwiches dialed in to match their 5 Star staff, ambiance, and cleanliness. read more

Copper Top BBQ - Tri-Tip Sandwich and Crushed, Foil Wrapped Rolls - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

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