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

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

Friendly staff, quick service, and delicious food. Tri-Tip sandwich was well portioned and the toasted bun was a nice touch. Mac and cheese is well seasoned and paired well with the sandwich. Outdoor seating available with a great view, indoor seating as well. Satisfied with my experience. read more

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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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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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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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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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

Located right on hwy 395, the smell made us turn around and what a great decision! Best bbq pork ribs I've ever had!!! Amazing Tri-tip that's so juicy with smoke flavor and seasoning that is to die for. I wish they were located in my hometown of Seattle. The service is very kind polite and fast. Clean restrooms and tables with wet wipes on the table, you'll need them. Stop by if you're passing by you'll be so glad you did We ordered 1/2 rack of ribs, & 1/2 lb. Tri-tip and 2 sides was enough with a little left overs for two. Thanks to Copper Top BBQ and their kind staff 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

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

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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The road unwinds, dust on your tires, and then you see it: Copper Top. A beacon. You order the tri-tip. It arrives, not on a fussy plate, but in a simple container, a testament to its unpretentious excellence. The first thing you notice is the meat - sliced thick, a deep, smoky pink, hinting at hours spent slow-cooked, coaxed to perfection. It's tender, yielding with just a fork, each bite a rich, savory revelation. Then, the pickles. Crisp, a vibrant green, their sharp, briny counterpoint cutting through the richness of the beef, a necessary jolt. And that bun... it's not just bread, it's a pretzel, golden-brown and chewy, subtly salty, holding it all together with a quiet confidence. This isn't just a sandwich; it's an honest meal. It's the reward for a long drive, the simple satisfaction of something done right, without fanfare or pretense. Copper Top, near Bishop. They don't just serve food; they serve an experience. Five stars. It's the kind of stop you build a trip around. read more

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

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Pros: - Great exterior vibes with the smokers right out front on 395, eastern sierra vistas in the backgroound. Can't get much better! - Tri-tip and sauces were delicious. Perfectly seasoned and smoked! Cons: - pricey, especially considering the meals only came with one side. Feels like most bbq places you get at least two sides with your plate - side selection was lacking read more

1 lb of tri tip. Smoked right in front of the restaurant. They have patio seating as well as indoor seating (with electric heaters). They also have vacuum sealed meat for take out. Definitely recommend if you're in the area. read more

Copper Top BBQ - Tri tip (1lb) - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

This place lives up to the hype! We came here for lunch after a backpacking trip and it truly hit the spot. I ordered the tri-tip meal and my husband ordered the tri-tip sandwich meal - both of us left very full and happy. The tri-tip is very tender and not dry or tough whatsoever. They also give you a very generous portion (which I guess should be expected for $22/plate) - not only do you get a large helping of meat, each meal comes with a side, a drink, and 2 sweet rolls. On top of it, the service was very efficient. We lucked out and arrived when there was no line (in fact, we let several people in front of us while we perused the menu) and maybe 5 minutes passed in between ordering and receiving our food. Overall, I definitely recommend this BBQ place if you're passing through the area! You will not be disappointed! read more

This place is consistently amazing. We go up to Mammoth from LA a lot, and we love stopping by here for dinner when the timing is right. Pretty much everything on the menu is delicious. The staff is friendly, and the service is actually pretty quick for being made to order BBQ. And they even sell vacuum sealed meats from a vending machine that you can take home to eat! Though we have never tried that, because we always stop there to eat. They have tubs of wet wipes on all the tables, so you know they are legit. And they allow dogs, too. The view from the tables is stunning. Having a beautiful view of the Sierras while eating delicious BBQ is something everyone should experience! read more

The most tender and juiciest meat . So good! The place has an i door patio and outdoor seating area. I loved their Mac and cheese. You walk up and order then you go and pick up your food and drinks and then find a spot. Very dog friendly. The owner was super friendly. read more

On the way back from Bristlecone Pine Forest on June 19th 2025 my go to stop is always here as the food , staff and atmosphere is great and not to mention the food is prepared outdoors on their grills . Worth the stop for me about two to three times per year when i head up on my camping trips . What you see here is their famous Full Rack of Pork Spare Ribs and their homemade mouth watering Mac & Cheese. Don't get me started on their Brisket but today was a rib type of day read more

Copper Top BBQ - Full Rack Pork Spare Ribs with homemade Mac and Cheese with their signature bbq sauce in the side - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

Great food, excellent service. We got the tri tip, ribs & all sides (which were all vegetarian which the meat eaters and vegetarians in our family happy. Drinks were great & interesting. We chose the butterscotch soda made with natural cane sugar. We grabbed some Maga hot sauce for the road and a cold brew coffee for the drive. Yum & fun all around. read more

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

Passed by this place on the way down from a trip down the 395 from Tahoe and wow... This is hands down some of the best bbq I've had in general hands down! Everything was well seasoned and cooked, but I honestly think that the green chili was one of the most underrated items. The service was a nice little walk up window and I like the indoor dining space with all of the patches on the wall. Love that the place is pet friendly as well! read more

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

I bought this bison jerky at this location, my little dog and I got sick, since I was driving around 7pm I never got to see it inside. Not happy about it. nasty read more

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I don't know what all the hype is about. The pulled pork was mushy. The chicken sausage tasted like grocery store packaged franks heated up in an oven. The ribs were the best thing we got and mediocre at best. We were sorry we stopped. read more

Really tasty bbq and good beer. Walk up order and service. Food comes in plastic food containers that are reusable but we ended up throwing ours away because we were headed into mammoth. We got the 2 person combo with mac n cheese. Everything was so great and flavorful. The tri tip was juicy, tender, Smokey. The rib meat fell off the bone. The sausage was yum. And the pulled pork made a good slider with the bun. We love this spot. Will be back read more

Copper Top BBQ - Combo and Mac n cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

Fourth time stopping here this year on our way to Bridgeport. This time we got the tri-tip meal and there was definitely enough for the two of us for lunch. The tri-tip and bbq sauce taste even better than the lovely aroma lofting from the grills. The macaroni and cheese is so cheesy and yummy. We got an extra side of potatoe salad which has that homemade taste made with red potatoes and is savory and satisfying. The meal comes with two hawaiian style rolls and a beverage. The service is exceptional as they have been working all morning getting the food ready so when you place you order it is only minutes until it is ready to eat. This is one of the best road trip stops available onthe 395 through Big Pine. They open at 11 am and a line starts forming by 11:05. read more

Copper Top BBQ - macaroni and cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Big Pine, California

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The food was amazingly delicious! The service was fast, the area is very clean! Definitely a place where you want to stop by and grab some food! read more

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Absolutely do not sleep on Copper Top BBQ. Do yourself a favor and make it a point to stop here on your way up or down US-395. I first found out about Copper Top BBQ while watching a YouTube video in preparation for our weeklong camping/road trip along the Eastern Sierras. I immediately saved this to my US-395 Yelp collection. The anticipation built as we started our road trip from Bridgeport. We made it to Big Pine about halfway through our trip and I was extra hungry that day. I already knew that I wanted to get the Big Pine Sampler for 2, so we ordered at the window as soon as we arrived. We even planned to be there when it opened at 11, and there was already a short line. The Big Pine Sampler for 2 also comes with fountain drink cups. We got orange cream sodas. Little did I know how much meat we would be getting, so for $40 this is a steal. It was a beautiful day and it was the perfect weather to sit outside with the mountain views. While we waited, we filled up some sauce cups with their house-made spicy BBQ sauce and then found a place to sit. Our food was ready in no time. They accidentally gave us a wrong side, so we got to keep the extra side when we picked up the proper one. That was great since I wanted to try all the sides anyway. There was so much meat! We had leftovers (including sides) for that evening, which we thoroughly enjoyed by our campfire. I can't even begin to tell you how good the meat was. Every piece of meat was smoked to perfection. The chicken sausage was dripping with juice. The pulled pork was to die for and unlike any pulled pork I've had in terms of texture. The meat was falling off the bone for the ribs. And certainly last but not least, the tri-tip was the best I've had in a long long time. Even the accompanying rolls were soft and flaky, just as I liked them. The sides were all delicious as well, but my favorite was the green chili, followed by the mac and cheese. Both the potato salad and the coleslaw were refreshing. Cooper Top BBQ was everything we wanted for our BBQ fix and so much more. We grabbed more spicy BBQ sauce on the way out for our leftovers. Nothing was wasted. Everything was devoured. Add Copper Top BBQ to your list of good eats when you visit the Eastern Sierras. You won't regret it. read more

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Honestly blown away by this BBQ spot. We stopped on our way home from Mammoth for a quick lunch. It's hard to miss the smoke coming out of the grills as you drive by. Parking is easy and it's self seating. I got half a rack of ribs and it was so good. Definitely stop by if you have the chance. read more

On our road trip heading to Mammoth, Copper Top was thrown out as an option, as well as a few other things. I, for one, said "heck yes!" to BBQ instead of a fast food burger or sandwiches. Naturally, the line was quite long when we got there, and we joined our buddy who jumped out of the car to secure a place in line as we found a place to park. I shared the Platter for 2 with my friend, and the other two got a brisket sandwich and a brisket burger. The ribs were delicious, as was the brisket. The pulled pork came with warm soft mini buns and with the bbq sauce, it was a great slider. The sausages were good as well, and juicy. My friend who got the burger said it was ok and seemed a bit disappointed. I gave him a little bit of my meal to supplement. The other friend really enjoyed the brisket sandwich, which wasn't a surprise here! We got cole slaw and mac and cheese as sides, which weren't bad, but the meats were most memorable. If our schedule aligned, we would have likely stopped here on the way home. But, we know going forward, this will be a stop any time we go up this way! Just thinking about it is making my mouth water. They have outdoor tables and some that are covered. There are only 2 bathrooms, so the line can get long. You pick up the food at the window by the drink fountain. read more

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

Don't forget to stop here if your driving thru. This is a bbq spot you don't want to miss they even have a vending machine with vacuum sealed meats to take on the go . The ribs are to die for flavored you so t even need bbq sauce sweet and tasty. The side o really liked the coleslaw. Outdoor seating or indoor. read more

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Thanks so much for this road side stop on the way up the mountain The smell of hot smokers and meat wafts through the air as you park your car! We ordered the Tri tip plate to share with an extra side and grabbed some squirts of their famous sauces Outdoor seating and covered seating with heaters. Very casual and delicious read more

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Once you try it, you'll understand why people stop for this place on their way to or from Mammoth! Their brisket isn't dry, their Mac and cheese isn't lacking cheese, and their service is truly with a smile! Seating is indoor and outdoor, and it can fill up quickly during peak eating times. read more

Ordered the Tri Tip and Mac Bowl and 1/2 Rack of Ribs. Both dishes were killer. Tri Tip was tender and flavorful and paired well with the Mac and cheese. The meat of the ribs fell right off the bone. Juicy and delicious. The sauce also added a different level of flavor with smokiness and slight sweetness. Would highly recommend this place for any BBQ lovers. read more

The food was good. I love their Spicy BarBQ sauce, although it said it was spicy it wasn't but the flavor is so good. We ordered the Big Pine Platter which has all of the meats and the coleslaw hits. I also tried the tri tip burger and it was pretty decent, the thing that kinda sucked was they offer a packet of thousand island sauce and it's not a good one. If they made a special sauce for their burger dang it would be really good. Josh was very helpful and gave good suggestions, as it was our first time trying the place out. There's a walk up window where you order, plenty of outside seating. Some inside seating in a barn type of setting which is neat. It's a causal type of place. I also appreciate the Smoky BarBQ pits out front, love the experience. read more

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An authentic, roadside BBQ in the Owens Valley Stopped in for a snack on the return from Reno to the LA area and was AMAZED by the food, intrigued with the casualness, and won over by the people. M&C: Crazy good! (Do you smoke this on the grille?) Perfect Pulled Pork Slaw: Need more, thank you Potato Salad: Like home made Yes, you want the Chocolate Cake Coming back for a full meal and will be trying the ribs next time A raw casualness and friendly crew from the order window, pick up and being able to chat with the pit-masters/cooks. I imagine during a busy snow season, this place would be nearly impossible to find a bench, so be friendly. read more