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Destination Smokehouse & Eatery

4.3 (859 reviews)

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DESTINATION SMOKEHOUSE & EATERY ATMOSPHERE

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Moderate noise
Casual
Touristy
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Recommended Reviews - Destination Smokehouse & Eatery

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Brisket & Cheddar Sandwich w/ Side of Mashed Potatoes, Pulled Pork Taco & NYC Sandwich
Sal C.

Very delicious pastrami, brisket and pulled pork!! You can't go wrong with Texas Toast and everything was filled with so much flavor!

8oz side of mac and cheese
Carly T.

5 STARS Don't walk...RUN to this place!! We were in hemet for work and decided to give this place a try after following them on social media for awhile and wow...I am so glad we did! My friend got the oxtail bowl with rice and a side of mac n cheese and I had the brisket and cheddar sandwich with coleslaw. Walking in, you are greeted by the sweetest staff and they offer to give you their recommendations and explain the menu to you. About the menu, it's short and to the point, which I love. They offer maybe 6 different sandwiches, different sides (3) I think and they have tacos, bowls, etc. The restaurant is so cute and clean. It's located in Hemets old train station...which is so amazing. Having grown up in hemet & still visit the area, I love to see businesses like this thriving. Now onto the food...everything was DELICIOUS. I will say that brisket and cheddar sandwich and the mac and cheese were OUT of this world. Get both kinds of bbq sauce too...the regular and the spicy...so damn good! I cant stop thinking about the mac and cheese, it had the best texture and some smoky-ness to it! My friend loved the oxtail..literally fall off the bone! If you are in the area, you've gotta check this place out!!!!

Smoked oxtail, beans, potato salad, and toast.
Shan H.

We drove a little bit over an hour to try this place (Hemet location) and it did not disappoint. Unfortunately, we did stand in line for about 30 minutes and was told that was actually a good time. However, it was most definitely worth the wait. Love the vibe of the place though. They had a DJ that was playing some old-school R&B. The owner was there too, and he's really nice. The lady that took our order was really nice too. She asked was it our first time there and explained the menu to us. Definitely recommend this place. Smoked oxtails 5/5 Beans 5/5 Potato Salad 2/5 Brisket & cheddar sandwich 5/5 Toast 5/5 Lemonade 5/5

Dry brisket.
Alex M.

I've seen their IG account with mouth watering BBQ and sides, so I stopped in at noon while I was in the area. So disappointed. Maybe they had an off day, but this was some of the driest, over cooked BBQ I've ever had. I ordered a 1/2 lb each of the sliced brisket and oxtails. Terrible. The brisket was so dry it broke apart like wood. I choked it down. The oxtails were cooked to the point that all that was left was the bones and some dry, chewy, over smoked scraps of meat. I would have thrown it all out, but it was $38 total for these meats. I didn't order any sides. I judge a BBQ spot on its meat. A friend has been sending me their IG posts saying we need to do a dinner here with our wives. I had to tell him we're passing. I had high hopes after seeing the hype on their IG. Do better DS.

Beans, potato salad and pork belly.
Markita L.

Let me start by saying that the customer service was great. The ladies that were working that day were friendly and know how to provide great service. For the food; they were out of a some things when we went to order, Mac n cheese and eventually the oxtails. I believe some other items as well. The pork belly was delicious and had some good flavor, just wished it was warmer. The beans were so so. They didn't really taste like baked beans more so out of the can. The potato salad was so so as well. My aunt said the oxtails that she got were salty and the brisket was dry. She did like the pork belly though. The outdoor seating area was nice especially since it was nice weather that day. Maybe I'll have to catch them when they first open to see how it differs. Also want to check out their second location. All and all, it was alright. I definitely see the potential though.

Brisket Philly
Jesse R.

Food is top notch. Very flavorful and filling. I had the El Paso burger which was delicious. Can't beat smoked brisket piled on top of a smoked burger patty that was about an inch and a half thick. The bun was super soft and light. Also the BBQ sauce was a great zap of flavor. The only reason this place was 4 stars is because they are a bit pricey. The burger was by itself, sides were extra, doesn't even come with fries or anything. Everything else was extra. A side of anything such as bbq beans or Mac and cheese started at $7.98. Anyways, service was pretty quick and helpful. The set up is nice and clean. Seating was available inside and out. Recommend to go before the lunch to avoid the lines that run out the door.

Menu
Sharquay N.

Came at noon. Service was quick. Clean establishment and very quiet. They have updated menus on the screen. My go to is always the brisket and cheddar. I added a size of mac n cheese for a side

Brisket burger
Tony Y.

So worth the drive. From LA county and made the trip out to hemet for the infamous smoked oxtails. It's everything you expected, fall off the bone and smokey goodness. We also got a brisket burger and it was amazing as well! would definitely get something else next time i'm around the area. They don't have the hugest parking lot but there's parking on the other side of the shared lot. Good amount of seating outside and a couple tables inside.

Brisket, pork belly burnt ends, oxtail, pork ribs, toast, potato salad
Derek B.

First - it's in the museum - park in the dirt lot. It's not painfully obvious where they are except maybe the larger smoker outside. I've seen all the videos so on the way to Temecula we stopped for lunch. We got there at about when they opened. The first thing I noticed was the absence of smoke smell, and I looked at the equipment outside and it was cold. Maybe not what I feel I should walk into A smoke house. They don't have a combo platter so after asking. I just ordered a half pound of the following Pork ribs - these were good tender and juicy. Not sure I was a fan of their bbq sauce and they didn't have options of sauces Brisket - didn't see a smoke ring - not bad not great. Maybe I just don't feel brisket like I should. I feel like the bbq sauce is the let down. Pork Burnt ends - dry and odd. Not sure how they were so bad. Not crunchy. Oxtail - meat was good seemed a little too blackened. My overall feeling was this wasn't cooked fresh and reheat. I've heard some places don't cook everyday. I over ordered just to try everything. My bill was about a $140 for the tray you see.

Pork Belly Tacos
Alicia M.

Destination Smokehouse is located in Hemet off Florida and State next to the Hemet Museum in a small private parking lot. This location features indoor, short tables as well as an outdoor paved patio with shade and seating. This place is a hidden gem and has great BBQ !! There was a nonstop line while we dined inside so be prepared. We tried both the strawberry and cookie butter shake - both were thick and creamy ! Definitely something you can share ! we also had the El Paso burger, the brisket and cheddar sandwich and a platter with oxtail, brisket, ribs and pork belly, along with baked beans, coleslaw and potato salad. The meat was so tender and juicy , it all fell apart and melted in our mouth ! They had bottles of spicy and regular BBQ sauce - I preferred the regular. The pork belly was my favorite - so much flavor and juicy ! And the baked beans !?? I normally don't eat beans but WOW!! Best bbq baked beans I've had ! They also served the platter with their homemade house pickles and they were great! Service was friendly and we had all of our food in about 15 minutes . Inside has a little bit of history to it with a lot of natural lighting and makes you feel right at home . It's a lovely place and the owner Nick is a great guy ! Check out my Instagram for full video on this location and more ! @guacdirtytome_ or @inlandempirefoodies

Azusa H.

Wow. Amazing. This place was absolutely delicious. My so and I got there around 10:30am just to avoid any lines but we were one of the first ones there so when they opened at 11am, we were able to order fast. We decided to get 1lb if ox tail and El Paso burger to share which was the perfect amount for 2 people. The burger had both brisket and patty which made it even tastier. Ox tail was falling off the bone and it was pure deliciousness. I want to say I liked the El Paso burger more but they were both amazing. They had inside / outdoor seating so we decided to sit outside since there was plenty of seating. The staff was friendly and came to check how the food was. Overall I think it's definitely worth the drive!

BBQ Baked Beans
Jeremy C.

Great food. Decided to try this place again and was very pleased this time. The brisket was nice, tender, and juicy. Just enough cheese and the toasted bread made a good holder for the meat. I had the BBQ baked beans and they had a good kick, I added just a squirt of the BBQ sauce and it was great!!! The lady at the front assisted with my decision on what to eat. The place inside hadn't changed from when it was destination coffee. The only thing that did was the modern menus. They have shakes but for some reason that do not post it anywhere. So if you are in the mood for something sweet, you need to ask the person in the front. Today when we went it was busy but the service was fast.

The cheddar brisket sandwich
Sean S.

Coming from LA and working in Hemet, I stumbled upon this delicious hole in the wall place on Yelp. I must say the experience put Hemet on the map for me. The cheddar brisket was astoundingly tasteful, juicy, not under or overcooked, but done just right. It came warm on an unbelievably great herb toasted Texas roll. I had the BBQ sauce on the side and a side of ranch, both of those sauces were something unique to Destination, not some off the Sam's club shelf taste but very potent and flavorful. I added the smaller sizing of the Mac n Cheese, the damn thing made me so full and I'm a big guy. It was rich in flavor, the cheese was melted but not so watery, and they put some fantastic spices to give it that final blow to your flavor buds. For the $24 I spent i couldn't have been happier! The service at the register was exceptional, the lady greeted me delightful and repeated the order back to me. She later came to check up on how I was doing even when I was sitting pretty far back in the outdoor dining area. The ambiance was rich, the old railroad crossing turned into restaurant & Museum are a modern twist on a classical era. I highly recommend you try this place if you're in Hemet!

1/2 pound oxtail $17.00 (this was 1/2 pound )

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5 months ago

I'm pretty sure this location is closed. The BIG one is in Murrieta, Ca. The BBQ Meat is delicious, the side need some work.

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9 months ago

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11 months ago

The only thing bad about this place is the prices. Sooooo high!!! But the food is some of the best BBQ I've had.

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2 years ago

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10 months ago

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10 months ago

Food has always been amazing!!! Was a regular customer every Saturday when it was in Hemet train station

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Ask the Community - Destination Smokehouse & Eatery

When will Hemet location be reopening?

It's open now as of 8-2-24 I believe hours are 11:am to 3: pm Tuesday-Saturdays limited menu

Is this place open?

Hemet closed until August 2, 2024. Murrieta currently open Thurs - Sun; expanded hours expected in the future, but not announced yet (7/12/24). Check before trying to visit outside of those times.

Do they still sell coffee?

Yes they do.

Is this place good for work/studying since covid?

It's pretty quiet other than street noise and customers. But I'd rather study at the park

Is there free WiFi there?

Yes with order

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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Harvard St Bakery And Cafe - This is the other side.

This is the other side.

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