Solid good food here They do have occasional specials that are sent out to neighbors and emailed to loyal patrons Nice that they do have a variety of BBQ sauces too Service is variable here. Staffing is tough Nice that is is well maintained and gives you the feel of southern bbq Their chili is full of meat and light on beans Solid baked potatoe too They do fry food well - Crispy without being greasy read more

See all

I was craving some good old Texas-style BBQ and drove by this place, so I turned around to give it a try. I do not know how this restaurant became "Famous" because holy--what is this?! What in God's name are these meat portions? I spent $20 for a Lunch Combo (Two Choice Meats, One Side, and Cornbread) and this is how much meat I get? I got maybe five to six thin slices of beef brisket and three child-sized catfish fingers (California Fish Grill gives three LARGE pieces for their Fish 'n Chips for a lower price!), but they seemed more than generous with the cheap filler potato wedges. The barbecue sauces they had were pitifully basic--thin, watery, with no texture. Honestly, I didn't even need much of it anyway because I barely had any meat to eat (let alone enjoy) it with. There was even a thick slice of Texas toast that I didn't bother finishing after the first bite; I guess it's just more filler to justify that steep price. The cornbread is... just cornbread, it's whatever. And yeah, toss in that single lemon wedge--I don't even know why I'd need it. Overall, the food felt like reheated slop, except for the properly fried potatoes. On top of that, a small gripe with your fountain drinks: why is it $5 for a regular soda? It's not any different from Chili's or KAOWOK's (the nearby restaurants). You're not charging for a better soda syrup dispenser, and the cup was nearly filled to the brim with ice! The staff is also questionable. One employee treated me as if to say, "Duh, everyone should know how to order around here." Well, sorry for not coming to day one of this establishment's opening. I genuinely did not know if I was supposed to order at the counter then sit down like California Fish Grill or Dick's Barbecue Pit, or sit down and wait for a menu. Also, why is this place so dark? I assume this is a shared space because there is a connected hallway to the neighboring restaurant, and looking over at them, their side is perfectly well-lit. Are you trying to make me feel miserable while eating there? It gives off the vibe that management is actively trying to cut costs, which, based on my meal, they DEFINITELY are. I understand it's supposed to be an old-school design, but there is major room for improvement that shouldn't break the bank (i.e., more and better lighting). I came home feeling completely unsatisfied and still hungry. I'm literally heading out to Dick's Barbecue Pit for dinner just to wash away this terrible experience. I'm never coming back, and neither should any newcomer. read more

Famous Dave's - Lunch Combo $19.99 - Barbeque Near Me - Downey, California

This restart is understaffed. The person that had seated us, is also the person who is our server. When we had entered, we had waited for 15 minutes and when we saw our server, waived to him that we are ready to order, he told us to wait a while and he was taking down an order from another table. Fortunately, we had no ordered our drinks therefore, we were able to walk out of the restaurant and we had went to another bbq restaurant. read more

Ordered here a few times and they keep forgetting cornbread or sides. Got ribs here for father's day and they boiled the ribs today. No rub, no smoke flavor and my container is drenched with boiled rib water.... Do not recommend read more

Famous Dave's - Should be called Dave's famous boiled ribs w/ bbq sauce on the side. - Barbeque Near Me - Downey, California

See all

I usually order barbecue from here like the family feast which is really good. But this time I ordered the devils spit burger and I was a bit unsatisfied only because I felt like I had a burger from Carl's Jr but for $17. The drinks from the bar were wack. The food there is great but not the burgers. My wife had the chili and side salad which I don't really think she enjoyed the "award winning chili" but the salad was good it's kinda hard to mess up a salad. This location is shared with carinos Italian. If you go here, stick to the barbecue. Handicap parking is in front and parking is readily available for you to park. read more

See all

We came for dinner. I was seated almost in the kitchen. Not my idea. There were lots of tables available, and I got stuck here. I ordered ribs, corn on the cob, pineapple, and a muffin. Everything tasted pretty good. The waiter came by and refilled my friend's drink. I had to chase him down to refill mine. The food was very expensive. Cost $83 for one meal for two people. read more

See all

First the waiter was clueless about the simplest things- do you have Coke Zero? Let me check. How many ribs come in the combo? Let me check. When he finally came to take our order, he became argumentative. I asked for a two meat combo. I wanted the same meat twice. He said that you can't do that. Why not? I don't know-you just can't. I promptly got up and went to Lazy Dog restaurant and had a fantastic meal. Never again will I ever go to that specific Famous Dave's. Too bad an incompetent waiter costs this restaurant my business. read more

My family and I got seated immediately which was awesome. We like ordering appetizers & our entrees at the same time that way our food comes out quick. So I tried ordering some appetizers and the waitress said they ran out every single time. Carrying on, I ordered a brisket sandwich but they gave me something different. I don't like to make things difficult so I just ate it. My daughter ordered a cheeseburger and said it was good. By the time we got home my family and I got sick, and caught a stomach flu. This was the only place we ate that day, I'm not sure if it was the bbq sauce or the cornbread we all ate. read more

See all

Have you ever walked into a place and felt like you've been there before because you have ! This restaurant has been split and half. I love that the food was delicious. I can eat this cornbread every day. I had a nice time with my dad. Five stars. read more

See all

Great service, great food. Kids got the chicken tenders , hubby got the tacos (one of each) ; MIL got a Cesar salad , and I got the fried chicken and ribs. Everything was delicious. Corn bread was 10/10 Customer service by Jose was great. Recommend grey drinks , and he was helpful Would recommend to come here. read more

Famous Dave's - The after math - Barbeque Near Me - Downey, California

Update from my previous Yelp of Famous Daves. Great location. Odd to see it against another restaurant that looks as though the owners have up on it in comparison to Famous Daves. read more

See all

Excellent restaurant and just opened I believe! Came here with a large party to have Christmas Eve dinner and did not disappoint. Food was fresh and delicious. Not sure what some of the bad reviews are about but you have to give this place a try. There is a plenty of seating inside and could use more customers! Great service and ambiance. It is located in the Downey landing food shop area and there is plenty of parking as well. read more

It was my first time trying Famous Dave's, and it was pretty good. The sides it came with were decent. The coleslaw and beans were on the sweeter side and the potato wedges were nice and fresh. I was hoping there was an option to change the sides, but the waitress told me you can't change anything and it comes as is. The fried chicken was nice and crispy and it had a nice flavor. Overall, the experience was nice. read more

Famous Dave's - FEAST FOR 2 - Barbeque Near Me - Downey, California

I ordered the ribeye and rib combo and my steak was so tough that I couldn't eat it. The bbq sauce on the ribs tasted like ketchup. I had pineapple steaks and they were so thin and dry. The best part about my meal was the garden salad. The only thing the waitress said was "I'm sorry " NEVER AGAIN!!! read more

Loved it. Big FD fan, glad to have one in the area. Good service. Food was consistent with FD expectations. Drinks were good. We had a nice meal at the table tops (self seating) watching the ufc prelims. Would definitely come back. read more

Sadly disappointed. We had great service at the table and when we entered. The decor is very modern bbq and i liked that they have ketchup and 3 bbq sauce options right on the table, plus paper towel. My fave sauce was the sassy one, rich and sassy? Something. Very tasty!! I got the ribeye and WOOO BOY it was overcooked. I ordered it medium rare and it came out medium well. The only part that was pink was when the steak was a little bit fatter and it didn't cook as hard so I was grateful for that, but that had to be about two bites. The fries are DELICIOUS and i also got the pineapple which i loved. Couldve eaten 25 of them corn muffins too. My husband got the bbq nachos and he liked them but to me they were just okay. I also got the bread pudding to go. The bathrooms were fine - maybe inbetween cleanings but had soap and tp and paper towel and all. Plenty of parking. Probably wouldnt return. Definitely overpriced and not worth it. read more

Food was good and service was very good and quick Jose was are server and he was amazing

Currently waiting for my check and it's taking just as long as it took to get our food ( 4 meals 40 minute wait ) we did get seated right away. The food was dry. Husband ordered medium well steak with shrimp...the steak was charred and burnt. The Georgia chopped sandwich was very dry. The sides were meh. Didn't make an impression enough to want to come back. read more

Order 16 0oz. Ribeye to go cost $46 charge extra $2.50 for the container. Got home and steak was rare almost raw with a ton of gristle when I asked for medium rare. read more

Famous Dave's - Barbeque Near Me - Downey, California

I've been waiting for a restaurant for famous Dave's to open in Downey. We've been going to Johnie Carina's to pick and and take home. So I got a flyer for a free brisket sandwich that came with fries. A $21.00 value with no purchase necessary. So I grabbed one of my grandsons and went to eat inside. First the place is really cute inside also very clean. We were greeted by everyone. Our waitress was fantastic she was friendly and I felt so welcomed. Almost like I knew her. Now for the food We got the free brisket sandwich delicious Also rib tips ( best I've had in along time) yummm on the fried pickles. The tacos were packed brisket and pork. The fried chicken was okay not bad but I went for BBQ. The coleslaw not bad. I will definitely go back next time I wanna try the brisket egg rolls. read more

Famous Dave's - Barbeque Near Me - Downey, California

I was really looking forward to a great BBQ meal, but unfortunately the food fell short overall. The dessert was the highlight of the visit -- it was delicious and definitely the best part of the experience. The corn wasn't sweet, and by the time butter arrived, both the bread and corn were too cold to enjoy. The ribs were also disappointing, though I did enjoy the brisket, which had good flavor and texture. For me, price isn't the issue -- I'm happy to pay as long as the quality is there. I hope this restaurant takes the opportunity to improve both the food and service because there's definitely potential. The atmosphere was OK read more

See all

I was very pleased with three meat combo, loved their macaroni and cheese, it was different. Now I have a new bar b que place near by.

We came here for dinner and ordered the Feast for Two and we picked St. Louis spare ribs (7 bones), 6 pieces of brisket, 3 pieces of fried chicken, plus fries, coleslaw, beans, 2 small corn cobs, and 2 sweet cornbreads for $58.99. Honestly, it was more than enough for me, my wife, and our toddler. We even had plenty to take home! Service: From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warm smiles from the hostess and seated right away. Our server was awesome! Super attentive, friendly, and made sure our drinks stayed full and our orders were correct. She even went out of her way to mop up a wet spot next to our table, which really stood out. One thing I did notice is there aren't any busboys, so the servers are the ones cleaning and resetting tables between customers. That's a lot for them to handle, and I think management should definitely consider hiring extra staff to help make things run smoother and reduce wait times for guests waiting to be seated. Food: * Spare ribs: 5/5 -- tender, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. * Fried chicken: 4/5 -- juicy overall, but one piece was noticeably saltier than the others (a little inconsistent with the batter). * Brisket: 3/5 -- decent flavor but a bit tough, and six small slices felt a little skimpy for a feast platter. * Coleslaw & beans: 5/5 -- both were fresh and packed with flavor. * Sweet cornbread: 10/5 if I could! Seriously the star of the meal, soft, buttery, and perfectly sweet. I'd come back just for these. They did forget to add them to our plate initially, but our server fixed it right away. ( photo missing cornbread ) * BBQ sauces & hot sauce: Both were surprisingly good! The BBQ sauce had a rich, smoky flavor with the right touch of sweetness, and the hot sauce had a nice kick without being overpowering, the perfect combo with the meats. Overall, the food was solid, the service was excellent, and the vibe was welcoming. It looks like they're still fairly new, so a few hiccups are understandable. Would I come back? Definitely. Would I recommend it? Yes. Final rating: 8/10 -- great service, solid BBQ, tasty sauces, and amazing cornbread! read more

Famous Dave's - FEAST FOR 2 - Barbeque Near Me - Downey, California

This was my 1st time trying a Famous Dave's and I had a good experience. I was with a group that ordered the party tray, so we got to try a bit of everything. My craving was with the friend chicken, and it didn't disappoint. The service was great, and we were comfortable in our booth. We were not there to watch anything, so it wasn't loud or annoying while we were eating, which i appreciate. I would come back. read more

Evelyn was the best! So sweet and easy to talk to. She made sure we were good the whole time and had us laughing too. Everything came out great and she stayed on top of our drinks without us even asking. She just made the whole vibe better. We'll for sure be back and hope we get her again! read more

I ordered online. They charge for containers and want a 15% or more tip. I ordered xtra bbq sauce and i didnt get it. All the xtra charges and tip and you can't get my order right all I wanted was just an extra side of barbecue sauce. I didn't think it'd be that hard. So with that being said. That was the highlight of my night. That was the only down fall. Other then that the food was fabulous read more

Service was great food was great! Ashley had our table she was so great and so helpful give her a raise lol read more

I went to Famous Dave's in Downey 3 June with my daughter for dinner. We waited for about 10 minutes to hopefully be seated but the hostess never came. Employees saw us waiting but no one bothered to at least say hey we will be with you or anything. And to top it off it wasn't even busy in there. So we just left. So if you are looking for good service and you are hungry I would not recommend that place. read more

We've enjoyed their food before, but today the bbq sandwich tasted like a pork roast with liquid smoke and bbq sauce. Husband had the fried chicken which was flavorless. We love to support local restaurants. But we won't be back. read more

Great place for bbq! Service and food excellent. Great experience. Jose was not only attentive but always smiling read more

Great service , food was really good . Our server was Grettel , she was very attentive and friendly. Definitely recommend the fried chicken read more

Famous Dave's - Great service & good food - Barbeque Near Me - Downey, California

First time experiencing the incredible food selection here. I would 100% recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking great service and of course fantastic food. It has a rather different in a good way vibe than Carino's next door but the food 100% tasty. Love it... read more

Staff was really friendly but the food was salty we weren't even able to eat it. Would have returned it the return drive was to far.

Fast and friendly service. Good food and drinks. Place is clean and various options to choose from. read more

Famous Dave's - Happy hour menu - Barbeque Near Me - Downey, California

See all

I'm always looking for a good BBQ restaurant and Famous Dave's was a pleasant surprise. I had the 2 meat lunch meal with 2 St. Louis style ribs and 1/4 BBQ chicken, and the Wilbur beans as my side. The beans and chicken were wonderful but I did find the ribs to be a little dry and not as tender as I would have liked. The service was also great. Jose M was very friendly and accommodating and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. You've got to check out Famous Dave's BBQ! read more

Jose was amazing! From the moment we arrived he was welcoming, kind, and very attentive. He checked in on us regularly and made sure we had everything we needed throughout the meal. This was our first time here, and Jose really made the experience awesome. Thank you, Jose, for the great service we'll definitely be back! read more

Our first time trying it. Our server was Elijah. Nice and helpful guy. We ordered strawberry lemonade. It was tasty. I had one meat item combo, he had two items. Our food came quickly. Looked good and tasted good. It was lunch, so they usually have smaller portions. But it was perfect. Elijah checked on us several times. The place is new so everything is clean. The music was very LOUD!! Elijah offered us a fresh drink to go. I got a raspberry lemonade (tasted better) than the strawberry. read more

See all

Oof. This breaks my heart. How can the restaurant have gone from a 5-star opening to a 1-star five months later? The service is extremely hit or miss. The staff just seems so over it. Like... Where do they keep disappearing to? The restaurant isn't too big, so it's odd to miss out on seeing them for so long. During our visits multiple staff has complained about not being scheduled enough, so perhaps it's hard for them to personally invest in a company that doesn't want to invest in them. We keep giving chance after chance with Famous Dave's because of our first impressions, but those seem to have been some opening week excitement that wasn't sustainable. Lately the rib tips are no longer slow cooked and they are filled with fat and gristle. The burnt ends are more like charcoal ends. The food is cool to the touch. Speaking of cool to the touch... TURN THE TEMPERATURE DOWN ON YOUR KEGS! Your beer is warm! Chili's next door has cold beers, and that's where we walked to after waiting 15 minutes to order a beer on a Monday afternoon at 4pm. I don't see us giving Famous Dave's another shot, but hopefully these notes can make some sense of it all. read more

Ive been going to famous daves locations for years. Ive had so many good experiences with friends and family at many of their locations. Its one of my all time favorite restaurants. I went in to the Downey location and ordered a modelo, took a drink and it wasn't cold. I was like f@×! I should of gotten the smaller size instead of the big mug now i got to drink this soup. If there is something i dislike in the whole world, its a warm beer. I went over the menu and the picture of the ribeye caught my attention. That picture makes it look amazing. So I ordered the Rib eye (well done) and wings meal. When I got the food they brought me something that looked like a log of charcoal. It looked nothing like the picture lol. I was like what the hell is this. I took a bite and couldn't brake it down or chew it. It tasted like i was eating an actual piece of charcoal that you use to bbq. I told the waitress it was burnt and she was like hell yeah it is. She said she would bring another one, I told her to make it medium this time hoping for a better result. She was kool about it and I was like what a nice waitress. I started eating the wings and noticed they were half the size of a regular wing and they had no meat on them. I ate the wings in no time since they had no meat lol. Then I went after the corn bread and I noticed it was half the size of their regular corn bread lol. I ate the beans and held off on the mashed potatoes while I waited for the Rib eye. The waitress brought the other Ribeye and I was like is this the same Ribeye she just took? I was like should I have ordered it rare? I was like this doesn't look like the picture on the menu, its half the size, is she bringing the other piece that is missing later? This is false advertising lol. She said is that better, I was thinking are you blind. She brought me an almost identical piece of burnt meat but less charcoal. I decided im going to give it a try, so I scrapped off some of the charcoal from one end and put some bbq sauce. I chewed and chewed but that meat was tough as hell. I couldn't do it the charcoal flavor was ingrained in the meat and it had no flavor at all. I told the waitress and all she could say is im so sorry. I couldn't look at that ribeye let alone eat. I payed almost 40 bucks for something I didn't eat or enjoy. I came home and my stomach started growling. I had to rush to the toilet. Im actually on the toilet writing this. That meal messt up my appetite, stomach and my day. Lesson learned, I don't want to go through this again so I will hold off on going to this location. Still love famous dave's though. read more

Famous Dave's - This is the second Ribeye cooked Medium that they had to bring me because the firstone was burnt. Imagine the first one cooked well done - Barbeque Near Me - Downey, California

Stopped in Famous Dave's tonight for dinner we were greeted at door by friendly staff and seated promptly tonight are food was good I had the ribs tonight my friend had the 2 meat combo very good generous portions. The restaurant is clean TV's in the Bar with sports . Our server Alyssa was very friendly with a sense of humor very nice came back several times to check on us make sure all was good great service I will be back . read more