I can definitely see why this place is so popular. The service is fast, straightforward, and the food gives you a lot for the price. We ordered the famous tri-tip sandwich, the Firebird, and a half-and-half basket of fries and onion rings. To be honest, we were both a little disappointed by the tri-tip sandwich. They give you a generous amount of meat, but the flavor was milder than expected, and the meat itself was slightly tough, which made the sandwich less enjoyable overall. The Firebird, on the other hand, was unexpectedly delicious. It is basically two chicken tenders in sandwich form, but the fresh toppings and Thousand Island dressing brought everything together perfectly. The true star, though, was the fries and onion rings. Seriously, just get them. We had not planned to order them, but the cashier convinced us and guaranteed we would not regret it--and he was absolutely right. The fries were definitely on the salty side, but in the best possible way. The onion rings were my personal favorite and easily the winner of the meal. What's not to like?--great value, quick service, and comfort food done right. read more

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Hands down the best pulled pork I've had. Can't speak to ambience because I got it to go, however it was bustling in there! I particularly appreciate that I can get the pork in a to go cup, instead of buying a sandwich and throwing the bread away. read more

SLO classic, every time I'm up here to visit I have to stop by this place. The reason this gets a four from me is because of the consistency issues of the tri-tip sandwich. My first time there this thing was piping hot and super tender, second time the same thing, but the third time when I brought my entire family to try it we all complained it was dry towards the center of our sandwiches and they tried to hide this using excessive amounts of sauce. Could be a fluke but it was disappointing, but then again not disappointed enough to stop me from coming back again. Besides that the place has very quick service and also a sport-bar interior with sports memorabilia everywhere. Definitely has an amazing vibe with some good food. read more

Firestone Grill is a casual eatery in San Luis Obispo known for its tri tip sandwiches and burgers. You order at the counter and pick-up your food at the counter. There's indoor seating and outdoor covered patio seating as well. The portions are good for sharing and the prices are reasonable for the area. Overall, the food is pretty average bar food, but can be saved by the sauces on the side. The chipotle chicken sandwich tasted bland and was messy to eat, but paired well with the onion rings and fries. I'd recommend this place for a big group looking to eat a casual meal family style. read more

Firestone Grill - Onion Rings - Basket, Fries - Basket, Chipotle Chicken Sandwich, Tri-Tip Sandwich, Veggie Avocado Sandwich, 5 Chicken Strips, Garlic Bread - Barbeque Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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This spot got recommended by a local and oh my wow! It is so good! There was a line to order but we actually went past the line and inside to grab a table and they take your order. We sat at the bar first and we had to wait a bit for a table to free up. Once we did, the lovely waitress came and took our drink orders. The drinks came shortly after and then she took our order. I had their tri-tip sandwich and omg! I totally recommend it! The bbq sauce was gold! Their fries were so good too. Not oily at all! There were TVs everywhere, of course is loud in there so it was hard to converse but overall the ambiance was lively and the food delicious. Totally recommend this spot. read more

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I didn't realize that there were so many restaurants that now require a reservation...so we opted for a quick lunch at Firestone Grill. We've been to other Firestone restaurants in SoCal, but this was my first visit to this one. This place was super crowded and loud (we were crunched for time) but luckily we were able to find a table in the bar area where it was bit less chaotic. This is a "fast-food" style ordering process, so do yourself a favor and find a seat before ordering so you're not wandering around looking for a seat afterwards. My wife and I both ordered the tri-tip sandwich with a side of French fries and shared onion rings. I'll hand it to them, as busy as they were they get orders out very quickly. The tri-tip was just so-so for me. It didn't have a lot of flavor, and while it was moist it wasn't very tender, even rather tough. The bread was soft and warm though. The French fries and onions were both very tasty and delicious. Glad that Firestone came through as a solid backup. read more

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Service was great. Burger was tasteless. Lots of tvs. Many tables for our large group. Cheese fries were super greasy. I regret ordering those. read more

Ordered our food and went to grab a drink from the bar. Both bartenders made eye contact with us sitting at the bar top but no one helped us for about 10 minutes, then our food was ready. We wanted to sit outside, so we took our food out there and now had nothing to drink with our food which is super frustrating. Food came out super quick, and it was SO yummy. (but I was thirsty) Lovely outdoor seating area. Tables are wiped down pretty frequently. I watched people from the table next to us go inside to grab a drink, took them about 20 minutes to come back with two beers. On a Wednesday!! read more

Firestone Grill - Tri-Tip Sandwich Onion Rings - Side - Barbeque Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

One of our favorite stops in SLO. Went for dinner on a Saturday night and the line to order was out the door with indoor and outdoor seating full. Found seating quickly though by having one of our party search while the rest stood in line to order. Ordered burgers, tri tip sandwiches and a tri tip salad with a large basket of fries and onion rings. They don't skimp on portions (see picture of the salad)... we struggled to finish all of our dishes! I got a taste of all the burgers and sandwiches and enjoyed all the bites. My tri tip salad had bell peppers, tomatoes, a little too many red o ions, spring mix and a vinaigrette dressing. Every bite had tri tip with it. Definitely a good place to go for a casual dinner. It's loud inside but that's expected with so many patrons cycling through. Staff is friendly and helpful. Will keep coming back whenever we're in town! read more

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I use to really like this place but recently came back for a visit and honestly not that great anymore. The tri tip sandwich was try and tough and not flavorful enough. I also had the ribs and they're also a bit tough and needed more sauce. Really enjoyed the beans actually but I brought my boyfriend here as it was his first time and he was also not impressed. read more

Firestone Grill - Barbeque Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Whenever I visit my sister at Cal Poly we make it a point to come here for the best tri tip sandwich ever. Long lines, even during the week but it is so worth it. Theres plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. The ribs and burgers are also good but the tri-tip sandwich is the must try. read more

Firestone Grill - Barbeque Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

The only reason I come to San Luis Obispo these days. The tri tip sandwich is still one of the best I've had. There's always a line, no matter what time you come. However, the order comes out very quickly. The staff has a very streamlined system to get everyone fed. There's indoor seating and a big outdoor patio seating (perfect for those with dogs). If you need extra BBQ sauce, that have them in to go containers. Water is self serve and bathrooms are on the right. Found Street parking each time I came. read more

Firestone Grill - Barbeque Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Best tri tip sandwich I've personally ever had, every time. I've been coming here with family and friends since 2012 and will never stop in slo without getting one. The bread is perfectly toasted and buttery, the meat is cooked just right, and the barbecue sauce is delicious and I've never had one I liked as much. It's also amazing how well they handle the line and crowds- you're never waiting long despite how popular it is. The employees and owner are also always nice. read more

An absolute must-try in SLO, the BBQ is one of the best I've ever had! We ordered online to pick up the food but we were really hungry so we ended up eating at the restaurant. There's a lot of seating inside and outside the restaurant and there's big tables for larger parties. Items ordered: - Tri-Tip Sandwich (5/5): Omg this tri-tip sandwich is one of the best I've ever had. The meat is so tender and not super chewy. Right amount of BBQ sauce so it doesn't make the flavor too overwhelming. Definitely try it if it's your first time here. - Monster Burger (5/5): Can't believe this burger is less than $10 because it's huge! Great flavor, comes with a lot of lettuce and cheese. - Fries (5/5): Great side with the sandwich and burger. - Onion Rings (4/5): Large onion rings, very crispy. 11/10 would come back again! read more

Firestone Grill - Barbeque Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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We on vacation in the area found this place on yelp. There's a lot of street parking and located in the center of a lot of shopping. They have a huge open outside area with a ton of Hester's everywhere. We went on a Friday night so it was very busy but they were properly staffed. The menu is really big so anyone can see it. The things were reasonably priced. The food comes out fast you go and get it at the counter. The Cesar salad was okay . My son loved the hot dog. My husband liked his sandwich. Overall a great place to come get lunch or dinner. read more

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I love this place so much! Always worth a stop if you're in slo! Plenty of seating inside and outside and food comes out fast. Tri tip sandwich: 11/10 Pulled pork sandwich:11/10 Bbq sauce and ranch are amazing. Fries: 11/10 YOU MUST GET THESE FRIES! Everything is delicious! read more

Firestone Grill - Tri-Tip Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Had an awesome family lunch here, really great BBQ, definitely a family favorite. Nice outdoor seating, first come first serve so get there fast! Inside is cool, lots of memorabilia to check out. read more

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As a former Cal Poly student (back in 2010) I'm very familiar with Firestone and so I knew it was an absolute MUST when I returned to SLO in 2026. I took my partner there for a late lunch and they had an amazing happy hour. TRI TIP: you can't go there w/o getting this sandwich. The Central Coast/Santa Maria area is famous for it. To this day, I have never had a better tri-tip sandwich than the one I can get at Firestone. Totally worth the $18 and comes with fries and a great BBQ sauce. Happy Hour: crazy good happy hour... $6 green tea shots, $8 beers. read more

Very cool bar with the best Tri Tip Sandwich I ever tasted! The fries were also really good - crispy and thin Service was pretty fast and its super busy but seats are available inside and outside! Their outside seating is large with heaters to keep you warm! Inside can be quite loud but very good vibe for sports or hanging out! read more

Firestone Grill - Tri-Tip Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

I was a bit hesitant to try this place out because they were pretty busy. To my surprise they were very efficient. The young man who took our order was polite and helpful. We all enjoyed our meals and the beer was great. Glad we stopped in! Just a warning- It is a very loud environment. The only reason I mention this is because those who have hearing difficulties like myself and wear hearing aids, this can be overwhelming. Either take them off or lower the volume before going in. read more

Firestone Grill - Cali Squeeze - Barbeque Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Food was amazing, and price was very reasonable. A rack of ribs cost 27 and was more than filling for the two of us, given we also ordered a side of fries and coleslaw. The food also comes out promptly even when it is super busy like a Friday night, which we went on. Highly recommend if you're craving bbq in slo!! read more

Firestone Grill - Rack of Ribs, coleslaw, fries. - Barbeque Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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The food here is good and if you like tri-tip, you'll definitely like this spot. Our group of 7 were able to find a table, so that was pretty nice to have everyone seated together. I had the burger and it was pretty filling. The onions rings were my favorite and it paired well with the ranch. The salad also looked pretty bomb and my buddy enjoyed it too. read more

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Very impressive operation here - they turn out an amazing amount of high quality food in a very short time. We had two baseball teams in front of us in line so it took a while to order, but after we ordered we had our food and cocktail within 3 minutes. Portions were large and prices were low ($17 for a large tri tip sandwich on a French roll, $8 for a 1/3 lb burger, and $4 for a huge basket of fries). I'm really curious how they turn out that much tri tip without running out or making too much if/when times are slow. Oh, there's also a full bar and plenty of TVs on the wall for sporting events. read more

After the first experience which was for a drink. We made another stop for a nightcap. This place is busy and for a good reason. Also everything closes early in town. Anyways, we grabbed a drink at the bar area and sat there watching tennis. But literally everyone was there ordering food. Menu wise, sandwiches/burgers, salads and sides. This place was happening. It''s very affordable so that's a big reason for them being so busy. What I really noticed was everyone ordering the brisket sandwiches. Next day, we stopped by for lunch so I can try their food. Obviously lunch time and it was packed. The line to order was quite long but did move fast. You order at the counter and from there they'll call your number out when the order is ready. Plus, alcoholic drinks have to be ordered at the bar area. Seating both inside and at bar area as well as the massive covered patio. The girl that took my order was quite friendly. I asked about certain things and she was very accommodating. Order wise, the jalapeños burger and brisket sandwich. And a half and half basket or fries and onion rings. There's two sizes for side order so when she said get the small to share, it was perfect. I saw the large basket come out and it was massive. Anyways, the food was quite nice and tasty. Burger was really juicy and massive. I'm not a burger person but from what we've seen last night, it looked amazing. Also the brisket sandwich served in a French bun was tasty. Bbq sauce on top as well as extra in the side. The meat was nice and thick but very tender and juicy. I see what the hype is all about here for food. It's a place that everyone knows about and throughout the day, it is crazy busy. Loads of college kids as well as locals. Food was very reasonable as well as drinks. Portion wise, they're massive. Perfect for sharing as everything was big but with it being so reasonable, might as well try everything else. Also, the salad looked amazing as well. Served in a bowl that looks like it could feed two to three people. First drinks and now food, this place was great. It's on our list for next time. Beer and burgers. Line is crazy but it does move fast. A big college hotspot for food. read more

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Yes yes yes and yes! I ordered the tri-tip sandwich which comes on a French roll and it was a total knockout. Worth every penny and this restaurant has an incredible staff that makes you feel welcomed and at home! Shout out to Carrie, Max and everyone's favorite regular Brent! read more

Firestone Grill - Tri-tip sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA The Pros: - Casual dress code - good for big or small groups / families - quick and easy menu and ordering process - decent food / bbq -cold drinks and beer -outside patio The Cons: - Never expect great customer service or just service at all. Not part of their brand. They are not rude or disrespectful. I believe hospitality isn't to be encountered here most of the times I've visited. - Food presentation can be a little messy. If you order a Sandwhich or Burger the lettuce and onions could be falling out, and the bun could look smashed or overly pressed. Not a biggie. I walk in knowing where I am. Fries can be very soggy but that seasoning is great. I can taste the MSGs. Love it. My Experience: Walked in. 10 People ahead of me. Line moves quick. I was ordering within 5 minutes. Cashiers are pleasant sometimes. Got my receipt with a big number they call later on a mic. Expo called my number and they threw a bag in front of me. Code for I am busy and I work here type of americana vibes. I asked for some bbq sauce and ranch. Dude never looked me in the eye. Just dropped two sauces in my bag and passed my bag like a football which I caught with my chest. As an observer this is common here. Order the ABC burger. Good burger with avocado. Dry buns but good. Super smashed buns by quickly preparing it maybe. No biggie again. Bbq tri-tip sandwich came with a drop of bbq. But that tri tip is very good. We were lucky we ordered extra bbq sauce on the side. Their bbq and ranch are excellent! Staple of SLO. Everyone loves it as we do too. To the new visitors I would advice: just know what you are getting into: Big space, lots of seating, good for families, quick bites, fast service and casual. Hospitality isn't their goal. Great local spot. Good bbq and tender tri-tip. Average burgers. Always busy and Loud. We will always be back! :) Thank you! read more

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Admittedly, not my style of place. I'm okay with fast casual overall, but Firestone Grill was too loud / too hectic for starters. After ordering, I went to the fountain beverage station where there wasn't a single drink that didn't have lots of caffeine, sugar, or both. That didn't "impress me much" - sing it, Shania! I wanted to like it, especially as we were meeting our daughter and son-in-law as they were passing through. We were vacationing with their young daughter and they were up for meeting in SLO as they drove south. As a first time experience, it didn't win me over. Reading some of the other reviews I see that I should have tried their Tri-Tip sandwich. I'd just ordered that the day before, so I went with "the Pig" instead. While the texture was good, the flavor was underwhelming. The best thing we had were the onion rings. They did have some distinct flavor and were cooked to perfection. We ordered a side of ranch beans and there was something off on the taste that wasn't what I was expecting. They weren't bad, but just not the tangy sauce that you'd normally get with a good ranch beans preparation. The cole slaw dressing didn't work for my taste buds, either. Instead of being able to have a conversation about the respective vacation days we'd spent (they visited Paso Robles / Monterey / Santa Cruz / Carmel / Big Sur, while we'd been in the Paso area for four days, so lots to discuss), our talk was continually interrupted by numbers being called for pickup. The order calling was at high volume. The industrial architecture and decor were okay with me. We sat inside. They also have a very large outdoor covered patio area. I'd consider a future visit, perhaps not at dinner time when all the hard working guys were coming in to get quantities of barbecued meats. A mid-afternoon late lunch would probably be quieter. Parking is on the street and you will have to pay for it. read more

Firestone Grill - The Pig sandwich and sides. - Barbeque Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Stop by before going to solvang. Got two tri tip sandwiches and some bbq sauce. The tri-tip was soft and flavorful, and the bread was warm and crispy outside and buttery, and the barbecue sauce was warm with a little tang and spice. read more

Firestone Grill - Barbeque Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Delicious tasting Tri-Tip Sandwich in a bar/sports environment ! Ordering at this place can be a little overwhelming since it's quite loud and there's a lot of people. It's all paid street parking so it can take a little time to find a spot. There's plenty of seats outside and indoors! Between four people, we ordered 3 sandwiches, a basket of fry, and a soda. The total came out to be $65 which isn't too bad. There's an army of people working the kitchen so our food came out relatively fast. If you ask, they can provide a side of BBQ sauce and ranch for your sandwich and fries. read more

In my opinion, this is the best best BBQ in town. It is a well oiled machine at Firestone Grill. They have an army working to make the line move fast and the food prepared for your enjoyment. The decor inside gives you a feel like they are really engrained in the community with jerseys and pictures hanging on the walls. Plenty of seating inside or outside. The tri tip sandwich is the star of the show and you can ask for no butter on the bread if you're allergic to dairy. The thin tri tip slices pair well with the seasoned skinny fries. I surprised myself by ordering a salad and it was MASSIVE. You get a lot of bang for your buck with the regular salad and would recommend. Firestone is the place we HAVE to stop at every time I'm in town and feel like it is for most people because it is ALWAYS busy. read more

Firestone Grill - Tri-Tip Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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A SLO staple! The tri tip in any form is absolutely essential. It was one of my favorite spots in college and it still is 15 years later. Fast service and delicious food. read more

I stayed in San Luis Obispo for a couple days, so of course I had to check out one of their most popular BBQ joints, which was Firestone Grill. Ordering was pretty simple, which was lining up to get to the front of the counter, place an order with the cashier, and then get a number. You have to get your own table though. I ordered the tri tip sandwich, Firestone salad, and onion rings to share with my girlfriend. The order came out pretty quick, like about 4-5 minutes. The tri tip was pretty moist, and I really liked the sauce. It's a little plain for my taste though in terms of sandwich construction (just meat and buns), but for a simple sandwich, it was good. The salad was pretty good as well and for a "small", it felt like a large to me. The onion rings were just ok though, nothing home to write about. Overall, Firestone Grill is a good spot to try some tri tip sandwiches and salad. Bathroom seemed kind of dirty. Service was nice. read more

Firestone Grill - Barbeque Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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We're all creatures of habit.... My partner and I go up to SLO typically once a year and when we do, we always stop at Firestone Grill. Nothing changes from year to year...our order is the same...two tri-tip sandwiches and a basket of onion rings. Always delicious! Firestone Grill is busy but it's a fast-casual place, so you're never waiting long. Service is quick and friendly. See you next year! read more

Firestone Grill - Our usual- two Tri-Tip Sandwiches and a basket of onion rings - Barbeque Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

I had not been here in a while but the food was just as good on my last visit as I remember. On this visit my wife and I tried both the ABC burger and the tri-tip sandwich. Both were delicious and great choices. We also split a small side order of onion rings that was a nice side for both sandwiches. As usual the line was very long but everyone working there does their best best to take your order and get the food out quickly. The covered patio has lots of seating but parking in that area can be a little difficult. This place is a SLO institution and a must try when you're there. read more

Firestone Grill - Barbeque Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Quality/Quantity - Another MUST visit when in SLO. We are creatures of habit! Simple menu done well! We always get a Southwestern Salad (too bad my daughter dropped it...) and our usual Tri Tip Sandwich with fries. As usual, all the food was good. We actually took this to-go as we got here just before they closed. Also available: Happy Hour Mondays through Friday from 2pm-6pm. Again, another crazy busy time. Atmosphere - Open kitchen with a huge team. Self-service soda fountain. Full bar, beer, wine, and cocktails. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating today, but again we arrived right before they closed. In the past we had to stand behind people that we felt were going to leave soon to get a seat. Events - See picture. Open 7 days a week from 11am to 9pm or 10pm. See picture, Yelp, or their website. Service - This is the most organized I HAVE ever seen them; GREAT job! Literally, right after we paid, our order was ready. Just had to turn around towards the kitchen. In the past, we have waited in line up to an hour just to order and then another hour to get our food. Okay, I am exaggerating a little; lol. Price - $35. Expensive, but worth it. For both quality and all the positive memories it brought back. Even more expensive today as my daughter dropped our salad to the point where we were not able to salvage it. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your success since 1984, I did not know you had 4 locations! Also congrats on your success at this location since 1995. Firestone comes from the name after the tire company, not the beer (from Paso Robles). So good to see it all stay in the family. read more

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Took food to go on my way down to SoCal - delicious tri tip, super quick and friendly service and the place was a vibe! Such a large space and lots of seating read more

Firestone Grill - Tri-Tip Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

This San Luis Obispo brewery restaurant is one of several Firestone Grills on the Central Coast, known for producing 805 Beer. They have a nice selection of bar food and salads to choose from. Stand in line to order at the counter and wait for your number to be called at one of the many tables in this huge place. There is seating indoors with sports on TV in one area, a quieter area near the front, and a large outdoor patio that is open 12 months of the year. Food is reasonably priced, ample servings, and tasty. This visit my husband had the burger with bacon and avocado. A side of fries is a large basket of thin cut fries. They were overly salted with a seasoning salt. I had the tri tip sandwich with a mild BBQ sauce. The tri tip served medium had good flavor but there were stringy tendons in some of the pieces. read more

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Went here based on a recommendation from a team we support while on a work trip, we were searching for a great California tri tip sandwich and they nailed this on the head. Their tri tip is absolutely delicious and their prices are fantastic especially for the area. Their side of fries is 2 gallons of fries. I feel they could upgrade their number system so they could play music, but their food was just really really good. read more

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Firestone Grill is always a must stop if you catch yourself in SLO. The tri tip sandwiches is one of their best sellers and for good reason, the meat is tender and the Bbq sauce is delicious and their fries are well seasoned. Not pictured but would also recommend the onion rings! Firestone has recently renovated their space so now they have a spacious covered outdoor seating area equipped with fans and heaters! read more

Firestone Grill - Tri-Tip Sandwich & Fries - Side - Barbeque Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Firestone is typically on the shortlist of things that MUST be done (food or otherwise) whenever I go to or pass through SLO. More specifically, the tri-tip sandwich. While I'm not a huge fan of how sweet their bbq sauce dip is, it clearly doesn't matter since the review is still rating 5 stars. The sandwich has some of the most tender pieces of tri tip I've ever tasted on a simple garlic roll. No crazy extra frills. Even more impressive is their ability to maintain consistency with the volume of business that constantly streams through the door. With how busy they are, I appreciate how quickly they manage to get orders out which makes it even easier to grab a sandwich - or 4 - to go! read more