To all Pasadena residents, Rodney's Ribs is an absolute institution. Rodney has parked his truck there for decades and it has been consistently delicious all this time. If you're looking for "fall off the bone ribs" (this generation calls it "tendernism") or ribs that taste like smoke, then Rodney's is not for you. If you're looking for tender ribs with that perfect amount of chew and a fabulous bbq sauce with just the right sweetness-to-spicy kick ratio, then this is THE spot. I usually ask for the sauce on the side but when Rodney forgets and lays it on, I'm not going to complain because the sauce is damn tasty and he gives you so much bread that I can just use the top layer of sauce as my personal dip. The ribs are the star no doubt but don't miss the brisket and hot links because they can hold their own as well. But what makes it complete is Rodney himself. The man is a true gentleman and his love of bbq and his creations are infectious and we can't help but feel like we're guests at his backyard barbecue. read more

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Finally got to try Rodney's Ribs, and it did not disappoint. It's located in a CVS parking lot, so there's plenty of parking available. It's a one-man operation, so wait times can be a bit longer if he's busy--but it's understandable. I loved the neon signs and the hospitality Rodney brings. You can genuinely taste the soul he puts into his food. That said, a few notes come down to personal preference--so if you enjoy it as-is, feel free to take this with a grain of salt. The ribs were incredibly tender--10/10. They were truly fall-off-the-bone. Personally, I would have loved a bit more of that smoky char you get from Texas-style ribs, but that's just my preference. Either way, Rodney clearly knows what he's doing. The potato salad wasn't my favorite. It leaned heavily on mustard, and there seemed to be a lot of relish or pickles, which threw me off a bit. Still, I'd absolutely come back again just for the ribs. The customer ahead of us ordered brisket, and I appreciated that Rodney was upfront about whether it was on the leaner or fattier side--that level of honesty goes a long way. Overall, the BBQ smelled and tasted great, and the pricing is very reasonable for the portions you get--it's definitely worth the value. If you enjoy good BBQ, I'd recommend making the trip to check this spot out before more people discover it. One thing to note: the ribs are truly fall-off-the-bone, so if you prefer a firmer, more "bite-through" texture where you can really gnaw on the meat, this might not be your style. read more

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Rodney's ribs are excellent. I've had other stuff, but I haven't been there for a while so most recently when I have gone back I got the rib tips. The meat is tender, juicy and not over seasoned. The ambience and service are the only reasons why I'm giving it four stars versus five. It's a food truck so there is no ambience. In the service is very basic. Just walk up place you understand there and wait. That said do not miss out on the ribs because the man cares about what he does and you can taste it in the food. read more

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Food: - brisket/brisket sandwich: 6.5/10, would love to have the sauce on the side - ribs: 7.5/10, pretty good, would get again - Mac n cheese and potato salad were not stellar but they were tasty Service: - expect a wait time, we waited for 50 minutes - we weren't sure if we had to wait bc we came in the middle of the afternoon/not during peak lunch time, or we were just waiting for a fresh batch of meats - Rodney was super friendly! Ambiance: - no seating outside - spacious lot read more

Rodney's Ribs - brisket plate + Mac n cheese - Food Trucks Near Me - Pasadena, California

I was hoping to have great brisket with homemade potato salad. The sliced fat that I received was really disgusting, not to mention the potato salad that must have come from the carton from Smart & Final. Not worth the almost $30.00. read more

Rodney makes my favorite brisket sandwich in all of LA. The food here is fantastic. The meat is always juicy and tender and full of flavor. The portions here are massive. I still can't believe how good his sandwich is! He service is great as Rodney is always super nice!! He usually parks his truck in a parking lot on Lake street. read more

Rodney's Ribs - Food Trucks Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Amazing barbecue food truck that specializes in ribs. We ordered Rodney's dinner that came with 5 juicy, fall of the bone ribs and 2 sides, as well as 2 extra ribs a la carte. The food was very tasty and satisfying. The ribs were drenched in sauce but surprisingly not uber sweet. The beans and potato salad were great complements to the ribs. Friendly service in a large parking lot. read more

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Excellent ribs!! IMO the ribs beat anything else on the menu. Good estimation & delivery on time it'd take from ordering in-person to in-hand ribs read more

I love Rodney's Ribs! His lean BBQ Brisket Sandwich is delicious! It's thinly sliced, but he is generous on portion of food. The Pork ribs have a nice bite to them, yet tender. The homemade side dishes are delicious as well. His BBQ are lightly smoked and are perfectly sauced. Rodney's mobile BBQ isn't fancy and the menu is straight forward. You can find him at the CVS parking lot on Lake Ave and Mountain St , access from Roma Market. If you plan on stopping by, I would call ahead to see if he is there, sometimes he sells out for the day or running behind. His food are delicious and made with care. Credit Credit and Cash accepted. read more

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This spot was very disappointing ribs where ok but nothing to rave about Mac was nasty potato salad had to be store bought and for the price of almost $30 bucks no no no I wouldn't recommend this place! read more

This review I not normal as Mr Rodney was serving food while the Eaton fires were still burning in Altadena. I appreciate so much that he was still serving his amazing bbq in the middle of such a devastating time. When I went they didn't have all of the meat options nd veggie. But what he do have was delicious! I got the rib tip and brisket. They were tender and top quality. He is in a truck in the cvs parking lot on Lake. Please go out and support this business and know you will be getting great food in re read more

Rodney's Ribs - Rib tips. I didn't take this pic but it looked just like this. I ate them all too fast before taking a pic - Food Trucks Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Love this food truck so much that we visited 2x in 2 weeks! The meat is tender, the bbq sauce isn't too sweet or overwhelming, the sides are delicious and the prices aren't ridiculous. The truck is parked in the corner of the CVS parking lot Tuesdays-Saturdays. I suggest calling ahead to make sure he's there and to see what meats he has left. On our first visit he only had brisket left BUT it was one of the best bbq briskets i've had so no regrets. I haven't had a bad dish yet and the order of faves so far: 1) Brisket 2) Ribs 3) Potato salad with eggs in it =) 4) Mac n' cheese 5) Rib tips 6) Coleslaw 7) the white bread lolz i mean, it's bread. i made a potato salad + meat sammich with it read more

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It was authentic! There's just something special about when small business owners pour their heart and soul into what they do--and you can taste the difference! We had the ribs and brisket--yum, yum, and yum! We also enjoyed the potato salad and the green beans (they had already sold out of the other sides, which tells you something!). Everything was full of flavor and cooked to perfection. A big thank you to Rodney and Andre--the Dynamic Duo! Your love for food and your passion for sharing it with others really shines through. My husband told me, "You need to write a review!"--and he gave it 10 out of 10 stars (and he's pickier than I am!). We'll definitely be back. Until next time! ~ Sandra read more

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As I walked up I was told to wait since the computer wasn't working. I ordered a brisket sandwich with a side of green beans. The menu reads $4.10 for sides. I was charged $500 for green beans . I asked for the sauce on the side which ended up with a sloppy brisket sandwich read more

Rodney's Ribs - $5.00 for green bean - Food Trucks Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I tried Rodney's special, and it was great. The ribs were flavorful and saucy, and the food came out quickly with minimal wait time. They accept both card and cash. I didn't get a chance to try the mac and cheese this time, but I'm looking forward to it on my next visit. Rodney was friendly, and overall, I really enjoyed my experience. read more

Rodney's Ribs - Rodney's special with green beans and potato salad - Food Trucks Near Me - Pasadena, California

A local fixture for Pasadena, Rodney's Ribs brings mobile smokey BBQ to a CVS parking lot. When open, you can see his smoking setup working. A commercial smoker in a trailer. The menu is simple and you'll find the usual fixings for Brisket, Spareribs, and Pulled Pork. Both Sandwiches and entree orders are available and everything is laden with sauce unless you ask otherwise. All of the BBQ is well to heavily smoked. Depending on the time and day there are shortages and inconsistencies. I found the brisket to be sliced too thin but may work well in a sandwich. Ribs were not always consistent and certainly dry if not consumed right away and/or reheated. Kudos and credit are given for the mobile setup. When it's good it's great. read more

Rodney's Ribs - Food Trucks Near Me - Pasadena, California

Rodney's did not disappoint for Christmas Dinner. I ordered Ribs, Brisket, Links, Potato Salas, Baked Beans, Green Beans for a party of 10 people. His portions were more than enough and more. His Ribs were tender and BBQ sauce was full of flavor. Briskets were my favorite, tender, smokey, slabbed with his BBQ sauce. His links were juicy and had a nice snap to the skin. His sides were also amazing. Rodney was also extremely friendly and helpful when helping me what to order for 10 people. I would definitely stop by his truck for a personal serving next time I'm in the area. read more

Rodney's Ribs - Brisket, ribs, links, baked beans, potato salad, green beans - Food Trucks Near Me - Pasadena, California

Been debating this review and what level of stars to give. Sometimes I get on bbq/brisket kicks. I had brisket the day before and wanted more. I was going to make a salad and throw some on. I like the brisket at Craft & Fire, 1/2 lb is $14. I used this as the baseline. I wanted to support black and local business and try this place. I called close to closing and was told it was $17 and they'd have it ready. I figured $3 wasn't too much more to support the business. I got there and was told my total was $21! Excuse you?! He said the other guy made a mistake and it was $19! I was less than impressed. I had just called, they could've honored what I was told. I begrudgingly paid and left. Strike 1. I tried the meat. It's ok. Nothing to write home about. I actually had a number of hard, inedible pieces. I'm not sure I cared for the sauce being on it either. $14 is doable, for $19 it better be AMAZING and it wasn't. The experience w the money and the meat not being fab all left a taste in my mouth. I talked to my chiro (also a black small business owner) and he said he'd been there and said they were pricey but that he enjoyed the ribs. He understood my reluctance but wasn't shocked by my experience. Would I go back? Not sure honestly. I can't think of anything redeeming with the meat or my customer service experience. read more

Rodney's Ribs - Food Trucks Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Wanted to good ol ribs and found the spot! My ribs were so tender and juicy. Servers couldn't be more welcoming and thrilled to help. Definitely coming back for more! read more

Stopped here with my boyfriend for lunch. It's tucked in the corner of the parking lot of the CVS on Lake. Not sure if it was Rodney himself, but whoever helped us was super nice and personable, even complimenting my shirt. We each got a brisket sandwich + a side of mac'n'cheese. Ate it at home, it was sooo yummy honestly some of the best mac I've had! Such a cute little spot. Def coming back! read more

Rodney's Ribs - Brisket sandwich with a side of mac'n'cheese - Food Trucks Near Me - Pasadena, California

Best barbecue from the Inland Empire all the way to Inglewood. This place was reccomended to me by someone who's relentless about quality and flavour of food. And when you meet Rodney you know he's passionate about what he does. He's a happy man doing what he loves everyday in his life. I'm going there today again . Thank you for existing read more

So I'll star with this, unassuming small food truck type trailer. The smell when I pulled up was making my mouth water. With my luck they had received a couple big phone orders prior to my arrival so I had to wait for my turn, not a big deal at all. Brisket was good, not the best I've ever had but better than most in CA. Great balance of smoke and seasoning. Very tender but sliced very thin, my opinion brisket should be no less than a 1/4" thick and should bend gently around your finger. Overall I give it a 8. 0 The hot link was delicious, great smoke balance with the spiciness of the seasoning and the snap of the casing, outstanding. Not sure if these are store bought and smoked right or if they are proprietary to Rodney but damm it was good. 9.0 Last but not least are the ribs. Spoke with Rodney briefly as I waited for my food and this guy knows his shit. I knew the ribs would be fire after talking to him and by god they were. Perfect balance of flavors, tender and juicy with the perfect texture, these ribs were up there on my list of ribs I will eat. Great job Rodney. 9.0 Do yourself a favor and hit them up, you won't be disappointed, I promise!! read more

Rodney's Ribs - Ribs hot link and brisket - Food Trucks Near Me - Pasadena, California

It always smells so good when we have to go to CVS. We decided to stop by one time. We got the rodney special (spare ribs, potato salad, bread) for about $15. For bbq, this is a a pretty good deal. Smoked ribs are always so expensive. Very smoky flavor. Tender fatty pieces of meat that falls off the bone. Sauce was decent. Overall a solid 4. I would go again read more

Rodney's Ribs - Rodneys special (spare ribs, pot salad, bread) - Food Trucks Near Me - Pasadena, California

If I'm in the area, I will make it a point to stop by. The brisket sandwich is my favorite dish. Do yourself a favor and check it out. You won't be disappointed. read more

That's some good BBQ. The meat is tender and flavorful. There are not many BBQ places in Pasadena. So, you get it where you can.

Rodney's ribs will knock your socks off! So delicious and mouthwatering BBQ! This man knows how to cook, try them out when you have a craving for some good home cooked style meats! read more

OOH EMM GEE! mmmm, mmm, mmm! You have to have Rodney's Ribs. If you have not, you must. No matter what plate you get, you WILL-BE-SATISFIED.

The most amazing brisket I've ever tasted. We ordered the brisket plate, ribs, and rib tips. The brisket was smokey, tender, fatty, and flavorful. My friend and I were craving BBQ and decided to find any place nearby off of Yelp. We didn't really have any expectations since we don't eat American BBQ that often. However, we were blown away by how delicious the brisket was. The ribs are also fall-off-the-bone tender. The rib tips were not as good because they were dry but some pieces were good. They had just run out of mac n cheese when we got there but we had the potato salad which was pretty good. Their potato salad is chunky and the taste is reminiscent of tuna salad. We will definitely be back for the brisket and the ribs because they were amazing. Check them out! read more

Rodney's Ribs - brisket plate (SO GOOD) - Food Trucks Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Great bbq food truck! Have been waning to try for years, and glad I finally did. Rodney serves it up well & the location is convenient. We especially loved the ribs, brisket & Mac n cheese. I'll definitely go back again! read more

For California? Sure. For real BBQ? A disappointment. I saw the reviews and decided to try it. I got Rodney's Special (ribs) and a side of mac. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't expect much in CA, but after talking to Rodney (a likable fellow), I found myself cautiously optimistic. While the ribs came with a slice of white bread there were no pickles (both are traditional), but I can overlook that. The real test is in the meal and it was typical CA BBQ; dry, overcooked, lack of love and lack of smoke. The mac n cheese was bland and coated with a flimsy sauce. If you don't know better, you'll probably enjoy it. If you're a student of smoked meat, the only place that rocks is Moo's BBQ in LA. Lastly, it's entirely possible the brisket is much better, but I didn't try it and can only speculate. read more

This BBQ is crazy good. I've have several dishes, the brisket sandwich, Rodney's Special and the Rodney's dinner plate are my favorite. read more

Rodney's Ribs - This is the food truck and phone number. - Food Trucks Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Great guys and awesome food! They came for our event at a local park and did not dissapoint.

Yummy. Best BBQ I've ever had. They were at an event we organized, and the scent of BBQ smoke drew you to the truck. Very generous portions. Everything from ribs to brisket with traditional sides. Some of the best coleslaw I've ever had which can sometimes be bland. Friendly service. All round great experience. Definitely try it if you're in the area. read more

Incredible barbecue with fast service. A good variety of choices with great side dishes

Simply the best, better than all the rest. Rodney Of The Rib is the king of bbq ribs in Altadena and all of Los Angeles.

The other night was Art Night in Pasadena. We picked up a brochure which stated, "Enjoy an evening of art, music, and entertainment as Pasadena's most prominent arts and cultural institutions provide special programming." We excitedly headed out for one of Pasadena's most prominent institutions to take in some incredible art. Rodney's Ribs reminds us of a quote we saw once, "Food is where creativity and taste collide, leaving a masterpiece on your tongue." Yay art!!!! We found a short line and we debated which of the options we would order ultimately settling on the Rodney's Dinner which includes 4 - 5 large ribs with 2 sides and bread. Our chosen sides were the Cole Slaw and the Mac and Cheese. When our order was ready we stood back and admired the exquisite culinary canvas before us. These were the most gorgeous delectable ribs! The sauce was perfect with a smooth sweetness of the underlying base with flavors of tomato sauce, brown sugar/molasses, and some hints of vinegar. The ribs were flawlessly smoked and cooked so that the meat was fall-off-the-bone tender. All of these tastes blended in a thoroughly satisfying way. True art! The cole slaw included crispy cabbage with a slightly sweet/tangy creamy sauce. Really tasty! The mac and cheese was so cheesy and very yummy! We were so happy that we ventured out for Art Night in Pasadena and after our memorable visit to Rodney's Ribs we vowed to return many times to eat more art! read more

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This spot is a gem in the SGV. These ribs are some of the best I've had easily better than most bbq restaurants in socal. Although some of the sides may lack in wow factor overall this place is killing it. I would definitely try to order ahead. Service will take about 10-15 minutes. There is ample parking so no hassle to come and pick up. The ribs here are the main thing you should be coming for. Definitely one of those spots that is a go to in the community. read more

Wow, first timer - the bbq brisket sandwich is fantastic, and big enough for two meals. I will be going back when I get an urge for bbq again. read more

Well, the rib tips were lukewarm to cold and the sides the same. I can definitely find a better rib place for the price point. Sorry

Food truck foods are usually expensive and too fusion heavy. Rodney's is anything but. Located inside the CVS parking lot, Rodney's truck is very low key and barely noticeable unless you're already on the lot. The flavor of the smoked meat is intense the closer you get to the truck. For my first visit, I bought the rib tips, ribs, and brisket sandwich. All three are excellent but if I were to choose a favorite, I'd have to go with the brisket sandwich. It is simply superb and there's no other words to describe it. The brisket is so flavorful and tender it almost melts in the mouth. The sides are not too shabby either. I especially liked the baked beans. Would've loved to try the mac-n-cheese but it was already sold out. I can see myself coming back here the next time I crave for smoked meats (very soon). The portion is good and the price is very reasonable. Highly recommend! read more

Rodney's Ribs - Rib tips + baked beans - Food Trucks Near Me - Pasadena, California

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