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    Salinas City BBQ

    4.4 (2.2k reviews)
    Closed • 7:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago
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    Salinas City BBQ Photos

    SALINAS CITY BBQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Salinas City BBQ

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    Christina N.

    Honestly, we were a little sus about getting BBQ in Salinas initially but thankfully Yelp didn't disappoint. The BBQ here is excellent! We got the brisket, pork ribs, Mac and cheese, beans and potato salad. My favorites were the pork ribs (tender, fall of the bone) and the Mac and cheese (surprisingly garlicky). The meats were cooked well and the seasoning was tasty. They offer bbq sauce on the side but honestly, I dont think it was needed. Oh and dont skip out on the garlic bread, its better than the corn bread imo.

    Erick T.

    This BBQ spot is just outside the downtown center of Salinas, but it's worth the drive if you're craving barbecue. They have brisket, ribs, pulled pork, sausage, tri-tip, burnt ends, chicken, pretty much everything! All the meat was a bit on the dry side for my taste, but with the addition of their barbecue sauce, everything was quite good. What stands out here is the service. Eliza, in particular, is tremendous. She's incredibly friendly and makes you feel like you're family.

    Inside restaurant
    Alex M.

    The 4-meat combo gives you a good chance to try a little bit of everything, so I went with brisket, tri-tip, ribs, and burnt ends. For sides, I ordered the mac and cheese, cornbread, and garlic bread. The **ribs were easily the best part** of the meal. They were fall-off-the-bone tender, had great flavor, and were the one meat I'd definitely come back for. **8/10**. The **brisket was disappointing**. It was pretty fatty, and the seasoning on top made it extremely salty. It also tasted like it had been sitting around rather than being fresh, moist brisket. **5/10**. The **tri-tip was soft but very dry** and didn't have much flavor. **4.5/10**. The **burnt ends were too sweet and difficult to chew**. Unfortunately, these were another miss for me. **4/10**. For the sides, the **mac and cheese was solid**. It wasn't overly saucy, but you could taste the real cheese, which I liked. **7/10**. The **garlic bread barely had any garlic flavor at all**, so it was pretty disappointing. **4/10**. The **cornbread was the worst side by far**. It honestly didn't taste like cornbread to me--it tasted more like a regular slice of bread trying to be cornbread. I wouldn't order it again. **1/10**. One thing I will say is that the **service was excellent**. Our server was friendly, answered all of our questions, and the food came out promptly. The restaurant also has a very **homey, welcoming atmosphere**, almost like you're walking into someone's house, which made the experience comfortable. They also have both a regular and spicy BBQ sauce available for self-serve, and both were good. Parking is limited, with some street parking available on the side of the restaurant. **Overall, I'd give the food around a 6/10.** The ribs are definitely worth trying, but most of the other meats and sides were just okay or disappointing. If I come back, I'd probably skip the combo and just order the ribs.

    Brisket and Tri-Tip combo
    Don U.

    Quick service and open seating. Easy parking on the street. Ordered the brisket and tri-tip. The brisket was my favorite, incredibly tender. Tri-tip was okay, wish it had more smoke flavor. The potato salad is excellent. The Mac and cheese is okay. Will definitely come back when I'm in town.

    3 meat combo
    Pearl R.

    Amazing BBQ place in Salinas! Their barbecue sauce was so good. They have both non-spicy and spicy options. There was a lot of seatings, so a lot of people dine in, but you can do takeout as well. I really enjoyed the combo. I had with three meats and two sides. Definitely get the brisket, it was the best!

    Jennifer U.

    I got the breakfast tacos, with tri tip and brisket. They came with eggs and you can pay extra for cheese and pickled jalapeños. They are decently large! Good price. My friend got the tri tip meal and it came with two sides and corn bread or garlic bread! Which is nice bc a lot of bbq places only give you white bread. Great, friendly service!

    Pulled Pork Meal
    Chloe N.

    I just moved to the Monterey area and every restaurant I have tried has been insanely expensive and the food has tasted awful. I thought I wasn't going to find any good food until we stumbled across this place. Oh my god. The most delicious bbq ever. It smells heavenly just walking up. If you want good food come here. Service is excellent as well and there is lots of comfortable seating inside and outside.

    Maryanne M.

    The food was amazingly delicious. Portion is huge, sides are great, service was awesome, and we had a blast. A must see place to eat ‼

    Brisket, ribs, tater salad, cornbread and beans
    Trudy M.

    When asked if I was enjoying my meal, I responded with " this was cheaper than flying to Texas". Haha! I thoroughly enjoyed the brisket and ribs. The bbq sauce was yummy. Had the beans and tater salad. All great as well. Corn bread! Yes! I don't even live in the area. I'll be back. Worth the driv

    3 meat combo of tri-tip, ribs, brisket, beans, potato salad, and garlic bread.
    Daniel S.

    $38.50 and excellent. Ribs: on the sweet side Tri-tip: damn near perfect. Brisket: salty crust but great. Potato salad: liked it Beans: ton of smoked paprika Garlic bread: solid enough 3 meats combo was too much for one normal dude. 4 stars because it's all well made. No 5 stars because my preferences weren't a perfect match. Still, I'm very happy they exist and I can't think of a single reason not to recommend them. I'll come back for sure.

    Tri Tip Sandwich and Tri Tip
    Devin M.

    9/10 Definitely an amazing meal! I enjoyed both the Large Tri-Tip Sandwich and the Tri-Tip by itself. Starting with the sandwich, the soft bread and the tri tip were perfect together. It's simple, minimal, and honestly doesn't need anything extra to taste great. The side of jalapeños and pickles added a nice kick without overpowering it. The Tri-Tip on its own was also solid, seasoned perfectly and cooked just right. The only downside for me was that some of the cuts came out a bit cold, which was disappointing since everything else was on point. Service was great, everyone was friendly, and the environment had a nice vibe with the Christmas decorations. Music wasn't my favorite, but not a big deal, I was there for the food and atmosphere anyway.

    First time here
    Joe P.

    It was our first time here and we enjoyed it. The only thing was my baked potato, all I want is butter but they gave it to me loaded. That's ok. The brisket was amazing. The ribs are kinda dry and not fall off the bone the easy I like. But all in all , it was good.

    4 pork ribs, baked potato with everything, cornbread and chili beans.
    Daniel V.

    Pork ribs are on point! Do not need sauce but they do have it available. Really good baked potato for the size, and glad I got the chilli beans paired nicely with the potato, cornbread kind of tasted like French toast was ok. Is an order at the counter and pick up from counter service but small venue so understand why, but good food makes it worth it. Very country style meal and overall great place to have some good bbq.

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    1 month ago

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    1 month ago

    First time here. I came with family, and we loved it. Delicious ribs, sides, and desserts. Will recommend.

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    1 month ago

    Went there to celebrate my dad and uncle's bday. Delicious food, super kind and accommodating staff. Would come again

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    9 days ago

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    5 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    3 days ago

    Hella good best spot in salinas for bbq for sure id come here again and again service was perfect to

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    3 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Amazing food! Great service. Owner was rad and you can tell he's passionate about his food. 10/10 recommend

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    12 days ago

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    2 months ago

    The food was delicious and served quickly despite it being during a rush hour. I like the vibe and the staff was friendly!

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    T & A Cafe Home of Kleinfeldt Family BBQ

    T & A Cafe Home of Kleinfeldt Family BBQ

    4.5(135 reviews)
    4.6 mi
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    I have to get to the point, the food is phenomenal. Brisket is melt in your mouth tender, the tacos…read moreare sumptuous, and the macho beans have a pleasantly surprising kick to them, and if you want something light, the Southwest Chicken Salad is a winner every time. Order at the counter and they'll bring your food to you, and don't be surprised if you are served by Justin Kleinfeldt himself, as he is very personable and very down to earth. Easy to forget that he owns the place. Ambiance is mild as it's a former truck stop cafe but it's still cozy, as the cool factor is is banners supporting the many baseball teams his daughter excels on. All in all, the whole show is worth the trip, and your stomach will thank you for making the trip.

    Since Spreckels is an old school company town, the Spreckels Sugar Company, not many dinning…read moreselections there. On a side note, the sugar company was founded in 1893 by German immigrant Claus Spreckels and once housed the largest sugar beet factory in the world. Just a Post Office, small grocery store, church, a few commercial businesses, and the T & A Cafe Kleinfeldt Family BBQ. The building was once a cafe for truckers, and it still maintains that same vibe with a walk-up counter and seating yourself. The atmosphere aside, the menu is plentiful and the BBQ itself is very good. Tender brisket, as it should be, along with all the other standard BBQ entrees. The chicken tends to be a little dry but that's usually how it goes with BBQ chicken. Various sides to complement the meal which make for a complete dining experience. Well worth a side trip into Spreckels for very good BBQ.

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    T & A Cafe Home of Kleinfeldt Family BBQ - Indide

    Indide

    T & A Cafe Home of Kleinfeldt Family BBQ
    T & A Cafe Home of Kleinfeldt Family BBQ

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    Smalley's Roundup Restaurant - New York Steak (16 oz)

    Smalley's Roundup Restaurant

    3.2(314 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    •$$

    The food was okay, but to be fair, I'm not really a big BBQ fan, so it may just not be my thing. My…read moremom enjoys coming here, which is why I gave it a try. The chili beans were really good, and the sherbet that comes with the meal was definitely one of the highlights. Our waitress was very nice once we were helped, although we did have to wait a while before someone came to our table. Overall, it was a decent experience. The food wasn't necessarily my favorite, but I can see why others enjoy it.

    Never been before, in the area for work, reviews seemed okay…read more I was looking for a steak, but would have liked to been told about their Friday night prime rib deal. The lady, Sonja never mentioned it, just told me I could sit anywhere. Ordered the filet, and while , yes it was pricey, it was good! Beans bread and potato were as well. The salad was , well, a salad. Nathan took my order, everything came out in in decent time, but what bugs me more than anything, is when your server, or anyone for that matter, never swings by, within a given amount of time, as you are eating your meal, to check in, see how everything is. Not once did I even see my server walk down our area. The only time he showed up was after I finished. To offer dessert. It's such a small, but important detail, when I dine out. Just wanting someone to swing by, check in. Easy. I wanted to ask if I could pay for a side of their special bbq sauce. Saw it on the menu, it sounded interesting. Never got the chance. Oh well. The tip reflected the service. An interesting end note, that left me confused was when another employee handed me my cheque, it had Sonja's name in it, not my servers name who was Nathan. Maybe it's nothing. But it struck me odd. Would I go again. Sure. The food was good. I'd like the option of giving it a 3.5, but yelp does not present that option. Maybe it was an off early evening for the service.. I'll give it a go again, next time I'm in town.

    Photos
    Smalley's Roundup Restaurant - Ribs in Smoker

    Ribs in Smoker

    Smalley's Roundup Restaurant - New York Steak (16 oz)

    New York Steak (16 oz)

    Smalley's Roundup Restaurant - Empty tables

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    Gino's - Luigi's Pride Pizza Medium 12"

    Gino's

    3.7(710 reviews)
    2.1 mi
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    Everything was great! After seeing the negative reviews I was nervous about eating here. The food…read morewas delicious. We all raved about the meatballs. I had the shrimp scampi and it was so good, I ate the whole thing. The service was excellent. The waitress was very attentive and checked on us often even though it was a Saturday night. This was for a special occasion and it met all of our expectations.

    Went with a group of 15 on a Wednesday evening. Seated on patio, with only one other table…read moreseated. We were seated for over half an hour before our server returned for drink orders. They didn't start arriving for quite a while and multiple drinks were incorrect. It was well over an hour before our food order was taken. We were almost two hours in before the food started arriving. The salads that came with meals were good. A number of folks ordered the bisque and after some entrees were already being served to some, our sever said they were out of bisque, but making some more. About a half hour later the bisque came and everyone said it was cold. I'll just describe my meal, but there were issues with others as well. I ordered the halibut ($44). It was served atop mashed potatoes and asparagus. The potatoes were cold. The fish was a very thin filet (was it even halibut?), breaded and grilled. It was so hard and dry I had to use a knife to cut it. It was mostly breading and not much fish. If we were not guests of the dinner coordinator, I would have sent it back.. Our group understands the challenge of serving a big group, but this was beyond unacceptable. Is there any management oversight? Who's training the kitchen? We were seated for over three hours just to get through our meals, with no appetizers or deserts ordered. The restaurant was not busy for inside seating either.

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    Gino's
    Gino's
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    The 31st Grill - Chocolate and coffee cake muffins

    The 31st Grill

    4.3(185 reviews)
    1.3 mi
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    Best pastrami sandwich outside of New York. my wife said her corn muffin which was huge was the…read morebest she ever had. Service was outstanding. Excellent parking. Cant wait to go back.

    My son and I decided to have lunch at The 31st Grill. This was our first time having lunch here…read more When we arrived, we were treated and sat right away, which is always a good start. My son ordered the Patty Melt with a side of Caesar salad. I ordered the Tuna Melt with a size of onion rings. Both sides were considered upgrades and were an extra cost. My son really liked the Patty Melt. He gave it a 4 out of 5. The sourdough bread is thick, but soft on the inside. The burger patty was juicy, flavorful, and cooked well. He also liked the grilled onions and sauce that was a thousand island type sauce - they all complement the melt very well. He also really enjoyed the Caesar salad. I liked the Tuna Melt. The tuna salad had good flavor and there was a hearty amount of tuna in the sandwich. I was able to change the cheese to Swiss cheese, which gave the sandwich a softer cheese flavor. The bread was also a winner in my book. The onion rings were great. They are fresh made and very crispy - with a side of ranch, it was a very tasty side dish that went so well with my tuna melt. Overall, we had a good experience for lunch. We had very good food. Our waiter Erik was courteous, attentive, and fast. We will definitely be back and will plan to save room for some of those delicious looking pies.

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    Our view for breakfast

    The 31st Grill - Yummy baked goods will entice you!

    Yummy baked goods will entice you!

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    Storefront

    Salinas City BBQ - bbq - Updated October 2026

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