Cancel

Open app

Search

Sauced BBQ & Spirits - El Segundo

4.0 (842 reviews)
Closed • 11:30 am - 10:30 pm
Updated 1 month ago

Order Sauced BBQ & Spirits - El Segundo Takeout or Delivery

Sauced BBQ & Spirits - El Segundo Photos

Business Info

SAUCED BBQ & SPIRITS - EL SEGUNDO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Outdoor seating
Happy hour specials
Dogs allowed
Good for kids

You might also consider

More like Sauced BBQ & Spirits - El Segundo

Recommended Reviews - Sauced BBQ & Spirits - El Segundo

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Paulla L.

I've wanted to eat here for a while... I finally got the chance to eat at '"sauced'" today. The service was amazing. Everyone was happy and accommodating. The restaurant was very spacious. The food was good; the bbq ribs were the best item that I personally enjoyed. My guest enjoyed the brisket. Overall I would recommend this spot.

The Big Smoke (party platter)
Brian V.

4++ As the name suggests, BBQ spot with a wide selection of spirits located in the South Bay. This place is pretty large and the cool thing as they can accommodate large parties, but also have tables for nights out for a couple couples, etc. I believe I've been to their original location in Livermore because my parents live near that location. And each of the times I've wanted I've had a pretty good time. This visit was for a really large party for one of my good friend's birthdays. We ordered one of the large platters that more than fed all of us. The barbecue items and the sides were all pretty darn good. I didn't drink this time around because I had to drive somewhere right after but they do have a great selection of drinks. Just a really solid place if you want good barbecue in a fun atmosphere. Seemed like there's plenty of parking in the area, which is also a plus.

Chopped Salad, Texas Toast, Ribs
Karen L.

We went to Sauced for the first time with a group of seven people on Saturday night. I wasn't sure I was in an arcade or a bbq restaurant. Service was very good but I didn't love the ribs. They were very difficult to cut with a knife and too tough for me. I did love the side chopped salad that came with the ribs and the Texas Toast. We also had the Burnt Ends, BBQ Chicken, Brisket, and the Tri Tip sandwich. Everything was just okay but I would probably order something else next time.

Kaylani K.

I was having such mixed emotions with Sauced... only because when I'd visit Whole Foods nearby, I always noticed Sauced looked empty or very little business. I was able to book my company sales dinner here and boy they did not disappoint! First and foremost booking reservation for 20 over phone was super fast and easy. Gentleman over the phone was super kind and even mentioned if I need it a little less noise he could book my reservation for a different spot in restaurant... but loud is what we wanted with good vibes and music. My party arrived earlier than I did which thankfully they gave my name and were seated quickly. Upon arrival the seated area was perfect and we were asked what we'd like to drink quickly. Once food was ordered it was quick! Waiters and waitresses came out and served together and were so attentive to asking if we needed anything. I cannot wait to return and maybe try axe throwing and more games. Food was great service was great and their restrooms are beautiful and clean!

Old Fashion
Sokna S.

Food: 3/5 Burnt ends, corn, slice bread were all very tasty! The drinks were the highlight! The burnt ends tasted good, a bit too much sauce for me. The corn was great! The old Fashions really hit the spot. Service: 5/5 Staff was awesome! Very quick, friendly, and accommodating! Ambience: 5/5 Great decor, games, seating!

Sandra C.

Went here with family and it was chill. Lots of parking in the lot outside and it was pretty easy coming in to get a table. The food was not bad. We ordered the 3 meat dish (pulled pork, brisket, ribs, mac n cheese and mashed potatoes), which fed me, my husband, and my momma. My in-laws ordered the 3 meat too except with the pork belly, sweet potato tots, and beans. Theirs was also good. I like that they offer high chairs and booster seats for the kiddos that you can just easily grab. We didn't try the axe throwing but that area seemed so rowdy. Love the plethora of televisions all around too. My only complaint is I think there needs to be more employees working. It took way too long to get our orders taken. Not to mention, we had to wait forever for staff to even walk by when we needed plates to eat our food. I was looking around at the tables, and I saw multiple people (including myself) trying to wave down the server. One woman even got up to wait by the server as she was taking an order at another table. P.S. The mac-n-cheese was delicious!

Swamp Fries!
Lisa Y.

I've been to the Sauced in San Jose, but the El Segundo location definitely has a different vibe! It's bigger, much livelier, has a separate bar, and lots of game space (e.g. bocce ball outside, ax throwing, darts, and arcade). One thing that I'm glad stayed consistent are their Rednexican Nachos and Swamp Fries! The Rednexican Nachos come with poblano queso, black beans, corn, jalapeno, cilantro, and tin roof with your choice of smoked chicken, pulled pork, or chopped brisket. I appreciate that they offer both a Runt and Full Size because the Full size is huge! The Swamp Fries have house rub, brisket, poblano queso, baked beans, tin roof, chipotle lime, ranch, and green onion. Also very tasty. Their bbq dishes are pretty good, but these two menu items are what keep us coming back! I got a 2 Meat Combo to share with sliced brisket and brisket burnt ends. The burnt ends are always a fave and the brisket was tender. For our sides, we got the Roasted Garlic Greens Beans and the Sweet Potato Casserole. The Green Beans were ok--a little soggy and not very garlicky. The Sweet Potato was just mashed sweet potato with some brown sugar on top. Probably wouldn't get that side again. I tried some of the BBQ Glazed Salmon with caramelized tin roof, mashed potatoes corn succotash, fried onion strings, cornbread, and cinnamon butter. The salmon was moist and pretty tasty. Would get this again!

Jalapeño cheesy grits and jalapeño slaw...delicious
Irene Q.

Had a hankering for BBQ Chicken and it was exactly what I needed. Half chicken with 2 sides, potato salad and slaw. Coming back again and again for this delicious meal! Service on a Sunday evening was great! Ambiance/ sat at the high tables at the bar. It wasn't quiet but it wasn't crowded. Perfect dinner!

3 meat plate...burnt ends (no), ribs (hell no), jalapeño cheddar sausage (yes), mac & cheese (hell yes), and cornbread (meh...)
Miten P.

TL;DR Version: Most disgusting bbq I've ever had in 38 years of planetary existence. Full Story: I'm from Texas and this review is my version of a bad broken record... ... .... ..... ...... No. Hell no. Disrespectful. Absurd. Preposterous. Wildly Disrespectful. How dare you? No. Just no. Nice spicy bbq sauce though! Tasty! As for everything else... ... .... ..... ...... No. Hell no. Disrespectful. Absurd. Preposterous. Wildly Disrespectful. How dare you? No. Just no. ... .... ..... ...... In case it wasn't clear Sauced: Your food is complete, uboliterated garbage that you should be ashamed to serve. Your service is way too average to below average to ever justify paying stupid prices for such unobliterated, hot garbage food. I hope your restaurant fails gratuitously very soon. The restaurant's existence feels like a s*** stain on my neighborhood. I've never been so angry eating bbq in my life. I wouldn't feed your trashy, dry a** ribs, disgusting burnt ends with 0 meat and 100% fat, and jalapeno cheese sausage that had 0 spice to a starving, stray dog on its last legs. Also, your cornbread is a goddamn abomination and you deserve to actually be arrested by federal authorities for trafficking such traumatic and violently disgusting food to humans who eat with these things known as "taste buds." THAT is NOT cornbread. THAT is white California girl BULLS***. This place also astonishingly just lathers their awful food in weird sauces and glazes like it's going to somehow magically make the food edible... New name for Sauced: Lipstick on a Pig. You can have that name for free Lipstick on a Pig...I won't even file for the IP rights! I really hate you Lipstick on a Pig.

Cheddar Jalapeno Sausage, pork belly burnt ends
Jim E.

Food was ok, had the pork belly burnt ends, they were overcooked, the jalapeno cheddar sausage was ok but not vet spicy. Had rice and garlic mash for sides, they were the best part of the meal. Service was mediocre, waiter did not check on us to the end of the meal, no water refills until the end of the meal. It's more of a sports bar than anything else and it is very noisy. Conversations are difficult. Prices were ok but near the high end, Quality and Service makes this someplace that I will not return to.

Johana H.

Random stopped by. When we yelped it it looked like a chill spot with plenty of entertainment. We came on Labor Day and it was not as crowded but still very chill including the service. The bbq was good but the sides were okay. I got the smoked 1/2 chicken which was good but nothing special and the smoked tri tip which I thought was just right and tender. The coleslaw just didn't hit like other ones have while the garlic mashed potatoes tasted a little too overseasoned and so did the Mac and cheese. However, my fiancé got the baked potato with Mac and cheese stuffed inside and that was delicious! Flavored just right. They have an arcade as well as axe throwing and bocce in the front. I can see this spot turning up on other days but I understand might have been a little dead since people were out of town. Plenty of parking spots in this big shopping center with other stores.

3 Meat Combo with Ribs, Pork Belly Burnt Ends, Brisket, Sweet Potato Casserole, & Corn Succotash ($45)  06-14-2025
Alana M.

We love Sauced! We are glad there's one in El Segundo! Hubby & I came here with our son and his wife on a Sunday evening. We all had a great time while noshing on the flavorful foods! This is a great place for fun, food, and drinks! If you want to throw axes, they have 4 cages where you can pay to play. There are also some dart boards. Not sure if you have to rent the darts to play. Outside, they have a few lawn games... bocce ball and I think cornhole What we ordered: *3 Meat Combo with Brisket, Tri-Tip, Brisket Burnt Ends, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, & Baked Beans *3 Meat Combo with Ribs, Pork Belly Burnt Ends, Brisket, Sweet Potato Casserole, & Corn Succotash ~ The Pork Belly Burnt Ends were thick tasty pieces that were cooked nicely. *Corn Bread & Butter ~ you get four large pieces of corn bread in an order. The corn bread has bits of corn in it. It comes with some sweet butter and is really good! The meats were full of smoky goodness! They have four different BBQ Sauces. I am a fan of the Hot Tin Roof and our D-I-L loves the Pig Candy. This is a place we will come back to for our BBQ fix!

3 Meat Combo
Lisi M.

service and atmosphere was 5 stars, great for an after work get together-- our server was great, the happy hour drinks were a great deal. The issue was really the food, everything was just mid, with some of it not being eaten at all. the pretty good-- cheddar jalapeño sausage, brisket was decent (i'm not a bbq snob i'm from california), mac and cheese/beans were decent, cornbread was ok the meh - pulled pork, pork burnt ends, tri tip do not order - sweet potato mash really just depends what you're looking for, if it's great bbq i would skip but it's great for after work drinks

3 Meat Combination Plate: Half Rack Spare Ribs, Pork Belly Burnt Ends, Sliced Brisket, garlic mashed potatoes, and baked beans

See all

5 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kristina W.

Kristina W.

Helpful 4
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 1

17 days ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 4
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 1

5 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kristina W.

Kristina W.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kristina W.

Kristina W.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of S. J.
286
270
848

22 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Lisa Y.
1011
923
4261

1 year ago

Helpful 8
Thanks 3
Love this 6
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kristina W.

Kristina W.

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 4

1 year ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 2
Love this 2
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 9
Thanks 2
Love this 8
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

10 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

5 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kristina W.

Kristina W.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kristina W.

Kristina W.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Kay K.
2
26
9

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kristina W.

Kristina W.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ken B.
151
310
1085

2 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 2
Love this 1
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Pavid K.
15
86
12

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Sauce has a great environment but is super over priced for mediocre food. They need to put back Salt Creek Grill.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Natasha P.

Natasha P.

Helpful 1
Thanks 2
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kristina W.

Kristina W.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of C E.
0
7
4

2 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kristina W.

Kristina W.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 2
Love this 4
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 1

1 month ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kristina W.

Kristina W.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ji O.
1931
1019
6244

2 years ago

Helpful 9
Thanks 3
Love this 11
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 22

Sauced BBQ & Spirits - El Segundo Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Sauced BBQ & Spirits - El Segundo

How is the cornbread? That's all I want 😭

Not good. It was dry and forgettable but because everything else is bad I remembered.

How do they cook their bbq? Are there smokers on the premises?

Yes, I think they have smokers.

Do you have more than one axe cage? Do you or any other of your locations have an axe throwing league?

We have 4 axe cages at our El Segundo location. Our Orange location also has 4 axe cages.

Do they have takeout or delivery.?

Take out is available.

Will you be showing all of the March madness games next week? Might you be open for the Thur and/or…

We are showing all March Madness games and will be open for regular business hours. Please check out our website for your preferred location’s hours of operation at saucedbbqandspirits.com.

Hello, how many axe bays are in the restaurant?

There are 4 axe throwing bays.

Do you have the UFC fights on tv?

Hi April, Thank you for your question. We do not show UFC fights on our TVs.… 

Are they dog friendly?

Yes there is a patio area

Is the outside dining area dog friendly?

Yes, the patio is dog friendly.

Is this restaurant kid funny?

Hi Devin, Yes, we are a kid-friendly restaurant. Thanks!

Do they have a patio for pets?

View All 12 Questions

Review Highlights - Sauced BBQ & Spirits - El Segundo

“Shoutout to Isaac for being a great server and giving us the best recommendations during happy hour!”

Mentioned in 47 reviews

Read more highlights

You might also consider

The Dive Oyster Bar - HOT CHEETOES TRUFFLE MAC

The Dive Oyster Bar

4.2(535 reviews)
41.1 mi
•$$

How have I walked by this place dozens of times and never tried it out? We went last night and we…read morewere blown away. Even though it was 6:15 on a Saturday night, we were able to be sat right away. As soon as we walked in, someone greeted us and showed us to our table. Our server immediately got us waters and asked if we wanted anything else to drink (wife and I both got some delicious beers that they had on tap). We had our little one in tow with us and they were so accommodating to him! As soon as we were ready, our server took our order. We got: Chowder "frots" (fries and tots mixed in with some New England clam chowder, bacon, onions, cheese, and other goodies) 10/10, would definitely order again. My wife got the lobster roll with a side of clam chowder. Loaded with lobster, but you do pay the price. Labeled as market price, this was almost $40. Delicious, but not worth it in our opinion. 6.5/10. Pan roast (house specialty which came with shredded crab, shrimp, clams, and muscles). This, topped with rice, was heavenly. Better than any pan roast I've had. Came out ripping hot as it should. My wife was envious of my dish. 10/10 From the kids menu we also ordered the chicken Alfredo. My kid loved it, but my wife and I both had a bite and wow, we would've ordered that for ourselves it was so good. 10/10. We can't wait to come back just for the food. On top of that, however, service was above and beyond. The servers and everyone in the restaurant were so accommodating to us and our child and made us feel so, so welcome. We would come back even if the food was bad, solely for the service we received. Vibes we great, decoration on the walls look like they hired an artist to paint it. They had two TV's behind the bar / prep area that was showing NBA and PGA which I'll never complain about. All around 10/10 experience.

I had been craving pan roast and oysters, so I was excited to discover this spot at the Spectrum…read more The restaurant offers both indoor and patio seating, which is a nice option depending on your preference. I stopped in at a somewhat odd hour, but my first impression of the service wasn't great. When I walked in, there wasn't a single employee around to greet me for a good minute or so. Eventually, someone came out from the back and told me I could sit wherever I liked. Since I was dining solo, I grabbed a seat at the counter. Unfortunately, the lack of professionalism continued throughout my visit. I'm not sure if there's a designated employee break area, but it was strange to see one of the servers eating a bowl of noodles in the same area where drinks were being prepared, and later squatting on the floor to take a break. At one point, another male server appeared, and their flirtatious and somewhat inappropriate interactions were awkward to witness as a customer. Overall, the service and professionalism could definitely use some improvement. As for the food, I came specifically for the $2 oyster happy hour. The oysters were huge and tasted fine. I'm generally not a fan of oversized oysters, but these were surprisingly meaty and smooth, so I enjoyed them. I also ordered the pan roast advertised on the happy hour menu, which was unfortunately a letdown. Rather than the rich, seafood-filled pan roast I was expecting, it was essentially a bowl of tomato bisque with barely anything in it, served alongside a bowl of rice. It really didn't resemble what I would consider a proper pan roast, and I wouldn't advertise it as such. Overall, while the oysters were decent and the indoor and outdoor seating options are a plus, the disappointing pan roast and lack of professionalism from the staff left a lot to be desired. There's definitely room for improvement, especially when it comes to service and the quality of the food being advertised.

Photos
The Dive Oyster Bar - Bar

Bar

The Dive Oyster Bar - Peruvian scallops

Peruvian scallops

The Dive Oyster Bar - Peruvian scallops

See all

Peruvian scallops

Joyce

Joyce

4.2(731 reviews)
12.5 mi•Downtown
Locally owned & operated
Family-owned & operated

Just had brunch at Joyce after seeing it featured for Black Restaurant Week, and it was delicious!…read more Our favorites were the Crab & Shrimp Benedict, mac & cheese, fried green tomatoes, and the biscuits. Everything was incredibly flavorful and well-seasoned. And those biscuits! Moist, delicious, and so good with the jam. They were out of the gravy today, so I was disappointed I didn't get to try it, definitely next time! Last but certainly not least, my Bloody Mary was wonderful! We were so enamored we forgot to take pictures of the food. The décor is super cute and aesthetically pleasing, the service was on point, and the music created such a great vibe. Great brunch spot. We'll definitely be back!

Joyce had been on my "places to go" list for a while. Finally got the chance to visit for a…read morefriend's birthday brunch. Parking is easy; there's a public parking garage next door right by the Whole Foods, as well as other parking lots across the street. The staff warmly greeted us as we walked in and took us straight to our table since we had reservations. Interior seating and decor is nice. There is a bar in the front near the entrance. We ordered a drinks, an appetizer and three entrees. Two of the entrees were really salty. We were kind of underwhelmed with the dishes as we saw so many reviews online and had high expectations. Overall, I would go again to give them another try.

Photos
Joyce
Joyce - Crab Claw

Crab Claw

Joyce

See all

Dulan's Soul Food Kitchen

Dulan's Soul Food Kitchen

3.6(1.8k reviews)
4.5 mi
•$$
Family-owned & operated
Free parking

We came to eat here before the Chris Brown and Usher concert. It was about seven minutes away from…read moreSofi Stadium. They do have a parking lot, but it is small and can get full so when we arrived it was full. We did find street parking though. They have one side where you can order to go and pick it up, and then the right side will be where you enter and get the seating. There are two seating rooms and a good amount of seats. Not a ton, but still pretty good. They have one restroom that is pretty big and also clean. The menu is pretty straightforward. There's only two pages. They look the same but one side is gonna have a lunch and dinner special. The other side is gonna have a Sunday special. You can only pick from the plates, and you can add additional sides à la carte, but for the main entrées, you cannot add them additionally. So for instance, my man got the oxtail dinner plate. Which comes with three sides, which are actually very generous. Honestly, I figured that would've fed us both which it could have. But I wanted the fried fish, but there is no option to add that separately. You would have to just get another plate of it. So for the first plate, we got the oxtail. That came over a bed of white rice, which we didn't know. It was very good very filling. We also got a side of mashed potatoes with gravy, which was so good nice and creamy. Then we also got the sweet potatoes and that was delicious. Reminded me exactly of Thanksgiving. And we also got the mac & cheese, which I don't normally like mac & cheese but there's looked good. I wanted to give it a try and it was good. Very cheesy. Then for mine I got the fried catfish plate. You have the option of getting fried or steamed I think. And you have the option of catfish or swai fish. For my sides, I got the corn, okra, tomato. That was very good. Then I also got the red beans over rice. Which was so good. I've never had red beans over rice except for at Popeyes and this was like a 10 out of 10. Then we also got the collard greens which that's the only item I was not a fan of. I probably give that one a one or two out of 10. It was just very bitter for me. Our friends also got their own plate, my friend he got the steamed fish and he said it was really good. They also got a side of cabbage which I also wanted to get. They said that was really good so I should've gotten that. The sweet tea was good. It did have a hint of lemon on it if you did like lemon sweet tea. Overall, for the price point, this was really good and big. I can't believe you get three sides. I definitely feel like one box can feed about two people. Wait time wasn't too long and the servers were really nice. I do like that. The food comes in to go containers already because we had leftovers and that way we did not have to ask for to go box. I would definitely come back whenever I'm in the area again.

Where do I start I wanted soul food dinner after traveling from northern California a flight that…read morewas 1 hr 30 minutes, left LAX and headed to Dulans restaurant on LaBrea & Manchester. I ordered 2 dinners short ribs the Sunday special & a vegetable plate at 12:21 my number was 908 they started to call numbers that were higher than minds so I went back over to ask the window where orders are taken the young lady said they forgot to put my ticket in, I asked since they forgot could I get piece of chicken for the inconvenience she asked the manager who had went to help the kitchen and she said no. At 1:21 1 hr later I got my food, and to my disappointment when I got home the food was not good the yams i don't even have words for, the greens no seasoning and a lil under cooked, the succotash the okra not cooked well again no seasoning and a lot of end pieces, the black eyed peas no seasoning very bland, the cornbread was very thick. So sad the state this restaurant is in, they need to revamp too much going on door dash orders, online orders, dine in and orders at the window. So with that said this will be my last time going back to this restaurant.

Photos
Dulan's Soul Food Kitchen - Mac N Cheese

Mac N Cheese

Dulan's Soul Food Kitchen
Dulan's Soul Food Kitchen - Fried Chicken

See all

Fried Chicken

Howlin' Ray's - The Mild Sando

Howlin' Ray's

4.7(8.3k reviews)
13.9 mi•Chinatown
•$$

One of the best Nashville hot chicken sandwiches I've ever had. Sometimes the line can be long and…read moreparking isn't always easy but this sandwich is worth it. It's a thick piece of chicken with crispy coating and the spice is so flavorful. The medium had me sweating! The place is more for take-out (I ate it in my car) but there is outdoor seating as well that's great for people watching

When we visited LA last year, our son recommended Howlin' Ray's and we really enjoyed the food at…read morethe Pasadena location. This time, we decided to try the Chinatown location since the traffic going toward Pasadena looked terrible. This location is pretty small and doesn't really seem set up for dining in. It feels more takeout-focused, although they do have some tables outside so we sat there. They didn't have the Mild+ spice level that the Pasadena location offers so I ordered two Mild and one Medium chicken tenders. I also got a side of collard greens after seeing several reviews recommending them. I felt like the spice level was higher at this location than at the Pasadena one. Even the Mild was definitely spicier than I remembered! It still had really good flavor, though. I also really enjoyed the collard greens and was glad I decided to try them. I'm not sure if it's just this location or if all of their locations do this now but they also gave us bottled water for free, which was nice. One thing I really liked about the Chinatown location was the parking. There's a huge parking lot across the street so finding a spot was easy. I prefer the Pasadena location for dining in but its parking lot is very small and finding a spot can be difficult. We'll definitely go back to Howlin' Ray's when we visit LA again next spring. We just haven't decided which location we'll choose next time!

Photos
Howlin' Ray's - The inside

The inside

Howlin' Ray's - Hot Chicken & Waffles

Hot Chicken & Waffles

Howlin' Ray's - Hot Shake Fries

See all

Hot Shake Fries

West of Orleans - Scallop Tostada Catering Only

West of Orleans

4.9(405 reviews)
36.8 mi
•$$

Seems as if this restaurant doesn't need my help... nevertheless I'm going to say what needs to be…read moresaid because it deserves to be said. West of Orleans is the real deal; an institution that meets, excels, devastates all notions of what Cajun/Creole/BBQ cuisine can or should accomplish to stand out amongst the rest of the competition. And with how high they stand, all should recognize. With a menu as expansive as most, West of Orleans manages to offer their patrons all of the classics seen with most other restaurants of the same variety, but with so much more... But onto the food. It's true to its word. Fresh, delicate, light, harmonious in every sense of the word. Flavorful beyond flavor. The PoBoy was delicious, as the shrimp popped, the remoulade sauce incredible, tangy and sweet but not overpowering. The Jerk Chicken Mac-n-Cheese was the perfect pair between savory and succulence. Not too spicy, not too smoky, just enough of everything. The macaroni held up its half of the bargain as well. Currently planning my next experience here. Stay tuned.

This place has a gift! Wow everything is made perfectly! I usually get a po boy, but this time I…read moregot the shrimp and grits for the first time and it was spectacular!! Grits had the best texture, very creamy. The grits were so well seasoned. And they have perfected shrimp, always flavor filled and cooked perfectly!!

Photos
West of Orleans - Elegant Catering setup

Elegant Catering setup

West of Orleans - Caribbean Ahi catering only

Caribbean Ahi catering only

West of Orleans

See all

Willie Mae’s Restaurant - Venice

Willie Mae’s Restaurant - Venice

4.0(479 reviews)
7.9 mi•Venice
•$$

One of my favorite foods as a child was fried chicken...not chicken nuggets, not ice cream, not…read morepb&j...it was fried chicken, lol. Although it's no longer my FAVORITE food and I only indulge sparingly, I still have an affinity for it, and can quickly separate the good from the bad. Willie Mae's can confidently go into the good pile. The perfect texture of the batter is the standout. It's light and crisp. Head to head, I think I prefer the flavors and juiciness of Gus's fried chicken. I'll have to give Willie Mae's another go to confirm that this is indeed the case. But Willie Mae's is situated in a better area, it's got civilized sit down table service, cuter decor, and it has way better sides. Knowing myself, I predict that one day, I will decide to remove poultry as well from my diet (I've long excluded mammals from my diet). Hopefully more visits to Willie Mae's will happen before that day organically comes upon us.

The only time I had been to Willie Mae's was in New Orleans. It blew our minds and tastebuds…read more Absolutely divine. When they opened in the westside, I believe it was a take out only situation. Since I do not live in the area, it was not a convenient situation. During this recent DineLA restaurant week, I met a friend there for lunch. Now they have a fairly large sit down dining room that was quite busy and it seems like there was a steady stream of takeout. Our server, Desiree was fantastic. She told me this branch was started by the same folks of the original in New Orleans. Due to a an issue with the freeway closure and horrible traffic, we were very late and she kindly honored our reservation. The food was fantastic. Great crunchy and spice on the chicken (it is on the spicy side so be careful if you cannot handle the heat). The little corn breads were just the right amount. We tried the yams, which is a must, but also shared some of the other sides. The cabbage is cooked kind of like collard greens. The butter beans and rice is very tasty. We also tried the mashed potatoes and gravy. All sides are vegan, which I thought was done for the local L.A. crowd, but we were told the sides are vegan in the original recipes. Next time I'd like to try the gumbo and other dishes on the menu.

Photos
Willie Mae’s Restaurant - Venice - Family meal with Butter beans, Mac n cheese, French fries, and Brussel sprouts

Family meal with Butter beans, Mac n cheese, French fries, and Brussel sprouts

Willie Mae’s Restaurant - Venice
Willie Mae’s Restaurant - Venice - A la Carter menu

See all

A la Carter menu

Gotta Have it Grill

Gotta Have it Grill

3.7(118 reviews)
3.8 mi
•$$

First time ordering from here for delivery thru DoorDash. I got the pork chops with two sides (Mac…read more& Cheese) & Candied Yams. When it arrived, it was nice and hot! The serving size was great! Good portions. My husband and I split one order and it was more than enough for the both of us to share. We each got a delicious pork chop plus sides! Well seasoned, the batter was crispy and flavorful. Goo spices. The candied yams were a good mix of sweet and tangy and decent pieces. The Mac & Cheese was nice and cheesy, thick & seasoned to perfection! I am curious to try the other items on the menu to see how they measure up if it's this good consistently. Also affordable price for it about $25 with delivery fees etc but on the menu it's listed as $18.99 if you go get it or dine in. Glad I tried it! Will be back for more!

The pleasure of dining at Gotta Have It, and I have to say, it was a delightful experience overall,…read morewith a few standout dishes that I'll definitely be raving about! First off, let's talk about the catfish. From the moment I took my first bite, I knew I was in for a treat. The fish was perfectly crispy on the outside, golden brown, and beautifully seasoned. It had that classic soul food flavor that reminded me of family gatherings around the dinner table. The texture was flaky and moist, making it one of the best catfish dishes I've had in a long time. Next up was the mac and cheese, which was another highlight for me. It was absolutely creamy, cheesy, and baked to perfection with just the right amount of crust on top. You can tell they use quality ingredients, and it truly comforted my soul. This is definitely a dish you'll want to savor! The BBQ baked beans were another delightful surprise. They were rich and flavorful, striking that perfect balance of sweetness and smoky notes that instantly transported me back to home-cooked meals. I loved every spoonful, and it's clear that this recipe has been perfected over time. Now, onto the cabbage. Even though they were served cold, I was pleasantly surprised by how good they tasted after a quick pop in the microwave. They had the right amount of seasoning, and the flavors were vibrant and authentic. It's nice to know that quality and taste remain intact, even when they need a quick reheating. The Kool-Aid was also a refreshing addition to my meal. It had just the right amount of sweetness nothing too syrupy or overpowering. It was a great way to wash down the wonderful flavors of my meal. However, I did encounter a bit of a letdown with the chicken wings. While I had high hopes for them, they ended up being overcooked, resulting in a hard and chewy texture. It was disappointing since everything else was so good. I wouldn't order the wings again, but that's the beauty of soul food; there are so many other amazing options to explore! As for the service, it was adequate but could use some improvement. The staff was friendly enough, but I felt they could have been a bit more attentive. A little more engagement would have enhanced the overall dining experience. In summary, I highly recommend this food spot for the catfish, mac and cheese, and BBQ baked beans. It's a comforting, homey place where you can find some fantastic dishes that will make your taste buds sing. Just skip the wings, and I think you'll leave with a happy heart and a satisfied belly. I'm already looking forward to my next visit to dive into more of their delicious offerings!

Photos
Gotta Have it Grill
Gotta Have it Grill
Gotta Have it Grill

See all

Sauced BBQ & Spirits - El Segundo - bbq - Updated October 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...