Stopped by this place for lunch during our Yosemite trip. You could smell the deliciousness outside, and the line inside speaks for itself. It did take a bit for us to place our order, but we weren't in a rush. I appreciate that they had a "Smaller Appetites" menu since we already had food from a previous place. I ordered the Pork Sliders and was able to substitute the JoJo Potatoes with the Street Corn Riblets. Those Street Corn Riblets were delicious, and the pork sliders were juicy! They also provide their different sauces on the side. I loved the variety they had (House BBQ, Spicy Vinegar, Posa Gold, and Cali White). I was able to sample all of them, and they all tasted yummy. Will definitely be back if I ever make a trip to Yosemite again! read more

Smokin Oak BBQ - Pulled Pork Sliders~ - Barbeque Near Me - Mariposa, California

I spent $29 on 3 ribs, 4 potato wedges, a tasteless side of coleslaw, and a tea. The food was just okay, and unfortunately, the ribs weren't even hot. I decided not to leave a tip because the prices are already extremely high, so I would assume the employees are being paid fairly. No WiFi and only one bathroom that I had to wait forever as they also have a bar. Overall, it was a disappointing experience for me, especially considering the price. read more

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Extremely disappointing experience. We stopped here around 5 PM after driving for about 5 hours toward Yosemite and were starving. We waited in line patiently for quite a while, and by the time it was our turn, we were the last people waiting to order. Instead of helping us, the cashier skipped over us and took another customer's order first. We were already caught off guard by that, but what happened afterward was worse. Once he finished helping that customer, he still did not come back to us, acknowledge that we had been waiting, apologize, or even ask what we wanted to order. He simply turned around and went back into the kitchen as if we were not there. We were the only Latino family in the restaurant at the time, while the other customers around us were white. I cannot speak to what was in the cashier's mind, but I can absolutely speak to how we were treated, and it made us feel singled out, unwelcome, and discriminated against. Ultimately, we ended up walking out without ordering because at that point the message felt very clear: our business was not important enough to even acknowledge. What makes this even more upsetting is that this area has very limited food options. We had already been traveling for hours, had a child with us, and were simply trying to stop somewhere to eat. Because of this experience, we had to continue driving and did not get food 4 hours later. Being skipped can happen. What is not acceptable is skipping a family, finishing with the next customer, and then completely ignoring the people who had been standing there waiting without so much as a "sorry" or "I'll be right with you." That was disrespectful, humiliating, and completely unacceptable customer service. We left feeling incredibly uncomfortable and disappointed. Do better. Every customer deserves to be acknowledged and treated with basic respect. read more

Smokin Oak BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Mariposa, California

One of our favorite things to do while traveling is trying BBQ spots so when we drove past this place while in town we knew we had to try it! When we walked in we got our orders taken and the cashier was very friendly and gave us recommendations. Once we placed our order we also went to the other side to the bar where they had a wide variety of things to order. By the time we sat down with our drinks our food shortly arrived and everything was so delicious from the bbq to the sides. The bbq was very flavorful and their chipotle sausages were something serious!!! We loved the corn bread and the corn with tajin. All in all we fully enjoyed our meal here and we couldn't reccomend it more! read more

Smokin Oak BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Mariposa, California

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for the yosemite area and surrounding, this place was appealing. unfortunately our experience was a little bit different than what we had in mind. smokin' oak is about an hour away from the north entrance gate to yosemite national park. a beautiful drive and a quaint little town. parking wasn't too much of an issue but maybe we went during a dinner rush? we ordered the 3 meat platter, mac and cheese, house pickles and their jojo potatoes-- by 6 pm we had ordered and they were sold out of the pulled pork completely, so instead we opted for the chicken, tri-tip and brisket. the seating both inside and out are very limited. the bathrooms aren't the cleanest but hey you go for the food. the service was okay as well. during our wait for an open table, we grabbed their 3 signature sauces. a standard barbecue, a yellow mustard base, and a "cali white". honestly the standard barbecue sauce was pretty good and so was the mustard base. we were told the cali white goes well with the chicken and it does for the most part as it's a mayo/ranch profile. BE AWARE: you will likely wait for over an hour to get your food. the people behind us probably waited longer. they hadn't taken anything off the smoker so we marked off them cutting it fresh. not sure what happened. 2.5/5 the mac and cheese was fairly bland and the macaroni itself was a bit too soft, but the creamy cheese was great and is my personal favorite type of mac and cheese. 2/5 the house pickles were just okay. semi-soft from the pickling process rather than crunchy like a grillo's pickle. i think next time the pickled onions would be a better choice. 3/5 the tri-tip was seasoned decently, but it was not tender and quite dry. it didn't have that rich smoky flavor either and feels like they warmed it without juicing the meat. 3/5 the brisket itself was good. probably the best thing we ordered. the fat was melty and soaked nicely into the bread when eaten. 2/5 i personally was not a fan of the chicken as it was smoked, but slightly dry and didn't have much flavor. it was cooked nicely though and will be tiered 3rd in line. with the cali white sauce, it was decent just not my favorite. 4.5/5 i actually really liked the jojo potatoes! you can taste the tallow it was cooked in and it was nice and crispy, with green onions and a sour cream sauce. i liked it a lot! the potato was salty and cooked through-- would absolutely order again. finishing notes: for the area, this is a nice spot to be to watch the sunset with family. just make sure you're willing to wait the hour. not to mention, the portion sizes are extremely small and this plate alone fed 2 people who are usually only peckish and can't finish a whole lot. i would order the brisket and jojo potatoes again without hesitation. it is a solid spot, though other places shine brighter. i will say, i can't wait to come back to give them another shot. thanks for the dinner guys! read more

Smokin Oak BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Mariposa, California

A little disappointing with the food. The service was fine, the place was okay, but the menu on the digital screen was way too small to read, even with good eyesight. Everything you see below cost me $54. One jalapeño sausage was around $7-8, and honestly, I couldn't taste any jalapeño. The texture was more like a meat mush than a sausage. The 3 tiny ribs with a small portion of street corn were around $17, I think. The taste was pretty average and the portion was small for the price. Also the ribs didn't come out hot. The mac & cheese was actually good, but it's also not exactly a difficult dish to make. All in all, I wouldn't recommend this place. It's too expensive for the amount of food you get, and unfortunately, nothing we had was memorable enough to justify the price. I stopped here while driving through the town after visiting Yosemite National Park. There are other restaurants in town. read more

Smokin Oak BBQ - Outside patio - Barbeque Near Me - Mariposa, California

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I am an outdoor cook, so I'm leery of most barbecue places. They seldom come up to the mark. This place is an exception. The dining room is in the Something Wicked pub, and is spotless, modern and comfortable. The people are outgoing and friendly, and our food was ready quickly. The food itself is plentiful and good. Every outdoor cook has their own preferences for sauces and seasonings, but the food was well prepared and done well. No complaints. If you're in the area and want barbecue, it's definitely worth a visit. read more

I recently visited Mariposa on a family trip. We smelled the BBQ and had to stop. The place was packed, so I assumed it would be good, but the wait was extremely long- like 40 minutes. What really disappointed me, though, was the service. The man I'm guessing was the owner upcharged me because I ordered a kids' meal--for an actual child. He added $3 simply because he didn't see a child standing with me. He then proceeded to ask the rest of my party, as they ordered, whether there was in fact a child with us rudely. I was honestly shocked by his bedside manner and how the situation was handled. We ordered the ribs plate, and it was great food- wouldn't say the best barbecue, but good none the less, would not go back because of the whole experience. read more

Smokin Oak BBQ - kids mac and cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Mariposa, California

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I'm not a bbq spot person because I myself bbq and I like mine! I'm in Mariposa for work and my hotel is right next-door to this place so it's a convenient walking distance. That's all I'd give it a try the first night just to see how it was. I was impressed and decided to have it on night too as well.. my stomach's a little sensitive so I decided to go with a salad on the second night and OMG this place is exceeded by expectations. The brisket sandwich and Jojo potatoes were amazing. The salad with the tri-tip was good, but after adding their homemade pickled jalapeños and a side of their savory ranch beans...... I ate way too much! Have a feeling I'll be back there for the remainder of the trip. So freaking good. read more

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Delicious BBQ in Mariposa. We had the 3 meat plate and shared with my husband. Definitely enough food for two. The servers were polite, very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. We stayed outside to enjoy the amazing smell of the smoker! The side of corn is a must try! The chili beans was tasty.. and their bbq sauces were delicious! So far everything we had was yummy. There is a sitting area inside too and the bathroom was clean. Definitely coming back! read more

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We decided to go here for lunch because we could smell the delicious smoky bbq aroma. The food was very tasty and satisfied our hunger. The staff and bartender were friendly and provided good service. We enjoyed our time here and definitely recommend it! read more

Smokin Oak BBQ - Beer tasting flight with mead - Barbeque Near Me - Mariposa, California

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Found this diamond in the rough from Merced to Oakhurst. Passing through Mariposa for business related purposes, decided to stop to see what they had to offer and saw this bbq spot. I am very big into bbq and if i see a spot, my tastebuds and appetite get curious. IMO, there is not a lot great bbq, living in the south for some years, i have had my fair share. This place is a great mention for bbq. From flavor to tenderness. I had the ribs, tri-tip and brisket. The tri-tip and brisket was tender and had good pepper flavor but not over powering. The ribs, amazing flavor with just a bit of a snap. Sides: coleslaw and beans. The beans were delicious. The coleslaw, well it's different but good. To each their own and this place was fantastic to me. This would be my go to for bbq if i lived in the area. read more

Smokin Oak BBQ - I was impatient and took a bite of everything first before i took a pic - Barbeque Near Me - Mariposa, California

Cali Sauce on your Frito Pie and Jojos! We were in Mariposa with friends and decided to try out Smokin Oak BBQ. Our group tried the frito pie with pulled pork, 2 meat combo, pulled pork sandwich and loaded baked potato. We really enjoyed the brisket, it was tender and juicy. The pulled pork was definitely a favorite, nice tender chunks of pork and just a light coating of sauce. The potato salad was creamy, but did need a smidgen of salt. The macncheese was chessy and delicious. The loaded baked potato wasn't on the menu, but they had 1 left! The jojo potatoes are wedges of potato with a drizzle of their white bbq sauce. The staff were very friendly and answered all our questions when ordering. The have outside seating or you can take your food over to the tap room next door, Twisted Cedar Tap House. See my separate review on that. We would go back for sure go back! read more

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We were pretty disappointed with our experience. We came in looking for barbecue for dinner, and the line was backed up to the door. They were already out of pulled pork, tri-tip, and sausage. We waited about 15 minutes to reach the front, then another 10 minutes because the cashier went on break. While we waited, they also ran out of chicken and ribs. So we waited in line for about 25 minutes. When we were finally able to order, they were pretty much out of everything except brisket and sides. At that point, if you're coming in at dinner looking for a barbecue dinner and that's all that's left, there really isn't much of a barbecue selection to choose from. So we just left. Another turnoff was the limited seating inside and outside. It's a pretty small place, so finding somewhere to sit was also an issue. We ended up going across the street to Charles Street Dinner House instead and had a very good meal and experience there. read more

We visited on May 28, 2026, during rainy weather, so the patio seating was unfortunately closed. Since the ordering area inside is fairly small, we waited outside until there was enough room to enter and placed our order. After ordering, it was a little difficult to find seating because the indoor space is limited when the patio isn't available. Luckily, a table opened up just before our food was ready. We didn't wait for the staff to clean the table because we weren't sure it wouldn't be snatched by others. That said, the food was very good, which is why I still gave it a few stars. Overall, the limited seating and the cleanliness during our visit affected the experience a bit, but the food was fine if you're hungry. read more

The loaded mac & cheese is fantastic. The tri-tip sandwich special was outstanding. My son appreciated the tomatoes. The pulled pork was wonderful in the flavor department. They had a line out the door, which is a good sign, but which also means you're going to wait a little bit. The nice thing is the food was relatively quick in being delivered. Next-door is the Twisted Cedar taphouse which has mead on tap and a variety of beers in the fridge, which is important to me because I like stouts. Stoutcast.com and Thespitter.com for you baseball fans. The people are friendly and you'll meet people from all over the world. Making a half order available would be good and a side salad, too. read more

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Amazing BBQ, a little bit slow on occasion, but with their small work space and three employees they do a great job with what they've got.

Nice quality meat but with NO SMOKE FLAVOR. This is likely the result of the restaurant being unable to keep up with demand and having to serve meat that was rushed and not properly smoked. I tried brisket, pulled pork, and tri-tip. They were very busy when I picked up my food around 6 pm. Maybe go earlier if you want properly smoked meat. I might give them another chance one day, but clearly they have some stuff to work out currently. read more

Epic! Smokin Oak BBQ is a must-stop on the way to Yosemite. The tri-tip absolutely blew my mind -- I half wished I had influencer sunglasses just so I could rip them off and throw them across the room in disbelief. The brisket delivered the same knockout punch: tender, smoky, and dialed in. The ranch beans went above and beyond and easily stole the spotlight from a typical side dish. Food, flavor, and experience were all outstanding. 10/10, stop here if you're passing through. read more

Amazing food and service. Will definitely stop back by on our way or from to Yosemite. read more

Smokin Oak BBQ - Smoker grill and outside patio. - Barbeque Near Me - Mariposa, California

Traveling through Mariposa and was hungry. I looked up lunch and this place caught my eye. I ordered the 3 meat platter with Ribs, brisket and dark meat chicken. Sides of Mac and cheese and potato salad. Came in a pizza box all packed up. It came with sliced white bread, a container of some pickles and pickled onions. I chose 2 of their sauces they offered of the 4. Wish I would have got all 4. Great flavors. The food was delicious. My friend picked the Mac and cheese topped with pulled pork and said it was yummy. There's a brewery next-door that you can access without leaving the building and take your food over and enjoy some beer next door. Outside seating is available by the smoker. Great place. Folks were friendly that worked there. read more

Got it--let's lean into that gym-bro angle. Here's a sharper, more personal take: "As a regular at the gym right across the street, I've been tortured by that oak-smoked aroma wafting over every damn session. Finally caved after leg day--needed protein, not excuses. Ordered the brisket straight-up: tender as hell, juicy, smoky without the grease bomb. No sides, no fuss--just meat that hit harder than my deadlifts. Staff was chill, spot was clean, and yeah, it wrecked my macros... but worth it. If you're lifting nearby, this is your cheat day upgrade. Ten out of ten, would sweat for again." read more

Great flavor! Everything was delicious. John had excellent customer service and I'm sold to come back every time I am in this area. I would personally recommend pulled pork, tri tip, Mexican corn, and peanut butter pie. read more

Quality, very attentive BBQ person in caring for the BBQ Food. AWESOME Ambiance. Clean, comfortable, casual. Very Fair price for ample servings. You want BBQ....? GET IN HERE! read more

Smokin Oak BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Mariposa, California

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Workers were very friendly and the food was great!! Looked a little small inside but we took our food to go and ate at home. They close as soon as they sell out so plan on eating sooner than later! I got the brisket loaded Mac and it was so yummy!! read more

Smokin Oak BBQ - Brisket loaded Mac - Barbeque Near Me - Mariposa, California

Great chopped beef sandwich! Brisket had a great smoke ring and you could taste the smoke in the sandwich. Everyone was super nice and helpful. If I lived here I would be eating here 2 or 3 times a week. Great food and great service what else do you need? read more

Just passing through and had to try the bbq. Did not disappoint. First time seeing corn riblets on a menu, Amazing. Brisket and pulled pork, tender and juicy. Highly recommend if you're in that neck of the woods. read more

Stopped here on our way to Yosemite. It was SOOOO GOOD. I had the mac n cheese with brisket. Bomb.

After a long hike in Yosemite, we chose to eat here based on the positive reviews, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype. We ordered the 3-meat platter (ribs, pulled pork, and tri-tip) with cornbread, elote, and potato salad. The portions were small -- both the meats and the sides -- especially considering that the ribs came with an extra charge. Out of all the meats, only the ribs stood out as flavorful. The pulled pork and tri-tip were bland and really needed seasoning. The elote consisted of just three tiny pieces, and the cornbread was incredibly dry and lacked flavor -- easily the worst I've had. Overall, the food quality didn't justify the prices. If you're in the area, you might be better off grabbing a bite at the nearby pizza place or the Mexican restaurant instead. read more

Waited over an hour for food. They closed 1.5 hr before stated. They were out of over half the menu. They left work as the food was still not ready 1 hour later. read more

We came in this past week for lunch and were greeted by four very happy, friendly people. They helped us decide on a brisket sandwich and a freshly smoked turkey sandwich. They were both amazing and enough food for us old folks to enjoy for dinner later on that day. Everything was clean and user friendly. We sat in the Tap room and my husband enjoyed a beer and I had a glass of Mead. Can't wait to go back! read more

Smokin Oak BBQ - Turkey sandwich and yummy jojo potatoes - Barbeque Near Me - Mariposa, California

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Brisket Frito bowl ! Perfection ! And it went really well with the beer on tap! Local characters and great service . read more

Not only was the food fantastic but the service was amazing. Ilona made sure my table was taken care of and went above and beyond for us! I will be coming back next time I'm in the area read more

Great stuff! So fun to finally have a Southern BBQ place in Mariposa! The pulled pork is especially delicious!

Smokin' Oak BBQ was outstanding!! First time there, I tried the Loaded Mac & Cheese w/Pulled Pork. It was instant addiction!! So Good!! After raving to them on how good it was, they gave me a sample of the Tri-Tip, and it was so incredibly good, I had to get a Tri-Tip sandwich on my last visit. The flavor of the meat alone was some of, if not the best tasting Tri-Tip I have had ever. Just the meat on the roll with the greens was excellent all by itself, but the salsa added to it puts the sandwich over the top. So many good things on the menu that must be sampled, but they will have to wait until next time. The crew running Smokin' Oak rocks, and very were appreciative of the kind words. Another Mariposa gem that's definitely worth stopping by. read more

Very busy place, nice and very friendly staff. The food is amazing! brisket and tri tip and ribs melt in your mouth (small rolls)though). I think la carte meat has more meat value. Cole slaw is good too. Corn is awesome. The beans surprisingly were very good. We even got some to go with us read more

Most horrible customer service I've ever seen. Dude at the front ignored me for a good bit, and after I got his attention, told me they "were shutting down" at 7:30pm. read more

The food was amazing, deliciously smoked meats, very pleasant service attendants with a simple casual ambiance. Smoked ribs were especially delicious accompanied by super fresh tasting coleslaw. Doesn't end there the smoked pecan cake was AMAZING! Will definitely return when traveling by this area. 5 stars for sure. read more

Take out, it has been a bit long because of the amazing success of this restaurant! Ambiance is good, people are friendly and the beer are really great Service is friendly. Great experience for a take out read more

Oh man I can't wait to come back here! I am so excited to see a barbecue place in Mariposa, and beyond that the service and food was outstanding. We were treated by the friendliest staff, not just one, but everyone in the joint was welcoming. The tri tip was outstanding, the serving was a generous portion, and the sauces were all top notch. I will be back and prioritize coming here on all my future Mariposa stays. Not enough good things to say about this place. read more