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    The Rib Shack

    4.4 (644 reviews)
    ModerateBarbeque, American
    Closed 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    The Rib Shack Photos

    Business Info

    THE RIB SHACK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - The Rib Shack

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    Sampler plate: hot link, ribs, chicken, tri tip, pulled pork, brisket, mac and cheese, potato salad, beans, and rolls.  FANTASTIC BBQ.
    Craig W.

    This small shops serves up some really good barbecue. Hot tip: Come earlier in the day, if you can. Like at most BBQ places, they may run out of certain foods later in the day. You snooze, you lose. (Funny note: I was told, in no uncertain terms, that they were out of chicken and that I would get extra pulled pork. When I got home, I found a large piece of chicken.) The best option is the Sampler plate. You get six different proteins, three sides, and three Hawaiian rolls. The proteins are chicken, hot link, tri-tip, brisket, ribs, and pulled pork. I thought all of the proteins were very good but I especially loved the hot link. I could have eaten three of these alone. The sides are also very good. The mac and cheese and potato salad--both clearly house made--were excellent. The house made beans were ok but a little hard. I didn't love them. They have three BBQ sauces to choose from (spicy--marked with a giant "X" on the little cup, sweet, and regular. They are all delicious but you really don't need any of them. That is a sign of good BBQ. The sampler plate gives you a ton of food. At $56, it seems expensive but it is not. This plate easily feeds three people and you will probably have some leftovers. I drove 30 minutes one way for this, waited about 15 minutes, and drove another 30 minutes home. It was very much well worth it. Good BBQ is hard to find in SoCal but it exists, if you make the effort. And this is very good BBQ at reasonable prices.

    Already dug in and we have so much left! My husband got the brisket plate and I got the tri tip! Delicious!
    Shelby B.

    Food was amazing! Great find on our way home from San Diego. Delicious bbq! Trip tips and brisket were both clearly a labor of love! tender Smokey and the sides were all amazing

    Sampler order with two additional small sizes which are pretty big
    Shauna G.

    First time patrons and had a positive visit, the girl at the register was very pleasant and they do offer military discount. The flavors of the meats were nice (except the chicken, husband and I agreed there was an odd floral flavor to it). Wanted to try this place on the fried okra alone as I've never been to a BBQ place that has this as an option. The okra was yummy, seasoned fries were crispy, Mac and cheese was ok, the coleslaw was meh, the potato salad was bomb! We want to try the cowboy beans next time. The BBQ sauce was flavorful and tangy, we agreed the best meat was the pulled pork, it was tender and juicy while the ribs were pretty tough and the brisket was sadly very chewy. Maybe it was just an off day, but we would definitely come back to try more things! Honestly: 3.5 stars if you could do half stars, I would have done 3, but based on the great customer service, I bumped it up to 4 stars.

    Ribs and brisket
    Karen B.

    I ordered takeout from The Rib Shack while visiting Fallbrook as it was a rainy day so the more plentiful outdoor seating area was closed. The menu posted in store by the register was a bit more limited than online, and there were specials posted in the store (like the giant beef ribs) that were not listed online, so worth calling to ask if you're looking for beef ribs! My husband and I shared a half rack of pork ribs and a lb of brisket. For sides, we got fried okra and cole slaw, which were both really good! Meat was tender and paired perfectly with all three types of bbq sauce on the side (which I appreciated, because bbq spots that lather on too much bbq overwhelms my tastebuds). Not much indoor seating but I did see a patio outside (not in use when I stopped by due to rain). Will definitely stop by again when I am back in town!

    Sophia N.

    We love this place for the ribs, pulled pork, and cole slaw! My boyfriend goes there almost every weekend and always recommends to all of his friends and family! Great place to get a quick bbq lunch, cute small shop with easy parking! I would recommend getting a protein and two sides, the mac and cheese is amazing and the cole slaw is a must have.

    Sample platter, six different meats

    Everything was super yummy! Definitely recommend the sample platter to get a bit of everything. Pretty cool ambiance and service was good. I recommend the sausage link and mac n cheese!

    Smoked chicken sandwich

    Had a tasty smoke chicken sandwich with a side of potato salad. Ample portions that we were able to split n feed both of us. Chicken tender n juicy and bun just big enough to enjoy chicken/bun ratio. Comes with 2 different bbq sauces on the side. Both great combo of flavors. Potato salad with unpeeled potatoes is how I enjoy it so was perfect for me. Staff very helpful. Ample seating indoor/outdoor but depending on wind blowing outside you may get smoke on your face from their smoker with outdoor seating. Smells really good though!

    Beef Ribs (only Fridays and Saturdays) and slaw.
    Gina D.

    Shout out to Rib Shack. Ordered 2 beef ribs. They only serve on Fridays and Saturdays and always sell out. Got there early. Best ribs ever. 20.99 a lb min.2 ribs. These Dino bones with 2 sides were only $30. Enough food for 2 maybe 3 I got our favorite, fried Okra(not pix) and slaw. The Slaw was not sweet and so good. The okra gone before I got home. And sauce is on the side so they look anemic but aren't. They don't hide the flavor with sauce and let you choose the sauce you want. Only complaint is the chipotle mayo served with the Okra was so watered down it was straight liquid and dripped EVERYWHERE. My floor, hand, shirt. Thought maybe a one time thing then went to put BBQ sauce on the meat and it too was watered down. That's not going to help save you $ because now I (and others ) will just order twice as much sauce. Do better with your sauces.

    Dry bland bbq ribs
    Mizz D O.

    I hate to leave bad reviews, and only do it when it really calls for, Very disappointing experience. Customer service was horrible from the moment we arrived. The girl taking the order has no people skills, The food is bbq, should be done ready to serve yet my order took 20 minutes, how? Why? It's food that down have to be prepared. Then When the food finally came out, it was bland and the ribs were dried out. We paid over $50 fora sampler plate for 2 people and honestly the only thing i could eat and somewhat enjoy was the mac and cheese. Everything else went to waste. Definitely not worth the wait or the money. Full disclosure I did just move here from Texas where you see what you're ordering and you get your tray full of food right there on the spot. No waiting! CA needs good bbq places and this is not it!

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    29 days ago

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    8 months ago

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    27 days ago

    Went there a few months ago. Excellent, not crazy expensive, plenty off food, clean place, casual setting, friendly people

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    2 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Awesome food, gluten free sauces, and such a blessing to have in my area. I call ahead and it's ready by the time I get there.

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    3 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Outstanding food and service. Well worth the drive. I had the rib and brisket plate and it made my day!

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    1 year ago

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    1 month ago

    I'm a truck driver and I stopped here. Any place that serves food that doesn't have a restroom for customers should be closed down.

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    7 months ago

    Awesome food! Good prices for smoked meats. A small hole in the wall place off the main highway. Worth the wait!

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    Page 1 of 17

    Ask the Community - The Rib Shack

    Are there a la carte options?

    Yes. You can get a rack of ribs, side of beans, etc.

    View All 3 Questions

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    Elementa

    Elementa

    4.3(43 reviews)
    4.8 mi

    Dined at Elementa on Saturday, September 12. End of a several day trip to Pala, private dining low…read morekey feel in a high end excellent restaurant. Elementa is a perfect compliment to Bar Meets Grill and Anila's. The wine options, glass or bottle aided by Abraham, are top quality. Bread appetizer well done. Cesar Salad is a specialty with bacon accents and perfect dressing. Had the 14-oz Australian wagyu beed for likely the 20th time with twice baked potato, cooked perfectly at medium rare, always flavorful and consistent. A test of a great place is consistent quality, and Elementa passes with flying colors. Full, found room for the creme brulee somehow, coffee, and ended a great night with among the best in hosts and servers. Elementa has received some negative comments on portion size and complicated dishes. Neither has merit. Like any restaurant, there are large or smaller entrees, but in a French restaurant with the richness of the food excessive size is not a plus as quantity is not the measure, quality is. And the salad, appetizers, steaks and other items are large. What you order makes a difference, but portion size is no criticism. Nor are selection options anything but perfect. This is French fine dining, not a hot dog at Grab N Go. The choices cover everything possible, lobster, fish, steak, pork, chicken, at times rabbit and other specials dones with such unique combinations you cannot believe the food good be this perfect, but it is the quality, the taste, unique preparation as in the special soup which sets the place apart. It is fine dining at its best, incredible chefs and food options, and a place to go and enjoy and defer the criticisms to those who have a right to them just as those of us who think the place is high quality do. I am often at Pala. Love the people at this casino which, like the restaurants, brings me back. I often dine at Bar Meets Grill, and on alternate nights will try Elementa though Anila's is excellent as an Italian option which challenges my choice. A nice problem to have. Pala is blessed to have three quality fine dining options, and Elementa offers that with a difference ambiance. All are great, the people there great, and something to experience.

    Dinner date with the hubby.... Food was amazing. However, service was a bit lacking. I expected a…read morebit more organization for a higher end restaurant. We were sat right away. However, the service wasn't consistent. It took a while for us to even get our waters. Once our waitress came to take our order, she advised us that she would bring us some bread & butter right away. Regretfully that never happened. We didn't get our bread board until our appetizer came..... What we ordered & shared: * Beef Carpaccio * Pan Seared New England King Salmon * Side Order of Scallops * Tahitian Crème Brûlée The food was an amazing experience. Presentation and taste was on point. The hubby didn't care for the excessive amount of raspberries on the crème brûlée. However it was delicious. Perhaps the staff were having an off day. Our waitress seemed a little frazzled. The hubby had to ask for his beverage to be refilled. That even took so long that we ended up asking for it to go..... Overall great food experience. The service could've been better.

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    Backdraft Bar & Grill

    4.6(231 reviews)
    4.8 mi
    $$

    Was running some errands up in the Oceanside area and started heading inland toward home. Was…read moregetting hungry and searched for someplace for dinner. Backdraft popped up as an option. A local spot with a sports bar vibe. Perfect for a quick bite on the way home. We were seated immediately by the hostess. It was pretty busy for a Sunday evening. Noticed a patio in the back of the building and asked if we could be seated outside. Not a problem. Our server promptly came over and greeted us. She was great. We mentioned it was our first visit to the restaurant. She gave us some suggestions on menu items and they turned out perfect. We enjoyed the AED Eggs to start. Julie had the Driptorch Salad for her entree. Added salmon for protein. I had the Code 3 Burger. The jalapeños added a nice bit of heat to each bite. For dessert, we enjoyed the Rescue 10. A flourless chocolate torte drizzled with raspberry sauce. Had to get it à la mode as well! Overall a great find. Don't let the small entrance fool you. The food and ambiance behind the door will keep you coming back for more! Keep on Yelp'n!

    Went here for lunch with a friend. We arrived shortly after they opened and it was uncrowded but by…read morethe time we left around 12:30 it had filled up nicely. Somewhat dark inside with dark wood and minimal lighting, but they have a very nice patio area. The sandwiches are quite large even a half sandwich which you can order was plenty for one person. The Cobb salad was excellent, and the dressings were top-notch. Our server was quite pleasant and attentive. All of our service was quick and spot on.

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    4.0(1.2k reviews)
    4.3 mi
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    The location is great as it overlooks the city of Fallbrook and is a cool midpoint between mid…read morecounty Riverside and Oceanside/Carlsbad. The restaurant itself is airy and has a cool little mini gallery on the bottom floor. The food is great and the service is FAST! Cool local hang out. Thanks for feeding us!- more than once. My favorite is always the Hawaiian breakfast items and equally as important, the coffee is GOOD.

    I've eaten here many times. I've had breakfast, lunch and dinner here. For breakfast just a…read morecouple of times. I mostly had lunch and dinner here with family, friends and my hubby. This one of the few places in town that is a nice but casual restaurant with a good menu for breakfast and lunch, and for dinner too. The prices are reasonable too. They have a great bar with drink specials. I've tried a few cocktails and sweet wines as well as their coffee selections. Today's visit was at lunch time with a friend. I wanted to show up early to get on the wait list early so my guest didn't have to wait. To my surprise, I only had to wait 5 minutes. The wait time was much longer when we were leaving Parking does get full quickly at the top area. Just remember there is parking below, but you will have to face stairs to reach the top level to see the hostess for seating. My lunch meal that I usually get is a Chinese Chicken salad, today was no different. I usually request for extra dressing.. My husband and I like that they do serve soda water. Our server was very friendly and checked on us often. I forgot to point out that when I come with family we prefer outdoor seating if the weather permits. The reason being is that it is loud inside. There is background music, but it could barely be heard because of the echoing of people talking. It is difficult to hear the people you are there with. Today I opted to sit inside because it was warm outside. Well, it was pretty warm inside so the next time it is warm outside I will opt to sit outdoors any way. Great food, nice bar, outdoor seating and good prices. You''ll find me back here.

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    The Rib Shack - bbq - Updated September 2026

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