WOW FACTOR? Yes, but just barely because of the salmon salad and not for the large price increases. Only problem is all the gas stations at this location charge a lot more than other stops on I-5 (this visit $1 more than the Love station further north). HAVE AGAIN: Salmon salad is wonderful. Have this every time. NOT HAVE AGAIN: The kids burrito with BBQ beans, rice and tri-tip could be delicious but the beef is in large chunks and very unpleasant for kids (or adults) to eat. read more

OK food at Kettleman City. We normally like stopping here, one part of Bravo Farms is a nice playground we let the kids run around at on the drive from the Bary Area to Southern California. We happened to come for gas around lunch time and decided to try the food at Wild Jacks. Burnt Ends Burrito: Brisket, tri-tip, rice, beans, chipotle cheddar cheese, wild jack's ranch. The burnt ends are the most desired part of a Brisket. This one tasted more like leftover meat and I couldn't taste any of the burnt ends. This is a very good way to get rid of leftover scraps but they should change the name. Pulled Pork Nachos: Had a nice looking color from the salsa but the pork was dry and not that great. Sweet Potato Fries: They had that cornstarch coating that some places do to make the fries more crunchy, tasted OK but I prefer them as normal fries. Kid's Cheeseburger: A bit bland and normal for the price we paid, I think they would have enjoyed the McDonald's one more. read more

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Been here a few times - figured it's time for a review. This most recent visit I had their St Louis Spare Rib. Half Rack with a side of Cole Slaw. See pics. the bark was nicely done. Dark but not burnt. Nice and crispy and caramelized. Not too sticky - I'm not a pro but I felt like it was nicely done. I should have taken pics of the meat inside. It was a little dry but not to the point that I didn't finish it all off. I wouldn't say it was overcooked - I would lean towards saying that it was sitting for a while before it was served. Still good enough for me to basically clean everything off the bones. Parking here is pretty easy. If the main lot, or the spots in front of Bravo Farms are all taken, there's street parking as well as an overflow. It's free but you'll have to walk a little. Probably should mention, it's not a table service kind of place. Place your order at the counter. Grab your buzzer go back and grab your order. Find seating both both indoors and out. Do I love the food? Not really. But it's not bad and it's quick and easy when on the road between LA and the Bay. read more

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This is closer to a 3.5 star experience because they serve their tri tip well done (vice medium rare). The meat was still tender and bite-through, but I prefer a little more moisture in my tri tip. The sauce is average, the coleslaw is very cool and delicious. The bread on the sandwich is soft and holds up well with the tri tip. I would buy it again in a heartbeat, but would ask for medium rare. The service is standard but the food came out pretty quick, not many customers on a Friday afternoon. The ambiance is well themed and cool inside. I love having the ice cream shop nearby and easy access to the Tesla Superchargers. read more

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Located at the North end of Bravoland Kettleman is Wild Jacks. Step up, order, and wait for your little buzzer to go off. Self serve utensils, drinks, and bussing. It can get quite busy here during weekend lunchtime, but they were able to churn through the orders quickly. A few minutes to order and then a little over ten minutes to get our food. Plenty of spots to sit and eat - we happened to sit next to a chicken shooting game, so we were constantly graced with the sounds of clucking chickens. The food: We've gotten the Cobb salad several times here and it's pretty consistent. Fresh greens piled with tons of toppings. Both steak and chicken have been good add ons. Traditional Wings - Garlic Parmesan. These were fried super crispy and were really good, but ultimately done-in with way too much sauce. The sauce was too salty and softened the wings after a few minutes. I think this is an easy fix - just ask for the sauce on the side. Nice stop on the way up or down the 5. read more

Wild Jacks Tex Mex BBQ - Garlic Parmesan Traditional Wings - Barbeque Near Me - Kettleman City, California

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We used to come here years ago and the food would always be warm and fresh. This time the food was terrible! The burger patty was flavorless cold and dry like it had been sitting out for hours. The tri-tip on my salad tasted cold and dry. The fries were not fresh, its like all the food was sitting out all day. The atmosphere is awesome, the service was good. For the prices they need to make the food fresh read more

Wild Jacks Tex Mex BBQ - Atmosphere - Barbeque Near Me - Kettleman City, California

My family and I stopped here for lunch on our way up to Northern California. This place is dog friendly, which was just what we were looking for because we were traveling with our dog. Of course the first thing I did here was use the restroom after a long drive and they were actually pretty clean, which was nice. Ordering was simple and we sat outside which had a cool little ghost town model that was fun to explore. To drink I just got an iced tea and for my entree my Mom and I split a Brisket Sandwich and Onion Rings. My Dad ordered the Pulled Pork Tacos. Our brisket sandwich was good. The meat was tender and the bread was warm and soft. Our onion rings were a little on the greasy side, but the coleslaw was fresh and tasty. My Dad shared his pulled pork tacos with us. They also had coleslaw on them as well as salsa and flour tortillas. It was slightly spicy and I actually preferred them over our brisket sandwich. It was a convenient place to stop for lunch on our road trip. read more

Wild Jacks Tex Mex BBQ - Onion Rings and coleslaw - Barbeque Near Me - Kettleman City, California

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Come here every time when we travel on I-5. It's a great stop and stretch and use the restroom. The food is ok. Got a Texas BBQ and a BBQ chicken. The chicken is not too flavorful. But at least not dry. The food is pricey but there's not much choice around the area. read more

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Stopped in here on our way back from the Oceano Dunes and while the entire area is very clean, welcoming and decorated like a Wild West Saloon, this specific restaurant fell a little flat. Service was very friendly and very quick! However, the tri-tip on my salad was very dry (thankfully the dressing added some "juice" back into the meat). My husband got the burnt ends burrito and while it filled him up he said he was expecting something a little more flavorful. Maybe their other dishes are better but these didn't quite hit the spot. read more

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First time here. Ordered a brisket sandwich with a side of cole slaw and fried cheese curds. Curds were good along with the slaw. Brisket was on the very dry side and the BBQ sauce provided tasted more like straight ketchup with a hint of BBQ. A bit noisy with the shooting gallery music. Great gift shop! read more

Driving from LA to Sac metro or driving down to LA. Kettleman City is a must do Stop. And of course Bravo towns BBQ is one of the must stops for delicious bbq and Mexican burnt ends burrito. Oh the stores are all connected as well so you can get delicious foods and beverages too. read more

Wild Jacks Tex Mex BBQ - Front - Barbeque Near Me - Kettleman City, California

Stopped here to break up a long drive on the way back to LA. It's a decent place to grab a bite and refreshments, stretch your legs, and play around a bit. You can also pop into the general store next door and find farm-fresh goodies. Old-timey, Wild West-themed, with vintage accents. Service is average, not too long of a wait. read more

Wild Jacks Tex Mex BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Kettleman City, California

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This is inside the bravo building. The meat is good. I liked the brisket. Tiny portion of coleslaw in a tiny cup on the side. Maybe 2 oz. The half rack of ribs was 6 small ribs, maybe 4' long. So the portions for the price are pretty disappointing. But sometimes a necessary stop on the 5. read more

Convenient stop off the 5 with charging for EV and clean bathrooms. The food was good. I took a point off for the excessively loud and annoying Christian music. read more

What a cute area for adults and kids! Random Tesla charge location lead me to eat here and happy it did. I only wish I had my kids with me cause they have the cutest play area. We tried the brisket sandwich and fries. It was decent... a little overcooked but the sandwich was filled nicely for a fair price. Fries and sides are separate (which I hate buying everything separate... who's going to eat a sandwich and not a side? Give me a combo meal please :) the service was hard to judge cause you order up front and never see them again. But overall, I would stop here again read more

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We ordered the build your own salad. Tomatoes were less than appealing, the cucumbers were soft, and I ended up eating the lettuce greens until I couldn't take it anymore. Our 11 year old took one bite of his burger and had to spit it out. Our 14 year old was content with his burnt end burrito. I had one bite and it was Smokey. He seemed to like it, thus the 2 stars instead of 1. That and the cheese curds were decent. But the color made me want to believe the oil was a couple of days old. We ditched our meals and went to in and out. read more

Have a look over the menu and then walk over to order. We were there early when they opened. Service was fast. There are no substitutions for sides. We ordered a ribeye sandwich, pulled pork sandwich, and bravo nachos with brisket. Brisket was very fatty. Cheese on the nachos was delicious. Pulled pork was loaded but on the sweet side. Serviceable bbq, but definitely not a "you have to try this place" Cost about 75 with water for drinks and tip. As we were there early, we had first pick of location. The games on the side can be loud, so be weary. There can be abrupt chicken clucking noises. Place can get very busy as the day progresses. read more

Wild Jacks Tex Mex BBQ - Bravo nachos, pulled pork sandwich, side of beans, and ribeye sandwich, side of coleslaw. - Barbeque Near Me - Kettleman City, California

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The prices were fair, and the wild West themed interior was really fun. 3 stars: the burnt ends burrito was more like brisket, which was still delicious, moist, and tender, but not that crispy-edged burnt ends experience I was looking for. The burrito was also flimsy. Service was fast and there's plenty of seating all over the establishment, even outside the restaurant, and you have a buzzer you can take as you find a spot. They have a smoker in the back and it seems the meat is clearly smoked in house. It's an excellent place to eat for a rest stop for it's venue and theme. read more

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Driving to LA from San Jose- we always have lunch at Wild Jacks In Kettleman City. The setting is great inside and out. Love eating on the patio. Restroom is clean. I always get the salmon sandwich- nice thick piece of salmon with slaw and bean salad on the side. My daughter's brisket sandwich was also really good with a cole slaw on the side. The lady at the register was nice. Definitely give it a try. read more

Wild Jacks Tex Mex BBQ - Salmon sandwich, brisket sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Kettleman City, California

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Great TexMex BBQ experience, next time we shall come between Thursday and Sunday, so that we can enjoy some juicy brisket! We were sick of burger and sandwiches during our CA road trip, found this gem on our way to the Bay Area. Brisket entry is only served after Wednesday...so we had wings, taco, salad, everything is tasty, especially the salad (strawberry and spinach. Lots of them, that 4 of us can share). Service is really good as well! read more

Wild Jacks Tex Mex BBQ - New menu - Barbeque Near Me - Kettleman City, California

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Overall I felt like it was a very okay sandwich. A bit overpriced for what it was but I didn't feel like it was anything too special. There wasn't too much meat for bread ratio but the taste was good. The coleslaw is also pretty standard. Fun environment though read more

Wild Jacks Tex Mex BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Kettleman City, California

We enjoyed the ambience a lot. Clean and friendly place. We loved the Salmon Salad so 5 stars for that. The salad was fresh, salmon was perfect, the oranges and strawberries were sweet and the feta was delicious. The nachos with chicken were really lacking. The chicken was bland and you could practically count the beans. Nothing much can be said about the nachos. Overall a good experience that's why the 5 stars. read more

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The honey sriracha wings are soooo good & flavorful! Definitely sweet with a kick but it wasn't too overpowering. The chicken itself was cooked perfectly, nice crunchy outside and juicy inside. The ribeye sandwich fell short for me, I feel like it needed more meat to bread ratio. The bread is thick but the bottom gets soggy from the meat, but even then it needed more meat. The coleslaw was delicious though, sweet and refreshing. We also ordered a side of onion rings and they were made crispy to perfection. Love how we could sit outside, service was a little slow as it took us a while to get our food, but they had a lot of people there so it wasn't a problem. Overall good place for being in the middle of nowhere. read more

Wild Jacks Tex Mex BBQ - Ribeye sandwich and honey sriracha wangsss - Barbeque Near Me - Kettleman City, California

The brisket sandwich dry. The beer battered fries were good. Nice clean bathrooms. Also a store connected that has everything you need. There's also a rifle game for kids, but most of it wasn't working that well. There's also a playground town thing outside. Slides are hidden in the structure. read more

On Hwy 5 This is one of my favorite spots. Whenever I'm traveling to LA or heading back home, I make it a point to stop by if the timing works out. Nowadays, it's also a must-stop for charging my electric car (Tesla charging lounge and Electrify America). My favorite menu items at this restaurant are the ribeye sandwich and the BBQ ribs. I've been enjoying them for almost 10 years, and I highly recommend giving them a try if you get the chance! read more

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Just not good. Berger tasted like fake meat. Service was nice. Noisy with all the games

Fun little barbecue spot in this kitschy center. I am not 100% sure that this is part of Bravo Farms but I think it is. It's kind of fast casual where you go up to the counter and order and they call out your number when your food is ready. The folks were pretty friendly and efficient at the front. It's a pretty fun spot especially if you've been on the road for a few hours like we were. A good midpoint between the LA area and the Bay Area. I ended up ordering the tri-tip sandwich. I got an extra cup of barbecue sauce. It was pretty well prepared, but the barbecue sauce and coleslaw gave it a little bit more moisture. Good sandwich overall. There's some other fun items on the menu as well. Definitely a fun spot. Especially if you have a little kids with you. Also, it's a fun spot because it's not your normal fast food restaurants on the road. read more

Wild Jacks Tex Mex BBQ - Tri tip sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Kettleman City, California

Found this place randomly while on a road trip. Food was good. BBQ sauce was decent. Sides were all great. Service was fantastic and the girl at the front was very nice. Ambiance was a relaxed kinda of vibe. I'd definitely recommend trying this place out... read more

Had our hopes up, thought this place was going to be really good. First disappointment was simply walking into the restaurant. Nobody was there, except a couple girls sweeping the floor and washing the tables. We asked if they were open and they said they were. We took a menu and I decided to get the chicken nachos and my husband decided to get the brisket sandwich. We also got two drinks. The total was $50 which seemed pretty high for what we were getting. But I wanted to wait and see what the food was like before I made that judgment. Well, the food was just OK and yes, $50 was extremely high for what we got. I would not recommend this restaurant. The food really was just OK and the price really was quite high for what they present to you. read more

Food is DELICIOUS, and portions are good for the price. Much better than the chain restaurants in the area. Kids loved the chicken tenders, grilled cheese and fries. We had the burnt ends burrito which was very filling. Staff is friendly and service was very quick. We ate on the road, but would've loved to hang out a bit if time permitted. This is an excellent stop if you're traveling from Northern to Southern California or vice versa. Bravo Farms has a lot to keep the kids entertained, there is a wine bar that hosts tastings next to the restaurant, and plenty of shopping inside. Very cute aesthetic, lots of seating and an overall great experience. Would definitely and HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! read more

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Brisket sandwich was 90%fat, and bun was saturated with fat. Probably got 1/2 oz of overcooked meat. Disgusting place with zero nice about it, except rest room was clean. read more

This place is great!! Clean bathrooms, fun shopping, great play area and games. The food is also surprisingly decent. We got a wild quesadilla and a wild salmon sandwich and we were happy with both. read more

Food left alot to be desired from a place calling themselves bbq. The brisket sandwich was flavorless, no smoke ring, dry and not seasoned. Eating this eventually made my family and my stomach ache. Best comparable to a dry roast beef sandwich left in the roaster for hours. My son had the kids tri tip which was equally dry but tough as well. My wife had the burnt end burrito, which was probably the better of the 3 meals but their definition of burnt ends was fatty and greasy portions of brisket in a bean and rice burrito. Save yourself the torment and have an in n out burger. Service was good, helpful and very kind. Can't say the same about the food. The rest of the strip mall is very interesting once you pass the shooting ranges. Ice cream bar, gift shops and a huge assortment of tin signs. Will comeback to browse the gifts and trinkets but not the food. Hope this helps. Thanks read more

Unless you're really into fast food, Wild Jack's (in the Bravo Farms compound)) is the only suitable choice along the 5 between LA and the Bay Area Salads, wraps, great burgers and a solid brisket, we always stop here when we need a reprieve from the 5. The Mac and cheese for kids is actually good, in fact, everything we've had here has been a solid rendition. Other bonuses: The kids can run around a bit, the Restaurant serves beer, and the nearby gift shop is fun. They also have an ice cream shoppe next door. If you don't mind a longer break along the drive and have a hankerin' for BBQ, come on and give em a go. read more

Great place for a stop over to and from LA. Texan atmosphere, outdoor space is dated which is the ambiance. They have indoor and outdoor seating available. Pets are allowed at the Patio/playground. Food was okay, with decent serving. read more

Interesting salad selections. It was over 107 degrees when I came by so a salad sounded good. The inside is big, kind of open mall style. It was very comfortable inside speaking to temperature. The ordering was bit cumbersome and it seemed they were a bit understaffed. The Salmon salad I got was really good, fresh and it had great flavor. The most dissatisfying thing was the way they announce the food orders when they're ready, a super loud and distorted sound! read more

Absolutely the best alternative to all the dining options in this road trip stop location which is Kettleman City. Located in a fabulous wooden movie-type set structure which is the highlight of the visit, this casual restaurant has seating on two levels and outdoor scenic options if the weather permits. Parking is also plenty for both passenger vehicles and RVs. The menu is simple western BBQ focused. Tri-tip, Brisket, Ribeye Steak, Pulled Pork, Chicken, Hot Links, and Salmon are available in sandwich form or in some limited Wraps. There is a short breakfast menu too along with Salads. The star of the show are the proteins. They are true to form to being BBQ as much as it can be in a refined commercial form. Pricing is reasonable and not cheap, but worth the cost for a good memorable meal. The side dishes are also very good. Made to order, from chips to Guac to simple fries, freshness and care seems to be what is served here. Again, this is a great alternative to everything else around this area even if it is just another quick stop along your journey on the 5 Freeway. read more

I had the brisket and it was fabulous. All meat, no gristle. The barbecue sauce was tasty and the bun was delicious too. The coleslaw was really good as well. The service was friendly and I got my food very fast. The esthetic is really fun and decorated so nicely! I will definitely come again when driving through. read more

Kettleman City is like my second home town, my home away from home. OK, I'm lying. Even though it's a major stop on the I-5, Jamie W. and I have only stopped here once before on our way to LA to grab a Double Double at in-n-Out. This time we decided to make a pit stop at the cowtown emporium, Bravo Farms (review: https://bit.ly/3CfBPFK), and figured we could do a lot worse than having an early lunch at the restaurant inside. They opened a little after 10AM when they removed the rope. We were the first customers in line as we stared at their overhead menu. Selections were divided between sandwiches and burgers, Tex-Mex favorites (burritos, tacos, and nachos), BBQ plates, a kids' menu, and gratefully salads (photo: https://bit.ly/3vE2Pgv). Jamie decided on the &16.95 Taco Salad with BBQ Tri-Tip. It was quite a huge serving with chunks of tri-tip mixed with chipotle cheddar, bell peppers, onion, black bean corn salsa, jalapeños, and tortilla strips over a bed of mixed greens (photo: https://bit.ly/35oAEYz). It came with a sweet, spicy vinaigrette on the side and was heftier than what Jamie wanted since he was driving. However, we agreed it was pretty tasty even though the tri-tip was clearly grilled the day before. I ordered the comparatively lighter tasting Berry Spinach Salad also with tri-tip and also the same price. It consisted of strawberry slices, cherry tomato halves, bacon bits, almonds, and crumbled feta cheese over a bed of spinach (photo: https://bit.ly/3sFLtOA). Mine came with a balsamic vinaigrette on the side. It was a nice mix of sweet and savory, even though I'm not the biggest fan of fruit and meat combos. We took our salads out to the patio where they had several picnic tables scattered around the expansive playground. We were right that it sustained us all the way to LA and then some. Now we know there's a place beyond Pea Soup Andersen's and Harris Ranch to consider for our I-5 hunger pangs. FOOD - 4 stars...big, satisfying salads with a lot of meat AMBIANCE - 4 stars...a lot of space in the morning but the onslaught of tourists was imminent SERVICE - 3.5 stars...attentive enough, it was pretty early TOTAL - 4 stars...a viable pit stop to fuel up both car and body on a long trip RELATED - Driving on I-5? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3KdQJ1W read more

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Stopped here on our drive back to San Francisco from Bakersfield. The food, and ambiance of this place was a 10/10 for a restaurant on the road in an isolated place. Cute place to sit outdoors, large choice of food options and big portions- pricier than your average fast food, but better quality food! I ordered the salmon salad, salmon sandwich and fried zucchini. The salad came with a lot of fresh veggies, fruits and a huge portion of salmon!! I was super satisfied from half a salad. The salmon sandwich also had a huge 8 ounces of salmon. I asked for both without dairy because I have an allergy- they were accommodating. The only downside was that they brought out my fried zucchini twice with Parmesan. Had to wait a long time for them to get it right, but they were very busy and had a lot of customers. The food was a 10/10- would highly recommend you stop here for food on a long drive, if looking for nourishing good quality food! read more

Wild Jacks Tex Mex BBQ - Salmon salad Salmon sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Kettleman City, California

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