We stopped at Willow Ranch Restaurant for lunch on our way to the Bay Area. We decided to share the the WR Beef sandwich and the Tri-Tip Salad. Both were very good. Service was fast and friendly in this family run restaurant. read more

For a middle of nowhere town the food is decent and definitely better than all the fast food restaurants around. Service is fast and friendly. read more

Great service. Small town feel, great recipes for their breakfast foods. Thick , hearty pancakes and French toast. Genuine syrup, and REAL butter. Price was right where I was comfortable as a middle class American. Word in the restaurant is the Denny's half a block down, closed due to Willow Ranch's breakfast. Regarding employees, Blanca has been here The longest, she made me feel like we were family and she knew every person that walked in the door. Great place. Will come every time I drive on the 5. read more

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Whenever I'm in the Bakersfield area I stop and eat at Willow Ranch. Some of the best bbq in the area and the staff is always friendly. On my way to LA stopped by with my son. Food was just as yummy as it always is, I ordered trip my son had chicken fried steak. So good and the sauce is too. read more

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This is our favorite stop on our I-5 road trips in central CA! They have an extensive menu, everything from steaks to sandwiches and salads. Their BBQ is supposed to be good, but we haven't ordered that yet... we'll have to try that next time. Hubby likes the patty melt, and I often opt for a BLT (very good!) or other type of sandwich. The prices are very fair. One of the things that we noticed on our very first visit here were the large number of service-industry vehicles in the parking lot (sheriff, maintenance, utility crews, etc.). Now we understand why, because men know where to eat! To sum up: The food won't disappoint, they have clean restrooms, and the service is always good, too. We love that they offer to refill your drink often and even transfer it to a large cup for the road. We've recommended Willow Ranch to friends who travel, and we look forward to our next visit. read more

Great restaurant with excellent service and good, solid food. We had the Philly cheese steak and try-tip sandwiches with onion rings. Both were generous portions. The homemade BBQ sauce was tasty. read more

We stopped by here on our way down the 5. I asked to limit plastics used in our order, no utensils, cardboard if possible, no bag etc. The food came packaged in heavy duty styrofoam, in a plastic bag, with plastic utensils. The food itself was not great. We got the brisket and ribs. The portions we're huge. The ribs were under seasoned and not tender enough in our opinion. The brisket was supposed to be smoked but it was most definitely not. Pretty dry, meat didn't taste high quality. The biscuit, salad and beans were especially bad. But the thing that was the most difficult to swallow was the amount of plastics and styrofoam used. read more

After a day of driving in the hot heat and no a/c, we decided to stop for dinner. A semi-cranky family with two of the pickiest eaters in the world, and you all pleased my family of 5, including even the pickiest of my eaters! The barbecue sauce is delicious! Incredible friendly staff! A complete gem!! read more

Best service in Kern County! Local flavor gem with reasonable prices. We go at least once a month. read more

5 Stars for Willow Ranch spicy BBQ sauce and baby back ribs! We also enjoy the customer service. We have had the pleasure of being served by Steve twice and he is always accommodating. I wish that I was good with names so I coservers we have had. read more

Off the beaten track but not off the taste. If you want a great BBQ pull off the highway and try a rib plate or shredded chicken deepit bbq to get your motor running. Moist meat sweet tangy bbq flavor in every fork full. But if bbq is not your thing try one of their pile high sandwiches, burger or refreshing salad. Signature cocktails after the speedway or a nice refreshing Pepsi for a pick me up. The staff is kind and the prices more than reasonable space tip your waitress well as she deserves it. read more

Overall this place has solid food. Great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. My favorite thing to get is the half chicken plate or quarter chicken plate, depending on how hungry I am. I ask for the BBQ sauce on the side because they typically slather a lot on the chicken. Their tri tip and burgers are good too. I have liked every soup that I have tried here, especially the clam chowder. Prices are fair. They have very friendly and attentive service. Update 03-26-18: They have raised their prices quite a bit. Although the food is good, I don't eat here that often because the prices are way too high. read more

If you've gotta hankerin' for some good BBQ when you're out on the open road, Buttonwillow Ranch is the place to go. Try the Deep Pit BBQ sandwich...you'll be thankin me, brother. Also give the clam chowder a try - it's worthy...and they put the food out pretty fast to boot. They make their own BBQ sauce here and it's damn good...I bought the last bottle, so if you stop by today, you're shit outta luck. read more

Willow Ranch - The sauce is legit...yes sir. - Barbeque Near Me - Buttonwillow, California

So good here ! Omg! My husband & I stopped by the Tesla changing station near here on our way to San Francisco , and came to have dinner while we waited. I'm so glad we did! The food here is super tasty, and great bold flavors! Their meals are all freshly made, from sauces, to sides, and marinades. I'm impressed, I wish it was closer to home so we can visit more often. Thanks ! read more

I brought a large group here (29 people) for lunch. They were very friendly and easy to work with and were very affordable. The food was good and the facility was nice (they have a private dining room and lots of parking). read more

It was so good stop on our way from LA to Bay Area. Very delicious food good size of portions and super friendly people. Thank you very much

I had the 2 choice combo with pork ribs and brisket with a salad, fries, beans, and a roll. Speaking of roll, you can roll me out the door now. Don't get me wrong, it was delicious. My mother had the ranch burger which she said was really good but could have used some charbroil flame for some flavor. The pork ribs are not the type that fall off the bone but rather a slight tug of the meat. They were smoky and the sauce was sweet and tangy. Really good. We come back every year on our way south. read more

Buttonwillow, CA? Where the hell am I? I ate here for lunch today and I still have no clue. Never heard of it. All I know is I was starving, needed gas, and was driving north up the 5 fwy and didn't feel like eating at McDonald's or IHOP in Bakersfield so I kept going until I saw this town. I filled up with gas and was going to head next door to Denny's when I see three magic letters across the street. B.B.Q. It's spelled out until this run down dive called Willow Ranch. I convince Donna to be adventerous(after checking the yelp app first to make sure it's more than 2 stars) and we head on over. Even though the outside is dingy the inside isn't bad. Cowboy paintings everywhere, cowboy murals on the wall, cowboy paraphernalia on shelves, floor made of pebbles... hmm... looks promising for BBQ. Patrons were mainly police, fireman, and what I can only describe as Mountain Men with ZZ top type beards. I start with a cup of their homemade chili. It arrives topped with chopped raw onion and two types of cheese. It's made with beans & beef and tasted really good. It wasn't the best chili I've had but it was pretty damn good considering I'm in a town called Buttonwillow. To eat I had the BBQ Tri-tip sandwich and Donna had the "Deep Pit" beef brisket. We had the fries as our side but you could also choose potato salad. The fries came out golden brown, crispy, and steaming hot. Dipped into their BBQ sauce made for some tasty fries. The housemade BBQ sauce is magical. One of the better sauces I've had and definitely laced with crack. The sandwiches were delicious! The meat was juicy, smokey, and dipped into the magical crack sauce made for one damn good lunch in the middle of nowhere especially for $8.99. Besides good food the service was very friendly. So anyways, if you need gas make sure you give Buttonwillow, CA a chance to fill up your gas tank and your stomach. This dive was a pleasant surprise. read more

Just had lunch here. Was simply fantastic! One of the best TrI Tips I've ever had! Love finding gems such as this along the roadside! Strongly recommend this place! read more

Driving from Los Angeles to Sacramento. Getting hungry along the way. Trusty yelp app to the rescue. Willow Ranch BBQ? In Buttonwillow? A 4 star review from my yelping buddy Chris D.? Tri-tip sandiwch and fries? Done and done! In a land of McDonalds and who knows what else fast food, Willow Ranch BBQ may be your best bet for real food. If Chris D. says the Tri-tip sandwich is the thing to get, then sure enough I'm a gettin' it. It was pretty darn good. The bread was put on a flat top grill first to toast it just a little. Perhaps a little butter thrown on their first maybe to get it slightly golden brown. This is important because it stopped the bun from getting soggy. The Tri-Tip was good, well seasoned around the edges, and piping hot. The star of the show is their BBQ sauce. It's nice and sweet, but a little tangy, and has these wonderful chopped up onions in it. The Tri-Tip was served dry and it's up to you to add the BBQ sauce. I would recommend getting a 2nd cup of it. 2 thumbs up for serving the BBQ sauce warm. The french fries were also a nice golden brown and very hot. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Dztsw9PKmRRQ0kXZMMSRIA?select=_atiQDPsePaRlhjrSL5X8Q#dGhFxsox2z3Vc-fMgUWfXA Now I got a little cocky on the way back when I stopped here for a 2nd time. I ordered a half rack of ribs and chicken combo. Zero smoke flavor to any of these meats. I think they are just grilling the meats over a mesquite wood grill. So outside in the parking lot you are getting the wonderful smell of mesquite wood, but it doesn't really get into the meat here. In other words it's not smoked. I'm not a big fan of non-smoked BBQ. Even though I still enjoyed their sauce, it couldn't save the plain grilled ribs and chicken. I also wasn't that impressed with their sides of mashed potatoes and baked beans. The baked beans tasted more like Mexican style beans, rather than Southern. I almost lowered my review to 3 stars, but Willow Ranch can get the 4th star from me because of Location, Location, Location. I'm hungry and there ain't nothing else out here that doesn't have a Mc in front of it. Don't expect BBQ heaven, get a sandwich, and enjoy. read more

Willow Ranch - Tri-tip sandwich with very good BBQ sauce. - Barbeque Near Me - Buttonwillow, California

This is one of the few non-fast food places for a stop on I-5 if you're craving for some food and don't feel like going through the drive through. This is a sit down restaurant (they also have to-go and cater to Buttonwillow Raceways on race days when lots of people show up). They have a huge, extensive menu of everything and anything you could possibly want from home cooked spaghetti and meatloaf to BBQ'd burgers, sandwiches and pork loins. Everything is more or less pretty good especially compared to the choices you do have out here like Carls Jr. and McDonalds. The staff is nice, the owners are nice, and they give you lots of options to customize your food as I've been doing lately in always asking for extra sauces or a little this here and there. They also have REAL FRIES! So if you're tired of refried wannabe fries, come to Willow Ranch BBQ ! read more

The ONLY place to get good BBQ in the area. I've been here a few times due to several trips to nearby Buttonwillow Raceway and I haven't been disappointed yet. Willow Ranch is cheap, conveniently located for travelers, and the food is delicious! If you're in a hurry, they also have burgers & sandwiches and are a much better alternative than going through another dreadful drive-thru. I recently ordered an 8 oz. Top Sirloin steak, prepared medium-rare, with veggies and salad ($12.99). My hubby had the combo of tri-tip and pork ribs ($19.99). Both meals come with a soft dinner roll, sweet corn on the cob, and their homemade chili beans. It was the best darn $12.99 steak I've ever had! In fact, probably better than some of the more expensive steaks. They cooked it perfectly and the steak was juicy and tender. I also had 2 pork ribs and a bite of tri-tip which were also up to par. I will definitely be back next time we're in the neighborhood. read more

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3.25 I almost died from happiness discovering real food that wasn't fast food along the I-5! Unfortunately it took over ten minutes for someone to take our order and then I almost really died from hunger. Also, the food was mostly just standard for an off-the-freeway-establishment. Despite the large menu and meat-centric items, the tri-tip was on the dry side and didn't have much flavor. What little meat the beef ribs had was delicious, but they were mostly comprised of fat and bone. The saving grace of the meat was the barbecue sauce. The sides were just okay - iceberg lettuce salad, flavorless boiled corn on the cob, bland chili beans, a semi-hard roll, and bland mashed potatoes. Plusses? Decent french fries and really cheap beer (served in the bottle). Delicious BBQ sauce. Thick ranch dressing. Real-ish food. Large, shareable portions. Cons? Sloooow, leisurely pace. Forgettable meats. Bland sides. Service was friendly, but harried when it got busy. Then came shift change and we saw staff just hanging out at the counter when we were trying to pay our bill (which we had to walk up to the register). Must be a local favorite though, for we saw tons of pick-up-truck-driving patrons throughout as well as public service going in and out (including the CHP). Note: don't fill up at the gas station next door; total rip off. read more

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In all my years of driving through up and down Interstate-5, I never knew there was a BBQ place right off the freeway. After driving for a few hours, I decided to try this place out. I loved the interior design of the restaurant because it felt like I was eating at an actual ranch. Lights are dim and lots of seating available. I ordered the Ranch Burger ($9.99)- certified Angus Beef with avocado, bacon and monterey jack cheese. The burger was a little bit overcooked than what I would have preferred, The avocado was not ripe enough to eat though. It was still a decent burger, considering it only cost ten bucks. Waitresses were excellent. They were very friendly and refilled my water glass plenty of time. Many of them go to CSUB for school too! Whenever I stop by in the future again, I am going to try out their famous barbecue ribs and brisket! read more

Willow Ranch - Ranch burger - Barbeque Near Me - Buttonwillow, California

Willow ranch is always clean quick friendly and the food is just spot on. I am a big fan of their hamburger with onions green beans and as always a fresh salad for several years enjoyed the sandwiches ribeyes on a Friday night now with the downturn of the oil boom you can get a seat and the same quality and friendly staff is still there did I mention how great the green beans are. An update had lunch out here Tuesday my Lord that hamburger steak with the gravy and mushrooms onions had to be the best ever I will miss this place if we ever move. Honestly it is always good - great the 2 sisters and the staff are just always so sweet to my team and I . If only I could bottle this place and share with the rest of the yelpos travelling The 5 read more

We're rolling along Interstate 5 and made a point of stopping for a "snack" at the Willow Ranch BBQ joint. We always do, even if it is just a salad, but for sure their BBQ is outstanding. They are simply excellent with their food and service. The menu is fabulous with lots of options, portions are generous and fair. Prices are reasonable and service is casually terrific. You will not regret stopping here. read more

I've been driving down and back I-5 to L.A. about once a month now for a couple of years or more. As somewhat of a hater of fast food and after about a zillion trips not in a hurry much these days. This exit on the Freeway has a high percentage of non-chain spots to stop. Besides this BBQ restaurant there's Indian, Mexican, Salvadoran among others. Of course you can still get a MacDonallds if you pull off here too. Back to the review, I ate here today and was pretty happy with a couple of exceptions. I had a tri-tip sandwich that was very good. good BBQ sauce and happily it was served on the side and not drenching the meat. The roll was nice and fresh and all in all it was a good sandwich. The problem I had was with the side dish. I was offered a choice of fries, some type of salad and onion rings. I picked the onion rings, that was the problem. First of all the onion rings were pretty darn oily and they tasted of fish. I guess either they don't change the oil much or they just fried some fish. I can live with that, what the heck it's highway food anyway. What really got to me was the fact that when I got the bill there was a $1.00 charge for the onion rings. The server who offered me the choices never mentioned a premium for that choice. Kind of rubbed me the wrong way and although I left her an o.k. tip I must admit I subtracted a buck. read more

Willow Ranch - Barbeque Near Me - Buttonwillow, California

So I'm passing through central California on my way back to San Fransisco from my brothers graduation ceremony at UCLA when I stop to rest at a motel 6 in a place called Button willow. Not a very big town but the people here seem friendly. I found myself a little stir crazy in my room and decided to venture out in hope of finding something to pass the time. To my surprise I found a local diner that seemed fairly promising. At first glance its not the most extravagant diner but does have a few pros. There's a large sign outside which seems to attract decent business. As well the waiting staff seems friendly and their regulars are loyal almost to a fault. I had a couple beers and a slice of homemade apple pie, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. The beer selection was surprisingly not bad for it being such a whole in the wall. The menu as well had quite a selection. All and all I'd see myself coming back here if I ever found myself in the area again. You have my business read more

Willow Ranch - Barbeque Near Me - Buttonwillow, California

If this place was in sacramento, I'd be 100lbs heavier 8^) What a great skillet breakfast! My wife's sirloin and eggs was perfect too. Great sauce, salsa, and service. We'll be coming back here on the way back! read more

I was at Buttonwillow Raceway again yesterday... and I decided not to get Carl's Jr for lunch, but instead, take a little more time to get some BBQ. And damn, I'm glad I did! Willow Ranch BBQ is the shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish they had a branch closer to Pasadena or LA! Damn!!! Their service was great (I sat at the counter, so it was easy to get their attention), and the TRI TIP PLATE was off the hook!!! Really juicy, moist, flavorful tri tip slices, and the BBQ sauce was EXCELLENT. I'm a bit of a BBQ connoisseur, having been all over the USA and eaten at a ton of really good BBQ restaurants. Willow Ranch BBQ certainly doesn't disappoint with it's sweet/vinegary BBQ Sauce, I loved it. The tri-tip also came with corn-on-the-cobb, which wasn't bad... and some chili. I'm not a huge fan of beans or chili, but I gotta say, this chili was pretty good. I just tried a little bit. The Fruit Punch there is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It tastes like they put actual fruit juice in there or something!!! I haven't had fruit punch this good since I was in Hawaii!!! I know it was from a fountain, but it didn't taste like the normal crappy fountain punch. I need to find out what brand of fruit punch they have next time... Well, I need to drive up to SF for a wedding in a couple weeks. Maybe I'll try to stop in again just for some tri-tip and fruit punch! read more

Great BBQ! Stopped here on road-trip and they didn't disappoint. Good food, clean restaurant and friendly service.

This place is legendary. Relaxed atmosphere, great service and AMAZING food. Love the BBQ Trip Tip sandwich and the fries are the best on Planet Earth. read more

I had the plow boy sandwich with fries which I have had before and it was excellent as usual their brisket is good I haven't had anything here that wasn't good the service was good I definitely recommend this place. read more

Willow Ranch - Barbeque Near Me - Buttonwillow, California

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When I had the misfortune of living in California's SF Bay Area, I used to swing by the Willow Ranch several times a year on trips to and from Vegas, LA or San Diego. Since moving to Northern Nevada 9 years ago, I am lucky if I can make it here twice a year when going to and from LA. I still look forward to it! I even made it in after a particularly hard knife fighting close-combat course after taking 2 cup shots and an almost dislocated jaw. Even though I was passing blood, nothing could keep me from Willow Ranch that night! The salads are made from some of the freshest produce I have ever tasted. The Barbecue is solid and over the past 16 years I have tried almost everything on the menu. I don't know where they get their meat but its better than Harris Ranch and the chicken is particularly good! It is a refreshing change of fare for those long drives when the only options seem to be prepackaged bags of grease. read more

If you pass this exit and are hungry, skip subway or Taco Bell and spend the extra money to come here!!! read more

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This is my stop any time I'm headed north on the 5. I recommend the tri tip sandwich. It's sort of a specialty of the house. I'm also a big fan of French dip sandwiches and they do a great job with theirs. #GreatValue #PromptService #FriendlyStaff #ClassicJoint read more

Willow Ranch - Barbeque Near Me - Buttonwillow, California

Willow Ranch is as good as it gets. This is the place for the ultimate diner experience. They were able to accommodate a 10+ person group and delivered some of the best customer service and food I have ever had at a diner. The menu is hefty and full of great options. Everyone in my group was beyond satisfied with their main course meals. Then there was dessert - countless pie and dessert options. Some pies were made in-house and others were not. I had the coconut cream pie (made in-house) and it was the perfect end to an already awesome experience. If you are ever in the area, check this place out. I will for sure be stopping by the next time I am driving through. And I can't wait! read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE. I have only been there 4 times but I always go when I'm in the area. I live in San Jose and I think this is the best eating place AROUND!!! I love to each here the service is amazing and the food is amazing. Its affordable and amazing. I can't wait tell I go back again!!! Been back a couple of times since this review and I will continue to give 5 stars!!! I live 3 hours away and keep getting my friends and family addicted to it. I will drive to just eat here!!! read more

A literal oasis in the desert. Decent BBQ huge portions and frindly service. read more

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My fiancé and I were on our journey back home from LA and we needed food. Plain and simple. Usually on our LA trips, we stop by random fast food chains - whichever is available. We took the exit to get to this area and were expecting to just "fill up our tanks" on food - but we instead caught a glimpse of a sign that said "BBQ." Whelp, we're both big meat eaters, so rock on, what could it hurt? WOW. This place is a gem. Not that we were pessimistic, but we did not expect such AMAZING, high quality food. My fiancé got the BLT and I got the Tri-tip sandwich along with deep-fried pickles. It was all so delicious! It was perfect, as well, since my fiancé had just gotten over being sick and this was his first meal after a while. It actually made him feel better! I'm not promising that their food has special healing qualities - but it's pretty darn close! Super yummy! ALSO! THEIR BBQ SAUCE! HOLY MOLY! We made jokes about buying a box and bringing them back to Oakland to sell, it's THAT good. You can literally SEE the chunks of goodness and "homemade-ness" in the sauce. I immediately asked if we could buy some, and we walked away with a bottle in my purse. I genuinely wanted to drink that stuff. Service was great, as well. The waitresses were all super nice and friendly. I made a comment about being cold in the restaurant, and they were super sweet about getting us to a table that wasn't near the AC. Just a little thing, but those little things mean a lot. Anytime we journey to LA, we are now going to stop by this place to enjoy a great meal. There were so many good-looking items on the menu, we wish we could have tried them all. Who knows, with enough trips to LA, we'll be able to get to all of them! :) One can dream. read more