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Food 8/10 My party ordered the: -Deep Pitt Sandwich -Two Combo Platter (brisket/tri-tip) -Brisket Dinner The Deep Pitt Sandwich came with a small side of baked beans which were solid. Ordered the sauce on the side, but would order sauce on the sandwich next time. Both the Two Combo Platter and Brisket Dinner came with the brisket meat which was extremely tender and delicious. We ordered the sauce on the side which was a good recommendation from our server so we could control the amount of sauce. Meat was good both with and without sauce. The tri-tip was also very tender with a subtle smoky flavor. All the meals came with a soup or salad, but we switched it out for two corn bread muffins which had a nice taste, but were a little dry. They included a little side of butter though. The Brisket Dinner and Deep Pitt Sandwich came with a side option and we chose fries which were nice and crispy. Overall my favorite was the brisket meat! Service 9/10 Service was great. Server came to check in multiple times and was very friendly and helpful with all of our questions and gave excellent recommendations. Ambiance 7/10 Went around 3:30pm on a weekend. Was nice and quiet. A great place for a sit down meal. Aesthetic is Western country diner. Would recommend to a friend!
So I am not exaggerating when I tell you that the trip-tip sandwich is fantastic! The meat is tender and well-seasoned, quite lean but still unctuous. One gets a generous portion and the sandwich was big enough for my husband and I to share with a side of tasty sweet potatoe fries (a bit extra - or you can get plain potato fries for no extra charge). We also got a side of the creamy coleslaw which is ok and even better if you add salt and a dash of malt vinegar (it needs acid imo). I didn't take a photo of the sandwich because so many other yelpers have already done so. But trust me it's worth the stop. Service is super warm and friendly, the place is spotlessly clean, and I am a fan. We liked the sandwich so much we ordered another to go for lunch the next day. I only wish I had room for pie! They offer a wide selection of pies and I've gotta think they are yummy too. Next time.
The family stopped off at Willow Ranch on our way to San Francisco. We arrived at 4:00 and got seated right away! The server was very friendly and attentive and had good recommendations since it was our first time. We ordered the 2 item Combo with brisket and tri tip (with the bbq sauce on the side), a Brisket Dinner and a Deep Pit Beef Sandwich. The brisket was oh so good! It was so tender and flavorful and melted in my mouth!! The tri tip, which was thinly sliced, was also very tasty. The meal came with fries which were crispy and hot out of the fryer. We also received a cornbread muffin with the meal, which was a bit dry. I did not try the sandwich but others in our group liked. Decor was western and "down home."
This place was yummy! We visited at around 5PM and it wasn't crowded, and service was quick. We got the brisket dinner, the tri tip and brisket combo plate, and the deep pit beef sandwich. The sides were really good too. Fries were crispy, the chili beans were yummy, and the cornbread was sweet. The serving sizes are pretty small, but I had an enjoyable experience! I would go back again.
Mar 15 2026 - 3.5 stars 4 stars - restaurant cleanliness, decor, nice wooden vibe 4.5 stars - service - friendly, smiling staff, ready to answer any and all questions 3.5 stars - food, chicken sandwich, onion rings and fries were very good The ribs were dry, over cooked ? Not sure but saving grace was the BBQ sauce - if only the ribs were a little moist and juicy ! This is a good spot to stop when driving to or from LA along the I-5 Kid friendly ! We will be back !
In my never ending quest for places to eat along the I-5 corridor between No. Cal and LA I read about this place and thought I'd try it out. It's way back past all the newer fast food joints and gas stations but worth the trek for a true diner experience, and not some chain restaurant. It's not exactly brand new sparkling shiny, yet clean and seemingly well maintained. Staff were very courteous, friendly and efficient. Being 'on the road' I didn't have a lot of time to linger and they did get me in and out in sufficient time. Looking over the menu, which has most of the diner choices on would expect I chose the house special Tri Tip salad, accompanied with water and coffee. It took little time for the salad to arrive and it was well prepared with crispy greens, a variety of veggies and strips of tri-tip. The meat was delicious without any fat, grizzle or toughness. It had 'regular" size salad, quite adequate for lunch. A container of salsa came with it that I found tasteless and watery. It came with a good size container of blue cheese dressing, my selected choice. They also brought a complimentary size container of their specialty BBQ sauce, that was amazing in flavor. The coffee was good. Overall a good experience at good prices, but expect that this is a basic diner with basic food. But, hey, far better than a chain burger place.
I'll tell you what, this Buttonwillow area by the freeway is super easy to get fuel, coffee and get some food too. Just get off the 5 freeway and you're here, look for the big TA truck stop. This is a good spot to fuel up the gas guzzler suburban too. Willow ranch is supposed to have some good BBQ and other road foods. Every body on my crew said they'd like to stop here for dinner before we push on through Bakersfield and out to Vegas. We get seated easy and look over the menu as our drink orders are taken. I may have to make a Starbucks stop before we hit the road again, good thing I saw on right nearby. We all mostly ordered teh ribs, since that's what this place is famous for, though one person got the pastrami sandwich, I think that's what it was. The food cam out in short order, so the service was good and efficient. The ribs were pretty good, tender and tasty, no complaints. Just that no rib places still serve the real standard cut ribs with the full length still attached, I like the meat lollipop at the end, not St. Louis cut or baby backs. The expense account is paying, so it's all good here! I paid the bill and off we go ... well, I think to the Starbucks for get some coffee for the road first, than it's back on the 5 freeway, cursing at 75 mph!
Steak was absolutely amazing. We will get back to that. My server was a sweetheart. Very nice and very attentive. She earned every penny of her tip and some. The atmosphere was casual and calm. Very comforting. Now back to the food. The salad, which I forgot to photograph was great. The Jalapeño Poppers were molten lava. If you get them, let them cool a few minutes. I blistered my lip with the cheese AFTER my server warned me. Baked Potato, Beans and Dinner Roll were good. The STEAK, oh my god, the STEAK. One of the best tasting steaks I have ever had the pleasure of eating. Not only was it cooked to perfection, the flavor was sublime. I very highly recommend this place.
Got gas and decided to get bbq from willow ranch. Spacious restaurant with plenty of parking. We walked in and seated immediately. Got suckered into getting a michelada thx to their window advertisement Pic and it was surely delish. We ordered the 3 item bbq combo with tritip brisket and ribs that came with corn bread and a salad. We also got ground round steak smothered in gravy with mushroom and onions. Deeeelicious and our server was super kind. Strongly recommend this spot
Amazing brisket sandwich and Philly cheese steak! Service was quick! You can tell it's a good spot because all of the local workers were here for lunch! Yum!
An evening stop along I-5 at Buttonwillow to refuel, we saw Willow Ranch BBQ. We were glad we decided to stop for a dinner break at 7.30 PM. As other reviewers wrote, the Plowboy sandwich was tasty and filling. The dinner plate of BBQ chicken was perfectly moist with a crispy skin and more delicious with the house-made BBQ sauce. Service by Jeff was on point. The restaurant has a olde time diner feel: warm, friendly & casual.
On a road trip, my friend Denise and I were looking for a convenience store in roads that were not paved with cement nor were they in the center of a chic boutique and a hits-the-spot every time boba shop. Yes, we were basically on dirt roads that saw a few scattered homes here and there, and visible old school phone towers (the brown kind) connected with wires (where crows sit on a row) existed, and not much else. We drove around in some circles, looking for this fabled store and found nothing, not even a Bigfoot. We noted how the moment felt like we were on an Iowa highway because we saw expansive fields and experienced a Middle-America atmosphere. I wanted a small stalk of wheat in between my teeth. As we drove, we saw this place and decided that this joint would replace the store we were looking for. At this point I started to listen to Carry on My Wayward Son by Kansas. If you know, you know. As soon as I entered I felt like I had stepped into a diner in the middle of nowhere, the type of spot where brothers talked about saving people, hunting things, you know the family business. My friend Denise did not know what I was talking about and when I tried to introduce the world to her with corny prompts she decided not to play along. Still for a fan the experience was nothing but a win!(chester). I cannot remember the person who helped us but she was a server who reported that she had lived in the surrounding area for most of her life. She was deepening the believe that we were on a route diner neglected by city reality. During this visit, I had fried okra for the first time in my life. It was weird to taste but not in a bad way. More like I had never tasted this texture before in my life. The texture that I had not tried before in my life was a gooey vegetable. Like the texture of the outside was exactly as advertised--- fried goodness. The actual okra was the gooey part. I do not want to sound crass, truly, I do not, but it did feel like enjoying something slimy, and I will leave it at that. Again, not wrong, just weird But I will not get it again. The server- the homegrown one- gave us fried pickles and these were much more to taste. Like, I i have had fried pickles before and I loved them but I had some that were not for me. But these, these, were pickle spears fried to brown goodness, and the mixture hit green- which does not mean go, more like Hulk enjoys, instead of smashes. It was a simple dish yes- green spear pickle fried but sometimes the goodness of a county fair is exactly what a roadtrip snack should be. The fair came to my table and I am not mad at that. On this trip I did have the Willow Dip which I feel is a close cousin to a french dip. What this place did well, at least I think, is putting it on an onion baguette. I am not sure if onion baguette is a middle-of-nowhere bread, but, I allowed it because the taste of the bread was, like tailored made for me, I am a sucker for onion, and not just because it gives me sexy breath. The food was standard, solid fare. Everything was just good nothing wrong with it, all good with it. The sauces were tasty, and added smoky sweet flavor that was welcomed. So this elevated the dish by addding a hickory taste. It did not save the dishes, but did make them better. The decorations were texas heavy. I should have taken more pictures. But sometimes the imagination allows for a space to feel more than at it is.
Came here tonight on our way back to the Bay area as promised, and again was greeted warmly by a different hostess. Seated again in the same corner booth we had the first time we came, so already it felt familiar and homey. Tonight, Steven was our server. Super nice, friendly, makes you feel like you've known him for a long time, chatting with him in the first 5 minutes. Love that these servers make you feel so comfortable...is it the Buttonwillow charm? LOL I digress. Tonight we ordered the medium rare Ribeye steak with loaded baked potato, salad, two item combo with tri tip and brisket, mashed potatoes with beef gravy, chicken and dumplings soup, jalapeno poppers, country fried steak, corn bread, fries, salad, and Big Hoss with onion rings. The Ribeye was outstanding! So juicy and tender! Their salads are always so crisp and fresh. The baked potato was great, loaded with all the good stuff! The tri tip was super soft and tender and the brisket was tender but not as much as we thought it would be. A tad dry. The chicken and dumplings soup sadly only had one little piece of chicken but had pretty good flavor. The Big Hoss was not as big and meat filled as the previous sandwiches we had ordered there, but was still really tasty, as we do love some good pastrami. My chicken fried steak lacked the crispiness I was looking for, and it wasn't because it was drenched in gravy (because all CFS are). Although this CFS was drowning, fighting for its life in this gravy. When I cut into it, the batter fell off the steak on the side, in a soggy hot mess. And this was one of the dishes we were REALLY looking forward to... since CFS is one of our favorites, anywhere we go! The fries are always good and crispy, as are the onion rings. The jalapeno poppers were really big and crunchy and pretty good with their ranch. The stars of the night were definitely the Ribeye steak and our server Steven. But it's been decided, we definitely love Willow Ranch. We even left there purchasing a bottle of their house made BBQ sauce, and one of their snap back hats. We shall return for one of their amazing, tender steaks, BBQ, sandwiches, and Buttonwillow charming hospitality!
8 years ago
Man this place is a gem... everything was delicious..the Rib Eye though is on par with some of the best out there!!! On a side note the restaurant is very tidy..no dust in places where most restaurants have it. read more
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Angela C.
I'm so glad you think of our place as a gem, Miguel -- thank you! We…
5 years ago
Business owner information
Angela C.
Anthony, it sounds like you crafted the perfect meal with our tri tip…
Stopped here on the way back from SF to LA. The BBQ is pretty good. For me, however, there was too much sauce. I would have ordered it on the side. Also, the jalapeno popper are not spicy. It specifically says hot on the menu, so I wanted to try them, but they were very mild. Service was good and the prices are reasonable, definitely a good alternative to fast food if you're passing through. read more
13 years ago
Decent BBQ. I'd give it less stars if it were anywhere else. The food is fine. Well rounded meal. Huge portions. Huge. As far as BBQ goes, it's a 2 or 3 out of 5. Ok beer selection. Huge water cups. If you're looking to eat in Buttonwillow I'd go here or Titos. read more
5 years ago
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Angela C.
Stephen, we appreciate your kind words on our friendly waitstaff,…
Wonderful food. Home cooking diner style. We so happy to find this place again. We stumbled on it last year on one of our many rides from LA to SF along the 5. We usually stop at the famed and also wonderful Harris Ranch, a great half way stop. No comparison between the two. Different worlds. One classy standard- Harris- and the other - Willow Ranch - dark diner delicious. I had the fried chicken that tasted like my dad used to make. Perfect crispy, not greasy, just yummy. read more
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Angela C.
We're so happy we could welcome you back, Julia! Thank you for…
3 years ago
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Angela C.
We deeply regret your recent experience with our service. We aim for…
4 years ago
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Angela C.
No one does BBQ like we do, Lucas! We're so glad you loved your meat…
8 years ago
What a great find! Nice people, good food, reasonable price. The sandwiches came out quick and the staff couldn't be kinder. It feels homemade and there is NOTHING else out here so they could have phoned it in and still had a built in crowd. So glad they put effort into making a quality place. The (new?) logo is a little hard to read and it's hidden on a side street. The old barrel sign in the pictures on here is much legible and much more in keeping with the theme. Everything else is groovy. Don't change a thing. read more
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Angela C.
We're always here for you, Chris! It's a pleasure to hear that you…
6 years ago
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Angela C.
Reuben, we love serving up your BBQ favorites with sides and rolls…
8 years ago
Willow Ranch is a gem. My go to place when traveling back from so cal. Great food, great service, and great people. My favorite is the 3 item combo. Brisket, pork ribs, and beef ribs... so good. read more
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Angela C.
I'm so glad you take advantage of the 3-item combo, Brandon -- it's…
5 years ago
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Angela C.
Michael, from tri tip to steaks, ribs, and more, you can never go…
8 years ago
Yay! We're back after 6 days! I've been dreaming about this place since last Saturday when we were here the first time. I didn't imagine we will be back this fast coz it's almost a two hour drive... thanks to my hubby and he said he don't mind going back if the food is this good. Again Willows you never failed us ... food is good like the first time we were here! I can't get enough of how good is your brisket! I wish I could take your restaurant home with us. $ 60.00 for 3 dinner and drinks not bad!! We will surely be back! read more
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Angela C.
So glad you and your husband enjoyed the food at our place, Nilda!…
5 years ago
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Angela C.
Carrie, as a returning guest, you know first-hand that an experience…
5 years ago
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Angela C.
Ana, we're thrilled you fueled your trip the right way with our…
8 years ago
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Angela C.
Tri-tip Salad is always a great choice, John. Thanks for giving us a…
6 years ago
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Angela C.
Karen, we follow strict health and safety standards, and we always…
4 years ago
Business owner information
Angela C.
Jessica, we're troubled to see feedback like this. We're sorry you…
12 years ago
So I've passed by this place hundreds of times and have never had a chance to stop. Seeing I'm not "rushed" to be anywhere anytime soon I figured I would stop. The tri tip is killer, brisket was super soft BUT it was reheated in hot oil so it killed it for me. I can't stand when they do this, makes it way to oily for me. Huge portions of everything and not to bad priced and the bbq sauce was definitely right there with most other places I like. When you pull in and see nothing but pick up trucks and CHP you know this place has be decent. read more
12 years ago
We stopped in the swinging town of Button Willow, more for gas than food from Lake Oswego, Oregon. We decided to refill both fuel tanks, the truck and the stomach... And very pleased we did! I had the 1/2 BBQ Chicken (see enclosed picture). It was big and quite tasty. This place was very good choice, locally owned and the best choice in town for good BBQ. I recommend spending your hard earned after tax dollars here! Enjoy West-Morry read more
6 years ago
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Angela C.
Fiona, the best meals should always be served up with a smile! We're…
8 years ago
Always friendly, I especially like the waitress who's always sayin "You gottit"! Steve's a good waitor too. Great, moist tender beef, no matter how you liking it prepared; their ribs are meaty and juicy; their clam chowder is good. My wife liked the fried chicken. The bbq beans are also fine. Go there while they're renovating for a quiet dinner read more
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Angela C.
Glad to hear that you liked the beef and that your wife liked the…
7 years ago
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Angela C.
Karina, the plow boy is a tasty choice, and we're so glad you're a…
8 years ago
I couldn't wait to review my experience here. We hunt in the area this time of the year and we decided to have a good meal. Found this place on yelp and I wanted to see why most people love this place, and why a handful hate it for myself. We came in a party of 3, at 8:25 on a Sunday night, they close at 9 and they welcomed us with a smile. They seated us in less than 2 minutes, our waitress was Janet and she was incredible. Surprisingly the place was busy that late and even though it was nearing closing time, it looked very neat. We had a combo meat platter (brisket, tri-tip and pork ribs) to share, a BLT, mashed potatoes (both kinds), and for desert a peach cobbler each. Everything was good and yes the Bbq sauce they make here is fantastic. All three of us agreed that the brisket was the best! The sweet tea was really good as well and we loved the mashed potatoes too! The BLT was simple and very good, thick cut smoked bacon was delish. The peach cobbler was a bit different than I'm used to but we all finished them needless to say. Amazing service, amazing Bbq and full tummies. We are happy campers and we recommend this place. read more
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Angela C.
We're so glad we could fill all of you up with our delicious food…
9 years ago
4 years ago
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Angela C.
Ginny, we appreciate you taking a moment to show your support! We…
9 years ago
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Angela C.
Joseph, I'm really disappointed to read this, and I'm sorry we didn't…
Their pie is delicious service amazing I wish the ribs wasn't too fatty but overall was a great meal I love their Floor so cool and price was great. And husband forgot his card we came back and was there waiting for him very nice !!! read more
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Angela C.
So glad you enjoyed the ribs, pie, and our service, Carla! Hoping to…
9 years ago
On our way back from Sacramento we needed a place to stop and eat. Long behold, in the middle if nowhere we found Willow Ranch. It was fairly empty when we stopped in on a Sunday so we were fairly skeptical about how good it would be. Im glad we stopped in. We ordered the fried pickles and zucchini which tasted great. I ordered the garden burger with avocado and grilled mushrooms. It was cooked to perfection. Thr fries were great as well. The service was great and somehow he took 4 orders, which each had special orders, amd didn't write down a thing. read more
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Angela C.
Glad to hear you found just what you were looking for here, William!…
7 years ago
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Angela C.
Bethany, sometimes the best things in life are unexpected! So happy…
9 years ago
Traveling through Buttonwillow, we decided to stop for gas and lunch. The reviews looked great for Willow Ranch. We went in for a salad and got distracted by the Plow Boy sandwich and just had to give it a try. It was so yummy and unique. Even though we split our food, we were full. I wish we could try everything on the menu. I would definitely recommend giving Willow Ranch a try. read more
8 years ago
Great, pleasant service though when it gets busy, you could be forgotten for too long a time. The restrooms are clean. An oasis along I-5 and combined with charging at the Tesla Supercharger across the street, it's a natural stop if your hungry and need to charge. I continue to return because it's remarkably good. read more
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Angela C.
We're thankful to be a natural stop for you, Robert! I'll be sure and…
8 years ago
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Angela C.
It's a pleasure to hear that we were able to help you celebrate such…
6 years ago
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Angela C.
T.J., there's nothing like enjoying tasty BBQ while on the road with…
6 years ago
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Angela C.
Amanda, we're thrilled you could stop by and try out our BBQ classics…
9 years ago
More info about Willow Ranch
27770 Lagoon Dr
Buttonwillow, CA 93206
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(661) 764-6605
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https://www.willowranchrestaurant.com
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Gluten free options?
Do they have outside seating?
Yes, but it was so hot I can't imagine anyone wanting to. Check the weather!
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