Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Services - ZEF BBQ

    Catering

    Personal chefs

    ZEF BBQ Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - ZEF BBQ

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Nanner pudding
    Melissa L.

    ZEF BBQ has captured my heart! Shoutout to my friend Jara S. for putting them on my radar and first introducing me to their food. You know you have a good friend when they share their foodie finds with you. My friend and I had the opportunity to try a Sunday tasting event with ZEF BBQ which was elevated, thoughtful and heartwarming. I really could taste the passion and creativity behind each dish and it left me longing to come back to try more. As much as I appreciated their fine dining tasting menu (truly a luxury and blessing to get to try it) I was even more eager for some of their down home BBQ, I mean, it's what they are known for. I was in luck that not long after the tasting experience with my friend I saw they were dropping an Easter pickup menu. I jumped at the chance to be able to try some of their bbq and sides, especially as I was spending Easter solo and needed something to look forward to. I made the right call because a full ZEFs BBQ feast was the highlight of my holiday weekend. I ordered online and picked a time slot for pickup. The whole process was super seamless and easy to navigate. As soon as I placed my online order and paid, I was issued an email with the details and pickup address / location. Super easy. When the day arrived I made sure to get to the location a few minutes early and got in line. Yes, there was a line (it's that good). I didn't wait too long before I was finally called in to grab my order. I truly adore the staff here. While my interactions with them have been short, they are just so nice. Fun guys and gals who are passionate about what they do and their craft but they are also super appreciating, gracious, and just nice people. Truly it's made me want to support them even more. I admire Chef Logan, Ana, and the crew for the way in which they give back to the community and what they stand for, it's really beautiful to see the kind of vibes they bring to the 805. Okay enough of me being Mushy. As much as I love good people and righteous vibes, the food has to hit the mark and it 1000%%% does at ZEF BBQ. Their brisket is melt in your mouth tender. I love that they don't shy away from some good fat and salt. Their brisket is really cooked just how I like it and it's scary how much of it I can eat in one sitting lol. Their bbq sauce is also super tasty and I saved some for my own future dishes. Good stuff. For sides I tried the Mac and cheese and my friend highly recommend I try Ana's famous banana pudding. I don't have much of a sweet tooth but this pudding was heavenly and literally the BEST banana pudding I've ever had. I was so passionate about how good it was I saved some for my family (a three hour drive on ice to them) and they've already devoured it all. Need I say more?! ZEF BBQ is really something spectacular and worth the drive if you're on the other side of the 805 or even coming from LA. If you have a chance to come to one of their special events or pop ups definitely just do it. The food is delicious and the vibes are just as good, grateful we have this spot locally and I'll be a repeat customer.

    Up charged for a tiny bit of Tri tip- the menu board said two meat combos- no mention of and up charge
    Renee Z.

    We felt ripped off- were we SCAMMED? Yeesh...and I used to own a successful food truck- Drove across town for a Friday the 13th special- and what a horror show for our wallet ( and sodium levels ) !! We saw a post online offering a two meat/two sides special for $40- And you can see the menu vid posted outside their door in my photo-We decided to add a cheesesteak ($17) as we wanted to sample some things and have leftovers for dinner- The horror: $73- My math said $57 plus tax- Ain't NO way we have $15 in taxes- So I ask - How do these three items equal the 73? He says there is a $3 up charge per Tri tip - we both ordered it- so that's $6 With tax, it should be like $61.43... They don't give you an itemized bill- they just tell you a number - No cash receipt- I think it was last year we voted in A new law in CA aimed at banning "junk fees" making restaurant surcharges illegal. Under SB-478, restaurants will no longer be able to charge BS service fees- Then we open our meals to discover the super small portions of tri tip- And the world's tiniest cheesesteak- Mac and cheese had no flavor- The slaw was super wet, but tasted like it came outta one of those tubs from the supermarket- Oh- and thanks for the item bitsy tiny shot glass of BBQ sauce-

    I'm done with this place. Superbowl Sunday was my last experience with this failed experiment in hyped exclusivity. These guys have jumped on the "secret drop" theory----create demand by implyinng value by way of intentional scarcity. The first time I went it was from their garage. It was decent enough, not great but it Covid and I was glad to help people stay on their feet financially. I had some ribs. Pretty good, but it's pork - pork is easy to cook. The second time i ordered the brisket. I got home, opened the foil and it was --not exaggerating---80% jiggling fat. Yes, brisket is fatty. I know. But this was straight robbery. It was literally a fire hazard it was so greasy. Third time was this most recent Superbowl Sunday. The standard ZeF hype " you better order soon , because we're so awesome and sell out" Sell Out is right. They sold out to mediocrity.... and worse. The pic attached is the last attempt. Look at it. Grey, dry, dead for hours overcooked brisket. This sh-t is expensive. But here's the worst part. These people live and work in Simi Valley. Simi is known for having a lot of law enforcement living here, including Federal agents. They are one of the reasons Simi is generally safer than many communities nearby. Zef had the utter gall to post a sign on their front window --a sign that reads: " ALL ARE WELCOME EXCEPT ---ICE AGENTS ". Hey ZEF, read the room, this isn't East LA. And a lot of cops probably have bought your bbq. Yes, you have the right to state your opinion on politics. And we have the right to object and take our business elsewhere. Considering that your product is inconsistent, overpriced, and of dubious quality, your public political statements just make it even easier to go to Cork and Batter down the street. Trust me, bad news travels fast in this town.

    Pommes pavé
    Alivia G.

    We always love the weekend menus (brisket wins everything!) but we recently went to our second Bougie Boi specialty dinner and it was so great. Communal seating lets you talk all about the food together which is fun to hear other input. The food was amazing, it's all a tasting menu and it's very filling, 8 courses and you finish them all. It's a great date night activity for the foodies and it's so cool to see the bougie side of Zef - they're not just BBQ. Love these guys and I love supporting small business. Check out Bougie Boi - just don't take my tickets!

    Homemade Spam musubi
    Megan G.

    I've been wanting to try this spot for a while, and it was well worth the wait! First off, this place is more like a pop up kitchen. They're reservation only on Saturdays (via Tock), and walk ins on Sundays. I highly recommend that you show up early to your reservation, as they do their best to honor reservation times & keep the food as fresh as possible by packing it once they know you're there to pick it up. Food wise, Chef Logan Sandoval is a pit master! I love that he incorporates Asian/Pacific islander flavors into his dishes. I tried a little of everything this visit. My favorite dish was the burnt ends. Perfectly cooked and lacquered with a sweet sauce. The Banh mi was also great - good portion of meat paired with traditional pickled & fresh veggies. Spare ribs and brisket were extremely tender. They were literally falling apart as I was trying to pick them up off the plate!! The homemade spam musubi is a must even if you don't like spam! I'm sure Chef Logan's version will convince you otherwise. Service was great, even though they were a little short that day. Staff was constantly giving updates, and honoring orders by reservation time. Of note, they only fill one order at a time. So there's usually a line, but it goes by pretty quickly. Ambiance is a good vibe, and the people waiting in line are there for great BBQ and/or supporters of Chef Logan. No seating inside, but there a few tables nearby if you can't wait to dig in (which is what I did). Can't wait to come back and looking forward to trying other dishes!!

    Brian B.

    Honestly the best barbecue in all of Los Angeles that rivals Austin and Nashville. Not just amazing smoked brisket but also their dishes like teriyaki chicken and Kalbi short ribs! Always a lovely staff and my only complaint is would love a better kitchen that has more seating options outside.

    Salad I made and topped with smoked turkey and gold bbq sauce!

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rios M.
    0
    29
    10

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Dennis C.
    49
    176
    39

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Renee Z.
    226
    91
    98

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of C H.
    0
    64
    19

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Leah A.
    240
    48
    50

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 2

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lisa N.
    186
    577
    1448

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ed K.
    52
    4
    6

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cici G.
    345
    337
    2538

    3 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 1
    Love this 5
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Steve S.
    170
    16
    0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Jim D.
    0
    17
    0

    1 year ago

    Amazing food. Love the garlic shrimp. Need to try this place best around Simi. Burgers are amazing.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of D S.
    2
    102
    41

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Erin M.
    16
    20
    0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - ZEF BBQ

    Where are you located?

    Pickup for preorders is in Simi Valley. Address given once you order. Occasionally they do other events at places like breweries and the addresses are given for those events

    View All 3 Questions

    Review Highlights - ZEF BBQ

    Ambiance is a good vibe, and the people waiting in line are there for great BBQ and/or supporters of Chef Logan.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Personal Chefs 501 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Chef 805 Catering - Dinner party appetizers

    Chef 805 Catering

    (71 reviews)

    Chef Ray catered my wellness retreat and the experience was absolutely incredible from start to…read morefinish. The food was fresh, beautifully presented, and honestly one of the highlights of the entire retreat. Every single attendee complimented the food throughout the day and kept asking who the chef was. He was professional, reliable, and truly helped elevate the entire experience. I would absolutely recommend Chef Ray for any event, especially wellness and luxury experiences where quality and presentation really matter.

    Highly recommended!Shoutout to Chef Ray Swanson of Chef 805 Catering for an absolutely incredible…read moreexperience. My wife and I attended a friend's birthday party where Chef Ray handled the catering, and the food was truly outstanding. Having spent 22 years in the food service industry myself, I'm not easily impressed--but the presentation, flavors, and overall execution were exceptional. Every item was fantastic. The bruschetta with goat cream cheese was fresh and perfectly balanced. The seared ahi tuna bites were beautifully prepared, and the shrimp spring rolls with ginger peanut sauce were bursting with flavor. Even the flatbread pizza with Caesar salad was spot-on. One great dish after another--we were honestly stuffed by the end of the night. What stood out most was the attention to detail and restaurant-quality presentation, something you rarely see at private catered events. Chef Ray clearly takes pride in his craft, and it shows in every bite. We're already looking forward to the next event he caters at our friend's house--and we'll definitely be using Chef 805 Catering for one of our own parties in the future. -- Anil

    The Vineyards - Garden Ceremony The Vineyards Simi

    The Vineyards

    (260 reviews)

    If I could pick just one word to describe The Vineyards and our wedding day? Magical. I had…read moretoured many venues in the Ventura County area, but none of them struck me the way The Vineyards did. I had a really good feeling upon pulling up to the venue, as it was clear there was ample parking. Not only that, but the greenery is well maintained and it looks absolutely stunning. It's easy to see from any of the photos, but being there in person just doesn't do it all justice. Every corner of the venue is well thought out and beautiful. The lights and greenery that make up the archways just gave the place an enchanting feel. THE VENUE/PLANNING: I knew I wanted a "garden" feel for my wedding and having attended 2 weddings leading up to my own, those experiences guided some of the more practical criteria I was looking for in a venue: -indoor/outdoor options for weather consideration -More than 2 bathrooms/toilets -Getting ready area for groom (in a lot of venues, there's some kind of bridal suite, but Groom facilities are more hit and miss) -photo op areas (plentiful!) -Large parking lot The Vineyards easily met all of these parameters and more. Aside from the above, I do want to note the HUGE bridal suite area with couches, tables and its own bathroom. I did not have a bridal party, but this can easily accommodate 15+ people. There were also 2 "ceremony" location options to choose from (garden or waterwall), and distinct areas for the cocktail and reception. There are so many little photo op nooks around the grounds that your guests can walk around during cocktail hour and enjoy the vibes. In the planning months leading up to our wedding day, The Vineyards was always very flexible and accommodating. They have a portal system which keeps all the important information in one place, in terms of information that they need, deadlines, correspondence, food choices, etc. Our wedding was in February 2026, definitely with the potential for rain. The venue (and all my vendors) were right there with me tracking the weather to see how it would play out. Luckily, it did not rain (down-poured the next day though!), and we were able to keep the ceremony in the Garden area. They did have options available to move the ceremony inside in case it were to have rained, and they went over a few details in preparation just in case. As other reviews have said, they offer a "Vendor Package" which I highly recommend. There are multiple vendor options within each category, but it is a huge perk that these vendors have the familiarity already, and really know where things are at the venue. I was very happy with all the vendors I chose; I'm sure you can't go wrong with any of them. THE STAFF: We met with Shadi, who first toured us around the venue. She is super sweet and very personable. She gave us a lot of detailed information and answered all the questions we had. We had even asked to tour the venue at night and she absolutely accommodated us, and turned on all the features so we could really get an idea of what it would all look like. Everything there is even more stunning at night, when all the lights are on. Shadi ended up going on maternity leave before our wedding and we were helped by Soroor and Jim, who were also incredibly helpful in all the questions that I had. Soroor was there the day of as well and helped me with my outfit right before the ceremony started. Jim was also there in the morning to help with a few setup items. Deana was our coordinator for the day and she is an absolute ROCKSTAR! We briefly met her during the food tasting, but we really got to see her in action at our rehearsal. I could tell immediately that she is someone that is incredibly organized, detail oriented and absolutely knows what she's doing. She is always thinking of the couple and doesn't make you feel like you're just another number. She was with us every step of the way from the start of the ceremony, making sure we had food and drinks during break times, keeping us on schedule with wherever we needed to be, handling and corralling difficult family with grace, and just generally checking in with us and how we were doing throughout the evening. It can be an overwhelming day, but it really does fly by, and having her there to guide us through it all is a big reason for why our wedding went as well as it did. We couldn't imagine having a different coordinator to keep us comfortable & stable. She made us feel that if anything were to have happened, we would be able to deal with it, no problem. We interacted with some of the wait staff during the Food Tasting as well, and not so much on our actual wedding day, but I received good feedback from our guests that all were attentive, friendly and professional. I genuinely feel that the team at The Vineyards really does care about making your day the best it can possibly be. I know that my wedding would not have turned out as amazing as it did, if I had had it at

    Everything about our wedding was perfect and magical thanks to Shadi, Soroor, and the team at The…read moreVineyards. They have a package deal that really helped make the wedding planning stress free, especially when we both work full time and are habitual procrastinators. They were there anytime, with just a quick email away. They were very responsive and we couldn't be happier. The venue itself is gorgeous and I can't wait for the pictures to finish editing! Thank you again for making our wedding a dream come true.

    ZEF BBQ - personalchefs - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...