Reviews of Santa Maria BBQ and Catering (Restaurant)

Michelle Albers

Food isn't bad but it isn't great. Definitely not what you think about when you think BBQ. Parking sucks. I'm not even sure how many times we drove by for months and months wanting to try this place but unsure where to park before we decided to finally try and find parking. A little on the pricey side. They do weird things like add kale to coleslaw, which makes for a very weird barbecue experience. I guess there's a coffee shop inside too if you want that. Clean food though owners are cool. They like to hire homeless and addicts and believe that if you come in and you can't afford food they'll give you a free meal, so that's pretty cool. Not sure I'll be back though...

Janine Mena

I love this place! The reason for their existence is so beautiful! The staff there was wonderful! one of the gals that work there even sing for us live! She has such a wonderful voice. Archie the owner who was also weighing our table at this time was completely hospitable and went above and beyond and servicing our group. He really made us feel welcomed. Here nobody goes hungry :-)

Michael Humenik

The food and service is great! This is a must try for lunch.

Jose Garcia

The smell is intoxicating! I had the tri tip sandwich, it was fantastic.

David Shuck

We had brisket, pork ribs, and beef. For sides, the Mac n cheese was tasty. The nuclear corn was really spicy. It was a nice atmosphere. They have live music, but not when we were there. Overall, a very enjoyable dinner out.

Orange Coin Laundry

The food wad very good but it was served like it is fast food restaurant.

Harley Rider

First time here and I had the chicken and brisket. It was Amazing. Tons of flavor. Took the family and everyone gave it a 2 thumbs up. We were very impressed and will be coming back.

Liza Hall

So I wish I had taken a pic before my meal but how could I resist my order of a 1/4 lb chicken and tri-tip; just the right amount smoke and full flavor that makes the chicken melt in your mouth and the tri tip juicy and delicious. My sides were the rice and the potato salad - small portion but that's ok cuz when it's just the lunch break...can't be in a food coma...right!?!?

Kibble Bites

This place was a new and fresh experience for me. The food was superb and the sauces were of fine quality. If you like barbeque, you will enjoy this place.

Paul Rodriguez

Good food, music and friendly staff

Armando Cendejas

Absolutely Delicious!!

Andrew Delos Reyes

Odd location but decent barbecue. Got the brisket bowl. Good portion size for under 10 bucks. The brisket was plenty smoky, albeit drier than I would have preferred. The bark was decent, and there was some smoke ring present. The meat itself I'd give 3 out of 5 stars. I'm giving an overall 4 because the value was great. Also the rice was an unexpected pairing but they put butter, garlic and cilantro in it, so it is surprisingly good. The sauce they give on the side was some kind of bourbon bbq glaze; real sweet and thick, with a little bit of a spicy kick. I would like to come back and try some of their other meats. The owner said everything was Santa Maria style rather than southern style, which I didn't realize was a thing.

Scott Judkins

Super tasty BBQ that is a great spot to come while dinning in or taking out.

Linda Snider

Good food. The smell when you walk in is wonderful. The choices and prices are great. The staff is friendly and helpful. Came in during a rush and still got our food in a reasonable time. The portions are just right without worrying with a lot of leftovers. We will definitely eat here again.

Adan Najar

First time here, but it won't be the last. The food was great, had that real southern BBQ taste. I had the pulled pork slider habanero BBQ sauce, and a side of slaw.

Tay Mcelroy

The man Glen... great all around good guy.. owner/chef Great food

Joe Mendoza

As soon as you walk in to through the the doors you’re welcomed by kind staff and a real rich smoked bbq smell. It extremely good Food and it’s very clean inside. Overall great place definitely stop by.

Michelle Jones

Had a great experience at Santa Maria BBQ and food was really good. Thanks Archie and Paul I will be back.

Stacey Van Wyk

The trip tip here is awesome! Kind of a random location but it's a cool design. The staff is friendly and service is good.

Sheila Taman

Wow the bbq here is amazing... had them cater a small party and it was wonderful, enough food for everybody and the food was delicious.

Charlotte Shrum

Over priced food was not hot

Anuket Bhaduri

Great food, friendly atmosphere. We had the pulled pork and pork ribs, both excellent choices. The sides of Mac n cheese, baked beans and corn are great too.

Eduardo Cruz

The bbq is very tender, fairly moist and nicely smoked. Great Taste and Texture! You can smell the goodness as soon as you walk in. I cannot give it 5 stars due to the exorbitantly high prices for the amount of bbq you receive. Two beef ribs with a couple of sides will set you back $33. Yes, I know that the owner will say, “you get what you pay for...” however, this place is pricey for me.

steve perez

The food was ok not the best just ok. The beef ribs needed more seasoning has to use the barbecue sauce to eat them. Place was empty. Staff was very nice. French fries were really good. Mac and cheese was a cold dish would of preferred it warm. The mac and cheese is not worth the extra cost. One rib had way to much fat luck of the draw. Maybe ill come back to try something else.

Robert Robinson

This location is a dual BBQ, coffee shop, and comedy club. The pork ribs were delicious and flavorful. The Beef ribs were tender and absolutely tasty. The best side was by far the macaroni and cheese. No sauce required for either ribs but they are available

Lori Van Hove

This review is about their catering service. It deserves all 5 stars. Owner was easy to work with and very flexible as I changed my plans in the days leading up to the event. Evening of event, the staff showed up on time and fed us some great BBQ - especially the brisket - and tasty sides. They did all the serving and left me free to enjoy. If you are thinking of using Santa Maria BBQ for your event, rest assured they will do a great job for you!

Michelle Palomino

Santa Maria BBQ serves up tasty food at a great price. My very picky son can't get enough of their tri-tip and rice! Tonight was their first Taco Tuesday and it was great! The employees are always friendly, and welcoming.

A K

Tri tip and brisket. So tender and delicious.

Priscilla Pineda

Great food and friendly staff. They have karaoke and a patio.

Ralph Hernandez

The Q is awesome here. I recommend the pork ribs with the bourbon sauce. The sausage is also great.

Richard Dickson

AMAZING food!!!! Great service. A hidden gem... Lol. 5 stars from me!!! And i Will be going again with friends

Liam Wong

Good food, abit pricy.

Poy Huang

I drive by this place on the way home from work and decided to give it a try. I ordered a two meat combo with tri tip and sausage. The tri tip was nice and tender and well cooked. The sausage had a little spice to it and was tasty. The guy at the counter recommended the brown sugar garlic BBQ sauce and that was tasty too. I wish the tri tip had more flavor without relying on the sauce. I didn't really taste the rub or the grill smoke. Also the sides I got were only OK. Bacon Mac and cheese needed more bacon flavor and the collard greens were pretty bitter compared to other collards I have tried before. The staff is really friendly and service is quick

W M

Awesome all across the board. The brisket was smoky and NOT dry! It melted in the mouth. Mac and cheese was scrumptious. Tri tip was a standout, as well. The sauce variety was - wow! So many different and really good flavors. The pulled pork entree with two sides for $10 is a bargain. The crazy fry thing with meat, Mac n cheese and beans was awesome, too.

David Cruz

Excellent bbq, had the pork ribs and chicken (tender and juicy) baked beans were the bomb! Mac&cheese and the slaw were very good as well. Very clean place and friendly, helpfull staff Manuel was great, he let us sample first..would recommend it to everyone I know, this is my new bbq spot!

Megan Amo

The location is a bit different for a BBQ place. I expected more of a sit down place but that's ok. Food was all right, but the mac n cheese was too salty for me. The ribs aren't the typical ribs, they're rib tips which are a bit chewier. They recommended the fries, which were my pretty good! They were slightly battered, which made them nice and crunchy. The owner/staff seemed very nice and eager about their newly opened restaurant. I am sure it's taken a lot of hard work so I hope all goes well as continue to settle into their space. I do have some suggestions for improvement: -Move sauce to food pick up area. Label the bottles and allow for customers to select and pour their own sauce(s) -While the bourbon and sweet/spicy sauce were unique and good, a third BBQ sauce option that's more "standard" and also not spicy would be good -self serve water station would be nice

Jonathan Thomas

Great taste and decent portions

Michael Paul

I came in for the first time with my newborn and wife. From the moment I called to ask when they closed to helping me find their parking lot, this crew was extremely helpful and gracious. Beyond the great customer service, the food was perfect. The flavors, the way it was cooked. Very tender. I had ribs, wife had brisket and the sauces paired perfectly with these dishes. Their horseradish sauce is fantastic. My wife who normally doesn't like horseradish raved about how good it was. Paul went out of his way to ask how our experience was and seek out feedback. He was very pleasant and I could tell he cared deeply for customers and the community. I highly recommend this place to anybody seeking a good family environment, great customer service and awesome food. We will be back again to support this establishment. Thank you Paul and the rest of the guys.

Randy Mcdowell

Food may have been good but the prices weren't! I got yelpfished!

Craig Dudek

This place is great. I enjoyed the atmosphere on a friday night. They also have specials throughout the week. Definitely coming back!

David Wiltfong

Great BBQ at a good price. I got the brisket with fries and slaw. The fries were fantastic and the slaw wasnt soaked in mayo, which is how i like it. I left happy

Sammy Burrola

Good food that a little pricey

James Shea

I grew up in Santa Maria so naturally I wanted to try this. I see many advertisements in grocery stores for pre-packaged Santa Maria Style Bar B Queue which is laughable because what makes Santa Maria style bar b queue is that it is cooked over a red oak pit. This place stayed true to the cooking style which made it Santa Maria Bar B queue. In trying to appeal to the clientele they did not have the traditional pinquito beans with salsa, nor garlic bread which is traditional when ordering in Santa Maria. And there is normally no bar b queue sauce in this style. But their bar b queue sauce (especially the mustard based) was excellent. I met the owner and not only a super nice guy and talented chef. He does a lot of out reach which I give a lot of respect to. So not as authentic as it could be, but fits the trendy vibe for its clientele. As far as the seasonings, it was very good. In Santa Maria the recipes change from place to place as with the times. Places like Shaws, McLintocks, etc. Durring the 80's and early 90's they were mostly about the marinade, now they are about the rubs. This place stays true to the original roots which was salt, pepper, and some garlic. Letting the oak do much of the flavoring. Great job Santa Maria Bar B queue. Keep up the good work.

Andrew Sellers

Pulled pork was good. Brisket was average. Volcano corn was nice, good spice to it. Beans are just like Bush's baked beans in a can. Not sure if the sauce was added to the meat before it got to the table or if it was supposed to come as a side. Either way, we didn't receive the sauce and brisket was fatty and bland without it.

Frank Petrola

The food was delicious extremely tender, juicy and satisfying. Best barbeque in the OC. Plan to go back soon.

Joseph Hamai

This was our first time here. The service was friendly and informative and the food very tasty. I had the brisket and my wife had the pork ribs and burnt ends. Everything had a good smoky flavor and the sauces complemented the meat deliciously. We will definitely be back again.

Michael Loconto

What a great place. Really enjoyed the pulled pork, beans & BBQ chicken. The Cole slaw had pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries - nice combo on the sandwich. Very nice staff and accommodating for kids. Thanks!

Andrew Fernando

This BBQ joint has sent of the best tri-tip I have tried in the Orange County area. The service and portion sizes are great. Highly recommend. Oh also the ambience is really cool.

Natalie J. Graham

great food. great service

Kevin Sandberg

Really nice owner and staff! BBQ beef is excellent, pork ribs were a bit fatty. Nitro corn is "nitro," so beware. Collards really good! Enjoyed the meal very much.

Gerald Muro

Glen made the best meats ever!

Jack Mattson

Passionate small business owners who know how to bbq. Great smoke flavor, and VERY tender. Great beans too! Glad to have this gem in our backyard.

Demitri Cain

My first time there after many attempts to go. Service was great food was great. I ordered pork ribs, tri tip and barbeque chicken. They were tender and seasoned well. The Cole slaw, baked beans and Mac and cheese was delicious. I didn't care for the collard greens Overall my family really enjoyed our meal. I will definitely go there again. Bon Appetit.

christian tyler

This place is so good first the customer service and the food wow!!!! I just cant believe the love put in this good is amazing this is my go to from now on for some really bbq

Chris Cordes

This is a great place. I would have given 4.5 starts but I can't. The staff is very friendly and very welcoming. They really have solid customer service. The food is good to outstanding. In our group there was 5 adults 3 kids, everyone found something they really enjoyed. The food is better than chain BBQ joints. Highly recommend it! Parking is in back of the restaurant and apartment building- there are signs present instruct you where to park. Overall definitely a worthy place to go for lunch or dinner.

Stephen Gillett

Orange County has just been introduced to a REAL BBQ joint. Amazing meats slow smoked and rubbed with savory spices. The new BBQ Master, BIG DAVE from Louisiana, will satisfy your desire for smoked meat. I had the Beef Brisket Santa Maria sandwich with slaw on a fresh soft French roll; add the garlic sauce for a flavor explosion. Thanks to Mo, up front, for making the whole southern comfort experience a blessing. I'm looking forward to having the pulled pork on the next visit.

Mike Lange

So so so good! Cannot give this enough stars. Amazing BBQ!

Angie Buchanan

I have to give a shout out to this new business, my mom took me to lunch here yesterday, and the owner is absolutely wonderful, His name is Archie and if you don’t like something he can tell without you saying a word and he’ll bring you something else . You can tell he really wants his customers to be happy on their visit there. He walks around and talks to all the customers and is so happy, friendly and just a really nice person. If you haven’t tried it yet pop on in, you won’t be disappointed

Owen Talbot

Amazing service! Paul and Archie are the best. The chicken was super tender, and the brisket was some of the best I’ve had. Would definitely recommend

Andrew Garcia

Great BBQ real good food!

Diane Packard

The food here is wonderful! You can really taste the Smoky flavor of the chicken and the amount of time they took in order to make it. The baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw, and macaroni and cheese were amazing! I'm not a fan of coleslaw at all, however, whatever they do to this coleslaw is delicious and highly recommend it! We will definitely be ordering again!

ashley flanery

Some of the best BBQ we've ever had. Easily the best brisket. All of their food is loaded with genuine flavor. The brisket was the most tender we've ever had it. The bourbon "mop sauce" is so wonderful. Will be back soon.

Jax Luger

Great BBQ .I had the 3meat combo with brisket, sausage and tri tip. The sausage was a bit spicy, the trip tip looked over cooked but when you put it in your mouth it was cooked perfectly. Very tender and a great flavor. The brisket was the big surprise. Unlike many BBQ places where the brisket is dry and you have to soak it in BBQ sauce to regain some type of moisture, this was the complete opposite. Very tender, moist and flavorful. I almost did not want to put any BBQ sauce on it because it was that good. I tried the Bourbon BBQ sauce and it had a good flavor and a little kick to it, I'm not a big BBQ sauce fan but enjoyed the flavor. The coleslaw was really good, nice flavor and not overly creamy like many places, it was just right. I like collard greens and if it's on the menu I'll order it so of course I ordered it and really liked it. The greens weren't mushy like some places I've eaten. They were flavorful and seems like they use the sausage when cooking it, I found a piece in with my greens. I heard one complaint that the sides we're not large enough but found out that if you want more all you have to do is ask. That will be a note for next time. All in all I would recommend this place.

Nigel Jehoich

Came in on a whim one day and was not disappointed. Ribs were great, and so were the fries and Mac and cheese. The owner was a great guy to talk to as well. Will gladly come back a second time!

Joshua Dawson

As a certified BBQ judge it is not often that I find a restaurant that will impress me. A group of us went in and ordered all the meats on the menu and I have to say, we were not disappointed. Everything was cooked properly. The flavor profiles were great. I would definitely recommend this place and I will be back.

Karen Schnabel

Fantastic BBQ. They make everything themselves, including the BBQ sauces. Coleslaw, potato salad, fries, sausage was all excellent. If you check in on Yelp you get a free side or drink.

Charles Rhee

Everything good. Try the fries. Im glad to have found this spot.

Nazanin Zahra Angoshtari

Great staff that listened to what i needed in my order and provided it to excellence. Coleslaw, french fries, grilled veggies and rice are vegeterian options in this barbecue place. I heared from my accompanied friends that their barbecue options are great too. Extraordinary customer service, wide bright space, good food and convenient parking.

Clinton Combs

A place with real heart--part BBQ restaurant and part social outreach program for youth. My wife had the brisket and I had the pulled pork. Both were excellent. The night we were there a magician was entertaining table-side. Everyone seemed to really enjoy him. The parking seems tricky at first with all the permit required signs, but if you read all the fine print, you will realize that you can park in the little lot behind the restaurant during business hours. The owner was kind accommodating enough to come out and direct us in and explain the details.

Maria Brown

We went to "Taco Tuesday" and enjoyed some yummy BBQ beef, pork and chicken tacos! Fun patio event and great croud of fun loving people.

James Saraniecki

Pulled pork bowl was

vic spencer

Great BBQ and great staff!! A must try if you are in the mood for some awesome brisket or smoked chicken!! Check it out for yourself!

Yoda [Ghost]

Love it but they should bring back that lady she was fired but she did alot

Chris Gardilcic

Good food but the people running this place need help

brenton hemelaar

Absolouly delicious. Friendly service. Delicious smokey flavors. Can not fault. Highly recommend!

Armand Lattizori

Really enjoyed the chicken, tender and moist, bourbon bbq sauce was great. Watch out, the nuclear corn or whatever it's called is beyond spicy. Nice job.

Gordon Thomas

Great food nice people willing to make the experience good

Robert Bojorquez

Very Good BBQ. The brisket was moist, smokey and tender. BBQ sauce was tangy and most excellent. The place just opened a few months ago. Very clean...when you walk I the restaurant you know your in for some great BBQ. The aroma is overwhelming...your senses say this is gonna be good and it is. Beans are most excellent and tried the Mac & Cheese which was ok. You won't be disappointed in the food or service. Parking is tricky here. No curb parking, you have to park out back. Definitely gonna visit this place again. It is Santa Maria BBQ.

George Alonzo

Wonderful, the food is awesome here. I ordered the trip tip sandwich and it was delicious.

Ed Short

Great BBQ, cole slaw reminded me of CostCo kale salad. Nice roomy dining area. Difficult to talk with video music blasting Country Western around 7:00pm on a Friday.

Cecilia Rey

exquisite!

Benjamin Leithold

Absolutely fantastic tri-tip! The owner even came to our table to ask if we had enough food and offered extra if we were not full. I can't recommend highly enough.

SLADE 21-19

Great customer service....a restraunt of true perfection.. great quality....just delicious

andrew martinez

BRISKET! BRISKET! BRISKET! eat the brisket...bbq sauce is great also....enuf said.

Darren Valen

Amazingly good. The real deal.

Bob Amador

Best bbq

Ti Le

I'll keep it short and sweet. It's not horrible but it's pretty expensive for what it is. $17 for 3 slices of brisket, $18 for half a rack of ribs...pricey.

Mike Box

Had quick lunch. Tritip platter was great.

Shannon Carter

Loved the service and excellent bbq tacos made by Tito. Thank you for the yummy food.

John Vasquez

The is an issue with parking and find how to get to it. Use the entrance off of Stanton and look for signs to park. I can tell they have not been open long as the service was mixed, with really helpful and engages and some not so much. The food was also mixed. I highly recommend the tri-tip and brisket. The pork ribs while tasty are a little tough. The side fries and beans are a good compliment. They also supply several sauces that a very good but missing is a sweet and not spicy one. Overall I say you should give it a try, have a beer and see what is up your alley. I will definitely be back.

Marcus Ballestero

Cozy atmosphere, BBQ meats are really delicious here & sauce was really good as well. Going back soon :)

David Keel

I am moving to the Northwest and this will be on of my favorite place I will miss. Love the brisket!!!

Jason Lee

Taste is good but too small portion

Eric Greco

Revised: 3.25 stars The Brisket was great and tender. The service was is exceptional. However, I will reserve the additional star until I can try Santa Maria Style BBQ in central California. Then I will review again in a few months. Sorry for the delay in the update. I live on the coast. Again...exceptional service and they aim to please. I suggest one give it a try...tastes are subjective. I will bring friends next time.

Chris Tylutki

Good food, friendly staff good prices

Stuart Gray

Everything here is awesome. I have had, beef ribs, brisket, sausage, pulled pork and the pork ribs. Have not had the chicken yet. So far I have been more than pleased with each meat I have had. Also, the Armageddon fries, let me tell you, Fries, Beans, Mac and Cheese and the meat of your choice..... Somehow, the excellence of the damned fries stand out. It seems that they go full steam on every single thing they make. It is inexpensive for what you get and if you go there, you will leave happy and full.

Victor Jr Arce

Went by at 1pm and it was closed.. No sign no explanation.. This was either Monday or Tuesday..

Fieke van Berkom

This place is nice and clean, has friendly staff and omg the meat is soooooo good! Tender and not greasy. Sides are full of flavor as well like my mom could have made it!

Dyanna Kavanaugh

The food is great and the guys are really nice! Great service!

David Schueren

Was very impressed with the food and the staff lived in the south for a while and I felt like I was back home will be coming again

Brian Dominick

Amazing place that I highly recommend to anyone that either loves BBQ or curious about it. Amazingly friendly staff that spends all sorts of time with you making sure you make decisions that you will be happy with. I was lucky enough to stumble on this place when I was looking for somewhere to eat near my hotel. I will for sure return on all of my future stays in the area. These are people that really care about the product that they're selling.

Victoria Ortiz

The flavor was great, but cold. I took it home and heated it up.

jamya holloway

I came here for lunch yesterday after I heard about this place and had a sample of the tri tip, kind of disappointed ☹️ being that I paid $26 bucks for something I can get in Los Angeles for about $15 when I saw the pictures of the beef ribs online I was like ok that’s worth the $26 because they are the big Texas ribs

E Johnson

Food portions was small for the price ...received wrong side dishes....had to ask for the drinks I ordered

Ken McDonald

Fantastic food. Friendly service. Will be coming here regularly. If you like BBQ, this is a must try!

Lori Vix-Grossgold

Opened the door and thought I was in Santa Maria...smelled divine! Biggest and tastiest ribs in Southern California! Tri tip was seasoned well and cooked to perfection! BBQ beans --as good as what I make at home. The brisket...smoked to perfection. We'll be back!

David Perricone

It's a nice BBQ joint, the tritip is nice and tender. Everything was really awesome. The best part about this place is it is a non for profit organization. The chairs and tables were built by veterans. He hires kids looking for their first jobs and he hires veterans as well. So go there get some good down home BBQ and the money goes to help the kids and veterans.

Jeremy Ruiz

The food is always fresh and delightful, employees gives great service. I love how neat it is and atmosphere. Keep up the good work.

Angalee Fernando

It's surprisingly hard to get a good piece of meat around here and that's why this place is a blessing. The ribs were huge, cooked to perfection, and they don't skimp out on the fat! And the hot links were super flavorful and juicy. And to top it off, the service was amazing (anabelle's the best!!). Definitely check them out!

Jillian Mendez

Some of the best brisket I have ever had!! Paul was wonderful and really engaging. Beans were good and the Mac and cheese too!! Loved it here and I'll be back for sure!!

DI Lopez

Holy Smokes!!! This place is delicious! Had it for the first time on Sunday...we had tri tip and brisket sandwiches AND the coleslaw is one of a kind! Going back today!!!

Diego Angel

Is alright but there's better places

Ruby King

Location can be a bit perplexity as it's situated inside the common area of a living complex. Street and front parking is required be sure to park in the properly designated areas. Once you enter into the actual restaurant area it has a great, clean and welcoming feel. Staff is friendly, quick to help you and educated you if need be. The portions are small compared to a typical BBQ place but they sure had flavor. We ordered beef ribs that had a good rub and brisket that was juicy and tender. You must try all the sauces especially the mustard based and bourbon. If you have a passion for heat the Mango Habanero is the way to go. Mac an Cheese was good as well as the French fries. The baked beans were flavorful but nothing out of this world. Potatoes salad was creamy and with lots of pazzaz making it delicious. They have a decent selection of beers and a few on tap that pair nicely with the food. We would surely return to this location on a future visit although I may consider ordering additional sides to compensate the small meat portions.

ALEX PARRA

Bit overpriced, ~$50 for a meal for two, and not large portions, so I expected quality bbq. It was okay but was missing something.

Ana Hernandez

I want to start off by saying that Santa Maria BBQ has some of the best food I’ve ever had! I went there today for the first time and had the Beef Tri-Tip Sandwich with their mango habanero sauce and corn. I enjoyed everything but noticed that my tri-tip was a bit overcooked, other than that the sauce was amazing and their corn had the correct amount of heat to it. Very delicious. My main problem lies with the customer service. The cashier who took my order and the female cook who cut & prepared my sandwich seemed VERY inexperienced. Now I’ve worked in the food industry and I understand how sometimes customers are very.. difficult, but something I’ve always understood was that customer service is everything. The cashier was on his phone the entire time and seemed very careless. His overall performance disappointed me given the fact that the restaurant itself seemed very upscale for a BBQ joint- you’d think the service would be better. That goes the same for the woman who cut the meat off the Tri-Tip; very, very inexperienced. But my experience wasn’t all bad, there was another female cook there who finished up my order and gave me my drink (when the cashier had forgotten) she was very polite and attentive. There was also an older gentleman who was there, I believe he was the owner. He was kind and greeted me on my way in and thanked me on my way out. It’s honestly the small things that make my experience there better, and I really appreciate the effort. Would I go there again? Yes- but I’d have to walk out if I saw those two workers there again. Sorry, but as a former food-industry worker... customer service is EVERYTHING!!

Rowena Thompson

New place in Buena Park Owner very nice and lets you try new stuff while you wait for your food. Very friendly and place is always clean, check out their taco Tuesday

Ramona Barbosa

Overall the place is okay. Inside is beautiful. For my family and I personally, the smokey taste in the chicken, pulled pork, and mac and cheese was way to overwhelming to actually enjoy.. The bbq sauce tasted mostly like vinegar. We will not be visiting in the future.

Gene Anthony Rebollar

Haven't had good bbq from a restaurant in awhile.... Santa Maria bbq you guys are on point. Very good. Definitely worth a try...

Frank R

Delicious! Tri Tip was absolutely delicious! Very tasty and tenderly cooked to perfection. It was our first time visiting and we will definitely return.

Carissa Flores

Best b b q in California. My family and I were treated respectfully and greeted right away. The cook was extremely nice to us and educated us on their cooking process. I will come back whenever I'm in town. A must try place for top notch BBQ

Jody Thompson-Hennington

Overpriced and not as good as they think they are. Went more for the employees that were extremely nice before they were fired Monique in particular.

Mike Zaldivar

The best barbeque in LA. Archie is the best host! You have got to go!

Jordyn Gonzalez

Its hard to find good quality BBQ these days but Santa Maria has amazing BBQ! This place has kick you in the face fresh ingredients. I rarely ever finish entire plates but I did here and even got some more food to go. The brisket is a must try.

Teresa Choi

Great BBQ. Friendly staff. Best beef brisket and tri tip

Jennifer Johns

Masterful BBQ comfort food with caring and genuine service. Brisket being sliced in front of us was a thing of beauty like watching Monet. Everyone at the service counter checked in on us and ensured we had tried and were enjoying multiple items. Collard greens were delicious and tender, I picked out the sausage. Nuclear corn and veggies were also delicious. Beef ribs were described at meaty, tender and looked to be than perfect pink inside. Had an evening comedy show commencing at the end of our meal. Delightful new place.

Keith Banks

Deeeelicious bbq. Very flavorful and "butt ends" were the bomb.

Wayne Willoughby

Great food, great service. I will be back. The best beef ribs in OC I ever had.

Peter S

Update for second visit: Got their one rib and slice of tri tip special with a side of coleslaw and corn. The amount of meat on the rib is a ton, it's like the amount you get when ordering short ribs. Flavor was outstanding. Tri tip is still as good as it was my first time. Coleslaw has kale in it, i'm not a fan of kale but this was really good. First visit: Parking lot is off Stanton not Orangethorpe like the address. First thing you notice when you walk in is the amazing smell. Very friendly staff, check in on yelp to get a free drink or side. Still deciding about the potato salad. It’s decent and blah at the same time but that’s not why you come here. Their Santa Maria style sandwich comes with slaw and choice of meat and sauce. I went with the tri tip and bourbon sauce. The sauce has a slight kick to it but not too spicy. The flavor of the tri tip was outstanding, great level of seasoning and smoke flavor. They got this spot on. Plenty of seating inside and out. Shares the seating area with a coffee bar and there is a small stage in the corner for live music.

Larry Ochoa

Great food - fresh and tasty. Recommend the brisket and the ribs. Interesting venue with lots of links to the community and activities taking place in adjoining rooms. Definitely worth a visit. It’s a new place so this could be why the service wasn’t so slick - that’s just the one thing to improve on as our food didn’t come out together... everything else was great...go visit.

Mark Wankier

Beef and Pork ribs, Tri-tip, pulled pork, BBQ beans, Cole slaw and beer. A great BBQ restaurant. The meat was juicy and tender with great flavor. The sides are all pretty good. You can also get the garlic butter rice they use for the rice bowls as a side. The staff is friendly and helpful. The parking lot behind is not very big so you might have to park on orangethorpe.

albert frausto

Great food! Great atmosphere

steven charles

I think the other Santa Maria is paying people to bash this place, notice the review and no comments or the off comments. I ate there.. its the bomb. the people are great and really care. I am left with there are lots of lies being told. They even got an amazing review from the oc register.. but then these last few reviews.... yeah something not right. Best freaking bbq ever.

Nicole Robinson

Industrial style decor. Food tasted really good. As far as California prices go it was reasonable. More of a fast food type of eatery. Staff was friendly.

Scott

I've had bubble gum more tender then their tri-tip.

Anthony Negron

So glad there's good American BBQ in Buena Park. The flavor is on point. The portions are perfect, and the meat isn't greasy. The sides are superb, particularly the slaw and bacon mac. I also suggest the slow smoke pulled pork. Their bbq sauces are so good, you want to drink them - but no! Save them to slather on that smoky, heavenly pork. Make it a mission to eat here ASAP.

Gale L Bull

Great food!! Nice and friendly employees!

Alexander Marentes

This place is awesome, take children and families to this place! The workers are very nice and very helpful, the food is also delicious! I work at the cali style barber shop off of commonwealth in Buena Park. And me and my friends go there most of the time! Worth the drive and worth the money! Thanks guys!

Douglas Moreno

Nice personel, good taste, but brisket a little dry for my taste. Excelent sides, I recommend you to try the corn, and also a cold beer with a pulled pork or brisket.