Everyone knows Los Angeles is home to every kind of cuisine under the sun—including tons of stellar barbecue. From Southern-style classics to Asian barbecue and beyond, grilled and smoked meats are plentiful. You can find a best BBQ restaurant in Los Angeles, CA in neighborhoods across the city.
Indulge in luxurious table-grilled Korean BBQ in West Hollywood. Enjoy finger-licking ribs and play some shuffleboard in El Segundo, or dine on pho topped with smoked brisket in Long Beach.
Reserve a table at one of the best BBQ restaurants in Los Angeles on OpenTable today.
Read on to discover the 10 best BBQ restaurants in Los Angeles right now.
For Korean BBQ with stellar banchan — check out Genwa Korean BBQ (Downtown, Mid-Wilshire and Beverly Hills)
Genwa Korean BBQ stands out for the wide range of banchan (Korean side dishes) that accompany its premium grilled meats. With three locations across the city in Downtown, Mid-Wilshire, and Beverly Hills, the dining rooms are spacious, modern, and filled with the sounds and aromas of sizzling pork belly and rib eye from the smokeless table grills. Pair your meal with an ice-cold Asian beer.
For massive BBQ sandwiches — book a table at Craft by Smoke and Fire (Anaheim, Arcadia, Pasadena, and Downtown)
With locations in Anaheim, Arcadia, Pasadena, and Downtown, Smoke and Fire is known for its Texas-meets-California-style BBQ. The bark-encrusted brisket and fall-off-the-bone ribs rival anything in America’s BBQ heartland, while fusion dishes like short rib birria tacos have an LA spin. Enjoy a cocktail with your meal in the rustic industrial spaces, where custom smokers are visibly at work. Don’t miss the popular mud pie for dessert.
For the best BBQ restaurant in Los Angeles, CA serving peach wood-smoked meats — head over to Maple Block Barbecue (Culver City)
Meats are wood-smoked and grilled in-house at Maple Block Barbecue, resulting in brisket with the ideal bark-to-meat ratio and fall-off-the-bone pork ribs. Pair your meal with creative appetizers and sides like cornbread spiced with poblano peppers, pulled pork lettuce wraps, and fries tossed in brisket rub. The bright, modern space makes it easy to linger with a classic cocktail or two. Pro tip: order the banana pudding with candied bacon.
For a taste of ultimate Southern hospitality — try Gus’s BBQ (South Pasadena and Claremont)
With a prime spot on Route 66, Gus’s BBQ in South Pasadena is an LA institution. Both the original and the second Claremont location go all in on Southern comfort foods—think smoky and sticky baby back ribs, fried chicken, cast iron cornbread, and heaping bowls of chili. Pair your meal with a frosty mint julep or brown butter-washed bourbon cocktail. The retro-chic dining room with mosaic tiled floors and red leather booths is made for lingering.
For splurge-worthy Korean BBQ — book a table at AB Steak by Chef Akira Back (West Hollywood)
At his namesake restaurant, celebrity chef Akira Back serves up Korean BBQ with upscale ingredients and ambiance. Located on the first floor of the Beverly Center, the industrial-chic restaurant is where you go for tabletop grilling starring premium cuts like A5 wagyu and Iberico pork. Standout dishes include ssamjang aged ribeye, savory soybean stew, and galbi fried rice, while craft soju cocktails complement the bold, umami-rich flavors.
For one of the best Southern BBQ restaurants in Long Beach — head to Naples Rib Company (Long Beach)
Family-owned Naples Rib Company serves some of the best barbecue in Long Beach. Expect slow-cooked meats like baby back ribs along with crowd-pleasing starters like chili nachos and loaded potatoes. The laid-back, family-friendly vibe, with sporting events playing on multiple TVs and generous portions, makes it a go-to for Southern-style comfort food in a welcoming wood-paneled space.
For BBQ with a side of axe-throwing — journey down to Sauced BBQ and Spirits (El Segundo)
If you’re looking for a fun night out with friends or a date, you can’t go wrong with Sauced BBQ & Spirits. Feast on heaping platters of tender, slow-smoked meats paired with housemade sauces and classic Southern sides. The lively atmosphere—complete with rustic wood accents, communal tables, axe-throwing, shuffleboard, and bocce ball—sets the stage for a fun night out.
For communal grilling paired with a raucous happy hour — check out Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ (Downtown LA, Sherman Oaks, Pasadena, and Torrance)
With several locations in LA, Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ remains a popular go-to for Japanese table-grilled meats, savory small plates, and drinks. Best known for its epic happy hours, you’ll often find groups of friends and co-workers chatting away while sharing platters of grilled prime kalbi and pork belly. Don’t sleep on the chili mayo fried shrimp.
For BBQ in the heart of Downtown — check out Smoke City Char Bar (Downtown Los Angeles)
Located in Downtown’s Arts District, Smoke City Char Bar is a smoked-meat haven serving up next-level barbecue with a modern edge. Slow-smoked brisket, sticky ribs, and sausages bring bold, smoky flavors, while playful starters and sides like smoked watermelon and burnt ends mac and cheese complete the meal. Kick back in the stylish dining room with a craft cocktail or beer.
For the best BBQ restaurant in Los Angeles, CA serving brisket, tacos, and pho — try Broken Spirits Distillery (Long Beach)
Broken Spirits Distillery combines craft spirits production with Texas-style BBQ. The massive smokers produce tender brisket with a peppery bark that rivals Austin’s finest. The smoked meats are used in everything from traditional American BBQ dishes to pho, potato skins, tacos, and more. The interior, with exposed brick and lush seating, gives off major speakeasy vibes. The distillery produces small-batch whiskeys, bourbon, and vodka, so be sure to try a signature cocktail with your meal.
Whether you’re in the mood for a classic American barbecue, a marinated short rib, or a Harami skirt steak, there are dozens of BBQ restaurants in Los Angeles worth checking out—but the best ones fill up quickly
Grab a seat at one of the best barbecue restaurants in Los Angeles by booking ahead on OpenTable today.
Find more dining options in Los Angeles, CA with these guides:
- 10 Must-try Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles
- 11 MICHELIN-Star restaurants in Los Angeles to try ASAP
- The 10 best Italian restaurants in Los Angeles to book right now
- 10 top-notch Middle Eastern restaurants to try in Los Angeles
Esther Carlstone is a travel and food writer based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in publications such as Travel + Leisure, Lonely Planet, Forbes, Tripadvisor, Insider, and more. Follow her on Instagram @familyfieldtrip.
