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Eater
18 hours ago
- General
- Eater
The Best Dishes Eater Editors Ate This Week: June 9
The editors at Eater LA dine out several times a week, if not per day, which means we're always encountering standout dishes that deserve time in the limelight. Here's the very best of everything the team has eaten this week. Vietnamese-style lomo saltado from Nam Kitchen in Gardena Over the past year, I've determined that Nam Kitchen has become the South Bay's best overall casual Vietnamese restaurant thanks to stellar pho and a handful of creative dishes like this Vietnamese-Peruvian fusion lomo saltado. The kitchen takes slightly sweet soy flavors of bo luc lac and tosses them with classic lomo saltado ingredients of red onion, tomato, and French fries, topping them with cilantro and serving with a side of creamy aji verde and a mound of white rice. The tenderloin pieces are as easy to eat as marshmallows, savory and covered with black pepper. Frankly, this could be one of the best lomo saltado preparations anywhere in the city, and it'll be something I crave. Nam Kitchen's other fusion dishes are worth exploring, but even the pho đặc biệt is top-notch, piled high with quality beef and a spice-laden broth. 1530 Artesia Boulevard, Gardena, CA 90248. — Matthew Kang, lead editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest Steak tacos from MidEast Tacos in Silver Lake Silver Lake is lucky to be the home of MidEast Tacos, an Armenian-Mexican taco restaurant from Mini Kabob's Armen Martirosyan. Operating out of a brick-lined corner space along Sunset Boulevard, right across from the former 99 Cent store, the restaurant serves up toum-topped tacos, crispy potatoes with Aleppo pepper, and burritos stuffed with marinated chicken. But for me, the best way to experience MidEast Tacos is with the simple steak taco, with a corn tortilla instead of the flour tortilla it comes with. The steak is reminiscent of the flavors of Mini Kabob's own beef, with a slightly smoky and well-spiced profile. The meat is chopped to a size reminiscent of a street taco, just large enough to get the entire flavor without it being overwhelming. A size of crispy papas brings the entire meal home, which is best enjoyed at one of the tables on the sidewalk. 3536 W. Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026. — Rebecca Roland, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest Spicy salami pie from Little Goat Pizza House in Glendale As a Northeast LA resident who loves grubbing on pizza from the comfort of my home, my options are often limited. Especially when comparing neighborhoods that are flush with celebrated pizza spots, I frequent the same restaurants more often than I care to admit. That doesn't serve my job very well, so after branching out into Glendale, I took home two pies from the Little Goat Pizza House. The results were worthy of a return, particularly the spicy salami pie. Though the margherita was respectable, the combination of the Neapolitan-style crust covered in San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella, salami, garlic, tarragon, and a respectable amount of spicy honey made my day. I assumed my patented pizza-consuming position next to the low coffee table, opened the box, and dug in. I was impressed by the consistency of the beautifully leavened sourdough placed in a wood-fired oven. I will happily sit down on-site and consume it hot out of the oven next time. It tasted perfect the following morning for breakfast. 942 N. Brand Boulevard, Glendale, CA, 91202. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest Whole grilled branzino from Zinqué in Century City Of all the homegrown restaurants in Los Angeles, I didn't peg stylish French hangout Zinqué to become a fast-growing chain. Armed with key locations in West Hollywood, Downtown, and more recently in Century City, the restaurant has grown to Scottsdale, Westlake Village, and even its spiritual homeland of Paris, France. Given its prime locations, I'm starting to see Zinqué as a viable alternative to places like Cheesecake Factory or Houston's, serving reliable if sometimes predictable food with generous portions. Zinqué's strength isn't in innovation, but rather in serving high-quality ingredients without much fuss. Their charcuterie board is ample and quite good, while their mushroom bucatini could've used a touch more salt. The bistro burger is delightful and satisfying for meat-and-potato types. The whole-grilled branzino gets a gorgeous golden brown interior and a hefty pile of shaved fennel and arugula. For $45, they serve a fish big enough for the table to share. And the branzino was juicy, fresh, and nicely seasoned, the dry-herb chimichurri bringing a vegetal punch when needed. You could see why Zinqué has mass appeal, an easy option for fussy palates and large groups. 10250 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90067. — Matthew Kang, lead editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest Sign up for our newsletter.
Eater
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
A Winding, Mountainous, Historic Road Trip From Reno to Lake Tahoe
There's a reason Reno, Nevada, one of the original American boomtowns, has so many businesses with the word 'silver' in their name. The history of Nevada aligns closely with the discovery of the Comstock Lode, an enormous silver ore deposit in Virginia City, near present-day Reno. (Nevada's nickname is also the 'Silver State.') Fortunes rise and fall, of course, and Reno has cycled through different eras of changing fortunes in its 150-plus-year history. Today, Reno is usually overlooked as a destination in favor of its younger, flashier downstate cousin, Las Vegas. But is that justified? Maybe not, as Eater's Matthew Kang and I discovered during an action-packed 36 hours this spring. We set out to create a quick, fun road trip to better understand the area between Reno and Lake Tahoe, which straddles the California-Nevada border, with a bunch of stops in between. We discovered breathtaking mountain views, a non-stop bacchanal of worthy food stops, and fun, old-timey bars and saloons that nod to the heyday of the area's silver rush in the second half of the 19th century. A late-night arrival into the 'Biggest Little City in the World' led us to scour the town for a nighttime bite. (We did wonder: If Reno is the biggest little city, what's the smallest big city? Philly? San Francisco?) We found a respectable stack of golden pancakes and warm service at the Gold 'N Silver Inn diner before heading to Virginia Street, a walkable stretch south of Reno's downtown with funky college town shops like the Melting Pot. 'Do you serve slices?' I asked the woman behind the counter at Pizzava. 'I've got eight slices all together,' she replied, implying they only come whole. Fair enough. Their 'Backyard' pizza was a better version of a Domino's deluxe pie and served as an ideal midnight snack. After checking out the spacious outdoor patio at Z Bar across the street (and after someone asked Kang from a moving car if he was the photographer behind Reno After Dark), we settled into a comfortable room downtown at Caesars Entertainment's $90-a-night Silver Legacy. (There's that word again.) The following morning, we explored the casino as well as two others that are attached to create a kind of blocks-long super resort: Eldorado and Circus Circus. Don't miss the centerpiece of Silver Legacy — a shockingly large silver mining rig fitted with lots of kaleidoscopic lights, towering over the gaming area. Circus Circus, for what it's worth, appears much nicer than the worn-down Vegas property and, with its carnival-like games and ample space to run around, looks like it'd be a pretty fun place to take the kids. Before we left the complex, Kang played a hand of baccarat, bet on banker, and won. Who said gambling doesn't pay? In the face of unspeakably beautiful spring weather, ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the snow on the Sierra Nevada mountains in the distance, we set out from Reno. But not before making a couple of quick stops: Star Village Coffee, a Native American-owned coffee shop, is an excellent choice for caffeinated beverages. I had a seasonal maize latte, slightly sweet with earthy undertones, as well as a tahini rose chocolate chip cookie. The Artists Co-op Gallery down the street is worth stopping in for a nice selection of work by local artists. When we went, one of the resident artists told us, unprompted, that all-you-can-eat sushi was quite literally invented in Reno. Maybe it's something in the water, but there have been several recent stories about AYCE sushi and its popularity in Reno. Whether the city is the actual origin or its locals have simply embraced it more strongly than in other places, there's no denying that Reno has an enduring love affair with sushi. (We'll have to partake next time.) The name 'Coney Island' may have distinctly East Coast connotations, but in Sparks, Nevada, the town adjacent to Reno, it's the name of a clubby-feeling bar with some killer lunch specials. Coney Island Bar, in a building that's stood since the Great Depression, is something between a sports bar and an Elks Lodge outpost. They've got a rotating set of homespun lunch specials like spaghetti and a hot sweet ham sandwich. The roast beef sandwich, eaten on pillowy white bread swiped with tonsil-searing horseradish sauce, is outstanding, as is the roast turkey sandwich. Our next stop was none other than the Nevada state capital, Carson City, just a stone's throw away from Reno, a little over a half-hour's drive if driving directly. However, we took a scenic detour through the Virginia Highlands and up Geiger Grade Road — not named, as you might think, after Hans Geiger, he of the radioactivity counter. Rather, it's named after Davison Geiger, who paid for the road. It's a fun, serpentine drive that our rented Buick SUV could barely handle, but it paid off with some spectacular views of the Truckee Meadows valley. That road takes you to Virginia City, which was the center of Nevada's silver mining explosion in 1859. It also happens to be where a young man named Samuel Clemens wrote for the local newspaper under the name Mark Twain. More than 150 years later, Virginia City is a kitschy 'Wild West' tourist town with old Victorian buildings, souvenir shops, and dusty saloons with names like 'Bucket of Blood' to peek into. It's certainly worth a stop if you're in the area, if only to see how the places have evolved for the modern era — old card tables, some of which are still on display, have been replaced by the relentless buzz of new slot machines. Foodwise, a box of kimchi fried rice at Lost Seoul Saloon, almost certainly the only Korean restaurant in Virginia City, proved to be great value. Bright orange and festooned with chopped scallions, it was a tangy and filling snack that satisfied during this quick stop. Saloons and a general Wild West motif are popular in this part of the country, and the theme continues as you move into the capital, a short drive down from the hills of Virginia City. Bank Saloon, just across the street from Nevada's various legislative buildings in Carson City, supposedly dates back to 1899. Today, it certainly doesn't look over 100 years old, as, in recent years, it's had a reinvigorating makeover and serves bespoke cocktails while hosting events like a weekly 'Puppy Hour,' where patrons are invited to bring in their dogs. The drinks are solid, and it's worth a look, if only for the befuddlingly large amount of Bob Ross paraphernalia decorating the inside. When in an unfamiliar place, your best move come mealtime is often to check out a local grocery store. And so we headed toward Hacienda Market and Grill, a Mexican grocery northeast of the Capitol building that also has prepared foods. After sampling the shop's carnitas taco (and the diverse salsa selection), we headed south out of town to nearby Genoa, Nevada, and its venerable Genoa Bar, which advertises itself as Nevada's oldest bar — a very distinct possibility as it opened in 1853, many years before Nevada's statehood. The clientele at Genoa during our visit was a healthy mix of out-of-state travelers and local bikers, which fits in with the timeless Old West feel of the town. One spicy bloody mary and another winding, scenic drive later, we had reached Lake Tahoe. Technically, we had arrived in the prosaically named Stateline, which lies, well, on the Nevada side of the state line shared with California. Harveys Lake Tahoe, another Caesars property that will soon be rebranded as Caesars Republic, was where we checked into our spacious rooms (about $100 a night including resort fee, plus an inexpensive upgrade). The view from my room, a craggy, snow-capped mountain tableau, was stunning, nearly making up for the fact that the lobby was a full-on construction zone. After checking in and resting, it was time to treat ourselves a bit. Kang and I had been eating good but frankly inexpensive meals over the last 18 hours. Dinner at the gorgeous Edgewood Tahoe resort was the antidote. Entering the building itself is an experience, with floor-to-ceiling windows treating visitors to views of pine trees soaring over the glimmering lake, all set beneath a dramatic mountain backdrop. Fat curry-and-lime mussels and spice-rubbed lamb chops taste better when taking in a sunset over the Sierras as you eat them. If I'm picking nits, a seafood tagliatelle had slightly undercooked pasta, but the overall quality of the seafood picked up the slack. Diners looking for a good value seafood experience on a slightly lower budget should check out Kalani's, on the California side of the state line. A Chilean sea bass with ponzu butter sauce is a good bet, as are the sushi rolls. Why not take the long way back to Reno? The next morning, with cool air in our lungs and after numerous gulps of the refreshing mountain tap water, we left the south side of Lake Tahoe. Why not take the long way back to Reno? Cliches come to mind when driving on a clear day along the lake — 'breathtaking' is one of them — but they really tell the truth. Maybe it's just culture shock coming from the often hazy urbanity of Los Angeles, but, occasionally, your organs forget what clean air feels like. Arriving at the northeast side of the lake in Incline Village (a place that, along with Stateline, really could use a renaming), we hit the Tunnel Creek Cafe, a quaint little counter-service restaurant with a pleasant outdoor dining area. While chatting with the friendly staff, we learned a fun fact: The restaurant is near the entrance of what used to be Ponderosa Ranch, a theme park based on the television Western Bonanza , which you're almost certainly too young to remember but was one of the most successful and longest-running television shows of all time. Bonanza starred Lorne Greene and Michael Landon, among others, and took place on a fictional ranch close to Virginia City, which we had just visited. A theme park was created based on the show, which ran from 1959 to 1973. Some episodes were even shot inside the park; eventually, the park closed in 2004. While at Tunnel Creek Cafe, you would be wise to sample their Swedish oatmeal pancakes. Now, what makes them exactly Swedish is unclear to me, as Swedish pancakes are typically paper-thin and quite eggy, adorned with powdered sugar and lingonberry jam. These were not that — but they were excellent. They resembled a normal hotcake in size and shape, but were impossibly airy with a wonderful nutty flavor. Full to the brim from the last couple of days of eating, we felt ready to head back to Reno to catch our flight home. After a quick stop at the beach near the northernmost point of the lake to take in yet another Ansel Adams-esque vista, we embarked on one final winding drive through the mountains, past ski slopes that still held onto a surprising amount of powder. Before heading to the Reno airport, with just enough time for a final meal, we stopped at Casale's Halfway Club, a classic red-sauce joint on East Fourth Street that says it's Reno's oldest restaurant. And while that's a tough claim to fact check, the restaurant's small-town charm and food quality are not in question. It's a cozy space, every cranny of the room filled with photos, tchotchkes, and writing on the walls and ceilings, like at the old Gino's East in Chicago, a fixture of my adolescence. The house-made ravioli are a good choice, as is the lasagna, which takes a while to come to the table but is ultimately worth the wait. Emerging with a golden brown, leopard-spotted crust, it's everything I want in a lasagna: piping hot, saucy, and blanketed with borderline too much cheese. And at just $24 for a lasagna and a small order of ravioli, this was a lunch bargain that seems difficult to beat. Just as suddenly as it began, our trip had ended, and it was time to hop our quick flight back home. We were possibly dazed — food comatose, certainly — after a whirlwind trip, but had new insights on a part of Nevada neither of us had really known deeply before. Between the good food and drink, historical significance, and natural beauty, we agreed on one thing: There was still plenty of silver in those hills, and we'd be back soon to explore again. Sign up for our newsletter.
Eater
21-05-2025
- Eater
The Best Central Coast Barbecue Spots, According to Eater Editors
View as Map The Central Coast of California is the center of Santa Maria-style barbecue, which focuses on flame-licked tri-tip. The cut of meat is so ubiquitous here that tri-tip has become indelibly tied to Santa Maria barbecue. In other styles like Texas, brisket tends to reign, but here in California, thanks to a long tradition of ranchero culture, tri-tip was cooked slowly over red oak. Today, the low sirloin cut is still considered fairly affordable and lacks a ton of fat or collagen, making it easy to cook for large groups. Another noteworthy difference of Santa Maria or Central Coast barbecue is that steaks and other cuts are cooked on large pit grills with direct heat instead of other types of American barbecue that use low-and-slow smoke and heat to cook. Either way, expect juicy, sauce-coated barbecue along the California coast. In this update of the Central Coast barbecue guide, Wildwood Kitchen, Saloon, Tanner Jack's, and Scotty's BBQ have been removed due to closure. At the same time, the lauded Texas-style Priedite Barbecue and Oxnard's CJ's BBQ Smokehouse, which recently expanded to a new location in San Luis Obispo, have been added. Matthew Kang is a barbecue aficionado who has made treks to Texas, Memphis, and other parts of the country in search of the best smoked and grilled meats around. He hosted his bachelor party in Austin about a decade ago and gathered 16 friends for a long, barbecue-filled weekend. He's not averse to waking up at the crack of dawn on Saturdays for Snow's in Lexington, Texas, or waiting in line at the excellent Moo's Craft Barbecue in Los Angeles. For this update alone, he drove up and down the Central Coast in a single day in search of great barbecue. Read More A Buellton institution just off the highway (and a much easier drive than the family-owned original in Casmalia, a town just north of Vanderberg Space Force Base), the Hitching Post II is where locals mix with tourists over grilled steaks that come with classic sides like baked potato, rice pilaf, or French fries. Interestingly enough, there isn't any tri-tip on this menu, so Hitching Post calls their style 'West Coast BBQ,' instead of the more familiar Santa Maria-style. Popularized in the movie Sideways , the grill is on full display in the dining room, albeit behind glass, while the bar on the opposite side of the place lets folks play out their own cinematic wine dreams. The restaurant also produces many of its own wine bottles, which are worth trying. Nick Priedite started smoking meats after college and working as a bar director at Santa Barbara institution the Lark. Then he started traveling the country, hosting barbecue pop-ups before acquiring a massive smoker. He and partner Brendan Dwan teamed up with Santa Ynez restaurant group Companion Hospitality by chef Daisy Ryan and Greg Ryan, opening Priedite Barbecue behind Bodega in the town of Los Alamos. The breezy, outdoor space recalls Austin, Texas, but brings you back to California with its lingering Mediterranean aromas of bay laurel, sage, and olive trees. Open weekdays serving a smaller menu of tacos and serving its full array of barbecue on Saturdays, Priedite draws long lines and often sells of out of its smoky, Texas-style brisket, tender smoke-ringed ribs, and pulled pork. The Cali-Mex influence comes from floppy flour tortillas and some of the best ranch beans anywhere. Be sure to go early and be prepared to wait on Saturdays, when lines are the fiercest. A classy take on ranchero barbecue, Far West is an Orcutt institution that seamlessly combines grilled meats like tri-tip, ribs, and pork chops with upscale sides like prosciutto-wrapped jalapeños. The interior is decorated, as one would imagine, like a Western-style institution, featuring high ceiling, striking art work, and big, plush booths. The baby back ribs are a must order-covered in a sweet citrus sherry wine glaze and boasting nice oak char marks. Placed right in the heart of Santa Maria, this classic steakhouse boasts a wide menu of Santa Maria-style barbecue cooked in an oak pit. Most of the cuts are familiar steakhouse chops like filet mignon, rib-eye, and New York strip, though, of course, Santa Maria's iconic tri-tip is one of the restaurant's most popular orders. Other meats extend to chicken, pork ribs, and even sweet breads for the more adventurous diners. One of the best parts of the experience is checking out the grill, which opens up into the dining room through a glass window. Rancho Nipomo Deli and BBQ Featuring a huge outdoor area and Mexican-inflected flavors, Rancho Nipomo Deli and BBQ is a beloved institution in the city just north of Santa Maria. For lunch, there are reasonably-priced tri-tip, pulled pork, and brisket sandwiches modestly coated in barbecue sauce. Fajitas-style carne asada or grilled chicken comes with Spanish rice and a choice of black, pinto, or refried beans while the chile relleno and burritos reinforce the California Mexican flavors. Arguably the most beloved steakhouse in the area, Jocko's features an adjustable wood-fired grill where a blazing red oak charcoal fire sits under big, juicy chops of beef. Named after a town ancestor named Ralph 'Jocko' Knotts from the late 1800s and early 1900s, Jocko's took over its current space in the 1950s with Mexican dishes and grilled meats. Other than classic steaks like rib-eye, filet mignon, and New York strip, Jocko's grills up lamb chops, linguica sausage, sweetbreads, spare ribs, chicken, and salmon, which means the menu will please virtually everyone. If looking for something more modest, the cheeseburgers, grilled over the same fire, are also fantastic. Sign up for our newsletter. Opened by chef Brian Appiano, who came to the Central Coast to attend college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Ribline features award-winning beef and pork baby back ribs cooked over red oak wood fire and covered in a sweet but balanced barbecue sauce. Of course, like any Central Coast barbecue, there's tri-tip prepared into sandwiches or served in thick slices with sides. Black-owned barbecue destination CJ's in Oxnard opened just a few months ago in this prime San Luis Obispo corner, serving saucy ribs, juicy chopped tri-tip sandwiches, and a mean side of macaroni and cheese for the historic downtown. On the outside, CJ's calls itself Southern or Texas-style barbecue, but the tri-tip is still excellent. The digs here in San Luis Obispo are comfortable and cheerful, with wide windows and televisions over the bar showing sporting events. This budding chain of Santa Maria-style barbecue restaurants has outlets in San Luis Obispo, Bakersfield, Fresno, and Cambria, serving tri-tip sandwiches on French rolls, shredded pork, barbecue chicken, burgers, and hot dogs to big, loud crowds. At its San Luis Obispo flagship, expect large lunch crowds downing pints of local craft beer and spread out over a massive covered patio. Black-owned barbecue destination CJ's in Oxnard opened just a few months ago in this prime San Luis Obispo corner, serving saucy ribs, juicy chopped tri-tip sandwiches, and a mean side of macaroni and cheese for the historic downtown. On the outside, CJ's calls itself Southern or Texas-style barbecue, but the tri-tip is still excellent. The digs here in San Luis Obispo are comfortable and cheerful, with wide windows and televisions over the bar showing sporting events. © 2025 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Link copied to the clipboard. A Buellton institution just off the highway (and a much easier drive than the family-owned original in Casmalia, a town just north of Vanderberg Space Force Base), the Hitching Post II is where locals mix with tourists over grilled steaks that come with classic sides like baked potato, rice pilaf, or French fries. Interestingly enough, there isn't any tri-tip on this menu, so Hitching Post calls their style 'West Coast BBQ,' instead of the more familiar Santa Maria-style. Popularized in the movie Sideways , the grill is on full display in the dining room, albeit behind glass, while the bar on the opposite side of the place lets folks play out their own cinematic wine dreams. The restaurant also produces many of its own wine bottles, which are worth trying. Nick Priedite started smoking meats after college and working as a bar director at Santa Barbara institution the Lark. Then he started traveling the country, hosting barbecue pop-ups before acquiring a massive smoker. He and partner Brendan Dwan teamed up with Santa Ynez restaurant group Companion Hospitality by chef Daisy Ryan and Greg Ryan, opening Priedite Barbecue behind Bodega in the town of Los Alamos. The breezy, outdoor space recalls Austin, Texas, but brings you back to California with its lingering Mediterranean aromas of bay laurel, sage, and olive trees. Open weekdays serving a smaller menu of tacos and serving its full array of barbecue on Saturdays, Priedite draws long lines and often sells of out of its smoky, Texas-style brisket, tender smoke-ringed ribs, and pulled pork. The Cali-Mex influence comes from floppy flour tortillas and some of the best ranch beans anywhere. Be sure to go early and be prepared to wait on Saturdays, when lines are the fiercest. A classy take on ranchero barbecue, Far West is an Orcutt institution that seamlessly combines grilled meats like tri-tip, ribs, and pork chops with upscale sides like prosciutto-wrapped jalapeños. The interior is decorated, as one would imagine, like a Western-style institution, featuring high ceiling, striking art work, and big, plush booths. The baby back ribs are a must order-covered in a sweet citrus sherry wine glaze and boasting nice oak char marks. Placed right in the heart of Santa Maria, this classic steakhouse boasts a wide menu of Santa Maria-style barbecue cooked in an oak pit. Most of the cuts are familiar steakhouse chops like filet mignon, rib-eye, and New York strip, though, of course, Santa Maria's iconic tri-tip is one of the restaurant's most popular orders. Other meats extend to chicken, pork ribs, and even sweet breads for the more adventurous diners. One of the best parts of the experience is checking out the grill, which opens up into the dining room through a glass window. Featuring a huge outdoor area and Mexican-inflected flavors, Rancho Nipomo Deli and BBQ is a beloved institution in the city just north of Santa Maria. For lunch, there are reasonably-priced tri-tip, pulled pork, and brisket sandwiches modestly coated in barbecue sauce. Fajitas-style carne asada or grilled chicken comes with Spanish rice and a choice of black, pinto, or refried beans while the chile relleno and burritos reinforce the California Mexican flavors. Arguably the most beloved steakhouse in the area, Jocko's features an adjustable wood-fired grill where a blazing red oak charcoal fire sits under big, juicy chops of beef. Named after a town ancestor named Ralph 'Jocko' Knotts from the late 1800s and early 1900s, Jocko's took over its current space in the 1950s with Mexican dishes and grilled meats. Other than classic steaks like rib-eye, filet mignon, and New York strip, Jocko's grills up lamb chops, linguica sausage, sweetbreads, spare ribs, chicken, and salmon, which means the menu will please virtually everyone. If looking for something more modest, the cheeseburgers, grilled over the same fire, are also fantastic. Opened by chef Brian Appiano, who came to the Central Coast to attend college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Ribline features award-winning beef and pork baby back ribs cooked over red oak wood fire and covered in a sweet but balanced barbecue sauce. Of course, like any Central Coast barbecue, there's tri-tip prepared into sandwiches or served in thick slices with sides. Open in Google Maps Foursquare Black-owned barbecue destination CJ's in Oxnard opened just a few months ago in this prime San Luis Obispo corner, serving saucy ribs, juicy chopped tri-tip sandwiches, and a mean side of macaroni and cheese for the historic downtown. On the outside, CJ's calls itself Southern or Texas-style barbecue, but the tri-tip is still excellent. The digs here in San Luis Obispo are comfortable and cheerful, with wide windows and televisions over the bar showing sporting events. Open in Google Maps Foursquare This budding chain of Santa Maria-style barbecue restaurants has outlets in San Luis Obispo, Bakersfield, Fresno, and Cambria, serving tri-tip sandwiches on French rolls, shredded pork, barbecue chicken, burgers, and hot dogs to big, loud crowds. At its San Luis Obispo flagship, expect large lunch crowds downing pints of local craft beer and spread out over a massive covered patio. Black-owned barbecue destination CJ's in Oxnard opened just a few months ago in this prime San Luis Obispo corner, serving saucy ribs, juicy chopped tri-tip sandwiches, and a mean side of macaroni and cheese for the historic downtown. On the outside, CJ's calls itself Southern or Texas-style barbecue, but the tri-tip is still excellent. The digs here in San Luis Obispo are comfortable and cheerful, with wide windows and televisions over the bar showing sporting events.
