Los Angeles has arrived as a barbecue city. Today’s scene is all about technique and personality, as newcomers mix with longtime barbecue restaurants across the region to create an eclectic, unique moment for smoked meat. Pitmasters are turning to family
recipes from across the diaspora for inspiration, while barbecue “restaurants” include pop-ups, backyard hangouts, garage setups, and everything in between. Here are the best barbecue restaurants in Los Angeles, listed south to north.
New this update: Two beloved pop-ups, Nia and Jags Barbecue and Simi Valley’s meat specialist Zef BBQ, join the list. Memphis Grill and the Wood Urban Kitchen leave this round.
Mona Holmes maintains a decades-old strategy for enjoying LA barbecue. It started on a childhood car ride with her father, who initiated the blueprint by asking her, then 9 years old, “You want to get a little something to eat?” Read her essay on the memories.
