The Best Barbecue Restaurants in Los Angeles, According to Eater Editors

The Best Barbecue Restaurants in Los Angeles, According to Eater Editors
Two hands hold a large tray of Zef BBQ’s smoked meat including brisket, photographed from above.
Two hands hold a large tray of Zef BBQ’s smoked meat including brisket, photographed from above. | Wonho Frank Lee

Los Angeles has arrived as a barbecue city. Its modern 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 and around 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 Los Angeles 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.