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    Aptos St BBQ

    4.2 (2k reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Aptos St BBQ Takeout or Delivery

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    Business Info

    APTOS ST BBQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Aptos St BBQ

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    Baked potatoe
    Caren F.

    What can I say! My fellow yelpers did not let me down. Was looking for a bbq place on my way back home from Monterey/Santa Cruz and this gem came up. It was pretty cool and easy to find. It has outdoor and indoor seating. The food was amazing! The variety of meats were on point. You def need to try the burnt ends. Wow. However the baked potatoe was not cooked to its entirety. As for the service. It's pretty much self-serve from ordering, to picking up your food to clearing our own table and plates. Other than that. Def will come here again!

    "Mini" plate of pulled pork, macaroni, corn bread
    Annie T.

    Aptos Street BBQ is DA BOMB DIGGITY!!! If you like BBQ, this is the real deal. It has meat that is tender and smoky; there is homemade BBQ sauce; there is live Blues music (some days); there is fantastic local beer on tap; and fancy soda. It's a seat-yourself and clear-your-own-dishes kind of place, but that feels right for a true BBQ place. They have wet wipes and lots of napkins at the counter because you'll need them. Prices can be a little steep for the bigger plates because of the cost of meat, but I get the "mini" plates that come with smaller portions of meat, one side (your choice), and bread (your choice of corn bread or garlic bread). If you're lucky, they may remember to give you a little chocolate in your tray. (They don't always do this, for some reason - sigh.) The only downside is parking isn't the best here. It's street parking, but I've never had an issue.

    Brisket Baked Potato (sour cream on the side)
    Andrea D.

    I'm from the Los Angeles area, closer to Long Beach, and I have no good local BBQ spots that I've found for myself yet. This place is always so delicious and such a treat for me when I come up to visit the Santa Cruz area. My go to is the Baked Potato with brisket and I get the sour cream on the side. One of the best baked potato's I've ever had! The service is always nice. You order at the register and wait for them to call your name when your order is ready. It's a very classic looking BBQ spot and they have live music some nights. It's always very clean but I've heard it can get super super busy during certain times of the day. I'd definitely check it out if you're in the area :)

    Live music daily 6-8pm plus 1-4 Sat
    Scott F.

    This location is part of a chain that also includes Mission St BBQ. 4/5: Brisket is OK but a bit too salty, and not enough smoke flavor. It came room temp. 4/5: White mac n cheese pretty good 3/5: Cornbread They have live music daily 6-8 pm. It's a little over amped but OK.

    Beef Brisket Mini Meal
    Winston L.

    We had spent most of the day hiking and arrived a bit late to Aptos St Barbecue. Arrived at around 7:45 PM on a Sunday to a pretty busy restaurant with a band playing. We waited in line to place our food order. They were out of some meats including Beef Ribs. Even the pork ribs, we had to negotiate with the cashier. We asked for a full rack, they countered with 4 ribs, and then we finally landed on a half rack. By the time we ordered, the band was wrapping up since their set ended at 8 PM. The food: Pork ribs - tender, but not fall of the bone Brisket - medium slices from the flat - nice flavor and texture Mac & Cheese - my favorite of the sides - good cheese flavor with al dente pasta The other items were fine - coleslaw, potato salad, garlic bread, corn bread. Worth noting, the corn bread is a sliced of corn bread (not a muffin). We also got some pulled pork, but that was a bit too dry for my liking. My advice - definitely get there earlier in the day so you don't miss out on the meat that you want. Everything is self-serve including ordering, getting food, and bussing your table.

    Susie C.

    The best BBQ place you will ever be!!! The food is delicious and the brisket is not dry at all, they have live music and a new side that is sausage with jalapeno. The place is really pretty and they serve your food quite quickly. They have artesanal beers which is nice! They have seating inside and outside of the restaurant. Will be coming back!

    Tri Tip Sandwich
    Joyce Z.

    I never thought I would find a tri tip sandwich I would like better than Firestone in SLO but I did at Aptos St. BBQ during the summer. The sandwich upgraded to a large for an additional $6 is loaded with tender meat sandwiched in between garlic bread is so flavorful on its own without the need to add BBQ sauce, which is rare. You can have the meats in a sandwich with one side or a meal with two sides and a choice of bread. We did one of each, large tri tip sandwich with Mac n cheese and regular brisket meal with baked potato (for an additional $3), beans and cornbread. Although they are known for their brisket, I fell in love with their tri tip. The sides were just okay, but it really is the meat that you're here for. Just be prepared that the tri-tip does sell out, even before dinner as we discovered recently.

    Allison C.

    Knew in advance I would be traveling through the area and after looking into a few places, I knew Aptos St BBQ was where I would be stopping for lunch and I am so glad I made the decision. The tri tip sandwich was exactly what I was looking for on that chilly afternoon - the garlic bread it was served on, the bbq sauce, and the tender meat was the perfect pairing. I ordered a side of mac n cheese which was super creamy and garlicky and also so so good. A really great menu of options that I had a hard time choosing what to get - the woman at the register was friendly and helpful when answering any of my questions and making recommendations. Lots of soda and beers on tap as well for those who are into that. The food came out quickly and was reasonably priced for the quality. The space itself is very casual and there was also a good amount of outside seating, though it had rained overnight so the seating was wet but on a nice day I can see how eating outside would be lovely. I would definitely come back if I ever pass through Aptos again and would be a regular customer if this were local to me.

    Brisket Meal
    Paulette D.

    Considering the reviews, I thought this place would be better. Got the brisket meal with the potato salad, beans, and cornbread. The brisket was too fatty, meat was tender but with all the fat there wasn't enough meat to enjoy. The sides were just ok, beans had a spice to it and the potato salad was average. The pickled cucumber and onion were good but minimal portion. The cornbread did not have any flavor. It's a crispy thing and that's pretty much it. I feel like they gave the honey and butter to give it something but that really shouldn't carry the flavor, it should enhance it.. The staff were nice and the food didn't take long to get at least. They also have an outdoor section if inside is too crowded or you want to step out from the live music (they had that when we were there)

    Disappointment this time. Waited only 5 minutes for my brisket but the whole plate is fatty pieces. Chewyyy grainy

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Amazing Brisket, suggested with a great smile. Juicy and flavorful. Also, a cool vibe with the live band. I will be coming back for sure!

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    9 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Yum!! Great bbq and really good beer selection. Looking forward to my next trip there.

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Great food, fun live music! Go check it out! Try the berry blue salad or pulled pork sandwiches!

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    4 years ago

    Been here several times. Always delicious. I only get the brisket but my friends say the other meats are good too!

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Great tasting BBQ! We definitely will be back! Great service and very nice atmosphere

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    9 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Great food, fast service, generous portions, friendly staff, good value. Highly recommend.

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    5 years ago

    Great place for tasty bbq...relaxed small town feeling with friendly and efficient service.

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    4 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Absolutely love this place! Great beer, fun entertainment, delicious food! So glad a friend took me here.

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    6 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Love this place, especially the salads, with spicy bbq chicken or tri tip!! Great music too

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    Page 14 of 50

    Ask the Community - Aptos St BBQ

    Do you use a delivery service?

    Yes, we use Door Dash. You can either order straight through the Door Dash app or you can order online through our website aptosstbbq.com! Please let me know if you have any other questions!… 

    Where is their meat sourced from? Is it grass fed?

    The animals eat the foods.

    Will you be open on Monday Jan 21 for the holiday, celebrating my 56th bday?

    Yes

    Do they smoke their meats?

    Yes!

    Do they have any gluten free options?

    I can confirm that everything outside the bread, berry cobbler, and bread pudding is gluten free.

    Are dogs allowed?

    Yes, outside only...with limited tables.

    View All 7 Questions

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    We came for breakfast since we were staying nearby. The service was friendly and the food came out…read morequickly. You fill out a form with your preferred ingredients for breakfast. That process got a little hectic with some of the other customers. The ambiance is exactly what you would expect from an Oceanside deli, counter to order with some packaged items/drinks around the rest of the waiting area. They also have a decent size outdoor patio for seating. There are lots of options between different sandwiches, burritos, pastries and even whole rotisserie chickens. (Also French toast which my daughter liked) The food was good. The burritos were hot and had lots of filling. I could have used a bit more chorizo in mine, but it was still tasty. We will definitely be back if we're in the area. It's nice to pickup and take to the beach that's only about 50 feet from the restaurant.

    I used to come here all the time years ago and it has changed quite a bit. Definitely a tourist…read moretrap and lacking personality/quality. I got a Southwest chicken sandwich, tasted pretty good but was literally just rotisserie chicken mixed with chipotle mayo with cabbage on a French roll. Would have been good for $14 maybe but cost me $18 and a soda cost $4.50 :( it was nice to go back today and remember the old days but I probably won't return :,(

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    The Hideout - Daily Special: Tomato Artichoke Bisque

    The Hideout

    4.2(846 reviews)
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    Great Food, Great Service & a Manager Who Actually Says Hello!…read more Loved this place! My bride and I had a fantastic experience from the moment we walked in. This restaurant has an incredible indoor and outdoor space, a great menu, and an atmosphere that somehow manages to be both chill and professional. You'll find a wonderfully diverse crowd here, and everyone seems to fit right in. Now, let's talk about the food! I highly recommend the meatballs--they were fantastic! And the garlic bread? Fabulous. Honestly, I could have made a meal out of the bread alone, but I exercised some restraint...because I'm an adult. My bride ordered the hamburger, and she loved it. The salads were excellent, the bread was outstanding, and the dessert selection was enough to make someone suddenly forget they were "too full for dessert." Our server was incredible--attentive, friendly, and genuinely welcoming. And then, as if the experience couldn't get any better, the manager actually came out and welcomed us! You don't find that everywhere. That personal touch says a lot about how this place approaches hospitality. Everything was clean, the service was excellent, the food was delicious, and the ambiance made us want to hang around longer than we probably should have. One warning: Parking can be a bit of a challenge. But trust me, this is one of those places where you circle the parking lot a few times and say, "Lord, give me a parking space!" Yelp Elite verdict: Absolutely worth the hassle! Great food. Great people. Great atmosphere. Great service. And apparently, great managers who actually come out to meet their guests. My bride and I will definitely be back! #YelpElite #FoodieFind #DateNight #GreatFood #GreatService #Meatballs #GarlicBread #DessertLovers #RestaurantReview #WorthTheHassle #FoodAndFun #FiveStars

    Really enjoyed our first visit to The Hideout! We had the fried chicken sandwich with sweet potato…read morefries and the prime rib. The sandwich was delicious, and the chipotle aioli was especially good--creamy, flavorful, and one of the better ones I've had. The sweet potato fries were crispy. My partner really enjoyed the prime rib, and the portion was large enough for leftovers. Service was quick, attentive, and friendly. We sat outside with our pups, which we appreciated. The only suggestion would be to update the patio layout a bit. Our table was directly across from the waiting area, so it felt like we had very little privacy while people waited. Other than that, we had a great experience and would definitely come back.

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    Aptos St BBQ - bbq - Updated September 2026

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