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    Armadillo Willy's BBQ

    3.4 (858 reviews)
    ModerateBarbeque, American
    Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Armadillo Willy's BBQ Takeout or Delivery

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    ARMADILLO WILLY'S BBQ ATMOSPHERE

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

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    AW Ranch Salad
    Sharon S.

    I checked into Armadillo Willy's recently because I was nearby and needed a quick lunch. I haven't been here in ages. I remember the bbq being decent. I decided to get the AW ranch salad. For around $16, this salad was huge. I was able to make two meals out of it. The fried chicken pieces in the salad were juicy and crispy. I was pleasantly surprised with how good the salad was and how large the portion was.

    Daniel F.

    One of the most underrated burger places in the Bay Area. Since they closed the location in Mountain View I haven't been back since, until I was in the San Mateo area. Great service with great food. The place was nice and clean with tv screens showing different games. They have some beer on tap and have spacious seating. They have one of the best ranch out there.

    Build your own
    Elayna N.

    Decided to try this place having tried all the other eateries in this plaza. There was no line and we ordered right away. There were tons of open tables. It was well decorated inside as well. However, it is too dark in here for my liking. We got a build your own Texas plate. It was an okay amount of food for price. Texas bbq ribs 4/5 These are the only reason I'd come back. They were tasty and tender. And I love how much cartilage they had in them as well. Dipped in the bbq sauce and it was delicious! Baby back ribs 1/5 Very dry and overcooked. Lots of crispy bits but because it was burnt. Even the sauce couldn't save them Brisket (fatty parts) 2/5 Also super dry and not fatty and juicy as was described by the cashier. Needed a ton of sauce but I would not get again Fries 4/5 These fries were nice cut size and super delicious. Went well with the bbq sauce or ketchup. Potato salad 3/5 Standard but not overly mayo-y! Overall I can see why this place seems to be struggling for business. I'm not sure I'd come back unless I really really needed to have the Texas bbq ribs.

    Paolo B.

    I was in need of a quick lunch and was in the area, so decided to check out Armadillo Willy's for the first time in a very long time. The menu is massive, with so many options but I decided to keep it light and go with a Tri tip sandwich with a side of their Mac n cheese. After tip it came out to around $22 I'm not gonna lie, I had pretty low expectations but I was pleasantly surprised and it how tasty the meat was and how filling I ended up getting. The bun was buttery and soft and the tri tip wasn't dry which is a win in my book. It definitely needed some of their bbq sauce, which is available hot at their self serve station. The Mac n cheese was also pretty tasty. Creamy texture, just needed to add some salt and I enjoyed it. Overall I think if I'm craving bbq and I don't have a ton of time, this is a solid option. It's not necessarily a spot I'd go out of my way for but wouldn't hesitate eating here again. They do have some daily specials which look intriguing, so might have to come back to try those out.

    $44 for a brisket, meal muffin and Coke how ridiculous
    Beth H.

    I was the first person in the store. They literally unlocked the store as I walked up. I was the first person to order and as I sat there for nearly 14 minutes and watching them produce all kinds of DoorDash orders and to go orders my order didn't appear until I asked for a refund at which point Jose told me there were people in front of me. I asked how that could be since I was the first person to walk in the store. Meanwhile, I won't be tolerating stores that put DoorDash ahead of customer standing in front of them anymore. They were going nuts back there, producing orders for everyone, but what was standing in front of them I'd probably the most annoying thing is I saw the meal eventually that I was going to eat and it was not $44 worth of food. It was a few skimpy pieces of beef but $44 for brisket two sides, a muffin and a soda. Between the prices and the priority for DoorDash, it's a hard no

    Texas Prime Brisket Sandwich
    Chris K.

    Was in need of a quick lunch while running some errands in the shopping center. We decided to stop here with it being closest in proximity. Having not been here for years I was excited to give something I used to visit pretty often as a kid a try once again. I ordered the brisket sandwich with tater tots. The sandwich had a decent amount of meat on it, bun was toasted nicely and they offer two different bbq sauces served hot right at the pickup counter. I think the sauces are a must or the sandwich would've been very dry. Overall I thought the sandwich was good, the meat was flavorful and just how I remembered it from long ago. The tots were good, hot and crispy. Inside they have a ton of tables. The restaurant was fairly clean however a ton of sodas were out. The staff were very friendly and let us know about the daily special. I'm happy we stopped by here after a long break in between visits. It's a place I might come back to again to try something different, but wouldn't necessarily go out of my way for to eat lunch.

    Rib and Brisket Pack
    Mina M.

    We had such a great, chill time! My boyfriend and I went for ribs and brisket, and it was totally worth it, about $17 a plate with the sides. The staff were super friendly, and the vibe was perfect, not too loud or quiet. Would come back here.

    Brisket bulk, bbq du, Cornbread Muffin, Spicy Peanut Slaw, Pinto Beans
    Lauren L.

    This seems like the only standing location of this in the entirety. I remember a time there was multiple locations in the South Bay, but I guess business was not doing the best. I will say is that everything has gone downhill in their quality and service. The store itself is actually pretty large inside and it's located in a large shopping center in Foster City. The quality of service was not the best as I felt like they were rushed, even though there was no crowd and annoyed with questions about the menu and overall ordering process. We went with a brisket bulk, Texas bbq ribs bulk, some cornbread as a side, Thai coleslaw, and baked beans. I think because it wasn't crowded there were no high flow of food production, which meant that the food might've been old and sitting. The ribs were definitely overcooked and hard, the cornbread was baked too long and hard, and the brisket was super fatty. There was really not much meat to it but out of all of the items the brisket did have somewhat of a flavor. For the quality and service of the food, I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for a barbecue spot since there's so many other options out there for you. it honestly makes sense why all their locations are closing, and I would be surprised if this one stays open for very long. In addition for how expensive it is, for the quality and small portions it's really not worth it in my opinion.

    Becky V.

    Wrapped in paper and love, I bring brisket, not flowers. I know I've won the only heart that matters. Yummy! 16 hour brisket, you can pick learn or juicy of half half. I went with the half half for the variety because why not. Juicy is super good. Next time I'll go with all juicy. Meat is tender and the bbq sauce placed on the side for you to pour in yourself. Just as little or much as you want. No drink. The meal plate came with two sides: peanut coleslaw is a little spicy not very much, seems like a slight wasabi taste to me. Other side was pinto beans which was ok, one of the healthier choices for sides if you're gonna indulge but still want to keep it clean. Surprised there were good large chunks of brisket INSIDE the pinto beans sides (yay!). Ribs can be a little dry, better with bbq sauce Ordering was fast and easy. Ready in 5-8 mins at 4-5pm weekend time Ambiance is casual and dim. Some board games for kids to play if you want to hangout for a while. It's cool

    Martinez M.

    Couple times at this place and unfortunately last one. Food definitely it's good but unfortunately customer service on the lady that it was in the register today 05/26/26 around 7pm was horrible she was very rude. (No wonder why yelp reviews only 3.5)

    Dried out ribs and pulled pork
    Alex A.

    Pros: easy parking as it is in the Target Bridgepoint strip mall and one of the few bbq places on the peninsula. Got the create your own plate with 3 meats and 2 sides. The Mac n cheese with bacon was super flavorful and the peanut slaw--just as tasty. Pricing is fair. Unfortunately the meats were 1/3 being good. The brisket (i recommend the fatty version as it is more juicy tender and smokey. The pulled pork and ribs (tough, dry, chewy, flavorless--thank goodness for the bbq sauce) were below meh---the premade ribs and the pulled pork are better at Costco.

    ribs and brisket family pack $79
    Jeff H.

    Armadillo Willy's recently remodeled. They added new Pepsi art inside the restaurant. It was a bit sad to see them mostly empty at around 7pm. Last time I was here, they got rid of the flavored mineral waters. This time, the ginger ale, flavored lemonades, flavored ice teas and etc are now gone. For to-go, I got my favorite, brisket and ribs family pack $79. The meat was a bit dry. Luckily, there's plenty of BBQ sauce included. The garlic fries were soggy by the time I got them home. Next time, I won't order them for to-go. The food is still good.

    Anna N.

    One of the best places to get BBQ! We were introduced here by a good friend and this will be our go to spot! We all got the build your own which is $34. You can choose 3 meats and 2 sides. I got the Andouille sausage, baby back ribs and the brisket. The sausages was good but probably won't get it again, didn't think it was anything special. The ribs though, that was amazing. I wasn't a huge fan of the brisket, thought it was a little to dry buttt it did taste really good with their bbq sauce. For the sides I got their pinto beans and Cesar salad. The beans was soo tasty and flavorful, loved eating a bite of the ribs and then a spoonful of beans! Cesar salad helped cleanse my palate. I had leftovers for the next day and it tasted just as great.

    Rib and Brisket Pack, with Jalapeño-Cheddar Sausage and Sweet Potato Fries. + Added Pinto Beans.

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    4 months ago

    It said it was the best authentic Texas BBQ. Not sure I'd go that far but it was decent. Got the brisket sandwich and fries.

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    Armadillo Willy's BBQ Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Armadillo Willy's BBQ

    Anyone know if the whole menu is available? I check the online orders and the blackened /Cajun salmon burger isn't there for order. I'm not sure if they haven't updated the…

    The menu has changed it Does seem to be limited items

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Dynasty BBQ

    4.5
    (369 reviews)
    1.8 mi
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    Parking is limited and difficult to find. There are some lots but a block or so away. Noise level…read morewas average loud. It also does get pretty busy so definitely look to call or get on that waitlist ahead of time. Food was served pretty quickly and thoroughly cooked. So yummy. Everything was flavorful and juicy and tender. Good attention to detail for the skewers. They had designators to differentiate the different items. Tap to pay isn't accepted. Overall, Dynasty BBQ has some delicious food.

    Craving protein? This spot has got you covered for seasoned skewers over a warmed plate…read more I came here on a Saturday evening and there was no wait! I came with a friend and got seated immediately. In terms of service, there wasn't too much interaction with the staff since you order via QR code, but they will come over and put your receipt on the surface of the table and check off your items as they bring them out. Initially, my friend and I thought they grilled the skewers on the plate at the table; however, it comes pre-cooked and grilled, and the plate itself is there to keep your food warm. I looked under, and it's "powered" by a bunch of tea candles. Between both of us, we ordered some skewers of enoki mushrooms (which was my favorite, super tender and flavorful), some beef skewers, a beef skewer with lychee (super unique), beef tongue (a bit tough for my liking), and chicken skin (extremely crispy, somewhat hard to pull off the skewer). I want to call out again the beef with lychee since this was an item I do not see often. It was interesting because the beef was seasoned well and when combined with the lychee, it added a refreshing note; however, the lychee's textural profile was similar to fatty beef, which personally threw me off a bit as someone who tends not to like fatty cuts (if you are a fan though, you'll like this). Overall, this spot is an okay place to check out if you're in the area. Parking in this area of San Mateo is limited, but the restaurant itself has a lot of tables, so it can be good for bigger parties.

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    Garlic skewer
    Garlic skewer
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    Capelo's Barbecue

    Capelo's Barbecue

    4.4
    (878 reviews)
    6.9 mi
    $$

    I probably owe one of my favorite places in the bay a good review after eating their BBQ for this…read morelong. Many years ago, I was a new transplant from Houston and discovered their food truck at a long-dead Off the Grid event, and now they have their excellent beer garden a couple blocks off the beaten path in Redwood City. The brisket is definitely the star attraction for me, but their other meats are also excellent, and I like the fried brussels sprouts they've added to the menu recently. The bar in the back has a good spread of beers to wash it down, the TVs and live music provide the entertainment, and it's all served by a friendly crew. It's like going to a party at a friend's house who's obsessive about Texas BBQ, and I hope I'll keep getting invited back.

    My first time at Capelo's was a bit of a miss, but I was eager to give them a second chance. They…read morehad run out of Brisket and BBQ Chicken before 7PM, so I was stuck with Grilled Chicken, which wasn't as exciting. This time, we made sure to come early! The vibe was casual, with a large (dog-friendly) patio and live music. I got my Beef Brisket with two sides (Mac & Cheese and Brussel Sprouts), as well as a cornbread muffin. The Brisket was everything I wanted it to be! I especially loved the chopped pieces (burnt ends?), which were so soft and flavorful. Their thick BBQ sauce was also very nice. The Mac & Cheese was solid - not the best of my life, but still very tasty. The Brussel Sprouts were a little less memorable, but I enjoyed the cornbread muffin. The bar had a good selection of non-alc beer and all the staff members we interacted with were kind and happy. Overall, Capelo's Barbecue knows what they're doing!

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    Menu (June 2024)
    Menu (June 2024)
    Brussels Sprouts side (fantastic get it!)
    Brussels Sprouts side (fantastic get it!)
    BBQ Beans (also fantastic!)

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    BBQ Beans (also fantastic!)

    Armadillo Willy's BBQ - bbq - Updated July 2026

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