Some of the best bbq in san mateo. It's a little hidden spot in the fashio island mall. The bbq ribs are usually pretty good. The brisket is nice and smoky. But the best in the cheese jalapeño sausage. I wish I could buy that just to make it home. The barbecue sauces are really good same with the bacon mac & cheese. The service here is usually pretty good and there's plenty of seating inside. read more

The bbq chicken, ribs, here are the best to my opinion. We use to go here when we lived in SSF . now I lived in Vallejo I drive we drove for 1 hour to eat here . Friendly staff. Very clean place good for family gatherings for small occasions plenty of parking . read more

This is one of the place I look forward for ribs. I love how tender the ribs are dipped with bbq sauce. It's just casual dining with family after a long day. Service was okay. read more

This is my go to bbq! I love this place. Relaxed atmosphere. Great food. Excellent ribs.

I love the meat, very soft n tender, flavorful, the fries upcharge only 1$, i thought i have to pay 5-6$ for it, come out very hot n crunchy... the foundtain drink it pour out cherry and vanilla syrup separately unlike other places, love it... definitely come back n try more... read more

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Love all their food. Not a fan of chain stores but Armadillo Willy's does not disappoint. In the past they offered special's on certain days. read more

We've been eating/ordering from here since they opened around 2000. Quality and quantity have declined. We did take out during COVID-19. They do not have the green salad or corn salad they once offered. The meats still have the smokiness we like, but quantities are not Texas sized anymore. And some items that are now sides were once included with all meals. I think their regular and sweet potato fries are actually my favorite items here. I've tried the regular ribs, baby back ribs, brisket, tri-tip, chicken and hamburger. All are good, not great. We keep coming back because it's a change from our regular diet, but definitely not dietetic. read more

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I've had the the Small Pitt-smoked boneless chicken BBQ meal twice. The first time it was dry and tough with too much rub - so I'm glad I gave it a second chance This time I had it with a small green salad and and extra side of corn. Fortunately, the meat was tender with just the right amount of rub and was delicious overall. The salad was basic but good with its balsamic type dressing. The corn was served cold like a slaw with chopped onions and was tasty. And although I didn't get it on this visit, the regular coleslaw (w/peanuts) is excellent too. read more

Armadillo Willy's BBQ - Small boneless chicken meal with extra side. - Barbeque Near Me - San Mateo, California

Came back for another Too Good To Go order and was amazed again with the selection. Armadillo Willy's really gives a fair portio for the price and their staff is awesome. read more

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I've had a huge craving for good BBQ pork ribs lately, and took a chance on this place (via DoorDash). I ordered the Texas BBQ short ribs with a side Cesar salad and Bacon Mac'nCheese, and added 1/4 lb. of Beef Brisket (because, why the heck not??) I know this place is a chain.... But goodness gracious! I was not at all disappointed by what I ordered First of all, let's be honest with ourselves: a "good" Cesar salad just means the dressing is appropriate. Cesar salads are very basic in their make-up Romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, and croutons. That's more or less it. But the dressing is what makes it a Cesar salad. And I will say, this one was good! Mac-n-cheese. Specifically with the bacon bits: Wow. I wasn't expecting such a well executed white cheese sauce, soaked into perfectly cooked ridged elbow macaroni that provide the best surface for the cheese sauce to adhere. Oh, and the bacon bits....? ACTUAL hand crumpled bits of bacon. I am incredibly glad I didn't carb wimp out tonight! Texas BBQ ribs: Honestly, was hoping for pork baby back ribs, but that's my bad because I didn't read the description all that well. Still amazing! A bit fattier than I'd like, but the meat is so tender it just willingly falls off the bone. And even better yet, perfectly seasoned and plenty of sauce on top I didn't have to worry about adding anything extra. Beef Brisket: I. Am. So. Glad..... I added this to my order on a whim!!! By far, the BEST out of this meal! Super juicy, perfectly smoked tender, a fair amount of fat (but honestly, that's what keeps the meat so melty and full of flavor.) The picture I added does not do it justice, since I couldn't help myself and had already added some BBQ sauce and dug into it because I couldn't stop salivating! All in all, I'll definitely be ordering from here again. Next time, would love to try their cornbread and corn salad. But brisket? Is a MUST! read more

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Terrible! Expensive, ribs were dry and tough, not enough sauce, only 1 side ... over $50.00 for 2 small orders. Did not include any drinks. We basically paid $5.00 per rib! Outrageous! read more

I got a 1/2 of beef brisket for $25 that was 80% fat, and looked more like dog food than beef brisket. The time prior I ordered a fried chicken sandwich that I returned as it was pink inside and not cooked. This place used to be good. I would never go back nor would I recommend this place to anybody. read more

Armadillo Willy's BBQ takeout 10/5/21 © [ Did you eat my brisket? Perhaps my tri-tip? Did you pay for my order? Did you lick my fingers? Laugh With Me! Re-posting with omissions due to removal of the original review by HQ sighting my content did not appear to be my own, which I find humorous. Who's content is it? ] [ Supporting local business is the right thing to do! Participate in reopening & adapting to new-normals of post-lockdowns pandemic world! ] Folks, whenever you crave real good meat and do not have the time to go fancy... Armadillo Willy's is your solid choice, trust me. They are consistent in delivering excellent food done right, period. Authentic wood-fried BBQ that is scrumptiously delicious is their specialty. I can't emphasize it enough, nothing on Willy's menu is going to disappoint you, ever. I ordered a takeout online on a Tuesday night, October 5, 2021. It was as easy as one-two-three. On this occasion, I got Tri-Tip Steak that is smoked and grilled. Their Brisket is called Texas Prime Brisket and is cooked over an 18-hour process with Willy's BBQ rub, kosher salt, and coarse black pepper. It's simply mouthwatering! Armadillo Willy's is a Texas-style barbecue chain with locations in the South Bay and Northern California. They are locally owned. I know of seven locations. I used San Mateo and Los Altos spots for many years, during crunch times, when my engineering team would stay late at the office to deliver software releases. There are also Armadillos in Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, and Cambrian Park San Jose, as well as Dublin. [ Forced to remove a bit of history I researched on the humble beginnings of this small chain ] *Cheers to Health, Happiness, and Great BBQ! [ Original Review #650 with 5 pictures posted on October 21, 2021 at 11:41 PM - Removed January 6, 2022 at 1:32 PM ] [ Re-posted on January 8, 2022 as Review #677 with original 5 photos ] Review is very much my own + this was a 10/5/21 takeout + 5 photos + first-hand experience + I've been patronizing Armadillo Willy's BBQ since early 90s + I literally included my first-hand knowledge of several locations + did research on how this small chain of 7 locations had began. Anyone who knows me, knows this. Tri-Tip Steak Smoked & Grilled 24.99 @Armadillo Willy's BBQ 10/5/21 Tri-Tip Extra! Sliced Meat 1/4lb 5.99 @Armadillo Willy's BBQ 10/5/21 18 Hour Texas Prime Brisket 26.99 Willy's BBQ Rub Kosher Salt & Coarse Black Pepper @Armadillo Willy's BBQ 10/5/21 Brisket Extra! Sliced Meat 1/4lb 5.99 @Armadillo Willy's BBQ 10/5/21 read more

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It's just ok. Brisket was a little drier than it should be. Pulled pork was meh. The tri-tip was enjoyable. Give it a try. I have had a lot better, I've had worse (especially in the Bay Area). read more

I'm not biased because I worked at armadillo Willy's 16 years ago, but this chicken tortilla soup is some of the best I've ever had. The smoked chicken turns this soup into next level amazing ness. I do miss the jambalaya rice and when every platter came with a toast but happy to see new items on the menu. Corn muffins with the butter are a must! read more

Closer to 3.5 stars. Armadillo Willy's has been around for quite some time and they're as solid of a BBQ joint as you will find in the Bay Area. This particular location(in the Bridgepoint Parkway shopping plaza) is easy to find and parking should be a breeze as it shares a large lot with many other restaurants and retail stores. The interior is surprisingly large with lots of seating choices. Off the top of my head, my most recent favorites are the BBQ Baby back Ribs with a side of their Cajun Fries. Both are solid choices. Service has been solid the last few times I've been here this past year. You order at one counter and eventually pick up your order at a counter on the other side after your pager is buzzed. read more

Overall I find the food here to be pretty darn good. I have been here a few times in the past. What I have got here more recently is their BBQ chicken (and just the chicken). Why you ask, since they have some many sides? Well, I like to cook and sometimes it is fun to make things (like enchiladas) with their BBQ meat. Try it sometime. Lone star chicken: 4/5. 1/4 of a chicken. Very nice flavor. If I order a half chicken and shred it, I get about 2 cups of meat--just what I need! It is nice that there is ample parking nearby. read more

This is one of the dryest bbq places I've tried. I ordered mine "juicy" and even after pouring two small containers of bbq on it, it couldn't be saved. Pricey for what you get. My lunch date ordered a burger and they read more

Worse service by the cashier. Sat. Night, Young guy with curly hair wouldn't get off the phone to take my order. After he took my order, he just walked away without giving me my cup for a drink nor my receipt-- I still don't know where he went. Ribs were good. I was not impressed that they took away the sauce before they closed and didn't replace it so I had to go up and ask the cooks for more sauce. Based on service experience, this definitely rated one star or less -- but because the ribs were pretty good. I gave it a one star overall. read more

Being a home cook that sous vides tri-tip and smokes baby back ribs (you read that right, in a smoker with real wood), I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor and tenderness of the Santa Maria Tri-tip and the ribs. While my dining companion ordered a salad and cornbread for his sides, I ordered the classic fries which were made just the way I like them. In addition to the great tasting meat and sides, I like that the three choices of BBQ Sauce (Honey Chipotle, Jalapeño, and Mild) are kept warm. I know, right! While dining, the manager came by to check on us and we had a chance to hear why the AW BBQ in Cupertino closed. Too bad. AW BBQ, I'll be back. read more

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Overall this place is mid, but a good bbq fix if you need it. The thing is their prices for the meats are HigH to me. I prefer to do my own bbq besides. I still go here when I'm in the area , but only for 2 things that I crave from this place, the spicy peanut slaw and the corn bread with their glorious sweet cinnamon soft butter spread! I've barely put a dent in their menu options, but those 2 are must have items for me. read more

Once you've tried Texas barbecue in Texas, you're completely spoiled for life, and it's hard to find anything outside of the Lone Star State that can really compare. So I was all the more surprised to find that the barbecue at Armadillo Willy's, a chain restaurant located in a random suburban mall, was actually quite amazing! This restaurant has the vibe of a casual sports bar, and you simply order at the counter, grab a buzzer, and help yourself to the huge variety of BBQ sauces while the meat is prepared! On my visit, I tried the Texas BBQ plate with tri-tip, which was juicy and slightly chewy, as well as the smoked turkey, which was moist and tasty as well. For sides, the corn salad and the spicy peanut slaw were both nicely crunchy and refreshing! I also had the Carolina Chopped BBQ Pork salad, which was nothing more than a lettuce salad with shredded red cabbage, cherry tomatoes, and croutons, but it was topped with a nice helping of juicy, flavorful pulled pork, double-smoked bacon, and a mountain of fried onions! The thick honey-dijon mustard dressing added a nice zing/acidity, and it was so fun to mix and match all the different sauces they had at the counter (including chipotle mustard, habanero, jalapeno barbecue, and more!). read more

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Is Armadillo Willy's the absolute best BBQ? For a chain, it's pretty darned good. In the Bay Area, hard to find better brisket. That's what I always order here and there is a secret to getting the very best: Order it fatty! This time, I did not have to ask: they asked me when I ordered! Not sure if that's new to the chain (I have not been here for a couple of years) or just this location. The woman who took the order knew her way around, seemed like perhaps she was the manager. Great service. She asked lean, some fat, or a lot of fat. I went for a lot but that might be too much for some. In any event, always ask for at least some fat, that's where the flavor is. The sides are all on-point, the ambience is smoky (in a good way), warm, and with big booths and a roadhouse feeling. I am always looking for top-grade, hand-crafted BBQ from small joints and unfairly overlook Armiadillo Willy's, where the BBQ is at least competent and usually excellent, highly reliable, and with excellent sides, service, and atmosphere. read more

Armadillo Willy's BBQ - Brisket. Make mine fatty. - Barbeque Near Me - San Mateo, California

We got the Lone Star family meal ! It was the best ! Chicken was on point ! All the sides were delicious! I love this restaurant!

I rarely get a craving for barbeque, but last week it hit me HARD. There are some solid choices near me, but thanks to my fellow Yelpers I was convinced I had to try Armadillo Willy's. If it arrives piping hot and juicy through delivery, you know it's a quality spot. And I've had them three times since. I've tried both the rib plate (add one meat and two sides) and the brisket sandwich. Succulent doesn't even do these meats justice. That brisket was so fatty, moist, and smokey that I had to stop myself from mmm-ing every bite! The ribs had a sink-your-teeth-into, crispy-yet-soft top layer that protected the delicate meat underneath. The original side sauce is just enough. Usually I'm one to drench, but the flavor on the meat alone was so strong it didn't need the sauce. Dipping into it simply became part of the experience. For sides, I've tasted the tater tots, french fries, potato salad, Caesar salad and mac and cheese. My opinion is to skip either of the salads and you're golden with all other choices. For what it's worth, I think my husband is picky about his fries, and he was crazy for these. They would be a perfect 5 stars if their prices were lower. Each order has definitely been an indulgent decision so as my honeymoon phase ends I'm not considering this place a regular, but most definitely a favorite. read more

Armadillo Willy's BBQ - Texas BBQ rib plate + one meat (brisket) - Barbeque Near Me - San Mateo, California

Great dinner! Food to go was packed great! Just forgot to put the extra butter for the corn muffins in the bag! Brisket and sausage was good! Love the food! read more

Armadillo Willy's BBQ - Yum! - Barbeque Near Me - San Mateo, California

Food was adequate. I was there on Labor Day. I requested no burned pieces and they delivered correctly, but when I was going to pay with a credit card, the screen show in this order, Tip 22%, 20%, 18%. . I think, this is absurd, if a person doesn't pay attention it will automatically paid the fees. This business should pay their workers better , this way they don't have to expect the consumer to supplement their pay. At least make the percentage more reasonable. read more

VERY happy with this place! Have always wanted to try it, but hesitated due to it being a chain. Not disappointed! This was excellent! We really enjoyed our dinner here. Classic Texas comfort food! Delicious! Very nice staff as well. Jose gave us generous samples of several draft beers. The cooks were very friendly as well! Delicious brisket! Love how the sides of BBQ sauce are WARM!! We will definitely be back. read more

Armadillo Willy's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - San Mateo, California

Food was overall okay. The cheeseburger was the best on our order. It had a classic taste to it, meat was great. The bun could use a little more toasting on the girl. There were both flimsy. Tater tots were cooked well but garlic fries were not that great, they were cut thick and not a lot of garlic. The Mac and cheese was very bland. No seasoning, I ended up putting my own pack of salt and pepper. The brisket chili was ok, seasoned well but the cornbread was cold. The service was fast and there was someone who checked up on us, which was good. I like how we can pick up our own to go boxes on the counter. read more

Armadillo Willy's BBQ - Bacon cheeseburger and trinity plate (chicken, brisket, ribs) with potato salad and Parmesan fries - Barbeque Near Me - San Mateo, California

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$$$ but tasty food. Unlimited fountain drinks Good service Clean place My kids love the flavor read more

Armadillo Willy's has been around for a while and has produced typically above average bbq for most of its existence. I am writing this review in disappointment. I ordered food for 4 and spent about $120. When you want bbq, you typically pay premium for it so there should be an understanding that in paying premium prices... you should get premium food. The bad - The brisket was way over cooked. Chewy. Pale. Dry. 2/10 Chicken was dry and overcooked. Very little seasoning (a pinch of salt would go a long way) 4/10. Pulled pork was bland and tasteless. 4/10 Sausage was actually the best and tasted great. 7/10. Loved it. Great smoke flavor, a very tasty delicious sausage. Sides were average. 5/10. Nothing special really. I was NOT blown away. You do not go to armadillo Willy's looking to get sausage. That should not be the highlight of a bbq restaurant that charges premium price. Not happy with them. read more

Did 3 take out in the past month, which means there are something calling us back :) highly recommend their Texas Rib. Sweet potato, tater tots, and onion rings are good but you need to reheat it when you get home again because of all the heat, there are water condensation happening in the to-go bag to make them soggy - I suggest they should use paper bag instead of plastic bags even for smaller orders. Big orders (family pack) had no such issues. read more

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This place was awesome when I moved into the area 2 years ago. In the last 6m to a year their quality has fallen off a cliff. Their proteins are either dry and bland and/or super fatty. They barely cook their fries regardless of how you order. I just wound up throwing out an entire pulled pork Sammie cause the pork was like chewing on a tire. It's a shame. Food used to be wonderful. read more

The service and the staff was excellent the barbecue chicken 3, Beef brisket 4, Coleslaw 4, Corner Bread was dry as hell. However I would definitely come back and give them another run. read more

I came in on a Friday evening with my wife and brother-in-law, and man was I glad. They have specials every day and Friday's special happened to be a buy one sandwich, get a second half off. Perfect, as I was planning to try two of their sandwiches. I decided on the El Jefe Especial and the Ultimate Pig Sandwich. I added a side of baby back ribs to try, as well. My brother-in-law ordered the Texas BBQ ribs. The El Jefe Especial was my favorite of the two sandwiches. I think it was the Texas jalapeño cheese sausage that really helped the sandwich win me over. The Ultimate Pig Sandwich was okay. I wasn't a fan of the pulled pork. It was a bit dry and needed a lot of BBQ sauce. The bacon was perfect, though. The baby back ribs weren't anything above average. I traded one for a Texas BBQ rib and those were delicious. The meat was tender and moist, and it slipped right off the bone. My sides were pretty good. I got the Texas Tots and potato salad. The Texas Tots were ridiculously crunchy. The potato salad was made well. Overall, I was underwhelmed with the size. I guess I was hopeful that I would go home with half of each burger. In the end, I went home with nothing... I was able to finish everything. However, the Friday half off deal made it worth it. I filled myself for $30 which is not bad at all for the area. read more

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Food is delicious. Prices are insane. Having lived in Texas for a while, this is the best BBQ I have found since moving to California, where they think BBQ is tri-tip. Ouch on the prices though. I understand this is in the Bay Area, but this is some serious robbery here. read more

Armadillo Willy's is doing whatever to survive. Delivery, take-out, dine-in, outdoor seating, and dine-out are all available. They do follow all of the San Mateo county covid-19 protocols. Order the Belly Buster. It's the best deal. If you dine in, they pack everything into disposable containers. Even with limited staff, they still provide good customer service. read more

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Covid review: Overall it was probably a 3 star experience but everyone's hurting rn. You order inside (which freaked me out in general), but staff are all wearing masks and they have signs and directions for covid safety precautions. Really glad to see that. Best part was that to use the credit card reader, they have q-tips so you don't have to touch the screen. As for food, we ordered the tri tip with two sides of tots... Cuz tots man. Lots of tots, we probably only needed the one as there were more than I expected. Tri tip was very underwhelming though. Horribly overcooked but it is what it is. read more

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Ordered a ton of BBQ from here via Door Dash for the July 4th holiday weekend and really love the brisket and cornbread muffins with honey cinnamon butter, woohoo! Their brisket plate comes with 2 sides of your choice, I ordered the cornbread muffin and potato salad. The meat is super juicy and their sauce is really good, sweet and smoky. Those muffins are addicting! I'm not one for cornbread but I love their cornbread muffins. The potato salad was typical tater salad. BBQ boneless chicken is juicy and tender with the same BBQ sauce flavor, very tasty. The St. Louis ribs were good but a little tough. I expected them to be falling off the bone juicy. Extra sides, Mac n White Cheese with bacon is really yummy! Pinto beans with brisket pieces is really good, too! They are a little pricey for the small portions but really pretty good BBQ. Give them a try! read more

This was a nice touch to see a little "thank you" note attached to the delivery bag. I honestly just don't get why more businesses don't act more thankful, or show their gratitude, to their customers. Although this is a chain, their BBQ delivery overall was pretty good, especially their BBQ chicken and their cole slaw. It is no wonder why this place has survived for so long in the bay area. I've been visiting several of the Armadillo Willy's throughout the bay area for the past 20+ years, and each time I'm impressed with the barbecue. It may not be at the same level as some top tier BBQ joints, but it is definitely in the tops for a chain. And to be frank, I've found their customer service to be a bit lacking inside the stores, unlike the top tier joints like Three Pigs. But this nice little "thank you" note on the bag changed my whole view of Armadillo Willy's. ANYBODY would come back for pleasant and appreciative customer service. #1 rule in retail--make the customer WANT to come back! I wish more businesses would follow this rule read more

Armadillo Willy's BBQ - VERY NICE NOTE OF APPRECIATION expressed by Armadillo Willy's in Mountain View - Barbeque Near Me - San Mateo, California