A word I would use to sum up my experience tasting bludsos bbq for the first time ever.... YUMMM!! The food was very delicious! Can't wait to eat again!! Thank you William!! read more

Bludsos Santa Monica First of all other restaurants should come here to learn how to train your employees on service. Our waitress made us feel like family. So kind so friendly and courteous. I had to make this as I was eating. Our food literally came out like 5 minutes after we ordered it. The atmosphere, Sunday dinner all the way . I just felt like I was at home . Music on lock . It's bright and cheerful . The corn bread is like cake with a crunch . Fries crispy, hot crunchy. Beans are killer, Mac and cheese, whole other level . Smoked turkey is the bomb . That chicken beats my uncle's hands down and that's saying a lot . Lemonade not too sweet. Edith was the queen that provided us with a level of service that you don't even find in 5 star restaurants these days . Edith is employee of the month, period!!!!!!! You go Kevin! read more

Bludso's BBQ - Lunch for the next two days - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

Mother's day cravings were beef ribs, it helps to make reservations here sometimes gets pretty busy, a little parking located behind the restaraunt. We ordered enough food to create a mountain of meat. Beef Dinosaur ribs are massive and the beef fat renders a lot, making it kind of "greasy" if you aren't used to it it may catch you off guard like it did for me. The brisket was similar to the dino ribs. Pork ribs were really good not greasy at all. Mac was good. When they served us we never really saw the server again, I needed water bad! The hot BBQ sauce was my favorite, they have a really good dill ranch thing that came with our rib tips appetizer that was awesome. Overall decent BBQ, come hungry because the helpings can be alot. Dining room ambiance was chill lots of tables. read more

See all

My boyfriend has been looking for a really good dry rub chicken restaurant and we knew we had found it as soon as we walked in but this place exceed expectations!! The food was beyond good and the service was even better! Daylon and Alex really took care of us! We have a Bludso's closer to home in LA but we will definitely be traveling out here for the vibes read more

Party of 4.... It was my first time dining here and everyone else's 2nd time. Soon as we walked in, we were greeted right away. The wait was about 2 minutes. There were plenty of open tables and booths. They also have bar seating options with TV's as well. Once we got seated, our server Daylin (I hope I spelled it correctly) greeted us and gave us a rundown of the menu. He was very knowledgeable about the menu and made some excellent recommendations. He was very attentive as well. Everything on the menu looked delicious. We ordered beef ribs, dry rub wings, brisket, salad, Mac n cheese, fried okra and cornbread. Where do I begin!? My absolute favorite..... the wings. Do not dine here without ordering the dry rub wings. You get the entire wing seasoned to perfection! Delicious. As for the drinks, they do have a nice selection of cocktails. I ordered the CC rita (made with Henny) yum! They have a parking lot in the back (free) or you can look for meter parking. Definitely give this place a try! read more

See all

The barbecue here is one of the best you will find in LA. The brisket is slow roasted for 14 hours, and you can taste how tender that meat is. The lean brisket, is also super tender and really good. My favorite meat, however, was the rib tips, they are so tender, you have to get them! The mild and medium barbecue sauces that come with all the meats are absolute perfection, and they have a lot of dimension to it. The mac & cheese is incredible along with the cornbread. Service is fantastic here, they are so nice and friendly. They are extremely busy, but the food comes out pretty quickly, and our server checked in on us pretty frequently. read more

Bludso's BBQ - Corn bread, Rib tips, hot links (top) Brisket, ribs (2nd row) Chicken link (3rd row) Mac n cheese, Cole slaw Lean brisket (bottom) - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Bbq cravings for a weekend dinner. We ordered corn bread perfect side dish for the juicy and tender baby back ribs. Hush puppies and loaded French fries these alone are filling. We got seated right away, serve water and server got our order. Music playing on the background while huge screen TV surround the wall. A very chill vibes family friendly restaurant serving comfy foods. read more

Bludso's BBQ - Loaded French fries - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

This place was okay, but honestly not my favorite. The chicken was very good, which we ordered on the side. The mac & cheese was similar to chic fil a. Corn bread was good but not amazing. Ribs were okay, but kind of dry. Everything came out Luke warm, not super fresh. Service was very friendly! Inside is warm and community friendly read more

Bludso's BBQ - Dine LA plate $45 - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

Driving by and the whiff of the que! How can you not! They even have jackfruit for the vegans. The sides are the best! The music is on point! My 77 year old hubby was bopping along to the beats of Motown, Marvin Gay, Al Green! Oh he's happy and eating .... Awww, me and misses Jones is playing by Billy Paul! O. M. G. Keep up the vibes! Ok! Gotta go. Foods arrived. Burp! Food was on point. The greens need work, i should have asked how they're prepared, they were just not good. Lesson learned. No complaints on the staff. We were warmly greeted and able to pick out our own table with a smile. Our waitress, Daphny, was greattttt! She looked like a blast from the past, in a good way, of a person we know! Hey, I've a huge request!!! Yellow Mustard! I'm taking my bread and sausage home for the mustardddddddd sandwich tomorrow! That is all! read more

Bludso's BBQ - Lunch anyone? Even have jackfruit!! - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I eat a lot of different BBQ here in LA and wow, Bludso's may be taking 1st place. Not only was their food on point, their service was amazing. Shout out to our genuine server William. He made our experience super easy and management was very friendly as well. If you are looking to eat good BBQ, this is the spot. read more

Bludso's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I don't think Mr. Bludso will like this review but if it is not given the food will stay bad. Let's get the easy stuff out of the way. The staff was pretty good. The music was awesome and the restaurant was clean. Sports on all of the televisions as well. Now...The food. I had watch Chef Bludso and his friend on a cook show Saturday morning and that gave me the idea I wanted to eat some the food. This restaurant in the chain fell way short of what I know Chef is wanting when it comes to his BBQ. I had side dishes because I was not really hungry. The wings I ordered tasted old and may have been sitting out and they drinched them with BBQ sauce which did not help. Also salty as heck. Seems like all of the meats were salted to the max. 2. I also ordered the rib tips which was buffalo sauced up but the meat was tough and old. It was not juicy nor tasty but salted well. 3. The fried okra wasn't bad but the dip was again salt city. 4. The chicken/rib plate with the 2 sides was just okay. The ribs and chicken were dry and salty as well. The Mac and cheese vert mediocre. Good coleslaw. Cornbread was good but cold. I believe I will hear from someone about this. Chef Bludso believes in his restaurant and customers experience. read more

See all

I was in town for work and needed a quick lunch near my hotel. Bludso's popped up in my Yelp search and it was an easy choice! Plentiful lunch specials (dine in only) including a lunch plate for $25 (1/4 lb meat) with choice of 2 meats, 2 small sides. Meat choices are brisket, pulled pork and turkey. A sandwich for $19 with two small sides and drink with choice of brisket, chicken, turkey, pulled pork, brisket & hot link. Or salad and drink for $17 and choice between bbq chicken salad, or turkey Caesar. I decided to do the sandwich and get the brisket and hot link, with Mac n cheese, baked beans, and an Arnold palmer. Everything was super delicious, and the only thing better than the food was the service. I was blown away by how friendly and attentive the staff are here. read more

See all

The last time I had Bludso's was at the original Compton location, back when that was THE only Bludso's. I still remember the coarse pepper on the brisket like it was yesterday. While I was charging my car nearby, I started reminiscing... and thought, why not? I walked over and debated between the lunch specials, building my own plate, or just grabbing some wings. I ended up going with the 3 wings and a side of greens. Simple, but exactly what I wanted. Shoutout to Dalen (hope I spelled your name right!) who was incredibly sweet. We chopped it up while I waited for my food, and he recommended the dry rub, which I can confirm, he was absolutely right lol. BBQ is easily one of my top 5 and this visit reminded me I really need to come here more often. The food, the warmth, the hospitality was just as I remembered it. Appreciate the good vibes. See yall next time! xo read more

10/10 with best bbq food in west LA. Staff is extremely friendly and welcoming. No waiting time- can't recall the day we visited but they seated us fairly quickly. We ordered all the sides ofc! We also ordered brisket, ribs and sausage - this was sweet for me I like mine spicy but still very tasty this is subjective to your liking ofc so not going to discredit my review for the restaurant. I absolutely devoted my meal- btw this was a two person meal. I would highly recommend stoping by if your craving BBQ. We skipped out on the dessert, wished I wasn't so full for it. Thanks to the staff and manager for also checking up on us this is very rare nowadays so I always appreciate the small gestures. read more

See all

I've been coming here for the past few years and I can say that I've always had a consistently has an experience. Not only do they treat you like family which makes this feel like home, but the food is immaculate. And you must try their lemonade. Grateful I found this spot looking forward to seeing you guys there! read more

Mixed bag. The brisket is genuinely excellent, got a nice thick slice of point with a flavorful bark, well seasoned throughout. But the rest of the experience brought it down. The sides later in the day felt like leftovers, lukewarm mac and cheese and cornbread that wasn't exactly fresh. Rib tips were seasoned well but there just isn't much meat on them by nature. Love the location and the EV charging across the street is convenient. But I'd probably just get a brisket order to go next time and skip the sides. read more

Just randomly saw this place driving and decided to go in. What a great decision! Upon walking in I was greeted immediately. The atmosphere was great. Lively and happy. It was rather busy. Whole bar was packed and I'd say about 5 tables. It's not super big inside. But definitely enough room to be comfortable. They do have a full bar as well so that's a plus! Let's get into the food. I ordered the pork ribs, Texas hot link, Mac n cheese with baked beans. I opted to try the mild and spicy bbq sauce. Let's start with the pork ribs. Seasoned very well. And I do mean VERY well. Smoked to absolute perfection. With an excellent seasoned crust. Honestly? You don't even need to put bbq sauce on it. It's that good. However I did try both sauces. Mild is definitely more sweet than the hot. But the hot isn't too spicy either. And I know everyone's spice levels are different. To me a grilled jalapeño is mild. So figure from there. Moving onto the hot link. Cooked well. Juicy with great taste. Can't go wrong. The sides. WOW. Ok I would legit come back for just the Mac n cheese if you wanted Mac n cheese. It's creamy, rich gooey and just excellent. Melded cheddar layer on top. Baked beans. It's heavy on the mustard. But don't let that make you stray away. It's a different taste and it's well worth the try. I greatly enjoyed them. Overall this place was a fantastic experience. I will 100% be back. It's clean, it's fun, the food is great and the atmosphere is excellent. Food: above average Staff: good people Cleanliness: clean Atmosphere: upbeat, happy and inviting. read more

See all

Stopped by Bludso's BBQ in Santa Monica on Santa Monica Blvd. and 14th Street with my husband for lunch, and we left completely impressed! We ordered the six-piece wings with a turkey Caesar salad and fries, and everything was spot on. The wings were perfectly seasoned with just the right amount of crispiness, while the turkey Caesar salad was fresh and well-balanced. The fries came out hot, golden, and addictive--exactly what you want in comfort food. My husband's been coming to Bludso's since the early 2000s, back when they were in Compton on Long Beach Blvd. and Mr. Bledsoe himself was smoking meat in the parking lot. The food is still top notch and tastes the same after 30 years--authentic BBQ done right. This Santa Monica location was spotless, with plenty of seating, ample parking in the back plus off-street parking. Page and Terry's attentive, welcoming service made the visit even better. Bludso's is still the real deal! the Ambiance is amazing! read more

See all

Bludso's BBQ has some of the best authentic Texas-style BBQ in the Los Angeles area. Our waitress, Paige, was super as was the floor manager, Tarri. The friendly and efficient service took our visit to the next level. Bludso's mouthwatering, succulent meats are slow smoked until they are done to perfection. Our selections of their Dinosaur Beef Rib (it's HUGE!) and Pulled Pork almost melted in our mouths. Along with these, we ordered their delicious house-made 3-cheese Mac & Cheese, a side of cole slaw, and enjoyed all with a glass of Red Ale. This SaMo location is of good size and can fill up fast as it is popular, so I suggest a reservation if you're thinking of chowing down around dinner time. There is off-street free parking in the back of the restaurant which is a real plus. read more

See all

I've been to the Bludso's in Los Angeles. This location was in Santa Monica. I don't know if it's just the vibe but I liked the location better here in Santa Monica even though it was good in LA too. Your greeted warmly it smells so good inside of their cold beers. What else could you want like everything was delicious the sausage, the coleslaw, the greens! If you've ever watched bar rescue with John Taffer... Eventually, you'll see chef Bludso. He often creates barbecue menu items for bars to serve their patrons. The food is some of the best barbecue I've ever had. If you're ever in the area, I suggest you stop by whether it's the location in Los Angeles or Santa Monica. Bludso's is delicious! read more

See all

BANANA PUDDING 9.5/10: This banana pudding was so fricking good. If you have ever heard of Magnolia Bakery you would know of their banana pudding and this one is like theirs but dare I say a bit better. It is creamy, not overly sweet, and has many pieces of banana. It did also have a good amount of wafers but I prefer mine with a good 1 to 1 ratio of wafer to cream.. that's just preference. TRY IT! ($25 Lunch Deal) BRISKET , RIBS 7/10: I would say these are solid meats. The ribs have a nice crust on them, good flavor, so does the brisket, but I would say that I wish it were more juicy. I found that the brisket was a bit on the dry side :( MAC N CHEESE 8/10: Solid Mac n cheese as well, nothing too crazy but also good. If you have ever tried Chick-fil-A's Mac n cheese this taste just like that and I really like their Mac. BAKED BEANS 10/10: My mom LOVED these. They are perfectly cooked, have a nice tang and sweetness to them, and are just a good side of beans. I would definitely say though that they are sweet, like bbq sweet, so if you are not fond of beans that are on the sweet side this may not be for you. *Note: We paid $25 dollars for the plate which is a great price but I think normally it is $35 and we think that for that price, the sides should be bigger. CORN BREAD 9/10: My mom also loved this (so did I, I didn't like corn bread before this but now I do!). It has a good taste and pairs so wonderfully with the butter. I would say that the bread is a bit on the crumblier side, so note this if you have a different preference. SERVICE 10/10: Shoutout to Deilond! He was so sweet and attentive and he made us feel so welcome there. Amazing service! NOTES-- - Clean restaurant, tables are clean, comfy seating, and love the natural lighting. - Street parking available, we didn't have a hard time finding parking but it might be hard during busier hours. read more

Bludso's BBQ - Banana Pudding - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I placed an order for pick up, and it was actually ready before the scheduled time. Upon entry, I noticed how empty the restaurant was on a weekday afternoon, so I decided to dine in and eat the food that I had ordered, at the restaurant. There is a bar and booth seating available. The waitresses were really nice. There was one with interesting hair, but she kept checking on us and brought us waters and utensils, so I appreciated the service. I ordered the $25 lunch plate special which includes 2 meats and 2 sides. I chose the 1/4 pound brisket and pulled pork for the meat, and collard greens and Mac and cheese for the two sides. I really like the flavor of the meat, especially the edges and seasonings on the brisket. The pulled pork and collard greens were good. The macaroni was decent, a bit dry in my opinion. Their bbq sauce was good, I tried the hot and original. I would definitely give this place another try. Thank you! read more

Bludso's BBQ - Outside - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

We came in on a Sunday evening, two adults and a kid. We were seated quickly and placed our order. They were out of ribs, so we ordered rib tips instead. About 18 minutes later, they came back and said the chicken was sold out, even though we had already been waiting for our food. Not sure how the order was taken and sent to the kitchen, and only then they tell us they don't have it. Overall, the food was just okay. Nothing really stood out. The rib tips were only six small pieces and honestly tasted off, kind of like they were overly processed or dried out, not fresh BBQ at all. The meat had a strange pink color and was dense, more like cured than properly cooked. The mac and cheese was not good, big chunks of unmelted cheese. The lemonade had a bitter aftertaste, like cheap lemon concentrate. Would not recommend. read more

This BBQ was amazing! Service was friendly and timely although it wasn't too crowded when we went. Can't wait to go back. I just wished I'd know to ask for more sauce when our food came. But, I did a little later and they brought a good amount. read more

Had the lunch special with the pulled pork and smoked turkey here and while it was supposed to be a "deal" I still felt like it was an OK / decent meal. I really wanted to like Bludso's but I feel like I've had much better BBQ elsewhere. Service was quick at this location and ambiance is decent. read more

Best BBQ I've had in a long time, and I travel a lot. Ordered in so can't say much about establishment or service, but good food!

The food we got during our visit to Bludso's was a bit of a mixed experience. Most of the sides and apps that we got were excellent - the baked beans in particular were some of the best I've ever had. The mac and cheese, corn bread, and hush puppies were great as well. The meats were a bit of a different story. The brisket was amazing - tender without completely falling apart and the perfect balance of lean and fatty. Unfortunately, the rib tips and pulled pork, while seasoned well, were both pretty dry. We got the 3-meat combo and it was a bit disappointing that 2 of our 3 choices were underwhelming. Service was friendly and there is a small parking lot in the back, though the stalls are tight and I can definitely see it filling up during a lunch/dinner rush. I would definitely come back in the future, but I'll be sticking to just brisket and sides next time! read more

Bludso's BBQ - Top left: happy hour appetizer trio. Bottom left: Mac and cheese, baked beans. Top right: rib tips. Bottom right: brisket and pulled pork. - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I dined at the restaurant for the first time this past weekend. It was surprisingly larger and nicer inside than it looks from the outside. There's valet parking at the back and it's $5. Shares a lot with the Chestnut Club. They have a good deal where you two 2 choices of meats, 2 sides for $35. My eyes were bigger than my stomach so I also threw in cornbread, seasoned fries and fried okra. I chose the ribs and brisket. The ribs were a little tough and dry. The brisket was very good. My husband ordered the sausage and brisket. Sausage was very good, but I typically like BBQ restaurants for ribs and brisket. We ordered coleslaw, potato salad, collard greens and baked beans. I wanted to try a bit of everything. I think I like Bludso's more for their sides than anything else. I loved every one of them except the potato salad. It was good, but the other sides were better. I probably would have preferred the mac and cheese. Their cornbread with butter is also super yummy. The individual orders of the okra and fries, it's a lot. Probably best to share with a group of 4. Their ranch sauce is one of the best I've ever had, and also their spicy BBQ sauce VERY yummy. Next time I'll probably just get a ton of sides and brisket. Service was excellent. Extremely attentive and everyone was so nice. read more

Bludso's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Very nice barbecue place with friendly staff l, good service and tasty comfort food. Street parking is also available which makes going out to eat a little easier with $20 Valets everywhere. read more

Don't skip the dinosaur beef ribs, massive, smoky. They fall off the bone. Brisket is tender & the sides, mac and cheese, heavenly. Save room for lime pie. It's the perfect sweet & zesty ending. Super friendly staff, casual set up, & full bar, basically, go hungry. read more

We've ordered from here a number of times, mostly via UberEats. For the most part the quality is good and it arrives well packed and fresh. For the price however there's definitely inconsistencies in the quantity and cuts of meat you get. We're usually ordering ribs and brisket, and usually the ribs are consistent, but the brisket is always a gamble. Sometimes we get nice sized cuts, and other times we get the smallest slices full of fat. The sides are the same, sometimes they are great and other times the quality varies. We usually get the fries, beans and brisket chunks and mac and cheese. I would say those are usually your best bet for consistency. Overall we'd definitely order again, but for the price, I think the quantity and quality could be better, but unfortunately there's not a lot of selection in LA for BBQ. read more

Bludso's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Our favorite BBQ spot in Los Angeles. Must tries are the Smoked Chicken Wings (best wings in the city!!!), the Fatty Brisket, and the Dinosaur Rib. Service is always friendly and prompt. Sit at the bar and enjoy the show! read more

Great service and a really nice atmosphere. The meat was a bit dry... you'll definitely want to lean on the bbq sauce, so thankfully it was good! Sides and apps were solid too read more

Oscar, the manager is amazing! Super friendly and accommodating, he even take orders, serve, collect dishes, sweep the floor....first time I see a manager like him. He takes care of u so well...food is excellent, service is excellent, staff are all friendly and helpful. Foods are affordable! Definitely we will come here again and again and again!!! read more

Oh my gosh y'all, I am the worst LA Ambassador having taken this long to review what's got to be the best BBQ in the city! Bludso's brisket has me dead. Like....their spices on the meat were having me in heaven. And I just had the lean brisket! Like what more treasures await me the next time I get them!? And there will be a next time. For any self-hating Tesla owners like myself (i kid) who must still charge their vehicles, Bludso's is right across from supercharging so it makes for a perfect pop in spot for carry out. If you know then you know that Kevin Bludso is a BBQ legend who brought Texas style to Compton and Angeleno-ed it to perfection. I may be biased, but it's reallllllllly good. Compton isn't open any longer but along with this Santa Monica location, you'll find a couple others around town. I got takeout so can't comment on ambiance & service but had no issues picking things up on time. So as mentioned, my friend and I shared the brisket of which we had 1/2 lb and that was the perfect amount for us to share at $23. I can't even explain how great this brisket was - ah - I can't wait to go back. We also did a half pint of the Mac and Cheese which I have also fallen in love with. It was creamy, just the right texture, again the spice combination was just so rich in flavor and just the right amount in portion size at $7.50. Can someone tell me - is everything at Bludso's as good as these first two items I've tried?! Sheesh, I'll definitely report back to you all once I experience more on the menu. :) read more

See all

My first time at this location but have been a customer for a few years. This is my favorite location now. The customer service is night and day compared to the Melrose location. The food was amazing, my only small gripe was the brisket was a little fattier than normal. Other than that 10/10 and that was the first time that has happened to me. This location has great natural lighting and different layout than the other location. Alex who was my waitress did a fantastic job! She answered all questions and provided great suggestions. Dailon who is part of management made me feel welcome the moment I walked in. Lastly, banana pudding does not disappoint! read more

Bludso's BBQ - Banana Pudding - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

My husband and I came here a few weeks ago and the food was amazing! The last time I had BBQ from Bludso's it was during the pandemic and it was at their other location. I remember loving the food and their honey butter was really good. Unfortunately, we had relocated to the Bay Area for work and never got a chance to eat there again. Fast forward a few years and we moved back to LA on the Westside. When we saw there was a new Bludso's location we were thrilled. It took us some time to finally go, but when we did the food did not disappoint. Everything tasted so good. I will say the greens could have been a little better. They seemed to lack seasoning perhaps? But the mac n' cheese was absolutely delicious! I think I remember the mac n' cheese being really good when we first tried them. For meats we ordered the sausage, pork ribs and brisket. Every piece was just so good. My personal favorites were the sausage and ribs. We had some leftovers that we had for lunch the following day that I was excited to have. This was the kind of food that makes me excited to eat and makes me want to do a happy little dance. I hope we can go back soon :) read more

Bludso's BBQ - Pork ribs, sausage, brisket, mac n' cheese and collard greens. - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

One of the best BBQ in town if not the best. The loaded fries are great however, probably one of the weaker items on their menu as its just too much going on with the fries and the brisket seems to be the bad cuts they dont serve when you order normally. The mac and cheese, collard greens, and baked beans are fantastic and worth getting at least one or two of them during your meal. The brisket is so soft and moist its always on point every time we go. The texas red hot is great and the pork tips are also amazing. read more

Wow I am super impressed with this place! Food was so flavorful - def would recommend the Mac n cheese and pulled pork. Super easy and quick service with a good overall vibe inside. read more

Bludso's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Monica, California

It's tough to find good barbecue on this side of town, which is why I was excited to have a Bludso's in Santa Monica. I've had great experiences at the Hollywood location, with solid food and good service, so I expected the same here. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case. Every time I've come to this location, the food has been pretty mediocre and the service has been underwhelming. There always seems to be some kind of unnecessary issue or complication with ordering or getting the food. Out of the three or four times I've visited, I've only interacted with one staff member who seemed confident and on top of things. Most of the time, it feels disorganized and frustrating. I stopped by again recently hoping things had improved, but within moments of walking in, it was clear that nothing had really changed. Really disappointing, especially considering how good the other location is. read more