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    Capelo's Barbecue

    4.4 (888 reviews)
    ModerateBarbeque, Southern, Tacos
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Capelo's Barbecue Photos

    Business Info

    CAPELO'S BARBECUE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Capelo's Barbecue

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    Reviews With Photos

    Prime Beef Brisket
    John D.

    Q the Roof Former food truck (ca. 2012), now a brick-and-mortar establishment (ca. 2020), run by Texas ex-pat and "Boss of Barbecue" John Capelo, whose Central Texas roots flow with the smoke of hickory and mesquite. The Good: * They still have the food truck in operation; check their socials to see if it'll be popping up near you. * Dog-friendly outdoor dining * Full bar with tons of local brews on tap. * Friendly and fast service. * While this might not seem like a big deal, all the sides we tried were fantastic! Oddly enough, sides are the Achilles' heel of BBQ restaurants here in The Bay, but Capelo's does it right. The beans in particular were fantastic; creamy, soft, and full of flavor. The Brussels Sprouts were also another standout; perfectly fried with tons of flavor. * Ribs were deliciously smoky and full of flavor from the rub. * Chicken was also done right, and that's probably because they use dark meat--as they should. Never order white meat from a BBQ place; I can almost guarantee it'll be caca. * Loved the complimentary pickles and pickled onions. * Jalapeño-Cheese Sausage was outstanding, as well; juicy and great flavor. * Weekend special Dino Bone (beef rib) was spectacular! Smoky, beefy, and provided me with a ton of leftovers. I think I turned it into three meals. If you're there on a Sat or Sun, be sure to get one of these bad boys! The Meh: * Brisket had a nice simple rub and good smoke, but it was a bit dry. It almost seemed like it was a holdover from the previous day. * Cilantro Peanut Slaw was just OK. Armadillo Willy's version is much, much better. * Hot Links were just OK and most likely Evergood®. The Ugly: * Parking might be difficult as they do have a small private lot (±15 spots) and there is street parking available, but I wouldn't hold my breath on it. FWIW, we did arrive for a slightly later lunch (±12:30) on a Saturday and had no issue parking in the lot. Conclusion: Capelo's might be the best Q in the Bay Area that I've tried to date. Smoked meat, beer, and killer sides--can't be too mad at any of that. Highly recommended.

    3 Meat Plate (brisket, hot links, pork ribs)
    Donna T.

    Capelo's Barbeque was OK. I definitely have had better, but it wasn't terrible. They do have live music and I like that they provide pickled ingredients and sauces for you to freely grab. I ordered the 3 Meat Plate and got brisket, hot links, and pork ribs with 2 sides of corn bread and mac and cheese. My favorite protein was probably the hot links which in itself, kind of says a lot. I liked the brisket texture, but thought it could have used more flavor. Best believe I vigorously dunked everything in the sauces. The mac and cheese came out lukewarm and also could have used a touch more of salt as well. The corn bread though, was nice and moist. Additionally, it seemed like the meat quantities were not consistent and in congruence with the amount that you order -- my husband and I ordered 3 meats while the rest of the table ordered between 1 and 2, and it seemed as though the others got more meat than we did in total. I will say though, the food came out really quickly after ordering even though it was packed. However, I think I'd rather try another BBQ establishment next time.

    2 Meat Plate
    Allie G.

    My first time at Capelo's was a bit of a miss, but I was eager to give them a second chance. They had 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!

    Menu 2
    Marcus F.

    My cousin raves about this place all of the time. It's been his go-to spot for a long time. The person taking my order was very nice and answered all of my questions. It was pretty crowded as the USA vs Australia World Cup match was on. Although they were super busy, the service from start to finish was wonderful! Service Grade: A I went with the 3 meat plate that comes with 2 sides. I ordered the pork ribs, brisket, and hot links for the meats. I asked for brussel sprouts and creamed corn as my sides. Overall, the food was all very tasty. The meats could have been a much warmer temperature. I felt like it was not just pulled out of the smoker. This could have been the time of day I was there so I will give them another chance. The creamed corn was my favorite. It was piping hot even after 10 minutes and had a great creaminess to it. The brisket and hot links were my two favorite meats. Grade: B+ I tried all four sauces. My favorite blend was the Diablo sauce mixed with the Sweet sauce. Grade: A Although I did not try the dessert, all of the options looked fantastic. For the Peninsula, Capelo's is a solid choice for barbecue.I will definitely be back for more. My cousin said there is a beef rib on weekends. (That is definitely my joint!)

    Bar
    Mina M.

    My boyfriend had been wanting to check out this barbecue spot for some time now, and I'm so glad we finally did! Even though I live in town, it was a new discovery for me. He went for the brisket with a side of mac and cheese, while I opted for the ribs and creamed corn. Everything was delicious, and as a bonus, we got complimentary cornbread since it was our first visit. The staff were all super friendly, which made the experience even better. The atmosphere here is really cool. It's an open-air restaurant with fans to keep things comfortable, plus an open bar. They have this amazing sauce station with a bunch of options, from honey mustard and spicy BBQ to sweeter choices, along with pickles and jalapeños. We grabbed some beers from the tap. I stuck with my usual lagers. There are huge TVs both outside and by the bar, making it a great spot to catch a game or just relax. The only slight hiccup was that we arrived a bit late, around 7 PM on a Thursday, with closing at 8 PM. One staff member was cleaning up near our table and seemed a little eager for us to leave, making some noise while we were finishing up. We were already getting ready to go, so it was just a minor thing. But honestly, that was the only downside; everyone else was lovely. We both got the barbecue bowls, which include one meat and one side, and two of them came to $38. They call them "small," but we found the portions to be really generous! Overall, it's a super relaxed place with a chill, slightly dive-y feel, perfect for unwinding and maybe even catching some sun. The creamed corn was the best thing on the menu and we would absolutely come back just for that!

    Pork Ribs, bbq Smoked Chicken, jalapenos Louisiana Hot Links
    Shivani T.

    Texan BBQ at its best!! All the meats were 10/10 - taste and quality!! Corn bread 10/10 - prefect!! Mac and cheese -9/10 - had better Coleslaw -8/10 Ambience was nice, just our table was wobbly and hard to manage

    Beef Brisket
    Zizo E.

    Look I've had a ton of barbecue and nothing can top Terry Blacks in Dallas. But in the Bay Area? Capelo's is my new GOAT. They got a super tender smokey brisket which can be ordered by the pound or you can order a plate combo. I got the 1 meat and 2 sides combo with mac n cheese and creamed corn on the side. Good portions on meat and sides, in addition to 3 types of bbq sauce. They got a nice outdoor seating area with picnic tables and a country vibe. Staff are friendly and the restaurant has a lot of energy on game nights. When I get the craving for barbecue again, I'll be back!

    Three 3 Meat Plate (Smoked Chicken, Beef Brisket, Pork Ribs) and (Mac N Cheese, Creamy Cole Slaw) + Corn Muffins
    Michelle M.

    What a gem! We're always on the hunt for good bbq in the Bay Area and Capelo's hit the spot! Everyone was so friendly from the moment we walked in - when hearing it was our first time, the guy taking our order kindly walked us through the menu and gave us recs! What I loved the most was the outdoor set-up. We came at lunch but totally could see how it's a vibe on a nice night - big screen tv, lights, good food and drinks. We were also with our kids so appreciated how family friendly it felt. The food... I usually hesitate to get chicken and we ordered the white meat but it was so tender and flavorful. I loved how the brisket came with different cuts so we got a taste of the lean and fatty pieces. The ribs were so tender and perfectly smoked. The corn muffins are a must get - a little on the sweet side and so moist. The star of the show though was their habanero bbq sauce! Like literally the best bbq sauce I've ever had - I want to put it on everything!!!

    menu
    Amy Y.

    Capelo's Barbecue gets around the bay, and it is quite a delicious, clean, and consistent barbecue from a Central Texan native! The prices are very reasonable for the meats, and they have a variety of limitless sauces you can grab. The only negative is that the sides can be better, but that's fine - totally into going pure meat for them! We typically get the 3 meat plates because it's a great value and can feed two. I sometimes can even share one with my parents. All their meats taste equally good. Our favorites are the beef brisket and pork ribs, but their pulled pork and smoked chicken are very moist, tender, and flavorful as well. We sometimes get a hot link on the side, as it's smooth with a good snap and spice. You can request it to be sliced. The grilled chicken breasts are not as tender as the other meats, but still has a good barbecue flavor - I imagine you'd get this if you need to eat lean. For sides, the mac & cheese, baked beans, and corn muffin are our favorites. The mac has a chunky and thick Velveeta-like coating, the beans have a strongly sweet and smoky robust flavor, and the corn muffin has a soft texture. The slaws are more vinegary, and the other sides are something you'd expect from your local grocer's prepared food section. Another thing that Capelo's Barbecue does well are the sauces - they have four types that escalate in heat. They all have very different flavor profiles and are on the sweet and tangy side, but I like them all. Their spiciest sauce is not that bad and does have some natural sweetness, but you should have water ready anyways because it's the spice that slowly grows on your tongue. The employees are extremely nice and efficient, both from the food truck and brick and mortar in Redwood City. One day when we came in for a pickup order, they were celebrating an employee's birthday and offered everyone a slice of cake! I wouldn't be surprised if I went to the South and had better BBQ, but we're in Northern California so I'll note Capelo's as amongst the best I've had in the bay (I've tried a lot of them). It seems they sporadically have live music at their dine-in location (which closes late for a barbecue place), so I hope to join them sometime in the summer for that! Their schedule is posted on their website, and they also have both indoor and outdoor seating, and a beer garden. Parking is not that bad, since they're away from downtown and have their own small lot. Their food truck roams around the entire bay, but I especially love partaking when they go to my local Off the Grid.

    David S.

    Carpelo's BBQ is a solid 3 stars. Overall, everything was decent, but nothing really stood out or wowed me. We ordered a mix of meats and sides. The ribs were a bit of a letdown--they were too burnt in some areas and had quite a few overly fatty parts. The brisket was okay, but on the dry side and slightly hard, which took away from what you'd hope would be the highlight of a BBQ spot. For sides, we tried the mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and coleslaw. Unfortunately, none of them really stood out--they all felt pretty average, almost like something you'd get in a cafeteria rather than a specialty BBQ restaurant. One thing I did enjoy was the free pickled onions--they were a nice touch, and I personally love pickled onions, so that was a win for me. The staff was really friendly and welcoming, which definitely added to the experience. There was also a live singer while we were there, and that created a really nice, relaxed vibe. Overall, it's a solid spot if you're in the area, but not somewhere I'd go out of my way to visit again.

    St Louis pork ribs
    David C.

    Yelp reviewers say this is one of the best BBQ joints in the Bay Area. Respectfully... y'all got played. We ordered the 3 Meats + 2 Sides: brisket, ribs, smoked BBQ chicken, mac & cheese, and baked beans. Let's start with the meats. Every single one was dry, but the smoked chicken deserves a special award. The skin had the texture of sandpaper, the meat was flavorless, and I was questioning whether it had ever met a smoker. The brisket was so dry I had to wrestle it just to cut it into pieces. Tender? Not even close. The ribs had a little BBQ flavor, but the meat was slightly fatty and again, there was barely any smoke flavor. The sides didn't save the day either. The baked beans were cooked okay, but the sauce was just sweet with a tad pepper taste. The mac & cheese had a gooey texture and a hint of garlic, but it wasn't very cheesy. The Hot Link Dog was unbelievably basic. The hot link was seriously lacking in flavor, topped with nothing more than ketchup and mustard. Honestly, the Evergood hot links from Costco taste better--and cost a lot less. We tried all the BBQ sauces hoping for a miracle. Most were forgettable, but the Kansas City sweet sauce was actually pretty good. Unfortunately, the best thing I ate was a condiment. Overall, this was easily one of the worst BBQ meals I've had. Dry meat, weak smoke flavor, mediocre sides, and the highlight was one sauce. I won't be coming back.

    Utensils and sauces station
    Jensen F.

    My third times coming back here and I am just loving them! They have everything Friday early dinner has to offer. Music for Friday night. Good vibes with a bar. Did I mention that they have a great vibes with cool ass art work throughout the place. Totally the old feel nostalgic SF scenes I used to experience when I was growing up in Portrero Hill. People here give you a service with a smile. No matter how busy they are. Especially a lovely young lady and another woman by the counter. Sweet and very attentive. The sauce counters they have is three different area. Now the food, my favorite is the three items plates. Very good brisket that just moist and tender. My go to is their chicken and Louisiana sausage with brisket or ribs. Juicy and their sides like baked beans and Brussels sprouts is fantastic! Corn bread is to die for. So glad I live close by. A legit place to hang out on Friday or Saturday afternoon. Check out the pics below.

    Capelos  BBQ Redwood City
    Mark C.

    Capelo's BBQ in Redwood City is absolutely phenomenal! I ordered the two-meat plate with the jalapeño cheddar sausage and brisket, along with baked beans and potato salad, and every single bite was outstanding. The brisket was tender, smoky, and full of flavor, while the jalapeño cheddar sausage had just the right amount of spice and was perfectly cooked. Plus a huge portion.! Beyond the food, the restaurant is spotless and has an incredible atmosphere. With both indoor and outdoor seating, an open bar, and a fun, welcoming environment, it's the perfect place to bring family and friends. You can tell they take pride in both the quality of their food and the overall customer experience. I cannot recommend this place enough. If you're looking for authentic BBQ, great service, and a fantastic atmosphere, Co's BBQ is a must-visit. I'll definitely be back!

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    10 days ago

    Dry brisket, adequate but not amazing service. Ribs are skimpy and decent. Best thing? Their mustard sauce... fabulous.

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    Capelo's Barbecue Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Capelo's Barbecue

    Where is parking in this area? It doesn't look they offer a parking lot. Thanks.

    The parking lot can be accessed from MacArthur Ave, to the left of Capello's if you're facing the front. Or you can find street parking on Middlefield or surrounding streets.

    Do you cater?

    They definitely do and they are really good at it!

    Does the peanut slaw have milk?

    Skip the slaw No milk

    Do you still have ribs?

    Yes. They have ribs.

    No tritip here? For real? What's up with that?

    Tritip is not southern barbecue.

    Are there good places to eat around the To Go counter (like a park)?

    No, it's on Middlefield in a commercial business district. There's nothing walkable. However they might have outside seating in nice weather.

    Where is Capelo's today?

    Hello Daniel, We are in Oakland, Lake Merritt tonight from 5pm-8pm.… 

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    Los Carnalitos

    Los Carnalitos

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    Let me tell you, first and foremost, Los Carnalitos is anything but "just another taco truck." No…read moreway! This is literally the best hidden gem off the El Camino Real. Truly! I have experienced many a taco spot... and nothing compares to the utter freshness, flavor and bang-for-your-buck type of value that is offered here. Due to the Lenten season, my hubs and I were looking for a place that offered seafood tacos and this place was rumored to be the best. After stopping by on our way out of town recently, we knew instantly this was true. The aguas frescas are served iced cold and 100% fresh. My agua de guayaba and my hubs' agua de tamarindo were absolutely to die for. You could absolutely taste the fresh fruit for each. Now for the best part. On Friday's they have a special: $5 fish tacos with tortillas made fresh and by hand... complete with all the fixings. The fish is hand battered, made to order and served piping hot, dressed with cabbage, pico de gallo, and a combination of mayo and chipotle aioli. The picture simply doesn't do it justice, folks. Hands down, the best fish tacos in the area. 100/10. The team aboard this truck are friendly, quick and serve every dish up with a smile. Truly elevating the unique experience. While I was only lucky enough to stop for fish tacos, I look forward to future trips to Los Carnalitos for a sampling of their many menu options, especially the fried banana for dessert!! Note: this truck accepts both cash AND card... and they do honor door dash orders!

    Planned parenthood parking lot. $4/taco, they are generous with the meat. Suadero with everything:…read moreonion, cilantro, lime, red and green salsas. Devour in your car or take elsewhere to go. Too eager to dig in, I always forget to take a picture.

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    Super Burrito Carne Asada
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    Carnitas El Rincon - Redwood City

    Carnitas El Rincon - Redwood City

    3.9
    (68 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    Let's keep it simple and straight to the point…read more This isn't a big place. It's small, busy, and don't expect carne asada, al pastor, or a huge menu. They specialize in **carnitas**, and they do them really well. My husband had been wanting to bring me here, so we stopped in for tacos. From the moment you walk in, you know it's a popular spot. Seating is very limited, people are waiting outside, and there's always a lot going on. The carnitas were fresh, tender, and full of flavor. Everything tasted fresh, and you can tell they focus on doing one thing exceptionally well. My husband ordered the super burrito, and I'll just say this... my husband usually wins every battle against a burrito. Not this time. **Burrito: 1. Husband: 0.** We'll definitely be back.

    Canritas el Rincon has been around since '04, and they have multiple locations throughout the bay…read morearea - They are known for carnitas, and we had heard about this from a fellow passenger on the CalTrain, stating that the president of Mexico stated that this was their favorite restaurant of all time. HA. You can purchases these by the lb, but they also have plate and combo specials, burritos, quesadillas, and tacos. We went for a few orders of tacos, where the carnitas were piled high. Portions were generous and could be easily shareable. Staff were friendly. Super casual type of a place, most patrons seem to get their orders to-go. +known for their carnitas +super casual +friendly staff

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    Small place with no restroom
    Small place with no restroom
    Carnitas El Rincon - Redwood City
    Carnitas El Rincon - Redwood City

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    Capelo's Barbecue - bbq - Updated August 2026

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