This place was our savior on Thanksgiving. We needed to bring BBQ ribs to a Thanksgiving dinner potluck, and our regular BBQ place ran out of meat too early and other places closed early for Thanksgiving. Thanks goodness for YELP and CJ BBQ. I found CJ BBQ on Yelp. We got there around almost 7pm on Thanksgiving. The restaurant was absolutely empty. We ordered pork ribs and beef ribs to go. After taking our order, the lady (i assume that she is the owner) started grilling the ribs, so they were freshly grilled and hot. She also put extra BBQ sauce for us. The ribs were very good. Everybody at the party loved them. Beef ribs had a lot more meat compared to the other place we usually went to. Pork ribs were juicy (because of the delicious fat!!!! ;-P ). They were very flavorful. So I ordered to-go, but I sat there to wait for my order, so I did look around so I could yelp about it. ;-P The restaurant is not small but not big. It has about 5-6 tables. They also have Korean BBQ ribs and kimchi here. There are still a lot on the menu that I haven't tried. read more

NOTE: this review and its one star rating are solely based on how it was impossible to get any food here. i have *NOT* gotten a chance to eat here. i had a livingsocial deal here. my girlfriend and i went there last night at 10pm. yelp says that the place closes at 11pm on a tuesday night. the place was closed. (and yes, duh, their website says the place closes at 9pm. my bad.) i got out of the car and looked for a sign with the hours of operation. there isn't a sign anywhere. so i called the place this morning at 10:51am. 408-229-9612, the number listed on yelp. i got a fax machine. i called again at 12:25pm. i got a fax machine. i made a second trip today (a wednesday) during lunch. it has to be open during lunch, right? i got there around 1pm, and the sign still said "closed." but, there was a piece of paper on the door saying, "open at 2pm." there was a lady inside, putting stuff into a big vat, and the door was unlocked. so i knocked, got a gesture that it was ok to open the door, opened the door, and politely asked what was going on. the lady said that she had to go pick up her child, and that she'd be back at 2pm. i also asked the lady what items were excluded from the living social deal. she first said, "check the menu." what? so i politely asked again, and she said, "the sandwiches." i spent an hour wandering around the four strip malls at the intersection of blossom hill and snell, and when i got back at 2pm, the piece of paper was still there, and the door was locked this time. no one was inside. i waited for 20 minutes. then i left. and i called the number again 2:37pm. i got a fax machine. i will not even try to get food here a third time. read more

I've driven past this place about once a month, but never stopped to check it out until I read all the positive reviews on Yelp. When I first walked in I was surprised by three things: 1) An Asian lady greeted me 2) The restaurant looked plain (not even one article of BBQ memorabilia on the wall) 3) There was no distinct BBQ/smoke smell (like at all other BBQ restaurants I've been to). Nevertheless, I decided to give this place a try and ordered the combo sandwich & beans. As soon as I finished ordering, my food was thrown on the grill and prepared fresh. That was a big plus for me because I know some bbq restaurants heat up their pre-cooked food by throwing it in the microwave. When I got home and bit into my sandwich, I was pleasantly surprised. The pork, chicken, and hotlinks had a lot of flavor and the sauce added to the experience. The bean tasted more like a stew with a hint of BBQ sauce than the traditional "chili" I'm used to. Overall, a very good restaurant. I'll definitely be coming back in the future. read more

I order takeout ribs all the time at this place, it's kind of Hit and Miss though as far as the quality, today quality not good at all. The ribs were overcooked had a not so pleasant taste and the bread hard as a rock not even edible. I tried to call back in maybe she could replace it didn't even answer the phone. That's $15 right down the drain, maybe should have gone to Armadillo Willy's at least they answer their phones! read more

We are new users of GrubHub.com food delivery service. This, our second time ordering through their website, we decided on CJ BBQ. We ordered tonight, Saturday @ 6:45, and delivery was estimated at 60-80 minutes... we were OK with that and ordered the Korean Ribs plate. It includes rice, kimchi & miso soup. We added an order of corn nuggets out of curiosity ;) It was 65 minutes later and our order arrived in a nice old-fashioned paper grocery bag, stapled shut. Inside were two styrofoam containers holding our dinners, two soup containers wrapped well with plastic wrap and the corn nuggets in a vented container to help avoided sogginess. I am pleased to say the portions are very generous...and tasty! Even better, the corn nuggets were hot & crisp! We are impressed, for sure, and will order from them again. Although next time we will may visit the location, as I noticed their in-house menu is a bit more extensive. read more

I was introduced to CJ's from a coworker and was super excited when I actually moved to the area making it close to home. MIXED SANDWICHES are the best ever! Get the extra sauce on the side for sure and extra napkins because it can gert messy. Efficient prompt service always. I highly recommend even with the "hole in the wall" atmosphere, down to business BBQ no frills just the yummy goods! read more

CJ BBQ - BBQ Rib Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

This place has been around for a long time and for good reason. The have good ribs and their combo sandwich for $5.95 is a super deal. It's basically a piece of bread overstuffed with pork meat and hot links and swimming in tangy BBQ sauce. Definitely one of those sandwiches you need to eat with a fork. Perfect for "linner" because you may not want to eat dinner after a lunch like this. You're better off getting your "garlic" bread elsewhere, though. It was soft and crunchy but it was more like "buttered parsley" bread. Summary: 3.5/5 stars rounded up +The famous combo sandwich lives up to the hype +Reasonable prices +Good enough ribs -Long wait time. Should call ahead. -Non garlicky garlic bread read more

I am so happy I finally got the opportunity to try this bbq. I ordered tghe ribs and chicken, and it came with an ample portion of delicious garlic bread. It is now my favorite place for bbq, and I am a bbq fan Going t here again today...mouth watering while writing this review. read more

Lady in back of the counter is rude, don't ask her questions. Besides that, the food is really good.

Have been eating here for over 15 years! This place is the best!!!! Love the rib n hot link sandwich, absolutely delicious.

ok - This place was good. I ordered BBQ Rib sandwich $5.95 good price, especially for the amount of food they give you. I ordered my sandwich to-go and when I got home and opened the box I was very sruprised by the size!! Wow they pack a lot of meat on it. Sauce was good more on the spicier side for BBQ. People were nice and prompt. This is a great hole in the Wall BBQ joint. read more

I swear if it wasn't for the banner, I wouldn't know this is place existed. I mean, they show up on yelp and all but their location is practically hidden lol Anyways, having finally found this place is like finding a treasure. Amazing food and awesome custom service - just the way I like it! =) I had CJs BBQ, 2 nights in a row just coz I can't have enough of it. First night was to-go, next was dine-in. First night, I was greeted by this really nice lady, Helen. She was all smiles and very cheerful as I took a while deciding on what to order. I settled on a rib combo sandwich and some ribs. As she got my order ready, she chatted me away and boy, was she fun! She made the wait really easy with all her stories and friendliness. Minutes later, CJ himself showed up and we all just talked non-stop. I had so much fun just chatting with them that I didn't realize I was there for about an hour until my friend texted and asked me where dinner was lol.. So I met with my friend and we dug into the food and man it was so tasty.. The BBQ sauce on the rib sandwich was sweet, salty and spicy and the meat on it was soo good. The pork rib was soo tender too, falls off the bone when you bite into it! We finished everything and were hecka full but apparently, our BBQ craving wasn't satisfied because.... The next night, we came back! lol.. This time we dined-in! We ordered the same thing, this time with a couple of sides, garlic bread and beans. As expected, the food was incredibly good and Helen and CJ were both there, interacting and entertaining us so all the more we enjoyed our meal! Extra points to CJ who gave us a couple of the beef ribs to try!! It wasn't as tender as the pork ribs but flavor was there and definitely tasty.. And hey it's free so I'm not complaining! =) This place goes in my bookmarks! See you tomorrow! lol read more

Ok ... to answer all you guys' question about the "Magic Johnson" poster on the wall - I talked to them about it several times and I was just there a couple of nights ago ... guess what ??? THEY TOOK IT OFF .. they have some fresh neon lighting, off white paint, and yes I felt a little sad to see Magic Johnson poster off the wall. I know the owners - they're not Japanese they're very nice Korean couples and who regularly comes to church. Enough of this on with the review ... I have to give them 4 stars because that's the only bbq place around my house and the service was quick and it's not expensive at all. They give you a generous portion and the hotlinks oh - soo good! They always offer me a free drink and extra hotlinks - I guess you have to have a familiar face - sure they'll give you extra stuff - follow my technique - smile and be friendly (always). my first review - awwww! Alex read more

It's expensive but the BBQ is damn good. When I first walked in - I wanted to walk out because there was no one inside. I was thinking there's no one in here because the menu is expensive. But then I realized as I was waiting for my food that the delivery guy was always rushing in and out - They deliver!!!!! No wonder! I love the Beef ribs, the pork ribs, the hot links, the corn bites - really good BBQ. The beef ribs are heavy with meat (i'm impressed). My bulldog loves it too ;) I dont visit the restaurant anymore - I LOVE DELIVERED BBQ :D (They charge $5 delivery charge) but the beef ribs are too good to say no :D read more

No free water. If you want water, you need to buy a bottle. They were out of short ribs, and my sandwich took over 20 minutes. Food was just okay, nothing special. read more

Good ,not great BBQ because it's Korean style(Not Texas Pit style). I always do to go orders from here for their rib/link combo sandwiches because eat in service is slooow. Portions are good..meat is not fatty and toasted garlic bread is good; I order potato salad as a side because if you get beans the sweet sauce on your meat will interfere with the sweet sauce that's in the beans.. It's hard to compare this place with Armadillo Willys cuz they're two different types of BBQ..Willys has gone up in price so I'll spend my money at CJ's read more

The food here is great. The bbq is good. The inside of the restaurant is clean and updated. I like getting the chopped bbq sandwiches. The potato salad is very tasty as well. Little hidden gem. read more

My Ratings: Quantity: 3 - Just right! Quality: 5 - Tasty chicken BBQ! Price: 4 - Affordable Location: 3 - Okay, big enough for a few people. Parking: 4 - Parking lot Service: 3 - Good Speed: 2 - Okay (only one person when I went) Overall: Good BBQ, I would go back for it! My Opinion/Story: I was in the area and hungry so I decided to check this place out. The food was really good but there was only one lady doing almost everything. She took orders, cleaned, cooked and served. So our food took a while. I ordered their BBQ chicken and we had to wait for more than 30 mins for it. But when I got it, it was really good. I dunno if I'd go back to get the same thing again if the wait is going to be that long. But they did give us some free fries for the wait. read more

CJ's is my neighborhood BBQ joint. Their prices are reasonable, and the food is always consistent. 3.5 stars, but I round down because they don't have good sides. My OCD thing to order here is their combo sandwich. They chop up ribs and hot links, throw it in a grilled bun, and squeeze sauce all over it. So good and so addicting! The first time you order it, you'll want to come back and eat it every day for a week. After about a month or 2, it will cut down to once a week. And since I had to lose weight for the wedding, I haven't had it in months. :( The place is owned by a Korean couple and their mom. The service is friendly for a Korean spot. No soup Nazi here. The decor is absolutely nothing fancy. Much like JC's, across town (the people who own CJ's used to work at JC's, and then they branched out and opened their own shop, so there's a bit of bad blood here). I would prefer JC's if I was doing ribs, but I don't do the ribs here at CJ's, plus it's closer to home. And between JC and Tony Romas, Tony Romas would win hands down. They don't have good side dishes, and their ribs are only OK. Get the sandwich. I promise, you won't regret it. Under $6, makes you holla! :) read more

Tried this place today for the first time and ooooohhhhh it was sooooo good.... bbq ribs are delicious the meat is so tender... we also got the corn nuggets and were satisfied as well, theyre a little sweet but taste great with ranch... we are def coming back to try the other dishes.... read more

CJ BBQ - Hubby couldnt wait to take the picture!!!! - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

drove by this place a couple of times and checked it through yelp. What interested me was the "korean" part on this page. So I went there and I had to try something thats more on the korean side. I ordered the Kimchi Combination Sandwich and wow was it delicious. I loved how the kimchi complimented the bbq sauce and how the meat that was in my sandwich was soft and tender. Not only that the serving was perfect. I didnt really know what to expect from this place since the location was kinda secluded. It's a family owned/runned business which is cool. I'm definitely going back here soon for my bbq cravings. read more

Hole in the wall mom and pop "bbq" spot. Food is mediocre. Only reason I'm giving 4 stars is because of the beef ribs. Only place in San Jose where I can find these kind of beef ribs. Nothing seems homemade. Sauce taste like it came out of a jug. Apps from a freezer. Only recommended if your family can't decide between American BBQ or Korean. read more

Update: I guess I was expecting something a little bit more Korean BBQ, but it was just regular BBQ. It wasn't bad. I got the lunch special with 2 ribs and 2 chickens. They had a nice BBQ sauce and came with garlic bread for $7.99. It's just not what I was expecting. Original: Came here twice for lunch, both times they were closed during regular business hours, no sign on door, but their lights were on read more

I've been goin here for a few years now! I love their BBQ. It's my favorite place. I was introduced to this place back in high school and have been addicted ever since. They know my order here and the couple is extremely nice and talkative every time I'm here. The portions are great for the price. You can't beat it. Some may say its not real BBQ but hey it's f*en good. Idc! Definitely give it a try! read more

First off...long time customer (15 years) at least. The food,especially bbq combo sandwich and potato salad is amazing! So this mediocre rating is only based on the service. Before anyone who's been here has a shit fit, let me explain. The employees are generally very friendly,although I only see Kaycee here but lately service has taken a nose dive! Literally been sitting here for the past 1/2 hour waiting on a simple bbq combo sandwich! Not only that,but a old couple that came in at least 10 minutes after I did somehow gets their food first? Wtf?! I hope it has nothing to do with the fact that the the man is Asian. I get it,it's good food,the employee(?) is nice but if they're having that much of a hard time providing reasonably quick service,maybe they should hire more employees. Seriously, at least ONE other person behind the counter would be great,unless having loyal customers say bye for good is worth it. read more

If you love southern BBQ and want a cheap lunch, then you can't beat their lunch combo. For 6.50 you get your choice of 2 of ribs, hot-links or chicken as well as a side of beans or potato salad and a piece of garlic bread. The combination sandwich is great too if you can't decide because it has all 3 of the previously mentioned meats in a sandwich together. If you have ever been to JC's BBQ on Saratoga, the food here is identical, and if you ask the people at either restaurant if they are owned by the same people they get extremely defensive and accuse each other of stealing their recipes. But the bottom line is that it's the same food, but Cj's is a lot cheaper. The only thing keeping this restaurant from getting 5 stars from me is the location and the service. The lady at the counter is always quite rude to me and my friends, plus if you don't call in your order it takes about 20+ minutes of sitting there waiting. Plus the restaurant just has a weird vibe which is why I would recommend this place for take-out, but not eat-in. read more

What can I say about CJs BBQ, Its one of those hole in wall no-frills places. You walk in and you see outdated restaurant seats and tables, an Ice Cream counter that is not used to serve Ice Cream, wrinkled posters on the wall, vine plants that doesn't belong in a food establishment, a plant that is being used as a wall divider to prevent customers from going into the backdoor, no restrooms, no waiting area, etc. etc. The BBQ here is one of the best I have tasted, especially the Combination Sandwich. Whether its eating in or taking your food to go, the service has always been slow. On this particular occassion, I had to wait over 20 minutes from the time I ordered until I my order was ready, and this was just 2 sandwiches. Good food. Lousy Service. But I guess if you have time to burn and want good BBQ, CJs would be a good stop. read more

Pork ribs = tender, juicy and right off the bone. Hole in the wall with really nice staff. The downfall is not being able to wash your hands in their nonexistent bathroom but they provide you with hand sanitizer. Oh yeah, I also really like the potatoe salad. It doesn't have that dill taste that I hate. read more

If you're looking for BBQ fresh off a charcoal grill, this isn't the place. Also, if you're expecting a beautiful restaurant with great service from a waiter, this also isn't the place (ie. you don't need to tip unless you really want to:) However, if you're craving for cheap, great tasting BBQ with huge portions, then this is the place. I've tried out the pork BBQ sandwich, the combo sandwich, and the lunch special with ribs and chicken and I liked all of them. The last time we went, we split 2 sandwiches between the 3 of us and that was more than enough. The sandwiches are pretty huge and they just cost around 6 bucks. The meat wasn't chewy or tough, it was just right! This is my favorite BBQ restaurant in S. San Jose. read more

I recently discovered CJ's hiding in the corner of a plaza that I've never been despite my residence in the neighborhood(ish) for the past 10+ years. Anyways, let's start with pricing. The food is reasonably priced for a BBQ joint with a fulfilling meal with sides and a refreshment to be well under $10. The food is always cooked on the spot with a decent menu selection from beef ribs, pork ribs, hot links, and sandwiches that include any combo of the already mentioned. The sides include potato salads, garlic bread, chili, and a couple others I can't think of right now. The sandwich is definitely where it's at though. If you want the business, get the sandwich. Bottom line, good bbq (not too dry or greasy), chill people and legit prices. read more

Tried the family meal a between 3 adults and 2 kids. It was delicious.some of the best beef ribs I have had.the spicy pot stickers were a bit oily but had the perfect amount of burn. Potato salad was also really nice but the beans were a bit underwhelming. Still all things considered I will definitely come back. It would be nice if their online ordering minimum wasn't $50 though. read more

The King Sandwich is the go-to. You won't be disappointed with anything else on the menu, but I've been going in for almost 20 years now, mainly for that pork rib and hotlink combo sandwich. Amazing. read more

I had a livingsocial deal here. I tried to go here a couple of times for lunch and was closed. I tried calling and was answered by a fax machine. I called again at 3pm and finally got an answer but the lady was very rude. My husband picked up the food for me and we ordered the Korean BBQ ribs. NOT WORTH IT...It was 3 thin slices for $11 and it came with no side dish...what a rip off. It wasnt even that good. I wouldnt recommend anyone going here at all....you dont even know if they'll be open or not. read more

Great ribs, great chicken every time. And i love the sides of beans. Last 6 times i have called or gone there they don't have any beans. "They aren't ready till 1pm" "I want to close early today, so i no make beans" I love those damn beans, make them. read more

mmmmm.... GOOD. I love their combo sandwiches (rib meat cut off the bone with pieces of spicy hot link mixed with bbq sauce. uhhhhhhhh *drool*) and the place is cheap. Six bucks for a great lunch deal that will keep you full, In fact, I think I'll go get a sandwich now. read more

Found this place when my friend and I were going to Burrito Factory. We decided to get BBQ instead. The BBQ was ok, for the most part. I've had better. I got the ribs and chicken plate for 7.99. It came with a pretty big sized piece of not so decently tasting garlic bread and a side of potato salad. The potato salad wasn't stellar. The ribs and chicken were ok, but they were put on the grill without sauce. When they were done cooking, the cook just put the sauce on the meats with a squeeze bottle before serving it up to us. Why there was an old school poster of Magic Johnson by the grill, I do not know. read more

If your craving BBQ and want alot of food, great BBQ sauce, at an awesome price, you must go to CJ dinner special 3 items of meats to choose from and 2 sides for 12$ ? Great local yummy deal. Location might throw you off, but CJ's has been serving great BBQ for more than a decade. Also it's a mom n pop shop with quick n friendly service. The grill is open so you can see your meats getting seared,. Yum! read more

This place is like a hidden gem. Location is almost where you would have to know its there to find it. Amazing bbq here! We have come here many times and wanted to leave them a good review and let the word out the food here is worth the effort to find. Not as pretentious as bigger bbq joints but if you in the mood for some good ribs at reasonable prices, fast and courteous service - put this place on your list read more

I usually really like this place, but I was extremely disappointed in my visit today. NEVER ORDER THE RAMEN, it's insta ramen that you can buy at 99 ranch market, lions or any Asian super market. read more

Damn good, but 4* cause of the lack of sides. No Mac n cheese, no mashed potatoes or nothing. read more

CJ BBQ - The menu - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California