I'd give Hard Times BBQ 4 out of 5 stars. Overall, we had a great meal. We ordered two combo trays and a full rack of ribs. We tried the brisket, tri-tip, and burnt ends, and every meat was flavorful, tender, and cooked really well. The sides were just as good--we had the mac and cheese, elote, and cornbread, and they all complemented the barbecue perfectly. The restaurant was clean and had a welcoming atmosphere. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because the service was a little slow, especially considering there wasn't much of a line. It wasn't a bad experience, just a bit longer of a wait than expected. That said, the food definitely made up for it. If I'm back in Marysville, I'd absolutely stop here again. If you're looking for quality barbecue with generous portions and excellent smoked meats, Hard Times BBQ is well worth a visit. read more

Hard Times BBQ - Full rack of ribs and three meats: Brisket, Tri-tip, and Burnt ends. Sides: Mac and cheese, Elote, and cornbread - Barbeque Near Me - Marysville, California

This place might be the most overrated place in town. The brisket is good, but everything else I tried is either mediocre to straight up gross. I went in yesterday to get some brisket, and then go to save mart to get my sides, and not only were they out of the one thing I wanted, but the worker was super rude about it. They also smoke the meat inside, and don't have proper ventilation. I was in there for less than five minutes and had to take a shower because I smelled like smoke. I won't be coming back . Rude replies from the owner don't help either. I've never been to another BBQ place, or any restaurant for that matter, where I have to take a shower after waiting in line. What a condescending rude reply that was. I'll make sure I let everybody I talk to know that this place is full a rude people and cafeteria food sides. read more

Good experience at Hard Times. Google searched BBQ and this is what popped up for us one county over, so it was our first time here. The assembly line at the counter needs a little work. At first one person asked what our sides were, then walked away, the cashier was like "did you want sides?" A third person popped up and asked our sides again. We were disappointed because we had big plans - I wanted brisket, hub wanted ribs, Grandpa wanted pulled pork etc. but the person cutting meat gave us a very curt "all we have is chicken and tri tip". Uh? Ok. No other explanation, a take it or leave it attitude. So we all got tri tip and back at the table we were talking about how we wouldn't risk the drive over again knowing they only make two things and don't have all the goodies on the menu online. Well to our surprise, we were going to leave after eating and we went to go order cobbler to go and the person I assume is the owner came out and was apologetic and saying "I'm sorry, we sell out of everything almost as soon as we make it, we have hot link and brisket now" oh! Ok that changes our attitude about this place. Crazy how a little bit of explanation and friendliness changes things. Decided to order a plate to go for later. BBQ scents wafting in the parking lot, you know it's good. Interior is clean and nice. Price point is high for the portion size - $24 for a 2 meat, 2 side plate. The meat was two thin slices of brisket and maybe 6 bites of hot link. The cornbread servings are huge, the Mac n cheese is really good. Elote was great. But meat portion should be larger for sure. In the future, would love for them to have a BBQ'd hot dog for a kid plate. Solid 4 star BBQ joint. read more

I love BBQ, but I didn't really like the meal I had. I was craving potato salad, so that's what I ordered. It came out and was loaded potato salad with cheese. I don't mind a loaded potato salad but if I knew it was "loaded" I wouldn't have ordered it. :/ The brisket had a strong flavor of smoked paprika? I think? It really overpowered the meat.. and I think it was in the bbq sauce too--which was watery and meh. The chimichurri was all oil. The Mac and cheese had a velveeta taste. The cornbread was...dry cornbread. *The beans were the star of the meal.* The interior was nice, the staff seemed helpful, but I don't think I'd want to return just because the beans were good. read more

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We found this place by chance while visiting the area for a concert. The smoker out front caught our eye. Glad we didn't pass it up! The brisket was amazing! Good ribs too but needed a little more meat on those bones. Flavor was excellent though! Red oak totally makes the difference from other bbq places. Loved the mac n cheese and corn bread. Service was very good; pleasant young men working up front. Will definitely go back there again when we're in the area. Try it!! read more

Hard Times BBQ - Brisket, pork ribs, mac n cheese and corn bread. - Barbeque Near Me - Marysville, California

Great food good service! Glad we finally have a bbq spot out here. The family that runs the place is great.

Finally stopped by and they did not disappoint. Parking around lunch time was easy and not busy but picked up around 12. But you can beat it if you come before then. Customer service was nice I left a tip. Loved that the first server asked if I had a preference and was very attentive. Workers friendly and helpful. Loved the setup and loved the Big American flag. Merch was also nice. Decent seating area tables in the middle and booths along the window. Clean and organized. Fountain drinks available as well as a choice of cans in a fridge by the register. I ordered 2 of the number two plate with 2 meats and 2 sides for $24. Price is decent you pay for what you get. Which is quality! The meats were excellently cooked and very Flavorful. Husband and I both agreed 5 . My kids ages 4, 2, and 10 months loved the food as well. My 10 month old daughter loved the brisket it was adorable. Cornbread was perfectly moist and every other side complemented the meats so well. Chicken was a lovely flavor. Definitely recommend a must try! Will do well in town and a great addition. read more

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I had my doubts about this place. Its actually tasted amazing. We took our items to go but will definitely come back to dine in. The service was even better. The staff answered questions, gave suggestions, and didnt rush us. The price was not bad for all the food we got. Best brisket and pull pork I had ever tasted. I was concerned because the staff put hot sauce on it instead of medium bbqs sauce but it was good. Ribs was tender. Sausage were a hit among my family. Im impressed with the Texas twinkies even through im not into spicy food. I did not like the corn or mac and cheese but it wasn't bad. Just not something I would order again. Definitely want to try their other sides and meats. Its nice to have a local BBQ spot that taste good. I wish them nothing but success. read more

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Finally, a legit BBQ spot in the area! I was really excited for this restaurant to open, and it absolutely did not disappoint. Authentic BBQ has officially arrived. I sampled several meats, and my absolute favorites were the brisket, the burnt ends pork belly, and the chicken. Everything was smoked beautifully and was tender, juicy, and full of flavor. They also have their own house barbecue sauce, which is a great complement to the meats, so definitely use it to your liking. The restaurant offers plenty of seating inside and even has some parking available in the back, which is a huge plus. Instant go to for barbecue. I can't wait to come back. read more

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Let me say the 5 stars is simply for the meat cause oh my gosh every piece of meat just fell off the fork! Came in 30 minutes before they were closing but the staff were very friendly and happy to serve us. Not a fancy place but has a dining area with wood tables and chairs. Let's start with the meats! The Dino special was a pound of beef ribs that was smoked so perfectly that the meat just fell off the bones! Not only was the meat juicy it tasted so delicious! The marinate was flavorful. The next meat was the beef brisket and once again I was not disappointed! The meat was easily scooped up with a fork that's how tender this was! The tri tip was good but lack a little flavor. Still just as good with some bbq sauce. The sides! The best sides were the fried beans! A sweet and tangy flavor it hit the spot! The mac and cheese was cheesy but the pasta a bit hard. The cornbread was also good with a little butter. The elote was probably the only side that was oaky. It was cold and didn't have much of a taste. To the chef you know your BBQ skills! Bravo! read more

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Great Local BBQ spot We ordered the 3 meat + 2 sides plate and our total came to $33. We got the tritrip, burnt ends, and ribs because they were out of rib tips. For the sides we got potato salad and cornbread. This is our 3rd time eating at Hard times, and today was definitely the best experience i've had in terms in food quality. The portions were good, the tri tip and ribs were amazing, tender and flavorful. the Burnt ends weren't my favorite, they have a large chunk of fat on the end, reminded me of chicharrones which aren't my style. The potato salad tasted like ranch, bacon and cheddar. I liked it. The cornbread was alright, i've had better. Overall for bbq the meat was good, and i would probably come back again! The restaurant is cute and clean, service was good, nothing good or bad to say about either. read more

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Go here! Do not wait! If you want excellent authentic Texas barbecue, then you're just going to have to go to Marysville to get it! I did! Smoked meats that are seasoned perfectly and fall-apart tender and smoked DAILY! Their set-up and equipment is impressive and something to see and taste. Family owned and operated and just a true labor of love. You can taste the love in everything including the sides. The sides are delicious, fresh and wholesome good ingredients! I give them a solid 10/10! I can't wait to go back! read more

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If you're in the Marysville area and want some good barbecue.Go see hard time, barbecue. Very good

The service was friendly, the dining room was clean. The food, however, was the best part by far. We had brisket, chicken, and pulled pork. All done to perfection and very good. The sides had good flavor and the beans were delicious. The dessert of peach cobbler was the perfect end to a great meal. I recommend highly. read more

Hard Times BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Marysville, California

Headed to a concert at the hard rock casino and needed something that wasn't casino food. Yelp brought up Hard times bbq and to my surprise was open after 6pm! I'm used to most smaller bbq places being closed during the dinner hours. Not hard times. They had a full dining room and a full parking lot. I was not surprised that at this hour they we sold out of a couple items including the pork ribs. No worries. Brisket and pork belly burnt ends it is! Both were very good as well as the sides. Staff was friendly and this business is family run. Would for sure return in the future. read more

Hard Times BBQ - 2 meat 2 sides - Barbeque Near Me - Marysville, California

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Ordered using the Hard Times app at 4:22 on a Saturday. Ordered two 2 meat plates for delivery. Both had brisket and ribs. The sides were mac and cheese and coleslaw. Also ordered an extra side of mac and cheese, corn bread and barbecue sauce. Total with tip was almost $100. Got a call at 5:10 from an employee saying they were out of ribs and mac and cheese. Literally half the order was not available. Had this order been placed through Grubhub or DoorDash, I could see the disconnect with running out of a product and still allowing orders. This order however was through their app and it took almost an hour to notify me. I cancelled the order. This was my first time ordering from Hard Times. Do not think I will be trying them again anytime soon. read more

I've been here before and loved the meat but today our brisket was very dry. I like that there's a variety of different flavors with the sides and most of them taste great! HOWEVER the beans are way too sweet imo. The ribs were also very sweet. If you like it on the sweet side you may like it, but I prefer more savory. Cornbread is pretty dry. It's always pretty messy at the counter and I don't like that they mix your Mac and cheese in a bowl because the bowl gets re-used so the leftover cheese from the last bowl they mixed just says in the bowl sitting out on the counter for who knows how long and gets mixed in with your bowl. It's very sketchy when dairy products get room temp. All in all this place is good when you're craving BBQ but I would come earlier in the day instead of closer to closing time so things are more fresh! read more

Hard Times BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Marysville, California

Good food, fair prices for bbq. I've ate here a few times during work trips and usually order online and pick up. Never had a bad meal

After driving by and smelling bbq in the air had to try this place. Parking in the bank and lots of traffic gave me a good feeling to start. We got 3 sandwich orders, 2 tri tip and one brisket. The Meat is delicious along with the sauce they put on the rolls and just what you would want for bbq, but some other areas were lacking. Our sides were potato salad and elote. The elote was good but our 2 orders of potato salad were horrible, seemed to be all sour cream and you couldn't even see the potatoes in it. The other issue was the prep area behind the counter was covered with dripped stuff etc and very unappetizing from our view. Someone needs to get the help to keep their station clean and not let it look like that. But we will go back! read more

Hard Times BBQ - behind the counter prep station - Barbeque Near Me - Marysville, California

We had a fantastic meal at Hard Times Barbecue! The tri-tip was tender and flavorful, the mac and cheese was delicious, and the cornbread was the standout--sweet, incredibly moist, and absolutely amazing. The brisket was really good too. What made the experience even better was the service. Tim, the owner, was out slicing meat, cleaning tables, and chatting with customers. He was so friendly and personable, and it was clear he genuinely cares about both the food and the people who walk through the door. The restaurant was spotless, and every staff member we interacted with was welcoming and helpful. We'll definitely be back! read more

Hard Times BBQ - Two meat plate: Brisket, tri tip, cornbread, Mac and cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Marysville, California

Came here with my boss while traveling home. Was there about an hour before my boss and watched a steady flow of people going into this place. When I finally went in the wait was about 15 minutes to order food. 1 person takes the order and plates everything. Could move quicker if more of an assembly line was put into place but we weren't in a hurry. Only reason I bring it up is I watch 3 different people wait 5 to 10 minutes and finally leave because they thought it was taking to long. The staff were very pleasant and the place had lots of seating inside. Parking not so much. Be prepared to park on the street if the small parking lot is full. Everything was very good and cooked to perfection. My only recommendation is putting the bbq sauce on the side rather than pouring all over the meats. Also have some other sauce options. The sauce was a little too sweet for me. Trust me I still ate all of it and enjoyed every bite. The ribs I did bring home were quickly devoured by one of my 24 year old sons. I'll be stopping here again on my way home from Chico. read more

Hard Times BBQ - Ribs, brisket, pork belly burnt ends, jalapeño sausage, potato salad, Mac and cheese, Cole slaw and beans. - Barbeque Near Me - Marysville, California

Amazing Brisket, low and slow with Prime Grade Beef is tender, moist and full of flavor. Mac and Cheese is very good and creamy. Pork Belly Burnt Ends are perfectly done and sauce takes them up a level. I have been to the Best in the West BBQ competition in Reno and Tim could match that crowd easily. I was going to show a picture of what I got today but it was gone!! read more

Hard Times BBQ - I ate it all so fast, but I forgot a before picture. - Barbeque Near Me - Marysville, California

Tried this place for the first time and it was delicious. My husband loved his spareribs and I had the burnt ends which were very good. The baked beans were really good and the Mac & cheese was good but needed to be a bit hotter. The corn bread looked good and will be tried on our next visit. read more

Hard Times BBQ - Ribs, burnt ends and sides. - Barbeque Near Me - Marysville, California

My grandson and I were finally able to stop by and try the barbecue here at Hard Times BBQ today. We had been looking forward patiently to their opening, and it was well worth the wait. We arrived a little after they opened at 11 am. Fortunately we didn't have to wait long. Wanting to try as much of the meats as possible and not break the bank, we ordered meat by the 1/4 lb. We ordered the brisket, rib tips, porkbelly and Jalapeno & cheddar sausage. For the sides we ordered the baked beans and cornbread. Everything was really good, including the bbq sauce. All the meats were juicy, and tasty. The beans had a really nice kick to them. The total cost with tip was $43. We thought the pricing was really fair, and we were pleasantly full when we finished. We are looking forward to coming back soon. We have already begun spreading the word, and have some friends who are looking forward to trying it out as well. It's nice to have such a good bbq place here in Marysville. We live in Colusa, but will gladly make the drive. On a sidenote, one of the owners took the time to come and talk with me. She expressed her gratitude for our patience in waiting for our order and thanked us for stopping by. She also said how happy they were to be in the community and how they were helping out by hiring locals. As busy as they were I thought that was a really nice gesture. Enjoy these pics. read more

Hard Times BBQ - Brisket, porkbelly, rib tips, jalapeno/cheddar sausage, baked beans and cornbread. - Barbeque Near Me - Marysville, California

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Best BBQ meat I have had in California period, excellent flavor and great side items, expect long lines . A must if you are in Yuba city, I strongly recommend you take some to go read more

We stopped here on a whim driving through. Wow! It was OUTSTANDING! Between the two of we tried the brisket, hotlink, tri tip, and jalapeno cheddar sausage. Everything was terrific! For sides we had coleslaw, corn bread, elote, and mac and cheese. Again, also delicious. I will day as a cheese lover the mac was honestly the best macaroni and cheese I've eaten from anywhere. It was so good. The service is quick! Cute ambiance as well. We will definitely make the drive and return! read more

Came in on a Saturday afternoon. It took about 20 minutes of waiting before we were able to order but we didn't mind because we knew it was Saturday and a new establishment. Very homely interior with a good amount of seating. They could implement a wrap around line to organize queue a little better, especially since the waiting area only fits a handful of people. Also hate this location for the busy roads that border it and the lack of parking. Huge blind spots getting out of the establishment. Just a caution. The food. We are a very big smoked meats family! We loved the ribs, pork belly, and brisket, we just wish we got more brisket. We paid $24 for a two meat, and $23 for a half rack. The sides were more generous. I usually don't prefer potato salad and I loved theirs :) All in all, it's worth the wait and worth checking out. It is a little pricey and the location sucks, but I'm hoping they can expand a move elsewhere. read more

Hard Times BBQ - Pork belly and one slice of brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Marysville, California

The food was great..my wife does a great job in the back yard but it's to hot so we went to hard times it was great read more

Hard Times BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Marysville, California

Stopped here on the way up to Bucks Lake had the brisket so UHMAZING probably some of the best brisket I have ever had. Stopped again on the way back and tried the Tri Tip and Rib Tips very good as well. Beans were fire ! Definitely coming back. read more

If you like good food and the woman scooping your Mac n cheese into a bowl then taking your payment to complain to her coworkers right in front of you about how you didn't tip then this is the place for you! read more

Hard Times BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Marysville, California

Had pulled pork, which was really good. My friends raved about the burnt ends. Can't wait too late to go in, they do run out and real BBQ isn't made quickly. Only reason not to get 5 stars is the sides are really busy (beans had bell pepper, potato salad had cheese and I like plainer foods. An ingredient list posted would be helpful. The day we ate inside the flys were horrible, so we ordered out next time. read more

Flavor was Fire... The temperature was Ice. If your stomach is craving a savory, smoky hug, this platter delivers on flavor. I dove into this tray, and here is the breakdown: * The Brisket & Bark: Absolutely gorgeous. That dark, peppery crust had deep flavor, and the meat pulled apart exactly as you want it. * The Sausage: Great snap, juicy, and seasoned perfectly. * The Sides: That potato salad is a mountain of creamy goodness, and the mac and cheese was the perfect comfort-food companion. The "But": I really wanted to give this 5 stars, but the food was missing one ingredient: Heat. Everything tasted incredible, but it arrived lukewarm. BBQ this good deserves to be served piping hot so the fat melts in your mouth. Pro Tip: The flavors are so spot-on that I'd still come back--I'll just be sure to ask them to pull mine straight from the smoker next time! read more

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It's just ok. Parking is hard to find and the parking lot is tiny. The restaurant is nice inside and the folks working there were very polite. Food was just ok. It's "Subway" style in that you go down the line and choose your meat & side options. My trip tip was flavorful but a little dry. The cornbread tasted very sweet (which I like) but was dry like it wasn't fresh. The potato salad was terrible. Very sour for some reason. Prices were normal for the area. I probably won't be back but it's worth checking out of you like bbq. read more

The BBQ can be hit or miss but when it's good it's so good. I especially love the elote corn and Mac and cheese. Yum

The food was amazing. The ribs fell off the bone. The mac & cheese was cheesy. The cornbread was on point. I do have to say this barbecue spot is really good. It was just a line, but it was worth the wait . It was nice and clean inside with lots of room to sit down and eat . I drove from Sacramento. It was worth the drive will definitely be back. Got home the food was still good 30 minute drive but boy oh boy read more

Hard Times BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Marysville, California

Went in to see about catering an event. Top tier service. I was prepared a perfect tasters platter. Daniel knows how to treat a customer, made me feel very comfortable and was perfect in helping me with everything I needed. Thank you again. They have my business for the Catered event that is for sure! read more

Hard Times BBQ - Exceeded expectations!!! - Barbeque Near Me - Marysville, California

Amazing food, customer service and atmosphere. The BBQ is the best I've had! You won't be disappointed. All of the menu items are seasoned just like I would season them at home! Amazing!!! read more

We first tried them at Taste of Yuba-Sutter and could not wait for the restaurant to open. Since it opened, my husband and I have been here a bunch, and it has delivered every single time. The portions are great for the price, the sides are all delicious, and I'm picky about my meat, so that says a lot. We especially love the beans, mac and cheese, and the elote. My parents have even come in from out of town and loved it so much that now my dad always wants me to bring him beans when I go visit, which honestly says everything. One of my favorite little things is smelling the BBQ when I drive past on my way into work in the mornings. It just has that real hometown BBQ feel, because it is. I also love that the pitmaster has come out into the dining area a few times to check in. That personal touch really makes it feel like a local place that cares about what they're serving. So good, consistently, and such a great hometown spot. read more

We had our son's first birthday party here today and had an amazing experience. Our large party of 12+ got an assortment of plates and sides and everything was delicious all around. The service was awesome and they were very accommodating and so sweet! Our only suggestion would be more highs chairs and changing stations in the bathrooms. This is about to be a family favorite for us for sure! Thanks Hard Times! read more

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Came in this afternoon and tried a little of most the meat on the menu, everything was delicious!! Everything was tender and moist with so much flavor. The burnt ends were drenched in a delicious bbq sauce that had just enough kick to it. The turkey was moist and very flavorful. Tri Tip was tender and seasoned perfectly. The brisket was a family favorite, fantastically seasoned and was like slicing into butter. The jalapeño cheddar links were phenomenal, cheesy and delicious with just the right amount of kick. Can't wait to come back to try the Dino ribs and Texas Twinkie! Service was quick as we came in-between the lunch and dinner rush hours. We got ours to go but there was plenty of open seating in the dining area. We will definitely be back! read more

Hard Times BBQ - Brisket, Jalapeño Cheddar Links, Tri Tip, Turkey, Burnt Ends (Pork Belly) - Barbeque Near Me - Marysville, California