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    JR's Barbeque

    3.7 (880 reviews)
    ModerateBarbeque
    Closed 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order JR's Barbeque Takeout or Delivery

    JR's Barbeque Photos

    JR'S BARBEQUE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - JR's Barbeque

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    After passing by J.R.'s Barbecue in Culver City more times than I can count, I finally decided to stop in and see what all the buzz was about--and I'm glad I did. Like many small businesses, J.R.'s adapted during the 2020 pandemic by leaning into takeout service through its walk-up window. What started as a necessity became a winning formula, and today the restaurant continues to thrive with that approach. While it's primarily a takeout spot, there are picnic tables outside if you'd like to sit down and enjoy your meal on-site. The experience begins the moment you walk up to the window and are greeted by owner Robert Johnson. His warm smile, infectious energy, and genuine hospitality immediately make you feel like family. In a world where great customer service is becoming rare, Robert reminds you how much a friendly welcome can elevate a dining experience. I ordered a hot link sandwich and potato salad and spent some time chatting with Robert while I waited. The beef hot link was absolutely delicious--flavorful, perfectly prepared, and packed with that classic barbecue taste that instantly transported me back to my childhood. The potato salad was equally satisfying and brought back memories of a beloved local barbecue spot that sadly is no longer around. Not wanting to stop there, I also ordered a half slab of ribs, brisket, mac and cheese, and barbecue chicken to take home. Every bite reflected the care and attention coming from Robert and his kitchen staff. The ribs were tender, the chicken was flavorful, and the sides were exactly what you hope for when you're craving authentic barbecue comfort food. J.R.'s Barbecue is more than just a place to grab a meal--it's the kind of neighborhood spot that reminds you why local businesses matter. Great food, generous portions, welcoming service, and a genuine sense of community all come together here. If you're anywhere near Culver City, do yourself a favor and stop by J.R.'s Barbecue. Come for the delicious barbecue and homemade sides, but don't be surprised if the warm smile and heartfelt hospitality from Robert Johnson become just as memorable as the food itself. Highly recommended. 5/5 Stars

    Lizann D.

    Received refund after power outage and returned. The meal was decent. For a small business that specializes in this dinner I expected a bit more, but at the same time, not much. There was flavor but nothing impressive. The selection of sides were very limited for the plate. Adding a side wouldn't have been cost effective. Didn't get enough bang for my buck so not sure I'd return for a third attempt. I tried Ribs Against The Machine in Burbank recently and that was more of what I was looking for.

    Enrique M.

    I have mixed feelings about this place. My friend and I went and had to sit and talk about the pros and cons. For the both of us our visit came out to $50. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with baked beans and a side of onion rings. My friend ordered a salmon burger with potato salad. For my order I think the sandwich was ok. The only turn off for me was the soggy bread. The portion of the beans was a little small for the price but wasn't a huge deal for me because they were too sweet in my opinion. My onion rings had what appeared to be blue lint on at least 4 of them. I pulled said lint off and ate them anyway. Besides that the onion rings were also ok. My friends Salmon burger in his words "was not worth the price" also he thinks the potato salad was too sweet as well. So for being advertised as "The best BBQ in LA" we do disagree. It wasn't terrible but will most likely not return.

    Ron L.

    I have passed JR's barbecue 1000 times as I grew up in Venice and Coached soccer in Culver City and I've never stopped in despite smelling that wonderful barbecue smoke as I drove by telling myself I must stop. Well that ended this weekend as I pulled into this small joint partly because I was stuck in traffic as much as the Sirens smell of bbq lured me in. After parking in the small lot in front I surveyed the menu and stepped up to engage in a wonderful friendly conversation with Robert. We discussed the restaurant, Memphis, different styles of ribs and I ended up ordering the baby back ribs with medium sauce and a side of slaw. JR's used to have indoor seating but after Covid they went to only a take out window operation. I see the reviews are all over the place but the ribs were very large and meaty particularly for baby backs. This was some big baby and the medium bbq sauce at first bite surprised me with the heat but after that I really enjoyed the flavor and tangy sauce on the meat. The addition of pineapple in the slaw made it very refreshing coupled with the ribs. Each experience is a personal one and being celiac for 26 years Robert took the time to tell me exactly what the ingredients in what I ordered and the ribs, sauce & slaw are all gluten free. That is not that easy to find as many places use rubs and/or flour in their bbq sauce. For me, the friendly and informative service along with the ribs and sauce hit the spot.

    Outside
    Sakol M.

    Thought this place was closed, but it's open today. I walked down from Whole Foods and got lucky on a Sunday afternoon. The outside looked empty, but the vibe is in the air, 'cuz you can smell the smoked meats! The order taker at the window was nice. I ordered two pounds of Memphis style beef brisket and a quart of collard greens to take home. At the time, the collard greens weren't ready. So I got lucky the greens were cooked long enough to serve. Freshest collard greens ever. I went with a mild bbq sauce and a medium bbq sauce. I should've gotten the most super spicy sauce. Driving home with the smell of meat wafting in the car was bonus luck strike extra.

    Canceled order.
    Lauren A.

    Ordered through DoorDash an hour before closing and the order was canceled. I didn't noticed until I realized my order was late arriving. Don't have the DoorDash service on if you're not taking orders.

    Three meat combo, potato salad, beans, corn on the cob, and side of BBQ sauce.
    Renee P.

    I don't understand why these restaurants are so inconsistent with the quality and taste of their food. I ordered a half slab of baby backs, half slab of pork ribs, and the chicken links. I placed my order through DoorDash and called the restaurant to make sure they were still serving the same chicken links. I'm sure it was the owner who I spoke with because I have spoken to him in the past about that dry a$$ chicken. He told me the chicken links are the same, that's not true. The texture was off, they were not the same. I didn't order sides because I had cooked my own. I should have cooked my own meat too. The only flavor the BBQ sauce had was sweet and it was too thick. I had to add water, Liquid Smoke and Cayenne Pepper.to make it edible. Phillip's used to be my go to for BBQ, but they fell off too. Bludso's is not the same since the Pandemic, and I have only been to Woody's once, never to return. I know where Phillip's used to get there chicken links from, I will go there, buy my links, any other meat I want, and cook my own BBQ. I am not going to spend over $70 for subpar food anymore. I almost forgot, when I mentioned that the chicken is dry, I thought he was going to say, not anymore, we took care of that, but nope, he just said, "I understand." I know some of you will be like me and say to yourself, I'm going to try JR's anyway. Good luck, maybe your experience will be different. The posted pictures are not from my most recent order. After all the work I did doctoring the sauce, I realized the meat is nasty, no smoke or charcoal flavor, just nasty. I have never had BBQ that tastes so bad. I decided it was better to throw the damn near $80 worth of meat in the trash, rather than eat the sh$t. The trash worthy food are the most recent photos, posted May 10, 2025. Please forgive any typos, was typed on a mobile device.

    BEEF RIBS DINNER
    Kenneth S.

    One of the best BBQ places period! It is great to have a place in your neighborhood where you get this type of barbecue. We came in on 11-23-24 around 5:30pm to get dinner. I ordered the beef links dinner along with beef ribs dinner. Everything on the menu is so good. The side are amazing which I ordered potato salad and mac n cheese. The order taker was Dee W. and he is really nice and pleasant. Looking forward to coming back!

    BABY BACK RIBS SLAB FULL SLAB was so delicious and tender.
    Denise V.

    Omg I have been here for years. I was passing through town and had to stop. I did not regret it. Prices are so reasonable for the food they serve. This is the best bbq ever. Sorry Lucille's and Gus's, you can't even compare. Their bbq beans are like no other. It feels good to see that this restaurant is still here and is serving the best bbq. I definitely have to come back.

    Outstanding THREE MEAT COMBO beef brisket to go

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    Awesome bbq sandwiches, Love this place. The service was also enjoyed there peach cobbler. Great food and dessert can't ask for more.

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    Page 1 of 22

    Ask the Community - JR's Barbeque

    Can we dine in?

    Not since covid. There is outdoor seating though.

    Is this place anything like JR's of Beverly Hills?

    No. This is a small independent southern style BBQ. Right now doing take out (and maybe delivery).

    Just stopped by and it looks shut down? Are they still in business?

    They're still in business! Delicious as ever!

    Can this restaurant accommodate large groups around 8-12 people comfortably?

    Yes it can! They can easily arrange a table for 12 for you. Very friendly staff. I would call in advance to let them know since it seems to be a popular restaurant. Hope this helps! :)

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Holy Cow BBQ - Culver City

    Holy Cow BBQ - Culver City

    3.9(1.3k reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    Holy Cow... hasn't been here since pre-pandemic! So updated review based on a more recent visit. My…read moredad hadn't been here so it was a perfect time to give the ribs, brisket and tri-tip a try again. We got the 4 bbq deal that comes with 2 sides. Get the coupon online for $10 off! Ribs were the tastiest. Not overdone and slathered with their signature BBQ sauce. While I'm a dry rub person, the sauce was sugary but ok. The brisket was second and then the tri-tip was alright. Overall the beans and slaw sides and the garlic rolls were probably better than the tri-tip and the portions were so tiny for what you pay. So it is these days.... Though I do recall it feeling the same back on the day when I first tried out HC when they opened. They have a variety of brews on tap and happy hour not for the bbq but the sandwiches if you wanna not break the bank. Lots of salads and sandwich options if you wanted to not focus so much on the BBQ. Dining inside is ok. For a Friday night there weren't many people helping out in the front of house. Staff were friendly and it's got a chill vibe; they've got 2 TVs if you wanted to catch a game. Parking is the free valet kind since the shopping center is packed with eateries with little parking. From someone who's had BBQ from other parts of the country... not sure HC is a must have. But it's not a bad option on the west side that doesn't have much BBQ to write home about.

    We came here for the last game of Dodgers vs Yankees. I…read morereally enjoyed my meal. I had the bbq chicken with coleslaw. The chicken was really good and ate it all, I even used my hands to eat it, coleslaw was different but really good as well, and the garlic bread was exquisite. We shared the key lime pie which was exquisite. The ambience was amazing and the people who help us were awesome and very helpful.

    Photos
    Holy Cow BBQ - Culver City - Crispy fried chicken, next time I'm going to try it in a sandwich.

    Crispy fried chicken, next time I'm going to try it in a sandwich.

    Holy Cow BBQ - Culver City - Corn bread was delicious with there butter.

    Corn bread was delicious with there butter.

    Holy Cow BBQ - Culver City - The chocolate bread pudding was by far one of the best!

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    The chocolate bread pudding was by far one of the best!

    Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que - Two 2 Meat Build Your Own

    Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que

    3.2(1.3k reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$

    I had a wonderful dining experience at Lucille's in Valencia. Ca. From the moment we arrived, the…read morestaff made us feel welcome and provided attentive, professional service throughout the entire meal. Our server's wwee knowledgeable about the menu, and ensured everything was perfect without ever being intrusive. Whom ever ís running the kitchen ís doing a exceptional job because the The food was equally impressive beautifully presented and full of flavor, clearly prepared with fresh, high-quality ingredients. You can tell the kitchen takes pride in both taste and presentation. Everything arrived at the table promptly and cooked exactly as expected. Overall, the combination of excellent service, delicious food, and a comfortable atmosphere made for a truly enjoyable experience. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a great meal and outstanding hospitality. I look forward to coming back again soon.

    It's disappointing to see what this brand has become. There was a time when it was a staple in my…read morehousehold--I could travel for work and still rely on their food to take care of my family. Sadly, that's no longer the case. Like many others, it seems they've started cutting corners. The quality of the food has noticeably declined, and it's clear the staff aren't being treated well. It's not surprising that people don't want to work here anymore. This location used to be one of the best, but that level of excellence is gone--and it doesn't seem like it's coming back. I honestly don't understand how it still holds a three-star rating; perhaps those reviews are coming from customers who haven't invested as much time or money here as my family and I have over the years. At this point, my biggest concern is for the employees. As the brand continues to decline, they'll be the ones forced to move on and find new opportunities. I genuinely wish them the best.

    Photos
    Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que
    Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que - MACARONI & CHEESE , bbq baked potatoes

    MACARONI & CHEESE , bbq baked potatoes

    Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que

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    Baby Blues BBQ

    Baby Blues BBQ

    3.9(2.8k reviews)
    5.7 miVenice
    $$

    THIS FOOD HEALED US. Service was absolutely incredible/personal. Didn't know it was the OG Baby…read moreBlues location. Tasted identical to the Philly one (I haven't been since 2016). Will be going back for nostalgic BIG reasons specifically $1 wings weekdays 4-6pm (mon to thurs OR mon to friday - sorry my memory is fuzzy for the range perhaps call first before heading if you want this deal) Memphis ribs - 9/10 Brisket - some parts dry tough but the parts that weren't were GOOD 7.5-8/10 BREAD PUDDING 10/10 Fixings- corn bread 8/10, Mac and cheese 8/10, corn 5/10

    Baby Blues BBQ is great. It is ever so cute and clean and the service is just the best. We have had…read moreit for pick up and dinned there. The service is great, no matter which way you go. They are nice and know their menu well. I personally love all their sides and can make a meal just out of those. Their Hush Puppies and Fried Green Tomatoes are the best. Their Baked Beans are great as are their Cole Slaw, super tasty mac and cheese and you will love their collard greens. Their fried okra is the best and we love their mashed potatoes and pork and beans. You have to have their cornbread and pay the additional 0.50 C for the honey butter. All of their BBQ meats are great. We love their brisket and their tri tip is wonderful. You get corn bread and sides if you order it as a platter. Do that. Their baby baked ribs are so good and they come in different sizes. You can even get a great pork sandwich. Have fun.

    Photos
    Baby Blues BBQ
    Baby Blues BBQ - Memphis Style Ribs with Pulled Pork

    Memphis Style Ribs with Pulled Pork

    Baby Blues BBQ - Decor

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    Decor

    JR's Barbeque - bbq - Updated September 2026

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