4-11-2026 noon lunch 5 stars for consistency 5 stars for food quality 5 stars for great food taste 5 stars for pro employees 5 stars for fair prices Bikers4Fun.com riders will return for delicious beef & pork ribs! I'm Johnny B Good read more

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Believe it or not, this place actually has a really good veggie burger. I know that's not what most people go for at a barbecue spot, but if I'm not in the mood for meat and my husband is getting something like tri tip, it's a great option. I ordered it one time when I didn't feel like having meat, and I was honestly surprised at how good it was. That said, when I am in the mood, I love their tri tip sandwich with the spicy barbecue sauce, and dipping it into their beans just takes it to another level. It's so good that way. I also love driving by and seeing the giant chicken on the roof. And if you see smoke coming from the place while you're on the freeway, you already know it's time to pull over and grab a tri tip sandwich. Definitely one of those spots that keeps you coming back. read more

Strong 4/5. Good atmosphere, order at the counter, then find a table. I Alway judge 805 BBQ spots on their tri tip. Asked for medium rare meat. It came a bit dry, for MR... but had nice flavor. Sides were tasty. Underwhelmed by their sauces. Will be back, but not making a special trip. read more

Lou and Greg continue Bodacious barbecue as started by Marshall . Now with Sunday hours too . Excellent sides including corn salad , baked beans, chili beans, mac and cheese, cole slaw , potato salad and good tossed salad . Smoked meats great with beef ribs , pork spare ribs , tri tip medium rare if requested, perfect chicken and generous portions ! read more

So I was in Whole Foods about to buy brisket--of course they don't serve barbecue there anymore because, you know, Jeff Bezos' Whole Foods--but that's a whole other conversation. Anyway, the lady at the meat counter tells me, "Go to Marshalls." And I'm like, "You mean the department store with handbags?" She laughs and says, "No, Marshalls Bodacious Barbecue." Four minutes later, I'm pulling up and immediately hit with that glorious cloud of smoke. The smell alone could convert a vegan. There's a massive pit trailer outside with fresh wood burning, and inside it's got this western vibe--two order windows, a fridge of drinks, chips, merch, and a big ol' menu with a QR code for ordering. I asked what they recommend and the guy said, "Everything's good, but the brisket's my favorite." So I went for the brisket with two sides--macaroni and chili beans. He warned me the mac and coleslaw run sweet. He was right--it's sweet but it works. The chili beans? Absolutely killer. The brisket came stacked on toasted garlic bread (genius move), juicy, smoky, perfect bark, melt-in-your-mouth good. Three sauces to choose from--regular, honey, and spicy--and trust me, go for the spicy. And let me just say--the customer service was just as good as the food. Super friendly, helpful, and genuinely proud of what they're serving. You can tell they care about every plate they hand out. $24 later I had an amazing meal, plenty of food, and everything was spotless--two TVs playing, great vibe, and seriously some of the best brisket I've had in California. Run don't walk! read more

The food is amazing! Oh my God the portions of meat are astronomical! I'm here on Mother's Day 2026 so happy I came here all the way from Pomona Ca delicious! I will be coming again and again! read more

I hate cliches in reviews but this truly is a hidden gem. You can even drive right by and miss it. The wafting of smoke and the chicken on top and the smoker in the parking lot lured me into the best most bodacious Bbq. I can't get enough of the BBQ beans and the potato salad; I could seriously make a meal of that. I had the pulled pork sandwich and had to take half of it home. One of hubby's friends. who I wasn't that crazy about, brought a variety of meats to our house. It's all great. The rib meat falls off the bone. The tri-tip is insane, the chicken, divine. So his friend won me over with this. They have a small, clean dining room probably seats about 30 and a huge TV. This is not fast food but it is fast and most certainly food. We were there a little late for lunch hour and they were still doing steady business. Dr Pepper and diet Dr Pepper on tap! read more

Delicious!!!!! We were driving home & found this great spot for our lunch....no frills, in a strip mall near the freeway, a couple patio tables out front...You walk past the man barbequing tons of meat as you go inside to place your order....now unable to choose what you want because it all smells so good & you know it's authentic bbq!!! I had the tri-tip salad....the meat was 'to Die for' according to my lunch companion who snagged a bite before I Even got there!!...he was right, it was amazing....& it was a good portion & topped a nice fresh salad....filling, but not overwhelming. He got a pulled pork sandwich combo with mac n cheese...lots of drink options as well....the standard soda machine & lots of bottled choices. We left full & happy!! & the staff was friendly as well !! We'll be back read more

Marshall's Bodacious Bbq - Outside - Barbeque Near Me - Ventura, California

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I have tried at least 8 BBQ restaurants between Thousand Oaks and Ventura, and Marshall's is still rated as one of my favorite places to eat! The BBQ is so delicious with the brisket being my favorite. I forgot to take more pictures, but I have tried several dishes. Their beans, Mac & Cheese, garlic bread, just about everything is amazing!! Come here if you want some good tasting BBQ!! read more

Solid Santa Maria style BBQ joint with the waftings of a wood smoker enticing you from the front parking lot. They've got an interesting menu. I was a little disappointed with the lack of brisket, but they made up for it with tri-tip, beef ribs, pulled pork and sausage in salads, sandwiches, and even burritos (excellent beans!). A honey sauce and rib sauce are available to sweeten things up, but with that delicious wood smoked taste, you won't need much. read more

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The name of this restaurant is accurate. I don't use the word bodacious in my everyday speech but I do for this place. I don't usually like BBQ food, either! Their tri tip and sauces are amazing. The tri tip burrito is also really good (unfortunately, I don't remember which one I tried), as are these sides I've tried: Mac and cheese, corn salad, sweet potato casserole, and bread pudding. The bread pudding might be some of the best I've ever had. The prices are really good for the quality of the food here, service is fast, and the restaurant is low key and comfortable inside. Please check this place out and support it, but leave some bread pudding for us! read more

This is my go to BBQ. Not too expensive and they give you a lot. The spicy sauce can bring it. I like looking at that smoker when I drive by. read more

Amazing food and portions ! Service was absolutely fantastic! We got the tritip sandwich combo with baked beans, awesome flavors! 10/10 recommend ! read more

Good food, can be dry, but great sauces. The service is always attentive and pleasant. Like many bbq places, they need to update the ambience but it is always clean. With many of my siblings gone carnivore it makes a great place for us all to get together. read more

I do not care for the way they season their meat and their BBQ sauce is not very good in my opinion. Busters BBQ on Johnson Drive has much better flavor and their BBQ sauce is excellent! read more

Excellent food ordered the half chicken with the chili beans, side, garlic bread, and salad. Everything was nice and hot. Lots of flavor will definitely be back. read more

I get the steak sandwich almost every time. The sauce is solid. Service is basic counter service but they're kind and thorough. The only sides I've tried are the beans and they're good. Basic bbq joint, nothing fancy or special, but decent. A solid 4 star rating read more

I use to love Bodacious BBQ but the quality of their meat is so awful now. It is so chewy and fatty no flavor so disappointing. I had to throw out more than half the meat that was in the sandwich. I can't believe that there quality they offer has gone down so much. I used to brag how good it was to eat there. They still have the best bbq sauce but the tritip is not worth getting any longer. I tried to think it was just this time but it's been the past few times that I've come to get the tri-tip sandwich. The quality is just getting worse. I didn't even get to eat any of the meat so I basically had garlic bread and a side very disappointing. Please get quality meat that we can actually eat and not have texture like rubber. I don't think i will be returning for the food anytime soon. But i will get their sauces. Its sad my dinner ended up in the trash. :( read more

Marshall's Bodacious Bbq - To much fat marbling and made it impossible to eat. To chewy and never separated to break down. Disappointed in quality - Barbeque Near Me - Ventura, California

Marshall knows his meats (ex-butcher) and how to BBQ (on-site catering pro). Things to check out: house made (and bottled) BBQ sauces, and the best macaroni salad in town. Finally, take a look at the wall hangings, especially the photo near the coke machine called "The Gathering." read more

Just had the abolite worst customer service at Bodacious in the 17 yrs I've been giving them business. Never had I have such a hard time getting my order. Whatever male is at the register currently acting like a facist should be reprimanded or fired. Very disappointed in my experience with Bodacious. Tears! read more

This review is actually heartbreaking. I've been wavering if I even wanted to post it because it's a locally owned, small place. Let me say I'm not giving up, I'll try Bodacious again, with so many positive reviews this might be just an off (putting) day. Based on the food I think Sunday may be re-heat the left overs day? There was nothing on the smoker out front, so I assumed items had just been pulled off for service. It was a Sunday early afternoon, I had high hopes. The service was just OK, it seems like it was the young "B" team, more focused on each other than the customer. Between us we had a Pulled pork sandwich with a side item and the 1/2 rack, 1/2 chicken plate with it's two sides. I think that gave us a taste of most everything. First off, their BBQ sauce was very good and it really made the meats edible. The pulled pork itself was dry, what there was of it, and just blah. The roll it was served on was way too thick and dense and not very fresh... but that is just me, the quality was decent. The pork ribs were dry, grey in color and seemed re-reheated, lacked any real smoke flavor and there was no sign of a smoke ring. I ate two of the four bones and the dog scored the rest. The chicken was decent, a bit dry but still ok, had a smokey taste and a visible smoke ring. On to the sides: They were out of coleslaw. The BBQ beans were really good, in fact great! The highlight of the entire order. Raised this from one star to two. Next time I'll make my own pork and pickup a container of their beans and a jar of their sauce! The worst, the absolute worst part, the mac and cheese. It was disgusting. The cheese sauce had 'broken' the liquid had separated from the cheese solids. It was 'gritty' and nasty. One could see the separation, it had to be obvious to staff if they paid any attention at all. I've not had worse. How they could serve it is a mystery. Bottom line; clearly the owner needs to step in with more training and be on scene more. read more

Overall it's like a 3 at best 2.5 at worst. The Mac and cheese they have is the worst unseasoned Mac and cheese I've ever had 0/5 don't get it. The sides they give you are like 3/4 filled up on their containers, no matter what you get. Portion sizes are small, as if they're running low all the time. The meat is okay definitely a 3/5 but it's not a go to spot by any means. It's insulting to have this place rated a 4/5, you shouldn't have to douse your bbq in bbq sauce to have flavor and that's what you'll have to do here. read more

In my order was an all beef 1/4 pound hot dog that my son was eager to make a chili dog with. This is what we got... two kids turkey dogs in one bun. Now mind you, bodacious is an expensive place to eat at. I PAID $6.50 for an all beef dinner hot dog and got this. Our whole experience was ruined. The chili beans were extra runny, and our other items were very under par. My disappointment level was at a max especially since this was my Mother's Day dinner. Marshall let us down today, after 17+ yrs patronage. The customer service was awful as well. We spend no less than $85.00 per visit and this is what we get, back lip from some guy and shyte food. Shame on you today, MARSHAL. Very disappointed in Marshall's today. After nearly 20 years patronage of this restaurant I find myself giving a negative review. read more

Marshall's Bodacious Bbq - Wtf? - Barbeque Near Me - Ventura, California

Amazing food. Fast service and the staff was very friendly and helpful. Would recommend it for sure.

I ordered the chicken sandwich. $20 for the thinnest slice of dry chicken. I feel disappointed and scammed. read more

Marshall's Bodacious Bbq - Chicken sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Ventura, California

Marshall's was my place to go for BBQ, not anymore....If you want hot off the grill food, this is not the place for you. Do you like room temp leftovers? Then you may enjoy Marshall's. They have really gone downhill in the last few years. I ordered a half rack of pork ribs and an ice water. It took them 20 minutes to dig half a rack out of the back and there were only 2 orders waiting before me. Maybe there was a big "To Go" order, but I saw no evidence of that while I was there. It was not busy and only one incoming phone order during my stay. The guy handed me a paper plate with the ribs and said "here you go". No sauces, no utensils, no napkins. Guess you have to get your owns napkins and forks. I asked for a choice of their sauces and he handed me a small cup of whatever he had in front of him. I said "May I get some seasoned salt, please?" That took three attempts but I finally got the seasoned salt. I touched the ribs and they were cold. I got the attention of the teenage gal that rang me up. I said "could you get me some hot ribs? These are cold." She took the plate and handed it back to the fellow. Another lady came over and asked if I wanted them back on the Bar B Que to heat them up. I said that hot food would be great, so Yes! The guy on the outdoor grill heated them up for me. I had 3 ribs that were dry and chewy with little meat. I took the other 3 home for my dog. I am sad because I could always leave a not so great beef or rib place and count on Marshall's as a backup. This is mentioned in my other various past reviews. read more

Marshalls is amazing food. It hasn't changed in 1 million years that I can recall. There's a huge grill/smoker out front where they cook the meat and there is a medium size kitchen inside with the nicest most friendly staff. They always cook their food, the same - thoroughly and deliciously. It doesn't vary, which I love. Everything I've ever tried There has been delicious. My favorite is the tri-tip but the chicken is also great. Their sausage is amazing. Our family loves their mac & cheese and their beans. Even their garlic bread is good. They're also well known for their sauces. They even sell it in jars as well as their seasoning which we now use at home when we barbecue. I even have a brother-in-law that drives from Las Vegas to come purchase their barbecue sauce. It totally gives off classic barbecue diner when you walk in and there isn't a ton of seating but somehow there's always enough seating. The prices are a little high, but not overpriced in anyway. Their serving sizes are generous I literally had their food cater my wedding 15 years ago it's so good. Just looking for the monster size chicken off the northbound 101 and make sure you stop there to eat. ( just not on Sundays.) read more

Marshall's Bodacious BBQ? More like Marshall's Bland-n-Chewy. I've had more flavor chewing on drywall. The chicken was so dry I thought I was eating jerky from a gas station in 1993. The ribs looked like they'd been boiled in sadness, then slapped on a grill for 30 seconds just to check a box. And the 'famous' sauce? If mediocrity had a taste, this would be it--sweet, watery, and completely devoid of soul. Honestly, if this is what Marshall calls bodacious, someone needs to revoke his smoker. The meat had the texture of shredded cardboard marinated in disappointment. My taste buds filed a restraining order halfway through. I left hungry, heartbroken, and deeply concerned that anyone willingly puts this in their mouth. Save yourself the trauma. Just microwave a Hot Pocket it'll taste better and hurt less. read more

Worst restaurant experience in years! Ordered pick up for the last World Series game day placed the order at 1pm for 5pm pickup. Arrived at 5:10pm and the staff member said they were out of most of what we ordered - oops. And no substitutes available AND NO CREDIT OR REFUND because "the manager was out on delivery". We had NO food for our guests. We called later and spoke to "manager" who said nope, no reimbursement. Not sorry. Filed a claim on the website and nope, denied. This was our first time trying this place and believe me it will be our last time. DO NOT RELY ON THIS BBQ. Should have just gone to one we already know and enjoy. (Our local BBQ is in the process of building a new place so not open yet) read more

Absolutely the best spicy sausage in Ventura county. The Tri-tip sandwich was amazing and perfect medium rare. Chili beans is the best in town. I ate it there. The bbq rib sauce is delicious. A perfect meal, great portions and really good team behind the counter today. read more

One and done for this place. They assume people know what to do but as a first timer who ordered online when checking out it didn't say "check in upon arrival" so my food was sitting there. I had to ask the guy packing to go orders if mine was ready and he said "yeah it's been ready did you check in?" Then there is a sign that says "bbq sauce is put in all to go orders" well that's a lie because I had to go back in to get the BBQ sauce, although even BBQ sauce wouldn't help the driest Tri Tip I've ever scene. I would not try it becuase as I was walking out the guy BBQing was PICKING HIS NOSE. That's disgusting. I wasted $56 dollars, I threw everything in the trash after seeing the person BBQing PICKING HIS NOSE!!!! We will never go back to this dump. read more

Marshall's Bodacious Bbq - Driest, well done Tri - Tip - Barbeque Near Me - Ventura, California

Very disappointing.. I was in town for the day and searched all around for something good to eat and came across this place. I was excited based on all the reviews. Pulled up and see the big bbq going outside. Nice. Service was fine. Decent amount of seating. I got a combo with ribs, tri tip, beans, mac n cheese and a pulled pork sandwich. The ribs were terrible! So hard and tough you could barely get any meat off the bones. I had a huge pile of waste. The tri tip was decent but over cooked. The beans had potential but whose idea was it to put raw chunks of onion in them? That ruined them for me. The mac n cheese was straight garbage! Noodles were soggy over cooked/ recooked and tasteless. The bbq sauces were probably the best part. The bread was way think and dry but drenched in the sauce really helped. The meat on the pulled pork sandwich had a really funky flavor to it. Not sure what was going on there but I couldn't eat it. Ended up leaving disappointed and still hungry. read more

I got the tri tip sandwich with coleslaw. The service was fast. The facility was clean. The coleslaw was great. At first I thought my sandwich was on the smaller side but it was stacked with a lot of meat and the bread quality was great. I was surprisingly very full and satisfied after my meal. I was not the biggest fan of my meat but I didn't specify how I wanted it done. Next time I will make sure to specify how I want my meat cooked otherwise it was a great meal. I definitely recommend coming here! read more

Marshall's Bodacious Bbq - Barbeque Near Me - Ventura, California

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Bread pudidng is rich, warm, and comforting with the perfect balance of soft custardy inside and golden, slightly crisp edges. Moist and flavorful, with just the right sweetness and a hint of spice that makes each bite melt in your mouth. Perfectly baked creamy in the center and bursting with cozy flavors. read more

Delicious! Visited from Orange County. Went 2x in a day. Friendly service....sausage, ribs and tri tip are fantastic. Sweet potatoes are a great side. Thanks for the hospitality! read more

Disappointing. Food: Ribs had ok flavor but were overcooked. Definitely not as tender or smokey as I had hoped. Chicken was overcooked with no flavor, especially on the white meat. Thank goodness for the sauces or it would have gone uneaten. Corn salad was ok. Beans were decent but so are most cans of baked beans. Salad was small but mostly fresh. Garlic bread was bad. Tasted stale and didn't have a hint of garlic. Service: Friendly. Not much to say when it's talking to someone behind a counter. Location: maybe it's not a dinner place? They were closing out the back and patio while we were eating. read more

Tri-tip wasn't very flavorful and was chewy. They have Italian sausage and call them hot links...5 dollars for an Italian sausage and it wasn't very good either. Baked beans were good...$30. I could have gone to WoodRanch and had great service, food and all the bread you can eat read more

I will start this off with: I'm an expert level bbq cook and food snob. I've been here before and didn't remember my experience other than if I don't remember it wasn't terrible. Today I pulled in coming from Thousand Oaks with my "also a cook son" we ordered a tri tip sandwich, 1/2 chicken, potato salad & mac n cheese. The tri tip was awful, well done and grey brown on a soggy roll, the chicken was absolutely disgusting! It had wrinkled skin, obviously because it was cooked yesterday and reheated, I could hardly push the knife through it because it was so dry, Texas bbq is really just a lazy man's concept of grilling. The Mac n cheese was worse than the grocery store deli counter. Sadly the potato salad was the highlight of the meal, excellent!! I'm still trying not to vomit the chicken 7hrs later. read more

Tried the Tri-tip burrito for lunch for the first time, and I ended up wishing I had gone with a sandwich instead. Nothing special about it, just pretty average, and it felt a bit overpriced. The burrito had no rice, just a ton of beans, which made it way too watery and hard to eat. If I come back, I'll definitely skip the burrito. The macaroni salad was just sweet and nothing special. Pretty underwhelming overall. I'd give the score 2.5 read more

Amazing food, the potato salad was delicious. Its a place you go back to over and over.