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    Max City BBQ

    4.1 (1.3k reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated a few days ago

    Order Max City BBQ Takeout or Delivery

    Services - Max City BBQ

    Allergy-friendly catering

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    Business Info

    MAX CITY BBQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - Max City BBQ

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    Jennifer W.

    Max City was one of our favorite bbq spots in LA, and it met the holy grail of good meat and good sides. Most places have either good meat or good sides, not both. Max City did before, but sadly not anymore. We had the package to serve 6-8, so all kinds of different meats, which were excellent. The sides though - so sad they no longer have collard greens because theirs was one of our favorites. The slaw and beans were flavorless. The cucumber salad was just as tasty as ever. If we lived nearby, I think we would still go and just switch up our side choices, but it's a long drive from Santa Clarita, so I'm afraid we won't be back.

    Ket lime pie ..delish!
    Marie C.

    I really wanted to like this place. Decided to try this place and came during DineLA. They offered a big plate with assorted meat, 2 sides and dessert. The plate was was designed to share for 2. Because there was 5 of us, we ordered 2 plates plus a green salad with brisket and fresh lemonade and a wheat mango beer. Sadly, I found all the meats dry..pork rib 2/5, pulled pork 2/5, Jalapeño cheese sausage 2/5, chicken 2/5 and the brisket 2/5. Drowned each bite in their tasty BBQ sauce but it didn't really help. Tried 4 sides..bbq beans some of the beans were undercooked 2/5, coleslaw..tangy and crunchy 3/5, potatoes salad..potatoes were a but on the firm side 4/5 and the Mac and cheese..more gritty than smooth 2/5. Food came with hush puppies and.were very tasty with the right amounts of crunch on the outside 5/5. Each place was also served with cornbread muffins which were overbaked, dry and bit too toasty 2/5. Green salad with brisket was served with big handful of mixed greens and a decent amount.of brisket, again brisket was dry. It had few slices of radish and cucumber 2/5. Dessert came with for 2 cookies and big square piece of key lime pie to share 4/5. What stood out for this establishment is tgevportionbsize. Plenty to take home. The service impeccable. A++! We had the pleasure of 3 different people wait on us and they were all friendly, attentive and responsive and thus why we tipped over 20%. Felt quickly welcomed as we walked in and were immediately greeted by 2 staff. Loved that they also have their own private lot as this place is located on a busy street. Sadly the food just didnt hit the spot as we had hoped it would.

    Dine LA special
    Carissa P.

    The food at Max City BBQ was great! Went for the current DineLA special, which is $45 for a platter consisting of multiple meats (pulled pork, brisket, chicken, jalapeno cheddar sausage, baby back ribs), 2 sides, cornbread, hush puppies, and a dessert. Our favorites were the hush puppies, jalapeño cheddar sausage, and ribs. Filling for a party of two! We easily found free street parking on a weekend around 1pm, but I believe they also have a lot in the back. The ambiance was cozy and casual. I have to dock a point because every piece of silverware at our table was dirty, and service was lacking. Staff was nice enough, but no one checked in with us during our meal, and we had to get up and find someone to ask for water. They also have a great Happy Hour deal on weekday, so I'll try that next. Will be back.

    Cornbread!
    Jason L.

    I came here because I was craving some bbq and I didn't want to go too far from my house. The restaurant has a small parking lot in the back, which made parking very easy. I literally had no food in my refrigerator, so I got "The Weaknees". They ran out of brisket, but the waitress told me that the links were really good, so I opted for those instead. First, the sides were really solid. I liked the coleslaw alot, as it had a very refreshing bite, and I also appreciated that it wasn't too mayo heavy! The cucumber salad was good as well, it was a great palatte cleanser in between meats. As for the star of the show, the meats were all very solid! Overall, definitely happy with my choice today!

    Dine LA meal
    Kit T.

    Went here for the DINE LA special for $45 that serves 2 people. The Dine LA Special Includes: Hush puppies- be careful, they are really hot when they come out. The hush puppies goes well with their comeback sauce. It's crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I really enjoyed them. Meats: BBQ chicken- average, a little dry Pull Pork- soft and juicy Brisket- really dry and tough, I didn't finish my portion of it, it was my least fav Baby back ribs- soft and had a lot of flavor Jalapeño Bacon Cheddar Sausage- great flavors and was really juicy 2 Corn bread: usually I don't like corn bread because it tends to be dry but the corn bread here is really good. The inside is really moist and one of the best I've tried. Two sides that you can choose from but we chose: Mac & Cheese- was not bad, but nothing special Potato Salad- really good and had good texture. Dessert: Key Lime Bar- I can't be a good judgement of this because I never really like key lime pie in general but my Bf enjoys it. The meats here are ok, I like their sides more. There's limited seating on the inside but there are outdoor seating as well. There a small parking lot but that's usually full. It's better to find street parking on the residential street plus a little walking is a good for the health. The DINE LA set is really worth the price because I was really full after the meal and it feeds 2 people.

    HUSH PUPPIES (6)
    Renee C.

    Dine LA Menu: $45 dinner for two hushpuppies: they taste like the best part of a corn dog (the batter) in a great way lol. i personally loved them. crispy and soft in the middle. best meats: bbq ribs were soft and flavorful, nice glaze. pulled pork is juicy. jalepeño glizzy 10/10. all meats had a light smokey flavor. would definitely go back for these. sides: we got the mac and cheese and baked beans. the beans are very sweet and mac is a little on the chunkier side. both were good nothing crazy. corn bread was a little hard but still okay! brisket and bbq chicken were both average, a little dry, but adding their bbq sauce saved em. the bbq sauces are sooo good. especially the spicy bbq sauce, its not too hot but definitely has some heat and tastes amazing, sweet and smokey flavor. mild sauce is great too. the dine la menu was the perfect size to split for two!service was amazing, the vibe is calm. will definitely go back!

    Nick L.

    Decent barbecue, especially for the area. Was it mind blowing? No, but it hit the spot nonetheless. Their online ordering is super easy to use, but the parking is limited to on the street. Baby Back Ribs - Nearly fall off the bone but still tender. Pulled Pork - Impressed and surprised with the pulled pork. Not dry, great bark, full of flavor. Mac + Cheese - If you're looking at the mac n cheese spectrum of sauced up level, this is probably in the middle-- just enough (which by some accounts is not enough). Cornbread - It was better than most. Only a little dry, but good crumb. Baked Beans - Great flavor on the beans. Very savory and smokey. As with all barbecue spots, items can go out of stock as the day progresses. I unfortunately didn't get to try the brisket (which is what I use as a barometer for every barbecue joint I go to). Maybe next time!

    Serving tray for the weakness share.
    Marina M.

    You walk in and you can smell the smokiness coming in, which was a great feeling. The service was great so of course we are thinking it's going to be amazing. However when the food came out the meat was not warm or hot. We realized afterwards they were in warmers. The chicken and the ribs were definitely dry however drenching them in their amazing barbecue sauce made it better. The flavor was amazing and I would have loved to have seen the meats come out of a smoker. We were just bummed because we drove from Burbank to try the food.

    Potato Salad
    Monica G.

    Food was delicious! First time here and the service and food were great and welcoming. We sat by the window which made it like a nice lunch date. Recommend checking it out

    Joe C.

    Max City BBQ delivers a heavy, satisfying meal. I ordered the Everything but the Bird platter. It came loaded with brisket, ribs, pulled pork, and jalapeño sausages. The platter included six pieces of fluffy cornbread, and checking in on Yelp got us two more for free. The sides held their own. We added the mac and cheese for two extra dollars, and it was worth it. Creamy and rich. They were out of hushpuppies, which was a letdown, but the coleslaw, baked beans, and potato salad all did their job and rounded out the plate well. I skipped BBQ sauce and ate everything plain. The meat did not need help. It was tender, smoky, and full of flavor. The service was solid, and the portions were huge. I left full and happy. Max City BBQ hit the spot.

    BBQ is always killer at max city Photo - DeliCupLA
    Jason P.

    I left Eagle Rock sometime before Max City opened this is the former location of the first weed shop I ever went to way back in 2007, ERHC(Eagle Rock Herbal Collective). Fortunately, the BBQ being smoked here is an improvement on the low-quality product being smoked here before. Every time I come to Max City I'm impressed with the craft and precision the meat is smoked. The presentation is stellar also. Everything tastes good and sauce is on the side which I prefer. Go buy your weed at Cornerstone up the street on Colorado then come to Max's for the ribs -DelicupLA

    Beer & wine.
    Nikki B.

    Max City is a small family-owned restaurant that specializes in slow-cooked, southern-style barbecue. The meats are wood smoked over a blend of oak & hickory. Since I don't eat meat, this does not excite me. However, my friend, who grew up in Georgia, was craving BBQ so I brought him here. The place is small & cozy with bar seating and a few tables inside. The outside patio is spacious and dog friendly. We sat at the bar and received a friendly greeting from Mel (owner) & Bailey (server). They were both darling & attentive. My friend doesn't really like pork, but he ordered the pulled pork plate, which comes with cornbread and two sides. He selected potato salad & cucumber salad. We also got Mac & Cheese to share. I wanted to try the Hush Puppies, but the fryer wasn't working. The cornbread was amazing! It was warm, fluffy inside, & slightly sweet. The cucumber salad was Southern style - thin slices of cucumber tossed in a dressing made from vinegar & sugar. My friend said it reminded him of the one his mom used to make. The Mac & Cheese was creamy and delicious. The potato salad was tasty. My friend absolutely loved the pulled pork. He said it was awesome! The man sitting next to him was also from Georgia and is a regular here. They both agreed that Mac City BBQ is legit! If you love Southern barbeque, this is your spot. *Catering *Beer & Wine only *Free Cornbread with Yelp check in. *Parking lot in back and residential street parking.

    3 ribs and a chicken leg.

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    3 months ago

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    1 month ago

    Very disappointed ! Brisket was Dry. Ribs are dry and sauceless & the baked beans were crunchy :( would not recommend

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    1 year ago

    This place is awesome. Scrub brisket with delicious corn muffins. Will definitely be returning.

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    Page 1 of 33

    Max City BBQ Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Max City BBQ

    Do they still do happy hour?

    Is there a patio and if so, is it dog friendly?

    They do have a patio area, as for it being pet friendly I'm not sure, but I think it would be OK because everyone that works here is really cool and down to earth and as long as your pet is not attacking or molesting anybody else I think it would be… 

    I love barbecue but I'm allergic to nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers including red pepper spices). Is there anything here that might be safe for me to enjoy?

    Are the portions a good size? They're a bit pricey so I'd hope to get a good amount of food.I read some reviews saying they've been cheaping out on the portions lately during the pandemic.

    Portions sizes are average. It wasn't too big, but it wasn't too small.

    What time is happy hour?

    Depends on day but generally 5-7pm give or take

    Do they have Cheerwine here?

    Nope, I don't think they do. This place is really yummy-good.

    View All 7 Questions

    Craft by Smoke & Fire - LA Live - Brisket Quesadilla

    Craft by Smoke & Fire - LA Live

    4.5(996 reviews)
    6.6 miDowntown
    $$

    My wife and I were just walking through LA Live and received word from a hostess that it was buy…read moreone get one happy hour. So of course we jumped on it. I ordered the Blood In, Blood Out and my wife ordered the Hispanic! At the Disco. Both drinks were amazing. We also ordered an appetizer of their Smoked Hatch Chili Queso which was delicious in every conceivable way. Additionally, the hostess we first talked to and our waiter were both outstanding. A++ service here. We're definitely going to come back next time we're in the area.

    STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE!…read more When the employee lured us in, she said to go to the counter inside and wait for someone to seat us. There were several employees that saw us just standing there, but we still waited there for 5 mins before someone told the girl from outside to take us to our table. We were finally seated. Then guy who told the girl to seat us was just standing around d chit chatting with another employees for about 15 minutes before he even came to our table. He never even introduce himself. He just took our order. Another 20 mins came by before our food was served. OUR FOOD WAS ROOM TEMPERATURE. Short Rib was ok. The macaroni was stale and OLD! It was dry and not fresh! We asked for extra BBQ sauce and that didn't arrive for another 15 mins. We had to wave down another employee to try to get the sauce to us. I wouldn't recommend this place! Horrible service. Didn't even come around to see if we needed anything or if everything was good or not. We came here around 1:30pm on 3/16. The restroom was also out of paper towels and soap from the soda dispenser. Poor quality food! Glad I tried it, so I know to not come back again!

    Photos
    Craft by Smoke & Fire - LA Live - Mac Rib

    Mac Rib

    Craft by Smoke & Fire - LA Live - MacRib Sandwich

    MacRib Sandwich

    Craft by Smoke & Fire - LA Live - Nashville Hot Chicken Burrito

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    Nashville Hot Chicken Burrito

    The Park's Finest

    The Park's Finest

    4.2(2.7k reviews)
    5.0 miEcho Park
    $$

    Wednesday worker plate Pork ribs…read moreBrisket Cornbread To preface this review, I ordered takeout and ate the food roughly 1 hour after and was slightly cold. The Wednesday worker plate had an assortment of meats and a chunk of cornbread, which I thought was a good way to try some of their various offerings. The barbecue chicken consisted of a leg and a wing piece, which i thought was overall fine. The shredded pork was well seasoned and moist, and the hot link pieces were very flavorful. The beef adobo was my favorite as it had a very deep and rich coconut flavor that complimented the meat. The pork ribs were very tender and juicy and had a good meaty pork flavor. The brisket was also good too. Both these meats reheated well later in the day and was still tasty! The cornbread was also exceptional and eating it, I felt it was more like a dessert but also worked well between bites. The cornbread was moist more cakey, and had a very deep sweet coconut flavor. This is the standout. Overall delicious and recommend!

    Honestlyyyyy I've had this place on my bookmarks for quite some time and it didn't live up to my…read moreexpectations, especially considering all the recent raving reviews. We ordered four of the most ordered and highly revered items: tri tip, coconut beef adobo, smoked gouda mac, and the cornbread bibingka. * Tri tip: Ours was cold and not tender.. wasn't very flavorful either. Kinda tasted like the forgotten order that's been left drying on the counter for some time. The price is decent for an entree of tri tip though. Comes with a horseradish sauce + vinegar and bbq sauce on the side, but I didn't think any of these accompaniments were strong on their own. Made the tri tip better but not by much. * Coconut beef adobo: One of the better items. Beef chunks were melt in your mouth and the sauce was a good middle between savory and vinegary - balanced out by sweetness from the coconut. * Smoked gouda mac: Would not order again. The big shell macaroni noodles were soggy; the cheese sauce was mild in flavor, clumpy and not satisfying melty; lastly, the panko crust was just there and didn't add anything imo. * Cornbread bibingka: The other better dish of the night - very moist, muffin like crumb, and not too sweet or heavy. Portion is on the smaller side though. My bf who normally isn't a fan of cornbread enjoyed this!

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    The Park's Finest
    The Park's Finest - Short-rib, wow!

    Short-rib, wow!

    The Park's Finest

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    Maple Block Meat Co - Santa Fe Chicken Salad

    Maple Block Meat Co

    4.1(230 reviews)
    5.8 miDowntown
    $$

    I'm a regular at GCM, and while I don't stop by every single day, Maple Block is always one of the…read morefirst spots I look forward to visiting. It's a staple in my rotation, and over time I've really gotten to know the people there--especially at the bar. One person who truly stands out is Becca. She's usually one of the first people I see when I go to GCM, She is an absolute delight. because she greets me with a such enthusiasm or a friendly wave and a genuinely beautiful smile. Honestly, it almost makes me feel guilty that I don't come by more often! Recently, I saw a review about an incident involving a customer and one of the people who work here, so I feel compelled to speak up. If you come across any negative review about anyone here at the bar, I can confidently say it does not reflect the people I--and many others--have experienced. In all my visits, I've never once seen her or the staff handle anything with anything less than professionalism and kindness. As a patron, one of the main reasons I keep coming back to Maple Block is because of the people. The staff creates such a welcoming, positive atmosphere, which really stands out--especially in an area where you can occasionally encounter challenging situations. Take any negative reviews with a grain of salt and urge you to go see for yourself!!!! Maple Block has consistently been a great experience for me, and I highly recommend stopping by. 10/10 will come again

    Mediocre. Nothing to brag about. Service was just okay…read more Place your order and sit down. Gentleman at the bar counter wasn't super friendly. Literally just took the order. Food was just okay. Nothing to write home about. Seating is outdoors. Some fly fans would help make it more comfortable.

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    Maple Block Meat Co
    Maple Block Meat Co
    Maple Block Meat Co - Brisket Taco

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    Brisket Taco

    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

    4.1(213 reviews)
    6.3 miDowntown
    $$$

    I haven't tried their dinner AYCE at any Gyu-Kaku, but their lunch combo is easily one of the best…read moredeals in Downtown LA. For the price, it's hard to find anything more satisfying. I usually go with the Angus beef rib (soy tare) and toro beef (soy tare), and the combo comes with rice, salad, and miso soup. At $15.95 (before tax), it's a great value for two meat options. Another thing I like -- though it might not be for everyone -- is that you get to cook your own meat. I prefer my meat done a certain way, so it's nice having that control, and everyone can cook it to their own preference. One downside is that service can be slow during lunch hours, as they often seem understaffed.

    I came here for a lunch recently and I think this was a good time overall!…read more I don't really have anything bad to say about this experience. The place is somewhat small but does still fit a good number of people inbetween various booth and table sizes filled with grills in them. The staff were very quick and efficient and the food was pretty good overall. I got the beyond beef bowl as a combo. I do wish they let us know about the included miso soup wasn't vegetarian at first because I had to switch it for the seaweed salad later but at least the staff were very accommodating. I guess the negative would be is it felt like a "rushed" experience and the food didn't blow me away. But compared to everything with roast costs, I still think it's pretty decent and they have a good "happy hour".

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    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

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    Max City BBQ - catering - Updated September 2026

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