I came here last Saturday with my family and it was our first time. I have had this place on my list for a while now to try out and it was worth the wait. First the restaurant is extremely clean and welcoming. The interior is really nice. The bar and patio are beautiful. The whole place felt welcoming. The staff provided amazing service. Our waiter was Dillon or Dylan. Sorry if I spelled it incorrectly. He was great and gave us some great recommendations. Even when the shift changes were happening the bar tender came by and said bye as well and wished us a great day. It was a small but nice touch and great customer service. Now what we're all really here for the food and drinks. Drink wise we tried the blood orange paloma, a margarita, and some beers which were all delicious and cold. For the food we started with the brisket fries which were savory and delicious. The fries were thin and crispy which is just the way I like them. We also got the All Da Smoke platter which had chicken, brisket, pulled pork, and pork ribs. It came with 3 sides so we got the corn bread with honey butter, corn, and mac and cheese. Everything was perfectly seasoned and tender. We enjoyed every bite we had. Also one of the best Mac N Cheese I have had in a while to be honest. Overall the food, drinks, staff, and ambiance were a perfect 10 out of 10 for me. I can't wait to come back and eat here again. Thank you Dylan and Mule Car Smokehouse for the delicious food and hospitality. read more

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I wish I would have loved my visit at Mule Car more! The ambiance is super cool, it seems to be an old bank that was renovated. There is also a nice outdoor patio. Our food was pretty good - although wished for a bit more of a kick. Overall food wise, we really liked the smoked chicken, ribs, and mac and cheese. Sadly it was our service that let me down. Our waiter and the other man working seemed to be pushing us out of the restaurant - they closed at 8pm and around 7:15pm we were still finishing our meal and they started stacking chairs on the tables around us. Sadly we were not offered a dessert menu, which we were all looking forward to having because we saw photos of the funnel cake fries on Yelp. I would want to try this place again and hopefully try some other options! (: read more

This is the second time we have tried to eat here and when I say ... I AM BEYOND DISAPPOINTED.... I am not exaggerating! First time we tried they were closed for a private party but it was not noted anywhere on their yelp page or when you call. They had a tiny paper taped to the door but you could not see it till you were standing at the door. Now we go today (Father's Day). No where on yelp or their website does note anything about reservations. I called about 30 minutes before going over there to confirm what time they were open till and what the wait time was, not once did they mention reservations or not having enough food to accommodate walk-ins. Once we arrived, we were ignored completely but several servers made eye contact. Finally someone came and asked if we had reservations and if not they could not accommodate us because they didn't have enough food unless you had a reservation. There were only a handful of tables with people but more empty tables available. How the hell does that work? I have worked in the food industry and my husband currently works in the restaurant industry, there is no way we could get away with saying that to customers. So beyond disappointed and will not be trying to go for a third time. Don't waste your gas or time!!!! read more

Food: we ordered A Lil smoke, $51, shared within two people. I thought there would be larger portion, just felt like we got more meat at Dave's BBQ with similar price. - 0.5. The flavor were all amazing! The meat were super tender with light flavor, so adding the BBQ is the best way, which I like. I dont like the food too salty. Corn bread, rice and refined beans were all good. Quite a few choices of tap beers and also cocktails. They also have a few Mexican dishes. Price: average, wish the portion is a little bit more. Service: only two staff on the floor, not a busy day, they were nice, but I think if there is one more staff, the service response time will be better. Atmosphere: love it! Nice old building with good decoration inside. Overall, we will come back read more

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Delicious pulled pork sandwich here today. Small cole slaw and tater tots made for a great lunch. Wonderful BBQ sauce. We have wanted to come here for a while and glad we did. We will definitely be back again to try some other offerings. read more

I had been wanting to try this spot out, so I came for a girl lunch with my best friend. The food is good nothing crazy, the meats are decent but the sides could use some work. I looooove baked beans and these were not the best the Mac and cheese was also not traditional and could use some work. The tater tots tho? Delicious and crispy. The drinks here are pretty good and they have happy hour on weekends too! The service here was amazing the workers are very sweet and attentive. I will definitely come back to see how the vibe is on a busy day. read more

Mule Car Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Ontario, California

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We had this on our must try & we were glad we did. We went late on a Sunday afternoon in hopes it would not be too busy & got right in. The brisket was perfectly cooked. We have found most places around overcook it & it is dry. There were only two of us so we got the Southwest Salad & Lil' Smoke platter, but, we will be back to try other items! read more

Mule Car Smokehouse - Brisket, ribs, beans, & mac. - Barbeque Near Me - Ontario, California

Mule Cars were an early form of public transportation in Ontario, and they operated as part of a street railway system that began in 1888. Paying homage to this once vital form of transportation, Mule Car smokehouse serves up Texas style BBQ in the heart of Downtown Ontario. My darling girls and I stopped in for lunch on a lovely Saturday afternoon. Immediately I noticed the brick walls, which reminded me of the South. Our server was a sweet gal who provided friendly service. First item of attention was drinks: Smoked Cherry Manhattan, Oaxaca Old Fashioned, & Strawberry Smash. The Strawberry Smash was tasty & refreshing. Featuring a Mezcal base, the Oaxaca Old Fashioned was an exceptionally smooth sipper. I could taste a hint of smoke & cherry in the Smoked Cherry Manhattan. It was particularly good. My only complaint was that it was a skimpy pour. The Coupe glass was half empty. Three quarters is acceptable or filled to the top would have been better. We ordered Onion Rings & Nachos to start. I could tell the onion rings are made in house. They had a cornmeal coating and came with a side of homemade ranch. They were delicious. The nachos were comprised of house made chips topped with cheddar queso, sour cream, Pico de Gallo, cotija, & pickled jalapeños. These were addicting. My girls got the Brisket with Mac n Cheese & Tri-Tip with Street Corn. Oozing with cheesy goodness, the Mac n Cheese was another winner. The street corn was also delish. They both agreed that the Brisket was better than the Tri-Tip. My Southwest Salad contained romaine, corn, pinto beans, Pico de Gallo, cotija, tortilla strips, and a chipotle Caesar dressing that was fantastic! This salad was bomb! I definitely enjoyed my visit here. The food & drink were yummy and the company was priceless! *Drink specials every day from 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm *Large outdoor patio with view of the park. read more

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We had a party of 4 and had thw most amazing time. Our server Dianne was friendly and helpful with our menu questions. The drinks and food were great, can't wait ro go back. read more

Mule Car Smokehouse - All da smoke platter - Barbeque Near Me - Ontario, California

First off, customer service was 10/10. The bartender greeted me immediately, offered me a drink right away, and took the time to explain the lunch specials along with his personal recommendations. Great first impression. I ordered the brisket with mac and cheese. The food came out in about 5 minutes, and the presentation was excellent. The brisket and mac and cheese were both very good, definitely something I'd order again. What really stood out to me though was the portion size. For $19, getting 6oz+ of brisket with a solid side of mac and cheese felt like a great value. Bonus points for having Mexican Coke available too. What I appreciated most was how unique their BBQ flavor was. I can't fully pinpoint the ingredient, but I picked up what tasted like a tamarind note in the sauce, and surprisingly, it really works. It gives their BBQ a distinct flavor profile that stands out from the usual spots. Overall, great service, solid portions, fast kitchen, and a unique BBQ flavor that makes the place memorable. I'll definitely be back. read more

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The food and service was marvelous. Our waiter's drink and food recommendations were on point! Delicious! I order the steak fajitas and tamarind margaritas. read more

After many visits to Texas, I am always on the lookout for great BBQ. This place is a local gem offering hearty portions with great sauce and cooked with no seed oils. The restaurant has a modern industrial design inside an old building in downtown Ontario. They serve the food on beautiful plates which elevates the ambience. One of my local favorites. read more

Mule Car Smokehouse - Brisket & Tri-tip - Barbeque Near Me - Ontario, California

10/10. Wife and I were in Ontario on Sunday and looking to grab some food. Came across Mule Car, it sounded good so we decided to try it out. Cool spot with indoor and outdoor seating, really liked the layout. It wasn't busy when we were there so service was really quick. We ordered the Lil Smoke Platter (for two) which came with ribs, brisket and 3 sides. It was all absolutely amazing, ribs and brisket were really good, sauces that came with it paired well. We will definitely be back! read more

A little disappointing, to say the least. We were sat at a table that had a serious gnat/fruit fly problem. The whole dinner we were swatting or trying to catch small flies. It felt really unsanitary. The waitress was kind, and we also felt attended to during the meal with drink refills. The brisket was VERY chewy and dry and I felt the ribs were oily. We all shared the lil smoke platter and it was enough for 3 of us. The barbecue sauce was underwhelming - the spicy sauce was just their regular sauce with a little spice in it. Usually barbecue sauces have variety in bbq places. The French fries were also overdone. The refried beans were alright but very salty. We also drove all the way here for the dessert which was the funnel cake fries and were told at the end they no longer had them despite them being on their Yelp page. My friend was disappointed. I have had amazing TX barbecue in the past, and this doesn't even come close I am afraid. I had a stomach ache driving home from this meal. I can't recommend this restaurant. read more

Come to this delicious Texas Style Barbecue in Ontario, CA. This restaurant used to be a historic bank converted into a cool smokehouse. They have Ribs, Chicken, wings, nachos, etc. This is my second visit. Ordered 1 meat Brisket with 3 sides-Cole Slaw, Mac & Cheese, Cornbread 2 Taco plate with rice The meats are so tender, juicy and tasty amazing in barbecue sauce. All the sides were excellent. Virgin Strawberry Mojito was refreshing. Friendly staff and great service. Highly recommended. read more

Mule Car Smokehouse - Strawberry Lemonade Mojito - Barbeque Near Me - Ontario, California

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I was so excited to try this place and show some love to businesses supporting the downtown revitalization, but it did not live up to my expectations. The building is incredible and the vibes alone are five stars. The drinks were also pretty good. I came when they first opened and the food was okay, but nothing special. I decided to try it again recently. I appreciated the happy hour prices, but the food was again disappointing. It was not warm and presentation was sloppy. Overall, it is a nice place and I'll probably go back to try a different dish. read more

Came here one Sunday with family and had to come back for $1 wings on Wednesday! My PawPaw had a smoker in the back, and these brought me right back to Dallas so many years ago. The smoke is PERFECT and their buffalo sauce is so specifically fully of flavor and great - I've never had anything like it. Perfect amount of spice, too. Service was good, and the place felt very reminiscent of a downtown loft. Exposed brick steel beams. Chill music playing. My toddler loves their side of mac and cheese, but they have plenty of options (sides and kids meal) for the little ones. Haven't been outside of lunch, but I imagine they sell out quickly. If you're a BBQ head, you know how long these things take to cook - if they're out, they're out! Better to come for lunch to make sure you get your pick. read more

Mule Car Smokehouse - Lunch and happy hour menu - Barbeque Near Me - Ontario, California

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This is a great little bbq joint tucked away in Ontario. I was expecting it to be yet another high cost small portion place that a lot of barbecue spots tend to be, but it isn't. I found my spare ribs more than ample, so much so that I had to take part of it home when before the meal I had been considering getting a double portion. And for $12 that's an effing steal. I found the ribs juicy, joyous, and just plain tender. Even without the great in-house bbq and spicy bbq sauces I would eat these ribs all day. And both the bbq beans, cute in its own little bowl, and the Jalepeno cheddar link were great side items. I found the service superb, like way more attentive than a place this size usually is. I was checked on and refilled often, and mostly without having to stop anyone. Speaking of size, there is plenty of space here for parties of all sizes and configurations. I'm actually considering getting my next event held here because bbq is my favorite food and this place is just cool as hell. If you haven't been, get here as soon as possible. And if you have been, I think it's time for you to return to you barbecue home, don't you? read more

Mule Car Smokehouse - I'm just a kid and life is a nightmare Spare Ribs & Jalepeno Cheddar Link Combo w/ BBQ Beans from #MuleCarSmokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Ontario, California

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Ordered take out for my family. Great food and great service. Would definitely come here again and try sitting in. The space looks nice.

Today I felt like a regular. Only my second time here. But the Mia's warm welcome and inviting smile has made both visits a great experience. I've come to check out the dodger game and struck great conversations with locals. Mia has suggested the brisket burrito and the $5 world cup michelada. Hit the spot! The rest of the staff, still learning names here, have been aces. This says a lot about the leadership here and their standards. I look forward to catching more dodger games in the near future. Specially, when I feel welcome. read more

We just ate here for the first time and cannot recommend this place enough. We've had all kinds of brisket from the south and this place takes the cake. Mouthwatering brisket, great sides (recommend the apple butter and corn bread) and awesome vibes. This place was clean, kid friendly, had lots of TVs for game days and had awesome service. Our server Dario was attentive and had great energy! We will be back! read more

Mule Car Smokehouse - Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Ontario, California

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What a wonderful spot! The food was absolutely delicious, and Dana Sand's service was truly fantastic. She was so attentive, funny, and incredibly friendly--made the whole experience even better! read more

We enjoyed a great night Jan. 2nd at Mule Car Smokehouse, all six of us throughly enjoyed the incredible food. The building is just a great vibe, but truly our new friend Ryan was next level service and attention to detail. He has a unique way describing different dishes and welcoming my entire family. This is just a great place to enjoy Family Time, Thanks Ryan & Staff Fred & Glenda Comeau read more

Mule Car Smokehouse - Family - Barbeque Near Me - Ontario, California

Food was excellent! Meat came off the bone. DELICIOUS! Service was great! Dario was funny and handsome! Lol. Atmosphere was chill, and beer is great! read more

Mule Car Smokehouse - 4 person BBQ plate. Bomb and lots of food. - Barbeque Near Me - Ontario, California

We've been meaning to check out downtown Ontario and we're glad we did yesterday. We came in at a perfect time - Happy Hour! My husband and I tried a couple of drinks each - good pour and very delicious. Great job to Enrique and Ryan - they are amazing and super friendly bartenders. We were not really hungry so we just had chips with salsa and queso - they were perfect. We will definitely come back and try their bbq, wings and smash burgers! read more

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I've been there twice so far with a good friend, first time on Saturday last month and second time this past Friday both for lunches and both times great times. Saturday part was not too busy, I had the tri tip with a side and was very good not too much fat and female server was good. Fridays lunch was busier but still very good. This time smash burger (was good and fries which make server informed they didn't had thick fries instead. I'll order it again without sauce (has onions which dislike) Place is good to come again but wishing the music wasn't very loud. read more

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Very helpful and delicious food and drink, wonderful brisket.. quick service and comfortable ambiance... thank you Johanna our server ..

I've been to Mule Car twice now and had the same experience twice because I'm a creature of habit! Its about 2 blocks from my office, so I first dropped in at lunch because I really wanted a baked potato for lunch and a check of the menu showed they do a loaded potato with BBQ brisket or pork in it. I sat at the bar and ordered my food to go from the bartender. She gave me a glass of water while I waited. Its really nice inside and the bar is awesome, with anything you could want. I'd love to hang out and have some cocktails, but I was at lunch so that's a no! My potato came out quickly and I took it back to the office to eat and it was really good... and HUGE. Large potato with butter, sourcream, cheese, choice of meat (I order the pulled pork - quite tasty). Its really enough for two. I liked it so much that I recently went back and did it all over again. Exactly the same way with the same result. I will go back and I'd like to actually go in for dinner with someone else so we can try some other items! If I do that, I'll report back. read more

I usually enjoy my time at mule car, but unfortunately, they took away their happy hour on Fridays. It was one of the only restaurants around that did happy hour on a Friday, which was amazing at the time. That put a damper on date night when we found out. The chicken wings were also pretty dry today. Our server was sweet and amazing they always have the best workers and service was quick. read more

Mule Car Smokehouse - Baked potato with brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Ontario, California

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Came here to eat for the fist time and it was great. Dana was a great server and made good recommendations. Will come again

The food is nothing special. Average id say. The location is pretty cool with the old building but there was very little customers with no vibe at all. Price was ok but if im craving some BBQ, id go elsewhere. I can see this place attracting more customer with better food and drink deals. There's definitely potential! read more

Oh the beef ribs! Get these juicy delights before they run out. Full bar, and excellent service from the staff. This property is a part of a Soeak Easy, and a Tapas Bar. Mule Car is a can't miss experience. read more

We finally been able to visit our neighbours restaurant and even if it took us 2 hours to get here, it really worth the drive! As a starter we ordered some fried pickles and a pretzel,what was delicious and than we got the loaded pulled pork potatoe with sour cream, green onions and cheese sauce, the mexican street corn and the ribs with fries and the best coleslaw we ever had. I am not a rib person, but this looked soo good, I needed to try and it didn't disappoint! Everything was soo delicious! And after all these yumminess, the owner was soo kind and sent us some extra food to try, like pulled pork nachos, brisket and mac and cheese. The prices are very good as well, for example that huge potato with everything was 15$ and that big plate of ribs were 24! Dillan was our server and we couldn't ask for a more kind, fun and professional one! Thank you guys for everything!We definitely gonna be back! read more

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We order our food mind you it's about 7:00 PM we order a appetizer it takes about 45 minutes. We asked the waiter how long for our appetizer she brings it out. We wait another 30 minutes no food a total of an hour and 15 minutes two couples that arrived after us got their food, our server was so disoriented not a fan of this place. read more

Love this place! As soon as you walk in it's an amazing vibe. Very warm and classic. Greeted and seated right away. Asked if it was first time here and was given some recommendations. Started with the fried pickles. Really tasty and not oily like most places. Breading was flavorful and crunchy. Ordered the Lil' Smoke Platter. Amazing! Ribs have good smoke plenty of meat and cooked perfectly. The Brisket was some of the best I've ever had. nice bark on the edges and lots of flavor. Not dry and again cooked to perfection. Sides were street corn coleslaw and corn bread. All were delicious. Next to the meats were pickled and raw onions and pickles. Perfect accompaniments. Requested the spicy bbq sauce. Great flavor with just the right amount of spice and heat. The menu has a good adornment and they also have daily specials. Great place for happy hour and concerts in the park. read more

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We had the brisket nachos and the loaded potato with brisket -- both were incredible! The nachos were loaded with flavor and the potato was pure comfort food. Big shoutout to our server, Dario C., who gave us amazing service -- super friendly and attentive. Great food + great service = we'll definitely be back! read more

Mule Car Smokehouse - Loaded potato with brisket and nachos with brisket with a side of coleslaw. Two black berry mojitos - Barbeque Near Me - Ontario, California

The food and service were great. We ordered the onion rings which were good and unique--very crispy and the breading tasted like breading you'd put on fish or something. It worked so well together! We also ordered the brisket plate w Mac n cheese. My cousin got it with the baked beans and my husband got it w cornbread. The Mac n cheese was perfect. I like that it's the baked kind, not the creamy sauce kind. The baked beans were great but the cornbread fell flat in my opinion. The brisket was good, tender and flavorful. Some pieces were dry but overall it was a delicious meal. Oh we also ordered drinks. The blueberry mojito was perfect for a hot summery day and the tamarindo margarita was also delicious! read more

Mule Car Smokehouse - Tamarindo margarita, salty crew beer, blueberry (or blackberry??) mojito - Barbeque Near Me - Ontario, California

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This place is huge. Located in a beautifully restored historic fire station, Mule Car Smokehouse immediately impresses with its airy, open layout, exposed brickwork, and vaulted ceilings . The casual yet trendy vibe is elevated by leather booths, a stylish full bar, and inviting outdoor patio seating--perfect for relaxed meals or catching Sunday Funday games . As one visitor remarked, "a spacious, beautifully decorated former fire station" with "original exposed brick work" made the setting truly "stunning" . Mule Car delivers a compelling menu of Texas-style barbecue and Tex‑Mex, featuring standout smoked meats like brisket, pulled pork, tri‑tip, spare ribs, and smoked wings . Spare Ribs: Tender, juicy, and expertly seasoned--an immediate favorite for many . Brisket: Smoky and flavorful, though a few diners have found varying texture--from melt-in-your-mouth to slightly dry, depending on the cut. Pulled Pork, Smash Burger, Tater Tots & Onion Rings: The pulled pork is savory and satisfying, while the loaded tater tots and crispy onion rings are frequent side hit picks. Sides & Drinks: Cornbread with honey butter is a crowd-pleaser. Drinks like the Strawberry Smash and Arnold Palmer are often praised for their inventiveness and refreshing quality On the beverage side, the full bar offers creative cocktails and mocktails--with some hiccups noted in drink consistency Mule Car Smokehouse offers a combination of relaxed, historic ambiance and hearty, flavorful barbecue. Whether savoring spare ribs, loaded tots, or a creative cocktail, you'll find plenty to enjoy. While service may occasionally lag, the quality of food and warmth of atmosphere make it a repeat-worthy destination. read more

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loved the vibe here. located on the corner of Holt and Euclid. You can park along the street where the housing is or on Euclid. they were busy on a Saturday night. normal tables were going to take 30-45 minutes so we opted in to sit at the bar. they had live music outside. love that bar is open to the back patio and we were getting a nice breeze coming in. it used to be a bank before mule car. we ordered their baked potatoes with pulled pork and two meat option (brisket and ribs) with mexican corn, mac n cheese and corn bread as side and got beer and their old fashioned with mezcal. bartenders were super friendly and chill kept asking us if everything was good and service was pretty good. we will definitely come back for their daily specials. Tuesday: $3 taco Wednesday: $1 wings Thursday: $8 smashburger they also have happy hour from Monday-Friday 3:30 to 5:30. read more

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The service was outstanding, the ambience is, fine, and the food was good. We went on the day after Christmas around 5:30 pm. It was raining cats and dogs outside, and the closest available parking was a parking lot about a block away. Needless to say we were soaked by the time we got there, but the server was really nice and let us get settled before we ordered. We ordered Queso andc fried pickles as appetizers and they were both excellent. My wife ordered the Tri-tip sandwich and I ordered the brisket plate. Her Tri-tip was nice and tender and the BBQ sauce was a great match. I ordered the brisket which was OK. Parts of it were wonderfully fatty and moist while other parts were dry. For the price, I would have hoped the brisket would have been more consistent. Portions were large and we took boxes home. The locals love this place, so I may have just had a So-so experience. read more