Great food, great atmosphere, terrific staff! It's been Hard for me to move past the best bacon sandwich on the central coast, but the shrimp cocktail is worth the effort to take a BLT break! TUACA! read more

This hidden spot is at a dead end of an industrial area but at least there's plenty of street parking! Very spacious place with both indoor and outdoor seating. Service was good and quick for a weekday evening. Menu is extensive. Ordered at the counter, sat down with my number and food came within 10 mins. Taco salad was huge and fresh. The tri tip was thin and smokey but a little on the dry side. I noticed some older reviews mentioned a salsa bar but maybe I missed it. Would have loved to mix in some salsa to add just a little moisture to the tri tip. Maybe next time when there's live music along with something from the bar! read more

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For our leisurely drive from San Diego to San Francisco, my wife had plotted several stops of cities she thought would be fun places to stop to break up our almost 8 hour drive. My wife is an amazing trip planner and she chose stops in Santa Barbara, Solvang, Santa Maria, Carmel, and Monterey. I'm a foodie and once my life pahtner told me about Santa Maria being known for their style of BBQ, I was looking forward to our stop in Santa Maria and grubbing on Santa Maria style BBQ. After checking the different BBQ restaurants on Yelp and factoring in our timeline, I selected Rancho Nipomo Deli & BBQ as the joint that we would experience Santa Maria BBQ. Tri-tip BBQ is the preferred meat choice, but Rancho Nipomo's version was okay and tasty. I enjoyed their chicken BBQ chicken and their chili beans were extremely memorable. Eating inside the restaurant was a little frustrating, but the customer service from their staff was much appreciated. Rancho Nipomo is located on the 101 freeway specifically off of Exit 175 and on Cuyama Lane. It's a short distance from the exit off of the 101, so this restaurant is a convenient stop if you're pressed for time. There were other BBQ restaurants in Santa Maria, but the other restaurants didn't open until 4pm and we didn't have the luxury of waiting around. Rancho Nipomo is located across from 805 Barbecue Brand restaurant and it's diagonal from Taqueria Los Quates. There is some parking in front of the restaurant, but it's mainly street parking. Rancho Nipomo is a spacious restaurant with plenty of indoor seating and there's plenty of covered umbrella outdoor seating. We ate inside and had to battle disruptive flies, so I recommend you eat outside. I recommend that management keep their doors closed to keep these pests out. There are large screen televisions to watch sports and there was a stage where bands play music on certain days. I liked the decor inside with a mural of Mexican cowboys, the California Republic homage above the tvs, the faux Gold Rush saloon as the backdrop of the stage, the Indian statues, and the decorative old school chandelier. The young lady behind the register provided exemplary customer service, other staff I interacted with were friendly, and I love that they honor Veterans like me with a free fountain drink. Besides Santa Maria-style BBQ, Rancho Nipomo serves Mexican food that incorporates BBQ; it serves burgers, sandwiches, and hot dogs; it serves munchies; it serves salads, and you can satisfy your sweet tooth with their desserts. I honestly did not know the city of Santa Maria had their own style of BBQ, so I was really looking forward to tasting what that style of BBQ tastes like. After perusing their menu, I decided to order their Central Coast Smokin' Combo because it had two different types of meats. This combo comes with a 1/4 BBQ Chicken, 1/2 lb Smoked Tri-Tip, Spanish Rice, West Coast Chili Beans, and two flour tortillas. It was a good amount of food because I had part of my chicken and tri-tip as leftovers, which was a yummy late night snack on our trip. I was looking forward to eating the tri-tip, but even though it ate well with the tortillas, I thought it was dry and underwhelming. The highlights for me were the chicken, the chili beans, and the rice. The chicken was cooked perfectly, it was tender, seasoned really well, and it tasted great by itself or in a tortilla. The chili beans were mind blowing, savory, addicting, and I wished there was more. Combining either BBQ meat with the chili beans and rice inside a tortilla made for a delectable bite. Make sure to grab all of their complimentary salsas to add some spice to your BBQ. My wife ordered The Cali Cheese Steak Sandwich, which comes with smoked tri-tip ends, Monterey Jack cheese, bell peppers, and grilled onion all encompassed in a fresh toasted Telera bun. Sincerely, one of the best cheese steak sandwiches I've ever eaten and I didn't eat it until I had it as a late night snack. We also ordered their fries, which were seasoned and delicious. Rancho Nipomo Deli & BBQ is a must visit if you want to indulge in Santa Maria-style BBQ. Their tri-tip was okay, but I highly recommend their BBQ chicken and their West Coast chili beans. If you're planning to order a sandwich, a Must Order is their Cali Cheese Steak sandwich. read more

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Located a little past the speedway, on Cuyama Ln, right off the freeway, is Rancho Nipomo. The parking is mostly street and a little lot. They have inside and large outside sitting. The service is you go up, order, take a number, and pick your table. They bring your food out. I got the Nacho El Super. The nacho cheese tasted like Que Bueno, the chips were ok (bag) and toppings were ok. The chicken wasn't anything crazy either. Hence, 3 star. read more

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Really good BBQ. Both me and my dinner partner enjoyed this place, and if I were back in this area I would come back. I only wish that I had been hungrier - I would have loved to try the ribs, but being on the GLP-1 diet with a reduced appetite, I could only order a sandwich. read more

If you're driving near Nipomo, you have to stop at this place. They offer a large menu of BBQ options, including the area‑famous tri‑tip sandwich. There's also a full bar where you can order local brews, plus a self‑serve condiment bar to customize your meal. The staff was friendly and quick to bring out our food. Seating is plentiful both indoors and outside, with umbrellas for shade. Parking is easy, with spots on the street and in the lot next door. The architecture and décor give the whole place a charming old‑Spanish feel. The food was incredible and will definitely bring us back. The Emmit BBQ Bacon Burger was our favorite. The thick bacon was cooked perfectly, and the onion ring added a great crunch. The patty was cooked medium‑well and packed with flavor. This is one of the best burgers we've ever had. The tri‑tip sandwich was also great. We loved its simplicity and the moist, tender meat with very little fat. The locally made bun really elevated it. They serve BBQ sauce on the side, which paired nicely with the tri‑tip. The 50/50 basket is huge--we didn't expect so much food, but we weren't complaining. The onion rings were excellent. This will be a must‑stop on every trip down to SoCal from now on. read more

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At Rancho Nipomo Again Hanging Out With Our Friends Gonna Get Our Party On..!! There's A Lil Concert Going On Tonight. $10 A Ticket. Haven't Heard These Guys Before. Hopefully It's A Good Turnout And Good Show..!!! read more

Rancho Nipomo Deli & BBQ - Concert Tonight..!!! - Barbeque Near Me - Nipomo, California

Food is overall good and smoky. I was disappointed this time that they didn't toast the bun - it was just a big, dry bun with meat piled on it. Definitely not the same as before! read more

Next time I'm in the Santa Maria area, I'm coming back to this place. The food is fantastic. Yes, the food may take a little time to come out, but it's worth it. This is not the type of place you come to just to grab a quick bite. You come here with family and friends to have a great time. It has a chill rustic/Western vibe. I like that they let the air in from the outside. I got a few things off the menu. The highlight was Emmitt's bbq bacon burger. I especially enjoyed the smoked thick cut bacon inside the burger. They should serve that stuff as a side. I could just eat the bacon! I also had the fries, tortilla chips with guacamole ,and churros with a chocolate dip sauce. Everything was great. One thing I wish I knew before I ordered the food was the amount of food I was going to get. The chips, fries and churros are shareable. You can share them with at least 3 people. read more

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One of my favorite places to get tri-tip on the Central Coast. I do wish the sandwich had either a bit more meat or slightly smaller bread, but it's still a solid choice. They often have live music and occasionally karaoke, though I'm not sure of the exact schedule. The servers are always quick with our food, and unless there's a big line, you can expect your order within about 20 minutes. read more

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I highly recommend going here, and if there is a band a good idea to make a reservation, delicious food, casual atmosphere.Great service and great ambiance.A very fun place. It also has a great bar read more

Love it! We had the pulled pork, chilli cheese fries, ribs, brisket. So delicious. I'll be back! Family friendly! Services was great! Sorry no pictures. I ate it too fast read more

First time visit. Got the tri tip sandwich with dip for $18.95. The roll was nicely toasted. However, the meat was warmed up and very dry and chewy/tough. The most disappointing tri tip sandwich I have ever had. And for the price, it was even more disappointing as it was one of the most expensive. read more

Rancho Nipomo Deli & BBQ - Tri tip "Do The Tri-Tip" Dip - Barbeque Near Me - Nipomo, California

Fantastic! I was up in the area attending a trade show and I was just dying for some traditional Santa Maria BBQ. I ordered up the Santa Maria tri-tip plate and was thrilled to find they captured the essence of the ranch BBQs my dad's company would throw back in the 70's and that flavor that has stuck with me since i was 14 (52 years). Also, they make a perfect Michelada! What a great spot. I ended up going there twice and ordered the same plate - YUM!!! Fun place with a lot of character and friendly staff and patrons read more

Amazing tri tip Sandwiches ! Sometimes have to wait but it's worth it. Xxxxxxxx. Xxzxzxzzzzzz read more

Great bbq spot amongst a drought of good restaurants. Great atmosphere! A large beer selection and people seem to really enjoy working there. I got the beef brisket and it was tasty, good BBQ sauce too. I would come back if I was in town again read more

Rancho Nipomo Deli & BBQ - Inside - Barbeque Near Me - Nipomo, California

This place is a VIBE! It's unexpected but in the best way. The food was delicious and flavorful. The staff were super nice and explained all of our options. They went out of their way to make us feel welcomed. Great start to a mini vacation. read more

Rancho Nipomo Deli & BBQ - Exterior doesn't prepare you :) - Barbeque Near Me - Nipomo, California

We had a long road to go before hitting LA, so We stopped by here for their sandwich and we stayed for the surprisingly tender pork ribs! The bar had some good draft beers to go with the meat, it's just so good! The staffs are amazing too, he ran out to bring us our phone when we forgot before we left for our rest of the road. Whatever his name is, thank you so much! read more

Rancho Nipomo Deli & BBQ - Pork ribs - whole - Barbeque Near Me - Nipomo, California

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Definitely go for the full rack of ribs. Comes with delicious side of beans, rice bread, and Mac salad. We got a full rack of ribs with the thought that we will take any leftovers home. Everything was so delicious and worth the wait. We ate it oh all and licked the plate clean. read more

Rancho Nipomo Deli & BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Nipomo, California

Not even super packed. Waited 1 hour already... arrived at 1:05pm... Still haven't got my 1 order of tri tip sandwich. Ruined my plans for today. Nice tap beer selection. This can't be serious. Lmao read more

Rancho Nipomo Deli & BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Nipomo, California

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After 9 years we ventured back to see if the food quality improved. Unfortunately, not. The BBQ tri-tip was as gristly / chewy as originally. My wife and I did not like this lunch at all. We will not return. read more

Rancho Nipomo Deli & BBQ - Lunch - Barbeque Near Me - Nipomo, California

Delicious tasting food especially the Mouth watering brisket! Cashier service was immediate with no waiting on a Sunday evening and plenty of outdoor seating. Indoor seating had live karaoke singing which added to the relaxed atmosphere. Would definitely recommend to others and dine again! Thanks! read more

Rancho Nipomo Deli & BBQ - The "Lo" Bowl - Barbeque Near Me - Nipomo, California

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Really good food, we had the BBQ . Huge portions. Live music in a cute setting! Easy parking.

Went on a Friday night so it was a little packed but got my food fairly fast. Brisket was really good didn't even need the sauce. Also had the trip tip burger it was also really good. Had a nice bar vibe with the karaoke. Good selection of beer on top of the great food. read more

Amazing food and atmosphere. Tri tip sandwiches are big and filling. Burgers and nachos were also delicious

It was yum yum yum yum yummy! Flavors are great - smoky good BBQ. Stole some from fries from our friend they were straight up dope. read more

Rancho Nipomo Deli & BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Nipomo, California

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Portions here are great and service is quick. Environment is perfect for this type of bbq. read more

Rancho Nipomo Deli & BBQ - BBQ Beef Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Nipomo, California

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Thank you Yelp for another great find. I absolutely endorse that you bookmark and if you find yourself in Santa Maria, CA to check it out. Near the freeway. The pictures tell the story. I had the Golden Cold Smoked Chicken Quarter with a salad for $19. There is a pet extensive Mexican menu in addition to the Bbq. The chicken was tender and not overly Smokey, (why I chose the cold smoked). Plenty of inside and outdoor seating. Share tables or get your own. Full bar with a few tv's. Lively crowd tonight for karaoke. Live music on other nights. I love finding places like this on Yelp 15-min prior to pulling up. I will absolutely be back. You should bookmark and check it if you are in the area. Unfortunately I did not think of a picture but I ate every bite. Plenty of pics on the page. Thank you Yelp! read more

Heard this place has amazing BBQ and stopped by for dinner. This place has a huge outdoor seating area so it's great for large groups. In fact, when I was eating here, there was a biker group having some sort of meeting or meet-up here, it was cute. Parking is in a dirt lot next to the restaurant. It does feel like you could film a scene from a movie here. I ordered inside and got the tri-tip taco which was pretty big. I also ordered tri-tip enchiladas which I wouldn't recommend. There was nothing wrong with the enchiladas, but I just couldn't taste the tri-tip because it was drowned out from all the cheese and sauce. I still ate most of the enchilada, but I ended up opening it up and scraping out the meat. I would get 3 Santa Maria tri-tip tacos next time. The service was fast and the guys were really nice. If you're in the Santa Maria area, make it a point to stop here as it's right off the freeway exit. read more

Rancho Nipomo Deli & BBQ - Santa Maria Tri-Tip taco is good! - Barbeque Near Me - Nipomo, California

Came by for their happy hour. Decided to purchase their loyalty cup (20 oz for price of 16). Ordered their $7 HH mini Santa Maria style fries. Food was delivered timely and was delicious. Very filling. I love this place. I only wish it was closer to home.. read more

Rancho Nipomo Deli & BBQ - Mini Santa Maria Style Fries - Barbeque Near Me - Nipomo, California

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I came here on a Sunday afternoon at 2 and ordered a BBQ Tri-Tip Sandwich at the counter. There was no line to order and the tables were only half-occupied, but the kitchen was backed up, with the cashier providing an estimated 40-minute wait time. After ordering, you get a number and choose a table to sit at (indoors or outdoors). It finally arrived after waiting for a little over an hour. The sandwich itself was delicious. The meat was thinly sliced and well-seasoned, and the bun was a crispy golden brown. A small cup of barbecue sauce was provided on the side, and you could get your own salsa, hot sauce, and chopped onions. However, it just wasn't amazing enough to justify the wait. read more

I recently had a work function here at Rancho Nipomo. I worked directly with the owner RC in setting up our catering options. He was incredibly helpful, and all of the staff was exceptionally welcoming also. The food was amazing and the side space was very spacious for all of our guest. I would absolutely hold another event here and recommend to anyone considering. Food, drinks and ambience were all top-tier! read more

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Hidden in an industrial dead end...Order at counter and they bring you food! Great deal. We sat outside on picnic benches and the food was ready in no time! The chili loaded hot dog was really good! I ordered the tri tip dipping sandwich. It was large and really good. It was really worth the drive. read more

Can't believe I haven't tried this place sooner! Had a buddy of mine take me here tonight when he found out I'd never been. At first it doesn't seem like a very big place of you only go in throb the front but once we walked into the bar area it really opened up. There was a stage and really cool decor. The lighting was good and the every was lively. It was pretty full for a Friday night. They don't have a big selection of beers but they have more than enough and the options are pretty good. They also have seltzer, wine, and other stuff. I ordered the wings and it was really tasty. Crispy on the outside tender and juicy on the inside. I got filled up on the wings so I ordered the super nachos with carne asada. It's huge! I haven't tried it yet but I'm looking forward to it. The service at the restaurant was really good. Very attentive and very friendly. We had Cory and Lillian helping us. Overall I had a great experience and the food and drink was really good. I highly recommend trying this place if you're in the area. read more

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Came here after being on my check out list for a while. This place is awesome. Its an order up. Plenty of seating. Tri tip sandwich and the torta were made to perfection. They had a great selection of beers on draft. Person taking the order was really nice and friendly as was the bartender. Extra thanks to the bartender on duty last Sunday as she found my wife's purse as she forgot it at the table when we moved tables. It wasn't a cheap purse so losing it would have hurt her badly. This is a great place to bring friends and the food is amazing. I will be going back ASAP. read more

Great food and vibes. 166 burger and emits. Outdoor areas is great. 100% recommend. Customer service was great read more

Rancho Nipomo Deli & BBQ - 611 *The Route 166" Burger. "Emmitt's BBQ Bacon" Burger - Barbeque Near Me - Nipomo, California

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If you want consistently good tasting Santa Maria style BBQ, Rancho Nipomo is a solid option. One of the top 3 best places for Santa Maria style BBQ for me. The food is delicious. The tri-tip is fine, but I really come here for the brisket. And if you want to feed an army, order some carne asada fries. There's bench seating for big groups both inside and outside. Locals come here to watch the games. There are also live music nights. Definitely a great vibe. So why only 4 stars? Wait time can take up to 40+ min regardless of how many customers are dining or what your order is. Is it worth the wait? I think it is. But it's worth mentioning. Food is consistently good. Staff is consistently friendly. read more

Food was outstanding. Service was great and the place is cool. They love their karaoke for sure. I've been there several times when in town and will go back again. read more

The review below mine Mr.Ivan, I was behind you in line when you were standing there complaining and being super rude to the female worker and even when u were being rude she was being nice! You order enough food to feed 50+ people and expected it to be ready in 5 minutes. So of course people who ordered something wayyyy smaller than your order will be ready first. Stop being miserable just face it your mad cause you were starving and couldn't wait 5 minutes for your food heefa read more

Surprisingly, my first time having authentic santa maria BBQ. I've always been a fan of BBQ, and there was even a time when I flew out to Texas just for BBQ. THere's been many times pass through the area, I wanted to stop by to get some authentic Californian BBQ. I finally had my chance recently. Verdict, perhaps I overhyped it up for myself, thinking it would be the most amazing tri tip experience ever. My honestly opinion as a connoisseur of all things BBQ: I love that they kept the seasoning very simple. It allowed the beef flavors to shine. Flavor was great, but the texture needed some work. Granted, I did come very late. The tri tip was a little tough and dry. Because I also got to try the ribs, all is forgiven. Because those pork ribs were some of the best darn ribs ive had in recently memory. It was perfectly smoked, the meat still had a bite to them, but comes off the bone clean. A++ ribs and side were also amazing. Love the selection of beers. My go to is the hazy ipa. The ranch style communal seating is awesome. The service at the front was great. Super friendly and accommodating. I'd love to go back and try the tri tip again to see if I was just late. read more