On a road trip, my friend Denise and I were looking for a convenience store in roads that were not…read morepaved with cement nor were they in the center of a chic boutique and a hits-the-spot every time boba shop. Yes, we were basically on dirt roads that saw a few scattered homes here and there, and visible old school phone towers (the brown kind) connected with wires (where crows sit on a row) existed, and not much else. We drove around in some circles, looking for this fabled store and found nothing, not even a Bigfoot. We noted how the moment felt like we were on an Iowa highway because we saw expansive fields and experienced a Middle-America atmosphere. I wanted a small stalk of wheat in between my teeth. As we drove, we saw this place and decided that this joint would replace the store we were looking for. At this point I started to listen to Carry on My Wayward Son by Kansas. If you know, you know. As soon as I entered I felt like I had stepped into a diner in the middle of nowhere, the type of spot where brothers talked about saving people, hunting things, you know the family business. My friend Denise did not know what I was talking about and when I tried to introduce the world to her with corny prompts she decided not to play along. Still for a fan the experience was nothing but a win!(chester). I cannot remember the person who helped us but she was a server who reported that she had lived in the surrounding area for most of her life. She was deepening the believe that we were on a route diner neglected by city reality. During this visit, I had fried okra for the first time in my life. It was weird to taste but not in a bad way. More like I had never tasted this texture before in my life. The texture that I had not tried before in my life was a gooey vegetable. Like the texture of the outside was exactly as advertised--- fried goodness. The actual okra was the gooey part. I do not want to sound crass, truly, I do not, but it did feel like enjoying something slimy, and I will leave it at that. Again, not wrong, just weird But I will not get it again. The server- the homegrown one- gave us fried pickles and these were much more to taste. Like, I i have had fried pickles before and I loved them but I had some that were not for me. But these, these, were pickle spears fried to brown goodness, and the mixture hit green- which does not mean go, more like Hulk enjoys, instead of smashes. It was a simple dish yes- green spear pickle fried but sometimes the goodness of a county fair is exactly what a roadtrip snack should be. The fair came to my table and I am not mad at that. On this trip I did have the Willow Dip which I feel is a close cousin to a french dip. What this place did well, at least I think, is putting it on an onion baguette. I am not sure if onion baguette is a middle-of-nowhere bread, but, I allowed it because the taste of the bread was, like tailored made for me, I am a sucker for onion, and not just because it gives me sexy breath. The food was standard, solid fare. Everything was just good nothing wrong with it, all good with it. The sauces were tasty, and added smoky sweet flavor that was welcomed. So this elevated the dish by addding a hickory taste. It did not save the dishes, but did make them better. The decorations were texas heavy. I should have taken more pictures. But sometimes the imagination allows for a space to feel more than at it is.

Mar 15 2026 - 3.5 stars 4 stars - restaurant cleanliness,…read moredecor, nice wooden vibe 4.5 stars - service - friendly, smiling staff, ready to answer any and all questions 3.5 stars - food, chicken sandwich, onion rings and fries were very good The ribs were dry, over cooked ? Not sure but saving grace was the BBQ sauce - if only the ribs were a little moist and juicy ! This is a good spot to stop when driving to or from LA along the I-5 Kid friendly ! We will be back !

This quaint little barbecue place has some some great food and great customer service. Located near…read moreTown and Country a well known super market in Porterville, is a small location but big in service. The prices are reasonable and the portions generous. The tri-tip was quite good. Their coleslaw had a lil zing to it and was also tasty. A highly recommend if you're hankering for BBQ.

This was my second time ordering here the first time I did not have a good experience as the food…read morewas extremely salty so I was a little hesitant to order again but I really wanted a something that wasn't the typical burger or tacos. I ordered the half chicken meal and chose beans and potato salad as my sides and added an extra chicken and dumplings just because I love them. The food was ordered through DoorDash and was delivered on time. And I have to say that I was very pleased the food was delicious! The chicken was fall off the bone tender and was well seasoned. The beans are very good as well as the chicken and dumplings. The potato salad is good maybe not as good as my mom's but that would be really hard to be. I ate part of the chicken and the chicken and dumplings tonight and will have the rest for another meal. It also came with a large piece of bread and that was nice as well. All in all a very good meal and one that I would recommend to others. I will definitely be ordering here again!

Copper Top BBQ on Highway 395 is a must try! It was a rustic, clean, and welcoming spot, and the…read morerestrooms are immaculate! We stopped by on a Sunday afternoon and there was live music playing, which made the atmosphere even more charming. We ordered the Big Pine Mega Platter (says for 2), and it was just perfect for my husband, teenage son, and I to share without any leftovers. All the meats were juicy and tender! Potato salad was good and mac was nice and creamy! We love the spicy bbq sauce as well! Overall everything was delicious and food came out fast. Really glad we stopped in, and we're already looking forward to coming back again soon.

I was in the area this week and my husband had this on our list of places to visit, due to some…read morewrite-up he read somewhere. The first red flag was that we wanted to call with a question and found that the voicemail response and website were both borderline hostile and disdainful of customers. The location was clean and the female cashier was very nice, which is why my review is two stars and not one. The food was odd. I can't understand why anyone is rating this highly except that people are happy when they're on vacation and food tastes better that way. We shared a platter and were completely underwhelmed by all of the meat. The rolls and mac and cheese were okay and that's what I ended up filling up on because the meat was depressing. The two spicy BBQ sauces both had a weird metallic flavor. There was a TV showing a slideshow of dogs at the restaurant eating BBQ from someone wearing black latex gloves which was kind of cute until I started wondering if they change their gloves after feeding all these dogs from them. I was in the area this week and my husband had this on our list of places to visit, due to some write-up he read somewhere. The first red flag was that we wanted to call with a question and found that the voicemail response and website were both borderline hostile and disdainful of customers. The location was clean and the female cashier was very nice, which is why my review is two stars and not one. The food was odd. I can't understand why anyone is rating this highly except that people are happy when they're on vacation and food tastes better that way. We shared a platter and were completely underwhelmed by all of the meat. The rolls and mac and cheese were okay and that's what I ended up filling up on because the meat was depressing. The two spicy BBQ sauces both had a weird metallic flavor. There was a TV showing a slideshow of dogs at the restaurant eating BBQ from someone wearing black latex gloves which was kind of cute until I started wondering if they change their gloves after feeding all these dogs from them. But more importantly, I saw a sign complaining about inflation and fuel prices being the reason for an increase in costs, along with Trump merchandise for sale by the drinks. A tiny bit of online digging confirmed that this business was fully MAGA in the past with flags and signs but got a bit quieter about it in 2024. I believe it's important to know if and when we're spending our money to support people who actively vote for the destruction of the planet, human rights, and the fabric of our country. I absolutely would not have spent any money here if I had known. **Update** Before I wrote my review, I had already seen that the business owner appears very sensitive to any critique. He seems compelled to respond to anyone he views as "attacking his business," or in my case, being "hurtful," on a website built for customers to review businesses, which is what I did. This business owner has chosen to suggest that I must be wrong for not liking the food, because other people give it five stars. He then says the Trump hot sauce he's selling is just "for the kick of it," I suppose just like some folks sell items with Confederate flags or swastikas because it's such a fun little joke. Hilarious! My concerns about hygiene with food prep staff hand-feeding barbecue to customers' dogs were not addressed in his response. Finally, rather than denouncing any suggestions of political allegiance to Trump or specifically addressing the claim that this business was apparently displaying Trump signs prior to 2024, he calls me "immature" and that people like me are why Trump won and that I'm going to be targeted and I should "be careful." He has said all of this on a publicly viewable website that many potential customers will check before coming to his restaurant. That sure sounds like something to consider before eating food from this place!

As we were waiting for supercharging we decided to grab a bite from this BBQ truck. It was good but…read morenot much to write home about. Menu may have changed since.. Seats are outside and since it was summertime it was really dusty but they did wipe down the benches for us.

The ribs were slowly bbq'd on the smoker using seasoned oak and they were excellent!…read moreI will be back ! This is a permanent food truck that has fantastic Tri-tip bbq, Brisket bbq, and great ribs with sweet baby james bbq sauce. It is right off the bravo farms exit next to the 76 gas station.

From the food to the friendly attentive service everything was 5 stars for me. I took a drive down…read moreto Tehachapi just because it was a beautiful day out. After doing a quick Yelp search i found Red House BBQ. From the being to end the whole experience was great, we were greeted promptly and sat down just as fast. We opted to sit outside since it was a beautiful day with great weather. The patio and outside seating is huge, the inside is a bit smaller but still has plenty of seating and it's nice I love the decor. I went with the Tri Tip sandwich and added hot-links which was a great choice I also got a side of fries. The Tri Tip was well seasoned it had the crack peppercorn taste that I personally love. Served on a soft Brioche bun I believe. They give you 3 bbq sauces on the side to choose from Sweet and mild , mild and spicy all three were delicious. My wife and daughter went with the pulled pork sandwich which I tried an it was delicious,especially the little pieces of Bark. My wife had a side of Mac and cheese and my daughter a side salad. They said the Mac and cheese was delicious and so was the side salad it was fresh. They do have a small bar nothing big and offer beer,wine and some mixed drinks. Overall it was great experience and I say even better BBQ than most of the spots I've tried in Bakersfield. It's a shame it's about 45 mins away but I'll be definitely making the trip back soon to try something else on the menu.

Visiting the area from out of town we wanted to try many of the local cuisines. This place was…read morerecommended due to its popularity among the locals. The food is delicious. All of it. Pulled pork, Mac n cheese, sliced Tri-tip. Very fresh and tasty, and large portions on the plate. The service was horrendous. It started with walking in and the waitress said "wait and have a seat". Wait and sit where? There was no easily identified waiting area. All the tables were full. Oh...across the room on the one empty seat at the bar. Glad I spotted it. We placed an order for onion rings as an appetizer while we reviewed the menu. Several minutes later we placed our entree order. Shortly after that our entrees came out, no appetizer. Five minutes after our entree arrived the appetizer showed up. I wanted my water refilled but we didn't see our waitress for 15mins, finally having to flag down another waitress to assist. Later I asked the manager to explain how the appetizer showed up long after our entrees, even though I placed the appetizer order first. She spoke so fast with a strong non-American accent that she was difficult to understand. I asked her to slow down because I didn't understand her, yet she continued to talk fast with her thick accent that I could only pick up bits and pieces. Something about fried food taking longer to cook than the already-prepared meat. I told her the service was disappointing. She said "okay" and told her waitress to fill my glass. And that was the end of the visit. I don't know who owns the place, but we did not receive a positive customer service experience, rather just getting lots of broken excuses. 2 stars for the food. Nothing for service and management.

If you like barbecue, you have to check out this hidden gem in Selma. I recently visited Grapevine…read moreGrill and it is definitely a true hole in the wall spot. Only a few people can fit inside at a time, but that is part of the charm. The prices are affordable and the staff were incredibly sweet and welcoming. I tried the ribs first and they were juicy, slightly sweet, and packed with flavor. The edges had a nice crisp to them while the inside stayed tender and moist. I was extra hungry, so I also ordered the tri tip sandwich with a side of mac and cheese. The sandwich was generously packed and the tri tip was delicious. The meat was tender, lean, and perfectly seasoned. It came with a barbecue sauce that had a nice spicy kick, which made it stand out from typical sauces. The mac and cheese did not look flashy, but it ended up being one of the best I have had from a local restaurant. It was not the typical super cheesy style. Instead, it was rich, creamy, and really satisfying. We also tried the cornbread, which was only $1 and a pretty big piece. This was the only item I was not as much of a fan of, as it was a bit dry and crumbly for my taste. That said, I know some Southern style cornbread is meant to be less sweet and more crumbly, so others might enjoy it. Overall, this is a small, cozy barbecue spot with flavorful food, generous portions, and friendly service. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the Selma area.

A true hidden gem in Selma. Veteran owned, cozy atmosphere, and food that feels homemade with real…read morecare. The BBQ is exciting and full of flavor, with tender meats and comforting sides. You can genuinely feel the passion from the owner and his wife, both in the food and the hospitality. This place is built on love, hard work, and pride. Highly recommended if you want great BBQ and to support a local family business.

It's hard to go wrong with their takeout when you always see 20-35 people ahead of you. I come here…read moretwice a year and on my way out of Hanford I stop here before getting on the Highway 5. MY GRADE: B plus to A minus.

A good option if you don't want fast food which is usually what we end up eating on this drive…read morebetween SoCal - NorCal. If this were anywhere else I would probably give 2 stars, but not bad for the options nearby. The brisket is the better of the meats we tried - chicken and tri-tip were the other two. Brisket is quite dry though without BBQ sauce. Chicken is not bad but also needs sauce. Tri-tip was too chewy. Of the sides, potato salad was good. Cornbread was good. S.O. got the mac and cheese and was disappointed. Ran out of horseradish and regular BBQ sauce while we were there. Or the guy just didn't want to get us the regular BBQ? Anyway, had the spicy BBQ which is not very spicy so that was fine. Ordered online which I strongly recommend. But check your order because they forgot the sauces. We were eating there, so I just went back to ask for them, but without the BBQ sauce, the meats would've been so hard to eat. Next to the Shell gas station, Lots of seating around.

Went back again today. Did a phone-in order and she didn't ask my name. I arrived and checkout was…read moreready to go. Order was ready. She remembered my voice from yesterday! We all tried the brisket today.

1/22/25 Getting…read morelunch for tomorrow! Called and greeted by Patricia. Ordered a BBQ tri-tip sandwich with potato salad and onion rings. The worker was very kind and said it would be ready in 15 min. I went to get it shortly later. Greeted upon entering. Worker was very kind! Paid for order and wished a good day! Appreciated! Lunchtime! Tri-tip sandwich split! My half was Really Great! Tender, tasty meat! Great add on sauce & BBQ sauce too! Onion rings were crunchy & tasty! Potato salad half was Great! Nice flavor! Mother says her half was tender & GREAT! Great service & lunch! Highly recommended!

One of the best rest stops on I-5. It has food , close to gas, plenty of parking. In hot days I…read morelike to get some ice cream. As with most places off the freeway,it's expensive to buy anything. The best part is the bathrooms are always clean and have paper. At least in my experience.

This place is a hidden gem. It's a good rest stop if you're passing though. A lot of random things…read moreto choose from for kids and adults. This place is clean, has an ice cream parlor and a restaurant. With plenty of seating and outdoor space for everyone to stretch their legs. The ribeye sandwich was ok. Cooked too well done for me and it lacked seasoning. The bbq sauce was on the tangy side and I will say it's not for everyone, but I liked the side of parm zucchini fries. It's enough for 3-4 people to share. The service was great and I would give their restroom a score of 6 out of 10. There was some spider webs they need to clean up.