Hard to find beef ribs around here! So I was happy that they had them. They tasted very good but the meat was really tough. Not at all fall off the bone. I liked the barbecue sauce. The coleslaw was very good, not dry at all. The garlic bread was OK. Went there on a Tuesday for lunch. Not crowded at all. The person who took our order was very helpful and friendly. Service was quick. I was a little disappointed to see that the model train that runs around the top of the walls wasn't working. I probably will go back but I wish their meat on their beef ribs was a lot more tender. read more

Been a patron for over 10 years and I feel Sam's has gone down hill. Their sauce is elite - will continue to buy. However the price is now so inflated; over 30$ for 3 meats - being 4 slices of brisket (double order) and chicken was under-whelming. 18$ for a sausage in a bun with some peppers and onions is unreal. And then we had a hair in our meager salad. Sad they got rid of some long time menu items like the bootlegger, baked potato and stuffer special. read more

I thought it was an okay bbq spot. We had ordered beef ribs, brisket, some other protein I can't remember and some sides. The only side i really enjoyed was the garlic bread. The ribs themselves were very large. I'm not the biggest fan of messy foods to eat, so take that into consideration when you read this review, but wow the getting the beef ribs were tough and hard to eat. The flavor was there, but just difficult. Brisket was good. The slices were thin. Overall, there's other bbq places I like more in bay area. One thing that is different about this place though is that I understand beef ribs are not as common and this is one of the spots that serves them in the bay. So that might be your reason to come here. read more

Came back for the smoked chicken salads, 1 regular and 1 Caesar. I's been a WHILE since we were here last. There was plenty of chicken but the salads weren't worth the price. The iceberg lettuce was bland, we prefer spring mix (and requested it but didn't get it). One salad had no dressing. The garlic bread was stale and disappointing. Sad to say, we won't order these again. read more

Sam's Bar-B-Que - Smoked Chicken Salad with spring mix instead of iceberg. - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

Visited Sam's on Mothers Day 5/10/2026 to get the wife baby back ribs and beef ribs for myself, I live in Soquel and have visited Sam's numerous times as it was a fave. Unfortunately when I got have the full rack of beef ribs was not even close to edible and borderline rancid, maybe the toughest attempt at a bite known to man. I even attempted to use a knife and fork which again didn't work. I called same day shortly after and was told the manager is off and they're under new ownership. I left my name and number expecting a call back and received a message 7 days later that they would reach out which never happened. We will never attempt Sam's again as the beef ribs were downright gross. The baby back ribs were great which the wife loved and sides were great as expected. Pretty bummed this place never attempted to fix this issue with a call back as I did not want to right a sour review. read more

Sam's BBQ used to be good but wow the quality is terrible now. Pretty disappointing. Brisket and rib combo - the meat was so so dry and rough, it was like chewing a piece of beef jerky. If you want good bbq, please save your money and go elsewhere. SAMS, please retrain your staff, this is not OK to serve to customers. read more

Sam's Bar-B-Que - Soooo dry - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

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Food: Not like the old days! The pulled pork tasted like it was boiled! The baby's back ribs were fair , not as great as before, and who decided that cilantro paired with chili beans! The brisket was thin , don't bet on getting fat with that, the juice is at the bottom of the pot! Service: amazing , she's an asset from the original Sam's! She put the BBQ hospitality in BBQ. Ambiance: Same ole Sam's! And on a side note: what happened to supporting your veterans ??? Sam did! read more

Great down home BBQ place! Reminds me of the south. When they say whole chicken, you get a WHOLE chicken! Very heavy smoke flavor, moist meat. read more

Not the greatest BBQ spot I've been to, but it's passable. The brisket wasn't the most melt-in-your-mouth tender, but it still had good flavor. The ribs were saucy and actually pretty tasty, probably the highlight of the meal. I wasn't a fan of the interior setup or decor. It didn't feel very comfortable or inviting to me, but that could just be a personal thing. read more

The ribs were bad. Tough, chewy, and loaded with fat -- and not the good kind. No smoke ring, barely any smoke flavor, and nothing close to tender. For barbecue, that's the bare minimum. These didn't even come close. Would not order again. read more

Sam's Bar-B-Que - Baby Back Ribs - 1/2 Rack - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

First off, once Dale Swanson left as the bartender, the beer selection has gone downhill. I'm urrently at the bar by myself and I've been without a drink for almost 15 minutes. Mind you the sit down part of the restaurant is filling up and nobody has checked on me ( sounds like a staffing issue) but I guess my money is not as good as everybody else's. I've been waiting to place a to go order and order another substandard beer, but I guess I'll keep waiting. There's even an employee in front of me pouring somebody else a beer who hasn't even acknowledged me. She handed the guy standing next to me a beer and then walked away. I'll be going to South Winchester BBQ to place my to go order read more

Great place for live music. Check it out!!! They play Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The patio is very nice. read more

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Apparently the pulled Carolina pork entree is in reality a sliced (dry) pork sandwich. Also- if you order potato salad and macaroni salad it translates to just a side of fries. When brought to their attention all I got was a "sorry". No wanting to make it right- no offering a refund. This was our 2nd time going and will definitely be our last time going. read more

It's okay, not amazing, but definitely a solid choice for a casual meal. I'd rate it more of a 3-star spot on an average day, but I've got to give it 4 stars for the party we threw there. The staff was super helpful and made everything run smoothly, which really helped make the event a success. The barbecue itself is good--grubbin' for sure! The flavors are tasty, and the meat is cooked well, though I've had better barbecue elsewhere. The real highlight, though, is the great selection of brewskis. It's always nice to have plenty of drink options to pair with your meal. Overall, Sam's Bar-B-Que is a solid option for a laid-back meal with friends or family. While it might not blow you away, the good food, helpful staff, and beer selection definitely make it worth a visit. read more

Placed an online order for pick up because delivery wasn't an option. Was missing an item. Tried to call and the non english speaking woman hung up in me three times. Food was cold, my chicken was dry and we didn't receive any utensils or condiments...they didn't even put a lid on the potato salad. read more

Love the rustic atmosphere. Staff is super friendly and accommodating. Food is consistently great. Love coming and sitting around on music nights. read more

Sam's Bar-B-Que deserves some credit for how well they cooked the ribs we got today. Very nice temperature, seasoning and bark! Their spicy sauce was perfection, with just the right amount of kick that you want. The service was great and they brought our food to the table. Ambiance was comforting, crowd was diverse, and the overall experience was a solid one. Would recommend! read more

Sam's Bar-B-Que - Baby Back Ribs - Full Rack - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

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The ribs were fine, portion size fair. Taste was okay, service smooth, three stars feels right. read more

Sam's Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

Greeted by the cashier and she asked me what I wanted to order. I got the BBQ sampler and when she asked me what meat I wanted I couldn't decide right away. The.n she proceeded to roll her eyes at me, like I was taking too long. Talk about customer service. Then she looked at my son and she started to smile at him. The baby back ribs were good but the rest of the meats were average (ham, brisket and pulled pork). Nothing notable about the sides - I've had better potato salad from grocery stores. The environment was okay, quick service and easy to find seating. Patio area is dog friendly. I would personally only return for the ribs and if in the area. Ze Endz. read more

the new owners had reduced the quality of the food. please use the same meat supplier as before you took over.

Had bbq beef ribs half a rack, French fries, garlic bread and coleslaw! I have eaten there for years. Service is great. The place is clean and cozy inside, outside covered patio with heaters. Great place to eat. read more

Been coming here 15+ yrs. Yesterday was probably the last. Ya'll aren't smoking the brisket. You're slow cooking in oven and finishing over smoke. Proof is in the taste and pix here to prove. Same awesome service and pulled pork. But, the brisket hybrid isn't gonna cut it. I can get roast beef elsewhere for less. Get it together Sam... read more

Sam's Bar-B-Que - Oven cooked brisket, maybe smoked for an hour or so. - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

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The food used to be much better than it is now. Been coming here for 10 plus years and it was always the best. Went back the other night. They ran out of steak, ribs were way under cooked. Chicken was dry. Not the sane. Wont be back. read more

Ate the Babyback ribs and they were excellent. But on a sad note they don't make Italian Sausage anymore to sell. Apparently management has changed. I've been eating the sausage since Sam was at Time Market. Hopefully someone picks up the recipe. Other than that the our ribs were a good choice. read more

i have loved sam's bbq for years, and i hate to do this but i have to. tonight at 7:45 pm as my husband & i were enjoying my bbq beef sando, and he his bbq pork sando, sitting inside at the table nearest the counter where we had ordered, i never expected what happened tonight. we were order number 59. in the middle of a bite of righteous bbq beef, i felt a tickle on my right leg above the ankle, i looked down under the table & was shocked & disgusted to see a huge 2" cockroach crawling creepily up my leg!!!! omg! oommggg! how thoroughly gross, sickening & disgusting!! i immediately ran up & told one of the servers, she looked at me in disbelief. but when i pointed out the offensive cockroach on the rug inside the door. she nonchalantly scooped it up with a broom & pan, & left with it. okay, peeps, i got no apology, no sympathy. nothing. nada. zip. what the actual fuck, sam's????? i was surprised, disappointed, and needed to leave immediately, hoping i didn't throw up my dinner right there in the dining room. i was practically crying as we got to our truck... my stomach was churning, i felt i would throw up any second! we made it home in 6 minutes, and i threw up in my own bathroom instead of in front of other unsuspecting diners, saving myself the embarassment of that. i also saved those other diners from experiencing that filthy cockroach. i'm still nauseous thinking about it & telling it here.. but surprisingly, like i said, i got no apology, wtf? what did i want? some kind words, an apology, offer to refund my dinner, but i got nothing. an apology is the least i could have expected. will i go back? nope. i cannot. and i think others should hear about this, expecially since a 2" cockroach climbing up a customer's leg is so revolting, yet it was treated so casually! i used to love going to sam's bbq on bascom! gave them 5 stars before this...but now? i'm looking for bbq elsewhere. period. i called & asked to speak with the manager, but they said he wouldn't be in till tomorrow morning at 10:30 am. i will be calling i think she said tom carlino tomorrow morning... the 2 stars today is because the bbq is so tasty. i could not let this go unnoticed. read more

Sam's is one of the few BBQ restaurants that always has beef ribs, which are my favorite kind of BBQ Ribs. The portion is large (full rack (7 large ribs) $35.56 for the a-la-cart order without side dishes). The price is a bit high, but the ribs are delicious and meaty and worth it. My wife and I split the full rack of beef ribs and we had leftovers for another meal. You order and pay at the counter. When the food is ready it will be brought to your table. The decor is classic informal. There are two dining rooms. The inner room (where the ordering counter is) has an electric train going on a shelf next to the ceiling. It used to have a full train with several cars, but now it just a locomotive. We have been coming here for years and always enjoy their food! read more

Sam's Bar-B-Que - Full rack of beef ribs - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

This is ADDRESSING The bake potatoes here , they are LOUSY ! Everything else is pretty good , but bake potatoes MUST be cooked fresh to order ! They are overcooked , have a yellow dingy appearance , and are unpalatable Come on , it's not that hard ! , I cook them all the time at home and they are excellent fresh , just stagger them in the oven on a busy night and they will be a thousand times better ! I wouldn't serve these baked potatoes if I had a restaurant , if you can serve them and cook them correctly , then DONT ! I would be embarrassed, and I've come here for 12 years and they HAVE NOT CHANGED ! So this is a call to CHANGE , to make things better ! Don't do what's easier do what's BETTER ! Until then I will order potatoe salad , I'm DONE with baked potatoes here. I Would love to see the owner eat like 3 of his baked potatoes in a sitting :) After paying 50$ for a prime rib plate and a soda water , you'd think you would have a properly cooked starch !! read more

Sam's Bar-B-Que - Blue cheese salad, I'm feeling the love here! - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

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The ribs was not very it did fall off the bone so I am not going there again kind of pricey

I love this food so much and the service is super great I will be coming here often! The place is also really pretty and the worker treat you well read more

The food is okay not as good as it used to be . The service is good though very friendly and nice people. Location is a bit far prices are kind of pricey as well . read more

Let's start with this I NEVER EVER EAT BBQ!!!!!!!! However my man loves it so much so today I treated him I was ok with whatever I found on the menu lol So we got a combo pate with baby back ribs, barbecued pork, ribs, and brisket with macaroni salad, and a baked potato and a piece of garlic bread Our appetizer was fried zucchini with ranch dipping 2 diets cokes lol Well the food was AMAZING DELICIOUS AND FRESH I'm so shocked how good this food was I Am so glad that we came tonight... I'm turned on to bbq for sure The employees were super chill and friendly help me with the menu as it was our first time coming. The workers are on it the place was so clean and fresh the even had outside heaters love it love it.... My experience was amazing for a whopping 61$ I'm very happy with this price I will be coming back thank you Sam read more

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My family had a craving for BBQ and decided on Sam's since we hadn't been here for probably three years. I was pleasantly surprised that they updated their menu with digital monitors, which they installed about two to three months ago. AND they put in a new bar, which had been about three weeks ago. I ordered the quarter chicken and ribs combo and got chili & beans and a green salad as my two sides (28.95) I love their BBQ sauce, tangy with a tinge of spicy. The chicken was very good and smokey. The ribs were good but the outside was hard. It was a little disappointing, but, again, the flavor was good and smokey. The service was great and the cashier was very friendly. It's nice to see that they updated the place. They still have the railroad track that runs all the way around the dining area toward the ceiling, but now it's just the locomotive and no coal car, passenger cars, and caboose. read more

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I've had Speed Queen in Milwaukee, Rudy's in Albuquerque, Stay Gold in Oakland and many in between. Tonight's brisket sandwich from Sam's in San Jose was hands down the worst I've ever tried. It was basically roast beef on a soft roll. No juice,no flavor,stringy texture. The cup of sauce that came with it was surely straight from a can. The cup of potato salad was definitely Karen's recipe. The only reason this is not a 1 star review is because some people might desire a dry 20 dollar roast beef. To everone else, "steer" clear of this place. read more

Great foods, Services were provided to meet the needs and help customers achieve desired outcomes I felt comfortable and happy with the lighting and decor. read more

Always like Sam's BBQ. I always order their Beef Ribs. Not all places have beef ribs, so I get them when I can. This place does them really well. From the looks of them it seems like they would be dry, but they are very moist and flavorful. I like the potato salad because it's not dry like a lot of other BBQ places. And for some reason I really like their Garlic Bread. The ladies working there are very friendly. And they have fountain soda, so you can get your own refills (a big plus in my book). Atmosphere is a family Mom n Pop place with decor that you would see in a family home. And there's a model train running along the ceiling which I think is pretty cool. read more

Sam's Bar-B-Que - Beef Ribs - Full Rack - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

Recently went the day before thanksgiving and drove all the way expecting Beef ribs to be on the menu , was disappointed that they had no Beef Ribs and was charged 9.50 $ for a Coors draft on tap ‍ After Ordering The platter with no ribs The brisket was half fat . It's just kept getting worse read more

The food is real smoked and barbecued. The barbecued ribs and chicken is the real deal. Variety of ways to get a huge baked potato. The servers are friendly and helpful. The live music - bluegrass - is lots of fun. The music band is out on a covered patio on Wednesday nights. It is difficult to get a table, but our server kept looking out for us until a table was available. This definitely a fun place to come and bring friends. read more

Sam's Bar-B-Que - Bluegrass band. - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

My boyfriend really enjoyed this place because of the large portions. I felt like the meat was a little dry sometimes, but the flavors were very good and it was very filling. You buy the food first at the counter. It's great for big parties because there is a lot of seating. The decor and ambience was very reminiscent of an authentic barbecue diner. read more

Sam's Bar-B-Que - Baby Back Ribs - 1/2 Rack platter - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

I had the full slab of pork ribs. If you know the Flintstones cartoons, you will recognize the opening credits where the waitress brings a tray of ribs to the Flintstones' car and the car tips over, we'll that's what almost happened to our table. Those ribs where stacked high and full of delicious tender meat. I can't recommend it enough. My meal came with macaroni salad, which was also delicious. I took more than half of the ribs home with me and had them as leftovers the next day. read more

The bbq is delicious, I've been going to Sam's Bbq for years now, and every time I go, it's always good. Thank you Sam's for the great service read more