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    Smokin Jays

    4.3 (290 reviews)
    Closed 10:30 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Smokin Jays Photos

    Business Info

    SMOKIN JAYS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Smokin Jays

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    Nashville Hot Chicken
    Joe K.

    Dropped by Jay's after a failed BBQ experiment the other day at It's in the Sauce, and I was pleasantly surprised. After getting the BBQ at It's in the Sauce (which was average at best, and that might even be a stretch), my coworkers wanted to try Jay's. I acquiesced and will concede Jay's was good... The service was quick and friendly and the chicken was excellent. My only complaint is the anti-ICE sign on the door, which is both ignorant and annoying anymore... But it is libtard California, so I digress. All-in-all, Jay's was pretty damn good.

    Kristin M.

    this place lowkey exceeded my expectations!!! we were just stopping through the city on our way back from a day trip and got hungry. we pulled up into this place and i started smelling the deliciousness. the bacon gouda smash burger was BOMB like i'm not normally one to justify 17 dollars for a smash burger but this one was 100% worth it. came with perfectly crisp crinkle cut fries too. my friend got one of the bbq plates and just the aroma of that made me jealous. the beef had that tendernism, the beans were well seasoned, and the garlic bread was aromatic afff. so good!

    Brisket, Grilled chicken, Burnt Ends
    Jorja Z.

    After lots of recommendations from friends, we finally visited this establishment. Without a DOUBT, this is now my husband and I's new favorite BBQ spot. The brisket melts in your mouth, the chicken is juicy, the bread is perfectly golden, and the coleslaw is just right. We were initially greeted by a friendly lady (unsure of their name), and she definitely was a great smile to walk in and see!! The environment was clean and had lots of funny small details that definitely impressed my husband and I. 5/5 stars - Will return

    Andrea B.

    Absolutely loved this place. I feel like they lived up to the hype 100%. We had brisket, burnt ends, cauliflower, cheddar bacon wedges, pulled pork. Its going to sound crazy but the cauliflower was my favorite thing- Absolutely fire! Brisket was smokey, tender, moist. Inside had a cool vibe. We will be back here... repeatedly!

    Elizabeth H.

    Overdue review. Came here a couple weeks ago for my husband's birthday and it's genuinely some of the best bbq I've had in a long time. Fun atmosphere. It's counter service, so keep that in mind, but it's very fast and everything we tried was great. The brisket was a standout but the tri-tip was also fantastic. Beans were excellent and I definitely recommend.

    Arev L.

    It is a small location. Only have a few tables available. They have additional seat outdoor at the parking lot. Service is quick and friendly. Food are delicious. We got the tri tip, brisket plate, the brisket seriously melt in the mouth. Have to use spoon to scoop it up! The sauce is amazing. The bread, beans and macaroni salad. Perfect. Nashville chicken and fries super delicious. I'll be back soon.

    Dolores P.

    Every single time I come to Smokin Jay's I KNOW I'm about to lose my finger lickin mind. I always attack my crunchy fries first with their amazing ranch dressing. Then I move on to either the pastrami or tritip sandwich. It's always a hard decision. They're both so good. For being so busy the staff is on top of everything and friendly. The inside is a little small so sometimes it's hard to find a seat but that just means great business! And I after trying their I see why. Super great food! And consistent

    Best food we've had in our week in socal, and I say that coming from the BBQ capital of the world. Portions are generous and the prices are good, considering. Flavors are top tier and the meats are quality and cooked to perfection. Highly recommended.

    JohnAndrew R.

    BBQ Worth Fighting Over at Smokin Jay's BBQ & Coffee from Potheads Coffee My wife and I recently stopped by Smokin Jay's BBQ and paired it with a visit to Potheads Coffee, and it turned into one of those meals you end up talking about long after you leave. From the first bite, it was clear this spot takes their BBQ seriously. Entrées: We started by ordering a brisket plate, which came with about 1/4 lb of brisket, roughly six solid pieces, along with macaroni salad and baked beans. Our original plan was to share, but that quickly changed after the first few bites. The brisket was tender, flavorful, and cooked just right with that perfect balance of smoke and juiciness. It didn't take long before we realized sharing wasn't going to cut it. So my wife went back up and ordered a brisket sando with fries, and it absolutely delivered. The sandwich came loaded with brisket, pickles, slaw, and sauce, all working together perfectly. The fries were a great side, crispy and a solid pairing with the sandwich. Sides: The macaroni salad and baked beans that came with the plate were both on point. The mac salad was creamy and complemented the richness of the brisket, while the baked beans added that sweet and savory depth you want with BBQ. Sandwich Details: The sando really stood out, especially with the addition of the slaw. My wife usually isn't a fan of coleslaw, but this one changed things a bit. It wasn't overpowering and added a nice crunch and balance to the sandwich, tying everything together without taking away from the brisket. Drinks and Service: Grabbing coffee from Potheads Coffee alongside the meal was the perfect move. What really stood out, though, was the service. Jay, the owner, was walking around checking in on customers and genuinely engaging with everyone. He even helped my wife decide on a coffee based on what she usually orders at Starbucks, which was a great personal touch. He later stopped by our table, chatted with us for a bit, and made the whole experience feel welcoming and personal. Ambience: The atmosphere strikes a great balance between laid back and lively. It has that casual, welcoming BBQ spot feel where you can relax, enjoy your food, and not feel rushed. Pairing it with Potheads Coffee adds to the experience, making it feel like more than just a meal but a spot you can hang out and enjoy. Overall: Smokin Jay's BBQ is hands down the best BBQ spot I've had in Ventura County so far. Between the quality brisket, well put together sides, standout sandwiches, and the personal touch from the owner, it's an easy recommendation. Pair it with Potheads Coffee, and you've got yourself a top tier Ventura food stop that's definitely worth coming back to.

    Vanilla cold foam cold brew
    Madonna C.

    Always the spot for BBQ!!! Burgers are bomb too!!! Pot head coffee is an added plus for those caffeine addicts !!! Selection is big!

    Customer Service was super awesome; the lady at the front was very nice and friendly and a gave great recommendations If I could give more than five stars On Customer Service, I would! The food was really good. They had light music, but you could still carry on a conversation and it was very welcoming inside.

    Fries & Coffee
    Ryan P.

    I got the brisket sandwich and my wife got the candied bacon breakfast sandwich. Both were incredible. Same for both the fries and hash browns. Service was also great. My wife likes her coffee sweeter and they let her try it before adding the cold foam to make sure it was right. Iot an Americano black which was also great. The decorations inside matched the vibes perfectly.

    OAKIE DOKE SMASH "GIVE ME A QUAD
    Samuel F.

    The food is outstanding always on point nuggets or any type of chicken is always crispy and the meat is always white and juicy As for the burgers, the smash is always amazing and you can add an egg to any burger Stop by from 7 AM to 1 PM for special drinks

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    3 months ago

    BEST chicken sandwich in the 805!!! Waffles and brisket plate are fire too! Order ahead!

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    8 months ago

    Small area to eat at when it's busy but I always get the Gouda smashburger! And there fries are good

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    6 months ago

    Great BBQ and excellent service. One of a few BBQ establishments in Ventura county that I would recommend.

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    Great brisket sando and fries. Best I've had in years. Tons on brisket on it. 2nd time going and Planning on going back next time in Oxnard.

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    Page 2 of 8

    Ask the Community - Smokin Jays

    Do they deliver or are any food deliveries?

    Delivery by @delivery_805 on Instagram, DM for order!

    What are the Business Hours?

    Usually 10:30am-8pm, last online orders 7:30pm. Sometimes they close earlier or sell out!

    Do they take credit cards?

    Yes they do

    Is beer and/or wine sold?

    No alcohol is sold

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    We've been to plenty of fancy restaurants in OC and LA but this place probably beats out majority…read moreof them. The food here is absolutely AMAZING. We came here to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday. We each ordered a cocktail. She got a blueberry margarita and I got a cucumber gin mixed drink. Both were refreshing and delicious. We ended up ordering another round. For appetizers we ordered the crispy maple Brussels and tuna & salmon tartare. The Brussels were fried to perfection and glazed a sweet maple syrup. It also came with thick cuts of bacon. Definitely recommend this. For the tartare, it was also delicious and fresh. It was mixed with avocado and turnip. We thought the turnip would be off putting but it actually meshed well with the flavors. Came with fried wonton chips. For the main course we shared the NY strip and Lobster Malfaldine. The steak was cooked to perfection with a very nice sear and flavored well. Probably one of the better steaks I've ever had. Definitely beats out any steakhouse steak. The Lobster Malfaldine was also absolutely delicious. Most of the time, lobster pasta is usually a bit bland and lacking in lobster. NOT HERE. They included big chunks of lobster and the sauce was so good. Lastly, we ended our dinner with the Strawberry Hand Pie. This is basically a warm strawberry strudel with vanilla bean ice cream. They used locally sourced strawberries and I'm still thinking about it as I'm writing this review. Adrienne was our server and she was very nice and attentive. Since it was my girlfriend's birthday, they comped our dessert. Super nice staff!

    Resort bar and grill right? No blender for drinks, fine…read moreEspresso machine down, okay Beer keg empty, 25 mins to get 3/4 glass flat beer (keg never changed) Guacamole blandddd - had to add Lemon and salt No poke nachos?!? Will never be back.

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    This was our fourth time dining at Portola Italian Kitchen, and I wanted to add an update to my…read moreprevious review because they continue to impress us. One great meal can happen anywhere, but when you come back four times and consistently have excellent food, great service and an enjoyable experience, that says something about how a restaurant is being run. The food tonight was fantastic again. Everything was beautifully prepared, flavorful and served with great presentation. The steak was cooked perfectly, the pasta was excellent, and the drinks were great as well. I also want to recognize Anna, the manager, who does a spectacular job. She is attentive, welcoming and clearly cares about the experience her guests have. You can see her influence in how smoothly the restaurant operates. And a special shout-out to Samantha, our server, who took excellent care of us. She was friendly, attentive and personable, and helped make an already great dinner even more enjoyable. Great service really makes a difference, and Samantha delivered. Jose Luis has created something special here, and Anna, Samantha and the rest of the staff are doing a wonderful job carrying that through. After four visits, Portola isn't just a restaurant we tried and liked--it's become one of our favorite places in Oxnard, and we'll definitely keep coming back. Highly recommended!

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    While what I've had of the food over 2 visits has been okay - not great but mostly good. The…read moreservice has been awful. Especially the hostess. Waitresses try their best but seem stretched too thin to be very attentive. You are made to use Cakes online ordering and wait list program which is less than ideal because of their slow WiFi. While waiting for a table you are updated on your place in line. On our last visit we waited as next to be seated for 20 minutes as multiple large parties showed up late and were seated immediately. We were told they were friends of the owner and there's nothing they could do but the staff hates it- for what that's worth. Today my Avocado toast left much to be desired. Sourdough tastes like dry thin sliced white bread. Small amount of smashed Avocado; not enough to cover the bread topped with less than fresh pico da gallo, arugula a balsamic drizzle and 3 slices of tomato that were marinated in Italian dressing. All things I like but the combination was not good. BLTA used the same disappointing bread, flaccid under cooked bacon a tiny amount of pesto aioli and more avocado then there was on the avocado toast. Kids mini pancakes were good but chocolate chips are $1 up charge. I will say yesterday's eggs Benedict was good- hollandaise is excellent. Breakfast potatoes were a bit undercooked. Bloody Mary was a bit weak in my opinion. After all of that- I got a look at the receipt and there is a 2% BOH RevShare added to the bill. My best guess is this is fee to help pay the kitchen- To be honest we went here because it was a short walk from the Hilton. After the poor service, bad quality and hidden fees- we would be better off eating on the resort.

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    Inside 9-4-23
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    Thank you to our guests!
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    Thanksgiving 2025- serving 350 happy diners!
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    I came here for the first time to try some wine and snacks after dinner. We sampled some of their…read morewines from their very cool-looking dispensers. And we ordered the chefs charcuterie board. The charcuterie board was delicious! The bread was warm and obviously homemade. All the different cheeses tasted fresh and there were also candied walnuts which were fantastic. I was really impressed by their wine dispensers and how many varieties they had of different selections. I think overall we tried 4-6 different wines for less than $40. The ambiance of the inside reminds me a little bit of Squidwards house (but in a good way) with a high arched ceiling and classical decor. I would love to come back and try their other food and sample more wine.

    Last December, a friend came across The Cave while looking for a place to have lunch in Ventura and…read moresuggested we give it a try. I'm really glad he did because it's the kind of place I probably wouldn't have found on my own. The first thing that caught our attention was the self-serve wine dispensers lined with bottles ready to sample. We had a lot of fun walking back and forth, looking over the different selections, and deciding what to taste next. Being able to sample wines by the ounce before committing to a full glass made the whole experience feel interactive. I especially liked that I could compare different Cabernet Sauvignons side by side, which isn't something you get to do very often. After trying a few different Cabernets, Chimney Rock ended up being my favorite. The dining room added to the experience. The cave-like ceilings, warm lighting, and comfortably spaced tables made it easy to settle in, enjoy our lunch, and catch up without feeling cramped or rushed. If you enjoy trying different wines, it's easy to lose track of time here. We started with a cheese plate, which turned out to be much more generous than I expected. It came with a nice assortment of cheeses, crisp apple slices, grapes, candied walnuts, crostini, and a savory relish on the side. It was a great dish to share with our wine. My friend ordered the tuna poke tower, and we shared the cheese flatbread and sweet potato fries. I went with the Original Cave Salad with salmon, which came with a generous piece of perfectly cooked salmon over fresh greens, apples, grapes, walnuts, and blue cheese. Everything tasted fresh, and the portions were generous enough that we left completely satisfied. One thing I appreciated was that we never felt rushed. Lunch naturally turned into an afternoon of catching up, comparing notes on the different wines, and deciding which pours we wanted to try next. Before we left, we wandered through the wine shop one more time. If you discover a favorite during lunch, you can pick up a bottle before heading home, which is a nice touch. I'm really glad my friend found this place. The next time I'm in Ventura, it'll definitely be on my list again.

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    Private room
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    The biscuits and gravy and potatoes were perfect just enough gravy and just enough seasoning on the potatoes
    The biscuits and gravy and potatoes were perfect just enough gravy and just enough seasoning on the potatoes
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    Wine card

    Smokin Jays - bbq - Updated August 2026

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