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    Smokin Jays

    4.3 (291 reviews)
    Closed 10:30 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Smokin Jays Photos

    Business Info

    SMOKIN JAYS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Smokin Jays

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    Reviews With Photos

    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.

    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

    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!

    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!

    Health inspection

    They have cockroaches !! They had their permit suspended March 24th 2026 due to cockroach infestation and were allowed to open up just a day later. If you like overpriced roach infested food, this is the spot for you. Look for yourself. https://eco.vcrma.org/#/pa1/detail/FA0041653/PR0070522?FacilityName=Smok

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    Inside

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    2 years ago

    I want to eat everything at this place!! The food was delicious I am very excited to go back

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    Page 3 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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    Dave's Hot Chicken

    Dave's Hot Chicken

    3.5(139 reviews)
    2.2 mi
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    If you like building your own combos, this one actually turned out really good…read more I came to Dave's Hot Chicken tiday and made my own bowl. I got a 10-piece of Dave's Bites with mild seasoning, added a side of mac and cheese, and a side of coleslaw. I used the chicken box as the base, dumped the mac and cheese on top, then the coleslaw, and finished it with Dave's sauce all over. It all comes together in one bite. Crispy chicken, creamy mac and cheese, and that cool crunch from the slaw with the sauce tying everything together. It looks a little crazy, but check the pictures... it's loaded and it works.

    I always thought that I did not like DHC because it always tasted like burnt chilies and unbloomed…read morespices but this time was different. I ordered the mild (instead of spicy or extra hot) chicken tenders and the flavor really good. It was well cooked and juicy. Although I enjoy the spice, the mild did not have any bitterness or bad aftertaste to it like the spicy version that I've had in the past. I also ordered the mozzarella and that was enjoyed by my group. The single tender sounded like a good deal so I added it but it was such a tiny piece compared to the size in the tender combo so that was not worth it (it's better to order another combo set with two) since it was half the size of the tender in the combo. This location is severely understaffed but the one person that was there, was very friendly and did what she could. The wait time was extend by 15 minutes but it was fine considering the lack of staffing. Clean restaurant and an overall good experience. Ample parking in a shared lot.

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    Dave's Hot Chicken
    Dave's Hot Chicken
    Dave's Hot Chicken

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    New Chicken - Patties and fried rice

    New Chicken

    4.2(37 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    Came here late at night around 1030 PM. First time ever. Read about how this is one of the old…read morebuildings in Downton Oxnard, so decided to check it out since it was the only place open at that time. Very friendly waitress greeted us upon entrance upstairs. We ordered to go as we had our little one with us. Food came quickly while only one other customer was present. We ordered Honey Walnut Shrimp, egg drop soup, and the shrimp corn dumplings. We liked the soup the best. Will have to return earlier in the day to and give it another chance.

    Overall 3.5 - is that the rule for good Chinese?Once Golden Chicken Inn NOW New Chicken .. still…read moreoldest restaurant in Ventura County in downtown Oxnard. New owners. Authentic Chinese food, Beijing pies, dumplings and more ! It's an old building ... est since 1929 I believe. So old decor , nothing fancy and there are stairs to climb. We had red Mongolian Beef and General tso. Mongolian beef had a lot of veggies but beef was tender. Tso was crunchy. The restaurant was pretty empty . I think a lot of people grab to go because we were the only guests for the longest. The chef came out and didn't speak much English but was so excited to let us know he was happy to cook for us. Free soda if you pay with cash. We had cash and our dishes were about $16 . We left tip. Parking can be difficult.

    Photos
    New Chicken - Kung Pao Shrimp  Came with steamed rice  Egg flower soup not pictured

    Kung Pao Shrimp Came with steamed rice Egg flower soup not pictured

    New Chicken - Sizzling Beef and Kung Pao Chicken

    Sizzling Beef and Kung Pao Chicken

    New Chicken - The booths are still there, hasn't changed much since Golden Chicken Inn.

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    Gordos Hot Chicken - Our order.

    Gordos Hot Chicken

    3.1(29 reviews)
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    We started our visit to The Collection with lunch. There are several restaurants nicely spaced…read moreapart, but I suggested we check out The Annex for more options. The husband's mind was made up as soon as we walked in to see the large chicken statue in front of the glowing red storefront of Gordo's Hot Chicken. We looked at all the other food offerings, only to end up back at Gordo's. Ordering was very easy on one of the two kiosks. The team members are also quick to help or answer questions at the register. Our food came out fast! The Sandwich Combo (Regular/Hot) with fries and Mac & Cheese, no slaw for the husband. Gordo Fries Combo (Spicy) for me. We found it all fresh and delicious. The option for two sides (included) is great. We found the chicken moist and tender -- the heat levels were perfect. The Mac & Cheese was a favorite. It was one of the husband's sides and generously piled on my Gordo Fries. There's plenty of clean tables and seating inside The Annex. Orders are packed to-go so you can also enjoy it outside at the park or community areas.

    The food ..... Yes. The food. The chicken strips are HUGE.. I ordered the medium hot. They had…read morea great flavor. I ordered the 4 piece tenders it came with fries, a slice of Texas toast and a drink the chicken and the fries were very good and crispy. The toast was excellent too. A lot of food for the money. The service was great. The guy that took our order was super friendly and helpful and the food was ready quickly. I will say you can eat in the restaurant, but it was hot in there and the place did lack any ambiance. This is more of a takeout place than a dine in place. But I gave it 5 stars because you get a lot of good quality food for the price and the people are very friendly. Give it a try!!!

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    Gordos Hot Chicken - Inside Front

    Inside Front

    Gordos Hot Chicken - A complete picture of my Gordo fries here at the Bar area here at Gordo's hot chicken in the annex at the collection in Oxnard

    A complete picture of my Gordo fries here at the Bar area here at Gordo's hot chicken in the annex at the collection in Oxnard

    Gordos Hot Chicken

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    Ox & Ocean - crispy potatoes

    Ox & Ocean

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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!

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    Photos
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    Hotel lobby

    Ox & Ocean - Lobster pasta and Jidori chicken

    Lobster pasta and Jidori chicken

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    Smokin Jays - bbq - Updated September 2026

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