Nooooooooo......not now... Geez, to say I'm supremely disappointed would be an understatement. Judging by the some of the pics and reviews, The Rib Shack can put out some good lookin' grub. However unfortunately, today was not that day. I had seen some pics from the shack and I must say, I saw some excellent tri tip and some good looking brisket. But today, the beauty was not in the eye of this beholder. 1st one in line, let's do this. Although I wasn't getting the energetic, and friendly vibe I've come to love from my favorite BBQ places, the person at the front counter was very knowledgeable of the menu and did an excellent job of answering all of my questions. Thanks for that. Between the two of us we ordered cobbler, a hot link, potato salad, and 1.5 lbs of brisket-The potato salad was definitely the highlight. They say you first eat with your eyes and they're right. The first thing I noticed was that the brisket looked very dry, and it was. I love my smoked meats as fresh as possible, so I often try to be the first in line. Being the first customer today, I expected freshly sliced, and hopefully, moist brisket. After being told I couldn't specifically request fatty brisket because "it depends which side is cut first", I was at least expecting nicely sliced fresh brisket. Instead I received some slices, odd chunks, bits, and burnt scrap. Was it leftovers?...Was it a bad day?...I'm not sure but I'll likely never know. Not to mention the fatty brisket's fat was spongy and not deliciously rendered down to the meat butter we all know and love. Brisket was Market Price at $22.07 a lb. I'm not sure why the hot link had nearly 2 dozen puncture wounds but I didn't care for the taste at all. It's very rare I find a hot link I don't like. Again, presentation was rough. (FYI the $5 Links are not made in house) The highlight of the meal was the potato salad. If you're eating here I'd say try the potato salad. It was mustardy, nicely seasoned, and tasted fresh. $5.50 for a large potato salad. I had hoped to get a little relief and score a W with the cobbler but sadly, it too was also a let down. Let down by cobbler?!?!? I know, right. I'm not sure that's ever happened. Immediately upon putting my fork to the cobbler, it appeared something was off. The consistency just didn't seem right. We both looked at each other asking "Is it even cooked?!? I took a small taste and it was like raw cake batter. Darn, one of the few, if any, times I didn't like a cobbler. Cobbler was free with the Yelp Check-in. Oh and I forgot to mention the sauces. There were three but I only cared for one. There was an original-odd and tangy, a spicy-like a combination of bbq and Tapatio, and I'm not sure what they called the third sauce but I called it Goldilocks- it was slightly sweet, slight spicy, and the best of the three. It looks like The Rib Shack can be hit or miss. Unfortunately today, I got a miss. I hope they can improve their consistency and put out delicious food on a daily basis. read more

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This place is bomb!!!!! The food was so fresh and the meat so soft. Its a cute spot, with Both inside and outside seating. This place is delicious, I can not wait to go back for more. By the way Service was quick and super nice. read more

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Was in the area and looking for places to eat. We were in Bonsall and there is like nothing there, so just go a few more minutes east and you will find this place! You know where Nessy Burgers is? Yeah in that same area. We wanted to try everything. So, we got the sampler platter! This came with tri-tip, brisket, pork ribs, pulled pork, hot link, and chicken! Also got sides: cowboy beans, mac & cheese, and fried okra. Everything was sooo good! This place knows how to do bbq, for sure! One of the top places for me for bbq. Don't forget to check in and get your cobbler. Cuz yeah, it's a great way to end your meal! Definitely will come back! read more

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I literally love this place! There dry ribs we're so delicious. I love the fact that they were so moist and they had multiple BBQ sauces. They had sweet, spicy, regular etc. and it was cool having a variety with good meat. The sides were pretty good too and I loved the soda options. Truly a great experience and I will be back. read more

We order and pick up. So everywhere is expensive but this place has very good value and delicious food quick service. The BBQ sauces are all very yummy love the dark one! Even their potato salad is better than mine:( read more

The food is delicious. They make small batch bbq and are very upfront with any items not ready yet. They are quick to serve and order.

Ordered a catfish sandwich. It served on a hamburger bun, cooked fairly well not too greasy / oily , breaded just right. Comes with slaw in the sandwich so if I'd known that, I wouldn't have ordered more slaw as a side. I would come back here. read more

Themis would absolutely be a 5 star if the service was better. You'll get your food fast and you will love it. The flavors are very good and the portions are good size. The. Guy at the counter is 1 star. You will be disappointed with his attitude. Too bad. All things considered, you should try this place. You will love the food. Enjoy! read more

The Rib Shack - Barbeque Near Me - Fallbrook, California

Terrible service never going back use to come to this place all the time before Covid. We moved back to Temecula area I think the owners sold it because the ribs aren't the same. They messed up our order also when I called I was told we didn't order certain things but we were given things we didn't order at all. The guy was rude on the phone this place isn't the same. read more

We stopped here after a hike. We had really high expectations with the great reviews. We ordered the $38 sampler plate. Came with six meats, three sides and three roles. For our sides we had cole slaw, a little creamier than I like. Cowboy beans and they are a must and the fried okra. The secret with fried okra is that it needs to be extra crispy. It was good. The meats were a little disappointing I'm sorry to say. The pulled pork was my favorite! 5/5 Pulled pork 4/5 Pork Ribs 3/5 Tri tip 2/5 Sausage 1/5 Brisket 1/5 Chicken The chicken was pretty dry. The brisket was so lean it barely had flavor. I probably should have picked my brisket cut. I'm an extra moist fan, and end pieces with bark! Note, with your Yelp check in you get a peach cobbler dessert! read more

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We aren't local to the area but I would definitely drive out of my way to come by here. One of the best bbq we have had in San Diego County, and I can't wait to head back up this way to get more tasty eats. We were taking a staycation in the area, and it was a dreary rainy day. Lunch plans fell through so we needed to grab something quick for the family and kids. Yelp led us here and we quickly placed a few combos ($18.50 pp and 2 sides each) for pick up and to go. Ribs and Beef Combo with Brisket Ribs and Beef Combo with Tri-Tip Rib and Chicken Combo Fried Okra Mac and Cheese French Fries Slaw Potato Salad Cowboy Beans EVERYTHING. was FANTASTIC. Forget Phils. Rib Shack is where it is at. We came earlier than the reported pick up time. Food was ready and packaged up nicely. Yelp check-in got a free cobbler (thank you yelp!). It was SO yummy. We all scarfed it down and it was a pleasant way to end our meal. Ribs were delicious. The rub really set it apart. It was cooked just well enough to that even the burnt ends weren't really dry. Even the chicken was pleasant and moist -- seasoned just right. Oh man and each of the sides really hit the spot on the rainy day with all that meat. Okra and fries were well battered and salty to just hit the spot. The mac and cheese was a fan favorite. beans were sweet and savory.. All of it was devoured by kids and adults, with plenty left over for another picnic meal (left overs were just as fabulous). It's a small place just off the freeway and it would be easy to miss if you don't know the area. Happy that we discovered this venue and we'll be back!! Go check them out. YUM!!! read more

The Rib Shack - Barbeque Near Me - Fallbrook, California

My father in law recommended this place and I tried it with high hopes as he is a BBQ expert. Everything is 10/10. The ribs, the brisket, the Mac and potato salad. Peach cobbler is to die for as well. Girl at front was so nice. We will definitely be back soon. read more

Excellent and extremely moist brisket. Fries were pretty salty. 2 choices of barbecue sauce. Will definitely return!

My husband wanted to stop, I don't really like ribs but the bone immediately just seperated from the meat and these were 10/10

Hands down, my current favorite BBQ joint in San Diego! A friend and I have a project, where every couple months or so, we go to a different BBQ joint that we've never tried before. We've been to a bunch now, and though a couple of the others are good, this is the best so far. We usually order the big sampler platter if we've never been there before, because that way you see how good they are at everything. You can tell a lot about a place by how good their coleslaw and potato salad are. Some places don't bother with making them good. All the food at Rib Shack is great. You may have your personal preference of a certain cut, but they do a good job with all of it. I've had pretty much everything on the menu, other than the okra. Yeah, that's not gonna happen. Fridays & Saturdays they often have the giant bronto beef ribs, which are by the pound. They're delicious, so get there early to secure some. You know it's great when you fight over who gets to eat what, and who gets the leftovers. It's also a good sign when you order extra of something, so you have some left to eat with another meal (hence the double potato salad). You can call ahead to see what they have, and place your order. Several times they have been sold out of something, or I've gotten the last of something for the day. It's that good. Watch out for the parking lot, it's a nightmare. It's shared with the market, pizza place, and Nessie Burger, so it's always busy. And it's the country, so the big pickups mean that you sometimes can't make it through an aisle because there's not enough clearance. Just sayin. read more

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The okra is worth the drive alone! It's small and tucked away so you could miss it if you only pay attention to the store and the burger place. I have not tried the burger place yet. The first time I came to the barbecue place it was fantastic! The second time it's really good the second time. Only issue was my meat was severely undercooked which might have been the mixup with another order. I would have sent it back to have him cook it longer but I just gave it to my dog for his birthday lol! It was a little bit pricey but it is really good and basically made right then. So all in all it's definitely a place to come back to read more

Extremely disappointed in the communication of this company.... My fiancé and I are getting married in September. We wanted to find the best bbq to cater our wedding. We found this place and the food is incredible. We were super excited. I reached out several times for a catering inquiry. It took several weeks to hear back and I get it, they're super busy. They sent me the quote but it was for the wrong day. So I reached back out to make sure they were available on the day we needed before I paid for the whole thing. This was April 3rd. I've heard nothing from them since then. I emailed several times, I called and left my name and phone number several times. They told me the catering manager would get back to me but it's been months. They can't give me his contact which I understand. But my wedding is in 2 months and I don't have anyone to cater. We were really hoping for this place because they are SO good. I called Saturday and was rudely told that they wouldn't answer any of my questions or concerns because they were super busy. I wasn't in any way trying to be rude but to express a sense of urgency to get things booked and done before my wedding. All this to say is that if you have an event and you're considering using this company, I'd seriously consider looking elsewhere. They make really good bbq but maybe they shouldn't offer catering because no one will get back to you. read more

Their BBQ is always delicious, got the brisket and BB ribs so good, Mac n cheese always creamy and delicious, and their Mac/fries with your choice of meat on top is to die for. There's not much room to eat inside but they have decent seating outdoors. Their very friendly. It's my go to place when I'm in town. read more

This was one of those home run meals that come every blue moon. I can't wait to go back and get more smokey brisket and ribs so so good!!!

Food for is amazing! Prices are reasonable. Service is very efficient and professional. Love to pick up food to on the way home from work. Yum! An absolute favorite!! read more

I want to begin by saying the ribs and the sauce was delicious I got a side if potato salad also delicious but the MACNCHEESE was worse than kraft in a box I dont say this with any sarcasm I couldn't believe it and i dont live close and got it to go so i wasnt able to Get something else bummer It really should be taken off the menu or done better read more

Typical bbq spot, no thrills, just tables and a counter and simple menu. Customer Service was EXCELLENT Restaurant was CLEAN Food not very flavorful-dry Portions were GREAT Prices-$$ The overall experience was good, the lady at the counter was very nice. We got our food fairly quick, only to be a little disappointed when we got him. Both the brisket and the chicken were very dry, thank goodness they give you extra BBQ sauce. The sides were good, mac n' cheese, coleslaw and potato salad. They give you one Hawaiian Sweet roll.... But for $20 each plate...I think we're better off making it at home... read more

The Rib Shack - chicken plate AFTER i took it off the bone - Barbeque Near Me - Fallbrook, California

Local go to takeout spot . Brisket and tie tip are seasoned great . The X sauce makes ya sweat and is delicious.

Service was horrible, I had an order placed to be ready at 2pm very far in advance. I waited close to an hour for my food to be ready while watching the staff prioritize door dashers. read more

Tri-tip & brisket dinner (I am not sure which was which...) One was good & tender, the other chewy, tough & flavorless...) Two stars is because the prices were high & I ended up paying over $25 for this & a tip, like a crazy person. The potato salad was good & 1 of the meats. However the peach cobbler was a horrible mushy mess. I honestly couldn't tell the difference between the crust & everything else. The BBQ baked beans had too much BBQ sauce & definitely not baked long enough as well...Yelp misled me on this one! read more

The Rib Shack - Sauces...the Spicy was a no-go... - Barbeque Near Me - Fallbrook, California

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The food here is great. Wonderful brisket - always order that. I noticed meat is fresher for lunch than for dinner. Peach cobbler is a must get. read more

Everything is good ! Ribs fall off the bone. 2 different kinds of bbq sauce. The fried okra was delish ! The sides are as good as the meat ! Fast friendly and clean! read more

The Rib Shack - AmaIng selection of bottled sodas ! - Barbeque Near Me - Fallbrook, California

I really don't understand the hype. Got here 6pm, RIBS SOLD OUT. Incredibly friendly service, but that's where the good news ends. Got 2 sampler platters, and it isn't worth writing home about.... pulled pork was dry. Smoked chicken, dry. Everything cooked fast and hot, not low and slow. No smokey flavor. Beans have an off-putting flavor, I think it's chipotle. Their spicy BBQ sauce has the same weird flavor. Mediocre potato salad, forgettable Mac and cheese. Don't waste your money. read more

We had the Rib Shack cater our 22 guest party for our 1-year-old's birthday. When we first moved to Fallbrook, a little before COVID happened, we tried out this place and it was just okay. We decided to try it again a month before the party as a pre-trial run and it was divine!!!!! Shawna was our contact person who helped us figure out the best dishes for the amount of people we had (half kids, half adults) and stayed in great communication and was very pleasant to work with. Julian delivered our food perfectly on time and set up by himself promptly. We had the mac and cheese which was a huge hit with the kids, potato salad that everyone raved about and said it was the best potato salad they have tried from any barbecue restaurant, rolls of course, the tri-tip, pulled pork, sausage links, cowboy beans were all really delicious. Getting french fries during the pretrial was delicious because they have a really nice seasoning on them but when catered they turn a little soggy, which we were forewarned about. The delivery fee was completely reasonable and worth it and kept the food hot for hours throughout the party. Fantastic job done by the company and delicious food enjoyed by everyone - adult and kid alike. We will be back again and again! read more

Great BBQ! Fast service. And out door sitting. This is the second BBQ place we went to today, lol don't grudge.

Good barbecue. Service was very friendly and helpful. I had ribs and brisket. The ribs had good flavor, pretty juicy. The brisket was very tender and moist, but I didn't have any bark on my slices. I liked that they had fried okra as well. I sat inside, was nice and cool, but pretty small. There's also a patio outside. I didn't look at the patio. Overall the barbecue was good by California standards. I'd be back if I was driving by and was hungry. read more

This is the place we go to when feeling nostalgic for Texas BBQ. It is about 70 miles away but always worth the trip. The portions are big so we always have leftovers to prolong our pleasure. Honestly, we have only gotten the brisket but if the other meats are as good, I should try them. It is in a small shopping center and only has 4 indoor tables but they mostly do takeout business so seating isn't a problem. read more

You can smell the smoky deliciousness when you enter the parking lot! This BBQ place is da bomb, best ever--yummy good!! read more

The Rib Shack - The Rib Shack - Barbeque Near Me - Fallbrook, California

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Food was okay. Brisket fatty and pale. Ribs over cooked and dry. Mac and cheese bland. Save yourself some money and get a sandwich next door. Those looked delicious and half the price read more

The Rib Shack - 2 meat combo brisket and ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Fallbrook, California

i love this place, i've eaten everything im local, always here. easily spend few hundred dollars

While doing some work myself and the rest of the family decided to try out this new place. We got the combo plater, and let me tell you that the every pice of meat just was delicious and just feel off the bones. This by far was the of the best BBQ place. It's small and family owned and they are very helpful to answer any questions you may have. I recommend this place if your looking to goto nessie burgers or have a great BBQ meal. read more

We were on the way to SD and looking for a local bbq place, not own by a big co. It's a little place at the corner of a local market. There were a lot of to go orders when we went there, but no one sitting there to eat. We tried the sampler+a tritip sandwhich for 4 of us. They were ALL so good! We love all the sauces, especially the spicy one. The price was fair, even maybe slightly cheaper than most bbq places. The girl who served us... she was excellent!!! Oh the peach cobler was yummy! Will come back again!! read more

Great service! Prices are fair for what you get. Definitely somewhere i wouldnt mind stopping during heavy traffic

Amazing BBQ!! I got the ribs with cowboy beans, mac n cheese, and mashed potatoes. It met my expectations and more! I will definitely be going back to this place when I'm in the area. read more

Always , our lunch and dinner stop on our way to San Diego . Never failed to fill our bellies with plenty of smoked chicken with sumptuous BBQ sauces. An order dinner plate is always good enough for me and hubby. Half a chicken with cowboy beans and delish coleslaw. read more

The Rib Shack - Am a Patriot , so much Love this decor! - Barbeque Near Me - Fallbrook, California

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