Ordered beef ribs. Big in size small in flavor. BBQ beans a lot to be desired. No flavor,BBQ not good taste. Service was good. Only one family eating there. Don't plan to return any time soon. Smoking Joe's was the best ribs their BBQ sauce & corn bread. Sure miss it. read more

Probably the best BBQ certainly in the. South Bay; and it rivals anything in Texas BBQ for sure. The dinosaur rib can last 2-3 people easy. Ribs, brisket and all the sides are great. You will Spend a lot of money, BUT!!! you will be full and you will be happy. For a couple days read more

Stopped by Willingham's World Champion BBQ and had a solid overall experience. The restaurant and restroom were both clean, which I always appreciate. We tried the St. Louis ribs, pulled pork, beans, and greens. The meat was tender and cooked well. For me, the flavor and sauces weren't quite my personal preference, but I can see how others might enjoy them. Overall, a clean spot with well-prepared meats, and it may come down to taste depending on what you're looking for. Everyone taste buds are different so come and try for yourself. The customer service is also excellent. read more

One of my favorite BBQ joints in the South Bay. On my recent visit, they got rid of the combo. Now you need to order things separately and make your own combo. I went with the pork ribs, lean brisket, with small coleslaw. I got 2 pork ribs, 2 slices of brisket. And not even a slice of bread. This cost over $30! I know prices have gone up across the board. I was still hungry after eating what I ordered. Taste 4 stars. Price and quantity 2 stars. Sorry Willingham's I had o downgrade you a star. read more

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Came here right at opening. The family run business is friendly and helpful. Luckily there is one handicapped spot near the entrance and I scored this morning. I ordered the sliced brisket sandwich with coleslaw on the side. I was happy to see that they serve bottled beer now. I got a Lagunitas IPA to pair with my meal. The brisket was very moist with a nice smokey taste. I got the mild barbecue sauce which was delicious too. Dining room though small was clean and had a nice open and welcoming feeling. read more

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Pulled pork sandwich is so good! Get their side of cream corn, you won't be disappointed!

It's always fast service and delicious, I can't say enough good things about this place and its cool music vibe and most importantly the fantastic BBQ!! read more

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Without a doubt, a true South Bay gem. Along the corner of Ruby and the 1, Willingham's World Champion BBQ lies next to a barber shop & a small parking lot. I usually call ahead and get my food to go, since the store only has a few tables and barstools along the side. If I do find myself waiting around a bit, it is cool to see all the accolades the owners have won over the years. Store has a really homey vibe to it. As a repeat customer, I can say with confidence the brisket (both lean and moist) never disappoint. If you ever order the 2-meat combo, you gotta double up on brisket at least once and ask for half lean and half moist cuts of brisket. I recommend ordering their spicy BBQ sauce, it doesn't have a lot of heat per se - but it does have a pleasant zesty tang that compliments the richness of the meat. Their variety of side dishes are hearty and seasoned to perfection, but my favorites are the collard greens and creamed corn. I do wish the portions for sides were just a little bigger. Be sure to visit this place on the weekends, cause that's when you can order their beef ribs by the pound. Pricy, but totally worth it considering the meat is fall off the bone tender each and every time. read more

This restaurant really is a hidden gem. It's easy to find if you are looking for it; but after my visit today, I'm left wondering how many times I've passed by not knowing it was here. On this occasion, I ordered the two-meat combination plate ($27.00). I selected the St. Louis pork ribs and beef brisket. The plate comes with two sides. I chose the coleslaw and potato salad. With tax ($2.57), my meal was $29.57 before gratuity. When I try a BBQ restaurant for the first time, I ask for the sauce on the side. This allows me to inspect the bark and smoke ring. It also allows me to taste the base seasoning. The store offers your choice of sauce (mild, hot, etc.); but the meats tasted good without any sauce. It had just the right amount of seasoning and smoke flavor. The St. Louis pork ribs held their shape well for presentation purposes; but the meat came off the bone easily and was very tender. When ordering the brisket, you can have a slice from the leaner portion of the brisket; but I chose a cut from the section with more marbling. The meat was moist and melted in the mouth. This restaurant is modest. It is sandwiched between a convenience store and dry cleaners at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway (x) Ruby St (x) S Guadalupe Ave. There are a couple of high-tops outside, and tables inside. You place your order at the counter; if you are eating on site, someone will bring your order to your seat. Willingham's is new to me; but they are a people's favorite, as acknowledged by the local paper. read more

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First time coming here for lunch the other day. For me it was ok, BBQ is always pricey so I always think it should be REALLY GOOD or LIFE CHANGING. I hate to say but nether of these are willingham's. I got the brisket chopped sandwich with baked beans. The brisket was try, so either over cooked or low quality meat. The bun was good fresh, the pickles were good. The Baked beans were better than the sandwich. The mild Bqq sauce too vinegary. I don't think I would give this place another try. read more

Willingham's World Champion BBQ - Baked Beans - Barbeque Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

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So a few things. I have eyeing this spot for a long time and finally decided to try it out for lunch. Ordered a Cali Dude (chopped brisket + sausage) and a Chopped brisket sandwich. Unfortunately my order was wrong and I had already drove home. So it is unfortunate that I did not get what I paid for. Instead I was given a pulled pork sandwich and 2 pork ribs (which were really amazing and baked beans instead of two potato salads) This review will be on what I received and I will say the food was really good. The pulled pork was not dry, very juicy and the mild sauce paired well. The ribs were extremely tender and held so much flavor in each bite! I'm not really a big fan of baked beans, but this side had bits of brisket in it as well so it turned out well. I'm sure next time the food will be better and I hope to try the actual brisket! read more

Willingham's World Champion BBQ - Pulled pork sandwich, St. Louis Pork Ribs, Baked Beans - Barbeque Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

This may be one of the few options for bbq in the South Bay but it still misses the mark for me. There's a certain popup around town (see my other reviews) that is way better. However, I do like to support local small businesses, esp when Asian run, so I won't take off more stars. But the brisket was pretty dry and I just can't have that for a dedicated bbq place, off peak/off days or not. Though I was there at opening so doubt it was even that. Good smoky flavor, but nah, can't be dry. Most people around here will probably accept it but my standards will always be the best of the best from Texas. Stay elite, people. read more

This was on my list of must try and I am so glad I did. The brisket and ribs are phenomenal. It lived up to the hype. Friendly service. I was told pilots and travelers stop in on their layovers to pick up to-go goodies. I would, too. Collards, Cole slaw, and potato salad worthy of praise, too. Everyone is smiling here. read more

Willingham's World Champion BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

Great smoked bbq hole in the wall spot. We ordered a la carte, a pound of brisket, beef ribs, and pulled pork. We also got Texas style chili (no beans) which was very good, Cole slaw and potato salad. Everything was tasty, but their BBQ sauce was too tangy for my liking, and their hot wasn't really spicy. You walk in and it smells so good and you can see all their trophies. They cut the meat right in front of you. They have a few tables inside, but we took it to go. read more

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Solid... Everything here from the pulled part to the brisket. The beef ribs are among the best I've ever had. Whereas the pork ribs are super good, I wish they did baby backs. Love the sandwiches. Be sure to check hours of operations they're not there 7-days a week. Limited seating inside, super nice people. read more

Food: 5+ Service: 5 I cannot find flaw in this BBQ. It's got great smoke but not too much. The brisket is varied. Some soft,some leaner, but all good. The ribs have bit but fall off the bone. Again, great smoke. Collard greens are my favorite of all the sides . Perhaps the beans can be better? All really good. Not much of a place to sit , so takeout is a better option for the busy days. Not cheap but great. I came back twice in 1 month. No need to eat at any other BBQ in the South Bay. This place is king. Bon appetit read more

This location was closed for a while and I thought they had gone out of business. It turned out the owner had been injured and took months to recovery. I was excited to drive by and see it reopened. Plenty of parking on their lot. And I could smell the delicious BBQ before even getting out of my car. I had the sliced brisket sandwich. The order was quite large and very filling. The sweet BBQ sauce on the side was perfect as I'm. It a fan of dripping sandwiches. The taste was excellent I highly recommend this place for consistently good food. It's close to my home so I'll be there, again, soon. read more

Willingham's World Champion BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

A South Bay treasure. The best barbecue in the South Bay. Moist brisket is the way to go and the Cali dude sandwich. The best collard greens and smoked baked beans. Oh and definitely try the chili!! With extra crackers is perfect side to share. This is a wonderful, family-owned business. Me and my kids eat here at least twice a month. This place has soul, enjoy!!! read more

Willingham's World Champion BBQ - Moist brisket jalapeno sausage collard greens potato salad The all meat chili - Barbeque Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

I was so excited to try this place after hearing so many great things! The shop is lovely with a nice family working, and it really felt like a small town gem. The vibes are cute and the prices are great, but nothing is worth eating here. We got brisket, ribs, pulled pork & sausage and everything was underseasoned and extremely dry. Coleslaw, baked beans and collard greens were all mid. Potato salad was flavorless. I feel horrible leaving a review like this but maybe I came on an off day. The BBQ sauces are okay, not the best. read more

Willingham's World Champion BBQ - super dry Jalapeno Sausage! - Barbeque Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

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Wow wow wow! The food is amazing and service is great too. I haven't stopped thinking about this spot since I ate. Will be returning! Happy I found a good spot in the South Bay for some bbq! read more

Willingham's World Champion BBQ - Brisket Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

BBQ in Los Angeles is elusive...just not much out there. Two of the commonly cited best places in LA....well one of those in Culver City, I gave a try and it was really good, only to receive very dry brisket on two further visits and I was done with them. The other, a highly touted Lincoln Heights place, well some co-workers tried and said the brisket was dry as can be. If a place cant do flavorful, juicy brisket, they can't do BBQ. I tried Willinghams a few years and found it kind of flavorless. I don't know if it was an off day or what. I gave Willinghams a try again earlier this year and have been back 3 times since, each time being very delicious. Its not cheap.. a two meat plate with two sides runs $26. But its BBQ done right, which is so rare in Los Angeles. Slow cooked, nice pink ring, deep smokey flavor., My go to is the brisket (moist) and ribs. Both are done outstanding. There are three kinds of bbq sauce (mild, sweet, and spicy), but they really are not necessary. The sides are pretty mid. Cole slaw is ok, creamed corn is ok. But its the BBQ meats that really shine here. Its a small place. if there's a line when you arrive it will take a while to get your food as the family patriarch is the only one cutting meat. And they do run out of some things (or sometimes everything) so if you are coming a ways, you may want to call in your order ahead of time. I want to try the beef ribs. Maybe tomorrow if my beloved Dodgers can force a game 7! read more

There were three of us and we were all disappointed. We had the brisket sandwich and the pulled pork sandwich as well as side with potato salad and beans. The meat was tender, but it was flavorless. The beans were just OK. Potato salad was OK. I was hoping the barbecue sauce would add some flavor to improve the taste of the sandwiches, but the barbecue sauce didn't taste like regular barbecue sauce but instead, it tasted like sauce you might get in a Korean restaurant. Will not be going back definitely not worth the money. read more

Fantastic. The ribs, both beef and spare ribs are outstanding. The bbq beans are wonderful. The creamed corn is out of this world, yes, I agree with a provisos review saying that they're better than Lawry's, they are. We don't have a thing that was bad. The cole sale always great but the potato salad was a hundred times better. The Chili, off the hook delicious. I'm freezing some now leftover so I can use it in chili dogs soon. Yum all the way around. It's fantastic. What a great find. So happy I came across this establishment via my brother and sister in law who live in the South Bay. There is no better bbq anywhere. If that made cornbread and Mac n cheese it would be even better. Thanks guys for the great meal and the second Beal the day after. We bought too much. It so good. Love them And their food. Can't wait to go back. I highly recommend this place with a 100'% review. read more

I've been going to Willingham's for years, but only when I'm in the neighborhood, which was maybe only a few times a year. Today was one of those days, and I was really excited for their exceptional barbecue. Maybe other than Whiskey Flats in San Pedro it's probably the best barbecue in the South Bay area. However, today's trip was disappointing, as they've done away with all of their combo plates, which were great if you wanted to try a couple of different meats and sides. Now they only sell their meats by the pound, at about $39 a pound, and small sides were five dollars each. If you're feeding a family or a group of people, even though the price per pound seems a bit steep, I would still consider it worth the stop. However, if you're just looking for dinner for yourself, especially if you're not a big eater, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to find another barbecue place. I believe the smallest portion of meat you can buy is half a pound, so if you want a couple of different meats, and a couple of sides, you won't be getting out of the place for under $50, plus tax and tip. I certainly hope they rethink bringing back the combo plates! read more

I'm a southerner hailing from Charleston, SC where BBQ is its own food group. Today I ventured out in CA to see how they do it out here and I will say I was very excited with the results. Willingham's is very unassuming, tucked in behind another store front along the street. The seating inside is limited, but there are high tops outside for extra seating. The service was quick. This is one of those walk up, order, and pay before you sit down places. The staff is friendly, professional, and efficient. The food was served with minimal waiting after being seated. The moist brisket was excellent. The baked beans were excellent. I really enjoyed the slaw. All in all, this was an awesome experience and I'll definitely continue going back when I fly through LAX. read more

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Great service- friendly, quick Perfectly cooked and seasoned meat Went for lunch on a Thursday - Ordered a "Chopped brisket sandwich" Comes with a side! ($14) Brisket Sandwich: Meat was great, sauce on the side, PLUS a side dish Made with brioche bun, 1 slice of onion, layer of pickles, and a bunch of meat Sauce-(choice of: mild,hot,sweet) I ordered hot - it's closer to a medium, but still flavorful Meat- (chopped or sliced )- I ordered chopped, which works for me. If you want more moisture, maybe ask for sliced ---there was enough extra meat that fell out of the sandwich to make at least another 1/2 sandwich-- I just ate it with a fork, no added sauce- still delicious. Side: (No mac'n'cheese- small bummer) The potato salad was nice-- perhaps similar to something you would buy at a Costco or Ralph's BUT still good and a nice bonus in a world where sub-par sandwiches *cough* Jer$ey Mik3s *cough* costs the same (or more) with NO side Will be back, 100% read more

This is a solid BBQ joint for LA. At least when I tried it 10 yrs ago. Solid brisket, ribs and sausage, all around. Good low key ambiance. Decent self serve vibe. I shall go back and try again. I grew up eating brisket in TX and lived in Tennessee also. Thought Lucille was fairly decent when I ate there 15 yrs ago but oh man, their BBQ now is an F. Dickey's is a solid B, but they are not around any more. The OK BBQ joint really isn't my cup of tea, giving them the benefit of the doubt about what authentic OK bbq is. Well they are not known for it. read more

Atmosphere - Clean, indoor seating available Food - Ordered the sliced moist brisket sandwich with mild BBQ sauce and potato salad. Brisket was wrapped in original pink butcher paper. The brisket was sliced in front of us, generous portions and the meat was flavorful and tender. It comes with an 8 oz. potato salad. Customer service - Very friendly staff. They were accommodating and stayed open so we could pick up or take our order shortly after closing. Price - Average We will definitely return to try the other items on the menu read more

Tried the pork ribs and brisket, and both were very good. The meat was flavorful and cooked just right. We'll definitely be back.

I really wanted to like this place. It has all the ingredients I love : It's a small, owner operated "hole in the wall" and had rave reviews But I can't recommend it The pulled pork and brisket were so salty , they were almost inedible. I've lived in Texas and have had a lot of bbq and no where was it this salty. Maybe I got it on a bad day? The beans were undercooked. The cream corn was good as was the potato salad. I was disappointed. Hopefully your experience will be better than mine. read more

Willingham's World Champion BBQ - Two meat plate: brisket and pulled pork - Barbeque Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

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I can't say I go often. But every time I do go, it's always fantastic. Even the sides taste good. Last time I got pork ribs. It's rare to find a place that sells the ribs whole, the way I like it. OTHER places give you the bottom half only. Flavor & texture are always perfect. NEVER bland or tough. Congratulations 5 stars definitely deserved. read more

To me Willingham makes the best beef brisket, pulled pork, and chili in the South Bay. Today we had the Chili and it never misses. It's a little bit spicy so buyer beware. I've never had a bad meal here and all our extended family come here as well. A nice family run business. Highly recommend. read more

We were really excited to try the ribs but unfortunately they were out of them. We did have the brisket and pulled pork with baked beans and creamed corn. They were all good. I had the mild bbq sauce and didn't love it. read more

Willingham's World Champion BBQ - Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

Came here on a Sunday. There's a small parking lot and street parking. It's a little hole in the wall run by a small family of mom, dad and daughter. The inside is small with a couple of tables and bar tables. The restaurant opens at 11am. We ordered at 12:20pm. They ran out of 3 items; beef ribs, Jalepeno Sausage and Turkey! I was told due to pre-order! It looks like they catered to pre-orders and sold majority of the meats to online orders! Why tho?! If it's pre-order, you should have enough food to fulfill their order BEFOREHAND as well as fulfill customers orders who drove more than 30mins to the restaurant. After we ordered it took another 30mins which I can understand given the fact there's only one person cutting the meats, one person taking orders and one person preparing the order. By the time we finished eating the lines were already out the door. It was a waste of a drive for us not being able to try majority of the food. We ordered the 2 plate meats: Moist Brisket, St Louis Pork Ribs w/ two sides cream of corn and bbq beans. Both meats are good and cream of corn. Didn't care too much about the BBQ Beans. I've tried different BBQ's and this is by far the closest to Texas IMO. They won quite a lot of trophies, awards and made it to the newspapers. That says a lot about the food. FYI: Beef Ribs & Turkey Breast only sell on weekends. Maybe next time we'll pre-order in hopes we get to try other items. read more

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Excellent spot for some legit BBQ with a friendly Korean family running the shop. Dad's got some serious BBQ chops having learned from one of the best! Willingham's usually our family go to for holiday dinners or bigger family get togethers. You can get the all the meat options by the pound! Brisket is solid and we really like the pork spare ribs and we usually get a few racks just so we can have some leftovers. When they have beef ribs on the weekend, it's a must for us if its available. Big chunks of tender beef ribs that reminds me of TX. Pulled pork is solid as well and it's fun getting some brioche bread to make our own sandwiches. The only one that we don't really care for is the sausage as it tends to be really dry. The chili here is so damn good. All meat chili that can be used for some many dishes. We love getting a few quart so we can have leftovers of this as well. Baked beans is another favorite for the sides, with the potato salad close behind. The shop itself is simple no frills with a few tables for dine-in. Most get their orders to go. Easy to order ahead and select pick up time. They always prepare order right before pick up! read more

Small place. We usually get the BBQ to go. Mac n cheese is good, the baked beans are great, and all the meats are so delicious . I love the sauce. You should definitely try it out if you are in the area read more

Best. Brisket. Ever. Best Service. Ever. Get there early for the dino ribs on the weekend if you want to try them, as they sell out fast. Who needs ambiance when you can have great BBQ??? There's a reason Willingham's is voted Best in the South Bay!!! Keep up the great work, and I'll continue to be a carnivore. read more

Everything we ordered was cooked to tender perfection. The folks running this restaurant have kept the spirit alive and pristine.

So happy my friend told me about this place. I had pretty much given up on BBQ places in the South Bay that were expensive and not good. This place is not cheap nor should it be. It was crowded so next time I'll ask more questions to the pit mater but this time we had Beef Ribs, brisket, potato salad, corn, and chili. Ok well I can't finish the rib so I'll have it later for another meal(or two). And it's the best I have ever had and Texas is the only other place I've had BBQ so ‍ Too full to try the brisket and I'll remark later. The corn, fantastic, the chili is tasty and a little kick(great for chili dogs) it's greasy so be prepared . the potato salad? Just ok, I was sad since I was in a roll. Can't wait to try the turkey and the Cole slaw and beans. Anyway there's no way I'm not going back. Of course be ready to spend money and Be Happy!! Arrigato! Ok had the brisket and it's absolutely amazing, BUT, for me the star is the Huge Beef rib that three regular people could share ONE! And I don't usually like beef ribs at all so there you go. So go, what are you waiting for ?? read more

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Sad to write this... This might be the absolute worst barbecue I've ever had in my life... Not kidding... Came in after reading all these reviews, there is no possible way that these reviews are real, or perhaps we just came in and got the worst plate of BBQ they have ever served in the history of this business... St. Louis style ribs were petrified, hard as a rock dry, and I had to drink a big gulp of water with every bite to rehydrate this atrocity! The ribs that we have were tougher than beef jerky... Like chewing concrete. I am a St. Louis native, you will never find ribs like this in St. Louis... guaranteed... I was born and raised in a barbecue family... These ain't those... The brisket, decent flavor, but lean, doesn't mean dry as a rock. It was like eating those little pieces of the hot wheel track that connect the tracks together... The little plastic part, it was like eating that. The coleslaw was awesome... So I will give credit or credit is due, kind of a mustardy, yellow coleslaw, pretty solid for sure... But this barbecue without being hyperbolic, it was destroyed... It was like it sat on the surface of Venus for six hours... There's more moisture in an old boot sitting in the middle of the Sahara desert ... I'd be willing to come back in and try this again if this just happened to be a one and 1 million fluke... But I'll wait to hear from the owner, this was terrible ... Young girl at the counter was really nice read more