"Bludso’s sits firmly in our city’s pantheon of great barbecue. Originally started in Compton, this low-key smokehouse now resides in a spacious picnic-bench-filled space on La Brea in Hollywood (with a second location in Santa Monica). Aside from excellent smoked meats, it's become one of the neighborhood's most dependable group dinner spots and a fun place to watch a game. If you're with a lot of people (up to 15), their party trays come with prime brisket, pulled pork, ribs, chicken, hot links, and a heap of sides for a reasonable per-person price. There are no clear misses on the menu, so order what sounds best, grab a beer off their excellent tap list, and watch whatever sports team is imploding on the TV. " - nikko duren, brant cox, sylvio martins