AJ’s Tex-Mex Barbecue

My cousin and i did a road trip to Ontario from Santa Maria and i found this spot on the way. Over all i enjoyed the food and service was very welcoming and helpful. 1.Rice had a Cajan taste with a hint of tang 2.The brisket i had was legit falling apart and was juicy 3.i usually dont have the bbq sauce since its mostly sweet elsewhere but here it had a tangy flavor that i preferred 4. The ribs were supper well seasoned 5 the macNcheese and cornbread was okay but lets be honest we dont go here for the sides I would go back definitely but inly get the proteins.

11/02/2025 This is one of those places that I've been wanting to go to and today I finally went. The pare (homie) "Ram" made sure that my experience would be great. I ordered the "Large 6B" with Bbq chicken, brisket, and pork ribs with corn, beans, potatoe salad, and fries. The meats were very tender specially the brisket and the sides were very good as well. The portion was huge that I couldn't finish the food even when I had munchies.

This place is good, we ate there 2 days in a row working in the area. Had pulled pork sandwich the first day, it was just a little dry so I had the brisket the next day, that was really good. I'd try the street corn next time as a side at that looked really good. The beans and Mac and cheese didn't wow me but was good . I'd give it 5 stars if it had some indoor seating, the sun was brutal sitting outside. Needs just a little more shade.

I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with this burger BUT I DID!!! The blend on the patty is perfect, so much delicious flavor that I was literally picking up every last crumb — that’s how good it was. It was also super juicy so it essentially marinated the rest of the burger. The only thing keeping it from a 5 is that the pickles and pickled onions were not pungent enough to cut through the fat from the patty. And don’t skip on the Thick Fries, they are perfectly seasoned with a pillowy interior and crisp exterior!

Had the rib tips plate with a side of collard greens. The ribs were so tender and delicious and the greens were on point. The BBQ sauce is tasty, however they don't give you enough. But I will eat here again!!!

Barbecue is really good. Love smoked barbecue. Will definitely be coming back. It’s not a place to really sit down and eat. More of a take and go kind of situation. Although they do have seating outside, but it’s too cold right now to do that. Smelled amazing when I walked in. They were very friendly as well. They do not have a spicy barbecue sauce, which is a disappointment for me because I love spicy barbecue. The barbecue sauce they do have has a very unique flavor. I’m not quite sure what it is. Taste good at first, but after a while, it becomes overwhelming.

That is the best pulled pork I have ever tasted. The bbq sauce has a little kick to it that is absolutely stellar, I recommend dipping the fries in it too. The mac and cheese is so creamy and the seasoning is amazing. As my wife put it "Damn." Really friendly people this is a great place to eat.

AJ's Tex-Mex Barbecue surpassed my expectations even though it's a hole-in-the-wall spot. On my first visit, I ordered the Brisket Sando with a side of Mac n Cheese. that brisket sando was juicy and packed with flavor, making each bite a better reason to come back. The Mac n Cheese was good, but it could've been warmer. Regardless it was tasty and paired well with the brisket. couldn't resist trying that street corn , It was bursting with flavor and added a nice touch to the meal . My only regret is not having enough room to try more plates . Next time, I've got my eye on the baked potato with added Brisket AJ's Tex-Mex Barbecue boasts a cozy ambiance that instantly makes you feel at ease. Don't judge a book by its cover… the food here speaks volumes with its quality and flavor. I'm already counting down the days until my next visit!

Okay, I've been here a few times and the review is overdue. When it comes to barbecue, I'll admit that I'm tough. I was born and raised in Texas, and my bar for bbq is high. But AJ's does brisket right. And to me, that's the test. Love their potato salad. If you ask for white bread, they'll give it to you (which if that wasn't a thing, would knock this down to like three stars because you cannot say you're Texas bbq if there's no crappy white bread). The Mac and cheese is good. And they aren't cheap with the portions - and in LA where bbq is so expensive, I think places have to be kind of generous like that. What I would kill for are like Texas green beans. I don't love their bbq sauce, but I like it. Still. Until I find better brisket in LA, I'd place AJ's at the top for bbq.

Not too familiar with these parts of the Valley, but it's always good to go out and explore, especially if you're looking for some good BBQ. L.A. is not traditionally known as a BBQ city, unless it's Korean, but there are some really good spots out here if you look hard enough. AJ's is no exception. This really is a pick-up and go place, but there are a few outdoor tables out front that give you a nice, noisy view of Riverside Drive should you decide to eat it here. They also share the building with a bar right next door, and apparently there's available seating inside as well. Plenty of street parking out front and there's a lot of spaces in the back, so there was no hassle getting in and out. Menu is Tex-Mex style, which I've actually had before in the Lone star state. Items are pretty traditional and nothing will sound too unfamiliar to you. I went off the cashier guy's recommendations and ordered the two-meat combo plate that came with two sides. - Brisket - 8.5/10: Got the fatty cut for obvious reasons. Fat is where it's at! The pieces were so tender that I cut through them with my fork. Super juicy and flavorful (I'm pretty sure it's seasoned with just salt and pepper). Fantastic cut! - Pork ribs - 8/10: Nice layer of dry rub that wasn't too spicy or salty. Decent amount of smoke. Tender and moist. Nothing really to complain about and you get three large ribs. They don't cheat you here. - Coleslaw - 8/10: creamy, crisp, fresh, with a bit of sweetness and tart. Really well-crafted side dish. - Mac and Cheese - 7.5/10: Solid, very cheesy, didn't dry up quickly like some other mac and cheese dishes. Dish came with two containers of their house BBQ sauce. Really good sauce that didn't have too much heat and sweetness to it. Just really well-balanced. All this came to about $30-plus. That's about average compared with other spots I've been to. Overall, just a really upper-tier level BBQ joint that I will definitely be coming back to!

Yum! They say its hard to find good BBQ outside the South but this place is great :) The staff was really nice! We got the 2 meat 2 side combo and it was the perfect amount of food for two people and only like $33!! Brisket was delicious!!! And don't get me started about the cornbread and honey butter mmmmm. Way too good. Spare ribs were great as well, and the mac n cheese was good but next time will be trying the baked beans. They said "a couple minutes" and it ended up being a 45 min wait, but luckily we weren't too hungry and it went by fast anyways lol. It seemed like a lot of people were doing takeout so that might be the move.

They outdid themselves once again ! This time I sampled the chicken spare ribs mac n cheese and cornbread - all were outstanding! This time I dined in and got parking right in front of the place - Bravo !

Was so excited to try this place! Ultimately the brisket and pulled pork was excellent. The potato salad was unique and excellent. Did not love the Cole slaw. The beans were cowboy beans, so my husband loved it and I, not so much because I prefer them more cooked. The collard greens were decent. I would order again but for specific items.

So glad I found this place. I've eaten at Swinging Door BBQ many times, but they were closed today. So yelped and saw AJ's. What a great find. I really like their style of BBQ. Good BBQ in LA is rare but AJ's delivered! Ram & Sam provided excellent service.

Just had a really solid takeout meal last night. Mixed Bbq meat plate, brisket, corn, bean, collards, corn bread. Portions were moderate to generous. Flavors were strong. The Bbq sauce is on point - well balanced, more vinegar than sugary sweet. Loved it. Plenty of food for 3 with ample leftovers for the next day. About $75. Very surprised and happy. Will try again.

The brisket sandwich was one of the best I have tried. The side dishes are ok but the sandwich makes up for it. The staff are friendly and very helpful if you have any questions. Great place to grab and go since seating is very limited

Awesome food! Tri-top was perfect!! Horse sauce was phenomenal!! Mac & cheese was super great!! Food was ready within 3-4 mintues!! Great service!!

AJs is one of does hidden gem bbq spots. Must try I had ordered the brisket sando with cheese. Comes with side of pickles, raw onions, pickled onions, and side of there bbq sauce Mac and cheese was not good only bummer

My first time here today and I loved it the corn was so good and so was the coleslaw I had ribs and hot links combo 2 meat with 2 sides.. very delicious great place you can only eat outside!! Service was amazing ambiance was comfortable and nice setting! Will be back for sure!!

I often mention the Big 3 of BBQ joints in the San Fernando Valley and AJ's is among the Big 3 AND it is the second best Texas BBQ in Los Angeles (after Moo's respectfully). That is not something to take lightly. They really do a good job with their meats as their ribs, brisket and chicken are all smoked to perfection. The sides are solid but my favorite side dish is the greens here. You will not go wrong if you pick the greens. The Mac and cheese is OK. If meat is your most important factor when deciding bbq then AJ's is your best bet on this side of town.

It's a small but most adorable establishment! I ordered over the phone, the gentleman helping me was nice and efficient with the way he took my order on the phone. The service when picking up was great! Super friendly guy helped us out gave us a little background of the place. What an honor! The food! Oh man the food! It was absolutely delicious and perfect! No one little bit was left behind. I got the plate with two meats to share! The beans were so delicious! The tri tip and brisket were so good! The bbq sauce was amazing too! definitely one of my top favorite BBQ places! You won't regret coming here !

The best bbq in the valley and highly recommend! We usually get their ribs, tri tip, and pulled pork with sides of corn bread, Mac and cheese, and potatoes salad. Their side dishes are as excellent as the main dish. It's literally so delicious, I'm salivating thinking about it. I recommend ordering to go as the sitting area is outside with mosquitoes or you can eat it at the bar next door and grab a drink. The bar next door also have the best drinks! Both look like hole in the wall but really good food and drinks!

DO NOT RECOMMEND! The food was disgusting ewww and had no flavor whatsoever. Paid almost $100 not worth the price I feel nauseous. So fck disgusting besides it being nasty it was cold and the salad was expired EWWW

Pricey but Good! Baked potato was huge, added pork, it had sour cream, butter, green onion and cheese. Ate it for 2 days. Ordered the brisket sandwich on a brioche bun, elote corn and potato salad. Sandwich was yum with the side of sweet/spicy sauce, pickled red onions, white onions, and sour pickles. Average size. The elote corn was off the cob with a lime/mayo based sauce topped with Mexican cheese. Potato salad was great with a little kick, mayo based, dill and maybe horseradish. Great taste all around. Only outdoor seating.

Wow. This was the worst BBQ Ive ever had in my life. There is vinegar in the bbq beans, vinegar in the potato salad, and vinegar in the bbq sauce. This is not your auntys backyard bbq....its flavorless franks. STAY AWAY! EW. The cornbread and honey butter didn't even have flavor. Who spreads lies on yelp?! Im so mad i spent my money here.

It's safe to say we felt Instant regrets after our first bite for not making our 2 pounds 3 pounds. But that's ok, we'll be back. As for the sides, I think this is the first barbecue spot I've eaten that makes incredible accompaniments to the meat. Mac Potato salad -- my daughter is discovering foods and went absolutely feral for this one ha!!!! Their special salad with the roasted corn and avocado Baked potato ?? Top tier. Baked beans sweet and smoky The cornbread muffins are delicious but please please please make room for the pecan pie and banana pudding. You can't go wrong here with the brisket and beef ribs. Order extra barbecue sauce on the side it's worth it. Cheers!!

This place is amazing. I ordered chicken, corn, fries, spicy sausage & brisket & I whole heartedly recommend all of them. The service is wonderful & the flavors are so unique. This is a 10/10 experience!

I decided to give this joint another shot, but this time, I dined in! I 100% recommend eating here instead of ordering take out. The meat was cooked much better. Still a bit dry but better. I was REALLY happy to have tasted the chilaquiles with pork. Honestly, it might have even been one of the best I've had. Portion was great to share as well. I am coming back to dine in for the brisket nachos. Considering that their chilaquiles was a hit for me, I am excited to taste the nachos! And as always, best fries ever dipped with the horseradish white sauce. Parking is street and plentiful. Only 3-4 tables available outside.

Our go to spot for bbq - the brisket is terrific (get the fatty brisket) - the sides: from the Mexican rice, the Mac and cheese to the beans to the collard greens, the food is delicious - try em out!

Fall off the bone meat. We've tried the spare ribs, the brisket and the pulled pork sando. The meat AND sides are all delicious. The service is prompt and everyone who works there is great! Must try!

Visited AJ after reading Yelp reviews. It was a little difficult to find but sufficient parking behind restaurant. Greeted by friendly staff. Looked over the menu and ordered. Brisket and ribs. It was pricey but the Texas style brisket was perfect. Didn't need any sauce and didn't come with bread but, if requested, they'll provide it. Hard to find excellent brisket anywhere in LA but AJ gets very high marks. It was not generous in serving size but I'll definitely be back. Winner! Mainly takeout but five rickety tables are available to eat there.

I wasn't too impressed nothing really stood out about the meal, the amount of food you get for the price didn't add up. They had good greens and sauce.

Despite not being listed on the menu as a SOUP, they don't serve the queso with chips! So. If you'd like anything to eat it with, you're SOL.

AJ's is true Texas Barbeque made by a Texan. All of the meats are cooked correctly and the sides are made on site. All of the ribs were coming off the bone and the brisket burrito must have weighed over a pound. I've used them twice this week alone for clients and they did not disappoint on the food or delivery (local). Many thanks to the team at AJ's

Omg amazing flavor! I was looking for a bbq spot and im so glad i went with them its full of flavor the potato salad was sooo good i have to go back for more i absolutely loved the portions the service was amazing as well definitely give them a try you wont regret it!

Very disapointing mon jan 20th charged me over $400 dollars for some of the worst bbq ive ever had 3lbs of the plainest dry brisket ever. they poured vinegar in the pulled pork my dogs didnt even eat it vinager in the greens way wrong ,pork ribs were decent street corn was real good mac and cheese bought over 48 ounces, fair at best tri tip decent corn bread sweet but super dry .beans were fair my brother and sister rave about this place but they to were disapointed super high price super low effort into theyre craft overall a big thumbs down would NOT recomend .they are way overpriced for the quality .my brothers birthday dinner was disapointing at the very least...

I've driven by this place 1000 times. Finally decided to try it via DoorDash. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich and for a side, potato salad. I was hoping to rave but alas I cannot. Listen, everyone thinks they're a barbecue expert - just read the comments, yay or nay. I've been eating barbecue since was a tad of a lad of a sprig of a twig of a youth, right here in Los Angeles. I've had it in Texas and Kansas and other places. All my favorite barbecue places are sadly gone. So, I'm always on the lookout. For ME, the slaw on the sandwich was fine, the meat was fine - but it's that sour kind of barbecue - you know, a kind of vinegary taste and that's just not for me, I'm afraid. I wanted to love it but you can't love 'em all. As to the potato salad, I took one bite - not even a bite since it resembled soup - and that was enough. And there you have it - one person's opinion.

I hear that Glenwood Smokehouse is the same owner as AJ's. I think I should get my AJ's review out there first! During the pandemic. I've been ordering to go a lot! AJ's happened to be one of the spots I checked out with a buddy. All the reviews and photos looked great I just had to try. My buddy and I practically got everything on the menu! The food was so good that I did come back for seconds several months later. During the second visit I ordered some of my favorites from the first visit and picked up some new items that I didn't order previously. Food is great and can't wait to come back! Parking: Street VERDICT: Rinse and repeat

This place has some of the most tasty beef ribs and brisket I have had in a long while. I wasn't a big fan of the cheese but the ribs are the main thing I should be here for anyways. There is a bar next door where you can order drinks and sit down. The service was pretty good. This is the type of joint you come for a good bbq beef. It's not a place you come for the ambiance. It's worth a visit if you're in the area to try the ribs like I did. The brisket was fantastic also and you can't go wrong with either. Last point. I liked the coleslaw. It was delicious so I would mix that with the bbq beef ribs.

This place has gone WAY downhill. Today their phone wasn't answering. Turns out they had left the phone off the hook. The order was placed in person and they still messed almost everything up. Nothing made fresh, everything tasting off and the attached photo of burned cornbread. Taking this off my list permanently. Avoid. Let's hope a better BBQ opens soon.

Honestly some of the best bbq I've had in SoCal! First of all the pricing/portion is great. Got the thing with one meat and three sides and the presentation was wonderful. Absolutely loved the corn here and Mac and cheese. The brisket was perfect and loved the sauce. Outdoor and indoor seating area plus parking lot. This place wins!

Very good. Tender and tasty. They even got some really spicy hot sauce that was pretty good. Collard greens and Mac n Cheese was really good as well.

This place is amazing! The staff is amazing! Food is amazing! We can't get enough of this place! Breakfast burrito is I consider one of the best breakfast burritos around!

Always bomb Freshly made yummy stuff. And a sleeper on that side of town! Taco is really good

The sandwiches are great. Sides are good as well. You can't beat it especially if you're watching a game at Pat's next door

Came in unexpectedly had the most delicious Rib Tip Plate with a side of BBQ beans BBQ lunch Tex Mex style in town. Service was friendly with a smile and thanked me for stopping by. Super clean atmosphere to enjoy great food. I will be back.

Placed a large order for pick up for Sunday dinner. The ribs were just "ok". The bbq sauce and the coleslaw were not to mine or my family's liking. The coleslaw and bbq sauce needs to be leveled up in flavor.

I don't often review on here, but I've gotta say this is hands down the best bbq in Los Angeles. My wife was looking for places to find cornbread, which we tried and was just ok. But I ordered the beef rib plate and my god, wow. She ordered the tenders and honestly, the best tenders I've ever had. I'll be coming back here on a regular basis. I've heard the breakfast burritos are legendary so I'll be trying that next, followed by everything else on this menu. Can't recommend enough.

Pulled pork quesadilla is fire! Also, definitely try the breakfast tacos! All outdoor seating, so in the winter, it's definitely a takeout only spot.

This place has the best Brisket around. I live around the corner but would drive in from a distance to dine here. Delicious! Brisket is Wet and Meaty perfection. Brisket Bark on point. Perfect. Sweet Corn side is very tasty. Its meal was 5 stars. I'll be trying the Pork Ribs OR rib tips next. I hear they are great. Once I try a few other things off their menu I see about adding that 5th Star. Thanks y'all.

All for the taste... and it's really, REALLY good. Damn good. There are two of these joints, but the one out here is take out only. So no ambiance or service to note. Just get your food and prepare to be happy!

Absolutely love their brisket. But I have noticed that if you go late at night, it can be dry. Go early and it is to die for!!

Got the 3 meat platter with my girlfriend, everything tasted fresh and was brought out fairly quickly, all the sauces we had were amazing as well. I'm a sucker for baked beans and brisket so that hit the spot. Would come back!

Food was very good! Customers service not so good. Young kid serving was very nice but person working at cashier not so friendly. Overall would order for pick up next time

Not here to speak about authenticity or issues with people who are purists--their brisket and their smoked chicken is really, really good. Frankly, that's the only thing we order! I've ordered whole briskets for parties as well as many whole smoked chicken. I generally don't like or order smoked chicken, it's usually dry and flavorless but this smoked chicken is amazing. The aroma is fantastic and even the white meat is moist and juicy. Highly recommend. Also, who actually likes "lean" brisket? Just get fatty brisket--and get lots of it. The leftovers are great and air fried "brisket bacon" is amazing.

The food here is incredible. I had the pulled pork sandwich with potato salad (possibly the best potato salad I've ever had in my life). Everyone in our group loved the chips w/ queso dip, green sauce, and red hot sauce... which was so great, I got some extra to take home. I think the star of the show might have been the brisket burrito, which I didn't even try. A couple of my friends got it, then everyone else in our party took bites and raved about this beast, but I was so full from the pulled pork sandwich that I had to skip it. That's my order for next time, though. It's a small place with outdoor seating, but the parking was easy on the street (they have a parking lot around back but it was full). The best BBQ I've had in years, with excellent service to boot.

Many good things in the menu. The meat quality is very good. But The bbq isn't truly "Texan." We put it on white bread with pickles and onions. They should try it! Cheaper and expected. They could lower their prices by mixing the brioche bun. No Texan would want a brioche bun. Also, their bbq sauce is inedible. It's too sweet and the consistency is gross. They have a white sauce I can manage. Just a heads up if your expecting tradition Texas fare.