Armadillo Willy's BBQ

This has been a place I try to eat every time I am in the area for the last 5 years. No matter which location I go to I always have a great experience. The service is always Great, the environment is soft with low noise which is what I was looking for. They also had MNF on so that was a hidden plus!!!

Armadillo Willy’s is probably the quickest way to get Texas style BBQ in California. I lived in Texas for a few years, and even though this place doesn’t quite hit that high mark, you’ll still get a damn good plate of BBQ here. Highly recommend it.

Cool spot to stop by, loved the Brisket Sandwich, and the spicy bbq sauce. Felt like there was too much bread and not enough meat, maybe a different bun would be in order. I asked for a juice Brisket vs lean and it was excellently cooked and to perfect. Loved the taste and style of the meat. I will have to come by and try more. I miss they had beef ribs I would have got it because you can't find a bbq restaurant that has them. The bathrooms were clean and the bartender was friendly. Definitely a spot worth trying for yourself.

We ordered take-out for a group of eight - and everything was wonderful. We selected options from the “Bulk” menu: baby back ribs, cole slaw, potato salad, corn muffins. The portions were perfect - more food than we expected. The prices are very reasonable. No plastic containers, just compostable cardboard. Highly recommended!

My son has the tri tip sandwich with Caesar salad. He said it was delicious. He loved the sandwich. The salad was ok. My Prime Brisket small plate was very good. It was maybe a bit lacking in smoke flavor, but it was delicious. The spicy slaw was good if a bit mild. The staff at the check out were friendly and helpful, but a bit inexperienced.

I was hungry and it has been a Long time since I had a BBQ sandwhich. Middle of the work day so no line. Clean restaurant Great food, a side of bbq sauce is given because the meat is a little dry but not bad at all. Friendly staff Parking is easy Next to stand donuts, but pre-order sells out fast.

Friendly staff, one of the restaurants that did all of the right things to make it through COVID. The food continues to be excellent! I tried the Tortilla Soup for the first time a few weeks ago and I've upgraded to it as a premium side ever since. Just spicy enough and very flavorful. Their Brisket Burger with BBQ Sauce is excellent, and you can order it with their oat bun to make it more healthy. The staff is great and I highly recommend their rewards program.

Ordered ribs and some brisket. Ribs were fall off the bone, brisket was pretty fatty but otherwise tasty. I also tried the corn salad, which was a nice complement to the meats - cool and with a little acid to break up the rich and savory BBQ. The corn bread muffin was also delicious.

Armadillo Willy's is probably the quickest way to get Texas style BBQ in California. I lived in Texas for a few years, and even though this place doesn't quite hit that high mark, you'll still get a damn good plate of BBQ here. Highly recommend it. It even has a pretty faithful atmosphere to a Texas BBQ joint. Great if you're missing that Texas feel here in California.

BBQ is the best in Santa Clara, Good Food, Wonderful Services, BBQ ribs of course are the best. Salads are very good, (Chinese, Salads with crispy chicken) yes, good choice, yum yum! Beans with rice, or not rice. The best beans in town, Good choice. My favorite beer on Tap makes my lunch delish and satisfying. This restaurant is more then BBQ! The Services very good, friendly, helpful, always with a smile. Fast and friendly service who could ask for any thing more. Check it Out

I just had an amazing experience of being at armadillo Willy's bbq. And found it to be goof in service and ambiance.

We just moved to the area from SF and have been craving some good BBQ (there really isn't great BBQ in the city) so when we passed Armadillo Willy's we decided to give it a try and we weren't disappointed! We've only ever gotten takeout but it's always been excellent! The brisket and pork are delicious. My Mother-in-law even commented recently that she still thinks about that brisket and can't wait to visit again so she can have it. My only complaint is that they don't give enough sauce when you do carry-out. Sometimes they've given us a big thing of both sauces but other times they forget (even though we ask every time). TLDR: if you're looking for good BBQ this is the place to go.

This place has a special place in my heart as this was our spot to go after little league or soccer practices and games with the kids' teammates and their families. So many great memories here for our me and my family. It's been awhile since we last dined here but since our daughter is going off to college in a few days, my husband and I were feeling a bit sentimental and suggested it to her and our son. There were no objections. The restaurant is not large, always clean and tidy and the service is fast. We waited less than 15 minutes for our food. The boys in the family always appreciate the TVs with sports on. My husband and I split the Carolina Chopped BBQ Pork Salad and our son ordered the AW Ranch Salad. We added 2 sides of fries and our daughter got her go to Swiss and Mushroom burger with fries. This salad is one of my favorites because of the honey mustard dressing, large amount of flavorful pork and thrice fresh veggies. The salty and crispy fries compliment the salad perfectly. My daughter gave a double thumbs up to her burger and my son also loved his salad. I can't speak on most of the other dishes, because before they changed the menu several years ago, our go to dishes were the nachos and the fish tacos were the bomb (don't judge me for ordering fish tacos at a BBQ place but they were that good). And since then, we almost always order the Carolina Salad. This place just feels and tastes like home away from home for our family so it gets 4 stars in my book!

It took a long while for us to meander back to this location, but today we did, and I'm happy to note I saw quite a few improvements from last time we were here! Most importantly the ribs were soft and delicious! We always get a full rack, and it was great today. The sides were also spot on, I was surprised that I really enjoyed the peanut slaw this time. I seem to remember it not having much sauciness, but today it was great. The only thing I kind of did not like was the potato salad, it tasted like it was something bought pre-made like it was not homemade by the restaurant. Like those tubs of potato salad from Costco. I'd never get that again. But the cornbread muffin was great as were the pinto beans. Glad to see improvement so I'm bumping them up 1 star!

Food is good. Three years ago, just around the eve of Covid, we bought lunch for my daughter for $8. Now that same offering is $23.45. I would say that the prices have tripled in four years, except it is not quite tripled and a bit more than four years. However, my paycheck for doing the same work as I did on the eve of Covid, my paycheck is NOWHERE near tripling. But the food is good.

Our mac and cheese was served lukewarm. The tater tots and chicken tenders were over fried. The Cesar salad dressing and corn tortilla soup were extremely salty. We did not finish our meal nor did we want to take it home. It's interesting that there's been a wave of negative reviews, yet management have not made an effort to improve the quality of their food. Service was fairly quick. The interior feels worn down. Unfortunately, we will not be coming back.

Deliciously Wonderful! We had them cater my moms 96th birthday party at our house. We ordered for 35 people and received enough good to feed 60! We had the Tri-tip, baby back ribs and chicken. Our sides were the peanut slaw, corn bread muffins and White cheddar Macaroni & Cheese The food was sooo delicious! This was the second time we have had Armadillo Willys cater my moms birthday party. The first time was when she turned 90. We were extremely happy with the quality of food and the delivery service was wonderful too! I have to tell you to try the white cheddar Mac and cheese. I'm not normally a Mac and cheese fan, but after eating the creamy richness of this cheddar cheese sauce, I am now a big fan of Mac and cheese. It's super delicious!! Great place to have cater any party you may think of having! Hope to use them again for mom's 100th birthday party!

I have been going to this place since 1998. last 2 times I ordered Baby back Ribs it was the worst ribs I have ever had. hard and super dry. I think I will find another BBQ place from now on.

Was feeling like BBQ and this location is close and convenient. Unfortunately it did not hit the spot. Went in around noon for a build your own platter and both the ribs and brisket were dry like they were from the day before reheated. This was the same experience I had the last time I came to this location but thought that it was just a one off incident. Two times in a row is not good, especially not for the price. I'll be looking for another BBQ spot for better quality and consistency.

If you order take-out, do yourself a favor and check the food before you leave. I ordered the half rack of baby backs and the half chicken. When I got home I discovered that the lower half of the ribs was burnt to the point of being black and hard; the other half was not quite as burnt and we ate it. The chicken was not much better and was very dry. The only redeeming features were the sides of potato salad, which were delicious. I used to love Armadillo Willy's as I always had great BBQ, but on this occasion I felt taken advantage of because I did take-out. I'd had a long day and was looking to treat ourselves. I couldn't imagine serving someone burnt food and won't be back to this location.

The best of many, fresh BBQ. Brisket, Ribs, Beans, Beer on tap, very good service. Clean tables , Three Big Screen TV'S for sports My go to restaurant with friends.

i love BBQ! esp. texas style... & with armadillo in the nsme, i had high hopes for some yummy hill country texas style brisket. unfortunately i can't give this place a good review based on my experience. i ordered mine "juicy", not "lean". the entire 3/4lbs of meat in my order had almost no fat. it was super dry, stringy & tough. it was also sliced the opposite direction of traditional texas style, which affects the texture/tenderness. i've never seen anyplace slice texas style brisket like what i was served. on the plus side- decent smoke flavor & nice bark, but nearly inedibly dry... sorry, "no thanks"

I ordered take-out and was amazed by how fast they made it. It was ready right when I got there! (Even though I came early). They spoke to me in a very friendly way. The dining area looks clean & comfortable. I had a mushroom burger (apparently a best seller & fries always come with it) and it was very simply delicious! I will certainly remember them whenever I have another burger craving. I very highly recommend this place!

Our last visit for carry out was very disappointing. We have noticed over the years that the quality of ingredients and service has eroded. This seems to have accelerated during the pandemic. We ordered two sandwiches, a salad, and some BBQ sauce. The sandwiches came with sides of a corn muffin and onion rings. The sandwiches were both covered with jalapeños and some Jack and cheddar cheese. Not sure if this is some sort of standard, but definitely not expecting this. The cheeses were not melted. The pulled pork was not flavorful at all. The onion rings were supposed to be extra crispy, but were soggy instead. The corn muffin was definitely a day old - not fresh. I think what is most disappointing is that we have been patrons at this restaurant since it opened. I have very fond memories of lots of good meals here, but it seems like no one cares about what they're doing. I must not be the only ones who feel this way. The restaurant used to be packed on weekends, but now the place is nearly empty. A lot of restaurants in this area have closed, so it's not like there is a lot of competition.

Spacious with nice background music. Fast, efficient service at the bar. Had to order the trinity. Brisket, baby back ribs and chicken. Cornbread with honey butter is reminiscent of Texas Roadhouse, but not quite as good. Brisket shines supreme here. Better than Texas Roadhouse. Baby back ribs and chicken, not as tender as Texas Roadhouse but I do like the jalapeño barbecue sauce here. Give me another order of that brisket to go!

I have been going to armadillo w. forever!!!! Usually ordering some sort of family pack and add a side of brisket . Everything is sooooo delicious. I recently noticed all the packaging is compostable and that is icing on the cake!!!!!

They use in house DoorDash delivery. They call DD for the pickup. We ordered for Mother's Day dinner and the driver allegedly picked up the order at 5:30p for 6p delivery. 20 minute drive. He never arrived. Driver wouldn't answer his phone. At 7pm we had to order pizza. Allegedly, per the restaurant, the driver returned to the restaurant at about 7pm claiming he didn't have an address. But he had picked up the order 1.5 hours before. What did he do in that time? Then the driver refused to make the delivery. Now let's see if Armadillo's really refunds the money.

I appreciate this place so much! We've ordered from here multiple times and everything is just perfect. I love the ribs, cornbread, brisket and pulled pork. In a day and age where everyone is trying to be the newest and best, this place holds true to tradition. Come on they've been around for 40 years. Enjoy the food.

I try not to be to judgmental because growing up I was a waitress, that being said I know how important it is to keep the place clean that means chairs tables highchairs forks spoons bathrooms I have never went to a place and try to sit my child on a high chair for the straps to be soaked in idk what that was not just one or 2 and tell the girl at the front only for her to say I know!!!!!! keep in mind she told me where the high chairs where and saw me pick up my child to put him in the chair. I was so disgusted I could not get out of this place fast enough

I usually go to this place add have great food and service provided. Today I was upset at what I received, On one Seidel of my sandwich I got a solid sliced piece Tri tip and the other side I got bits and pieces. I feel like I got shorted.

Brisket sandwich 7.5/10 pretty good sandwich juicy style with mild sauce on the side (don't order dry, it's not worth it) Tri tip sandwich 5/10 doesn't taste like anything Bbq baby back ribs 5/10 they're so so with the mild sauce but they were dry and not worth it Onion rings 7.5 they're decent with ranch Texas toast 7.5/10 great tasting Garlic fries 5/10 plain, not worth the extra charge

Ribs were pink and chewy. Ambiance is great, and the servers are nice. My wife is a Texas native, and she says this was not real Texas BBQ. Good ribs fall off the bone, but in this case, it was hard to get the meat off the bone with these. The sauces were tasty and the sides were a good portion, but nothing to write home about. I just wish there was a pit master cooking the meat.

Meh. Decent ribs and salad. Fries were horrible. Soggy, and the cheese was applied after they had cooled off because it did not melt. I won't be back.

Dial the wayback machine to the 80's-90's and Armadillo's would have been my favorite BBQ place. Fast forward twenty years and this recent visit might be my last. The food was that bad. Historically, I frequented the Cupertino (defunct), Los Altos, and Sunnyvale locations while rarely visiting Santa Clara. This review is for Santa Clara but my observations could hold true for the other sites. We ordered a pulled-pork sandwich, tri-tip meal, and chicken. ALL of the meat was exceptionally dry and tough. Imagine BBQ meat that had been cooked more than once or was left over from prior days and you'll have the idea. It was literally almost inedible because of the toughness. Regarding flavor, the spicy BBQ sauce recipe changed and is watery with a very mild hint of heat. The cornbread butter evolved for the worse and is very sweet. The muffin itself was dry. And finally, the prices are quite expensive. Almost any small side is $5. My emphasis is on small. On the positive side, the employees were helpful albeit forgetful. The SF Bay Area has many excellent restaurants. How does Armadillo's survive in this competitive locale?

Pretty descent BBQ. I ordered the brisket sandwich for lunch with cheese and jalapeños. The cheese wasn't melted but the jalapeños gave it a nice flavor. My girlfriend ordered the pulled pork sandwich. Flavorful but a little on the dry side. The sides were pinto beans which were on the cold side and peanut slaw was good. Very pricey for the amount of food we get. My girlfriend told me it use to be the best in Santa Clara but now it's kinda hard to believe that. Service was non existent as we had to refill our own drinks . They wanted a tip up front which I refuse to give on principle. If there was service then a tip is given. I would recommend this place only if the others were closed.

Got some brisket didn't feel real too good after the end of the day I Ended up Vomiting all out. Never coming back to this location service was Good just the food wasn't.

We had a family picnic at a local park and had our food made by Armadillo Willy's. We ordered boneless chicken, beef brisket, and pork ribs. The sides we ordered were spicy peanut coleslaw, and potato salad. Everything was delicious! All the meats were cooked perfect and were very flavorful. The pork ribs were individually cut. We picked up our order at the Santa Clara location. The meat was hot and the sides were cool. We worked with Julie and I told her we had a family of 15 to feed. She advised me on how much to order which we did. It was perfect. They gave us serving spoons for the sides and forks for the meat. We also got two bottles of Willy's BBQ sauce. Everything was great! Highly recommend Willy's for a family BBQ.

When I go for barbecue, I always get brisket. I came to this Armadillo Willy's location about 5 or 6 years ago -- and I was not impressed. Pretty bad cut of brisket. Recently I decided to try Armadillo Willy's again, but at their Camden location, a newer location, and was really impressed. Great, bright, spacious locale, but, most of all, the food was excellent, top to bottom. My sister works in this shopping center at Homewood and I suggested we try this Armadillo Willy's location again -- based upon my visit to Camden, I thought this location might have improved since my last visit. I was wrong. Brisket is still subpar. My mom's chicken breast was very dry. Also, walking back to use the restroom, you can see the place could use a massive cleaning. With apologies to staff, who obviously work hard, until management makes some major changes to this location, if you want great bbq, still come to Armadillo Willy's -- but to the Camden location.

Went here cause we wanted beer. Got rejected because apparently you need to buy food or else you can't get beer. We was told that they aren't a bar so that's the reason why you can't just get beer. Might wanna look back into the business model because you just lost some easy money.

We ordered to go via their website. It was convenient and easy to navigate. The portions were relatively small for the price but I think it's an artifact of the ridiculous inflation this past year. We appreciated the different combo plates that they offered so it was easy to be able to sample different barbecue options. We had the fatty brisket and ribs. The ribs were great while the brisket felt a bit overdone that it crumbled at touch. It felt like eating ground beef at that point. The baked beans was nothing special but the fancy white cheese Mac and cheese was amazing. I kinda wished I had more to binge and would not regret feeling miserable after eating all that fatty cheese. We ended up having to order more corn bread for everyone and fries and tatter tots in order to get full. I think the business is trying what they could as their service was great. It's just hard times for everyone at the moment.

Went in for take out. Service was really good and efficient. Staff was nice. Food was really fresh and good. They are socially distancing well. I will definitely come back to this location. It is a little pricey at 13.00 for just 4oz of pulled pork. That's the reason for the 4 stars.

Great pulled pork and over all bbq. Reliable food. I really like the tater tots as well.

I've been to several Armadillo Willy's in the past (Dubin, other El Camino one near Chef Chu's, SJ) and this one several years ago. For some reason, they've cut down on the hours to smoke a brisket. How do I know???? The brisket I had was tougher than a golf ball! I complained to the front staff...but, they didn't care. No more!

Today's Order: Combo Family Pack $54.99 * A full slab (12 bones) Famous Texas BBQ Ribs * 1 Whole Lone Star BBQ Chicken * Four Fresh Baked Corn Muffins * Two Classic Sides we ordered the: * Cajun Fries (at an additional cost) * Potato Salad Neutral: * Came here for our first time dinner as a family and overall our experience was very okay hence the three stars * The customer service wasn't as hasty to serve as Uniqlo but it wasn't Walmart level either and the cashier was kind and informative * The Cajun Fries were fried well and the Cajun spice was decent but nothing mind-blowing Pros: * The Corn Muffins tasted like standard corn bread BUT their Cinnamon-Honey Butter could give Texas Roadhouse a run for their money * Their sauces (we tried their Spicy Jalapeño, Chipotle Honey, and Mild) saved their meats and hold me back from giving them a lower score * The chef and kitchen help were really nice! * They use metal trays with paper as their trays so that's cool I guess (see [and like!) images below) Cons: * The Potato Salad wasn't much different than a tub bought at Costco * Their Famous Texas BBQ ribs were kind of dry * The Whole Lone Star BBQ Chicken was still a bit red on the inside causing me to believe they may not have thoroughly cooked it to an internal temperature of 165°F as instructed by ServSafe and USDA standards Closing Remarks: * We learned of and came to this place because we got a gift card and will probably not be returning unless we get another gift card...or are treated here

Every Thursday they have baked potato with your choice of meat topping. Pretty good but not consistent. Potatoes are pretty big

I've never been to this location but was in the area and craving their corn muffins. The staff was friendly and patient, the place was clean and the food was prepared exactly how we ordered it. Can't ask for much more than that.

AW's is a local Texas BBQ joint with several locations and is considered the Big Kahuna of BBQ in the South Bay. I have found their offerings to be consistent and legitimate BBQ. The "juicy" brisket is a favorite as is the chicken and Ultimate Hickory Burger. They do a fine pulled pork as well. In other words, everything is great! I like the three BBQ sauces, mild, jalapeño and chipotle. Their fries and corn muffins are excellent as well. The wine and beer is cheap and good too. Try the pecan bar if they are offering it. The Santa Clara location has decent parking and if you really want to blow the caloric intake you can pick up a Stan's Donut in the same plaza for a later in the day treat. The folks that work at AW are always alert and friendly.

I've been eating at Armadillo Willy's across the Bay Area since 2014. The juicy brisket has always been amazing. However, today's brisket was so epic that I felt compelled to share it with a long-overdue review. The other items which I regularly enjoy are the Thursday Special Baked Potato (with brisket) and their Cajun fries. PS: The first piece I ate was even more amazing with a lovely bark and spectacular marbling. Obviously, I prioritized eating it over taking a picture.

The food is delicious here! We came on a late Saturday and it wasn't that busy so we got help right away. Once we ordered and sat down our food came right away. I was craving bbq and heard about this place and it didn't disappoint. I would be back whenever I crave it again.

Ordered from DoorDash and only received one slab of ribs when I made 2 orders. We got two salads though! Thanks

I do enjoy the BBQ here, but it's not the bestest that I've ever had. I mean, I travel to Texas pretty frequently, so I guess my opinion is just a little bit biased, but c'mon, it's Texas! That's like going to Japan and then trying to find a place that even compares here. Good luck! I'll bet you there's no way! No way Jose! Anyway, Armadinky is a pretty solid spot, and I'll keep on coming back here, but it's not my exclusive place. Andy's is also pretty good, with quite generous proportions. It's all good baby! Brisket all the way :)

The menu has changed a bit during time of Covid and as of 06/07/2020 the patio area is open for dine in. Overall we had a great experience. The food was delicious, the staff was interactive and kind, and the prices are great. Even with the limited menu there is a lot to chose from. I haven't been here for a few years so it was a pleasant surprise coming back and enjoying it as much as we did. Thank you!

I'm from the south so I have big expectations when it comes to bbq. The service was amazing and I loved the atmosphere of the place! The food was also pretty good and I would recommend getting their briskets ‍

To say that I'm disappointed with dining here recently is an understatement. This used to be our favorite baby back rib joint in town! The quality was never always consistent, at first one or two out of ten times you would get some poor quality meat that won't cook well but we were willing to take a risk and kept going back. Over the years the quality kept going down, we noticed it was more often than not the ribs don't turn out great. We decided to go back one more time last Saturday. And we were disgusted. The baby back ribs were the worst we've ever had from any places. Even the cheap ribs from Safeway's deli had better taste and texture than this $40/plate we purchased. The ribs are tough - you can tell by the amount of fat and gristle visible on the top. And tasteless. Only way I can season it is to use lot of sauce. What happened to the tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs they used to cook? I gave one star here for the sides- corn salad and Cajun fries were decent.

This was my first time ordering from this alleged BBQ joint, and to say that I'm disappointed is an understatement. The Baby back ribs were the worst I've had from any kitchen anywhere. If you like tough, cold, tasteless shoe leather on a bone, this is your restaurant. Where was the seasoning? Where were the tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs that we paid for? The food was not edible, and we just threw away $50 of garbage, including the sides. The corn bread was stale, and the side of beans were watery pintos. WTF? If you're looking for BBQ, please don't waste your money here.

Yummy! I've been coming to this Willys for years and I don't even live in the area anymore. This place is good! They have great tasting food and good employees! The employees are friendly and fast. Every time I have came here I have always had a good experience. Food: Good bbq food! I love the ribs, corn bread and potatoe salad. I make a piggy out of myself every time I come here. Location: This place is at the end of a busy shopping center. However, there is always plenty of parking. It's a huge parking lot. If you want to walk around after eating, there's plenty to browse around. Employees: The employees here are friendly. They are nice, you are greeted when you walk in and it feels good. Even the chefs say hi and engage in small chat if you're in front of them. The people here are kind. Price: The price is reasonable. I love the food here so it doesn't feel pricey at all.

Armadillo Willy's is yummy - no doubt. I picked up food to go last night, it was ready and waiting when I got there (10 minutes?) packed very well and delicious. The portions are HUGE IMHO - I'll get two full meals out of my BBQ plate. I wish they'd include on piece of Texas Toast with an order. The side is too much bread for me to order but one piece would be great.