Jocko's
Steak house · Nipomo
125 N Thompson Ave, Nipomo, CA 93444
Highlights
Oak-grilled meats, huge portions, Santa Maria-style BBQ.
Oak-grilled meats, huge portions, Santa Maria-style BBQ.
"The family behind Jocko’s has been in hospitality since 1925, and it’s a Central Coast institution known for its seriously fresh beef, whether prepared as steak or in one of the best burgers you’ll find anywhere in California. They utilize red oak a la Santa Maria-style barbecue with beef or pork spare ribs, filet, burgers, or lamb chops. The colorful cast of characters on-site only adds to the charm, as does the long lineage of single-family ownership behind the decades-old restaurant." - Mona Holmes
"Arguably the most beloved steakhouse in the area, Jocko’s features an adjustable wood-fired grill where a blazing red oak charcoal fire sits under big, juicy chops of beef. Named after a town ancestor named Ralph “Jocko” Knotts from the late 1800s and early 1900s, Jocko’s took over its current space in the 1950s with Mexican dishes and grilled meats. Other than classic steaks like rib-eye, filet mignon, and New York strip, Jocko’s grills up lamb chops, linguica sausage, sweetbreads, spare ribs, chicken, and salmon, which means the menu will please virtually everyone. If looking for something more modest, the cheeseburgers, grilled over the same fire, are also fantastic." - Matthew Kang
"Started as a saloon in 1925 by Ralph “Jocko” Knotts and later expanded into a barbecue restaurant in the late 1940s, this family-owned spot in Nipomo continues to serve Santa Maria-style barbecue over red oak coals; locals top their steak with Jocko’s housemade Santa Maria-style salsa, and favorites include the grilled artichoke and the steak burger made from beef ground in-house from the restaurant’s aged hand-cut steaks." - Natalie Zimmerman
"Just north of Santa Maria, when things start to become cow farms and agriculture, the 101 passes through a tiny town called Nipomo. Aside from filling up your gas tank or re-upping on snacks at Vons, there doesn’t appear to be any reason to even stop here. But there is. About five minutes off the highway sits Jocko’s, a roadside steakhouse/diner/BBQ with history that dates back to the 1830s. All of the steaks are excellent here, but it’s their double cheeseburger that deserves your focus. Two giant patties topped with American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and onion, this burger is as classic as road trip nourishment gets. Jocko’s is an absolute must-stop on your way to SLO." - brant cox
"Central Coast meat fanatics flock to Jocko’s for its nearly 100-year legacy of all things beef. This is one of the best places for grilled and smoked delicacies from the cow, served with Portuguese linguica sausage and native local pinquito beans." - Farley Elliott
