Amber Y.
Yelp
As a big foodie and Yelp Elite, I love supporting up-and-coming food trucks and small businesses, especially Black-owned spots that are getting buzz on social media. Kitchen's Corner BBQ has definitely been one of those Instagram-famous trucks that content creators have been hyping up, so of course, I had to pull up and see if it lived up to the hype.
First, let me paint the picture: it's literally a BBQ pit set up in the back of a food truck with a white tent in front of the city library. Heads up -- do not park in the library lot unless you're actually going inside because the signs are clear and they do ticket/tow. Next to the truck, there was also a seasoned lady selling desserts and cold drinks (not sure if she's part of the business but it felt like a collab).
When I ordered, I asked about the "3 for $30" special I saw on Instagram. The young man taking orders confirmed it was available, so I went with brisket, ribs, and a hot link, plus mac & cheese and collard greens for my sides.
Here's my breakdown:
* The Meat: Tender? Absolutely -- it melted in my mouth, and I'll give that a 10/10. But temperature and flavor? That's where I was a little let down. The brisket and ribs were just warm, not piping hot like I prefer, and the seasoning felt very heavy on black pepper. It seemed like the meat was waiting around for the next order, so the BBQ sauce carried most of the flavor. The sauce itself had a nice kick, but I personally like when the seasoning and smoke speak for themselves. For me, the meat was a 5/10 in flavor, but still cooked well.
* The Sides: The mac & cheese and collard greens were the stars of my plate. They came out hot (how I like it!) and flavorful. No complaints at all -- these sides hit the mark.
* The Vibe: It's a true street-food setup -- casual, simple, with content creators literally right there filming themselves hyping up their plates. I even saw one guy setting his food bag on the concrete floor while slurping up his greens on camera, calling it all a "10/10." That's when I knew I had to keep it real with my Yelp fam.
Overall, I wouldn't say Kitchen's Corner BBQ is bad -- it's just not the life-changing BBQ that social media makes it out to be. It was good but not great, and for the price point, I think some people might walk away expecting more based on the hype. Still, the tenderness of the meat and those sides definitely deserve love, and I respect the hustle of Black-owned food trucks making their mark in LA's competitive food scene.
Would I come back? Maybe, especially to try more of the sides and see if the meat hits differently on a busier day. But I want to be real with my review so folks know what to expect -- no exaggeration, just the truth of my experience.
Look out for my next foodie adventure!