Mission St. BBQ

Barbecue restaurant · West King Street

Mission St. BBQ

Barbecue restaurant · West King Street

1

1618 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

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Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null
Mission St. BBQ by null

Highlights

This laid-back family joint serves up smoky BBQ, plenty of craft beer, and lively blues tunes, making it a go-to for a cozy night out.  

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1618 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Get directions

missionstbbq.com
@mission_st_bbq

$20–30 · Menu

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1618 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Get directions

+1 831 458 2222
missionstbbq.com
@mission_st_bbq
𝕏
@missionstbbq

$20–30 · Menu

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Last updated

Mar 7, 2025

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"Miss Oddette is known for her phenomenal BBQ sauce and commitment to consistency, which is crucial for food products."

Women Who Travel Podcast: California's Soul Food Scene With Chef Tanya Holland
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Jake Olsen

Google
We love BBQ and our standard is Armadillo W's in the Bay Area. All other BBQ will be measured against them. This place doesn't quite stack up. The cornbread is too dry and bland. The burnt ends have a nice texture but are a bit dry and swimming in sugar. Brisket is OK but could be juicier . Overall an OK experience, not amazing. Maybe I caught it on a down day. Was really hoping it would be amazing. Perhaps next time? My son definitely loved the mac n cheese, so that's a go to if we're there again. This little blues trio was fire (named in the pic), so that made waiting for my food very enjoyable.

Freddy Gonzalez

Google
Good BBQ spot, the flavor was lacking a little something, but overall a great experience, great customer service, food was just good.

TaNaya Jade

Google
I rarely do food reviews, so when I do there is always something that sticks out about the restaurant. For this one in particular my complaint is that they don’t have good service . I ordered online sometime around 7:41 and then drove to the restaurant, but at 7:48 they texted saying it was ready when it was not. I stood in the online pickup area and didn’t get help until i moved into the order line, where i was told that my food would be a little while longer. I didn’t get my food until 8:07, almost 20 minutes later. Then as I was eating, I found a hair in my food. The overall customer service as well as my experience with the food has made this restaurant one of the worst in santa cruz for me.

Aaron Lascano

Google
This place is amazing if you are craving some great smoky barbecue. The meat is tender and juicy. The Mac and cheese was really good too. They had this blues band playing and they sounded incredible. Such a cool vibe.

gian giglio

Google
Fantastic Brisket Sandwich! I can't wait to try more of their food. This place is the real deal, they have 2 huge offset smokers in the back. I LOVE that the BBQ sauce is "help your self", I hate when places only give you 1 little cup. I want to try them all and this place lets you do that.

Tricia Crane

Google
We love making this place our early dinner after a Wilder Ranch mountain bike excursion. Delicious food, great beer options, easy atmosphere, and great music.

Steve Browne

Google
The food was excellent and we got plenty of it. We brought home a to-go box with the leftovers. We got a salad with tri-tip to share and a dinner plate of brisket and sides. Everything was tasty. The only slight negative was that the volume of the live music was way too loud, stifling our conversation. The music was good, but we would have enjoyed it better if we could have talked with each other while listening. Overall, we were very happy and would recommend this.

Reg Jackson

Google
Very good looking restaurant it is very clean along with having employees with amazing attitude and very welcoming. I came in around 5:00 p.m. and there wasn't anyone customer-wise there but the smell of the smoker had me interested in what I wanted to order, after speaking with the gentleman at the counter who was very helpful and provided different options I ended up settling for the burnt ends meal with potato salad and macaroni and cheese. The good The employees and customer service The not so bad The burnt ends were well...burnt but tasty, the portion size was ok but could have been better. The UGLY The side items are horrible with an capital H, bland flavorless mac and cheese that by far is the worst i hae ever tasted. You can get better mac and cheese from a grocery store deli. I can't tell you what queso Blanco or mystery cheese that was used but a big miss and at best is a 1/5 Potato salad is what they call it, as for me it's the progresso soup of potato salad, flavor void and an disappointment for your pallet. Pro tip Just serve meat and bread, and 86 the thin lifeless cornbread that failed the skillet cornbread academy for cooks that can't cook. If these side items are a family recipe, please tell me the family name so I can never be invited to the cookout. 3/5 and a waste of money

Wendy C.

Yelp
We had a 10 year anniversary party for Vets 4 Vets and we ordered food for 90 people to be dropped off at the venue. The food arrived a few minutes early with all the serving utensils and everyone enjoyed the feast. This was a great choice for our party. Thank you Mission St. BBQ.

Pauline W.

Yelp
3/9/24 Zach, Coco and I were in Santa Cruz for the day and decided to check out Mission St. BBQ for lunch. There's limited parking in the back. We were lucky to get a spot since we didn't see any available street parking. You go inside to order and you can either sit in there or sit outside on the patio. Here's what we got: - BBQ chicken sandwich with a side of corn bread (mine) - Firebird BBQ sandwich with a bag of chips (his) The food came out in a few minutes after we had ordered. With the food and utensils on the tray, napkins and moist towelettes are provided as well which I think was very thoughtful since eating a sandwich can get messy. They also placed a mint on the tray so you can snuff out that BBQ breath haha. BBQ is not something I seek out intentionally, but I did enjoy the meal. The cornbread was soft and moist; it comes with honey and butter also. The chicken sandwich was full of flavor and the bread was soft too. Zach's firebird sandwich was supposed to be a spicier version of mine.. he said it wasn't spicy at all, but then again his spice tolerance is higher than most. Overall, I'd say the meal was pretty good. Maybe next time I will add some greens/veggies since it's so carb and meat heavy.

Cheryl R.

Yelp
we stopped in & got our lunch to go, service was quick, we ordered a fire bird & gaucho both with potato salad, we both enjoyed our sandwiches but the potato salad wasn't our favorite, we want to try other things, we'll be back

Tanisha S.

Yelp
Decided to stop by for lunch on our day trip out to Santa Cruz. I haven't had BBQ in a while and can be quite picky about it, so my expectations were high (and we were hungry). Service was super friendly; we rolled up to the counter and ordered a 2 meat combo with pork ribs, brisket, mac and cheese, and coleslaw. Pretty fair price for a 2 meat combo at ~$25, but I should've known better. My husband and I can eat a LOT so we should've ordered more than 2 meats. We ended up getting a second 2 meat combo, and swapped out the brisket for burnt ends. The brisket was good and pretty moist; it definitely bit the spot although still not as good as my favorite bbq spots in Austin. The pork ribs that came out with our first combo were pretty small, so I was slightly disappointed, but our second combo had some meatier, juicier pieces. The burnt ends were tasty but a bit saucier than I typically like. For sides, the mac and coleslaw are good, but I'd skip the potato salad. I loved the spice in the spicy bbq sauce and the craft beer selection! I think we'll be back next time we're in town!

Samuel C.

Yelp
We've tried many different BBQ places, this one isn't half bad! We both agreed that the brisket was better than the ribs, the mac and cheese wasn't doing it for us because of the Asiago cheese, and the slaw was pretty basic. The sauces were delicious, the spicy bbq was our favorite. Ambiance is great, lots of local canned beer to choose from, and a warm cozy atmosphere. Service was kind, welcoming and the food came out quick. Decent place in Santa Cruz!

Melissa K.

Yelp
3.5 is more accurate of how I'd rate this spot. Something's were done really well, others ok, and some not so ok. Pros- tri tip was really tasty! Perfectly seasoned and tender. Everyone agreed it was the best meat of the ones we tried (chicken, brisket, burnt ends, and tri tip). The coleslaw, mac and cheese, and cornbread were pretty tasty too. And the smell when you come out of your car, especially when you are hungry... very enticing! Outdoor seating was nice since we brought our dog. Cons- the brisket was pretty dry (you'll definitely want to add the BBQ sauce) and the burnt ends were pretty greasy. The garlic bread looked amazing on several yelp reviews, but ours looked underwhelming and the taste matched that.... no taste or that nice crunch that you'd get from a well made garlic bread. If we were to ever go back, I'd go with a one meat meal and get the tri tip, it was quite good!

Andrew S.

Yelp
Mmmmm the BBQ was good, not amazing or exceptional. To me, the star of the show was the potato salad and the pickled veggies. The pickled veggies were so good, I went back to ask for more. I expected the brisket to be much more tender than what I go, but it was still tasty. I was hoping to enjoy their meats much more, but again, definitely recommend trying the Pork ribs, pickled veggies, and the potato salad! Dog friendly for outdoor seating!

Cherry H.

Yelp
Food: *Tri-tip *Brisket *Cornbread *Mac and Cheese Meal went well with my Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout. Burnt ends popular here and often sell out. Service: Kind and speedy Ambiance: Indoor and outdoor seating is available. We enjoyed our meal outside on a sunny and warm weekend in Santa Cruz. Local beers served at this restaurant is a great treat and pairs well with the food. Tip: Spicy and Non-spicy barbecue sauce is available for self service. Both taste good, the spicy barbecue packs a punch.

Christy V.

Yelp
Stopped by Santa Cruz for a day and this spot was recommended to me by a friend. This BBQ joint lives up to the hype and expectations I had. Food and service was amazing. Prices were reasonable for the amount of food you get. Plenty of options and combos to choose from. The meat and BBQ was tender and flavorful. The sides were delicious as well. Only downside was their coleslaw was a bit disappointing. Super casual BBQ spot. Order at the front and they'll bring the food to your table. They have both indoor and outdoor seating with live music! Will be back when I'm in the area!

Norman J.

Yelp
This place has good parking in a good location. They serve breakfast tacos beginning at 7:30am. The service is always friendly and quick. You smell the smokers the minute you get out of the car. The atmosphere is relaxed and they not only have live blues music nights, but they also play great blues inside. There is also a nice outside eating area.

Daniel L.

Yelp
Mission Street BBQ has some dank barbecue. Got the large tri-tips sandwich which came with a side in which I got mac & cheese for about 20 bucks. Good value and price for all the food. I felt like the large portion was a good portion and would think the regular size would not be enough. The tri-tip was nice and juicy, and tender and smoky. The garlic bread came with soft and moist and flavorful. I wish it was toasted a little bit more though. The mac & cheese just tasted like cream could use more taste and cheese. Pickled vegetables on the side as well. They had barbecue sauce on the side and the spicy one was pretty spicy. My wife got a giant tri-tip spud and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was humongous and she had to take it home. They have a nice taplist with lots of cans as well. Definitely recommend the spot and would come back.

Lydia F.

Yelp
No matter where we travel to, we're going to try the BBQ. Good thing it was only a mile from our hotel. The place is nice outside and very inviting. Inside is a country style decor. We asked what was the hot thing on the menu and the girl said the brisket and burnt ends. So we went with burnt ends. We've had really great burnt ends in other places so there was a bar to set. We got our food, and extra bbq sauce. My plate had the burnt ends, coleslaw, beans and Texas toast. My husband got the potato salad and it was nothing to rave about. The toast was very tasty and crunchy. The slaw could use more sauce as it was a bit on the dry side. The beans were good, they have pieces of brisket in them. I wish I could say the burnt ends were great but they weren't. Burnt ends are the fatty meat part of the brisket. The pieces I got were dry meat covered in bbq. The price for two meals was not too bad, especially for the Bay Area. If we didn't live so far away, I would go back and try the brisket. Maybe it was a bad batch of the meat. I hope you give the burnt ends a. Try at this place and judge for yourself.

Eric R.

Yelp
This meat, is the best brisket I have ever had in California. Closest to Texas BBQ I have ever found. Only thing I did not like is they don't trim the fat cap off. However, this is minor and the flavor was there! The spicy BBQ sauce, in self service cups, is very spicy. I was pleasantly surprised and it was solid. The macaroni and cheese tastes like a jar of Alfredo sauce. None of that yellow, creamy, cheesy bite, I would expect. Pretty forgetful and would not order it again. The coleslaw was fantastic! Nice sour and sweet dressing. Nice crunch, well marinaded. Can tell it was cut from fresh heads of cabbage and not preprocessed stuff. Very solid. The price is California prices, so not cheap. I will go back. However, that Mac and cheese had to drop a star, when KFC has better Mac and Cheese.

Elizabeth Q.

Yelp
Food: we tried the tri tip and brisket meats with sides of coleslaw and Mac & cheese. The tri tip was a more savory, dry, thin, tough, and relatively lean cut. There's a dense pepper-rub that adds a kick. The brisket was a little sweeter, soft, buttery, and fatty cut. It was so tender it could easily be cut with a spoon. The coleslaw and mac & cheese both tasted very fresh, and the cole slaw was light on the creamy texture which I enjoyed. The Mac & cheese on the other hand, had the perfect balance of creamy sharp white cheddar. I got a side of garlic bread as well, and all pieces of the meal paired well with each other. I found myself having a "Ratatouille" moment just trying combinations of the different sides and meats together and I enjoyed each and every one. Service: order at the counter and when your meal is ready it will be delivered to you. Otherwise, it is mostly self-service with refilling water & bussing your own table. Ambiance: plenty of seating indoors and a few tables available in the outdoor patio.

Mike B.

Yelp
I'm picky about my BBQ and this place exceeded expectations! - ribs : awesome! - hot link : nice and spicy ! - tri tip : no knife needed ! I'd definitely recommend and I'll be coming back !!

Flora Y.

Yelp
I wanted to love this place, but sadly couldn't! The burnt ends are slathered with too much bbq sauce, you can't even taste the meat and it was too chewy.The brisket was pretty dry. The Mac & cheese is tasteless and bellow average. The coleslaw was just terrible. Very disappointing. Not sure why they are rating so high! Salinas City BBQ is 10x better.

Benny D.

Yelp
I visited from out of town and thought it was really good. I got the breakfast tacos initially when I got there and it was very saucy. My favorite bbq that I tried there was the tri tip.

Theresa R.

Yelp
In town with a hankering for BBQ. Mission seemed the spot with a blues band and mouthwatering menu options. The warmth of this place hits you before you even come in the door with hanging lights and tables for outdoor seating. The BBQs were all contained over to the side and gave the impression of BBQ expertise. We dove in deep and ordered pulled pork sandwiches, brisket sandwich, berry and blue salad with brisket and a half pound order of burnt ends. It was all amazing! We loved the smoky flavors of the meat, the sweet and tangy BBQ sauce and the healthy portions. The salad was a kaleidoscope of colors and fresh vegetables and fruit - juicy blackberries and crisp apple slices. It was a dream on a plate and had the best brisket sprinkled over the top. It even had caramelized pecans that were so rich, I had to give most of them to my oldest to not vere too far off my diet. If it's BBQ you are hungry for, then this is the place to be!

Rocky F.

Yelp
It was okay. I was disappointed in my tri-tip sandwich. That tri-tip was pretty damn hard to chew. Not sure if it was cut incorrectly or just a really fatty piece. My wife loved her BBQ chicken. The beer selection is great and plenty of parking. I've been here before and it was better, so I will likely try again. Just be aware the tri tip is hit or miss.

Maria A.

Yelp
This is the best food I've had in Santa Cruz. The ribs were perfection by hot links were spicy, but not too spicy service was thoughtful and helpful and I love that they have root beer that was not made so I can enjoy. The restaurant is clean and cozy.

Daisy Z.

Yelp
Was in Santa Cruz and decided to have lunch here. Food was pretty good. Had the bbq pork ribs, The Gaucho sandwich and the rib sandwich with potato salad and beans as the side. Beans were just ok. You can taste some chili powder in the beans. Needed to probably cook a little longer. The sandwiches came with pickled cucumber, red onions and jalapenos- was really good. The rib sandwich was good except that it had a little too much fat for me! Flavor was there otherwise. My husband had the gaucho sandwich and really enjoyed it. Said it was well balanced in flavor. You order at the counter and food is brought to your table. Seem to be a local hangout.

Olga C.

Yelp
Outdoor seating , good parking , cordial staff. Fast service and great delicious portions. Will come back

Carlos B.

Yelp
It took us an hour drive to get to this place from San Jose, but I hotga say it was worth the drive. The food was good! And the live music was even better. The place was very mellow vibe and chill. I visited during the weekday, and it was somewhat crowed but I was a little late to try their famous brisket, but I will be dropping by next time! Also you know its an authentic BBQ place because our clothes smells smoky after we left.

Charlotte C.

Yelp
Was in the area at the mystery spot and hopped on yelp to find lunch recommendations and it didn't disappoint! I love a good bbq and this was top notch. Yes we all got some variation of trip tip but still I am sure everything is good. Everything that came out of the kitchen looked and smelled delicious. They have a regular and spicy bbq sauce and bother were tasty. My potato was perfect. My husbands tri tip sandwich was cooked perfectly. Medium rare, tender, and seasoning was spot on. My picky teenager got the Mac bowl with tri tip and she loved it. It's a white Mac and cheese, super creamy and cheesy and comes with. Either garlic bread or corn bread. We got three meals and two drinks and it was about $60. Honestly fair for amazing bbq in my opinion. Would come back and recommend!

Elizabeth I.

Yelp
I love this place.Yummy.I came here today with a friend and we both got the larg bbq chicken with garlic bread and two sides.I got potato salad n and a extra garlic bread n my friend got coleslaw and chili beans.Plus we both got soda.Food was very yummy as always.The restaurant has its own parking lot.I recommend this place

Bob F.

Yelp
Been here a few times and the BBQ is solid. It is also nice they have a parking lot in back as parking seems to be a little tight in this area. Brisket sandwich: 4/5. Very flavorful and not too fatty.

Franzene N.

Yelp
I never purposefully choose to eat at a BBQ Restaurant because I'm afraid of dry BBQ, but I judged the food by the Yelp reviews and my husband and I were not disappointed! The brisket was delicious and tender (my favorite of all 3), the chicken was also very good, and the burnt ends were flavorful. The coleslaw was good, the Mac n cheese was better. Absolutely enjoyed my beautiful garden salad. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his Rib Sandwich. I had a bite and I understand! It was huge for a Regular serving and the ribs were tender and flavorful, the bread was nice and soft. We got here at 5:30PM on a Saturday the day before the Santa Cruz Ironman and there were plenty of outdoor tables available and some indoor tables were still open. There was a live band getting ready to play inside, but we opted to sit outside because we had our furbaby with us. Service was welcoming, friendly, and fast! Would definitely eat here again anytime we're in town.

Nick C.

Yelp
Came here on the weekend and tried the burnt ends. I suspect that they sell far too many burnt ends for these to actually be the burnt ends of the smoked brisket; they're probably especially making these from chunks of other meat. Doesn't matter at all: it's delicious, smoky, and the sauce is wonderful. The pickled onions were helpful at cutting down on the smokiness. The pickled jalapeños were a little too spicy to provide any relief to the palate. The decor of the place is really shabby and worn-out, not that I really minded.

Ellen H.

Yelp
Mission Street BBQ is a casual BBQ restaurant in the heart of Santa Cruz. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Big beer selection. The food came fast,but we found it pretty average. Aptos BBQ looks better. Safety Pluses - Online menu, Delivery services available, online ordering. Food Review: 3 Meat Meal ($34.50) in 2024 with pork ribs, pulled pork, tri tip gives a nice view on their meat quality. Tri tip is thinly sliced, smokey, and good. 8/10 Pulled pork is not as finely pulled as most also very salty. 6/10 Ribs are still small but tender. 7.5/10 Garlic bread and bean sides are okay. 7.5/10 2 Meat Meal ($25.75) with brisket, pork ribs was on the smaller side. Tender brisket and solid ribs. 2 sides: beans were average. mac cheese was also average. Grilled bread slice was below average. 7.5/10 Brisket Sandwich ($15.75) has the same brisket in a small sandwich. 7.5/10 Overall - Good Food - Good Decor - Good Service - Good Value - Good Would we come back - Maybe

Lindsay C.

Yelp
Good food is hard to come by in Santa Cruz. Especially considering it's such a tourist trap. We found Mission BBQ after scrolling endlessly through Yelp and finding no real protein options. Considering the reviews, we gave this place a shot. Mediocre at best. My review will echo a previous persons - the Brisket was insanely dry. I've never had Brisket that dry. It was so dry, it fell apart on the fork and felt more like a super dry chicken breast. Pulled pork was cold :( and the chicken had barely any meat on it... but it wasn't dry. So there's that. The Johnny cake tasted like cardboard, the Mac and cheese was weird and kind of tasted faintly of cheese... but also cold. The overall theme of the dinner was "cold." Perhaps it would've been better served as Charcuterie. The beans were okay and probably the best tasting thing on my plate. Other than the quality of the food, the service was great. Everything came out super fast... but cold. Again.. proof you don't come to Santa Cruz for the food.......

Leisyka P.

Yelp
I am not a barbecue fan, so why would I go here? Well... I in SC on a work trip and that's where the evening social was happening... To my pleasant surprise, it was a fantastic experience. It was perfect for this event. I ordered at the register and the menu had a great selection of barbecue and beer. This was a great place for a large group to eat as everybody can pay for themselves and order what they want. And then, when you sit down, they deliver it to you. Instead of having to get up and get your order. There was roughly 15 of us sitting at one of the big tables so it can accommodate groups. We were there on a weeknight, so they did not have music, but I think they often do and there is a small stage which would make this place even more fun with a true hometown vibe. The service was top-notch, really friendly yet efficient staff got me my drink and put food order in. Food came quickly and was melt in your mouth. delicious. I was not a fan of barbecue but now I am thanks to Mission Street barbecue! Helpings are generous, but not over the top and the mac & cheese is delicious. I will definitely be back to this great Santa Cruz establishments.

Nohemy C.

Yelp
We ordered a brisket sandwich and pulled pork sandwich to go. Both meats were on the dryer side, but unsure if it was because we ate it 2 hours later. We ordered to go on our way out of Santa Cruz and had it for dinner. The baked potato that I got as a side was rock hard so I had to toss it. The potato salad side was small and my husband said it was average. We also felt that the sandwich bread was too thick. I think a lighter bread would allow for the taste of the meats to shine. I will say that they do pack meat into the sandwich so they don't skimp on it.

Marissa G.

Yelp
Food is really good! Service is pretty good. They are fast at taking orders and bringing food out. Ambiance is classic barbecue place

Amber N.

Yelp
This cute little family restaurant is good for a comfy meal. Drove by this place a few times and decided to try it. Came here during Friday lunch. It was not that busy and we were able to order right away. We wanted to try the burnt ends but they said they didn't have any which was a bummer. We ordered the 2 meat combo with brisket, ribs, Mac and cheese, coleslaw, and corn bread. I thought the meat was so yummy. The brisket has a perfect amount of lean meat and fat. I'm glad they gave us the fatty pieces but they should cut more off in my opinion. The ribs fell of the bone so easily. They only had two sauce which was the original bbq sauce and spicy bbq. Original bbq sauce was better. I did share this meal with another person and it actually not bad for only $30 because most bbq places are pricey. They gave us extra plates, forks, napkins, and utensils. I like how they give you the butter and honey for the corn bread too. Service was quick and friendly. I would come back here to try other items and if I was in the area. The only con I found was I wish the portions were bigger.

Shahram M.

Yelp
This place is now a regular stop for me when visiting Santa Cruz. It is hands down the best BBq around. I tried the pulled pork and the brisket and they were both amazing. For side the potato salad and the coleslaw were on point. Love the causal atmosphere and the friendly staff. Looking forward to next visit already!

Siobhan D.

Yelp
Came in for breakfast today. I was pretty hungry, and the biscuit sandwich looked like my kind of nom. The lovely young woman at the counter answered my annoying questions and poured us fresh coffee. We came early in the day (breakfast) so the service was fast. The dining area was scattered with other folks eating. It was easy to tidy up and move on with the day. For sure coming back. 10/10 Also the parking lot smells delicious (not for vegans, though) Poor vegans. They miss so much flavor.

Scott P.

Yelp
The BBQ is delicious. I'm not in this area a lot, but I'll be back. I had a brisket sandwich. My daughter ended up trading her hot dog for the last bite of brisket. She loved it. Then she ate the last bite of my wife's tritip. Gobbled it up. We will be back!

Daniel A.

Yelp
Yup! Still amazing! I stop in for take out meats whenever I'm in town. The brisket and the pork is top notch!! I generally pick up 2 pounds of meat to take home. (I love leftovers!). And it was on point yet again today. Staff was super friendly. Order was ready quick. Plenty of parking. Love love love this spot!

S B.

Yelp
TPNLMD= this place never lets me down! This week we happened to catch some live blues too. Great vibe. Tasty food. Fair portions and outside seating.

Samantha F.

Yelp
Yum! After an incredible day at the beach, we were disappointed that the scrumptious fish & chips food truck was sold out which made humble sea brewery moot. We meandered the area without success and a quick google search led us to nearby Mission St BBQ. I chose it as it was listed as family friendly and had reasonable prices for children despite my preference for vegetarian food. It was 100% a fantastic decision. I prefer to write reviews after i frequent a place several times. I have only been here once and was very pleased. I plan to make it a go-to with our Santa cruz adventures. Lucy was kind and patient as I stumbled my way thru ordering with my sand logged brain. The space is cozy and open. I did think it was too loud with a particularly large family present which is no fault of the restaurant. I should have asked to turn the music down. Lucy serenely tolerated my multiple returns to the front to accommodate my requests for my twins. They could bus and wipe down the tables more frequently since there is a high turnover of dinner guests and limited tables. The food was phenomenal and deterred me from removing a star based on the above. Meat is generally not my favorite. Here, the brisket and pulled pork were tender, juicy and melted in your mouth. My mac&cheese child put away the brisket barely touching the mac&cheese. She did ask me to save it for later. My mostly vegetarian child ate half the pulled-pork!!! Both lapped up the bbq sauce with the meat, their spoons, their fingers and added it to their ice cream . I appreciated the green salad side (I wish it was not an extra $2) and thought the pickled cucumbers, onions & jalapeños were a nice addition. I was in the mood for beer & tried the all mammals beer which flawlessly complimented my meal. The spicy bbq sauce is spicy! The beans too were surprisingly fiery! Avoid if spice is not your palate. The berry cobbler hit the spot. It was a large size, comfortingly warm and slightly sweet, not overwhelmingly sugary. I am so excited to have leftovers for the next 1-2 days and can't wait to return.

Laura G.

Yelp
Good barbecue, although the food seemed to either be mild or very hot - I didn't find the perfect balance first time out. I liked the garlic toast but I'd skip the cornbread next time. Good beer selection, very pleasant ambiance, and really nice staff.

Brittany B.

Yelp
We ordered catering for a party. We did the smokehouse for party of 30. It was plenty of food for 30 hungry men. So many compliments on the food. We had it delivered and it came with serving utensils. I highly recommend for large gatherings.

Todd O.

Yelp
Had the large tri tip sandwich. Wife had a bbq pork sandwich. The meat was good and the sides were freshly made (Mac and cheese, coleslaw). I would come here again.

Andy C.

Yelp
After a weary, foggy ride down route 1, ended up here, and staff was courteous and friendly, with a refreshing greeting. Food/bbq was good as usual, highly recommend it. I got a half rack of ribs, juicy. moist, and tasty. Plenty of bbq energy for the ride back home.

Angelina M.

Yelp
Service was amazing and very helpful and great suggestion! The food was made perfectly and everything came out fast and smooth. The atmosphere is comfortable to enjoy your food! We definitely came on a good day the staff is so friendly and welcoming!

P R.

Yelp
First visit here. We both had the BBQ Chicken sandwiches which was good. Chicken very moist and great sauce. The roll was toasted but seemed like more of a sourdough which seems odd for BBQ. Most of the tables were dirty and the floor wet from spilled drinks and ice. A gal came out and wiped down the tables and ignored the floor. Not too good. There were ice cubes on the floor by the drink machine and I nearly slipped on one. The machine itself could've used a good wiped own. Was the food good? Yes. Would I come back? Probably not, unless the gave it a good scrubbing.

Leticia D.

Yelp
The burnt ends and pork ribs were good. Juicy, flavorful and the bbq sauce was perfect. BUT the part of the bbq chicken that connects the wing to the rest of the breast looked under cooked. I mean RED!! The sides were ok, if and I mean IF I go back I'd buy the meat only and make my own sides at home.

Lily C.

Yelp
I went to Santa Cruz last week and I found this restaurant on Yelp definitely recommend, food and service are amazing I recommend try the brisket, that was my first time but I will be back soon.

Cindy C.

Yelp
We stopped by here while on a road trip. We noticed they served burnt ends as one of their specialties and as someone who hasn't tried this before, I was very keen. I fell in love with this item immediately. The burnt ends were perfectly caramelized and melted in my mouth. I'm glad we ordered only half a pound to share because that delicious sticky sweetness would become too much had I eaten more. Overall, I thought it was a great decadent meal. The dish came with some pickled onions and jalapenos on the side which helped to balance out the candied sweetness. Finally it was also served with two mint chocolates which I thought was a nice touch.