Smoke City Char Bar

Unfortunately the food looks a lot better than it taste, the ribs were pretty decent but I’ve definitely had better. The macaroni was decent but it didn’t mention on the menu that there was meat inside it. The southern greens didn’t taste anything like other southern greens I’ve had many times in my life, they lacked flavor and didn’t have any turkey neck. The waiter was nice, but I didn’t appreciate how he didn’t inform us how big the large portions sides were, the amount of macaroni and greens were way too much for one or even two people and it would’ve been respectful for him to let us know that we could’ve easily ordered small dishes. Definitely wouldn’t come back, the atmosphere was the best part of the experience, when the food should’ve been the best part!

Great BBQ spot. This was a good restaurant with good food and drinks. I just expected more in flavor. The mashed potatoes needed more kick with either a gravy or pepper, the BBQ sauce need more variety with one being too sweet and the other very typical. My biggest criticism is the the sauces were cold and the meat was not steamy. Cocktails were great though, service was keen and polite. The atmosphere and playing was perfect for a date or business lunch/dinner. I would love to come back and see if they improve the balance of the dishes.

Came on a Thursday around 8pm. Not crowded at all. Took a pre-visit gander at the online menu and decided I was definitely trying the brisket deviled eggs, if nothing else! Wow, they were thee most creative deviled eggs I've ever had. I would have never thought to pair feta cheese with it. Delicious. They need to just go ahead and give you the other half of the 3rd egg so you won't have to fight your dining partner for the odd 5th half on the plate. We cut ours in half haha. Also tried the BBQ flavor wings, turkey California Cobb salad and a brisket salad. The wings are huge, delicious and you get 12 in an order. Brisket salad was flavorful. Thinly chopped napa cabbage as the main green was a bit unusual but still tasty and crunchy. Turkey Cobb salad had moist and delicious smoked turkey and generous sprinkles of blue cheese. Service was friendly and attentive. Definitely returning to explore other menu items and sides!

Wow this place is just amazing. Their pork belly appetizers was crispy in every bite. And their brisket hit all the right spots. Everyone that works here is super nice especially my Spanish server that worked on the night of 7/22. They also validate parking here!

Overall: B+ (dine in) - Service: 5/5 - Ambiance: 5/5 - Food: 4/5 - Drinks: 3.2/5 Smoke City Char Bar is a bit difficult to find since you have to park in the Aliso garage then walk out past the dog park to get there but they have instructions on Yelp under the "About the Business" section. They also validate parking for 2 hours which is a huge plus for DTLA. The ambiance is more upscale than your typical BBQ joint. We came on a Sunday night so it was empty with 2 other parties dining outside. The space is beautiful and clean, and the service was great (shoutout to Angel) so I was so sad that there weren't more people dining here. Food was pretty good but drinks were light and tasted okay. Crisp Fried Smoked Pork Belly ($18): The best of the 3 meats we tried. The pork belly tasted exactly like it's name. It wasn't too dry and surprisingly went really well with the heirloom tomatoes and balsamic gastrique underneath it. We're used to Asian flavors and pork belly being very umami but this was a different way of cooking we can appreciate. Beef Brisket (Half Order $23 / Full Order $42): I was disappointed in the beef brisket even though it was said to be one of the more popular meats. It was lacking flavor so we had to dunk it in a lot of sauce. There were some pieces that were on the drier side and then some with huge chunks of fat on it. Baby Back Ribs (Half Order $20 / Full Order $37): The ribs were a little bit better to me with the meat being tender and falling off the bones easily. There were some parts on the outer edges that were too burnt/dry so we couldn't eat it. There seems to be a bit of inconsistency with the seasoning as well with some parts being too salty. For the craft smoked meats, we got to choose our sauces. 1. Soy Ginger: I thought this was too umami to use as a dipping sauce but would have been great if the meat was basted in it. 2. Harissa Mosasses: Wow this has a kick to it which I liked. 3. Cayenne Honey: Didn't taste like the name suggests but it was great for dipping our fries in instead of ketchup. Truffle French Fries (Small $6 / Large $9): We both really like the truffle french since they were crispy and you can taste the truffle. Charred Brussel Sprouts (Small $6 / Large $9): We both love the brussel sprouts which was recommended by Angel. They topped it off with pomegranate seeds which was different and gave a nice sweet contrast. The brussel sprouts were phenomenal with the sauce being key! I would probably buy that sauce if they sold it to use as a marinade for all my other veggies. My only complaint is that I wish they were consistent on getting all the brussel sprouts crispy. There were some big pieces that were a bit more watery with the crispiness only on the outer layer or on the edges. The Mamba ($16): This has cocktail has woodinville rye, mint, blackberries, & lime. This was my husband's favorite drink. I didn't care for it much. Hush, Francis ($14): This is a mule with Xicaru mezcal, lime, pina, & house made ginger beer. This was such a great twist on a traditional moscow mule and my favorite cocktail of the night. Picsso's Passion ($15): This is made of fords gin, Cointreau, lemon, passoa liqueur, & lillet. It comes out a pretty pink color with a lemon wedge garnish and actually tastes similar to a pink lemonade. Very light drink. Smokey White Sangria ($13): My second favorite drink made with white wine. Very light as well. Pandan Panna Cotta ($13.50): I was surprised that they had an Asian Italian fusion dessert at an American BBQ place. The panna cotta was the perfect texture & level of sweetness but did not taste like pandan to me at all. The panna cotta is topped with a generous amount of mango slices for one half while the other half was filled with the mango granita & condensed milk. It was really refreshing and the sweet mango paired so well with the panna cotta. I could not stop eating it. It's a great dessert to end a meal with, especially during the summer.

This night was a such a great experience. Being from Arizona, We were in the need for a fun yet quality dining experience to end our day. The atmosphere was fun and did exactly what we wanted it to! The service was the best and the guys at the bar delivered! That watermelon salad was one of the best I have ever had. The chilis added the best crunch and flavor contrast! Those eggs are to die for! Now, I could go on and on about the Brussels and the truffle Frites! However, the meat stole the show with the sauces. Just a night to relax and enjoy the vibe. If you want a spot that is great and has a good happy hour and late. Igor’s in the city, this is the spot!

Had a dinner with my team members; tried out brisket deviled eggs, wings, street tacos, house nachos, and couple of meat platters. I thought their seasoning was just a bit too salty but others members were enjoying the food and drink. The atmosphere was quiet and staff members were super friendly. I would comeback to this place.

Location is easier to get to from Traction ave or Merrick Street. I am so impressed with this restaurant. It was so difficult to find though. The GPS doesn't like the building so it kept making us go around in circles. We almost gave up on looking but we did find it. When we walked in the waitress was very friendly. The atmosphere is very chill and the drinks were so refreshing and perfectly sweet. We got the ginger strawberry lemonade and blackberry basquait. The waiting staff was friendly and so helpful. For food, we started with the nachos and it satisfied that crunch craving. The brisket was so tender and the ribs fell right off the bone 🤤. It wasn't just that, the flavor was perfectly balanced, sauce and seasoning were obviously well thought out. We ordered the corn bread and OMG it was so delicious. Sweet and cinnamon flavor butter. It was a dessert in itself i seriously wanted to put a scoop of ice cream on top. I would highly suggest this restaurant to anyone who wants to enjoy a good date night.

ambiance: so sad to see this place closed, i really liked this classic bar restaurant located in downtown next to aliso apartment, with easy street parking or two hours designated garage parking with validation service: super friendly and patient with questions, accommodating special requests, refilled water and served food attentively, and the overall service deserves a very big tip in the end food & drink: numerous items on drink and food menu, with local inspirations brisket deviled eggs - **** mesquite smoked brisket, feta cheese, creative combinations of ingredients, layers of flavors, recommend crisp fried smoked pork belly - ***** creamy burrata cheese, sliced heirloom tomato, balsamic gastrique, crispy and flavorful, highly recommend burnt ends mac & cheese - **** so creamy and tasty with meat inside the pot, recommend char bar's smoked half chicken special - **** carrot romesco, braised collards, crispy potato, juicy and flavorful meat, particularly good with house spicy bbq sauce, recommend ragu with 16-hour smoked brisket- *** rigatoni pasta, shaved parmesan, average taste buttermilk shortbread biscuit - **** freshly sliced strawberries, strawberry curd, vanilla bean ice cream, chantilly cream, beautiful presentation and good taste, recommend salvador's sangria - *** house red mixed with fresh berries & smoked watermelon, bold flavors the mamba - **** woodinville rye, mint, blackberries, lime, light and refreshing, recommend van gogh's flask - **** house aged woodford reserve, amaro, aperol, cherry heering & bogart bitters, house version of old fashioned, recommend hush, francis - *** feisty mule with xicaru mezcal, lime, piña & house made ginger beer, average price: generous portions and decent quality, expect about $50 per person for food plus any alcoholic drinks

Good place to come for happy hour. Everything is reasonably priced, and the drinks + HH food items are good. The place doesn't get crowded at all so its good to go with groups or a small few.

(Took Out 02/24/23 SA @ 4:30pm): This city needed more smokey charred bars! I received a Groupon to Smoke City Char Bar as a Christmas present, and realized it was about to expire. Unfortunately, it was an inopportune time to fully utilize the offer because I was in the middle of Lent when I annually gave up all alcohol, poultry, and red meat as a cleansing of my body. I was saddened that I couldn't wrap my mouth around some juicy ribs with dripping sauce, but I digressed. This area of the Arts District has really cleaned up over the years, yet I felt there was still a lack of BBQ joints. Would this BBQ bar smoke any competition in the area!? PURCHASE Basquiat's Blackberry Smash Non-Alcoholic Drink ($6.00): Made with fresh blackberries, lime, mint, agave, and soda water, I enjoyed this refreshing drink with actual pieces of floating fruit, while I waited for my takeout order to be completed. My only request was for less ice. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=QRri_vPWIRoXk1ZbCYPYvg&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw Napa Cabbage Slaw Small Order ($5.00): A perfect portion size since I wasn't a big cole slaw fan, everything had a nice crispiness and peppery vinegary flavor to it, while it wasn't soupy at all (a good thing!). https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=k6W9w_i5i2_gbTUKXGxmIg&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw Charred Brussel Sprouts Small Order ($6.00): As an adult, I've grown to love brussel sprouts and ordered them wherever I went. These were more charred than I'm used to, but I still loved them with the many tart pomegranate seeds and matching balsamic glaze. This was a good portion size and again could've been a meal on its own. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=0xqp1PAoNNgfnl1rUgUyRw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw Skillet Cornbread Small Order ($7.00): A sizable hot piece of bread served with a creamy butter sauce, this had a nice texture and thickness to it. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=sWqQ72Xnv6u22Iwhu012uQ&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw Burnt Ends Mac & Cheese Large Order ($11.00): A ton of firm elbow pasta, vivid yellow liquidy cheese, and an adequate amount of lovely burnt pork (I picked them out) that ultimately made this a meal on its own. I was happy to make this last for several meals. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=ruiJZOxr_xyXEvLrQ842lw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw Pacific Salmon w/Soy Ginger Sauce Full Order ($29.00): Two large lightly seared filets, each piece was moist and thick and easily broke apart into small slivers with a fork. The soy ginger sauce paired well and wasn't too watery. Along with the accompanying sides, I was able to have this as two meals. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=iRFRoYzO-4akzjScfz12KA&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw SERVICE I arrived shortly after they opened for the evening and was quickly greeted by a young gentleman at the host lectern. I already knew what I wanted, so I handed him my order, he processed it, and then I waited for about 20 minutes when my wrapped-up food came out. All was good! PARKING (FREE) Sadly, I learned after-the-fact that they provided 2-hour validated parking in the adjacent Aliso Parking Garage. Thankfully, I found street parking (usually timed during the week) along one of the many side streets several minutes away. Otherwise, parking was always tough in this part of town. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE This was a very modern open space with a ton of places to sit, a decent bar https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=5Ud-3sYLpL07WDJifHv3xg&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw with plenty of stools, and minimal decorations. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=xPT8y8D7y7GkJ-5st8Z0Vw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw A ton of natural light came through the large front openings while decorative hung electric ceiling lights filled in the rest. There were several TVs while music played in the background. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=A7eBvUTtiQbxkaPof1rdhw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL I was very happy with the non-meat items I tried at Smoke City Char Bar, and would like to return to eventually try their meat options. I loved the portion sizes, prices, and service. Again, the parking could be an issue, but there were several options (the Metro Yellow Line was reasonably close enough). And of course, I was happy to support another small mom & pop local business! I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $70.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 4.0 STARS

Shall we place bets on how long til it completely folds? Too bad, because the food was really good. They're no longer serving in-house, only delivery apps. And who knows what those hours are (other than Thursday through Sunday).

This place is a hidden gem in DTLA's Arts District. It is a bit hidden due to construction on the streets, but this place sits between several apartment complex. It has a cozy outdoor area with couch seating as well as indoor seating, with beautiful decor. It is definitely an elevated take on BBQ. Very chic but casual and without the smoke. We were instantly greeted by the host and seated quickly. He was super helpful when it came to ordering. It was a group of 6 of us and we ordered almost everything from the appetizer menu with a full order of baby back ribs, which were incredible, so tender. -Hickory Smoked Watermelon, would probably pass next time. It was cool to taste but really, if your going to do BBQ, you can get away with not having watermelon. -Brisket Deviled Eggs, who doesn't love devilled eggs! You can never go wrong. -Fried Smoked Pork Belly, everyone agreed -Burnt end mac and cheese bites, could have used a little more burnt end on it. -Smokehouse nachos, def a must to order as a sharable. - Charred Brussel Sprouts, felt a little too charred for my liking. -baby back ribs, a winner. they were so juicy and tender, meat fell right off the bones. *The Mamba, had to order this purple drink which I can only assume is paying homage to Kobe. Was so crisp and refreshing. Overall, you have to realize BBQ is expensive. But when you compare to other establishments, this place a great option for elevated and tasty while splurging a little but still being reasonable. QUICK TIP FOR PARKING: Although parking was tricky, we did learn after that they provide 2-hour parking validation for customers who park in the Aliso Parking Garage.

Just came today 1/25/25 and it's closed Nothing on Yelp or IG about it being closed. Paid $15 for parking. Kinda sucks.

Came here on a Sunday about 15 mins after they opened. The restaurant was nicely decorated and very clean. We ordered the brisket deviled eggs, baby back ribs, beef tri-tip, sausage links, truffle fries, elite street corn, & cornbread. Everything was truly amazing and cooked to perfection. As we cleared our plates, the plates were taken off of the table (which I love!!!) To drink, we ordered old fashioned cocktails. I promise you, this was one of the best old fashioned that I've ever had. Highly recommend! I would definitely come back!

Came here for a quick lunch with a friend and ordered the brisket and pulled pork, two of my favorite types of meat. The pulled pork was a little dry and the brisket had a little too much fat on it for my liking. The burnt ends mac and cheese was delicious and the backed beans were good too. The highlight of the meal was the sweet corn. The server was warm and helpful and very patient with us, as we had a toddler with us. Overall, great dining experience. Would recommend.

Although the atmosphere of this place was awesome, it was cozy and parking was very convenient and it seemed like it was one of those whole in the wall kinda places but everything else was ok. Food- the food was your topical soul food flavor tho I had my fair shares of soul food and their flavors , but not every place can make really good soul food. For starters, the brisket was alright it could've been cut thinly to make it easy to eat , the Mac and cheese was good but it didn't need to have chunks of meat in it, the collard greens was TOOOOO SPICY you could barely taste some of the other flavors of the collard greens it was just way to spicy. Truffle fries was good cook well enough and it was crunchy . My friend had the Cobb salad she wasn't aware that the salad came with turkey and definitely didn't ask her what kind of salad dressing she would like but she mentioned it was alright. Another friend of mines liked his meal which is cool. My husband shared the brisket meal with me so he felt the food was alright. Drinks - the drinks were really good, a friend and I had the Frida drink and it was good perfect for a nice warm summer where the drink itself tasted really refreshing . My husband got the mamba and when I tasted it the all I can taste was straight alcohol it was as if the bartender put more alcohol than everything else that came with the drink so it was hard to enjoy it . Another friend of ours had the mocktails and she liked her drink. The service was pretty good he was very knowledgeable on what was popular and gave some suggestions on what to order. My experience with the place was pretty cool would come back again to try the rest of their menu

Decent spot for barbecue. The menu has updated to a la carte, so the one meat/two meat entrees aren't available if you're looking for them. According to our server, a half order is 8 oz and a full order is 16 oz. I ordered the beef brisket half order ($23) with a small elote side ($6). I really recommend the smoked barbecue sauce - I tried this, the normal barbecue sauce, and the sweet soy sauce and I liked the smoked sauce the best. The beef itself was delicious, but slightly dry and lukewarm enough to impact the flavor. The plate was cold, so it probably dropped the temperature of the meat. Elote was 5/5 - if you like street corn, this will 100% satisfy your taste buds. It's not wet, or under seasoned. Truffle fries are also a solid order - crispy, and plenty of truffle flavor. Service was exceedingly slow for only being 50% full. We had to chase down our server multiple times.

The food was delicious. Not pictured are the collared greens, ($5 for the small, cheapest I've found in a long time!), and the macaroni salad. Both were delicious. The ragu portion was enough for 3 ppl, I ate all the eggs by myself. The cornbread is like dessert. The meat was everything you want it to be. The food was perfection. I would order everything again! I went on a Sunday before President Day and I don't think they were ready for the crowd, but it was fine for us to hang out, watch a game on TV and just relax. They do run out of stuff just like any bbq place, so if you want something specific, call ahead. They have outdoor seat with heaters. We sat inside, the music wasn't too loud, and the banquet was comfy.

Really enjoyed this spot! Fun menu with traditional and elevated bbq dishes. We got the brisket deviled eggs to start, which we both loved. Sweet & savory and so good. For meals we got the brisket banh mi & their pulled pork with larges side of their Mac and cheese and coleslaw. The portions are def big... more than enough to share if you do the full plate and large sides alone. For the mac, I prefer creamier mac & cheese but the flavor was good and I liked the pasta they use. I'm not a huge cole slaw fan but my partner liked it! I really enjoyed the brisket banh mi. I wish there was a little more sauce or cilantro or just something else to give it more of a banh mi vibe but the brisket was so good. To end the meal we got their tiramisu which I loved with caramels, pecans & banana. Service was kind and attentive & the ambiance is industrial, casual but a little upscale. They have a happy hour that looks great that I'd love to go back for.

This place is a good first/second date place. They do rsvp and have a full bar and nice decor. The food was great. The pork belly app was really good. Almost like a mini salad. I enjoyed the ribs and tri tip. Medium smoke flavor. If you want more smoke flavor go to a place that has stick bbq. If you don't know what a stick bbq is. You don't know what you're talking about when it comes to bbq. I'm a huge fan of the corn bread. My gf never had elote before and she liked it. I would ask for some extra mayo on the side. Can't complain about service. They alway checked up on us and refilled out drinks. The location is perfect. Grab some food and drinks here. Walk it off after in the dtla scene. Short bread biscuit was great too.

This place is slept on! They have a great happy hour ! Great drinks and amazing food!!!! And the service is great( Shout out to Cole

Pricey but quality (thank goodness it was comp'd lol since we came here for an EOY celebration dinner). Snapped a few photos of some of the items. Would highly recommend the brisket devil eggs and pork belly for apps! Brisket and ribs were both great full plates. Their mac & cheese was pretty good too, and the cornbread actually had corn in it. I was disappointed that they ran out of the panna cotta, esp since the banana creampie was just ok. Rare to find a restaurant in this area that validates parking tho! I ended up paying $8 in the lot for ~2.5 hours.

Modern gastropub setting with excellent ambiance, but misses the mark totally in delivering real smokey BBQ. Having sampled the Brisket and Pulled Pork, there was absolutely zero taste or smell of smoke. Although the proteins were tender and flavorful, the disappointment surpassed any understanding of the BBQ technique they are trying to achieve here. Certainly, they should reconsider the business model's naming convention. The only smokiness present was in some of their sauces, and you can easily pull this one from a bottle of liquid smoke. The pork belly appetizer, although tasty did not justify a $18 price tag that didn't deliver a balance of flavors. Don't forget you'll get dinged with tax, tip, and a 3% service charge too. What they do excel at are some of their side dishes. Freshly baked cornbread, Street Corn, and Mac N Cheese were certainly well crafted and delicious. There were also the BBQ beans that were also scrumptiously sweet and again lacked any smoke. As a bar/lounge, you will find yourself having a great time here, but unfortunately, the achievement of BBQ is better sought elsewhere. Expect the pricing to be on par with their pretty decor.

This place has good food, drinks, and service!! I recommend for big parties, we celebrated my friends birthday and it was perfect.

Expected a full house when I arrived based on the reviews. We were pleasantly greeted and seated promptly. Since my husband and I are early dinner eating people... we didn't encounter a crowd. The service was a bit slow once we ordered our drinks and food. The food portion sizes were smaller than I had anticipated, but we still ended up with our bellies full. Note, parking is a bit challenging and the neighborhood area seems a bit sketch.

WOW WOW WOW Dinner was soo delicious. I think this place is a hidden gem because it's tucked away in dtla. The bbq here is delicious and their house sauce was amazing. I highly recommend the street tacos with tri tip- savory and fatty tri tip with salsa and corn and lightly crisped corn tortillas. The brisket was great too, tender and melts in your mouth. Came with truffle fries- prob one of the best fries IMO. Mac n cheese was cheesy and perfectly seasoned. Loved the red sangria- refreshing, mildly sweet with yummy pomegranate seeds So happy that my bf took me here. Def will come back for happy hour. Parking is street parking- good luck!

Came here for a girls night before heading to a distillery. We have one vegan in our group and I'm quite the opposite (meat lover) so this place seemed perfect for us. It was pretty empty when we got there but California has some crazy weather right now so understandable. We were greeted right away, and sat. We ordered sangria which was delicious and Smokey. We ordered mostly appetizers and our vegan eater ordered jackfruit tacos which she loved so much she had to question if they were in fact vegan. Some feedback: -smoked watermelon- could barely taste the smoke, but still delicious -burnt end mac and cheese bites- average, we also got one tiny little piece of a burnt end on top of 3 of the bites and that was it. We expected a bit more meat inside at least -smoked pork belly- absolutely amazing, the pairing with the burrata cheese was excellent -truffle fries- very tasty and perfect balance - charred Brussels- spectacular! We loved these The inside had a cute ambiance, we would be back

Smoke City Char Bar is serving some decent barbecue in a beautiful open space, in a hidden little spot in Arts District. Before my friends suggested this spot, I didn't even realize it was here since it's right behind a parking lot, and their signage is not lit up. From the start, our server, Brett, was really friendly and accommodating. I got the Dine LA menu, and the rest of my friends decided to share some barbecue. All the food was pretty good, but the standouts were the pork belly and the mac and cheese! Drinks were really great, too. I actually didn't realize until I left that I never got my dessert that was part of the Dine LA menu! Sad that I didn't get to try the Strawberry Shortcake because it sounded super good, but my fault that I was having such a good time catching up with friends that I didn't follow up on it.

I stopped by Smoke City for lunch while I was out working in LA and I was seriously blown away at how good the food was and how great the space was! It's tucked away in the Arts District so you can easily miss it if you aren't looking! My server was very friendly and accommodating when I had any questions about the menu. After looking over the menu, I settled on their entree and I chose their beef brisket as my main and their burnt ends mac & cheese for my side since I am a huge fan of burnt ends and I thought that mixing it with mac and cheese would be heaven! My plate came out after waiting around 10-15 minutes and I was stunned at how good the presentation was. The brisket was one big slab and with a great looking crust on the edge and the mac and cheese looked divine! Everything was delicious and the sauces provided a great tanginess to the meat and brisket was so tender and flavorful. The mac and cheese was super rich and with the addition of burnt ends, it made it even richer! I can easily recommend coming here for lunch or dinner if you want some delicious barbeque if you are in the area and their drink menu looks quite good with some cocktails that I'm looking forward to try when I come back in the future! They also validate parking and if you are confused on where to park, you can call the restaurant to get it sorted out. An easy 5/5!

Just finished my meal here and I must say, it's really refreshing to have a BBQ spot come to Arts District with a full bar + huge patio space. My husband and I eat out often and it's rare for us to get traditional American BBQ so close to home. We ordered the 3 meat plate and got the tri-tip, brisket, and half chicken. For our sides, we got the cornbread and truffle fries. For sauces we got the harissa molasses and the cayenne honey. My favorite of all the meats were the tri-tip and chicken! The meats are all smoked and the star of the show is the combination of meat with the sauce. The chicken was dry rubbed to perfection and the portions were HUGE. The tri-tip was very tender and juicy. The brisket was tender and delicious as well, but I personally don't like fattier cuts so this wasn't my fave. My husband loved it! The sauces were BOMBBBB. Cayenne honey all day!!! I'm not a sauce girl - I prefer vinegary style BBQ but this was an exception. I like that it comes on the side for those of us who don't like slathered BBQ. The sides were delicious! Truffle fries were steak cut fries and crispy. The skillet cornbread has kernels of corn was the perfect amount of crisp, sweet, and savory. Our entire meal came out to $40, WITH LEFTOVERS. That's almost unheard of around here. Highly recommend coming by! The patio is perfect for puppers or warm summer days. I can see us coming back often for happy hours and to watch sports when football comes back!

Welcome to the neighborhood! I've been waiting to try this place for a few weeks now, and I'm glad I did. The food: it's good. Oddly enough, it taste better when you bring it home and heat it up. Or maybe that's all food? Portions are super generous! I do recommend the trying all three tacos and the nachos. The wings were my least fav. Prices- very reasonable! HH prices are even better! Pretty much $3-5 for everything. Even cocktails are for $5-6! The staff- all super friendly! I didn't get the name of our server but she was nothing short of amazing. She made the experience better. Her energy, her witty personality, and her smile! And she turned out to the bartender too! Just too great! The vibe is nice. It's spacious and clean. Definitely a nice restaurant, where you would want to stop by after work, hang out with some friends, or just sit alone and enjoy a meal with a drink.

really enjoyed coming to this place! i came with a reservation during the day and it was really quiet and peaceful and not that busy. the service was great and their staff does a good job checking in with their customers. the food was amazing and was cooked perfectly. the portions are also pretty big and is shareable. parking can be a bit tricky since there are a lot of apartment complexes around you might be able to get away with parking at. there's also some street parking available but you may have to walk a few min to the restaurant

The portions are HUGE!!! The brisket is a total steak. The tri-tip comes in four slices. The pulled pork covers a quarter plate if you get the two meat platter. I got so full halfway I had to get a to go box and I'm an eater hahaha All of the meats are juicy and tender. The tri-tip was the best. It was medium rare just how I like it. It wasn't too rare where it gets chewy but instead soft in each bite almost like prime rib. The brisket was tender and seasoned to perfection. The pulled pork wasn't my favorite as it was a tad bit overdone but it wasn't too charred where it was straw like so I still liked it. My friend got the ribs and preferred it over the half chicken because they didn't give him a half chicken instead just the wing and breast which isn't juicy enough. Server was nice enough to let me try all four sauces. The harissa molasses was the best. Not too sweet and not too spicy. The cayenne honey tastes just like the harissa molasses with a hint of cayenne. The mustard seed apple cider tastes like plain mustard to be honest. Not my favorite as it wasn't unique. The soy ginger sauce was also bland so not my favorite. I would rank the harissa molasses as the best, the cayenne honey second, and the soy ginger and mustard seed apple cider tie for third. Once again all of the sides come in huge probably ten ounce portions. I loved that the cornbread comes with whole kernels of corn. It was so moist too not too dense of a corn bread. The Mac and cheese comes with chunks of brisket and is thick with melted cheese. Definitely my favorite side dish. I was disappointed with the slaw. It was swimming in sauce and seemed to be seasoned with the dry rub from the meats. I don't know if it was the flavors or the excess of sauce but I'm not ordering it again. Lastly the aliso cocktail is one of the best cocktails I've had my entire life. It had to be the grapefruit that wasn't to sour or bitter but instead gave the drink texture and neutralized the tequila. Definitely ordering it again!!! Love this new addition to the arts district. I look forward to taking more friends and family to enjoy the feast in their lively outdoor seating!!!

3.5 stars. Came here Tuesday dinner. Lots of space both outdoor and indoor. We sat on the patio because we brought our dog. So I ordered the brisket, ribs, brussel sprouts and cole slaw. But I think they gave me brisket and pulled pork. I was hungry and I wasn't sure so I just ate the plate. Meat was good. Brisket was tender. I got the soy ginger and harissa molasses. Although my favorite sauce was the cayenne honey(my friend ordered it). It tasted the most like regular bbq sauce. I think my favorite part of the meal was the brussel sprouts. Our waiter was super friendly and polite. Great service. Bathroom was clean. Full bar.

Are you in the LA District and craving some BBQ? Yiu got one place to go @smokecitycharbar they have amazing Ribs, Brisket and Pulled pork. Want a sandwich? They got them..pulled pork sandwiches, yum! Try their dipping sauces, they are bomb. Ohhhhh don't forget about desert they have this Smore sandwich desert that will blow your mind wow by @mr.eat_n_drink Follow me on Instagram for more Reviews @mr.eat_n_drink

We came on a Saturday night and was surprised to find it empty. Initially, we assumed the lack of a wait indicated mediocre food. However, we were proven wrong! The food was awesome. The nachos on the happy hour menu were on point, the baby back ribs were delicious, so was the chicken, and the brussel sprouts. Every dish exceeded expectations.

When I think of barbecue joints, I expect a fair amount of grease, newspaper covering tabletops, sticky floors and country music blaring over a sports game. A very casual affair. Well to my pleasant surprise, Smoke City features none of that. They did have ESPN playing one of their TV screens actually. Despite the messiness commonly associated with BBQ, the restaurant was kept clean from top to bottom. It was a bit jarring to step into a restaurant that could double as a West Elm showroom. Don't get me wrong, it's a compliment here lol. The food itself was good. We enjoyed the mac and cheese and collard greens as sides. We ordered the elote but would probably skip for next time. The baby back ribs are delicious. No idea about the parking situation since we just walked over; but there seems to be a garage nearby? The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating. I think we'll need to come back for drinks next time.

Love the location! Super cool decoration in the restaurant! Great food! Awesome service! But pretty expensive. Paid $50 for a pasta and a soda.

Mother's Day Dinner!! My hubby brought me here for my Mother's Day dinner. He had been there before and said it was so good. Once we arrived I was by far excited to try everything. As soon as we arrived they asked if we had reservations and we didn't, but luckily we got seated right away. The restaurant is so nice and modern inside, they were showing the Laker game and that was a plus, plus. Our server was Brant and let me just say that he was amazing. We got our drinks right away, but when it came to the food we did have to wait a little certain plates came before and some very late. However, Brant went above and beyond to fix that inconvenience. The whole time we were there we noticed how busy it was and how Brant was all over the place helping every single table. If I can give 10 stars I would. Excellent service!!!! The food was overall delicious, we started with some Brisket Deviled Eggs and let me just say that those eggs were on another level of deliciousness. I also got the Smokey White Sangria and it was very good. I really want to try the Red sangria next time I go back. I really liked the BBQ ribs, the Brussel sprouts, and the corn on the cob. We also got the Brisket tacos those tacos are too good to pass on. If in L.A. stop by and have some drinks here along with delicious food. You won't regret it!!!!

We ordered several dishes. I'm not particularly fond of fond of macaroni and cheese (not pictured unfortunately since we consumed it b4hand). But, I was pleasantly surprised by the yummy tender brisket underneath.the gooey cheese & macaroni. I also enjoyed the refreshing Thirsty Hirsty Mocktail. Pointer: order dessert in advance. Although it took awhile for shirtbread/ice cream/strawberry dessert to arrive (they freshly bake the shortbread) it was, oh so worth the wait.

I went again! I have more photos and had more great service! The homemade bbq sauce doesn't swing my hips, it's too sweet! But I love the ranch for the hot fries! I brought a friend this time and he loved the ambiance! "This place is great" he said, even before sitting down! I'm still working my way through this menu, but the nachos are still my favorite! The smoked chili on the bottom is a winning menu item! There's a happy hour size, if you go early!

Came here for the first time since Moos sold out and we were not disappointed! We ordered the full chicken, half brisket, Brussels sprouts, mashed potato and got the free Mac and cheese with check in. We do not have one bad thing to say! The brussel sprouts were some of the best we've ever had. Mac and cheese had a little kick to it and the mashies had a little tang (ginger maybe? Idk-but it works). Chicken had a nice smoked crispy skin with a heavy rub. Brisket had the perfect balance of fat and meat and a nice charred layer of fat. IPA on tap. Ambiance was chill but also felt bougie for bbq -in a good way, TVs had the game on. Service was 5 stars. Angel was super attentive, funny and cool. Hostess was sweet and helpful. Seating is so comfy, I could've sat there all night. I hope this place gets the attention it deserves. We well be back

Came here randomly but Food and drinks are both surprisingly really good. The brioche sliders was so cute and good. Burgers are good as well. Ordered deviled eggs too that one was a bit salty.

The bbq food here is amazing!!! The best in Los Angeles. I had the food delivered and it was still very fresh! I will definitely recommend this place to everyone I know! Everything is so flavorful so I will def be ordering again!! Keep it up!!

Came here for brunch. So happy they finally offer it. I've been here plenty of times for dinner so was happy they offer brunch now. I got the steak and it was good a little dry so I asked for some more sauce then it was great. Their sausage is a maple sausage with a small hint of spice to it and it was good they make it in house. Brent helped us out and the service was great. First time and brunch but won't be the last- hope they continue to offer it.

Let me start off by saying this place is a hidden gem! The food we got was on point and our server Angel was really polite and really attentive. My girlfriend got the buttery brioche and a street corn which was all so good. I got the street tacos with tri tip and the meat was really juicy! I would differently come back!

Smoke City Char Bar has got what you are looking for in a go-to barbecue spot! It's rare that I find a place where I go right back to the next weekend. Brisket, Hot links, Mac & Cheese, and Cornbread are among some bbq favorites that are available. As always, make sure you've got room for dessert.

The chicken was VERY dry but service was top notch. I was able to take advantage of the happy hour and had reasonable priced food. Unfortunately I do not recommend any of the food. The chicken was so dry I think it was left out for a couple days. The bbq was saved by the sauce but the bbq itself was no bueno. The cocktails were good and strong. There was plenty of seating inside and very modern. There is free street parking and also paid parking which they validate.

The food here is sooooooo freaking good! To start the deviled eggs topped with brisket are the bomb. So luscious, silky and delicious. The charred brussel sprouts have pomegranates in them and melt in your mouth. Mac n cheese is so creamy and silky and pair perfect with baby back ribs that are finished on the grill...OMG you talking about good eating! Service was great and staff is very friendly. They play an array of classic and current music and it is beautifully decorated with cozy couches and plush pillows. This is now one of our favs...

People seem to love my reviews, so I was voted Yelp Elite for many years now. The nice part about this (and the reason I mention it) is that we Elite Yelpers get occasionally invited - which is always great fun. So make sure you write a lot of reviews and become an Elite Yelper too :-) Now: the restaurant. I was invited a few days ago - and had an amazing time. Loved the buzz and meeting other Yelpers - but loved food and drinks even more - so I took my wife the other day and went again, and loved it again. The Brussels sprouts are a MUST - among the best I ever had. And their Banana Creme Tiramisu - you'll love it. The place has unannounced special events - so today, as I learned, they have a large brewery introducing a new lager. I had the pleasure of a pre-taste, so I am very tempted to go again today :-) Would I drive a 30+ min detour just to dine here (mandatory in my rating scheme to achieve five stars)? I already did - and might again for dinner and this fantastic new lager today. I might take an Uber - but if you drive, there are two hours comped parking in the underground garage right next to the restaurant (so no need to take this expensive parking slot). Enjoy!

I love bbq so I had to try this place when I was visiting LA. The industrial chic look fits perfectly in the Arts District. We scheduled an early dinner and the restaurant got pretty full by 7 pm. The wait staff was super friendly and made sure to get us refills whenever our glasses were empty. We ordered the burnt end Mac and cheese and the crisp pork belly as our appetizers. The Mac and cheese was very good and the burnt ends added a nice chewy texture. Our son devoured these like it was his final meal. The pork belly comes with tomatoes and bits of burrata cheese all sprinkled with balsamic vinaigrette. This was super sweet tangy and rich, and was probably my favorite dish. For our meats we ordered the brisket, pulled pork, and tri-tip. The meats were Texas style and were juicy, smokey, and tender. They came with a tray of different sauces but were so good you didn't need the sauces to go with them. At about $40/pound it's cheaper than Bludso's but more expensive than Park's Finest. Smoke City compares with these bbq legends. Our sides of elote, brussel sprouts, and truffle fries were excellent too. I washed these down with a few Mamba (RIP) cocktails and had a great meal. You should try Smoke City before the word gets out and it gets packed.

Enjoyed my experience here the other day! We went on a Saturday afternoon. It wasn't very busy (hasn't seem to get very busy yet). The staff was very friendly and accommodating with our ask to find an outdoor spot in the shade. For an appetizer we ordered the brisket deviled eggs. They were very tasty little bites. I would definitely order those again to share. For my main meal I ordered the 2 meat plate and got brisket and tri-tip. You also get to select two sides. I decided on the baked beans and coleslaw. I also ordered a side of corn bread. I also got to try a few of the other sides my friends ordered. The max and cheese was good and so was the potato salad (will probably get those sides or something else next time). The brisket and tri-top were delicious and the portions were generous. I enjoyed both cuts of meet and will probably get both again. The coleslaw and baked beans were underwhelming. The coleslaw had a little too much sauce and was pretty sweet and so were the baked beans. The baked bean just tasted like they weee inside sweet bbq sauce. The cornbread however was delicious. It comes in a tiny cast iron skillet had whole corn kernels in it and wasn't too dry. I would definitely get it again. In addition to the food, I also got the Aliso cocktail which was perfectly balanced. One of the better tequila drinks I've had in awhile. Overall, a welcome addition to The Arts District and glad I had a chance to check it out. I would definitely go there again the next time I'm craving some bbq.

Five stars for service and Ambiance. The four stars are for the food. But overall I give 5. The ambiance is very comfortable with TV to watch sports. I recommend this restaurant for a Sunday afternoon! Is perfect and usually empty.

Friendly service with delicious food. Ordered everything at once, for some reason got the appetiser after main courses but not a big deal. Seating was okay feel the tables are a bit high for the couch.

My first time being here. Loved the ambiance/vibe inside. Plushy couch like booths Located in LA's Art District. Food was delicious. Chicken Tacos were flavorful and citrusy. Enjoyed the Jackfruit Tostada. Cocktails and Mocktails were amazing. I highly recommend the brisket deviled eggs and the chili. It's a must try place!

Went during happy hour on a Friday. My party and one other were the only ones in the restaurant. The service is great. Everyone was helpful and accommodating. The food was also great. Delicious sandwiches and that simple salad on the side were the perfect amount of dressing. Baby back ribs fell off the bone, and the sides were just as good. Will def come back.