Swinging Door BBQ

"Something about finding amazing barbecue in the parking lot of a gas station is peak Valley. Ignore the aroma of gasoline and follow the smoked meat smell to Swinging Door BBQ, a saloon-themed, Texas-style spot that runs a double-barreled smoker in the back alley and perfumes the block with oak and apple wood. Combo plates are the move here: prioritize the fatty brisket that falls apart with one chomp, crisp-skinned ribs that slide off the bone, and saucy burnt ends with a nice char. Add a side of brothy, onion-y collard greens plus mac and cheese and it’ll be the best money you’ll ever spend near a gas pump." - brant cox, sylvio martins

"As much as we secretly love the smell of gasoline, the scent at the Shell station at Vineland and Vanowen in North Hollywood is unrivaled. That’s because Swinging Door BBQ lives next door, a saloon-themed, Texas-style spot that runs a double-barreled smoker in their back alley and perfumes the whole block with oak and apple wood. Combo plates are the move here, and we suggest getting one with fatty brisket that falls apart with one chomp, crisp-skinned baby backs that slide off the bone, and burnt ends that should be renamed, “fatty beef bits with a nice char.” Add a side of brothy, onion-y collard greens plus mac and cheese and it’ll be the best money you’ll ever spend near a gas pump." - brant cox, sylvio martins, nikko duren

"For a glimpse of simple, high-quality barbecue prepared with love and for the local community, come to Swinging Door BBQ. Lightly charred ribs, fatty brisket, and more come off a unique two-forked off-set smoker, and big take-home platters are always available. Get the garlic herb french fries. They’re always hot and flavorful." - Mona Holmes, Matthew Kang

"As much as we secretly love the smell of gasoline, the scent at the Shell station at Vineland and Vanowen in North Hollywood is unrivaled. That’s because Swinging Door BBQ lives next door, a saloon-themed, Texas-style spot that runs a double-barreled smoker in their back alley and perfumes the whole block with oak and apple wood. Combo plates are the move here, and we suggest getting one with fatty brisket that falls apart with one chomp, crisp-skinned baby backs that slide off the bone, and burnt ends that should be renamed, “fatty beef bits with a nice char.” Add a side of brothy, onion-y collard greens plus mac and cheese and it’ll be the best money you’ll ever spend near a gas pump." - Sylvio Martins

"While LA’s barbecue scene feels like a recent thing, its history goes back decades and is deeper than just the backyard Texas-style stuff in play now. For a glimpse of simple, high quality barbecue done with love (and for the local community) head up to Swinging Door. Lightly charred ribs, fatty brisket, and more come off a unique two-forked off-set smoker, and big take-home platters are always available." - Farley Elliott