Ranked by TableJourney editorial score.
Beef grilled over red oak with only salt, pepper and garlic, served with pinquito beans, salsa and grilled bread. The ranch barbecue of the Central Coast, kept alive at San Luis Obispo's pits and steakhouses.
Santa Maria-style barbecue descends from the mid-1800s ranchero feasts of the Santa Maria Valley, thirty miles south of San Luis Obispo, where vaqueros grilled beef over coastal red oak. The rules stay strict: open pit, red oak, a dry rub of little more than salt, pepper and garlic, no sauce on the meat, and small pink pinquito beans on the side. In San Luis Obispo the style burns on at Old SLO BBQ Co., the Madonna Inn's oak pit and the Thursday night market grills.
3 editor picks for Santa Maria-style barbecue in San Luis Obispo, ranked by editorial score. All San Luis Obispo signature dishes · Santa Maria-style barbecue across every city.
Every Thursday the barbecue pits roll onto Higuera Street, grilling ribs, chicken and tri-tip in the open air at San Luis Obispo's farmers' market.
OrderRibs, tri-tip and chicken off open pits
TipF. McLintocks' crew grills ribs, kebabs and tri-tip mid-market; plates sell down before the bands finish.
Alex Madonna's Gold Rush Steak House barbecues steaks over an oak pit inside the pink-on-pink Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo's 1958 roadside fantasia.
OrderAn oak-pit steak, then a slice of pink champagne cake from the bakery case.
TipThe filet mignon is the house's most popular steak; stay for cake from the on-site bakery.
Old SLO BBQ Co. smokes Santa Maria-style tri-tip over red oak on Higuera Street, and keeps carving until 02:00 on San Luis Obispo's weekend bar nights.
OrderOak-smoked tri-tip by the plate, with pinquito beans and salsa.
TipThere is a second counter at 3870 Broad Street; downtown is the late one, open to 02:00 Thursday to Saturday.
Santa Maria-style barbecue makes more sense with someone from San Luis Obispo explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
Guided tour · 3h 30m
Discover downtown San Luis Obispo on a brunch food tour. Enjoy 5 unique stops with delicious bites and drinks, including Santa Maria BBQ, California brunch, and Peruvi...
Private tour · 2h 30m
Embark on a private wine tasting tour in San Luis Obispo with a twist in a tandem sidecar motorcycle. Visit 3 wineries, admire the rolling hills and enjoy tasting 3 wi...
Guided tour · 5h 30m
Hop aboard our vintage trolley for a 5.5-hour Paso Robles winery tour! • Visit 3 handpicked scenic wineries • Onboard snacks, water & fun music • Stress-free ride with...
