Where to find top-notch barbecue in Southern California, from traditional and Southern to Laotian and Filipino
Barbecue typically isn’t the first thing people think of when it comes to food in Southern California—unlike, say, the famed brisket of Texas or the tangy-sweet “burnt ends” of Kansas City, Missouri.
Instead, we’ve got something different here in the Southland: The stretch from Santa Barbara to San Diego counties serves a world of different styles, from traditional Santa Maria tri-tip and old-school Southern ’cue to the bright flavors of the Philippines and Laos. Here are six of our favorites along Southern California’s barbecue trail