We’ve already celebrated the best new restaurants and the most innovative dishes of 2025. Now it’s time to honor the smoky soul of a perfect meal: barbecue. This year saw pitmasters in Bakersfield elevate brisket to art (there are two on this list), while others reinvented classics like pulled pork, ribs, and burnt ends. From melt-in-your-mouth tenderness to bark with serious bite, these spots will test your loyalty to any single sauce.
Honey I’m home.
$ | (661) 404-4677 | WEBSITE
There were a ludicrous amount of breakfast spots in Bakersfield this year. But that doesn’t mean we’re sick of them. And even in Bakersfield’s crowded breakfast scene, this place makes us excited. The French toast is nostalgic and the food is fresh—but the restaurant still feels modern. Last time we were here, they said they were experimenting with new sandwich options. We’d eat those too.
Firestone Grill
$ | (661) 742-1296 | WEBSITE
For us, Firestone Grill installing those massive TVs is as important a moment in sports viewing as the world getting instant replay. Firestone Grill has put them to equally significant use by showing a rotation of games like the Dodgers or various matchups accompanied by generous sides of fries. Games change often, but we’re certain you’ll encounter some sort of lively viewing experience.
Prime Time BBQ, Butcher Shop, and Catering
$ | (661) 325-3354 | WEBSITE
If you care about barbecue as deeply as we do, we salute you. But also, you should know that the pitmaster behind this operation was also responsible for the famously tender tri-tip from that beloved Central Valley spot that closed a few years back. And he’s truly on a legendary streak when it comes to smoky, meaty perfection.
This latest visit featured a plate of fall-off-the-bone ribs (we’ve had them with sweet glaze, savory rub, and that perfect balance of both), which comes alongside a generous scoop of homemade mac and cheese that complements a mound of juicy brisket. It’s satisfying. It’s generous. It will genuinely make you feel the way people in barbecue commercials pretend to.
Crazy BBQ
$ | (661) 873-7777 | WEBSITE
You’re ordering the short ribs at Crazy BBQ for the same reason you seek out a cozy family gathering: to channel your inner comfort food enthusiast. These ribs have the right amount of smoky sweetness thanks to high-quality ingredients. The bulgogi cuts like tender butter. It’s the quintessential Korean barbecue we crave at a quintessential Bakersfield hidden gem.
Kento’s Mandarin BBQ
$ | (661) 836-3338 | WEBSITE
The rule at Chinese takeout spots is simple: if there’s orange chicken on the menu, order it. But Kento’s is more than a typical takeout joint, and their orange chicken is better than the gloopy, overly sweet version you’ll find at most places. This one has a perfect balance of tangy and sweet, so it tastes a little like a gourmet candy, and comes with fluffy white rice.
Angry Barnyard BBQ
$ | (661) 326-4800 | WEBSITE
After all those smoky, savory flavors that make up Angry Barnyard BBQ’s incredible barbecue menu, the meal starts with a comforting basket of their famous cornbread. But the real star of the experience is what comes after: a plate of their highly praised brisket served with large portions of sides. It tastes deeply satisfying, like a backyard barbecue from another dimension.
Smitty’s Smokin BBQ & Brisket
$ | (661) 903-8757 | WEBSITE
Even in a city that loves barbecue, this is some of the best we’ve had. The brisket is fresh-from-the-smoker tender and soaked in a family recipe rub that’s just right. Its exterior has a light bark from a slow smoke that contrasts gorgeously with the moist interior. There are some background actors—pastrami and meatloaf—for variety, and a slice of sugar-free pie that melts into all of the above.
Salty’s BBQ
$ | (661) 847-9955 | WEBSITE
Salty’s BBQ’s housemade sauce comes in a few different rotating varieties, but the original is always available and always our favorite. It has a smokiness that really gives the essence—not just the sweetness—of proper barbecue. These thick and tender slabs of brisket are piled onto a toasted bun, topped with coleslaw, and drizzled with that signature sauce. It’s the best way to start a meal filled with smoky meats and spicy mac and cheese.
Some barbecue can be overwhelming, but Salty’s is so good it’ll make your taste buds lag for a few seconds.
Coconut Joe’s Private Beach Club
$ | (661) 820-1353 | WEBSITE
We’ve tried fish tacos all over Bakersfield. We even had some from the places that popularized them. And Coconut Joe’s are the best. With their crispy batter and tender fish that flakes apart with each bite like fresh-caught sea treasure, you’d think these tacos were prepared by a master fisherman. But they’re made by a kitchen team that’ll serve them right to your table. They’re friendly folks who are quick to mention the daily specials—though we can’t imagine ordering anything else.
Salty’s BBQ & Catering
$ | (661) 587-8437 | WEBSITE
All of Salty’s BBQ meats, like the tender brisket or smoky pulled pork, make your mouth water instantly. But it’s their barbecue sauce that sends shockwaves throughout your palate—mostly because we’ve only ever encountered this flavor in a backyard cookout. This sauce teaches us two new things about barbecue. One, it’s essential. And two, it tastes as good as it smells. We can only hope that eating it also brings good energy from within.