Ranchwood BBQ has quite the following in San Diego, CA

It all started when Tony Coronado bought a smoker. He had no idea how to use it, but he was determined to learn the art of barbeque. After a period of trial and error, he stumbled upon a cooking-style and flavor profile that wowed his friends and family. His non-competition, Texas-style barbeque caught on when he started selling at the local farmers markets in 2009. In February 2014, he found a permanent spot on El Cajon Boulevard where he had more kitchen space for his catering business and a small dining area for guests. This hole-in-the-wall restaurant looks as if it were once a residential home and the front door was once a garage door.

Loaded Fries ($8.50) is topped with your choice of meat, BBQ sauce, chipotle sour cream, salsa fresca, and shredded cheese. In this case, Texas-style brisket was the meat of choice. The brisket is meaty and beefy. The complex flavors and textures from the sweet & smoky BBQ sauce, gooey cheese, slightly spicy chipotle sour cream, and the refreshing salsa keep your mouth and taste buds happy-happy. The portion is large enough to share as an appetizer or side with a sandwich. Rating: 4.75/5

BBQ Parfait ($7.99) is an item that started at the farmers market with everything in a cup so attendees could eat and still shop. The presentation is fantastic and actually looks like a parfait or sundae. Layers of beef, mashed potatoes, and sauce artfully make a full meal in a cup. The mashed potatoes are creamy and dense. The brisket is more flavor forward on this item and really shines through with the BBQ sauce. This would be great with pulled pork too! Rating: 4.75/5

RW Burger is a 1/3 lb. beef patty topped with onions rings, bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and BBQ sauce. It is an absolute behemoth of a burger. The flavor profile is reminiscent of a Western Bacon Cheeseburger, but much better. Grab some napkins ‘cuz this one’s a hot mess! Rating: 4/5

If you’re craving BBQ, why not try some creative twists at Ranchwood BBQ. Eat in or take it to-go!

Atmosphere: 3 out of 5 stars
Décor: 3 out of 5 stars
Service: 5 out of 5 stars
Food: 5 out of 5 stars

Specials:

• Mogl and Five Star Rewards

For more information:
Ranchwood BBQ

7729 El Cajon Blvd.

San Diego, CA 92115

+1.619.337.0740

Hours: Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Parking: Street