The Locator
A hand-picked map of the restaurants cooking tri tip over wood, the butchers who cut it right, and the wineries that round out a Santa Maria weekend. Share your location to sort by distance, or search a city or ZIP.
Last updated:
70 places
Buellton
Famous from the movie Sideways, but locals knew it long before that. Steaks, chops, and seafood come off a red oak fire at dinner. For tri tip, go at lunch: the winery tasting room next door serves an oak-grilled tri tip sandwich Wednesday through Sunday, 11:30 to 3. A dinner reservation is a good idea on weekends.
Directions to The Hitching Post II (opens in new tab)
406 E Highway 246(805) 688-0676hitchingpost2.com
Nipomo
A Central Coast institution since 1953. Jocko’s cooks over oak and serves tri tip with all the traditional sides. The steaks are legendary too. Cash only (or they were for a long time, check before you go). The wait can be long on weekends but it’s worth it.
Directions to Jocko’s (opens in new tab)
125 N Thompson Ave(805) 929-3686jockossteakhouse.com
Wood Ranch grills its tri tip over an open hardwood fire and slices it to order. The platter comes with beans and a choice of house sauces, and the tri tip sandwich makes a solid lunch. It’s a polished sit-down operation rather than a roadside pit, but the tri tip itself is the real deal, and it’s on the menu every day.
Thousand Oaks
Wood Ranch got its start in Moorpark in 1992, and the Thousand Oaks room runs the same playbook. Tri tip comes off the fire with a solid crust, and they pair it with a sweet BBQ sauce that works better than it should. Go for the tri tip sandwich if you want speed, the platter if you want the full spread.
Directions to Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill (opens in new tab)
446 W Hillcrest Dr(805) 342-0998woodranch.com
Bakersfield
Bakersfield’s oak-grilled standard bearer. Tri tip and chicken come off the fire up front, ribs and pulled pork out of the smoker, and the steady line says the town approves. The Rosedale original is the one to hit.
Directions to Salty’s BBQ & Catering (opens in new tab)
9425 Rosedale Hwy(661) 587-8437saltysbbq.com
Santa Monica
Santa Maria style barbecue on the Westside, one of the few LA spots flying that flag. Tri tip sandwiches and plates a few blocks off San Vicente in Santa Monica.
Directions to Holy Cow BBQ (opens in new tab)
264 26th St(310) 883-6269holycowbbq.com
Santa Paula
A Santa Paula barbecue spot serving tri tip, BBQ chicken, hot links, and chili beans. A Ventura County favorite.
Directions to Best Bar-B-Q (opens in new tab)
915 Harvard Blvd(805) 229-7668bestbbqsp.com
Santa Barbara
A historic 1860s stagecoach stop in the Santa Ynez Mountains above Santa Barbara, famous for red-oak-grilled tri tip sandwiches at its weekend outdoor barbecue.
Directions to Cold Spring Tavern (opens in new tab)
5995 Stagecoach Rd(805) 967-0066coldspringtavern.com
Bakersfield
The Bakersfield branch of the SLO original, open since 2016. Same oak-fired grill, same tri tip sandwich sliced and sauced on a French roll, and no Higuera Street line.
Directions to Firestone Grill (opens in new tab)
3501 California Ave(661) 779-2059firestonegrill.com/locations/firestone-grill-bakersfield
Nipomo
A Nipomo deli that smokes its tri tip over red oak instead of grilling it, then works it into burritos, tortas, and plates. Half barbecue joint, half Cal-Mex kitchen.
Directions to Rancho Nipomo BBQ & Deli (opens in new tab)
108 Cuyama Ln(805) 925-3500ranchonipomobbq.com
Chatsworth
A San Fernando Valley barbecue institution slow-cooking tri tip since 1985, known for its tri tip sandwiches and plates on Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Directions to Rosie’s BBQ Kitchen (opens in new tab)
10220 Topanga Canyon Blvd(818) 407-0403rosiesbbqkitchen.com
Santa Barbara
A downtown Santa Barbara dinner spot built around Central Coast cooking, with a Santa Maria BBQ plate on the menu. Brandt beef tri tip arrives with pinquito beans, pico de gallo, and garlic bread.
Directions to Barbareño (opens in new tab)
205 W Canon Perdido St(805) 963-9591barbareno.com
Ojai
Ojai’s historic restaurant and tavern, operating for over seven decades. Classic Californian cuisine with weekend barbecue offerings. A meeting place for locals and travelers at the edge of the Los Padres National Forest.
Directions to Deer Lodge (opens in new tab)
2261 Maricopa Hwy(805) 646-4256deerlodgeojai.com
San Luis Obispo
A Cal Poly staple. Firestone grills their tri tip over red oak and serves it on a French roll with their house BBQ sauce. They don’t smoke it, but the tri tip is tender and the sandwich is one of the best values in town. Expect a line.
Directions to Firestone Grill (opens in new tab)
1001 Higuera St(805) 783-1001firestonegrill.com
Tri tip is the signature at this fast-casual SoCal chain. It’s grilled, sliced thin, and served on platters, salads, and sandwiches, with a tri tip dip that has a loyal following. You order at the counter and you’re eating within minutes. A dependable tri tip fix with no wait and no pop-up schedule to chase.
Casmalia
The original Hitching Post, tucked into the tiny community of Casmalia off the 101. Less well-known than its Buellton counterpart, which means shorter waits and a more local crowd. Pure old-school Central Coast BBQ.
Directions to The Hitching Post (opens in new tab)
3325 Point Sal Rd(805) 937-6151hitchingpost1.com
Oakland
Temescal’s answer to the East Bay tri tip question since 2013. James Woodard puts tri tip on the board as a house specialty, not an afterthought, and the half pound plate with two sides is the move. Full bar and a patio for the wait.
Directions to Smokin Woods BBQ (opens in new tab)
4307 Telegraph Ave(510) 423-8634smokinwoodsbbq.com
Ventura
A Ventura barbecue joint with the grill going right out front. Tri tip plates and sandwiches with the classic sides, cooked by people who clearly love the work.
Directions to Marshall’s Bodacious BBQ (opens in new tab)
6353 Ventura Blvd #18(805) 650-0650marshallsbodaciousbbq.com
Santa Maria
An old-school Santa Maria steakhouse serving oak barbecue since the 1940s. They age and cut their own beef in-house, and the steaks, chops, and tri tip come straight off the red oak pit.
Directions to The Swiss Restaurant & Bar (opens in new tab)
516 N Broadway(805) 347-7800swissrestaurantandbar.com
Santa Maria
A classic Santa Maria BBQ steakhouse. Tri tip over red oak with the full traditional spread. The atmosphere is old-school California ranch country.
Directions to Shaw’s Steakhouse & Tavern (opens in new tab)
714 S Broadway(805) 925-5862shaws-steakhouse.com
Atascadero
Known for burgers, but the tri tip plate is the real move. Grilled over oak with beans and salsa. Casual, affordable, and consistent.
Directions to Sylvester’s Burgers (opens in new tab)
6455 El Camino Real(805) 466-7591sylvestersburgers.com
Santa Ynez
A Santa Ynez Valley grocery and deli with a half-pound grilled tri tip sandwich on a French roll, served Friday through Sunday only, alongside local wine and gourmet provisions.
Directions to Los Olivos Grocery (opens in new tab)
2621 Hwy 154(805) 688-5115losolivosgrocery.com
Los Olivos
A family market on Grand Avenue where the grill out front turns out a Santa Maria style tri tip sandwich with real red oak smoke, on a toasted French roll with garlic butter.
Directions to Gandolfo Family Market & Deli (opens in new tab)
2948 Grand Ave, Suite A(805) 697-7183gandolfofamilymarket.com
San Luis Obispo
One of the largest weekly farmers markets in California takes over downtown Higuera Street every Thursday evening. Look for the vendors grilling tri tip over oak. The setups are bare-bones but the technique is real. Follow the smoke.
Directions to SLO Thursday Night Farmers Market (opens in new tab)
Higuera Street
Orcutt
One of the oldest Santa Maria style BBQ restaurants in the region. The Far Western has been serving Central Coast ranchers and their families for generations. The tri tip is textbook Santa Maria style.
Directions to Far Western Tavern (opens in new tab)
300 E Clark Ave(805) 937-2211farwesterntavern.com
Santa Maria
A tiny country store out on Foxen Canyon Road with a cult following for its smoked tri tip sandwich. They make only about 150 each Friday, thin-sliced and piled on a French roll, and they sell out.
Directions to Garey Store & Deli (opens in new tab)
3798 Foxen Canyon Rd(805) 937-3361facebook.com/GareyStoreandDeli
San Luis Obispo
A walk-up window on Higuera Street grilling Santa Maria style tri tip over local red oak in open fires. The tri tip is hand-trimmed Angus, and on Thursday nights they work the farmers market crowd right outside.
Directions to Old SLO BBQ Co. (opens in new tab)
670 Higuera St, Suite B(805) 285-2473oldsanluisbbq.com
San Luis Obispo
The Marigold Center sibling of the downtown window, with the same red oak fire and the same hand-trimmed tri tip. Easier parking, same Santa Maria routine.
Directions to Old SLO BBQ Co. (opens in new tab)
3870 Broad St #3(805) 439-3072oldsanluisbbq.com
San Luis Obispo
A barbecue house out on Los Osos Valley Road where the tri tip is oak roasted and the sandwich is the one people drive out for. Ribs, plates, and big family packs round out the board.
Directions to Rib Line BBQ (opens in new tab)
12308 Los Osos Valley Rd(805) 543-7427ribline.com
Cambria
The Firestone Grill family’s Cambria outpost, open since 1984. The tri tip sandwich comes sliced and sauced on a French roll, the same order that made Firestone a SLO institution.
Directions to Main Street Grill (opens in new tab)
603 Main St(805) 927-3194firestonegrill.com/locations/main-street-grill-cambria
Arroyo Grande
A western steakhouse in the Arroyo Grande Village serving tri tip plates and sandwiches with vaquero beans, salsa, and garlic bread. Their oak-pit tri tip also brought the old McLintocks setup back to the SLO Thursday farmers market.
Directions to Vix Creek Saloon (opens in new tab)
133 Bridge St, Suite A(805) 202-8504vixcreeksaloon.com
Santa Maria
The mammoth red oak grill sits right by the front door, which tells you everything about the priorities here. A no-fuss Broadway counter spot serving the archetypal Santa Maria tri tip sandwich, the way locals have ordered it for decades.
Directions to BBQ Land (opens in new tab)
1975 S Broadway(805) 346-8537bbq-land.com
New Cuyama
A roadside motel, restaurant, and bar out in New Cuyama, open since 1952. The kitchen serves Santa Maria style tri tip with heirloom beans, and its chuck wagon barbecues have featured oak-roasted tri tip with pinquito beans.
Directions to Cuyama Buckhorn (opens in new tab)
4923 Primero St(661) 766-2825cuyamabuckhorn.com
Santa Barbara
The downtown Santa Barbara outpost of Santa Paula’s Best BBQ, on State Street since 2024. The slow-cooked tri tip sandwich is the featured item. Open daily.
Directions to Best BBQ (opens in new tab)
716 State St(805) 770-2444bestbbqsp.com
Buellton
The tri tip anchor. The same family grills Santa Maria barbecue over red oak and makes the Pinot next door, and their Pinot shows up as a listed pairing for Santa Maria tri tip. The tasting room sits beside Hitching Post II in Buellton.
Directions to Hitching Post Wines (opens in new tab)
420 E Highway 246hpwines.com
Paso Robles
Rhone benchmark and the first Regenerative Organic Certified vineyard in the world, grazed by a grass fed sheep flock. GSM blends and Mourvedre take to smoky tri tip.
Directions to Tablas Creek Vineyard (opens in new tab)
9339 Adelaida Rd(805) 237-1231tablascreek.com
Ojai
Adam Tolmach’s downtown Ojai tasting room and the Ventura County pick. Cool climate Syrah for grilled tri tip.
Directions to The Ojai Vineyard (opens in new tab)
109 S Montgomery St(805) 649-1674ojaivineyard.com
Paso Robles
Paso pioneer with underground caves and free daily tastings. Cabernet and Syrah stand up to a bark heavy tri tip.
Directions to Eberle Winery (opens in new tab)
3810 Hwy 46 E(805) 238-9607eberlewinery.com
Santa Maria
Santa Maria Valley icon since 1985, set on a 2,000 acre cattle ranch with a cattle brand for a logo. The Syrah and Cabernet carry grilled tri tip, the Pinot suits the leaner cut.
Directions to Foxen Vineyard & Winery (opens in new tab)
7600 Foxen Canyon Rd(805) 937-4251foxenvineyard.com
Santa Maria
Hilltop estate with a kitchen and a 240 foot cave. Chef pairings and estate Syrah make it an easy stop, reservations recommended.
Directions to Presqu’ile Winery (opens in new tab)
5391 Presquile Dr(805) 937-8110presquilewine.com
Paso Robles
Old western saloon tasting room on a former stagecoach stop east of Paso. Big, bold Zinfandel made for grilled red meat.
Directions to Tobin James Cellars (opens in new tab)
8950 Union Rd(805) 239-2204tobinjames.com
Santa Maria
Estate Pinot and sparkling on Foxen Canyon Road. The Pinot is the classic Santa Maria match for red oak tri tip.
Directions to Riverbench Vineyard & Winery (opens in new tab)
6020 Foxen Canyon Rd(805) 937-8340riverbench.com
San Luis Obispo
Family run Edna Valley estate minutes from town. Syrah and Petite Sirah carry the char.
Directions to Wolff Vineyards (opens in new tab)
6238 Orcutt Rd(805) 781-0448wolffvineyards.com
Arroyo Grande
Relaxed Arroyo Grande Valley spot founded in 1995, picnic friendly. Syrah and estate Pinot work the grill.
Directions to Kynsi Winery (opens in new tab)
2212 Corbett Canyon Rd(805) 544-8461kynsi.com
Santa Maria
Off the beaten path on a working ranch, built for a picnic. Sangiovese, Cabernet, and Syrah pour easy alongside grilled beef.
Directions to Rancho Sisquoc Winery (opens in new tab)
6600 Foxen Canyon Rd(805) 934-4332ranchosisquoc.com
Los Olivos
Santa Barbara County’s first biodynamic vineyard, with Ballard Canyon Syrah and Grenache as the stars. Those bold reds meet red oak char head on.
Directions to Beckmen Vineyards (opens in new tab)
2670 Ontiveros Rd(805) 688-8664beckmenvineyards.com
Los Olivos
Ballard Canyon Syrah specialist, dry farmed on limestone. Structured, peppery reds made for grilled red meat.
Directions to Stolpman Vineyards (opens in new tab)
2434 Alamo Pintado Ave(805) 688-0400stolpmanvineyards.com
Los Olivos
A small family cabin in Los Olivos run by ranch people, open most days with outside food welcome. Grenache and Syrah pour easy for a BBQ crowd.
Directions to Carhartt Family Wines (opens in new tab)
2939 Grand Ave(805) 693-5100carharttfamilywines.com
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara family institution since 1973, three generations. Hormone and antibiotic free, grain-fed. A tri tip specialist: roughly $35.99 for a 3 pound tri tip as is, $44.97 seasoned and tenderized, $24.99 smoked, plus tri tip sausages and freezer packs.
Directions to Shalhoob’s Butcher Shop (opens in new tab)
220 Gray Ave(805) 963-7733shalhoob.com
Templeton
5th-generation SLO County ranching family (Avenales Ranch, est. 1875). Raises beef in Shandon and Pozo and runs its own processing facility for local ranchers. Tri tip is a standard cut here; call ahead to confirm the case.
Directions to Sinton & Sons Local Meats and Provisions (opens in new tab)
1121 Rossi Rd(805) 434-5050sintonandsons.com
Ojai
Family operation that is both rancher and butcher. No hormones or antibiotics. Ranch and harvest moved to Northern Utah, Ojai shop is the retail front. Pasture to counter, with an online store; call ahead to confirm current tri tip stock.
Directions to Watkins Ranch Butcher Shop (opens in new tab)
105 E El Roblar Dr(805) 640-1179
Gaviota
5th-generation California family farm. Grass-fed and grass-finished, pasture-raised, butchered on-farm. Ships statewide, by appointment. Tri tip is featured in the grass-finished program, with an online store and herd shares.
Directions to Santa Barbara Meat Co at Pork Palace (opens in new tab)
1503 US-101(805) 364-2346santabarbarameatco.com
Paso Robles
Second location of the Sinton family operation. Same local-ranch sourcing and processing. Tri tip is a standard cut here; call ahead to confirm the case.
Directions to Sinton & Sons Local Meats and Provisions (opens in new tab)
3450 Riverside Ave(805) 237-8100sintonandsons.com
Ventura
Locally owned independent butcher since 2011, in-house processing a few blocks from the shop. Tri tip is a safe bet at this full-service butcher; call ahead to confirm.
Directions to The Ventura Meat Company (opens in new tab)
2650 E Main St(805) 667-9159vtameatco.com
San Luis Obispo
Student-run, USDA-inspected. Beef from the campus Angus and Angus-cross herd. Retail Thu-Sat only. Tri tip runs about $11.50 a pound, fresh or frozen, from the grain-finished herd.
Directions to Cal Poly Meats (opens in new tab)
1952 Stenner Creek Rd(805) 756-2114calpolymeats.com
Ventura
Harris Ranch beef plus grass-finished Certified Piedmontese, dry-aged on premises. Tri tip is a safe bet here; call ahead to confirm current stock.
Directions to Five Points Meat Market (opens in new tab)
3049 E Main St(805) 643-0318fivepointsmeatmarket.com
Buellton
Sells meat from its own ranch (Motley Crew Ranch) with a regenerative and sustainable focus. Reviewers single out the tri tip among the steaks; call ahead to confirm stock.
Directions to Motley Crew Marketplace (opens in new tab)
225 McMurray Rd Ste F(805) 325-6274motleycrewmarket.com
Solvang
Full grocery with a serious butcher counter. Destination for its meat case. Tri tip is a safe bet at this meat counter; call ahead to confirm.
Directions to El Rancho Market (opens in new tab)
2886 Mission Dr(805) 688-4300elranchomarket.com
Santa Paula
Third-generation full-service butcher. Custom butchering, dry aging, works with local grass-fed ranchers. A custom-cut shop that cuts tri tip to order; call ahead to confirm the retail case.
Directions to Old Fashion Country Butcher (opens in new tab)
335 S 5th St(805) 933-3968
San Luis Obispo
Local carniceria-style market, custom cuts and prime beef. Everything is cut to order, so call ahead to confirm tri tip.
Directions to Premium Meat Market (opens in new tab)
2252 Broad St Ste 130(805) 439-0063
Arroyo Grande
Full-service butcher since 1897. Custom cut to order, dry-aged and wagyu programs, bison and wild game. A tri tip sandwich is on the menu, and they cut tri tip to order.
Directions to Arroyo Grande Meat Company (opens in new tab)
120 E Branch St(805) 489-2693agmeatcompany.com/us/index.html
Westlake Village
Dry-aging and wagyu destination on the Conejo side. Technically LA County line but serves Ventura County. The focus is wagyu and dry-aging, so tri tip is more likely cut to order than a case staple; call ahead to confirm.
Directions to Brown’s Top Shelf Meats (opens in new tab)
2260 Townsgate Rd #1(805) 852-5213topshelfmeats.com
Santa Maria
Upscale neighborhood meat market in Santa Maria, the birthplace of tri-tip. A Santa Maria butcher with a tri tip sandwich on the menu; the raw case almost always has it, but call to confirm.
Directions to Woody’s Butcher Block (opens in new tab)
700 E Main St #104(805) 354-0213
Camarillo
Neighborhood deli, butcher shop, and market. Knowledgeable butcher counter. The counter is known for prime rib and lamb, and tri tip is a safe bet; call ahead to confirm.
Directions to Lombardo’s Gourmet Deli & Meats (opens in new tab)
695 Mobil Ave(805) 482-7318lombardosdeli.com
Paso Robles
Family Swiss butchery, local beef (grain-finished). Custom butchering and processing. Regulars praise the tri tip; call ahead to confirm it is in the case.
Directions to Zio Brand Meats & Sausages (opens in new tab)
2425 Golden Hill Rd #105(805) 835-2245
Camarillo
Carniceria and taqueria with a butcher counter, marinated cuts. At this carniceria tri tip often shows up pre-marinated for asada or under a different label; call ahead to confirm.
Directions to Establos Meat Market (opens in new tab)
2633 Ventura Blvd(805) 384-9855
Paso Robles
Butcher counter plus restaurant and brewery. Call ahead to confirm tri tip at the counter.
Directions to Primal House (opens in new tab)
3330 Ramada Dr(805) 202-4700primalhousepaso.com
Atascadero
Custom processing and dry aging. Works with local ranchers on whole and half animals. Tri tip comes through whole or half orders or the retail case; call ahead to confirm retail.
Directions to Ben’s Custom Meat Cutting (opens in new tab)
6100 Rocky Canyon Rd(805) 466-2103benscustommeatcutting.com
Paso Robles
Country grocery with a well-regarded meat department. Call ahead to confirm tri tip at the meat counter.
Directions to Oak Hill Market (opens in new tab)
2150 Heritage Loop Rd(805) 238-5253theoakhillmarket.com
Big Pine
The tri tip stop on US 395 in Big Pine, between Lone Pine and Bishop. Father and son Henry Otten and Matthew Kerley-Otten opened it in 2013, and two years later Yelp named it the top restaurant in the country. The tri tip comes off the smoker Santa Maria style, served medium rare to medium, as a sandwich or on the Big Pine Mega Platter. Weekends and holidays draw a line, and it can sell out before close. A 24/7 vending machine sells smoked meat after hours.
Directions to Copper Top BBQ (opens in new tab)
442 N Main St(442) 434-1339coppertopbbq.com
The cut travels. The tradition doesn’t. You’ll find tri tip on menus in Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and scattered joints across the Midwest and South. Santa Maria style, red oak and the full spread, is still rare outside California. For that, you come here.
For brisket, ribs and hot links across LA County, see LA-area BBQ joints on BBQ Junkie.
Know a spot we’re missing? Send us your favorites. Get in touch and we’ll check it out.