The staff here is so friendly and the food is tasty.
Mariela O.
The best BBQ place I've been to in the SFV, it's about time that I write a review for The Smokey Cow. I can't tell you how incredible this BBQ place is, it honestly has become our favorite place to go to on Fridays when we're craving BBQ (sometimes we go every Friday, no shame lol) The brisket is amazing!! The beef ribs are juicy, tender, and full of flavor & their BBQ sauces are soo good! My favorite one is the spicy one! 10/10 would recommend you to try this place for a Friday night dinner. Customer service is also 10/10 and you can't beat that. We've been going for a good while now when they used to be in front of their house. Now that they moved location, we're still here!
Jeannie Merrill Thompson
Great food, close by, friendly owner, and I hate recommending it because I don't want it to be so crowded!!
Henry D.
Holy smokes is our reaction to this hidden BBQ gem. The family just had dinner at Din Tai Fung and we were driving back to my son's place. We were full and not very hungry but we noticed The Smokey Cow pop-up tent on Sherman Way and decided we needed to give it a try. We are glad that we did, nice guys and great food. Our intention was just to taste a little food for future reference but we ended up ordering: a 1/2 lb of fatty brisket (you can get lean or fat) that comes with cole slaw, kettle chips and pickles, a full meal, 1/2 lb beef rib which also came as a meal and pulled pork Mac and cheese. They accidentally made spicy pulled pork Mac and cheese, they were about to make us a regular one but the kids like spicy too so we took it. The guys gave us a free order of Mac and cheese. It was very generous of them to do so. All of the meats had a nice smoke ring, the beef rib was flavorful, tender and just overall slap your mama good, the pulled pork a strong 2nd and the brisket was juicy and a tinge towards well done. Overall, the food was a solid 4.5 (probably a 4.25 on the brisket, 5 on the beef rib and 5 on the pulled pork Mac and cheese with over the top service. We saved getting pork spare ribs for our next visit at this must try food purveyor of great BBQ. Great guys making mouth watering BBQ, give them a try, doesn't get better than this. Open on Fridays only, open at 6 pm and closed when they run out which is usually 7:30 pm but possibly just a little later if you are lucky.
Jeff N.
Finally got to try this place today after a long wait and it was totally worth it. My wife is a complete Beef Rib snob and she said these were the best ribs she's ever had. I made a point to go today as they were giving out free Mac and cheese for their anniversary which was an extra bonus on top of the amazing ribs, pulled pork and brisket. Both sauces they gave me were great as well. Luckily I was the second person in line so once they opened up it was fairly quick. If you don't look closely enough you'll drive right past it as I did. Literally just a small tent setup on a sidewalk in Van Nuys. Harry, the owner, was extremely friendly and even let me sample the meat before buying. They only accept cash or Venmo so make sure you've got one or the other before making the trek. Highly recommend!
K Two's Mom N.
We had been trying for a while to get down to this pop up business. Once we were in the valley, but they were closed. Once they were closed for weather. Once for private party. My hubby planned my birthday dinner around their schedule only to find out the morning of they were gonna cancel that night. Ackkk! You have to follow closely Friday morning to see if they are actually going to be open. With that all being said.....the wait was worth it!!!!These guys know their craft! Hands down best bbq in LA. perfectly seasoned and cooked. So tender and juicy and yet not falling off the bone. (No one wants meat that is mushy and doesn't stay on a rib). We like to say "falling off the bone", but in reality that's not what you really want). You want it just to the point of falling off. We tried brisket, beef ribs, and pulled pork. We also got the Mac and cheese. I will give 5 stars for the meat. My kids said the Mac and cheese was good, but really more Mac than cheese so couldn't give 5 stars. We definitely will be going regularly and telling all of our friends. Oh and to top it off, my husband said they were so very nice! We wish them the best of luck and cross fingers they never stop making bbq for us!
Chris B.
Came across this gem on yelp. It's only open on Fridays so get there early as his bbq goes fast. The brisket was delicious!!
Stacey C.
If you're in the mood for the most amazing bbq ever visit The Smokey Cow and go early!!! This pop up sells out every Friday night, but if you show up early expect to get the best bbq pulled pork, brisket and ribs EVER! Family-run small business, very friendly staff and awesome Mac n cheese. Highly recommend!
Gary W.
The brisket was really good! We also got the beef ribs which were just ok. I would definitely go back for the brisket it a heartbeat and the service was fantastic :)
Tyson J.
Best BBQ in the valley and best BBQ iv ever had!! I go frequently and the service is great! If you live in the valley or just want the best BBQ you'll ever have come to the smokey cow please you won't be disappointed take my word for it. Everything on the menu is to die for smoked to perfection!
So for 3 weeks I've tried to get this place but bc of rain it didn't work out. A friend of mine recommended it as good bbq. I had kept in touch with Harry, the owner n super nice guy, via phone calls n texts. He let me know they'd be there open yesterday Friday February 5th. My family and I are all huge beef rib n any pork rib fans. Got there at 6pm when they opened. Ordered 2 slabs of the pork ribs n 6 pieces of the massive beef ribs. DELICIOUS. Next time gonna get the brisket.
Sola L.
A solid spot to pick up some BBQ! He's parked up on the side of the road under a canopy/tent along with a helper. We've tried everything on the menu and everything was pretty darn tasty! Everything was flavored/spiced nicely and juicy. My fav is the ribs! The pull pork is my second fav. You can taste the TLC he puts into his food. The mac and cheese topped with beef is worth checking out too if you're okay with going a little heavy. The coleslaw isn't my style so we usually ask for double chips when we get a plate. The pickles on the side are the salty, sour kind and not the sweet kind. You can tell he's a hard worker and super kind as well as his worker. They seem happy and appreciative of your business. A line forms pretty early on and he sells out on the popular items, so get there early!
Wendy A.
It's my first time trying something like this and was really good! Was given free lunch at work ( bank ) by someone . I also enjoyed the Mac and cheese .
Alex J.
Great BBQ is not that easy to find in California, let alone Los Angeles. I have very, VERY few BBQ spots that I can and do count on every time I visit. The Smokey Cow has just been added to my list and it should be on your BBQ list too. Hell it should be on just about any foodie list. I came by just before 6:00pm to ensure I made it because if you follow them on Instagram you'll see they sell out anywhere from up to three hours to sometimes just an hour after opening! When I arrived there were two groups ahead of me and maybe 10 in line as I left. The Smokey Cow treats everyone like family, everyone is welcome, gets some samples, and is given the best of the best they have. Tonight I wanted to sample almost everything so I had quite the feast and let me tell you, the prices are insanely great. Everything I ordered below was under $50 which could easily feed 4 people. Of course I'm being extra fat to reward myself tonight so this may last me 2-3 meals. Brisket - this is my absolute favorite. I asked for 1/4 pound fatty slices and had the first slice as a sample. That bite instantly melted in my mouth, so soft and juicy and seriously like buttah! I could eat a plate of this by itself! The rub is outstanding too, slight kick with heavy herbs and spices but they don't overpower the meat, rather compliment it for a perfect pairing. The smoke ring is on point and the juices run down your mouth and fingers. Loaded Mac and Cheese with Pulled Pork - I initially wanted the pulled pork sandwich but then thought I wouldn't get the mac. Figure the Hawaiian bread can wait so let's go for some loaded mac! The macaroni are tender and soft while the whole mix is gooey and cheesy goodness. That pork though - oh my. Pull apart soft, tender, and immense porky flavor that some pigs may think how the hell did it get so good? But both the mac and pork together? This is a pair that Match.com couldn't even create. Beef Ribs - I thoroughly enjoyed these. Sadly, the one problem I have is the long wait. I had about a 45 minute wait (drive home, get settled in, prepare to eat etc) so of all the meats I think the beef ribs can't wait that long and not only should, but need to be eaten asap! When they get cold the meat tightens up. BUT the meat was still so soft and juicy, I ordered the fatty portion which for beef ribs I think I will stick to lean next time. Some fat is spot on but, as beef ribs tend to be, some fatty portions are too chewy for my taste. The meat still slid off the bone like magic! The two sauces are amazing. The regular or sweet sauce is slightly tangy and sour with bold flavors. The spicy though was amazing! The heat really builds and kicks you in the throat but the flavor is smooth and immense especially when paired with the meat. Even better? A BBQdating.com pair with the sweet and spicy bbq sauce. Thank me later. They also serve plates with a side of kettle chips (can't go wrong) and cabbage slaw which to me was the only let down of the night. It just wasn't a big deal and I could do without unless I toss it in a sandwich. The Smokey Cow is a must for Friday nights and hopefully more nights of the week soon! You better get there soon and as soon as they start their nights!
Don G.
Great barbecue! As LA is generally a barren wasteland for the smoked meat arts, most places leave a lot to be desired. I've tried pretty much every meat Smokey Cow makes and they're all solid. Beef ribs and brisket are my favorites. Only complaint I have is the line moves pretty slow, but if you're ok with the wait you shall be rewarded with some of the tastiest meats in the west! I hope this guy opens a proper restaurant eventually, I'll definitely be a regular.
The staff here is so friendly and the food is tasty.
The best BBQ place I've been to in the SFV, it's about time that I write a review for The Smokey Cow. I can't tell you how incredible this BBQ place is, it honestly has become our favorite place to go to on Fridays when we're craving BBQ (sometimes we go every Friday, no shame lol) The brisket is amazing!! The beef ribs are juicy, tender, and full of flavor & their BBQ sauces are soo good! My favorite one is the spicy one! 10/10 would recommend you to try this place for a Friday night dinner. Customer service is also 10/10 and you can't beat that. We've been going for a good while now when they used to be in front of their house. Now that they moved location, we're still here!
Great food, close by, friendly owner, and I hate recommending it because I don't want it to be so crowded!!
Holy smokes is our reaction to this hidden BBQ gem. The family just had dinner at Din Tai Fung and we were driving back to my son's place. We were full and not very hungry but we noticed The Smokey Cow pop-up tent on Sherman Way and decided we needed to give it a try. We are glad that we did, nice guys and great food. Our intention was just to taste a little food for future reference but we ended up ordering: a 1/2 lb of fatty brisket (you can get lean or fat) that comes with cole slaw, kettle chips and pickles, a full meal, 1/2 lb beef rib which also came as a meal and pulled pork Mac and cheese. They accidentally made spicy pulled pork Mac and cheese, they were about to make us a regular one but the kids like spicy too so we took it. The guys gave us a free order of Mac and cheese. It was very generous of them to do so. All of the meats had a nice smoke ring, the beef rib was flavorful, tender and just overall slap your mama good, the pulled pork a strong 2nd and the brisket was juicy and a tinge towards well done. Overall, the food was a solid 4.5 (probably a 4.25 on the brisket, 5 on the beef rib and 5 on the pulled pork Mac and cheese with over the top service. We saved getting pork spare ribs for our next visit at this must try food purveyor of great BBQ. Great guys making mouth watering BBQ, give them a try, doesn't get better than this. Open on Fridays only, open at 6 pm and closed when they run out which is usually 7:30 pm but possibly just a little later if you are lucky.
Finally got to try this place today after a long wait and it was totally worth it. My wife is a complete Beef Rib snob and she said these were the best ribs she's ever had. I made a point to go today as they were giving out free Mac and cheese for their anniversary which was an extra bonus on top of the amazing ribs, pulled pork and brisket. Both sauces they gave me were great as well. Luckily I was the second person in line so once they opened up it was fairly quick. If you don't look closely enough you'll drive right past it as I did. Literally just a small tent setup on a sidewalk in Van Nuys. Harry, the owner, was extremely friendly and even let me sample the meat before buying. They only accept cash or Venmo so make sure you've got one or the other before making the trek. Highly recommend!
We had been trying for a while to get down to this pop up business. Once we were in the valley, but they were closed. Once they were closed for weather. Once for private party. My hubby planned my birthday dinner around their schedule only to find out the morning of they were gonna cancel that night. Ackkk! You have to follow closely Friday morning to see if they are actually going to be open. With that all being said.....the wait was worth it!!!!These guys know their craft! Hands down best bbq in LA. perfectly seasoned and cooked. So tender and juicy and yet not falling off the bone. (No one wants meat that is mushy and doesn't stay on a rib). We like to say "falling off the bone", but in reality that's not what you really want). You want it just to the point of falling off. We tried brisket, beef ribs, and pulled pork. We also got the Mac and cheese. I will give 5 stars for the meat. My kids said the Mac and cheese was good, but really more Mac than cheese so couldn't give 5 stars. We definitely will be going regularly and telling all of our friends. Oh and to top it off, my husband said they were so very nice! We wish them the best of luck and cross fingers they never stop making bbq for us!
Came across this gem on yelp. It's only open on Fridays so get there early as his bbq goes fast. The brisket was delicious!!
If you're in the mood for the most amazing bbq ever visit The Smokey Cow and go early!!! This pop up sells out every Friday night, but if you show up early expect to get the best bbq pulled pork, brisket and ribs EVER! Family-run small business, very friendly staff and awesome Mac n cheese. Highly recommend!
The brisket was really good! We also got the beef ribs which were just ok. I would definitely go back for the brisket it a heartbeat and the service was fantastic :)
Best BBQ in the valley and best BBQ iv ever had!! I go frequently and the service is great! If you live in the valley or just want the best BBQ you'll ever have come to the smokey cow please you won't be disappointed take my word for it. Everything on the menu is to die for smoked to perfection!
Restaurantji Recommends
So for 3 weeks I've tried to get this place but bc of rain it didn't work out. A friend of mine recommended it as good bbq. I had kept in touch with Harry, the owner n super nice guy, via phone calls n texts. He let me know they'd be there open yesterday Friday February 5th. My family and I are all huge beef rib n any pork rib fans. Got there at 6pm when they opened. Ordered 2 slabs of the pork ribs n 6 pieces of the massive beef ribs. DELICIOUS. Next time gonna get the brisket.
A solid spot to pick up some BBQ! He's parked up on the side of the road under a canopy/tent along with a helper. We've tried everything on the menu and everything was pretty darn tasty! Everything was flavored/spiced nicely and juicy. My fav is the ribs! The pull pork is my second fav. You can taste the TLC he puts into his food. The mac and cheese topped with beef is worth checking out too if you're okay with going a little heavy. The coleslaw isn't my style so we usually ask for double chips when we get a plate. The pickles on the side are the salty, sour kind and not the sweet kind. You can tell he's a hard worker and super kind as well as his worker. They seem happy and appreciative of your business. A line forms pretty early on and he sells out on the popular items, so get there early!
It's my first time trying something like this and was really good! Was given free lunch at work ( bank ) by someone . I also enjoyed the Mac and cheese .
Great BBQ is not that easy to find in California, let alone Los Angeles. I have very, VERY few BBQ spots that I can and do count on every time I visit. The Smokey Cow has just been added to my list and it should be on your BBQ list too. Hell it should be on just about any foodie list. I came by just before 6:00pm to ensure I made it because if you follow them on Instagram you'll see they sell out anywhere from up to three hours to sometimes just an hour after opening! When I arrived there were two groups ahead of me and maybe 10 in line as I left. The Smokey Cow treats everyone like family, everyone is welcome, gets some samples, and is given the best of the best they have. Tonight I wanted to sample almost everything so I had quite the feast and let me tell you, the prices are insanely great. Everything I ordered below was under $50 which could easily feed 4 people. Of course I'm being extra fat to reward myself tonight so this may last me 2-3 meals. Brisket - this is my absolute favorite. I asked for 1/4 pound fatty slices and had the first slice as a sample. That bite instantly melted in my mouth, so soft and juicy and seriously like buttah! I could eat a plate of this by itself! The rub is outstanding too, slight kick with heavy herbs and spices but they don't overpower the meat, rather compliment it for a perfect pairing. The smoke ring is on point and the juices run down your mouth and fingers. Loaded Mac and Cheese with Pulled Pork - I initially wanted the pulled pork sandwich but then thought I wouldn't get the mac. Figure the Hawaiian bread can wait so let's go for some loaded mac! The macaroni are tender and soft while the whole mix is gooey and cheesy goodness. That pork though - oh my. Pull apart soft, tender, and immense porky flavor that some pigs may think how the hell did it get so good? But both the mac and pork together? This is a pair that Match.com couldn't even create. Beef Ribs - I thoroughly enjoyed these. Sadly, the one problem I have is the long wait. I had about a 45 minute wait (drive home, get settled in, prepare to eat etc) so of all the meats I think the beef ribs can't wait that long and not only should, but need to be eaten asap! When they get cold the meat tightens up. BUT the meat was still so soft and juicy, I ordered the fatty portion which for beef ribs I think I will stick to lean next time. Some fat is spot on but, as beef ribs tend to be, some fatty portions are too chewy for my taste. The meat still slid off the bone like magic! The two sauces are amazing. The regular or sweet sauce is slightly tangy and sour with bold flavors. The spicy though was amazing! The heat really builds and kicks you in the throat but the flavor is smooth and immense especially when paired with the meat. Even better? A BBQdating.com pair with the sweet and spicy bbq sauce. Thank me later. They also serve plates with a side of kettle chips (can't go wrong) and cabbage slaw which to me was the only let down of the night. It just wasn't a big deal and I could do without unless I toss it in a sandwich. The Smokey Cow is a must for Friday nights and hopefully more nights of the week soon! You better get there soon and as soon as they start their nights!
Great barbecue! As LA is generally a barren wasteland for the smoked meat arts, most places leave a lot to be desired. I've tried pretty much every meat Smokey Cow makes and they're all solid. Beef ribs and brisket are my favorites. Only complaint I have is the line moves pretty slow, but if you're ok with the wait you shall be rewarded with some of the tastiest meats in the west! I hope this guy opens a proper restaurant eventually, I'll definitely be a regular.