Too good! Thinking of the taste now makes me hungry even I just had dinner. This place is really good! I definitely recommend to meat lovers. I always stop by when I am on my way to San Fransisco.
Isaac F.
Place rating: 5 San Luis Obispo, CA
I probably eat here more than once a week, they have a great menu but I always end up getting the same thing — my favorite tri-tip sandwich in town. Even better with candied bacon. OLDSLOBBQCO always pleases.
Mark S.
Place rating: 2 Nipomo, CA
Had the pork sandwich which was shredded BBQ pork on a bun. Boring, boring, boring. How about slightly less meat and coleslaw to add taste and texture to sandwich.
Dennis C.
Place rating: 2 Berkeley, CA
Was just okay. We spent a day exploring SLO and figured we should check out the most reviewed spot on Unilocal.As expected, there was a line, but they run a pretty tight operation and kept it moving. Once the order was in(approximately a 15 minute wait in line) the food came out very quickly. We got the Tri-Tip, the Firebird, a side of fries and a side of onion rings. The food quality was just okay. Portions were large(especially the side orders of fries and onion rings… I can’t imagine how big the«basket» size is). The Trip-Tip was on the drier side. The bbq sauce they used was tasty… had a nice tangy bite to it. Of the sandwiches, we actually preferred the Firebird to the Tri-Tip, which was surprising because everyone raves about the Tri-Tip. The Firebird is a spicy chicken sandwich and makes generous of Sriracha… yum!!! The big fail was the fries and onion rings. The fries were over-seasoned and waaaaaaayyyy too salty. The onion rings were fried to the point where the whole thing just broke apart after you bit into it. They were hard and tasted awful, and this is coming from a guy who likes ordering his fries«well done» at In N’ Out. I can’t say it is worth the hassle of waiting in line and trying to find an open table. Next time, I’ll be exploring for a less crowded option that has better tasting food.
Tristan N.
Place rating: 5 San Luis Obispo, CA
Probably the best Tri Tip Sandwich I have ever had. The price is always creeping up but if you’re in the area I would highly suggest stopping by and having a sandwich. I have heard that people like many different things on the menu but I have never had anything but the Tri-Tip Sandwich(and fries and onion rings, both of which are great, feel free to ask for a basket of half each). Word of advice, it is always very busy but if you walk through to the bar you can place an order there, or you can sit at one of the tables and someone will come by to serve you. Definitely a place I take people when they come to visit.
Cathie N.
Place rating: 3 San Jose, CA
My friends were in the mood for tri-tip and we heard this was THE place to go. We came by after having an ATV excursion. The line goes out the door but it goes by really quickly. The inside of the restaurant looks really busy as there are so many seats inside. They also have a bar as well. Looking for seats shouldn’t be too hard as there will always be people going in and out. There are also seats outside on the patio. The bussers were definitely on top of their job as well. My boyfriend and I split our tri-tip sandwich, onion rings, and the pork rib meal. Unfortunately, we both felt that our tri-tip sandwich was not as amazing as everyone said it would be. I felt it was a little dry and lacked flavor. Yes, there was barbecue sauce on it but even that didn’t make a statement for me. The sandwich is definitely filling though. The pork rib meal comes with 7 pork ribs, garlic bread, and a choice of either beans or dinner salad. We chose the dinner salad and there are many different choices of dressings you can get with it. The pork ribs were delicious. They were perfectly covered in barbecue sauce, so that means you will definitely need lots of napkins. Weird thing I noticed though was that there are no napkin dispensers on the table, but this may be because there are so many tables. Overall, I thought our experience was okay. Would I come back? Maybe but only to see if they can make me a better tri-tip sandwich.
Cindy Z.
Place rating: 4 Rosemead, CA
While driving down from Norcal to Socal, we stopped by SLO for a bite to eat. First of all, this little town is so adorable. As we drove down the street, I was immediately drawn to Firestone Grill with its outdoor seating. After a few Unilocal searches, it turned out that this was the place I saw along the way –how nice! We were tight on time, but the line went by quickly. The boyfriend and I shared the Full Rack of Pork Ribs($ 21.99), large Steak Cobb Salad($ 10.49) and a Basket of Fries($ 4.29). So our eyes were definitely larger than our stomachs and we barely finished half of our food. Nonetheless, the portions were huge and everything was delicious. The full rack came with at least ten pieces. Although we asked for the BBQ sauce on top, it wasn’t enough for me. It’s a good thing that they happily give you plenty more sauce on the side. We ended up with 4 more cups of BBQ sauce, but so yummy. Their ranch is all free of extra charge as well. There were some parts of the meat that was a bit dry for my liking though. As for the salad, it was humongous. I almost never order salads, but it was full of flavor and ingredients with enough greens to make you feel better about all the carbs and protein you’re eating. And of course, the fries were thin and crispy and well seasoned. If you’re in the area, definitely come by here. To add, their service is spectacular and there’s a lot of seating inside and out.
Jordan T.
Place rating: 5 Pittsburg, CA
YOUABSOLUTELYCANNOTGOTOSLOWITHOUTGOINGTOFIRESTONE! There is a reason that the line is always overflowing to the street. My husband and I get the same thing every time: two tri tip sandwiches, two drinks, and a basket of half & half fries and onion rings. It is more food than any human being should eat in one sitting. which makes it that much more fantastic! The tri tip is tender, the sandwich bread is crunchy and buttery, the onion rings are thick and crispy, and the fries are seasoned to perfection.
Lara D.
Place rating: 5 Orange County, CA
Delicious! The place is spacious lots of seating big screens to watch sports. Service excellent. Food amazing. I had half rack of beefy ribs and my friend had the tri tip sandwich. A LOT of food and so worth it. It’s almost as good as Phil’s BBQ in San Diego. Great in their own way. Would come back. Also the buttery garlic bread is heaven
Kristal D.
Place rating: 4 Daly City, CA
Three reasons why Firestone Grill is on FIYAAAA: 1) Their tri-tip sandwich. The hype is real. My boyfriend went to Cal Poly for his undergrad, and he could not stop raving about this place and this sandwich. So during our SoCal trip, we HAD to stop by. It taste extra delicious if you dip it in ranch! Definitely one of the best tri-tip sandwiches I’ve ever had. 2) Their fries! HUGE portions and the seasoning is great. Goes well with the tri-tip sandwich. 3) I got to see the actor/dancer, Harry Shum Jr., during my visit. He was eating at Firestone Grill with his friends. No wonder it’s called FIRE… stone Grill. Muy caliente! Come hungry to Firestone Grill. A huge place and a great atmosphere to hang out with friends and enjoy a nice meal. Service is fast even if it’s crowded. You won’t be disappointed!
Richa A.
Place rating: 1 Orange County, CA
Stopped in SLO for dinner on our way up the coast and was given Firestone Grill as a suggestion by multiple friends, in addition to my dear Unilocal community. The line was out the door and around the corner, but seemed like it was moving fairly quickly so we decided to try it out. With such high reviews, how could we fail? Got in line and said«we should go up and get a menu,» when the guy in front of us said«tri-tip sandwhich, that’s all you need to know.» You got it, dude! Seemed like a reliable source and all the Unilocal reviews recommended the same. Line went by pretty quickly which was nice(probably because everyone orders the same thing) and we noticed a GIANT basket of fries walking past us, so we felt like we’d hit a jackpot. I immediately ordered my sandwich and then my friend walked up and said«can I get the veggie sandwich?» The girl behind the register said«if you’re not vegetarian I really think you should get the tri-tip sandwich.» Well dang, alright. Let’s do it! Scout for a table in this packed house and end up at a high top. Finally our food is ready and we go to pick it up… The meat was tinted gray. GRAY. This is no exaggeration. In front of me was two pieces of sandwich bread with 5 slices of grayish-pink tri-tip, and a tiny tiny bit of sauce on the very top slice. We raised our eyebrows at each other then said, to hell with it, let’s try this out. So. Many. Regrets. It was incredible dry and the tri-tip was terrible. We ended up both taking about two bites max and just eating the fries for dinner, then headed over to the farmers market across the street. Now, maybe we had a bad batch… Maybe they forgot to add more than a drop of sauce to our sandwiches… Who knows. Everyone else seems to love this place and my friends were shocked when I told them what a terrible experience we had. Just goes to show that even though everyone may love something, don’t let they hype get to you! You may just end up with gray meat.
Dom G.
Place rating: 5 Linda Vista, San Diego, CA
Every year I travel up the California coast to reflect on life and see what our state has to offer. I have destinations starting from San Diego and all the way up to San Francisco. When we past through San Luis, It is of the most essence of life that I grab a Tri-tip sandwich from Firestone Grill. It’s consistently succulent, tender and hot and ready. Their fries should be illegal because they are addicting. Although the lines are out the door and around the corner, it goes by fast. Great service for all ages and a great variety for all ages. Till next year will I have my traditional Tri-tip sandwich.
Daryl S.
Place rating: 4 Los Angeles, CA
Note: Brother hyped this up a lot for me before I actually ate here. Ok, so after you figure out the street parking situation and proceed through the long line, prepare to stuff your face with smoky tri-tip sandwiches, onion rings and cold slaw(at least that’s what I ordered). The sandwich doesn’t look too intimidating, but man it really does a good job of filling up your stomach. I will say that I was expecting some juicy marvel worth driving up 3 hours for, and if definitely wasn’t that. But nonetheless, it was above average. Could definitely see myself going here a lot if I lived in SLO. Highly recommend the onion rings, idk if it was just my state of hunger, but that was some of the best rings i’ve ever had. I appreciate that. The atmosphere and service were also engaging and friendly, but not enough to raise my experience to 5 stars.
Steven B.
Place rating: 4 Novato, CA
A newer place, but a Central Coast classic already. They have beers, wines, and great bbq. If you haven’t had tri-tip, this is a great place to try it. I got turned onto try-tip 25 years ago, and was like«What is it?» Well, it used to be regarded as a lowly cut of beef, but if you cook it, spice it, and cut it right, it is fabulous. They do that here. Served on garlic bread and washed down with an «805 blonde ale» is the way to go I think. BTW, the 805 is a «bleach blond» if you ask me! It has more color and character than most blonde ales, kinda approaches a light IPA in style. The chicken or beef dinners are huge, great for college student sized appetites. It is casual in nature, but the service is excellent.
Jen T.
Place rating: 4 San Mateo, CA
I’m back 7 years later, older and slightly wiser and pickier about food. Just get the tri-tip sandwich. Still the best thing on this menu. I personally think the BBQ sauce is a bit too sweet for my liking now, but the tri-tip can stand on its own with its amazing smokiness. It just needed a bit more seasoning. I thought the pork sandwich was a true MEH. Worth checking out though!
Leah E.
Place rating: 5 Honolulu, HI
So you’re hungover on New Years Day and driving from LA to the Bay. What do you do? Stop in the middle of your 6 hour stretch, in SLO and stuff your face with tri-tip sandwiches and salads and fries and onion rings. If this can’t cure your hangover I don’t know what will?! Yes, it’s crowded. Yes, there’s going to be a line. But it’s going to be worth every minute and trust and believe this place is a well oiled machine and you will be served in no time. Getting tri-tip sandwiches to go?! They will pack everything separate for you. Garlic bread, meat and BBQ sauce so nothing gets soggy or weird. Bring quarters for metered parking outside the restaurant and your appetite.
Haley K.
Place rating: 5 Los Angeles, CA
How can you NOT love this place(minus the long lines, but it moves quickly). Whenever I drive up north from LA, I always have to plan to stop here along the way. I haven’t eaten meat in the last 3+ years, but this place still has great options for me and I can’t stay away from the delicious and sticky BBQ sauce and crispy fries. My boyfriend and I made our stop here over the new years weekend. We got there around 12:30pm, so lunchtime for everyone else and it was pretty busy. The line was outside about halfway down. We waited for about 10 minutes and they took our order. We were able to find a table in the back and our food came out literally 5 – 7 minutes later. It all happened really quickly. My boyfriend got the classic – trip tip sandwich. He only ate half of it. They pack so much meat on there for $ 9.95 it’s insane! I ordered the veggie burger which is really flavorful and HUGE. We decided to share a side of fries, and for some reason we thought the basket of fries was the best option. It’s HUGE. Definitely should have gone with the side of fries instead, but delicious lesson learned. They really have a great system down and a great local(and beyond) following. I hope they open up more locations!
Bruce S.
Place rating: 5 Elk Grove, CA
I have heard of the place from a friend that recommended it. The reviews are good and not just here, but all the places with reviews. The reviews are right on target as this place rocks! When we walked in it didn’t look promising as the place was packed(Tuesday night WTF?). Most of the tables are pub style high tables and we needed a standard table for 4 and a high chair too. Our patience paid off and we got the table we needed. We all ordered the tri-tip sandwiches and we shared a basket of fries. Our sandwiches got to the table very quickly, before our drinks even Everything we had read and heard was true. Best tri-tip ever. Melt in your mouth tender beef! Just the right amount of tasty BBQ sauce for me but my chow mates added even more. The shoestring fries were perfectly cooked and the basket was huge. It came with a side of ranch dressing for dipping. I know we will go back the next time we are in SLO.
Sydney C.
Place rating: 5 San Francisco, CA
I want my babyback, babyback, babyback rriiiibbbbbbs! I wouldn’t even consider trying this if it weren’t for him. He knows I’m not into things that are too meaty like most of the things served at this restaurant, but I was willing to give it a try. I mean I’ve only had ribs that were either homemade, at Chili’s, or at Costco. I know, I’m lame. We ordered the pork rib plate. It was about $ 15 after tax. It was a half rack of ribs(7 pcs) with garlic bread, beans(had meat inside), and a side of that yummy bbq sauce. I really liked how they separated the bbq sauce on the side. This way we could smother the ribs in as much flavor as we liked! I’m not the kinda person who likes to get her hands dirty either, but for these ribs, I was willing. They were sooooooo good! The meat was tender and juicy! The garlic bread was good too! We ordered pretty quickly and the food came pretty quickly too! The long line appeared right after us. Good thing we avoided that! Definitely check this place out, it’s so worth it! If you’re not into ribs, I heard their tri tip sandwiches are pretty good too! :)
Auden W.
Place rating: 5 San Francisco, CA
BBQ on BBQ on BBQ. Everyone that isn’t from the San Luis obispo or a regular has to come check out this BBQ spot. The Tri tip sandwich is beyond delicious and such an affordable price. The meat here are so tender and juicey. If you add some BBQ sauce onto it… Mmmmmm it’s like a mouthgasm. On my most recent visit… I managed to come right before the long line reached out the door. Decided to split the pork rib meal($ 15 after the tax) with my lady and was the perfect portion for lunch. It came with 7 ribs(half rack), garlic bread pieces and bean + tri tip soup. The ribs were the best ribs I’ve had in a while. So tender and juicey which laid loosely on the bones. Dipped it in the BBQ sauce… BAM. Got me wanting another rack. But nah… Had to pace myself for my next meal. It’s like a fast food environment But one heck of a BBQ spot. Might just grab a tri tip sandwich to go before I leave for NorCal. Good stuff. Good stuff
Andre T.
Place rating: 5 Berlin
Ein toller Platz für BBQ Sandwiches im amerikanischen Style! Lasst euch. Lasst euch nicht von langen Schlangen abschrecken, es geht echt schnell auch wenn es sehr voll ist. Drinks gibt es als Refill Flatrate und die Karte ist übersichtlich aber super lecker.
Montse S.
Place rating: 5 Guadalajara
This is the best american grill I’ve never been in. The monster burger is just awesome and if you add a basket of fries you’ll definitely be in heaven.