Phone: +18185058865
Address: AJ’s Tex Mex Barbecue, 12123 Riverside Dr, Valley Village, CA 91607, USA, Los Angeles, United States
City: Los Angeles
Menu Dishes: 35
Reviews: 2598
Website: https://ajtexmexbbq.com
"Come for the BBQ...but come back for the best burger in LA?AJ 's Tex-Mex Barbecue is hidden gem in the San Fernando Valley...nestled next to a (dive? bar and a dry cleaners across the street from a gas station, it 's the type of place I love to find in LA. The outside is unassuming, you 'd sooner think it was a florist or a coffee shop before thinking they serve some of the best BBQ in the area...blink and you 'll miss it.If you want brisket, this is the place to go. Thick, moist, meaty, and fatty. There 's a decent pink smoke ring to show they did it right.The next best thing to get is their tri tip...always so tender.If pork is your thing, get the ribs. They have the perfect mix of chew and fall off the bone tenderness. If you don 't like bones, get the pulled pork.The chicken is chicken, but still good if that 's your thing. The wings are pretty good too...smoked first, then deep fried to get crispy, and tossed in sauce.If you can 't decide on what to get, get a combo tray. You can get the best of everything and it 's enough food to share with someone else...or not.On the weekends, they have beef ribs that can be pretty special.You can choose to drown it in their BBQ sauce, but you 're kind of not supposed to use sauce for Texas style BBQ. I usually don 't like Texas BBQ sauce cause it 's basically a thick, caramelized tomato sauce vs the sweet and tangy kinds you 'll find in Kansas City and other places. The BBQ sauce is somewhere in between and it 's the perfect compliment to their meats.Living up to the Mex in their name, they also serve all their meats in breakfast taco and burrito form. The red salsa is pretty spicy, but it 's a good burn.However, there 's one item on the menu that needs highlighting because I don 't think most people know it exists: their cheeseburger. First off I love that it 's just a cheeseburger. The only thing listed is burger, cheese, and mayo, served on a brioche bun. You can get (pickled red onions/pickles on the side which I recommend. The best thing about the burger is their meat blend...which I can only imagine is trimmings from all the brisket and tri tip ground up with whatever magic and happiness they have in stock. The burger is perfectly crusty, but isn 't a smash-burger, and it isn 't a thick, meaty patty you 'll come to find from fancier burger places. It 's the goldilocks of burgers. The cheese is melted, almost charred on, to perfection. When you take a bite, the meat crumbles in your mouth...every bite tender and flavorful. Served with their thick cut fries and some house made spicy ketchup, it 's the perfect meal alongside a root beer or a lemonade. Definitely enjoy a nice sunny day on their quiet patio as cars whizz by Riverside Drive.If there 's a couple knocks against AJ 's is their sides, but that seems to be par for the course when it comes to most of the city 's elite BBQ places. The sides are just OK...but then again, you come here for the smoked meats and not the sides. The mac and cheese is by far my favorite side here, but there 's a lot to be desired from it. It 's just cavatappi in a white cheese sauce similar to their queso. Side note, if you love queso, theirs is really good and that is a side dish I would totally recommend.The other knock I would have against AJs is their consistency. Every few orders the food is just off. It 's still good, but they don 't always clear the high bar they set the last time. It 's still better than most places good days, but it 's disappointing to pay X amount of dollars and come up feeling not as satisfied. They also seem to run out of things more times than not, which I guess is a fine problem to have if that means people are coming to your restaurant.Overall, you 'd be hard pressed to find a better meal in the Valley, if not all of Los Angeles."
Full menu - 35 options
All prices are estimates on menu.
Salads
Coleslaw
Crunchy cabbage and crisp carrots mixed with creamy dressing for a refreshing side dish.
Wedge Salad
Crisp iceberg lettuce topped with cherry tomatoes, bacon, blue cheese crumbles, and creamy dressing.
Southwest Salad
A vibrant mix of fresh greens, black beans, corn, avocado, tomatoes, and zesty chipotle dressing.
A La Carte
Sandwiches
Hot Link Sandwich
Spicy beef sausages served on a soft bun with tangy BBQ sauce and crunchy coleslaw.
Tri- Tip Sandwich
Sliced tri-tip on a fresh roll with lettuce, tomato, and aioli.
California Sandwich
A sandwich with grilled chicken, avocado, lettuce, tomato, and aioli.
Side Dishes
Tater Tots
Crispy golden potato tots, perfectly seasoned and ideal as a savory snack or side dish.
Entrées
Smoked Wings
Smoked Wings: Juicy, smoked chicken wings with a smoky flavor, served with tangy barbecue sauce.
Chicken Dishes
Chicken Tenders
Crispy golden chicken tenders served with your choice of dipping sauce.
Chicken Fingers
Crispy hand-breaded chicken strips served with a tangy dipping sauce.
Chicken Wings
Wings
Crispy chicken wings tossed in your choice of tangy or spicy sauce.
Main Courses
Nachos
Crispy tortilla chips topped with melted cheese, jalapeños, and fresh salsa.
Beef Dishes
Brisket
Slow-cooked tender brisket with smoky flavor, served with homemade barbecue sauce.
Egg Dishes
Omelette
A fluffy omelette filled with your choice of cheese, veggies, or ham, served with a side of golden-brown toast or fresh salad.
Pizza
Meat Plates
Meat Plate Special
Baked Potatoes
Baked Potato
A fluffy baked potato topped with creamy butter and chives for a classic, comforting side dish.
Burger
Cheeseburger
Juicy grilled beef patty topped with melted cheese, lettuce, tomato, and pickles on a toasted bun.
Laura's Homemade Plates & Combinations
Wood Fired Barbecue
Dessert
Banana Pudding
Creamy banana pudding layered with vanilla wafers and fresh bananas, topped with whipped cream.
American Food
Mac And Cheese
Creamy macaroni pasta baked with rich cheese sauce for a classic comfort food experience.
Starters
Flour Tortillas
Soft and warm flour tortillas perfect for wrapping your favorite fillings.
Bbq Plates
Brunch Specials
Side Or Light Orders
Big Rock Deli Menu
Bbq Classics
Alisa
Good food. Got my bbq fix. The brisket sandwich was juicy and flavorful. I like the potato salad. The queso dip was also good, but the chips were slightly greasy. Worth coming out for.
Address
Reviews
Jesse
Great food! I heard the brisket was the specialty. It is good but I’d have to say the pulled pork was better. Baked beans, mac and cheese, sweet corn, potato salad were all good. Easily the best BBQ in this area.Food: 4/5
Annie
Absolutely delicious! Some of the best ribs we've ever had. Mac and cheese, baked beans, queso, hot links everything was delicious! We tried it for the first time with takeout, and it traveled so well. Looking forward to dining in some time soon
The
Delicious! This restaurant pleasantly surprised us. We ordered the brisket and pulled pork, both of which were incredibly flavorful, with the brisket being so tender it fell apart. As for the sides, I really enjoyed the street corn, but wasn’t a fan of the mac and cheese. Food: 5/5. View menu
Andrew
The staff were kind and friendly, the restaurant itself is small but great for take out, and the portions were pretty good; however, the food was saturated with grease and it was pretty bland. I know that BBQ is greasy but this was beyond greasy for standard BBQ. I liked the tri tip, even though it was bland it was not as greasy and allowed me to add my own sauces for flavor.
Alisa
If you don't know, you're cheating ya self! This is a cool little bbq spot that really serves top quality meats. AJ and the crew know what they're doing and should be trusted as YOUR new bbq spot. I always make sure to get the brisket if it's available. A new favorite of mine is gonna be that street corn. Do yourself, and the restaurant, a favor and call your order in to be sure they haven't sold out.
Stewart
I've had tons of bbq all over America and this place is ok. Had pulled pork sandwich and the portions were good. Flavor wise the meal was missing the wow factor you get at a great BBQ place. I think the main reason is the BBQ sauce wasn't super delicious, just normal. The pulled pork meat itself was good. Would have been nice to get more sauce options. Also, seating outside needs an upgrade, Ambience is ok as well. Staff was very friendly. View menu
Alberto
Had this saved a while, finally stopped by and left full af. It's a small spot with parking in the back. Staff was very friendly and welcoming. Cool wooden tables. Got the BBQ Plate Brisket 1/3lb with Street Corn, Pulled Pork Nachos and a cold Dr Pepper. The nachos were thick crunchy, loaded with lots of cheese, toppings, and big chunks of pork. Brisket was tender, flavored, and fell apart (I got the fatty meat). Corn was so tasty, mix it all up and enjoyed. I couldn't finish it all, but boy did I try! Will definitely swing by again sometime to try some other stuff.
Joey
Let me start off by saying... my wife and I are not BBQ people. It's typically last on our list of things we'd like to eat. Well that has changed...Parking is easy. They have a lot in the back. Never any trouble finding parking.The staff is awesome. Everyone is super nice. I've been there a couple times now and everyone is incredibly warm and welcoming.The food? Welp, we went from people who won't eat BBQ to craving it regularly. Just about everything we had was good but I'm obsessed with their Brisket and Corn Bread. I just can't get enough. My only complaint would have to be about the corn bread. I cannot seem to adequately order because it seems like I can never order enough!Highly recomm...
Marion
Come for the BBQ...but come back for the best burger in LA?AJ 's Tex-Mex Barbecue is hidden gem in the San Fernando Valley...nestled next to a (dive? bar and a dry cleaners across the street from a gas station, it 's the type of place I love to find in LA. The outside is unassuming, you 'd sooner think it was a florist or a coffee shop before thinking they serve some of the best BBQ in the area...blink and you 'll miss it.If you want brisket, this is the place to go. Thick, moist, meaty, and fatty. There 's a decent pink smoke ring to show they did it right.The next best thing to get is their tri tip...always so tender.If pork is your thing, get the ribs. They have the perfect mix of chew an... View menu
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, known for its diverse culture, offers a mix of global cuisines, from tacos and sushi to burgers and vegan dishes, mirroring its vibrant, eclectic population.
Categories
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Cheese A curated selection of artisanal cheeses from around the world, featuring diverse flavors and textures that delight the palate. Perfect for sharing or savored individually with the ideal accompaniments.
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Mexican Authentic Mexican flavors await you with sizzling fajitas, savory tacos, zesty enchiladas, and fresh guacamole, all crafted with rich, traditional spices and served with vibrant sides. Enjoy a fiesta on your plate! View menu
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Barbecue Savor the smoky, juicy flavors of our barbecue delights. From tender ribs to succulent pulled pork, each dish is grilled to perfection with our signature sauces, offering a true taste of barbecue heaven.
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Sandwiches A delightful assortment of freshly made sandwiches, crafted with premium ingredients and served on artisan bread. Perfect for a quick lunch or a satisfying meal, each bite is packed with flavor and goodness.
Amenities
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Takeout
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Outdoor
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Barbecue
- menu
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Delivery
