Harris BBQ Coalinga — Restaurant in Coalinga

Incredible people and a work ethic. I left my wallet there in the bathroom, and didnt know that until I almost arrived to LA. I was stopping there to charge my tesla and use the bathroom and maybe to have some food. The place is soo nice, it smelled really good and homey there, the staff was super friendly and welcoming. We got some snack in their store, had a chat with the cashier and started heading to the bathroom. The bathrooms were freshly cleaned and apparently very well kept that way, because soon after I left my wallet in there (as I recalled later) someone picked it up and brought it to the security station. God bless this janitor for such a work ethic and moral character bringing my wallet back! I don’t know your name, but I will always remember you in my heart

My son and I had experienced such support and connectedness, that someone out there has your back, even total strangers, and it feels like we are not alone in this world.

The event itself was a shocker because I was driving my son to Disney for a day to spend some time together and now what, I get to be preoccupied with my wallet? Alright here I am almost in LA, trying to rewind where I could forget my wallet, retracing our stops in my brain. I didn’t remember the name of the place we stopped until I found their napkin in my car with Harris Ranch logo on it. Thank you guys for labeling your napkins😅 I called there without ANY hope and was redirected to the guy named Armando who said “the wallet we have here matches your description”. I cried because it was hard to believe. Armando calmed me down and gave me some instruction on how we can arrange the pick up, because it was a night time and I couldnt drive back for the wallet because I supposed to pick up my daughter from LA airport. So they held my wallet for a day until I drive back home from LA.

I drove back a day after to pick my wallet up, hugged their manager Jose. Grateful for you! Such a well maintained environment and humanity in a workspace (besides the incredible food)

I’ll leave another 5 stars bcs it deserves more Will come back and thats gonna be my...

Harris Ranch BBQ – A Hidden Gem on I-5 for American BBQ lovers

Located inside the convenience store of a Shell gas station, Harris Ranch BBQ truly feels like a hidden gem for BBQ lovers. It’s a perfect quick stop when driving between Northern and Southern California — a place to stretch, refuel, and grab some genuinely good BBQ.

They serve classics like tri-tip, brisket, pulled pork, and grilled chicken, which can be ordered as sandwiches or paired with salad. The meats come directly from Harris Ranch nearby, so they’re fresh and high-quality. You can also choose from different breads, like buttered bread or French toast, which makes the sandwiches extra satisfying. I even noticed the staff carefully weighing the meat for each burger — if it fell short, they’d slice extra pieces to make sure it was spot on. For meat lovers, you can add extra portions of tri-tip, brisket, pulled pork, or chicken to your meal, which is a big plus.

The BBQ itself is cooked outdoors on three massive stoves, filling the air with smoky aroma — a real sign of traditional American BBQ. Once you order, the meat is sliced fresh inside. Flavor-wise, the BBQ leans a little light on seasoning, so I’d recommend making use of their sauces. They offer three kinds — original, sweet, and spicy — kept warm in heated dispensers that make the BBQ taste even better. You can also add your own black pepper and salt for extra kick.

One downside: the desert heat. Eating outside on the rooftop can be tough in summer, even with the fans and misting system they’ve set up — I still felt like I was melting. On the bright side, I spotted a few kittens around the property, which added a bit of charm to the stop.

Overall, Harris Ranch BBQ is a surprisingly great roadside find — fresh meats, generous portions, and a true BBQ atmosphere. Definitely worth pulling off I-5 for if you’re craving something hearty...

I was driving on I-5 from San Francisco to Los Angeles, I stopped at this place called Harrison Ranch BBQ.

It’s inside a gas station convenience store, and I had never seen something like this in the U.S. before — it was crazy crowded, which usually means the food must be good.

So we got in line, and honestly, the service was incredibly efficient. We got our food within 2 to 3 minutes after 20 mins waiting in line. (Scan QR code for App ordering!) The staff worked with such high efficiency — all of them were wearing gloves and weighing each portion of meat (whether it’s brisket or tripe) right in front of you using a small digital scale.

That level of transparency and precision is something I rarely see in the U.S. — usually everything happens in the back kitchen, but here, everything is done right in front of you.

They also serve beer, wine from Harris vinery, on top of the fountain drinks. I tried two of their most popular items: the brisket and the tri-tip sandwiches, both were great in their own way.

I did a bit of research afterward — turns out this BBQ Express opened in 2017, and the owners also run fine dining restaurants and a hotel nearby. The whole area is actually a large travel plaza, and there’s even a Tesla Supercharger station next door.

I seriously hope this place gets some investment like In-n-Out burger and can scale nationwide, because we really need places like this to disrupt America’s fast food desert.

With high-quality protein at such a fair price, this place offers something exciting for carnivore diet.

Great food, quick service, clean bathrooms, tons of parking, and you can grab some drinks and snacks...