Belly Barbecue — Restaurant in Folsom

I came here with my family on a weekend and it was slammed. They were out of macaroni and cheese and pretty much everything we wanted. So we had to order stuff we weren't interested in because we wanted to review the restaurant.

They also don't have any plates or anything, they put everything on one tray and they expect you to eat off the tables or off the tray even though you have a party of three or four.

They are also only open on weekends, so tough luck for anybody that wants to come here throughout the week or for lunch time if you work at Intel, rocketdyne or somewhere nearby.

Tables are pretty dirty, they don't have anybody that cleans them. Tables are also very high and awkwardly placed, so everybody walking in or out rubs against you if you're sitting by the door. It's like sitting at a bar in a high stool. They also don't have anyone that takes out the trash and it was overflowing onto the floor. It was very difficult to throw our trash away.

Food was mediocre, it was cold, it wasn't the stuff we wanted, seems like they don't make enough or they just don't have any of the stuff that they have on the menu. A lot of the food is salty and the barbecue sauce is more like ketchup than anything. Ribs were dry, brisket was dry and the pulled pork was extremely salty. Again, all of the food was cold.

The owner was really cool and the employees are super nice. The service was pretty good, minus cleaning the tables and taking out the trash.

After we finished, I wanted to order some pork ribs for some other family members to try out but while I was in line, they said they were out of ribs. So again, constantly out of product... All they had left was the expensive food that people didn't want to buy like the beef ribs and stuff. I actually saw people get out of line and leave because of this, including myself. I just stepped out a line and left instead.

I would honestly rather have a large chain barbecue like buckhorn or some other local joint. Overall, if you are a barbecue fan, I would give this place a shot but don't come in with your expectations high. If it's still around in a year or two, I will check it out again and update my review. Until then, I wouldn't recommend...

What can I say but THANK YOU for bringing FLAVOR to California BBQ! Right when you walk in to Belly BBQ you smell the smoky goodness that you're about to taste and there's nothing better than that.

TL;DR - go here, enjoy flavorful food, not to miss

I met Marcus and his crew today as part of the soft opening. What a kind and fun group to be around. I wish I lived closer although maybe my wallet will thank me that I don't! Drove 40 minutes to try this and I'll tell you, it's worth that drive! They were out of the turkey and pork ribs when I got there, but Marcus hooked me up with some brisket and sausage for my two orders, and let me tell you, the flavor is awesome! The only time I've had BBQ this flavorful in Cali was at a BBQ competition in San Jose in 2019!

Brisket had a nice char on the outside with a great smoke ring around the border. It was tender, but not overly so where it's falling apart before it gets to your mouth. The wood (hickory and oak blend maybe??? Idk but it's yummy) smoke can be tasted in every bite.

The sausage was juicy, with a slight kick, and everything you might want.

I got the hookup with sides, order two platters, so I tried:

Beans - man let me tell you, among the best beans I've had in my life! Packed with flavor, a very slight mild spice, and the beans still had a bit of crispness to them. Perfection! Creamy corn - I almost ate all of this before my wife could try it, had to stop myself!

Pulled mushroom - my wife's favorite side, her first comment was OMG! Unique, great flavor (see a theme here??) and had I think pickled peppers in it. Will get again.

Collard Greens - a southern staple, not gonna lie, I rarely eat it, but this was pretty good for someone who isnt a big fan

Brunswick Stew - took me a minute to figure out what the side was as I haven't had it since I was last in Georgia years ago. Delicious and can't wait to try it in a nice piece of bread.

Sweet potato pie - yummy, hearty, and overall great. My wife enjoyed it, not overly sweet which is a bonus, let the food do the talking instead of loads of extra sugar.

I will be back and look forward to trying the beef rib, as well as the pork rib, turkey, and...

Arriving later in the day means Belly BBQ might be out of a few popular items, but I was able to try the brisket burnt ends, which were outstanding. They had a perfect balance of smoky flavor and tenderness.

The pork ribs were thick, juicy, and cooked just right--more satisfying than what you usually find in some of my favorite spots. But the flavor profile was overpowered by an intense amount of coarsely ground black pepper. For me, the pepper was too harsh, but once I scraped off the bark, the rich cherry and oak wood-smoked pork came through beautifully. A finer pepper grind, or even a switch to Urfa Biber, Marash Turkish chile, or Goat Horn chile flakes, could help mellow the bite and bring out more of the pork's natural flavors.

Both the house and hot links were a fantastic way to wrap up the meal. I was glad all the meat wasn't hidden behind a BBQ sauce!

The sides I ordered were so-so. The stew and BBQ beans didn't impress. Maybe adding brisket drippings to one and Turkey or pork drippings to the other would make both flavors pop more. So instead, I'd recommend going with something else. Maybe try the cornbread, collard greens, or mac and cheese if they're available. Unfortunately, both the collard greens and beef ribs were sold out by the time I arrived.

As for the setup, Belly BBQ has a modest indoor-only seating area with about nine tables and one unisex bathroom. Ordering is simple: place your order at a window on the left, then pay at the register. Note that they don't serve any alcoholic beverages--just canned soda and water--and parking is shared with other nearby spots, including Salsa's Taqueria.

I was disappointed that they only offered white meat for the turkey; dark meat, like leg quarters from Branigans in Woodland, would be a more flavorful option.

Finally, the lack of tri-tip--especially for a BBQ joint in California--was a letdown. Tri-tip is a classic here, and its absence makes me question whether I'd return for...