Hot City Barbecue & Bistro — Restaurant in Los Banos

AMAZING and I do NOT like BBQ

We were traveling back to San Diego April 24th 2021, from visiting San Francisco, It was our first adventure since the Covid lockdown in over 13 months. Hungry and needed to stop and stretch nothing truly in this area off the 5 exit this town. I truly do not like BBQ but was hoping I could get whatever I ordered without the sauce. Traveled into this city 7miles and the picture when we pulled up was of huge smokers in their driveway along with the hours posted Friday thru Sunday, I thought, "how can they only be open for 3 days a week and survive-especially now?" My ignorance Lol.

First let me say the three people working the smokers or grills all said hello, which was surprising. We went into this truly little quaint older building. The menu was very simple and the prices I thought a little above average until I was told about everything was homemade. Homemade food well worth ANY price. The person behind the counter beyond friendly and helpful. Ordered the Tri Tip dinner (came with Western Beans, grilled bread, Coleslaw and the Tri Tip-NO BBQ). Sounded intriguing. My girlfriend got a different meal but added on two different links-Cajun and Spicy.

We kept noticing people picking up orders, making orders and wanting to find a place to eat inside or outside if there was any spaces left as the stream of people just kept coming and we were there for over 30 minutes.

EVERY SINGLE PERSON was treated incredible, no rush all questions answered. The mix of different people coming in to buy the food was of all ethnic diversity. The food was hot and when our names were called. All boxed up to go whether we ate there or not. Anything we asked for was given with a smile and not issue at al like it was a bother or attitude.

Can I say the money and trip into this town has changed my view on BBQ FOREVER! The amount of food is beyond generous-in fact ate it all the way home to San Diego and still had food for the next day. Bread was toasted to perfection simple not butter on it. At first thought Coleslaw looks like a cup of slaw until I bit into it. The flavor just made you want to ask for more, but I had so much food to eat. The meat was so tender it fell apart in your mouth. Sometimes Tri Tip can be tough if not cooked BUT also cut correctly. The Beans-were the biggest surprise-FULL of a generous amount of meat mixed in. It had a touch of spice but not as in something hot to give it a kick of hotness but of flavor. I have a very sensitive stomach and though I would pay for it in route home. My girlfriend's order differed a she had the macaroni salad and also the links. She said the links were done to perfection as she loves links. But it was the macaroni salad that truly surprised her. Like me she thought the little cup looked too simple until she took a bite. As she continued to eat she was like me lost in taste-it also had eggs and olives only homemade food truly taste this great.

No issue asking for pickles on the side, no issue with asking for extra napkins as they ran out. In fact right in the middle of eating needed napkins and even though they were busy the line of people just kept coming. The employees with a smile restocked everything.

With the awesome encounter of the taste of food I thought, "what the hell I am going to try the BBQ sauce as my girlfriend seemed to love it." I took a bite of her sauce which was in a very generous to go container, not little ones like most places that look like just a sample but over at least a 1/2 cups worth again no charge. I feel in LOVE with this incredible sauce. It was not runny but not too thick either-consistency was perfect. The taste not hickory but not syrupy in sugar. The taste was kind of a kick of the two but also something this place must have added that makes it their own unique creation. I even asked for another BBQ to take back home.

Only regret to have bought their sauce for sale, but I will be reaching out to do so in the near future.

INCREDIBLE IS NOT EVEN THE CORRECT WORD...

After reading through the reviews, I'm shocked that no one else has come across with the same issue I had. I've lived in Los Banos my whole life, so there isn't any restaurant I haven't been to. So, I already knew that they were expensive, but my wife's from the Bay Area and never tried Hot City BBQ. So we decided to go one weekend. I wanted ribs, and my wife wanted chicken. Now on the menu board it clearly says "Chicken (1/2 or 3 quarter)" now my wife prefer the leg quarter over the breast meat, so from the way the menu was wrote, she wanted the 3 leg quarters. It was super crowded and a long wait in line and my wife is disabled, so she had to go back to the car and sit because of the long wait. The girl at the window seemed like she was tired and wanted to leave. Wasn't at all friendly, and when I asked to get the chicken leg quarters, she said it was only for a half chicken. So I pointed out that the menu said 1/2 chick or 3 quarters. She got all rude and said that 3 quarters was more than 1/2 a chicken and they couldn't sell it for the same price. I said I didn't care if it cost extra, I wanted the 3 leg quarters. So then she had this older woman come to the window, who was just as rude as she was, and said that they don't sell the chicken by the quarter, it's only for a half chicken. So, I just gave up and ordered the ribs and half chicken. My wife came back and said she wanted to get some links on the side, so I had to wait in line again. This time, a young man took my order. He was more pleasant. We got home, and even though the customer service was horrible and the prices too high, it was definitely the best BBQ my wife has ever had. Her own words were "there's not one thing that didn't taste good." and it's "the best BBQ this side of the Mississippi!" So, we'll probably be back, but hopefully the customer service will be better, and if they don't serve something.. Take it off the menu!

Edit: As you can clearly see in the picture, taken from their OWN menu, it says Chicken: (½ chx [I assume "chx" is their abbreviation for "chicken"] OR 3-¼'s). Very confusing, but most ppl would agree 3-¼'s means 3 quarters (leg-thigh quarters, which you can get a 10-lb. bag at the store for $5). Just shows how lazy and incompetent the staff is. It's right there on the menu and not one of these two women serving us would look at the menu or I would be glad if you told me what 3-¼'s meant! Haven't been back since and don't plan on returning anytime soon. I can make better BBQ myself cheaper at home.

The only reason I give 2 stars instead of one, my wife said that the food...

My first time here since i moved to Los Banos and i was hungry for bbq ribs. I got to the place around 6:00 on a saturday evening, dinner time. The restaurant is very casual with picnic benches inside & out for dining & a few tables for 4, it’s not a big place. So the menu is on the wall written on a huge blackboard, so many bbq plates and side dishes along with racks of ribs and whole bbq chicken, hot links & tri tip those are just a few items on the menu. All smells so toasty and delicious i just wanted a rack of ribs to go, however just as i was going inside a lady was walking out with 2 large tin foil pans covered in foil and her daughter was carrying 2 as well, i thought oh wow this must be good. I go to counter & i order a rack of ribs to go, the cashier says i’m sorry we are all out of ribs ! Wait what ? no ribs it’s 6:00 you have 2 hours before closing and you’re out of ribs, oh i was not happy so i said i’ll have a whole bbq chicken to go, cashier looks behind her to the cook & he says no chicken we ran out. i was not happy. I said is there any tri tip ? Yes, i was happy now i got a tri tip sandwich to go with a pickle and a kids lunch box size bag of chips for $15.00 it was on a french roll. i took it home to enjoy and i thought did i just pay $15 for a sandwich? I thought that was a little pricy however, when i picked it up it was stacked with thick tender juicy strips of deliciousness and the bbq sauce was thick and perfect for the meat, not to sweet & just the right tang to it, very tasty. This sandwich was well worth the price. It was a soft french roll average size but they prepared it with plenty of juicy tender pink tri tip. I was very happy the meal made up for them running short of food, the cook brought my order out & i he apologized for the inconvenience & said it was a super busy night i think a fight was on HBO and lots of take out. I said if the tri tip is delish i will be back soon ! The tri tip was perfectly bbq’d and the homemade sauce was outstanding. i gave this place 4 stars & it’s seriously a 5 star but had to dock a star for running out of food 2 hours before closing. i can’t wait to try the ribs &...