Destination Smokehouse — Restaurant in Murrieta

I saw destination smokehouse on YouTube and my mouth started to water. I was like, oh my God, I have to try this place. I live an hour away from here. So I drove up on a Tuesday thinking, I'm gonna have some wonderful, wonderful barbecue. Finally I get there, I ordered. A 1/2 a pound of the prime brisket, a 1/2 a pound of the PORK BELLY Burnt ends I ordered a 1/2 a rack of ribs. I ordered a large Mac and cheese and a large baked beans and 2 Texas toast. Total $95 well, I drove back home. I was so excited mouth watering, could not wait to eat. Oh my delicious barbecue, I opened it up. I looked at the PORK BELLY burnt ends, they were not pork belly burnt in. They were rib tips. I didn't order rip tips. I ordered pork belly Burnt ends. I tried it, it was horrible. I tried the prime brisket. It had a funny smell to it like it was an old piece of meat as soon as you pick it up, it crumbles like a frozen block of cheese when you take it out and it just crumbles up, that's exactly what the brisket did. It tasted like someone soaked it and water for a week and then stuck it on The grill and left it there for 4 days. That's how horrible that is. the macaroni and cheese. Was just disgusting, no offense. It was not creamy, the macaroni was overcooked. No flavor at all. The baked beans are basically Bush's baked beans. They were pretty good. The rebs, we're not fall off the bone ribs. You had to bite and bite to tear the meat off the bones. Some of the ribs we're not cooked. I have no idea what happened today, but my god. The Texas toast. All that is is a piece of white bread, toast it with some butter and garlic salt for $5 for 2. Come on now, needless to say, I was very, very, very disappointed in this place I will never recommend it to no one and I would never go back to eat. My apologies to the owners and the cooks, but you need to do something different instead of the bread and maybe some biscuits and cornbread instead of a piece of toast w/butter garlic salt on it, but your food was disgusting all the videos I saw on YouTube made my mouth water. I wanted to try that place. For 2 months. I finally get there, and it's a huge huge disappointment. I would never recommend this place to no one.

The servicer needs 2 be trained. when my buzzer went off. I went up to pick it up. The girl who had my order was engaged in a conversation with the worker in the back to where she just placed my order on top of the counter, which half of the bag was off the counter and the other half was on the counter. If I wasn't there, my bag would have fallen over, she did not even acknowledge me. I still had the beeper in my hand like. What? What do I do with this? service sucks! And the food sucks come on, people, you can do better than this. For the money I spent, I should have been able to eat at least half of my moneys worth, the only thing I ate was the baked beans, everything else...

I want to start by saying the food at this establishment is undeniably good. The brisket tacos, in particular, are a standout, and their lemonades are refreshing and flavorful. However, the service and operations leave much to be desired, especially for a business that thrives on its reputation for quality meats.

The issue lies in the consistent inability to manage inventory or communicate effectively with customers. Over multiple visits—at different times of the day—this place has been out of brisket, their signature item, as well as other meats. While I can understand running out toward the end of the day, being out of brisket just an hour or two after opening is unacceptable, especially when this seems to be a recurring issue.

Here’s where the frustration compounds: Lack of Communication: The restaurant does not update its social media to inform customers when they’ve run out of key items. This is crucial for a place with high demand for specific menu items like brisket. Inconsistent Phone Service: On multiple occasions, I’ve called to check availability or place an order, only to have my calls go unanswered or be told orders couldn’t be taken over the phone. Meanwhile, other customers have successfully placed phone orders, adding to the confusion and inconsistency. Misleading Information: During one visit, I called ahead and was assured that brisket was available. After a 20-25 minute drive, I arrived only to find they had just run out. This kind of mismanagement wastes customers’ time, energy, and money—especially in an era of high gas prices. Inflexible Policies: When I called today, I was told that phone orders weren’t being accepted, despite the restaurant not being busy. This rigid approach, coupled with the brisket shortage upon arrival, reflects poorly on their customer service.

While I have enjoyed the food here, the inconsistent service and frequent shortages are a dealbreaker. Customers should not have to gamble on whether their desired menu items will be available, nor should they have to make repeated trips only to leave empty-handed.

Final Thoughts: The food may be worth the hype, but the experience is not. Until this restaurant improves its inventory management and communication, I cannot recommend it. Good food isn’t enough if the customer journey is riddled with frustration. Best of luck to them, but I’ll be taking my...

Destination Smokehouse — A BBQ Pilgrimage Worth Every Mile! If you think you’ve had great BBQ before, think again. I made the nearly two-hour drive from Hollywood to Murrieta for a meeting at Destination Smokehouse, and let me tell you—it was so much more than just a meal. It was a culinary experience that turned into a full-blown barbecue revelation.

Our group didn’t mess around—we ordered one of everything on the menu. And not a single item disappointed. Every meat—be it turkey, pork, or beef—was smoked to absolute perfection, juicy, tender, and so flavorful it made you pause between bites just to process the bliss. You could literally slice through brisket or ribs with a plastic knife—or just let it fall off the bone on its own. Yes, it’s that tender.

Here’s the kicker: the chef only uses fresh meat delivered daily, and you can taste the quality in every bite. By 6 PM, many of the signature entrées—beef ribs, pastrami, brisket, and oxtails—are completely sold out. And for good reason. Each one is rich, complex, smoky, and utterly unforgettable. The ox tails, in particular, might just change your life.

Let’s talk about the sides: they’re not just afterthoughts—they’re stars in their own right. With a little twist on tradition, the Brazilian chef behind the magic has crafted proprietary seasoning blends and recipes that elevate each side dish into something new and exciting. Think classic comfort food with a flavorful global wink.

As we were leaving around 5:30 PM, a line had already formed out the door, full of folks hoping to grab their share of this BBQ heaven before it sold out. It was clear we weren’t the only ones who knew we had stumbled on something truly special.

Destination Smokehouse doesn’t just serve up world-class BBQ—they’ve put Murrieta on the map for anyone serious about smoked meats. Whether you're a BBQ purist or just someone who loves great food, this place is an absolute must-visit. Make the drive. Bring friends. Order everything. And get there early. You’ll be dreaming about this BBQ long after...