C J's BBQ — Restaurant in Oxnard

I never go there without getting a pulled pork sandwich. I’m picky when it comes to meat, but CJ’s pulled pork sandwiches are to die for! They’re messy but truly worth it. I couldn’t ask for a more delightful flavor or texture.

The cashier lady who works there was quiet so I had a bit of a hard time hearing everything she said, but she’s very sweet and friendly. The music there is great and both me and the cashier lady ended up singing along. It was easily one of the most fun dining experiences I’ve had so far.

CJ’s is a very small restaurant. If I recall correctly, it used to be at least twice as spacious and in the same location but with a different, easier to find entrance. I missed back when there were photos on the wall. They do, however, have a cute tip jar and even souvenir shirts, and like I said, the music is lovely. There a couple places to sit inside and plenty outside, and honestly there’s kind of a cozy charm to how small the restaurant is. But my favorite part of the atmosphere would have to be, well, the literal atmosphere. Not only does the restaurant smell good, but the grill outside smells so delicious that I can practically taste it! The aroma is so appetizing that I could be stuffed past my breaking point and it’ll still make me feel like I haven’t eaten in years.

I’ve been to CJ’s a few times so far. It’s right near the dentist’s office, so I usually go there to get myself a treat and kill some time after my visits. I just wish it could be a little closer to where I live so I could...

I was born in the south and grew up living in Texas so I can be picky about BBQ. Since moving to Southern California 4 years ago I have been very disappointed with the BBQ out here. If you're like me you know that most places out here either use low quality meat, cook meat at temperatures too high, cook meat dry, or have bland sauces. CJ's finally breaks this pattern and serves up the best BBQ I have had here. The regular sauce is full of flavor and the spicy sauce actually deserves to contain the word in its name. The baby back ribs were tender and juicy and the BBQ beans paired up nicely just like they should. The sausage links had the right touch of spice and were cooked correctly with a good sauce. Even the fried catfish and popcorn shrimp were great. And if you're looking for a place with good southern sweet tea, you've found it. Both our meals contained hearty large portions. We could have made it into two meals but it was so good we couldn't stop eating. Eating at CJ's reminded me of eating great BBQ back home. Anytime we are in Oxnard we'll be eating here. Trust me you won't be...

UPDATE: Since my last review they have brought back indoor seating, although the outdoor picnic tables are still available. I also noticed that they have not raised prices as much as their competitors making this even better value for the money. Of course the quality remains excellent as always.

OLD REVIEW BELOW: I've been coming here for years and the food is consistently excellent. The BBQ has that "bark" that you only get from long hours in the smoker but is tender and succulent at the same time.

They also make good sandwiches (try the Philly cheese steak) and burgers (the BBQ burger w/avocado is my favorite). And they have a surprisingly good selection of fish dishes too including a seafood gumbo that is excellent.

Outdoor dining at picnic tables or take-away are your only options. They closed their indoor dining room during the pandemic and remodeled to expand the...