Spirit of Texas Craft BBQ — Restaurant in Riverside

Oh WOW!!!! You guys make the BEST brisket sandwich that I have ever had!!!! And your coleslaw was so fresh…almost felt like lettuce crisp and very delicious. I’m coming back tomorrow to get some more for my family so that they can enjoy how soft and tender the meat was. Every bite was enjoyed very slowly so I could keep experiencing the deliciousness that is Texas BBQ. Thank you for opening your store in Riverside.

Also the vibe is super cool. Since all the tables were taken me and my friend asked the Sheriff if we could share a table with him and he was super cool and said yes. I’m telling you, once you take a bite…it’s like it transports you to your happy place where time stops. And you are at total peace with yourself, the world and life. This brisket could be the answer to world peace. You might think I’m over exaggerating…but no sir! This place is the real BBQ deal!!!!!

Update: So I went back and got some brisket sandwiches to go. but this time I got their peach cobbler. OMG!!!! It was like tasting Christmas with that nice cinnamon, nutmeg and light dusting of sugar. I highly recommend the cobbler. And my Mom and Nephew LOVED the...

***2/12/25 Updated review

Man has this place gone downhill. I keep seeing new people. I miss the old crew/boss.

Food has been getting worse and worse. Drier and drier and no flavor. What's going on? Will not come back here anymore. Everytime I come here i spend over $150. It just isn't worth it anymore. No more free cornbread and no more tubs of sauce. You expect me to use the little cups for over $150? I'll be there all day pumping the sauce.

Old review: Best brisket in southern California. So juicy, tender and smokey. Love the sausage and spicy Mac n cheese. Their spicy BBQ sauce is bomb.

The younger chef, I think he is the manager. You can tell he loves his job and you can taste the food, it's made with love. He always has a smile everytime we come in. He is the nicest and respectful and that type of service isn't found anywhere anymore. When he is around, the girls cashiers feed off his energy and treats everyone the same.

Parking across the street is pay per park. If you get lucky, you can find parking right in front of his...

We visited El Paso about 8 years ago and had the best barbecue ever. We have been searching for a comparable BBQ place ever since. We finally found it! The Spirit of Texas lives up to its name in every bite. We had the pulled pork, brisket, and burnt ends. You can ask for the brisket fatty, or lean and we went with lean. The brisket has the perfect bark and a nice, red smoke ring. It is cooked to perfection and even though we asked for lean, it is very tender. The pulled pork is tender and sweet and can be pulled apart with your fork. The burnt ends were magnificent. The fatty part was crunchy and sweet, the meat tender, and just the right size. Their barbecue sauce is a perfect pairing to any of the meats. It is tangy, sweet, sour, and just amazing. We also tried macaroni and cheese, potato salad, turkey green beans, and the best banana pudding ever. All of the sides are amazing. It is located in a strip mall and parking is limited. Overall, it is the best barbecue this...