Spirit of Texas BBQ

Food was delicious. I loved the garlic potatoes so good and the pork burnt ends 🤤.

Wow the food was amazing. The rib tip was tender (aye yooo, no diddy) I’m not a fan of bbq sauces but it paired perfectly. I opted for the spicy Mac and cheese and it was flavorful just wish it was warmer. The corn bread was a bit dry so I did added some honey over it. Would definitely come back!

Wow! Delicious food and excellent customer service. An amazing restaurant with a full grip on exceeding customer expectations.

The food was delicious, I had the rib tip plate. Loved the garlic wedge potatoes, could eat them by themselves. The Mac and cheese was also delicious. All great serving size too for the price.

I ate here for lunch, the Tri tip ends plate with spicy Mac and cheese. Others ate the pork belly sandwich or pulled pork sandwich, and said it was very good. The sandwiches are the best value. Last time we ate here we got different meats and couldn’t help ourselves and overate. It was an expensive lunch, although the meat is delicious.

Pretty good bbq out of the places I've had around Riverside. The portions are not the biggest but they're definitely pretty flavorful, they're bbq sauce is really good. Additionally the service is really good since when I came with my friends we weren't sure what to get they gave very good recommendations. Plus the fountain drinks were pretty interesting.

This place was good with all items we tried. Brisket, beans and coleslaw. Was a little different as they did not have a variety plate and you weighed the Brisket and bought the sides separately. A variety of different bbq sauces would make it awesome!

Halal Brisket Worth the Visit This restaurant serves delicious halal beef brisket. The meat was flavorful and well-cooked, except for the slightly tough pieces near the fat, which might have benefited from longer cooking. Despite the generic dining area and limited parking (located at the back), I highly recommend their brisket.

+1

There are not enough adjectives to describe how good the food is. There is a small plain dining area but who cares because you will be overwhelmed by the food. This was my first time there and when I saw 20+ county employees walk in for lunch I knew it was going to be good and it was.

The meats are the real star. Their brisket was tender and flavorful, with a nice smoke profile, and the rib tips were juicy and well seasoned. I also loved the pulled pork moist, with a good bark. (Multiple reviewers mention similar impressions.)

Brisket is absolutely delicious and literally melts in your mouth. Jalapeño Mac n'cheese w/baked beans on the side is spot on! 👍 The service is above and beyond, made to feel at home. Nice family spot.

I went there Saturday night and ordered brisket. My wife & I loved it. We enjoyed so much I returned today and ordered ribs & brisket . So delicious I highly recommend this bbq. What makes this restaurant so special is the manager Marilyn, she was delightful. She’s conscientious, kind, and very professional. She should be commended

Very good place. All meats are top tier. I tried the sweet potatoes, mac and cheese (get jalapeño), baked beans (the best) and potato salad all were delicious. Peach cobbler wasn't sweet enough for me and it's cake instead of crust.

Worth the stop! Good ol’ delicious bbq by the pound! We had delicious beef brisket ends, ribs and all the fixin’s. We added sweet potatoes, spicy mac, beans, potato wedges, corn bread and ice cold sweet tea to wash it down. Don’t be afraid. Staff is super helpful and if you are nice you get a sample. Drop in!

We mentioned it was out first time and they’ll let you try some samples, so generous! The pork belly burnt ends were yummy. The other meats were great too, especially with their pickled onions, sweet crisp pickles, and their house bbq sauce. The potato wedges were unexpectedly spicy, and we liked them a lot. AROO! (Victory meal after a Spartan race at Lake Perris)

This place is amazing. The burnt ends are the best of had anywhere in the country. The service was amazing from Maryland the manager. I love that they give a little taste of their food when you first get there to get you nice and hungry and motivated. It seems a little pricey however once you get home and realize it is a lot of food for the price. We had four people eating for our Hanukkah dinner we had the brisket which was awesome . It was a Hanukkah tradition that my father always made. We had the beans, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, and of course the banana pudding. The locations of little difficult to locate for the first time. I'm sure next time will be much easier. The parking is a little rough, you can park on the street or park behind the building. We ate at their Norco location a few weeks ago which was amazing and huge with the same amazing food. I've told 10 of my friends they should go here. In a nutshell Marylan was great, and the food was outstanding.

Soooo…. From someone who loves real authentic Texas BBQ, and eats it regularly from some of the best places in Texas, this was good. I mean, I did set a low bar of expectations going in. I can’t tell you how many times in my travels people in other places want to claim they are Texas style BBQ and it’s usually horrible. But this place was on point. I was very surprised at the flavors and quality of all the food. The meat was great. The sides were fantastic and big. The location… ehhhh. But it was busy, and that’s usually a good sign. One piece of advice if you want to fully embrace the “Texas” claim, you need to provide slices of white bread. And add sweet tea to the drink options. That will put you over the top and make you authentic. Overall, I’d go back.

Spirit of Texas Craft BBQ reminded me of my hometown! My wife and I just moved to the area from Dallas, Texas and were craving some good BBQ! I must say, this place hit the spot!! The food is very authentic and even overheard the cooks talking about how they went on a Texas BBQ Tour to research about the best BBQ in the world, which I thought was super cool! My wife and I ordered the Rib Tips Plate which came with Mac & Cheese, Green Beans with Turkey, and cornbread. Everything was absolutely incredible and highly recommend anyone who wants good authentic BBQ to come to the Spirit of Texas Craft BBQ!!

10/10 this place is amazing, the food was so good we almost licked the tray clean😂 Their Burnt ends are to die for and it's within walking distance of the inner downtown area, this was THEE place to stop before bar hopping, my husband and I will be back for sure!!

Got the beef brisket sandwich, spicy Mac n cheese, sweet potatoes, baked beans, green beans, cole slaw, corn bread, and asked for extra pickles. Very delicious! Highly recommended if you want some good BBQ. I wish I would’ve ordered the peach cobbler. I was so full I didn’t have enough room for it.

This place is a gem and a great find prices are great and the food reminds me of my southern roots. I have not found any place in socal that reminds me of my grandmother food.

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 sandwiches!!!

This place is legit!! Had some of everything and it was all good. Really good brisket, amazing rib tips and pork belly and the pulled pork was great. I don’t think you can go wrong with anything here. All of us that ate this feast were super impressed. I would not hesitate to return or send people here. And the staff are super friendly too. WIN!!

Wow, wow, wow! @spiritoftexasbbq killed it today. They just opened up in Riverside, and after today, I'm hooked. I was greeted immediately upon entering. The person behind the counter asked if it was my first time, and after I said yes, he proceeded to offer me several samples of the meats. I tried the sausage, pork burnt ends, and rib tips. I bought nearly everything I sampled and then some! I ended up getting a pound of some of the best brisket I've had in California, pulled pork, the burnt ends, and sausage. I also got the spicy mac n cheese and tried the banana pudding. Everything was delicious. Nothing dry. I can't wait to go back and eat more of the things I didn't have belly room for.

Sergio Contreras

Worth the stop! Good ol’ delicious bbq by the pound! We had delicious beef brisket ends, ribs and all the fixin’s. We added sweet potatoes, spicy mac, beans, potato wedges, corn bread and ice cold sweet tea to wash it down. Don’t be afraid. Staff is super helpful and if you are nice you get a sample. Drop in!

Richie Razon

We mentioned it was out first time and they’ll let you try some samples, so generous! The pork belly burnt ends were yummy. The other meats were great too, especially with their pickled onions, sweet crisp pickles, and their house bbq sauce. The potato wedges were unexpectedly spicy, and we liked them a lot. AROO! (Victory meal after a Spartan race at Lake Perris)

Scott Hirschbein

This place is amazing. The burnt ends are the best of had anywhere in the country. The service was amazing from Maryland the manager. I love that they give a little taste of their food when you first get there to get you nice and hungry and motivated. It seems a little pricey however once you get home and realize it is a lot of food for the price. We had four people eating for our Hanukkah dinner we had the brisket which was awesome . It was a Hanukkah tradition that my father always made. We had the beans, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, and of course the banana pudding. The locations of little difficult to locate for the first time. I'm sure next time will be much easier. The parking is a little rough, you can park on the street or park behind the building. We ate at their Norco location a few weeks ago which was amazing and huge with the same amazing food. I've told 10 of my friends they should go here. In a nutshell Marylan was great, and the food was outstanding.

Charlie Matthews

Soooo…. From someone who loves real authentic Texas BBQ, and eats it regularly from some of the best places in Texas, this was good. I mean, I did set a low bar of expectations going in. I can’t tell you how many times in my travels people in other places want to claim they are Texas style BBQ and it’s usually horrible. But this place was on point. I was very surprised at the flavors and quality of all the food. The meat was great. The sides were fantastic and big. The location… ehhhh. But it was busy, and that’s usually a good sign. One piece of advice if you want to fully embrace the “Texas” claim, you need to provide slices of white bread. And add sweet tea to the drink options. That will put you over the top and make you authentic. Overall, I’d go back.

Silas Smith

Spirit of Texas Craft BBQ reminded me of my hometown! My wife and I just moved to the area from Dallas, Texas and were craving some good BBQ! I must say, this place hit the spot!! The food is very authentic and even overheard the cooks talking about how they went on a Texas BBQ Tour to research about the best BBQ in the world, which I thought was super cool! My wife and I ordered the Rib Tips Plate which came with Mac & Cheese, Green Beans with Turkey, and cornbread. Everything was absolutely incredible and highly recommend anyone who wants good authentic BBQ to come to the Spirit of Texas Craft BBQ!!

Tracy Dirian

10/10 this place is amazing, the food was so good we almost licked the tray clean😂 Their Burnt ends are to die for and it's within walking distance of the inner downtown area, this was THEE place to stop before bar hopping, my husband and I will be back for sure!!

Greg Vogel (Photo)

This place is legit!! Had some of everything and it was all good. Really good brisket, amazing rib tips and pork belly and the pulled pork was great. I don’t think you can go wrong with anything here. All of us that ate this feast were super impressed. I would not hesitate to return or send people here. And the staff are super friendly too. WIN!!

Daniel Davis

Got the beef brisket sandwich, spicy Mac n cheese, sweet potatoes, baked beans, green beans, cole slaw, corn bread, and asked for extra pickles. Very delicious! Highly recommended if you want some good BBQ. I wish I would’ve ordered the peach cobbler. I was so full I didn’t have enough room for it.

Christina Reynolds

This place was good with all items we tried. Brisket, beans and coleslaw. Was a little different as they did not have a variety plate and you weighed the Brisket and bought the sides separately. A variety of different bbq sauces would make it awesome!

Mark Hatcher

This place is a gem and a great find prices are great and the food reminds me of my southern roots. I have not found any place in socal that reminds me of my grandmother food.

Michael Leffin

I ate here for lunch, the Tri tip ends plate with spicy Mac and cheese. Others ate the pork belly sandwich or pulled pork sandwich, and said it was very good. The sandwiches are the best value. Last time we ate here we got different meats and couldn’t help ourselves and overate. It was an expensive lunch, although the meat is delicious.

Erika Perez

The food was delicious, I had the rib tip plate. Loved the garlic wedge potatoes, could eat them by themselves. The Mac and cheese was also delicious. All great serving size too for the price.

Matthew Roybal

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 sandwiches!!!

Honestly, this is the best BBQ restaurant in the Inland Empire. If you’re looking for authentic Texas-style BBQ, this is the place. The brisket is absolutely to die for—perfectly smoked, tender, and full of flavor every single time. Keila and Rosie are amazing and always provide excellent service, making the whole experience even better. The staff is friendly, the atmosphere is great, and you can really tell they care about the quality of their food. This place is definitely worth the price and it never disappoints. If you’re a BBQ lover, you have to try it!

I waited until the very last minute to find a local spot to cater food for our company holiday luncheon, and let me tell you—Spirit of Texas Craft BBQ absolutely saved the day.I spoke with the manager, Marilyn, who graciously and effortlessly accommodated my request. At that point, I had never tried this restaurant before, and choosing something new under pressure is beyond stressful when you don’t want to disappoint your team. From the very first conversation, Marilyn’s service was so personal, trustworthy, and genuine—she made me feel like I’d known her for years and that I was already a regular.When it came time to pick up the order, the experience was just as wonderful. The staff reflected the same warmth—sweet, pleasant, and truly welcoming. I even met one of their regulars, Louisa and her husband, who absolutely raved about this place (and now I see why!). Louisa was even kind enough to help me carry all the food to my car—above and beyond service I would ever expect from one of their customers. We ordered brisket, ribs, sausage links, quarter chicken, BBQ beans, mac and cheese, and cornbread, and every single item was delicious. The food was a huge hit with our employees, and not a crumb was left behind.If you’re looking for quality BBQ paired with outstanding service, look no further. Spirit of Texas Craft BBQ has officially earned a lifelong customer. We will absolutely be back!

Visiting from Texas I expect a lot when it says spirit of Texas anything! Best BBQ I’ve ever had in California! Would rival most Texas BBQ spots!! There’s a nice spicy follow-up in the sauces. Potato salad spot on. The beans had way too much sauce and too little beans, but still very tasty. Cornbread was sweet and not too dry (easy to get wrong). The people working there were friendly and helpful. Really liked the place, people and loved the Q!!

Alysha Medina

I waited until the very last minute to find a local spot to cater food for our company holiday luncheon, and let me tell you—Spirit of Texas Craft BBQ absolutely saved the day.I spoke with the manager, Marilyn, who graciously and effortlessly accommodated my request. At that point, I had never tried this restaurant before, and choosing something new under pressure is beyond stressful when you don’t want to disappoint your team. From the very first conversation, Marilyn’s service was so personal, trustworthy, and genuine—she made me feel like I’d known her for years and that I was already a regular.When it came time to pick up the order, the experience was just as wonderful. The staff reflected the same warmth—sweet, pleasant, and truly welcoming. I even met one of their regulars, Louisa and her husband, who absolutely raved about this place (and now I see why!). Louisa was even kind enough to help me carry all the food to my car—above and beyond service I would ever expect from one of their customers. We ordered brisket, ribs, sausage links, quarter chicken, BBQ beans, mac and cheese, and cornbread, and every single item was delicious. The food was a huge hit with our employees, and not a crumb was left behind.If you’re looking for quality BBQ paired with outstanding service, look no further. Spirit of Texas Craft BBQ has officially earned a lifelong customer. We will absolutely be back!

Jasmine

Very good place. All meats are top tier. I tried the sweet potatoes, mac and cheese (get jalapeño), baked beans (the best) and potato salad all were delicious. Peach cobbler wasn't sweet enough for me and it's cake instead of crust.

Frederick Iwen

Visiting from Texas I expect a lot when it says spirit of Texas anything! Best BBQ I’ve ever had in California! Would rival most Texas BBQ spots!! There’s a nice spicy follow-up in the sauces. Potato salad spot on. The beans had way too much sauce and too little beans, but still very tasty. Cornbread was sweet and not too dry (easy to get wrong). The people working there were friendly and helpful. Really liked the place, people and loved the Q!!

Great food! But I expected more from the atmosphere. Just a hole in the wall restaurant but I would eat there again!

Awesome customer service! Everyone is so sweet! They even ask if you want a sample!!!!! The burnt ends were my favorite! YUMMY!!!!!!! The spicy potatoes are so good! Unfortunately, I was not as fan of the potato salad.

Being from Texas I was hesitant to even stop when I saw "Texas style", but the brisket is pretty damn good. Mac and cheese and banana Pudding was also good. Should offer slices of white bread and have sweet tea if you want it to truly be Texas style. Showed up right before closing so options were limited and it pretty overpriced IMO, but everything in California is.

Deborah Lynn

Awesome customer service! Everyone is so sweet! They even ask if you want a sample!!!!! The burnt ends were my favorite! YUMMY!!!!!!! The spicy potatoes are so good! Unfortunately, I was not as fan of the potato salad.

Keith Stewart

Being from Texas I was hesitant to even stop when I saw "Texas style", but the brisket is pretty damn good. Mac and cheese and banana Pudding was also good. Should offer slices of white bread and have sweet tea if you want it to truly be Texas style. Showed up right before closing so options were limited and it pretty overpriced IMO, but everything in California is.

First, let’s start off with the Customer Service. The Customer Service here was amazing. It was our first time coming here, my son and I. The employees were very hospitable. Wonderful customer service The potato wedges were really good amazing flavor. The potato salad was good, but above all the banana pudding was top notch. My son had the regular brisket sandwich. I had the burnt and brisket sandwich. They were both good and Filling Thank you for our visit and allowing us to sample the different sides available which helped us out a lot to decide what to actually order.

Samuel Escobar

First, let’s start off with the Customer Service. The Customer Service here was amazing. It was our first time coming here, my son and I. The employees were very hospitable. Wonderful customer service The potato wedges were really good amazing flavor. The potato salad was good, but above all the banana pudding was top notch. My son had the regular brisket sandwich. I had the burnt and brisket sandwich. They were both good and Filling Thank you for our visit and allowing us to sample the different sides available which helped us out a lot to decide what to actually order.

Service was good. The only parking they have are the 2 spots in the front so if they’re taken you can’t park in the back as it’s owned by the store next door and they tow. The Mac and cheese (original) was NOT IT, if you know how to make mac and cheese. The cornbread was old and too hard for our liking. The baked beans were decent. Come here for the meat and the meat alone cause the chicken was definitely an 8/10 the burnt ends also took the number 8/10 spot. Spare ribs 6/10. Now they ARE onto something with their spicy bbq sauce. That was the highlight of the meal.

Rib tips tasted like they were boiled prior to smoking very unimpressed. The mac was too soft but i did go near closing time. Baked beans were good. Service was great but that doesn't satisfy my belly

I liked the food here but menu options for plates has been limited. They took out the combo made the plate combo chicken only. If you want brisket and or, rib tips, ribs, pulled pork you do not get cornbread and a drink if you add it it’s additional. the E Menu Differs than the physical one.

WHERE'S THE SMOKE? As mentioned, this has more of a oven or grill flavor, not smoked BBQ.Meat was a little tough and dry. I could buy better sides at the grocery store. The soda drinks were A+. The staff was super nice. I can't smoke meat while travelling, so I gave this place a go. I highly recommend they go learn from Texan masters. I ordered the Brisket, Chicken, Ribs, coleslaw, potato salad (B+), cornbread and soda. The Spicy BBQ sauce.. not spicy. The taste of the sauce A-. This tasted like the Ghost of Texas Craft BBQ. Imma little sad.

I really did not like this food. Seattle WA has better bbq, and this is light years away from Texas bbq. I had to cut my fatty brisket with a knife (not a good sign) and the sides I got tasted like school cafeteria food. The lady working was super kind at least. I would not come back here

I ordered rib tips and a chicken dinner. Unfortunately, I would never return. The food was not to my satisfaction at all. There was no seasoning. The rib tips was more like pulled pork. There was no flavoring very disappointed. The cornbread was very flat almost flat as a piece of toast. They need to have someone that has experience with making such items help them out.

Mary Akhigbe

I ordered rib tips and a chicken dinner. Unfortunately, I would never return. The food was not to my satisfaction at all. There was no seasoning. The rib tips was more like pulled pork. There was no flavoring very disappointed. The cornbread was very flat almost flat as a piece of toast. They need to have someone that has experience with making such items help them out.

Very friendly and quick service. The food was just meh. No smoke flavor to the meat. I had one rib and 1/4 chicken, mac and cheese and green beans and a drink. I spent $36 and some change. I felt they were over-priced for the amount and quality. The chicken was spicy but they did not say it would be. Luckily, I like spice. The rib and chicken was tender. Mac and cheese, rib, and chicken was luke warm. It should have been hot. I've had much better bbq. Sadly, this just didn't do it for me.

Food was so tasty a bit pricey but it was quality. What was not quality was the way the same tongs were being used for multiple items. This is textbook cross contamination. I am highly allergic to one of those said items and anaphylaxis was not particularly on my agenda for the day.

What a waste of time and money. I showed up during lunchtime on a Monday and no one was manning the front. People were eating already but i waited for someone to come up to the front to take my order but no one came. I had to yell to get their attention. I asked for a burnt end sandwich and to make it platter that they advertise but both ladies didn't know what that was. The charged me for the platter and soda for 30 bucks and didn't give me the corn bread that comes with it. Food is sitting under heat lamps and not good at all. Don't waster your time coming to this place. Even if it's free i would not come