Zeke's Smokehouse

In Short – This storefront's jagged brick, rustic wood and brushed-steel decor gives off a down-home-meets-bistro vibe. Diners grab seats on the patio or near the open kitchen barbecue pit. Hickory wood-smoked meats arrive dry, with three barbecue sauce options: red-hot, spicy-sweet and mustardy. Entrees include beef brisket, chicken, baby back ribs and hot links, accompanied by classic sides such as coleslaw, baked beans, sweet potato fries, hush puppies and Texas toast.

Editor's Tips

Parking:: Meters are usually available during the day; the Target garage is $1 per hour. Enter on Romaine, one block south of Santa Monica.
What to Drink:: Try the house-made Arnold Palmer, a combination of iced tea and lemonade. A barbecue-friendly beer and wine selection is available by the bottle or glass.
Know Before You Go:: The menu also features grilled fish and veggies, and several entree salads. Everything is available in to-go portions.

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User Reviews (39)

ambiance	100.0% positive	“Zeke's is fun!” “The ambience was nice, and the smell of BBQ was enticing, but that's basically where it ended.”
dessert	50.0% positive	“I've never had great desserts in a barbecue place but Zeke's has them.” “We were greeted with friendly servers,our food was served quickly, and the desserts are awsome!”
food quality	80.3600025177002% positive	“The chicken had a great coating of thick breading and the boneless breasts were delicious and tender.” “the chicken was very dry i would never go back there.” “Does it make the BBQ more "authentic" if you incinerate the food?” “Great variety of home made barbeque sauces, excellent babyback ribs, the BEST pulled pork, and killer barbequed beans.” “Portions are huge, my wife and I share a briskit meal.” “Good food” “The food was fresh and good.” “Zeke's BBQ has a distinctive sauce and taste.” “The beef ribs are seldom greesy like most places and the spare ribs are great.” “The meatloaf was really good along with the mashed potatoes.” “We love the meatloaf, brisket, and the BBQ chicken.” “guess mustcop had a bad experience here or has some really high standards for bbq.” “The food here is all around good.” “Truly authentic BBQ!” “Fast service and good food- if you like BBQ it ids worth a try” “Corn bread is not the best, but adequate.” “liked their pulled pork (moist and juicy, but lacking the smoky flavor) and their pork spare ribs.” “If you are looking for a good bbq place, find a little mom and pop restaurant and avoid the high prices for this poor excuse for a bbq restaurant.” “haven't tried the barbecue myself, but have went out with a number of friends and coworkers and we have always enjoyed the food and place.” “also ordered the fried chicken meal which was ridiculous!” “We were greeted with friendly servers,our food was served quickly, and the desserts are awsome!” “Zeke's provides delicious food at a good price.” “But the sausage was mediocre, as were the beef ribs.” “Our server was extremly pleasant and helpful and explained the difference in the ribs which made me realize I wanted the Memphis Style Baby Backs which came with 2 sides, I opted for the creamy mac and cheese and the southern green beans made with butter ” “Great food” “The food was good, not great but will get you out of a crave.” “Those BBQ'ers in the back like to torch the life out of the food, until it all tastes like ash.” “sweet potato fries were soft and squishy and their $20 beef ribs were bone and sauce, and like most LA joints service was lousy.”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“would highly recommend Zeke's and the only comment I would make regarding improvements would be to add cornbread to the menu.” “Great variety of home made barbeque sauces, excellent babyback ribs, the BEST pulled pork, and killer barbequed beans.” “All in all, it was a pretty good lunch - with reasonable prices, and healthy choices are available.”
overall	66.66999816894531% positive	“stopped in one afternoon for lunch and was quickly seated with a smile, which was a good start, since I've never been there before, but I've heard good things about the place, so I thought I'd give it a chance.” “If you are looking for a good bbq place, find a little mom and pop restaurant and avoid the high prices for this poor excuse for a bbq restaurant.” “I've never had great desserts in a barbecue place but Zeke's has them.”
return potential	0.0% positive	“the chicken was very dry i would never go back there.”
service	81.82000160217285% positive	“horrible horrible customer service” “We were greeted with friendly servers,our food was served quickly, and the desserts are awsome!” “The service is very friendly and helpful.” “Great customer service on the delivery.” “The service has always been great.” “sweet potato fries were soft and squishy and their $20 beef ribs were bone and sauce, and like most LA joints service was lousy.” “Fast service and good food- if you like BBQ it ids worth a try” “Our server was extremly pleasant and helpful and explained the difference in the ribs which made me realize I wanted the Memphis Style Baby Backs which came with 2 sides, I opted for the creamy mac and cheese and the southern green beans made with butter ” “went for a late lunch and was the only customer besides another tanble of 2 so the service was very good because the waiter was not at all busy.” “The restaurant was clean and the service was good.” “Simply the best BBQ and the best service at reasonable prices.”
value	84.61999893188477% positive	“Good prices during happy hour and it's never packed.” “Drinks are expensive.” “If you are looking for a good bbq place, find a little mom and pop restaurant and avoid the high prices for this poor excuse for a bbq restaurant.” “Portions are huge, my wife and I share a briskit meal.” “rather go to a mom and pop joint instead of this overpriced crap.” “Huge portions and the ribs are killer.” “Simply the best BBQ and the best service at reasonable prices.” “Very reasonable prices.” “All in all, it was a pretty good lunch - with reasonable prices, and healthy choices are available.” “Zeke's provides delicious food at a good price.” “They're prices were reasonable, and I was ridiculously stuffed.” “Fast service and good food- if you like BBQ it ids worth a try” “used to think this place was too expensive, but they have mellowed their prices a bit recently.”

09/19/10

Closed.

by Eric Rolnick , Citysearch Contributor

Unfortunately, this particular location has closed. You can still get your BBQ fix at Zeke's Montrose location.

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07/18/10

Zeke's is delicious!

by JJJhello

I just came here the other night and my experience was great! This place definitely has authentic barbecue. Let me start by saying that their sweet potato fries are mouth watering. They are so delicious. I ordered the Zeke's Burger with mashed potatoes and gravy. It was good but the burger wasn't cooked exactly how i wanted it :/, it could have been better. Other than that, the service was great! The waiter and busboys were very friendly. Oh and let me add, the Key-Lime Pie was yummy! Thanks Zeke's Smokehouse

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07/14/10

this was a nice experience

by hanna74

There are particular food items that I use to measure the quality of restaurants. They are Ruebens, Pizza and cold salads. I have to say that so often I am disappointed by coleslaw and potato salad when eating out. NOT IN THIS CASE. It was super good. Not the kind overloaded with mayo. We got takeout and not only were the salads good but the brisquet was fantastic. Definitely will go back, but this time buy extra BBQ sauce.

Pros: good even as takeout & inexpensive

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07/14/10

Luscious BBQ-Best in Los Angeles

by KansasSunflower

I am from Kansas and my husband is from Texas so BBQ is in our blood. When we visit family in the mid-west and south we always eat BBQ but pretty much gaveup on BBQ in Los Angeles unitl we happened into Zeke's Smokehouse on Santa Monica Blvd after a trip to Target. My husband ordered the brisket sandwich and I ordered the pulled pork and we traded halves. When the owner found out I was from Kansas she sent out some ribs for us to sample. All the meats were wonderful--moist and smokey. And they have hands down the best potato salad of any bbq restaurant in the country. Owner says everrything is made from scratch in their kitchen. We were too full for dessert but they looked good.

Pros: Brisket, Pulled Pork, Ribs
Cons: Tendency to eat to much.

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06/09/10

zekes sucks

by CREEEEPER

zekes sucks. rather go to a mom and pop joint instead of this overpriced crap. they dont even have a bbq

Zeke's Smokehouse

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What People Are Saying About Zeke's Smokehouse

Randi Schmelzer

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Editor's Tips

09/19/10

Closed.

by Eric Rolnick , Citysearch Contributor

07/18/10

Zeke's is delicious!

by JJJhello

07/14/10

this was a nice experience

by hanna74

07/14/10

Luscious BBQ-Best in Los Angeles

by KansasSunflower

06/09/10

zekes sucks

by CREEEEPER

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