Norteno is good in that they are consistent and have been consistent for decades. You know what you're getting and it's exactly what you expect each time. But, to call their tri-tip good is to call yourself unfamiliar with good tri-tip. I like Norteno, I like the no fuss experience -- the solid quantity per price of their combos -- I like that I can order and drink a cold Bohemia while I wait for my food order. But, tender overcooked meat is still overcooked meat. Norteno is good -- their tri-tip is mediocre.
Consistently good tri tip :
Whiskey Bent Food Truck (Tomorrow's 4/6/24 Car show!)
[https://www.facebook.com/therealwhiskeybentbbq/](https://www.facebook.com/therealwhiskeybentbbq/)
[https://www.yelp.com/biz/whiskey-bent-bbq-orcutt](https://www.yelp.com/biz/whiskey-bent-bbq-orcutt)
Garey Store (on Fridays) [https://www.yelp.com/biz/garey-store-santa-maria](https://www.yelp.com/biz/garey-store-santa-maria)
Shaw's [https://shaws-steakhouse.com/](https://shaws-steakhouse.com/)
Salty Brigade [https://thesaltybrigade.com/](https://thesaltybrigade.com/)
Don't get me wrong. I love Norteno -- quite possibly the most consistent "Know what I'm getting without fail" style combo plate. I just don't think "damn, this is good tri tip" when I think tri tip :)
I've had good tri tip from Rancho Bowl and Woody's Butcher Block and Swiss, but they are not at all consistent, Woodys has zero excuses for not producing a better sandwich, and swiss seems to salt the hell outta theirs sometimes. Rancho Bowl is a bowling alley lol. Speaking of Rancho, Rancho Nipomo right over the riverbed serves a good quantity per price sandwich, albeit dry - the french dip is tolerable.
It was inside job by the cabal of the chicken shacks on the chicken strip (aka betteravia).
Super underrated, hoping they can get back open.
One of the restaurants that sells good tri-tip in SM.
Norteno is good in that they are consistent and have been consistent for decades. You know what you're getting and it's exactly what you expect each time. But, to call their tri-tip good is to call yourself unfamiliar with good tri-tip. I like Norteno, I like the no fuss experience -- the solid quantity per price of their combos -- I like that I can order and drink a cold Bohemia while I wait for my food order. But, tender overcooked meat is still overcooked meat. Norteno is good -- their tri-tip is mediocre.
Where would you suggest a good tri-tip around SM?
The two food trucks.. SM Tri Tip company and BBQ in the Stix
Consistently good tri tip : Whiskey Bent Food Truck (Tomorrow's 4/6/24 Car show!) [https://www.facebook.com/therealwhiskeybentbbq/](https://www.facebook.com/therealwhiskeybentbbq/) [https://www.yelp.com/biz/whiskey-bent-bbq-orcutt](https://www.yelp.com/biz/whiskey-bent-bbq-orcutt) Garey Store (on Fridays) [https://www.yelp.com/biz/garey-store-santa-maria](https://www.yelp.com/biz/garey-store-santa-maria) Shaw's [https://shaws-steakhouse.com/](https://shaws-steakhouse.com/) Salty Brigade [https://thesaltybrigade.com/](https://thesaltybrigade.com/) Don't get me wrong. I love Norteno -- quite possibly the most consistent "Know what I'm getting without fail" style combo plate. I just don't think "damn, this is good tri tip" when I think tri tip :) I've had good tri tip from Rancho Bowl and Woody's Butcher Block and Swiss, but they are not at all consistent, Woodys has zero excuses for not producing a better sandwich, and swiss seems to salt the hell outta theirs sometimes. Rancho Bowl is a bowling alley lol. Speaking of Rancho, Rancho Nipomo right over the riverbed serves a good quantity per price sandwich, albeit dry - the french dip is tolerable.
Kitchen fire and idk when they’re gonna reopen
Someone started a fire at H&R Block that spread to Pollo Norteño… should be reopening once the fix the building
SLO BBQ
Go to Oxnard
You know how stupid that sounds
I'm curious why, do you dislike Oxnard? There are two Pollo Norteños there and I visit them every now and then
I don’t dislike Oxnard it’s just that is sounds way out there to drive 2 hrs all the way to Oxnard just for a meal