Buster's Original Southern BBQ
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Buster's Original Southern BBQ

4.6
·491k reviews·,

A beloved roadside spot serving authentic Louisiana-style BBQ with a rich history and lively patio music.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

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From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

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Buster's Original Southern BBQ

Buster's Original Southern BBQ

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A beloved roadside spot serving authentic Louisiana-style BBQ with a rich history and lively patio music.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"You can't find real Southern BBQ in California, but this place proves me wrong."

TIP

Sauce on the Side?

Consider skipping the sauce to truly appreciate the smoky flavor of the meats.

Sunday Music Sessions

Visit on Sundays for jam sessions featuring top jazz and blues musicians.

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Quick Facts

Closed·Opens 10AM

Cuisine

Barbecue

Price

Mid-range

Phone

(707) 942-5605

Address

1207 Foothill Blvd, Calistoga, CA 94515, USA

Insta-Factor

Medium

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Authentic Southern BBQ

Authentic Southern BBQ

Mouthwatering tri-tip sandwiches, pork ribs, and hot links that rival the best BBQ west of the Mississippi.

Napa Valley Off The Beaten PathBEST Calisgota Restaurants | Local Wally'sFamily Friendly Visit to Napa Valley on a Budget
Live Jazz & Blues

Live Jazz & Blues

Enjoy soulful live music on the patio every Sunday afternoon, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

The Best Restaurants In Calistoga - CalistogaThe Best Restaurants in CalistogaHot spots in Calistoga to enjoy live music while you sip and dine
Speedy & Friendly Service

Speedy & Friendly Service

Experience quick and efficient service, perfect for a satisfying meal without the wait.

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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Sauce on the Side?

Consider skipping the sauce to truly appreciate the smoky flavor of the meats.

Sunday Music Sessions

Visit on Sundays for jam sessions featuring top jazz and blues musicians.

Tri-Tip Combo

Try the tri-tip sandwich with cornbread and chili beans for a flavorful meal.

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Tips

from all over the internet

Sauce on the Side?

Consider skipping the sauce to truly appreciate the smoky flavor of the meats.

Sunday Music Sessions

Visit on Sundays for jam sessions featuring top jazz and blues musicians.

Tri-Tip Combo

Try the tri-tip sandwich with cornbread and chili beans for a flavorful meal.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Buster's Original Southern BBQ is praised for its authentic, mouthwatering Southern-style BBQ, particularly the tri-tip and ribs, and the lively atmosphere with live music. However, some diners find the portions small for the price and express disappointment with the flavor of the chicken and certain sides like the pasta salad.

"Quick, kind and clean service! Food is served as you order. Didn't take us 5 minutes to get meals for 5. Plenty of seating inside. Napkin stations everywhere, and they were needed!
Tri tip sandwich and pulled pork sandwich was delicious. Baked beans and cold slaw great as well.
Restroom was also very clean!
Zero conplaints!"

Joseph Beckham

"Come for the beach, but in my opinion, leave the sauce out. Born and raised in the Carolinas, barbecue is a way of life and a diet staple. Decided I wanted to do something different here with trying to beef ribs as many places don’t serve beef ribs, but just pork ribs. The way they smoke their meat over and open fire elevated out in the open was unique to this place and tasted fantastic. The outdoor seating option was perfect for this beautiful Friday afternoon. For me the sauce was a complete miss however. Has spices in it that remind me of a Mole sauce, which was odd for barbecue. Love that they’re doing their own thing, just wasn’t big for me And not something I’m used to even though I often eat things that are out of the ordinary."

John Krajc

"I've said for years that you can't find real Southern BBQ in California. This place proves me wrong. Buster is old school and knows how to smoke meat, low n slow, the way it's supposed to be done. The sauce is a nice edition but the pork is able to stand without it. Whenever I get homesick, this is where I'll be going."

Culinary Anarchy

What People Like

Authentic BBQ flavors
Live jazz and blues music
Quick and friendly service

What People Dislike

Portion size vs. price
Dry chicken
Unbalanced side dish flavors

Frequently Asked Questions

Buster's is known for its mouthwatering tri-tip sandwiches, pork ribs, pulled pork, and hot links.

Yes, Buster's features live jazz and blues music on their patio, especially on Sundays.

The Best Restaurants In Calistoga - CalistogaHot spots in Calistoga to enjoy live music while you sip and dine

Some reviews suggest trying the meat without sauce to fully appreciate the smoky flavor, while others find the sauce an acquired taste.

BEST Calisgota Restaurants | Local Wally'sGoogle Review

Buster's is a casual eatery with efficient service, typically not requiring reservations. It's a popular spot, so expect a line.

Google Review+1

Popular side options include baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad, and cornbread.

Google Review+1

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This spot is named after a real-life Buster, who’s often seen behind the grill and has been firing up Louisiana-style barbeque in California since the ’60s. Whether it’s the pulled pork and tri-tip sandwiches with pineapple slaw and baked beans, or the barbeque chicken and homemade sweet potato pie, all the food is good and worthy of a pitstop at some point during your visit. There are some picnic tables and indoor spots, but you should also know that this place attracts some of the best jazz and blues musicians in the Bay Area for jam sessions on the patio every Sunday afternoon.

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Busters Original Southern BBQ – 1207 Foothill Blvd, Calistoga 707-942-5605 www.busterssouthernBBQ.com Showcased in National Geographic, referred to Busters as the “Best BBQ West of the Mississippi” and voted “Best Barbeque” by The Bohemian year after year. When in Calistoga, after a day of wine tasting, Busters patio is the perfect stop for their Authentic Southern BBQ dishes with recipes from the heart of Louisiana with pork ribs, beef ribs, pulled pork, tri-tip, BBQ chicken, savory baked beans. It’s makes your mouth water just thinking of it.

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Farther up the valley in the town of Calistoga is Buster’s Southern BBQ. Buster has been here since 1965 (!) serving his BBQ recipes from Louisiana. My kids especially enjoyed this meal (Gabe raved about the ribs, and we all enjoyed the chicken breast with BBQ sauce and bean side dishes), and we appreciated that it was kid-friendly and affordable.

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Lunch or dinner, you better be hungry when you pull into the parking lot at Buster's Southern Barbeque in Calistoga. A favorite with locals and wine country visitors, Buster's serves good food in a fun, casual setting. The menu covers all of the traditional Barbeque favorites: Tri-Tip, Pork Loin, Pulled Pork, hot links and even chili dogs.

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