Some of the best barbecue in the Golden State is right here in Southern California, at Calhoun Family Texas Barbeque in Murrieta.
The small, family-owned restaurant was listed on Yelp’s top 100 barbecue spots, ranking first for California.
Owner Rene Calhoun said Texas dry-rub seasoned meat with sauce on the side are the winning elements for Calhoun’s.
The restaurant’s website states: “The portions are large and our prices are sweeter than our famous sweet potato pie.” It also says the ribs are second to none.
Calhoun said the business started when her husband was unemployed. “We were wondering what to do, so I suggested we try a restaurant. He always got compliments on his cooking and brisket,” Calhoun said.
Yelp Community Director Margaret Palanca said the way the top 100 list is compiled is based on Yelp reviews, with an emphasis on the keyword barbecue.
“We take these rankings based on the total of reviews and the volume of these overall reviews that mention the keyword barbecue,” Palanca said.
Calhoun Family Texas Barbeque came in at number 17 on the list of 100. Two other restaurants in California, Badlands BBQ in Norco and Buckboard’s Barbecue & Brew in El Cajon, followed immediately after.
The number one spot went to Wright’s Barbecue in Johnson, Arkansas.
