This is a great BBQ place. The meats are really smoky flavored and you can tell they were smoked loooooong and slooooow just the way the should be. I had the best smoked chicken wings ever and great smoky ribs. I don't normally order something if I make it myself and I make a pretty good mac 'n cheese but this was a pretty darned good version that I would certainly order...creamy rich cheese sauce with a light bread crumb topping. The people are super nice and very community-oriented. I'm definitely a fan!
(4)
international n.
Amazing bbq. The brisket, ribs and catfish are my favorite, and all the sides are really good too - mac n cheese, baked beans, black eyed peas, okra. Check it out when you get a chance - yum!
(4)
victoria o.
This is one BBQ joint that you don't want to pass by! Trust when I say that it's hard to find good BBQ, and this place is Delicious! The sauce for the BBQ was so good I almost wanted to drink it! It was sweet and spicy, just perfect. The brisket was amazing and the beans were seasoned just right too. I went on an off hour and there wasn't much action, but as good as this place is, I'm surprised that there's an off hour at all. Just typing this review up made me go get my left overs!! YUM Yelp!!! Don't walk RUN to Bonnie B's! Price is right, and it's food done Right, with good intention and love behind it!
(5)
Iron S.
This is the place for ribs. They have a smoker out back and you can smell it as you go in. The staff was very friendly and helpful. This is very uncommon in socal. They talked to you like you were a friend, but didn't make you get you own drink ;-D The ribs had a good smoke ring and the meat came clean off of the bone. This is now my favorite bbq joint.
(5)
Talmadge M.
Tried the pork ribs and black eyed peas and rice last night. I was pleasantly surprised w/ the flavor of the b.e. peas. The ribs had more cartilage on them that I care for, however, you can tell the meat spent some time w/ the smoke. I wasn't a big fan of the BBQ sauces however, the product was tasty. I like a little more bang for my buck, which is becoming hard to come by....
(4)
Avery R.
Ate here for the first time this past weekend. Wasn't very impressed. The best thing was the Banana Strawberry Cake. Otherwise, the links were very average, the ribs were a little tough, and the baked beans were honestly a little undercooked for my taste...i like my beans a little softer. Don't know that I would eat here again.
(2)
JL S.
Very good. I am not a spare rib lover, BUT, this place is the best for spares. Its near perfect. Sides terrific. I am a BBQ'r from Saint Louie, and grew up with STL RIBS. I gotta say, the staff is terrific, Thanks Howard, and will be back. This place is a hard to find small door, but worth the looking.
(4)
Jackie R.
Found out about this place from a neighbor and absolutely enjoyed every single morsel. Maybe because it's been a while since I had good old fashioned smoked bbq ribs and chopped brisket which were in two words -- the bomb! The bbq sauces (all 3) reminded me of a little joint in my hometown of Oklahoma City called Leo's. We ate in the restaurant which had a nice homey feel and as we were eating I kept telling my son this taste just like Leo's-- turns out the owners are from Oklahoma. I will definitely go back! They really captured that Oklahoma smokehouse flavor! My husband LOVED the collard greens--said it reminds him of his grandmother's. My only regret was I forgot to try the strawberry banana cake. If it's anything like Leo's which i suspect it is I'm sure I will enjoy it too!
(5)
Christine M.
What a find! Husband and I are celebrating this one! I don't know why we stopped in here for lunch the other day.. it rang a faint bell in my head... something I read on the 'Net? But we were both up for something new, and we both despair of good BBQ in Pasadena or even nearby (nearby being as much as an hour in any direction, depending on the strength of the craving). I won't list the many crushing disappointments we've endured, beginning with Big Mommas and BarnBurner... an exhaustive list of dry tough meat with candy-ass and candy-flavored sauce, trust me. Well, our Q blues are a thing of the past: we have found Bonnie's. It's a small place, hard to eye from the street. Inside it has a gleaming well-scrubbed ambience, and a notable collection of inspirational wall decor. We found that charming if idiosyncratic and knew we were in the "home" of a defined real person with a sense of purpose in life and in business. Well, the inspirational art on the walls is all of a piece with the place... Service was quick, friendly, and accommodating. We both ordered the brisket plate. And then...OMG! A huge helping of smoky, fragrant, succulent chunks of beef, cut like pot roast instead of thin slices like roast beef in a cafeteria. This is brisket redefined: beyond tender, truly MELTING, with flavor all the way through and a hint of carmelization at the edges. A large portion (but we both managed to eat every bite). And the sauce -- the sauce! I can't wait until they bottle it for to-go sales, which I need them to do starting tomorrow. I used the "medium", and it could not have been better. Not sweet, not syrupy, but just the right level of spicy, complex, elusive, with a 3-second delay of mellow heat that was just exactly right. Shall we talk comfort food? The sauce and the meat together were in perfect union, a harmony that reminded me why BBQ really matters to a good life. My husband raved about the "hot" version of the sauce, but I couldn't have been more happy with the medium so I couldn't talk myself into a bite with the hot, even for research purposes. The potato salad side was terrific; bread was traditional white, baked beans were good (and I made them heavenly with the addition of.... yes, you know where I'm going here... with a couple of extra hits of the medium BBQ sauce). I think that sauce would make anything a treat. I want to try some of the other dishes on the menu, and I will, I promise, someday try the chicken, the ribs, and the rest. But it's going to be awhile, maybe a long while, possibly a very long while, before I can choose something other than that incomparable brisket (oh, those, thick, juicy, meaty chunks of pure flavor!) and a modest pool of that perfect medium sauce. Bonnie came from out of the kitchen for a few minutes while we were there and, like her food, she really is the real deal. Earnest, conscientious, caring, a bit proud of what she's got going here -- as well she should be. A charming woman with a real gift. I get tired of the BBQ chatter: Texas vs Carolina, the dry rub vs the sauced, etc. Good BBQ is good living no matter who invented it, no matter the technique. Bonnie's is Oklahoma style if that tells you anything. What I know, what's worth not just chattering about but yelling and yelping, is that Bonnie's serves the gold-standard of brisket with sauce that you will tell your relatives about. It's guaranteed to address a BBQ craving for at least a day or so -- and then it's time to go get some more. Truth be told, I would drive way out of my way to eat here, but I've lived a good life and the BBQ gods are (finally) looking after me. Bonnie's is just 6 minutes from home.
(5)
Jason T.
Ordered take out based on the Yelp reviews, VERY PLEASED with the results! :) Ordered late in the day on Sunday, became comical as the person on the phone had to check if they were out on each menu item. Very busy, go earlier in the day to make sure you don't miss out! Server was very friendly when we went to pick up, apologized for being out of so many items. Absolute must gets: ribs (fall off the bone meaty) and brisket, get the black eyed peas for a side. Links were good, but nothing out of the ordinary, I think because they're all-chicken (sometimes healthy ain't the best). Mac n cheese was okay (cheese had separated and was kinda gritty) and the candy yams were a little strange (almost paste-like...not sure if it was because we got the very last container's worth.) They were out of the collard greens, so we'll have to go back (oh, darn! ;) ) and try that and the catfish. Overall, even for take out a great experience, will definitely be going back!
(4)
Lizeth M.
Ate here for the first time on Friday. Small little place which would be easy to miss if you didn't know it was there. It was delicious and definitely worth giving it a try. Husband I split a 3 meat combo, we weren't sure it would be enough food but we were actually stuffed. The food itself is worth going for, but I must say the hospitality was amazing!! You're greeted with a warm smile and a cheerful attitude which sadly enough is hard to come by these days. We left the place stuffed and with smiles on our faces. You can tell they put a lot of heart into this place as it reflects in the food and in the service, I hope this place does well.
(5)
S. M.
Very very good beef brisket. I've been here 3 times now and ordered the brisket each time. For the sides, the okra was very good and the beans are excellent. The mac 'n cheese was good the first 2 times I went, but not that good the 3rd time. I was informed that all of the sides that are served are homemade, except for the potato salad, which is store bought. They have 3 barbecue sauces that are homemade. Mild, medium, and spicy. They spicy isn't too spicy, but I prefer the medium because I think it has more flavor. The homemade sweet tea they have (when they have it) is excellent as well. If they have any cake, make sure you get a slice. I had the strawberry banana cake and it was, without exaggerating, the best cake I've ever had. Service is always very good and very friendly. The restaurant is difficult to find, even if you know exactly where it is, but it is worth the stop. Parking is located in little alley behind the restaurant.
(4)
Brian F.
Tried this place for the first time last week and was extremely happy. The food is delicious! The brisket and ribs were perfect and he side dishes were just as good. My wife and I got two sides each, all different kinds, and each was just as good. The staff was equally great. Very attentive and hospitable. We're planning on being regular diners.
(5)
Rafael V.
ATTENTION PASADENA BARBECUE LOVERS!!!! Bonnie B is SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIUOS! What I mean is that there are truly no words....seriously. Every single time my buddy and I sit down to eat this barbecue there are no words spoken. Grunts of hmmmmnnn, or maybe mmmmm mmmm mmmm is the only thing that is heard. The BEEF Ribs fall right off the bone, the sauce is fabulous, the spare ribs are fantastic, the baby backs are wonderful, the links are superb, the greens are on point, the baked beans are tight. The only problem with Bonnie B's is that there is no restaurant. It is pick up and delivery only and all orders have to be placed the night before. But believe me when I tell you that 24 little hours is worth the wait!!! BUT WAIT THERES MORE.........have to try the strawberry cake that is to DIE FOR!!!!! Check out there website and get to ordering your ribs now! Before I leave you I wanted to go on record and tell you that Bonnie's was the best barbecue in the PASADENA AREA. Try them all if you don't believe me, I have. Big Mamas is the closest thing to a good thing in the area. Barn Burner is the McDonald's of barbecue representing the other end of the spectrum. Everything else is just mediocre in comparison.
(5)
Che L.
Whoever compared this to Phillips or Woody's is out of their mind. I ordered the Brisket dinner and a 1/2 lb of Hot Links. Brisket was chopped up (like carne asada) not sliced like you'd expect, un-sauced, and under-seasoned. If you are serving meat with sauce on the side, I expect a dry rub taste. "Hot Links" were far from hot, more like sausage than links, chopped up into BIG chunks, and un-sauced as well. Who wants un sauced sliced hot links?? They offer Mild, Medium, and Hot sauce. Luckily I asked, because they had only given me mild...without asking. The mild was runny and the hot was too thick. The Mac n Cheese isn't baked...enuff said. Kraft mac n cheese is better. The Potato salad tasted like It was bought from the Ralph's deli counter. STILL waiting for a viable BBQ option in Dena cuzz this spot definitely ain't it.
(1)
rob P.
For real smoked Q in California, Bonnie's is pretty decent. Since it is almost impossible to find good Q in this state without doing it yourself. Don't forget to try the smoked Bologna. If your are looking for boil in a bag bbq sitting in a half inch of sauce this is not the place. Definitely better than Big Mama's up the street.
(4)
G W.
I called in an order and had some issues with that but it was quickly corrected. The food was delish the only thing I have a major gripe with is the Potato salad. I ordered a large t go with my 3 meat combo and 2 meat combo. The potato salad was from Smart and Final and they charged me 7.00 for a large side...ARE YOU KIDDING ME! That is the only thing that I am very disappointed with and outraged over. Do not mess with a 300 pound man and his BBQ/Soul food!
(4)
Christina H.
The people are so friendly and the food is seriously the best BBQ I have had yet! And I'm not much of a BBQ person! Ribs fell right off the bone, the beans and BBQ sauce was so delicious. I highly recommend this place if your in the mood for delicious and affordable food!
(5)
Darren M.
I was surprised by how good these ribs are. Oklahoma City style. I ordered some large party platters and all I can say is that the food was a big hit at our party. The ribs were very meaty and the sauces were fantastic. Everyone also loved the beans. Amazing. In fact everything was good. I will be going back!
(5)
Rachel W.
Mehhh. Got my order all wrong. Nothing really stood out. I only got to try the sides since they forgot my BBQ Chicken. The potato salad was alright. I would return for their sauces, though. Very good flavors. Try at your own risk.
(3)
Leslie D.
We thought this was some of the best BBQ we have found. The ribs and brisket were delish and vey moist. The hot BBQ sauce was perfect for me. Loved the sides, too. Collard greens, beans and cornbread. Sides are meatless is you have veggie friends. $30 for two of us. We have paid a lot more for BBQ not nearly this tasty. Loved the Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and Gandhi quotes on the walls, just a side note. Easy parking out front.
(5)
A. K.
Ordered the brisket plate to go w/BBQ beans and black eyed peas over rice... Delicious!!! The food exceptional and the service here is great. Bonnie B's Smokin is a must if your looking for great BBQ in Pasadena!!
(5)
Vicky G.
Good food, good prices. I ordered the smoked salmon with mac n cheese and potato salad. The salmon was delicious, as were both of the sides. I know you should stick with meat at BBQ places, but I was thinking about all of the calories in the sides and had to try for something a little lighter for the main dish. The salmon was the healthiest thing on the menu. The service was really good and all of the staff were so friendly. You order at the counter and they bring the food out to you. Staff checked on us and asked how we were doing and if we needed anything. I love the inspirational sayings and decor around the restaurant. Not your typical restaurant decorations. That being said, it's a pretty small place, there were a few spots for street parking, and everything is served with plastic plates and cups. So come here for the food and the nice experience, and not if you are trying to be fancy or impress someone!
(4)
Alana M.
Reliable/Friendly Service and Great Food! Never ate here before but saw that they have great reviews so decided to give em a shot for catering my best friend's wedding shower. Below is what I ordered: 1 full tray Chicken 1 full tray Brisket 1 full tray Ribs (fall off the bone!) 1/2 tray Links 1 full tray Mac & Cheese 1/2 tray coleslaw 1/2 salad Everything was soooo delicious! Brisket, Ribs, and the Coleslaw were my favorite. Betty is the one who helped me with the order. She's super nice and detailed, which is a must to work with when you're throwing a party for 100 hungry people. BIG PLUS IS... They gave me more food than I even expected. I ended up with two large trays of chicken, one tray of ribs plus 3 large foam boxes of extra ribs, and two half trays of links. Betty said Bonnie packs it this way so that they don't cram in all the meat into the tray so that the lids stay on. In the end, everybody loved the food, was super stuffed, and there was about 1/3 of the food left over. Therefore, I highly recommend this place to anyone who is considering having a BBQ catered party.
(5)
Cathie C.
This is one of the BEST BBQ places I've ever been to! The staff and owners are super helpful and friendly. The food is incredible! This is one of my local go-to's for BBQ.
(5)
Nick G.
Superb BBQ and wonderful friendly customer service. I've had the brisket and pulled pork sandwiches and plan to go back many more times to explore the menu
(5)
Mora K.
Come to Bonnie's BBBQ, the extra B is for... Anyways, this immediately became my favorite BBQ place; it's inexpensive and it's seriously flavorful. They have three BBQ sauces and they are all so good that it was hard to choose which one to use on my ribs! All of the sides were so good, I wish I had room in my tummy to get a few more servings of the candy yams and macaroni. I'm so glad that I found this place! I will be back for sure and I will recommend it to all of my friends.
(5)
Danny A.
1/2 lb of meat during lunch is more than enough for me, but you have to pay for side orders. People working there were super nice and friendly. The food was good.
(5)
Eric L.
What a gem of a BBQ/comfort food joint in N Pasadena. My coworker and I pulled into a competitor's parking lot and instantly decide to look for an alternate, what we found was Bonnie B's. We were greeted and helped by Ms. Bonnie herself which enhanced the overall experience. Being first timers Bonnies was getting us all sorts of samples as we contemplated our lunches. We ended up getting brisket and chicken and both were great. The brisket was especially notable due to the great smoke flavor and juiciness, almost no sauce needed. Chicken was very good also but after the brisket I want to stay on the red meat road for my next trip. The BBQ sauce offerings at the table are very good and will please any palate or spice lover. Its nice to see the BBQ arrive to the table un-sauced, no mystery here on what gives the great flavor to the meats. The one item that didn't knock my socks off was the mac n cheese but this dish is usually hard to please everyone. It seems like the mac n cheese you grew up with is the gold standard and Bonnie's recipe is just different than what I was raised on. I would encourage everyone to try it for themselves. See you soon Bonnie, and keep the grill and smoker well stocked, I am going to try and eat it all.
(4)
Lawrence C.
The food is ok, portions are small, the service is pretty weak and they are usually out of sides... Called to order for pickup and Bonnie just left me on the phone for about 15mins, called back and she lied and said that nobody was on the phone when she returned (utter bs) so I placed my order... Let me just say that if you're still hungry after spending $15 then you need to go elswhere and no I'm not a big/fat person.
(2)
Nicole N.
Excellent ribs...the sauce is delicious. It's in a decent part of the hood. On first visit I didn't get the hospitality I expected but the food was so amazing I went back. Second visit the customer service was definitely better. My husband devoured the ribs and I think I saw him dipping bread in the sauce. 3 stars instead of 5 because if you can choose two sides why the restriction? There is no double anything for your two sides so if you don't like the other offerings...tough. My yams were kind of... creamed? Don't let this deter you because the ribs really do fall off the bone and the links are tasty tasty! Call ahead if you don't want to wait. I didn't eat at the restaurant on either visit. It's smaller and almost like a cafe so probably not ideal for a sit down with a large group. It'd be great if you're grabbing a quick bite though.
(3)
Ericca H.
Yumty! Yes I meant Yumty! It was so good I have been back several times and live in North Fontana. Which is about 45min away. (When I drive lol) We don't have much BBQ / Soul Food worth talking about out here. The ribs were tender, rib tips were perfect, the brisket was amazing and the BBQ sauce was outstanding. I have gone to a lot of BBQ places and the meat is great but the sides are to be desired. Their sides are delicious. I recommend it to everyone. They didn't have exactly what I wanted one day but they made special accommodation to make me happy. I love love love this place. It was clean and has a cute little dining area. Wonderful place for BBQ. I have yet to be disappointed!!!!
(5)
Roxanne M.
I had been hearing about Bonnie B's around Pasadena so my sister and I decided to try it.. I had the 2 hotlink dinner with potato salad, greens, macaroni & cheese my sister had there barbeque chicken salad sandwich, potato salad, and macaroni & cheese. We dined there it was clean and well kept friendly service bonnie asked had we been there before and we said no so packed us each a rib and extra side to try so we can get a feel of what they offered. The food was tasty but my hotlinks were cut up into slices I didn't care for that much I'm use to a hotlink on a bun, I was unsure how to eat it. My sister enjoyed her sandwich and sides friendly atmosphere good for lunch my only compliant is portion sizes are really small and prices were okay on some things.
(3)
Duke C.
To be honest, I had my doubts about Bonnie B's. Man, was I wrong. Thanks, scumbag brain. I found out about Bonnie B's like many, through Groupon. I've been craving for something new in the LA BBQ scene and Bonnie B's seemed like a perfect choice, so finally got a chance to use it on a Saturday. The restaurant is fairly small, and when we went, there were only one other table. If you want to dine in, order at the register first then they will set up your table. We ended up getting the 3-Meat Combo with spare ribs, brisket, and pulled pork to share, as well as the jalapeno corn muffin. The best for me, was definitely the spare ribs. It was one of the most tender pork ribs I've ever had. I took ahold of the little piece of bone that was sticking at the end and about to use my fork to take it off, and all of a sudden, the chunk of rib just fell off the bone! It only happens when the rib is super tender and done right. There's also this pinkish smoke ring right at the edges. All signs point to that they did everything right and boy... it tastes awesome. It only came with two pieces, so I only got to eat one piece. I can definitely kill a whole rack... with EASE. The brisket was also very tasty. At Bonnie B's, they chop it up like brisket. I'm a little more used to thick sliced brisket so I was a little confused but the brisket is extremely tender and I love the smoky flavor that it has. The pulled pork was a little dry so I had to use quite a bit of sauce for it. As for the sauce, there's actually 3 types: mild, medium, and spicy. My favorite is definitely the mild since it has a sweeter taste to it and it still has a tiny bit of heat! Really good with all three meats. The medium is a little darker in color and the heat level is up just a little. The spicy BBQ sauce has this paste consistency! Sorta like... the Korean hot paste... except darker, and whoo it packs a bit of heat. Corn muffin is cornbread done right! It's about $1 extra for one but it's worth it. I didn't get much of jalapeno but it was tasty so I didn't care too much about it haha. Service here is about as good as it gets. From the front to the folks in the back, everybody is super friendly. People from the kitchen will come out periodically and ask how you are doing, and make sure everything's good. The OG value of the meal would've been around $22 with 2 sodas so not bad since we were sharing. Later on when I checked the receipt I did see that she accidentally charged us two corn muffins instead of one but since we had a Groupon, I didn't bother with it. Hopefully little kinks like that will be worked out for my next visit! Also, be sure to curb your wheels for parking on the streets. It may not look like it, but there's actually an uphill gradient and Pasadena will ticket you for not curbing your wheels!
(4)
Lily C.
The staff are very friendly! The place is pretty small but the few times I've been there it hasn't been too crowded. You go and order up at the cash register and then take a seat at one of the tables. What's interesting is that even though it might look fairly empty, they get a pretty steady stream of customers - a lot of them ordering take-out. To me, this is a really good sign since those are probably regulars. I liked the pork ribs and beef brisket and their cornbread is delicious! Their service might seem a bit slow but they're so nice and friendly about it that I didn't mind so much. I ordered a cookie and forgot about but when I was getting up to leave, they handed me 3 (probably to make up for forgetting - but then remembering), so that was really nice of them. There's a tiny parking lot in the back but if you park on the street, make sure to curb your wheels!!
(4)
Andy O.
We took an average-sized to-go order from Bonnie B's in an attempt to change up our lunch routine. It was a decent switch, but came with a few problems... First, our order was wrong in a few ways. One guy ordered salmon and got brisket. Another asked for mac n cheese and got beans instead. We all asked for a few sides of the hottest BBQ sauce, and we ended up with one tiny to-go saucer, enough for maybe a third of one person. Second, the flavors just weren't there. The meat was OK. I wouldn't feed it to the dogs, but I wouldn't be writing mom about it either. The sides were just poor. Everything tasted like it came out of a can or a microwave. Or a can in a microwave. Wait, no, don't put the can in the microwave, it might spark up and go boom. It'll be pretty fun to watch for a few seconds, but then mom might scream at us. Or MAYBE a microwave in a can?! Woah, that's a pretty big can. That must be a can for a giant or something. Do giants eat microwaves? That's probably not a very healthy diet; your giant needs some nutrition counseling... Oh right, back to Bonnie B's... So, overall, I'd eat the food at Bonnie B's again. But only if somebody else bought it, and only if the orders were done right. If we were dining at the restaurant and had a chance to fix the things wrong with our order (and I wasn't on my man-period), it MIGHT have been four stars. Maybe... A very, very iffy-kinda maybe.
(3)
Sheila J.
Great vibe... Ms Betty is so warm and inviting! Good smells... And fantastic food!!! The collard greens are to die for!!!! And the don't have any meat in the but taste marvelous !!!!! It was well worth the 65 mile drive... I will be back in this area and may drop on in.
(4)
Ricky R.
WOW I'm giving this place 5 stars for serveral reasons 1. The Service was fast and the lady that took my order was very friendly and professional 2. The food was out of this world Delicious I cant wait to go back from now on when I'm in Pasadena or Los Angeles I will make it a point to get my BBQ at Bonnie B's Smokin I had Ribbs , links, potatoe salad, greens, corn bread, and my wife had the Mac and cheese and Catfish and it was all good the meat was falling off the bone the greens had good favor excellent, 3. the restaurant was clean its not real big but its a cozy place to have lunch are dinner, 4 its real easy to get to with plenty of free parking 5. good prices very affordable Bonnie B's a Winner for sure Five Stars
(5)
Stephanie L.
Meh..food was a bit mediocre. We came here on a Saturday and it was definitely busy so I had high hopes but, Bonnie B's just didn't deliver. We ordered several items: smoked salmon, half rack of ribs, pulled pork, baked beans, collard greens and, mac and cheese (~$47). Smoked salmon wasn't cooked really well..it was dry and tasted off. I'll let Bonnie B's slide on this one though because I know it's not necessarily the place to get a salmon but, my dad wanted something a bit healthier. Bonnie B's selling point is of course, their BBQ but, unfortunately that wasn't that great either. The ribs were extremely dry and burnt without much flavor. Thank goodness, their BBQ sauces are all quite delicious though so, we just drowned out the meat with it. The pulled pork is decent. It was tender but, just as flavorless as the ribs. The collard greens were so incredibly salty, it was almost inedible for me especially because the greens just seemed to soak up all the broth. The mac and cheese was good..but, not memorable. I would say the baked beans is this saving grace of this place. Service started off well but, as they got busier, they just talked right over you and ended up getting you the wrong thing or just ignored you. I got so tired from flagging someone down because they kept forgetting what we ordered that eventually I just gave up. Come a bit early if you're here on a weekend. We finished around 7:45 and they announced they were out of ribs (how you can run of ribs when you're a BBQ place baffles me). I probably wouldn't come back again unless I had another deal.
(3)
Susan B.
We tried Bonnie's because of the positive reviews on Yelp. We were not disappointed - the food was great! My husband's birthday was coming up so we ordered ribs, chicken and brisket for our backyard celebration. Betty, in the catering department helped me decide on the amount of food and offered suggestions for serving. She was a great help to me. The meat was amazing - ribs were big, full of flavor and cooked perfectly. Same for the chicken and brisket. All of our guests were so impressed and we were glad to spread the name of Bonnie's. I highly recommend!
(5)
Arnold W.
4.5 stars. Excellent BBQ. I love how the ribs fall off the bone but is still intact. Definitely smokey. Service is nice. The sides are tasty. The sweet tea taste more like liptons/brisk with a lemoney sweetness rather than just straight up sugar sweetness like a chick-fil-a. The brisket is something else, wasn't sure if I was eating pulled pork or brisket, but it was delicious and loved the flavor and texture.
(4)
david l.
My favorite Ribs in Pasadena Area. Very homie feel.. there's no bell and whistle to the decor. Come here for the family feel and the mom's cookin'. The beans are amazing
(4)
Sue F.
Dear God in heaven, thank you for moving me to Pasadena so I can be closer to this place. Delicious BBQ, fall off the bone pork ribs, the best greens I've ever had. The sweet tea is this insane lemony sugary concoction of love. I have a feeling through the duration of my pregnancy I will be eating here alot.
(5)
Melissa O.
The food is delicious here! Only found this place through a Groupon Deal my boyfriend bought. We've been here twice now and would definitely go back for more. We haven't found another bbq place as good as Bonnie B's. Their 3 meat dinner plate is such a good deal and they give you a decent amount! Their pulled pork sandwich is pretty good too (a bit messy and the bottom bun gets soggy, but still delicious). I love how they give a generous amount of potato salad. I really love my potato :) Their macaroni is pretty good too, but I would like it more if it had more cheese. They have 3 sauces (mild, medium, and spicy). I think the medium is the best choice for any kind of meat. You should definitely try their sweet tea! It is SOOO good! Parking is on the back and it's free. You can enter from when you just pass the restaurant or make a right at Washington and enter that way.
(4)
Chris A.
After flipping channels and coming across the food network's program on the best bbq places in the US one night, my friend and I had a craving for some good soul food and bbq. Thus, I went on a Yelp quest to find a bbq place in the Pasadena/San Gabriel area. I came across Perdue's and Bonnie B's. Perdue's was closed or the address was wrong, so we ended up at Bonnie B's. We found street parking out in front (Note: be sure to turn your tires, otherwise you will get a ticket. The people at Bonnie B's were kind enough to make us aware of this and made sure we went out to fix our tires before we sat down). This place is like a little hole in the wall with a few tables and friendly, down-to-earth service. You order at the counter and then they deliver to your table or you can order to-go. I decided to go with the dinner combination, which came with two meat selections and two sides. I picked the beef brisket and the pork spare ribs, and mac n cheese and okra with tomato for the sides. The brisket came shredded rather than larger, sliced pieces. The meat was tender, but it could use a little bit more sauce. It's good that it wasn't overly doused with sauce, because I don't like it when there's too much. They had 3 different sauces on the table to use. One was a hot/spicy sauce, another regular bbq taste, and the last was like an A1 sauce. The first two went well with the meat. The pork spare ribs were also tender and came off the bone nicely, they were just a little dry, but that is somewhat expected since pork isn't as moist and beef. I did end up using more sauce throughout my meal though. The mac n cheese was decent, it wasn't too heavy, but it didn't remind me of that good, home, comfort style that I've had at other bbq places. I was pleased with the okra and tomato though... it was served over some rice and had good seasoning. It wasn't bland nor was it too salty. I think I liked this side more than the rest. The most impressive factor here was the service though. Even though it's not a true sit-down restaurant, the servers would always come by to make sure we had everything we needed and that everything was ok. They even offered to explain the different sauces. Thus, the food warrants 3.5 stars, but the service bumps it up to 4 stars. I am intrigued to try their fried catfish. The removed this item from the meat selections in the dinner combo, but you can order it separately as a dinner plate.
(4)
Rob B.
Couple buddies wanted to try out a new restaurant, so we settled on Bonnie's. It was Friday lunch, but it wasn't packed at all. One of my friends wanted to get the big sized (vs. value) portion of ribs w/2 sides for around $15 (or somewhere in that area). We thought that it was going to be a good-sized portion and big enough to split, but the number of ribs we got was only slightly more than our other buddy who got the rib sandwich (basically some ribs, two pieces of wheat bread, and some potato salad) for around $8. So they're definitely not generous with their portions. Flavor was okay. Nothing special that other BBQ places don't have. Wasn't juicy, so you have to use a lot of their BBQ sauce (3 spiciness levels: mild, medium, and hot). Meat also wasn't "falling off the bone" as described. I've had plenty of ribs that were, and this wasn't it. Service is good and pretty quick; everyone was friendly. Verdict: it's decent but doesn't separate itself from the average pack in any way, shape, or form. Definitely surprised at all the five star reviews. Even in Pasadena, there are better options.
(3)
Alice L.
We went hiking nearby at Eaton Canyon, and arrived here just in time for lunch! They have new hours, so they open at 11:30 AM instead of 11 like it's listed. Fairly small place but you feel welcomed with the service and definitely by the smell of home-cookin' wafting from the kitchen! Order at the counter, and sit yourself down. We used a $20 Groupon and we ordered lunch entrees of Beef Brisket ($9) and Beef Spareribs ($10) with 1 jalapeno cornbread muffin ($0.95) and sodas ($1 each) Each of the lunch entrees came with 2 side dishes so we got Okra/Tomato Over Rice, Collard Greens, Candied Yams, and Mac & Cheese. Dishes came out pretty quickly and they're decently sized for lunch. The sauces on the table are delicious and we could only handle up to the Medium level of BBQ sauce. Brisket was ultra tender and the spareribs had meat come off easily from the bone. Mmm! Okra/Tomato over rice was my favorite side, collard greens was OK, candied yams were a bit too sweet, and mac & cheese wasn't cheesy enough. But the meats made up for it :D Cornbread wasn't spicy at all despite it having jalapeno and is yummy with the alta-dena butter it comes with. Overall, a great place to go to if you're in the mood for BBQ!
(4)
Leah S.
This is my favorite BBQ place in LA. The people are so nice and welcoming and the food is ridiculously good. The pork ribs are definitely the highlight. They are so tender that they straight up fall of the bone. I can't handle spicy food, so the mild sweet BBQ sauce is perfect for me. It's very sweet and flavorful and goes well with the meat. The lunch value meal is a great price. It's 10 dollars for one entree (I always get the ribs) and two sides. I love getting the candied yams and the baked beans. The yams are practically a dessert, but I can't resist them. It also comes with bread. I've never actually finished everything before because the portions are pretty big. The downside is that I don't live very close to Altadena, but when I'm there it's great to make a day of it. There's Bonnie B's, Carmela ice cream nearby, plus a ton of great hiking. I wanna come here more often if I can. The employees are always so nice.
(5)
cicciolini e.
Take out, spare ribs & brisket. Generous portions (we ordered the BIG.) Both meats were good; spare ribs smoky, brisket had many melts in your mouth bites. The sides of Okra & Tomato very good, mac & cheese good, potato salad on the vinegary side, very good.
(4)
kate h.
I rarely leave reviews... this one was EXTREMELY worthy of an outstanding review! For starters Betty was very helpful when i called to place my order. She walked through what my ultimate goal was and gave me suggestions that saved me money. When i went to pick up the barbecue the staff was extremely courteous and organized. The transaction was super smooth. If that already was not good enough the food was OUTSTANDING literally fall off the bone not only is this coming from me... but my 40 guests as well ;). To put the icing on the cake Betty called me after to see how everything was. They get and A+ for customer service, and an A+ for food! This place is now etched in my memory for future functions! Thanks so much! Mia
(5)
Matthew G.
I fell in love with barbecue after eating here. My favorite items on the menu are the brisket and jalapeno corn muffin. I've tried these foods elsewhere but no comparison to Ms. Bonnie B's goodness. I love the atmosphere too-- good jazz music was playing and the staff was extra courteous. Barbecue people: do something good for yourself and stop by this place.
(5)
Joy K.
Really delicious stuff! Their sides are really good too. Only problem for me was that they seemed a bit understaffed so had to wait a bit to order. Other than that, really really solid food!
(4)
Kristy S.
This was pretty damn good, but it's more like a 4.5 than a perfect 5. I'll go with the one bad thing first - I think they're kind of forgetful. We ordered drinks and some extra stuff like cornbread with our dinner. They asked if I wanted the drinks before the food, but we said no so I assumed it would come on our trays. I had to go ask for the drinks and cornbread after our dinner came. That's hardly a reason to hate this place because the service is friendly and everything we got was delicious and came out super fresh! NOTHING needed extra bbq sauce like some places (*ahem Baby Blues ahem*). The cornbread must've been sitting in the oven baking while our dinner came out because it came to our table piping hot and delicious! :) Some of the highlights: -Rib tips and ends - delicious, and fattier than the pork ribs. -Pork ribs - meaty, moist, smoky, and fall off the bone tender! -Brisket - moist and tasty (this is starting to sound dirty...) - I can't wait to have it as a sandwich! -GREENS! I love their collard greens. SO. DAMN. GOOD! -Mac and cheese - simple, not greasy, and not too cheesy. When everything else tastes so good, you don't need an overpowering mac and cheese. -Glaze it to me cake - delicious pound cake - light as a feather with a perfectly sweet glaze! Even though the brisket didn't need it, I enjoyed the kick that Louisiana hot sauce added. Mmm mm mm!
(5)
Lily T.
omg we couldn't find this place. I was driving and saw the sign, but the store front looked like a copy shop or something. We finally got out and went to check it, and I'm really glad we didn't give up and decide to go elsewhere. My friend had the beef brisket and I had the brisket on a bun. The brisket was sort of dry on its own, but was pretty good with the sauce. My friend got the okra and tomato over rice as a side, and it was quite good. I wasn't offered that as a choice though :(. She also had the potato salad, which was decent. I liked the brisket on a bun, but I didn't like that the buns looked like they were from Vons or something. When I go to a restaurant, I expect higher quality than what I can find at the market :/. Otherwise, the sandwich was pretty good. I got baked beans as the side, and the first few bites were really good, but I couldn't even finish the 1/3-cup serving cuz it was so sweet! I'd want to try their ribs one day, but we didn't want to get anything messy because we were working lol.
(3)
Jon M.
This place is SO good and SO busy. That they can afford to be closed two days of the week(Mon-Tue). Which just so happens to be the only days I might have off work and want amazing BBQ. What a bummer! But when I do come here while they're open. Everything has always been great. Never a dry meat and always flavorful. The sauces are all great too. The only thing to dislike is that you can't get the same two sides with a combo. I love the beans but its just a small portion compared to the other side options. The cashier always forces me to pick something else. Been there multiples and not even once! She must know by now how much I love the beans. So sad. This place is still awesome!
(5)
Kem J.
GREAT!!! BEST BBQ in town. picked up some food to go, ribs are fall off the bone and the bbq sauces are not overly sweet and thick.
(4)
Karen H.
I had this place booked marked for awhile and was glad that was finally able to try it. They weren't kidding when the reviews said it was real home cooking. You can feel the love they put into this food. Here are the items we tried for 2 people. We were starving and really ordered a ton which was ok because we were glad to eat those leftovers. A full rack of ribs ~ pork ribs had a nice smokey flavor. Meaty, tender and fall off the bone like most reviewers described. We loved their house made BBQ sauce the medium one. It hand a nice citrus taste, very flavorful. I wonder if they sell the. By the bottle. S0 much better than the commercial stuff. Rib tips - charred to perfection, meaty with a nice crust. My husband really enjoyed gnawing on the cartilage :) Hot Links - Great snap of the casing and juicy!!!! Good spice and flavor. Collard greens~ the bomb! Probably the best I've ever eaten!!! I can eat a whole tub of this!!! Black Eyed Peas- Reminded of me of the Cuban rice an beans.. the texture was really creamy. This was especially good with the Hot LInks Mac n cheese- not bad but I've had better. I think because I like more of a sharp flavored cheese. The flavor was mild for me. Corn Bread Muffin - This was great essentially with everything... the bbq sauce, black eyed peas, etc. Service is friendly and you can tell they take pride in their food. Great find and will be back for pick up. =)
(4)
Terence N.
Came here for dinner with a group of friends and was excited and hungry! However, the bbq did not deliver to my satisfaction...I ordered the pork ribs with jalapeno muffins. The Pork ribs were VERY VERY DRY! There was really good flavor to the ribs, but the dry meat was hard to eat...it was dry to the bone, overcooked and slightly chewy. I guess if you douse enough bbq sauce on the rib, it doesn't taste so bad...but the ribs itself were just way dry. The cornbread muffins were also dry, which I did not like. I also tried some of my friends links and brisket...the links didn't taste very good at all. The brisket was actually very good, it was the only bbq item I enjoyed, and it would be the only one I can recommend. The rib tips were way way way DRY, even dryer than the ribs, it was almost hard to chew and swallow due to the dryness..i definitely cant recommend the rib tips or pork ribs, only the beef brisket was good! The prices here weren't that cheap, and the portions were not that big...put together with dry and unsatisfying pork ribs, and meh I've had better bbq. The lady behind the counter, who I assume was Bonnie herself, was a very nice lady, as was the waiter. Service was good, but the bbq food did not deliver, it was very dry for my liking...maybes its cause we ordered food at 6:50pm, 10 minutes before they closed!
(3)
Rhonda M.
I'm from L.A. and grew up 5 blocks from Phillips BBQ. Holla if ya hear on me that! So when I moved to Pasadena I had to learn to go without. Great for my waistline, bad for my taste buds. And let's face it, with choices like Phillip's, Woody's and Leo's, I was spoiled as far as BBQ is concerned. So when I offered to bring dinner to my friend's home after a day of shopping, I yelped and found Bonnie B's. I wanted to love it, I wanted to, sooooooo bad. You judge BBQ by the ribs, links and chicken, the staples of any backyard BBQ. I ordered a slab, a 1/2 lb. of links and a 1/2 of a yard bird. The location as easy to find. The inside of the restaurant sparkling clean, nicely decorated and very inviting. The customer service was excellent. The BBQ was sorta like Rhianna, flashy, with a overly sweet sauce, a tad smokey and really just dry and tasteless. Maybe this was an off day.
(2)
Andre N.
Just Awesome, came here after reading the reviews and surprised I never been here before due to the close proximity to my friends who lived down the street. We always went to Big Mamas and Robins but this I felt was much better in terms of food as well as hospitality. Parking was easy to get, which was movie star parking right in front of the place, though there is parking in the back. The staff was actually even insightful in parking by warning us that if you park on the street, to curb your wheels, now that quality service. I ordered the 2 combo plate, which was the bbq chicken and Riblets with 2 sides, the sides being mac and cheese and baked beans. The beans and mac n cheese were so good, so they barely stayed on my plate, ate every bit and piece of it. They gave me good size portions of chickens and riblets, which were very delectable to the palate and had the right amount of barbecue. I even had leftovers for the meats and enjoyed another meal at home. The only thing missing from Bonnie B's was a beer to enjoy with my meal. They dont sell it unfortunately and also I didnt really care for the piece of regular bread a biscuit or roll would of been good, though they do offer a jalapeno cornbread muffin for extra, though not into jalapeno. Other than that the place was awesome, the food is great and the service is great, they really know their barbeque.
(4)
Joanne D.
Had this delivered this evening....omg. Yeah, I am a fan. The three meat combo is so tasty. Brisket, pork ribs and chicken. My sides are sweet potato's and mac and cheese. I would say the jalapeno corn muffin was sad...no little spicy pepper in it at all. Got the slice of cake for dessert. It is ok. Over all happy with the meal! Thanks Bonnie!
(4)
Susan H.
Pork ribs, macaroni and cheese, and BBQ beans were really good! Definitely better than Lucielle's, but portions are smaller. But prices reflect portion size, so if you want Lucielle's portion sizes you should order 3 of the same thing. Not good for big parties though because the inside is fairly small. Remember to turn your wheels towards the curb when you park on the street otherwise you'll get a parking citation. They are closed Monday and Tuesdays.
(4)
Abraham S.
Bonnie B's is amazing. The food all tastes home cooked and the portions are generous. I usually get the fall off the bone ribs and I'm never disappointed. The pork is extremely tender and they have a delightful smokey flavor. They don't come presauced but if you eat at the restaurant they give you an unlimited supply of 3 varieties of barbecue sauce. (If you take it to go, get extra barbecue sauce) The sides I get are mac and cheese (the best), black eyed peas and the garden salad. The garden salad is a mix of greens, dried cranberry, bleu cheese and your choice of dressing, I usually get the vinaigrette. The dishes come with two sides so you gotta choose carefully. I HIGHLY recommend the home made sweet tea as a drink, get the large because they don't do refills. It's a mix of pineapple juice and some other goodness. Good service. Price seems high at first but if you were ordering the same thing at a steak house they would charge you double and it'd be half the quality. They close early sometimes so check the website for when they're open. Calling ahead with your order will make it quicker as you do have to wait 10-15 minutes if you order on the spot. I spoke with one of the owners about the family history and they told me they've been doing barbecue for years. They came from San Diego and somewhere else before that. It shows in the quality of food. Highly recommend this spot.
(5)
Vanessa F.
I am a pescatarian and I eat A LOT of salmon. Bonnie B's smoked salmon is EXCELLENT! Greens were very good. Catfish was a little salty. Will be going back numerous times in the future.
(5)
Allison Y.
My bf LOVES good down home style bbq and this is the perfect spot to get a good fix. The min he took the first bite of perfectly smoked ribs a food euphoria just washed over him. I had the brisket which were tender and just made you feel warm inside. I have to say the sauce is what got me hooked, it has a sweet, smokey and with just enough spice right at the end. It's a good thing that my bf got a taste of the mac n' cheese while there was any left. I will be back for that alone!
(4)
Matt C.
I ordered delivery through labite.com a service that delivers from restaurants that do not offer it. Bonnie B's is packed with flavor and the portions are perfect for the price. I personally prefer southeastern NC style BBQ (vinegar based) but that's tough to find out her. This is the next best thing! The ribs fall off the bone and have a nice tough in a good way exterior. They make a nice brisket, but it's not the dry style, it's very juicy and tender. The sauces are all on the sweet side but it compliments the salty flavor of the meat. The mac an cheese is ok, not my favorite, but not the worst either. Their collard greens are very tasty as well as the candy yams. I've dined in before as well, and the staff (family owned and operated I think) were awesome. We sat just before closing and they didn't rush us to order or leave either. They gave us a few extra items and their sweet tea is pretty good. Glad this place is close!
(5)
Nile E.
Mean BBQ game! It's right next to my barber shop, so I come here about twice a week. The sauce is EXCELLENT!!! Hot link sandwich...EXCELLENT!! You know its good when white folks are in line to get food in the "dicey" part of Alta Dena. Nile Evans - OUT!
(5)
Angela O.
Absolutely delicious barbecue. I had the three meat combo with beef brisket, pork spare ribs and chicken. Sides were wonderfully delicious yams and greens with cornbread. First, the food did not taste like a salt factory which is what I've found common for SoCal barbecue places. Second, the sauce was very complimentary to the meat. If I can eat the meat without a need for sauce, it passes the taste test in my book. The barbecue here -- particularly the ribs -- passed the test. The meat fell off the bones, was tasty, and beautifully smoked. The chicken was not dry but tender and tasty and the brisket was absolutely delicious. I could have packed it between buns, poured sauce over it and would have had an old fashioned southern bar-b-que beef sandwich. Since I've become a little more health conscious, I am always in search of places that prepare food without loads of sodium or other food additives that both destroy the meat and masks the taste of the meat. This place really did it for me and I was pleasantly surprised. I will be back. Very good, healthy and my blood pressure did not go through the roof.
(5)
Blake C.
The value here is unreal. My gf and I were full sharing a combo meal. The sauces are unrivaled and I fell in love with the spicy bbq sauce. If u have any good taste for ribs and bbq type food, this place is a MUST!!! I was even more surprised when Bonnie herself brought us a free side of baked beans to mix with our potato salad and it also opened my world to that wonderful mix. Not only is this place full of good bbq, but the hospitality Bonnie has for those who visit can't be matched by many other owners.
(5)
C M.
I have not had a better BBQ experience. All my meat was perfect. I had ribs and beef brisket and there's great spices in the BBQ sauce. I loved that they have 3 options for sauce that way you can add just the perfect amount of flavor to your individual liking. The customer service was excellent. Very clean and great overall peaceful and cool vibe. There's easy street parking in front. Just remember to turn your tires that way the parking police don't ticket you. (The street is on a slight incline.) There is a sign on the street.
(5)
Linda Irene J.
My sis & bro in law had their 45th wedding anniversary party & catered chicken, links & brisket from Bonnie Bs. We had close to 150 guests who raved about the 3 items above. Actually thought we made the food but couldn't take the credit. Cooked excellently and oh so tasty. We're ready to cater another party!!! Thank you!!!
(5)
B W.
Incredible. Betty provided excellent service. The food came quickly and most importantly the food tasted wonderful. Take time to visit this small spot.
(5)
Evie D.
Super friendly service, yummy ribs, killer sauce, delish greens.
(4)
J D.
3 different of BBQ sauce, what more can you ask for. I got their 2 combination dinner w/ Pork Spare ribs and chicken. Chicken was tender and juicy, they smoked their chicken so the skin fell right off the meat *yumm* Pork spare ribs was Oooh my, need i say more! Anyways, they don't drench the meat with bbq sauce because they have hot, mild, bbq that you can put on urself which is a lot better. As for sides, i got the collard green and okra and tomato over rice which was marvelous! BBQ so good make you wanna smack yo' mama! lol Betty was really nice, she was the other owner of this place. I will def. be back for strawberry shortcake which they only have during the weekend.
(5)
Maryam G.
I have found you... my precious one... They serve perfectly cooked, fall-off-the-bone, mouth watering awesome-ness(aka= RIBS) paired with delicious BBQ sauce. These are smoked to perfection, and not overly sauced like some other places. As for the sides, we tried the collard greens (these were exceptionally good for simply .. collard greens) and the mac and cheese (it was flavorful, but somewhat dry... needs more cheese sauce). The cornbread with the kick are quite tasty as well... yum!! I will be back..... many many many times!!!!!!!
(5)
Michelle N.
I really want to give this place 4 stars but I've had better barbeque at two other places (San Diego & Pacifica). But it is the one of the best I've had in LA. I had this a while ago but I remember getting a good amount of food for a really good price. The one thing I remember CLEARLY about this place is their jalapeno corn bread! My goodness it was DELICIOUS!!! I'm craving now after mentioning it!
(3)
Melanie C.
This little restaurant is worth visiting. The ribs were tender and delicious. I really enjoyed the macaroni and cheese. The sweet potatoes were a little too sweet for me, but hey that's why they call them sweet potatoes, right? We will definitely be eating at this place more often. Deliciousness!
(4)
Chris C.
I love Bonnie B's. I've been here 8 or 9 times -- mostly for take out. I'm from Texas, so I think I know BBQ! Bonnie's brisket is really tasty. The sides are pretty good, too. Baked beans: a bit sweet, but good. Mac 'n Cheese: she uses a mixture of liquid and solid cheese. Pretty tasty. Make sure to eat it when it's hot! The corn muffins are my favorite, though. I think they say 'jalapeños' on the menu, but they aren't spicy AT ALL. In fact, I'm not even sure if they actually have jalapeños. They're great, though. The service is always friendly and quick. I appreciate that they always ask how I'm doing and treat everyone with respect. Cash or Credit Card. Parking on the street or in the parking lot behind the building. The dining room is pretty small -- 4 or 5 tables.
(4)
Raphael Aizan S.
Bonnie B's is neither a place to avoid nor a reason to get on the freeway. I ordered the spare rib value meal (3 ribs) with collard greens and mac&cheese. The ribs are trimmed a little closer than usual, leaving only the large piece of cartilage. I enjoy nibbling at the tips, but I can appreciate the tidiness of these ribs, so to speak. They weren't as meaty or as well trimmed of fat as a number of other places, though. They were lightly smoked, and just barely seasoned with salt (no pepper, afaik) and a little sugar. Good bark, nice, porky flavor, but not an "assertive" barbecue. It's similar to Old Fashioned Flavor, if you've been there. The texture was a bit soft, overcooked. The cut edges were also dry, so I think they were cut beforehand, but they were moist once you got in there. The mac&cheese was ok. It's the kind where the cheese is baked in. It could have used more salt and a textural contrast. Burnt edges, bread crumb topping, anything. I don't really like the dry/oily texture of plain, shredded cheddar. On the bright side, the collard greens were great! They're not the vinegary kind, a good example of which is Bigmista's, but rather savory, with good texture, and not in the slightest bit salty or bitter. I think they were cooked with ham hocks, as there was a porky flavor to the delicious pot liquer. They're now the best collard greens I've had. I liked their sauce, too. It comes in mild, medium, and hot, and aside from the spiciness they all taste the same. Hot is really just medium, IMO. Something in there tastes like raisins, but they shot down my guesses of raisins or ancho chile powder. I didn't think of it just then, but it could have been pasilla chile. They said I was getting warmer when I suggested molasses, though. Service was quick and friendly. Prices are reasonable. However, my order was served lukewarm and the bread somehow never showed up. I also would have preferred it if the sauce was served warm, instead of sitting on the table in squeeze bottles. Cold sauce on warm barbecue is buzzkill. Not a big deal, since I eat most of my barbecue without sauce. I'd go back if I was in the area, and it may well be the best barbecue in Pasadena.
(3)
Mark G.
One can easily drive right by this place and never know it was there but that's the thing about finding a hidden gem. I came here with my brother before going over to the Pasadena Colorado Street Bridge Festival. The place is small inside and if you want to use the restroom you'll have to go use the one in the beauty salon a couple doors down. I ordered the two item dinner with hot links and beef brisket and I really loved it. This was the best and most tender brisket I had every ate to date. Most places slice it. Here it just falls apart. Very, very flavorful and juicy with just a hint of smoky flavor. As for the hot links. They were O.K. nothing to write home about. My dinner came with cornbread (good) and two side orders. I ordered the bake beans and okra & rice (very good). I've had okra in gumbo but never on rice. It was very tender. I'll have to come back again for the brisket but I'd like to try the rest of their menu items.
(4)
Colin G.
Best BBQ I have had in the Southwest for reasonable prices. Ribs and OK style Brisket are super delicious and the sides and special tea are also special in their own ways. Super friendly staff and modest dining space are endearing.
(5)
Kyle L.
I first met this wonderful woman Betty at a Pasadena Chamber of Commerce meeting and she was very warm and loving. I immediately knew I had to come to this place. When I eventually did, I was blown away. The brisket and short ribs are to die for. The okra, baked beans, and black eyed peas were so delicious I could eat buckets of them. The prices were a little expensive for me (a little over 30$ for two plates), but not outrageous for what you are getting. I was a little disappointed with the Louisiana hot links. They seemed over sweetened. Their BBQ sauces were great. All in all a great place that I will go to every time I am craving southern cooking, and best of all, Betty always gives you a hug.
(4)
Bill T.
Sooooo Gooooood...... Having lived in Texas for 10 years I know good BBQ. I've been searching the LA area for 3 years and then I found Bonnie B's right in my backyard. Wow, these ladies know how to cook! The meet is always delicious. The beans are SUPERB (My favorite). The mac and cheese, amongst the best in Southern California. Good sweet tea. I love the ribs the best. Chicken is also good. Catfish, well, I'm not a big fan of catfish, so I stick with the ribs. The best part is the people. The two women who run this are so charming and just plain good folk. Really a pleasure eating at a restaurant where the food is good and the owners are genuinely nice. Happy to support them. In fact, going to go there for lunch tomorrow. Try it. You'll like it.
(5)
Adriana L.
Just finished having lunch here with my 2 sons..we wanted to stay in the area and try something new. We are a "foodie family", meaning we try all kinds of different restaurants. I was looking for something different for lunch and found this place on Yelp! The ribs are excellent..the meat really does "fall off the bones", the tri tip sandwich was good too. The sweet tea was phenomenal. Service is great and food is delicious...we will be back for sure! Great BBQ!
(4)
C L.
Just had the pork ribs and mac n cheese and it was tasty. Barbecue can be a little bland if you do not put hot sauce. It's the hot sauce that gives it that little kick. I'm a fan. Friendly servers.
(4)
BustA G.
Taking off a point for being hassled when redeeming Groupon. They have a hard copy to mark off vouchers as they're redeemed but can't grasp that if they already mark voucher as redeemed that the voucher can't be used again. Jeez....
(4)
Bethany E.
We loved this place. It's small, so make sure you come early and give yourself time to wait for a seat. It's owner operated, so the service is with a smile. The carnivore enjoyed his ribs, and I (the vegetarian) enjoyed my veggie sides. The cornbread is awesome. We'll be coming back!
(4)
S G.
Omgwtfbbq Stop thinking about wanting BBQ, just go here.
(5)
Shawn P.
This place is worth a 3.5 stars, imo. This is one of those types of places where a cook has opened his/her home to you and you have been invited to enjoy in the bountiful meats that they are cooking. Here is my review: WHAT I ORDERED: I have come here a few times and have tried their brisket sandwich, their ribs and had their mac and cheese and baked beans (not in one sitting of course). Their main courses are pretty good. They have this sauce that claims to be spicy. But upon further taste/inspection. It's not really hot at all. If they really want a sauce with heat, they have to put in Habaneros, at the very least! As for the meat, it's very tender and juicy. You can tell that this meat has been through at least a night of marinade and the like. WAIT STAFF The staff here are very cordial and attentive. As soon as I walk into the place, they immediately ask me where I parked and if my tires are turned to the left and touching the curb (I guess the poe-poe up in that part of Pasadena give tickets if your tires are turned and touching the curb). Since the place isn't big, the staff is also good about checking to see if things are all right as well. A major plus! VERDICT: I would definitely go back. It's definitely a gem in the SGV!
(3)
A. H.
There was no wait for Sunday lunch. People came and went for takeout while we were the only ones eating there. We enjoyed looking at the memorabilia on the wall of famous African Americans. My husband ordered brisket and pork ribs which were delicious. I tried the pulled pork and beef tips, but definitely preferred my husband's food. We tried the sides of collard greens, okra, black eyed peas, mac and cheese, and corn muffin, but they were all just okay. They were served with pieces of white or wheat sandwich bread. We'll definitely come back for the pork ribs and brisket. Note that there is no bathroom here for customers.
(4)
Chain L.
This meal was so good i wanted to sew my ass shut. Been here several times already and quality is consistent. Would be more, but I live pretty far. Still, it's worth the 45 minute drive in one direction on surface streets. Ribs are just as good as i remember. Fall off the bone, smokey and juicy. I haven't had one side dish here that disappointed so feel freed to go nuts and order up. You could see the care and love they put into the food. The owners are super friendly people and know how to cook! Furthermore, I tried their new banana strawberry cake, and it is Oh So Good. One of the moistest tastiest cakes I have ever had. Its a must have dessert to compliment my delicious BBQ.
(5)
Ed A.
This is by far the best value of bbq I've found. It is good and for $5 lunch specials you can't go wrong. It's not going to knock your socks off, but then you remember you only paid a Lincoln and and you feel all right. The place is tiny, and if you are not looking for it, you will miss it driving up Lake. The lady at the register is very nice and friendly. Their cornbread is good, not "wow", but good. This is a solid lunch spot. I love mac n cheese and I was bit a disappointed in it here. The cheese flavor is a distant hint. The pasta is over cooked. However, you are here for the meats, and again, they are good.
(4)
Michael P.
Gave me old, dried out rib tips. Don't waste ur money
(1)
Minda w.
Bobbie B's is such a welcoming spot. From the people who work there to the customers, everyone is so pleasant. It's been on my list of places to go but since it closes at 6 each Sunday, Bonnie B's has eluded me each time. This past Sunday, the bf and I finally made it. It was about 5pm when we got there. There were out of the beef brisket so we got a ribs & rib tips combo with mac 'n cheese & yams. The ribs were pretty good but tastes better smothered in sauce. The rib tips were really dry. The hot link on a bun was delicious! It was super juicy and went well with the bbq sauce. I might have to just do a ribs & hot link combo next time. The yams were pureed yams and they were great too. The mac 'n cheese was kind of average. The sweet tea comes with a bit of tang. It kind of tastes like a sweet Arnold Palmer. The jalapeno muffin is really tasty too. It crumbles to the touch, is very buttery and has a slight hotness to it. I wasn't crazy about the rib tips and mac 'n cheese but everything else was pretty good. 3.5 stars
(4)
J R.
This is a decent place if you want some BBQ in Pasadena. The ribs were very tender and the meat fell right off the bone. This place gets three stars just for the ribs. Service was not that good. We might have come on an off night but service was not very smooth and communication was poor. The pulled pork was weird. It had small bits of bone in it and that made eating it difficult. They have several different kinds of sauce but they taste basically the same at varying levels of spicyness. The good thing is it is a fair amount of food for the money. I think we would only go here if we were getting it takeout as the table experience was not very good.
(3)
Teresa N.
It's definitely not big enough for a large party. I got the combination dinner that comes with 3 choices of meat and 2 sides. I ordered pork spare ribs, brisket, rib tips, mac and cheese, and barbecue baked beans. The meat on the pork spare ribs falls off the bone! It was tender and moist as the juices drip down the side of your mouth as you pull the meat with your teeth. The brisket was the best out of the bunch. The brisket was tender and moist. It had enough flavor to make my taste buds erupt with excitement. However, the rib tips were really dry. It was almost hard to chew towards the end. You can drench the rib tips with their sauce for more flavor. The service was awesome! The waiter was attentive, and made sure our group was comfortable. Kudos! I want to give Bonnie B's Smokin a higher rating but I don't think I can. The portions are small for the amount I paid, and the dryness of the rib tips was disappointing.
(3)
Jason E.
Great meats. The brisket brings a tear to my eye just thinking about it. The sides are okay. However, the people who own it are super nice, the kind of people you want to encounter when you go to a small local takeout place. You should go here.
(4)
Forrest D.
After a few attempt to eat here, we finally came at a time when they were actually open. It might pay to call ahead and make sure because the hours seem a bit sketchy but it is all worth it once you sink your teeth into the ribs, and the brisket, and the chicken, and pretty much everything else. Overall it's a pretty low key affair, not a whole lot of ambiance but there's a nice mural with an interesting story that's worth hearing from the family who runs the place. There a delightful bunch, sweet and welcoming, It also doesn't seem overly busy which is slightly alarming to me as this is some fine, fine barbecue. Not just good for the neighborhood, the flavors here can hang with any in the city. Some barbecue lovers will find this sacrilegious, but I liked everything here better than at the hallowed Bludso's which is the standard bearer these days. Bludso's was good, this place still makes me drool and it's been weeks. The meat quality is better, the sauce it better, it's just better. Sorry. The combo meal with spare ribs was fantastic, everything just melts away. Sublime. They have an exceptional Oklahoma style beef brisket, it's on the sweeter side if that's important to you. Although I misunderstood and thought I was ordering hot wings, the Louisiana style chicken links were not a disappointment, quite delicious. They have plenty of great sides, collard greens and mac n cheese were quite good. Even with all that, the best thing was the ridiculously wonderful Glaze-it-to-me Cake. It's sweet and sour and all yummy in the tummy. Be aware, the city tickets if you don't turn you wheels to the curb and they are very diligent, it seems Pasadena needs your money so don't forget to park correctly or use the lot in back. Service is sweet but slightly unorganized. Prices are fair but it's not inexpensive. It is however worth every penny. If you love barbecue, this is about as good as it gets here in LA. Move over Bludso's, Bonnie's is the new Queen of the smoker. Best Plates: Spare Ribs, Oklahoma style Beef Brisket, Louisiana sytle Chicken Links, Glaze it to me Cake Food - A Ambience - C+ Service - B Value - B+
(5)
Rogue X.
I read the reviews, and went for the dry ribs(thinking, dry-rub). Sadly, the ribs needed sauce, as by themselves they had NO flavor. No, I take it back, they had that smokey flavor that would have been perfect with some good spices. Now it was just smokey. The catfish was excellent. Perfectly battered, not too greasy. Potato salad and baked beans were super too. Service was really slow...waited more than 1/2 for our food after being told it would be 10-15 minutes. But the staff was really nice, if a bit disorganized. Seemed with other customers too, they weren't sure who ordered what. But in a small place that only seats maybe 20 people, it's easy to figure out. I'm not a sauce fan, but their sweet(mild) sauce was pretty decent. Likely won't go back, but if you like soul food and sauced ribs, you'd probably like this place.
(2)
Kevin C.
I came here last Sunday with The Minty and I really liked it a lot. Ribs, chicken, candied yams, mac n cheese were all solid with great friendly staff and not busy. It took a little while to get the food and that was a good thing because it came out fresh. Plus I recognized the owner too when she came out and she was so very friendly to us. Making ribs with the right amount of bark and chicken with a different rub is nice. I think I would eat here again, many times over for that matter. I have to give it a few more visits before pumping up to the 5 star rating but it was pretty close for me.
(4)
Chloe C.
Really enjoyed this. Totally solid BBQ and great sides. Plus the proprietress is delightfully friendly. It's in the neighborhood - we're definitely coming back!
(4)
N T.
I notice, they started giving you less, like I said, I have been there several times and I know what I'm getting. Today, I order the smoked salmon - dinner portion, they gave me a value portion and claim it as a dinner portion. That's a lie, I had the salmon dinner portion before. ***Best bet, order the VALUE meal, it is the SAME quantity as the DINNER meal*** It's not worth the extra $3-$4 bucks more. You have been warn!!!
(1)
Marquita T.
Bonnie B's catered an event I did for Dinah Shore this past weekend and I couldn't be more pleased! The food was absolutely exceptional and though Bonnie told me she'd give me two meat options - pulled pork and chicken - and a few samples of ribs, I was completely shocked to find that she had given me an entire tray of ribs! Every single one of my guests were thrilled with the food - the sauces are fantastic, the chicken was juicy, the ribs (OMG, the ribs!!) are almost addictive. I recommend Bonnie B's a hundred times over, I couldn't have made a better choice.
(5)
Elaine C.
When I think "soul food," I always think heavy and greasy, but it wasn't like this at all when I came in for dinner today. I noticed some complaints about the portion size, but honestly, I was really happy with the amount that I got. It was perfect~! I think they probably shrank the portion size in order to compensate for the loss of profits via Groupon. I had okra with tomatoes, smoked ribs, and the mac n cheese. Everything was just right and not over-salted like most major restaurants. I like salt, but the food was not bland. I like the ambiance - it is homey and I like the mural covering about a third of the wall that depicts a very Western/Americana scenery. Only qualm is the florescent lighting (if you know me, you would know I hate it). I think the service is great (I think Bonnie's sister, i can't remember her name)...she is super nice and friendly - warm like sunshine. Love the hand sanitzers everywhere. Super good if you eat ribs with your hands, but I mean...I love to wash my hands before i eat and it is really convenient that they have it right out there. I'm going back to try the catfish - looks super yummy.. :)
(5)
Vatche D.
Very kind people and good food.
(5)
Tina N.
Just came back from eating here for my little brother's birthday. It was just the two of us, and they really took care. I didn't like BBQ before, but... that has changed. Because of Bonnie B's. It's a pretty small hole-in-the-wall kind of restaurant, and we missed it driving by the first time. From the minute we walked in, the restaurant was nothing but kind. They were really accommodating (since we were unfamiliar with the place), and treated us like family. Now on to the good stuff: I had the pulled pork, my little brother the BBQ ribs. Both were excellent, but my brother and I both preferred the pulled pork. You can determine how much sauce to put on the meat (there are 3 bottles on each table-- sweet, mild, and hot heat). We also each ordered mac n cheese and the potato salad sides-- both great compliments. All in all, we left stuffed. A dinner combo plate was more than filling (had to take my little bro's potato salad home!). Plus, it was delicious. Score. Bonus points: we mentioned it was my little brother's birthday, and they gave him a slice of his choice of cake, on the house! The owner even came out to say happy birthday to him, and wrote him a note on the to-go bag! Seriously, I love this place. I will be back for more.
(5)
KeyMonTea T.
Rib tip's with black eye peas and mack n' cheese as sides.
(5)
David E.
Wow. Really good. Food very flavorful and homemade. We enjoyed the ribs, BBQ chicken and beef brisket. Mac & Cheese, Okra & Tomato, and greens very delicious. Very friendly staff. Informal and relaxed. Support our local restaurant! This is a good one.
(5)
Kit P.
A great neighborhood place. The food is solid good, the service really nice, if a bit slow, and the actual restaurant pleasant enough to eat in, if you're in the dining-in mood. We got the two-meat combo with the ribs and brisket--both real smokey! And real sweet, which I think is just the style. I liked the ribs best--meaty with a nice lacquer of smoked crust. I'm talking about that beautiful layer of laquer you get on the outside of meat when the chef really knows how to barbecue and not that black burnt crust which some restaurants without a clue serve up. (You guys know that most places just steam the meat and then pour BBQ sauce over it and stick it under the boiler? Yuk.) Part of the combo is a choice of two sides. Our choices were the greens and mac & cheese. The greens were really nice with plenty of liquor. The mac & cheese, a little lackluster. The two-meat combo is $14.95, which seems pricey, but you do get a lot of meat.
(4)
Connie W.
I really like this BBQ place! I've tried the ribs and the pulled pork, which is sold out frequently. All the meat is super tender and the sauce is very unique. I love the spicy version of their special sauce. The beans taste a lot like Chinese red bean paste, which I thought was a little strange, but a lot of people seem to like it. The mac and cheese is a little flavorless, but it's good when paired with the slightly too salty pulled pork. Waitstaff is always super friendly and helpful. The decor is so uplifting too. I really enjoy coming here.
(4)
kenyarda w.
So I went to this place tonight after seeing one of my other yelp friend's reviews. (Thanks BustA G). I'd read about the catfish special... and I love a good order of ribs.. and just could not decide what to get so I got both. :-) My plan was to have the catfish for dinner tonight and one rib.. And have the rest of the rib dinner tomorrow. So with the catfish I had mac and cheese and greens for my sides. The catfish was in strips and tasted very good. Would have been great had I eaten there when it was just out the fryer. My sides were both very good. So then I ate one rib. You hear about fall of the bone ribs. They took it literally. I picked up a rib and the bone was still in the box. You know that is tender. LOL I'm taking off one star only because they had no dessert. A slice of cake would have been really good but the guy said someone bought an entire cake earlier in the day. Think they'd been too busy to bake another one.
(4)
Jim H.
That's some solid 4-star BBQ where you might not expect it. Very friendly customer service and even better food. Can't wait to get back!
(4)
Jacob R.
Delicious, but overly expensive for the small portions. Bonnie's is a hole in the wall bbq place, and I could smell the mouth watering aroma from down the street. Anyways, I walked up to the counter and ordered the 3 meat combo platter (pork ribs, chicken, shredded brisket with mac'n'cheese and black eyed peas) and my girl ordered the pork rib value platter with the same sides as me. The employee was very friendly and patient with us as we decided. It was around $15 per person for the food, but drinks were a rip-off. The sodas they had were just canned soda and they charged like $1.50 per can. Water was only bottled water for a similar price. What? no free refills on soft drinks? At least the service was great, and they brought us some cups with ice without us needing to ask. So my food comes, and it was only 3 small pork ribs, a part of a chicken breast (not even a whole breast), and a spoonful of brisket. A spoonful of mac and beans as well. I literally had my plate cleaned in 2 minutes. Now, the food was excellent. It was some of the best mac and cheese I've had, and the brisket and chicken were delicious, but I was still hungry. Really hungry. My girlfriend cleaned her plate in a similar time and was still hungry as well. I shouldn't still be hungry after ordering a dinner combo plate, so something is wrong here. As a bit of warning, the pictures of the food here on yelp are really zoomed in, so it makes the portions look a lot bigger than they are. Unless you order a ton of extras, you won't get filled up here. I'd give 2.5 stars if I could. Great food, but leaving hungry is a big hit to the score.
(2)
Anita S.
I ordered food from Bonnie B's for my son's birthday party, and I couldn't have been happier. They made an extra effort to have food ready for me right when they opened on Sunday. I got a lot for my money and it was delicious! I was getting constant compliments through the whole party, especially from the foodies and BBQ snobs. We got the chicken, pulled pork, mac & cheese and black eyed peas over rice. Everything was very flavorful. The mild, medium & hot sauces came on the side so everyone could dress it as they liked. I highly recommend calling Bonnie for your next party!
(5)
Crystal T.
Four, four and a half? Bonnie B's has my favorite side orders of any of the local BBQ joints in the SGV area. The beans and yams were spot on. The beans were sweet and smokey and not too mushy. The yams were mashed and buttery with just the right amount of sweetness and nutmeg. The ribs and chopped brisket were fantastic and could eat a bowl full of the stuff. Their homemade BBQ sauce had a nice array of flavor, from the slightly sweet, to the super tangy, and slightly spicy. You should have no problem dousing the brisket in a sauce of your choice. When I went it was pretty dead, service was good. There are a few 1/2 star knock-offs. The portions are a little smaller than I'm used to at a BBQ joint and the sweet tea isn't your typical sweet tea. It's got a more citrus flavor to it, so sweet tea purists beware. Also the chicken was smokey but a little too dry/mealy.
(4)
Russell L.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to turn your wheels away from the curb if you park on Lake! Apparently the city is ticketing people and are a pain in the ass. There are signs everywhere, but just be sure you do that. First of all, INCREDIBLY friendly staff. We felt very welcome the moment we stepped in. I got ribs, mac & cheese and a salad. The ribs were lean and tasty, but they were even tastier when I put some sauce on them. The mac & cheese was a little watery, but still good. The salad was good. My lady got pulled pork, okra & tomato, and a salad. She wasn't as satisfied with her choice (pork was a little too fatty). She practically jumped out of her seat when she ate the corn bread, though! Definitely worth checking out. We will most certainly be returning.
(4)
Jason H.
There's plenty of "pretty good" BBQ, but few "GREAT" ones....but look no further pilgrim, Bonnie Bs is such a spot. I always get the 2 meat combo, spare ribs and brisket. The meat is smokin' and super tender. Their sauces (and thank you for not drenching the meat in sauce as it leaves the kitchen, a surefire way you know there is something wonky going on where you need to hide it) are next level, mild med and hot. I go with the med and it still has a good kick to it. For the sides I'm a baked beans and mac n cheese man. Both are excellent, I esp like the mac n cheese. It's firm, no soupy cheese in the mix, cooked perfect the way it should be. If you want noodles swimming in cheese sauce go get yourself a pack of Velveeta mac n cheese. Service isnt super quick, so dont come here in a rush as things are done at a steady pace. Once you order, expect to wait about 15-20 min for your food, which isnt out of the norm, but as the restaurant has a take out atmosphere you might think that the food comes out in 2 min. It doesnt. The lady that works the front (Betty?) is super friendly and will tell you the history of their food if you want to hear it. I also like the fact they are only open 5 days a week/8 hours each day....very old school and nice to see the family takes time off to do something else other than serve us pedestrians some of the best Q you'll find.
(5)
Ann P.
I love Bonnie B's! They catered a large party for us (50 people), and everyone raved about the food! The ribs, brisket, collard greens, and black-eyed peas over rice are to die for! Betty and Bonnie are so nice, and bend over backwards to make sure the food is amazing and the service is great! We loved the food so much, we catered again the next day for a family get-together. Everyone said it was the best BBQ they had ever had. Also, their homemade BBQ sauces are the bomb! There is so much love and dedication put into the food here. This is Oklahoma City style BBQ, with a Southern California spin. Try the smoked salmon -- healthy and flavorful! If you love Southern Style BBQ and soul food, you'll love Bonnie B's!
(5)
Randy T.
After reading some of the reviews for Bonnie B's here on Yelp, I had to give this place a try. And since we were going to the Coffee Gallery Backstage on Lake Street to see Tracy Newman and the Reinforcements, and Dutch Newman and the New Melodians, Bonnie B's was right on the way. Being short on time, I dropped my wife off at CGBS and drove back down the hill to get some BBQ take-out. It's a nice little place filled with lots of down home vibe. The aroma from the smoker fills the air--just what BBQ is all about. The menu has a good selection and the prices are very down-to-earth. I ordered a combo dinner plate with pork ribs and brisket, sides of beans and yams. All that food for a mere $16... There were customers at two tables when I arrived about 40 minutes before closing time on a Friday night, so it wasn't too busy as far as I could tell. However, from the time I placed my order to the time it arrived from the kitchen, was about 20 minutes--way too long for my taste, especially since we were running late for the show up the street. Besides, BBQ is slow-smoked long before I show up to place my order, so there's not much cooking needs to be done--just trimming, slicing, a scoop of each side dish. I wondered what was going on in the back... Now that I know the drill, I can order before I leave the house and by the time I arrive, the food will be ready! When my order arrived, I paid and dashed to the car so as not to miss the show. In less than a minute, the car smelled like BBQ (that's a good thing) and my only concern was that as I opened up the package at CGBS, the whole show room would smell like BBQ. Who cares? I did it any way (and the person sitting next to me asks, "Where'd you get that?" and took the info for the next time he was in the area. Before getting to the food, I must tell you that my favorite BBQ place in North America is Dr. Hogly Wogly's Tyler Texas BBQ in Van Nuys (see my review on Yelp) and I haven't found anything that could unseat the Doctor from that throne. However, good BBQ is always welcome and Bonnie B's ribs were well received! Well-smoked, very tender, and full of flavor (sans any added sauce). The brisket came already "pulled" and I prefer to slice my own, but still, the real smoke flavor rang true and I enjoyed each bite. I'm very persnickety about side dishes and although the beans and candied yams were enjoyable and a fitting compliment to the meats, Hogly's sides are still my favs. Bottom line... other than Hogly's, Bonnie B's is certainly some of the best slow-smoked BBQ I've had in the L.A. area. But be prepared to wait a while for that slow-smoked goodness to arrive at your table! BTW, I'm glad I read about the parking in the back, and the curbside parking restrictions here on Yelp!
(4)
karla a.
You know you're in trouble when you eat a meal, are stuffed, but still want more! Even though I had a brisket sandwich, potato salad, and yams, I wanted to try everything else on the menu because Bonnie B's was off-the-charts delicious. The brisket is tender, chunky and infused with smoky flavor -- it didn't need much BBQ sauce because the meat stood well on its own. But the sauce was fantastic, too! The potato salad was pretty standard. A small side of their mashed candied yams made a fine dessert since they were out of cakes. The owners also gave us a sample of their smoked bologna, which was unlike anything you'll remember from Oscar Mayer. It rivals any fine sausage. Bonnie Bs offers a nice selection of canned sodas -- including my favorite orange, grape, and strawberry -- but, homemade lemonade would be the perfect touch for their superb meals. Aside from the excellent food, the positive vibe of Bonnie B's is worth a return visit. The clean, tidy, welcoming restaurant is decorated with positive, encouraging quotes and portraits of civil rights leaders from diverse cultures. During my visit the owners and workers treated every customer like we were guests in their home. For the excellent quality of the food, I felt the prices were more than fair. I didn't want to leave, I didn't want to stop eating, and can't wait to return again and again.
(4)
Jason P.
I don't want to write this review. I really don't. I've been delaying it for weeks. I don't want to wait in longer lines. I don't want to be in a crowded restaurant. I want to be selfish and keep it all to myself. But Bonnie B deserves more than a 4 1/2 star average. I usually eat somewhere two or three times before writing a review. But I've gone to Bonnie B's about 7 times. I've even done a few two a days (lunch and dinner). I'm not proud. I'm certain I'm an addict. So here is what's I'm addicted to: 1. Spare Ribs- They really do fall off the bone. Its pink on the inside and brown on the outside, because its really smoked. And you can taste the quality. 2. Beef Brisket- Delicious. A little different, because the brisket is chopped rather than sliced, but it still works. It's super tender. 3. Mac N Cheese- Homemade. The right texture, the right type of macaroni, the right flavors. 4. Baked Beans- I always always always get this as one of my sides. It's simply put: the best beans I've had. 5. The sauces- Three different sauces on the table. All are different and all delicious. 6. Jalapeno corn bread- No explanation needed. Buy it and eat it. 7. Value meal for 10 bucks. It's offered everyday. You get one meat and two sides. I can't think of a better way to spend 10-12 bucks. 8 Friendliness- They ask for your name, they make you feel at home and they smile all the time. I This is a must try. If you visit, there's a good chance I'll be there.
(5)
Biker A.
The beef ribs are truly fall off the bone. The brisket was also good, sides good as well. Sanitizers all over the place if you want to freshen up before using your paws to eat the bbq. They're a friendly bunch, makes you feel like you know them. It is a hole in the wall, but the tasty food is there. Another review mistakenly wrote that they only have bottled water. Not true. When I asked for water, they said "bottled or tap?"
(5)
Teresa C.
I'll admit it, I have a Groupon addiction, especially since they have an iPhone app that makes it way too easy to spend your money in $5, 10, 25 amounts for foods and activities I hope I'll never for get to use. My greatest fear is to waste my Groupon after paying for it but it's easily overridden by the idea that I can try new places outside my comfort zone that I may never have thought to consider on my own. Bonnie B's is one of those places. It's in Pasadena but not downtown where I usually visit, with its yuppied shops and classy crowds. This is further north, the land of rolling hills and slightly ghetto-er crowds. Not that I'm judging (you go where the food is, I say.) The restaurant is small, with a shared parking lot in the back although there is limited timed street parking in front. Mom & Pop, family owned, they're friendly when you come in and repeat customers or friends always seem to be popping in (which sometimes seems to slow down the service a bit since there aren't many people working). One lady manned the front and I think the mom was in the back cooking. You get in line at the register to order and then sit down and wait for them to bring your food to you. They're a bit absentminded (probably because of all the chatting) and kept forgetting our drinks. But we were here with a Groupon (which we used easily) and were more than forgiving. Pricing seemed pretty reasonable and average, under $15 for a combo of three meats and sides. I tried ribs and links and my friend tried the chicken and brisket. The food took a while to come but come it did eventually. A tip for when they ask you if you want wheat or white bread with your meal (included)- you can actually order the corn bread which is fantastic, just make sure to ask for the option yourself. Chicken was very tender and juicy. My ribs were yummy and smokey, with the meat coming off the bone nicely, although I wish they'd given more pieces....for the pricing, I think they could have been a bit more generous. There are BBQ sauces on the table and the server will explain them if you're new although I stuck with the spicy one for a kick. Beans were typical, nothing special. Sausage links were meaty and smokey but the meat was again, nothing special. The food was pretty good and if you're not in a hurry or rush, its a good mom & pop BBQ place to try. The taste is different from the chains and its nice to get that home cooking style in the sides. However, it's quite a bit out of the way for me and with so many alternatives around LA to try, I don't think I'd come back unless someone else suggested it. (Although I wouldn't say no to going...)
(4)
Leah M.
...ordered a bbq chicken sandwich for take-out....I got two slices of wheat bread in the old-school sandwich bags (the kind w/ just a flap and no zip loc)...chicken still on their bones and bbq sauce in plastic containers...unimpressed that I had to put the sandwich together myself...even worse, put a sandwhich together on two slices of bread that I could of brought from home... ...on the other hand, it seems that a lot of people enjoy this place, a good proportion of which dined in...perhaps my experience was just a take-out blunder and maybe I'll have a better experience if I dine in? I also admit that the chicken itself wasn't all that bad.... ...that said, I leave this place with a very tentative 2 stars, with plans to give it another try sometime someday.
(2)
Lucia S.
Came here on a Friday afternoon based on recommendation from a friend. The person at the register was very helpful and told us what was most popular. My friend and I decided to share the 3 item plus 2 sides combo. We tried the Beef Brisket, Fall off the bone spare ribs (2 provided) and the BBQ dark meat chicken (2 pieces). Beef Brisket was the best, followed by ribs, then chicken. 3 kinds of BBQ sauce on the table. I am a sweet girl, so I prefer the mild and sweet while my friends liked the med sauce. The sweet yams were awesome. I could eat that for dessert. We ended up rolling out of the place. For the two of us with drinks, we paid $21.00 for lunch. Asked if they are going to bring the Fried Chicken back and they said they probably will for the summer plus a pull part pork too. Can't wait to come back here.
(5)
Janey S.
Came here out of fate i suppose . Last nite we called a disconnected phone number for Purdue's , and found Bonnie B's ,. and boy are we glad we did! We purchased 4 combo dinners, plus some a la carte items, and i have the say the dinner portions were just great ! while at the same time, a lil bit on the pricey side. This is the kind of place you save up to go to, because the food is so great! the cashier greeted us warmly and gave great customer service, he was nice! but i would say, the size LARGE of their sides looks kind of small, only about 12-16 oz. , so for a family of 4, those sides would have been quite small, once you taste the mac n cheese ,collard greens and sweet potatoes, you will wish you had more. for $7ish per large, not worth it in size however, taste was great ! To be honest, even in the combo plates, the sides were just barely enough. However i cannot say nicer things about the food : The beef brisket was juicy, tender and soo flavorful ! The bbq chicken was not dried out, loved the crust and flavor. The spareribs were amazing, they did not skimp here at all, the ribs were various in size but the fat ones were very meaty. Even the small ones had a good amount of meat on the bones. The jalapeno cornbreads : Where did the jalapeno go? and wow they were very small,. the size of space in a regular muffin tin . For a$1.00 i felt they were quite overpriced.... they were pretty good for a cornbread muffin but definitely overpriced. Come here for the bbq'd meats and service!!
(4)
Min T.
Have you ever noticed all the chicken spots on Lake? Well, there's a new BBQ joint called Bonnie B's and they serve some great BBQ chicken. In general I tend to avoid BBQ chicken because it can get dry. Not at Bonnie B's! It's actually moist and had great flavor. Because I'm a glutton, I got a combo so I could taste the ribs. They don't have baby backs so these ribs are a little bit fattier. Yet they were still very lean. As Kevin C noted, the rub was different on the rubs than chicken. I really liked the collard greens and the jalepeno corn bread muffin. The mac and cheese was nice too. Bonnie B's has been open for about half a year. Bonnie seems like a nice woman. She tried to temp us with dessert but we were so stuffed. Plenty of parking in the back lot.
(4)
Karyn O.
The ribs are crazy good. When they say "fall-off-the-bone" they mean it. The ribs are served dry and are delicious that way, but even better topped with the homemade BBQ sauces served at the tables. The black eyed peas were delicious, as was the okra. One thing worth mentioning is that their lunch portions are the perfect size. They satisfy without making you feel like you're overstuffed. So many places confuse huge portions with a good food experience. This place has great food in just the right amounts. This is now our favorite BBQ joint in the Pasadena area. They're going to need a bigger space very soon, I think.
(5)
Veronica W.
looking for b-b-q look no further this place is very , very , very good.
(5)
Nia I.
Fall off smokey tender and juicy meat that can feed me for lunch and dinner, friendly service, worth the money.. my wallet and my tummy are happy :)
(4)
john F. g.
I've lived in Los Angeles for 24 years and have eaten my share of awesome Q, but Bonnie B's is the best I've tasted so far. Bonnie does Q Oklahoma style and has a beautiful painting of her Grandmother and Grandfather cooking Q on the prairie on the wall. This was our second trip and we we're blown away again. I went with the $4.95 Rib Tips. Big, boldly seasoned, succulent pieces of beautiful meat. My wife had the Pork Spare Rib plate with Mac & Cheese and Potato salad. The pork ribs are fall off the bone yummy. You get 6 to 8 huge ribs, enough to take home. We both had the delicious homemade sweet tea. I look forward to exploring the rest of the menu. Say hi to Bonnie while you're there.Go now, best Q in LA!
(5)
Enrique S.
good bbq with med bbq sause baked beans good didnt like mac and chease mushy worker goes on break takes the only fan off me completly puts it on him and falls asleep wtf turned stuffy check pics I took a pic lol
(3)
Ly Y.
Boonie B Smokin is a slice of smoky heaven in Pasadena open only 5 days a week (Wed-Sun). Sauce: 5 Stars I love this stuff! Its smoky, sweet, and spicy I can't get enough! Pork Ribs: 5 Stars The smoke ring on the ribs was so red and deep! A lot of love was put in cooking those ribs. Beef Brisket: 3 Stars I was disappointed that the brisket was chopped and not sliced. It should be called chopped brisket. It had a decent flavor and the meat was tender. Hot Links: 1 Stars This was extremely disappointing. It was basically a spicy hotdog that got smoked.
(4)
Debbie K.
Bonnie B's catered a lunch for 50 people at our office last week. It is not easy to pull off feeding that many people with hot, delicious food. Everyone loved every bite of the wonderful ribs, brisket and chicken. We have lunches quite often and this by far surpassed any caterer we have had. We already have requests to have Bonnie B's again. It was such a success, that I am sure they are top of the list. All their sides are great as well.
(5)
LeLinda B.
SMOKIN' .... Bonnie B's is a truly smokin' GREAT restaurant. Once you get out of your car, you can smell the smoke, and your taste buds instantly get a BBQ fix. You know then --- that Bonnie B's will be some AWESOME eating! Hubby and I ate there on Sat, 10/30/10. We got there early (around 5pm) and there was only 1 other patron in the restaurant. We chose the front table nearest the counter. Glad we did -- the lady at the counter asked us how we found out about Bonnie B's and we replied through YELP. She took our order and was very helpful in making our selections. They have a good selection of meats, sides, and combination plates. Bonnie B's ribs are served dry, but they have 3 great sauces to choose from. I chose the HOT and put some on my baked beans. Kicked them up a notch. Then I mixed the Original and the Hot, and I really love that mixture, which I used for my tender, fall off the bone ribs. (SERIOUSLY, THE PORK RIBS ARE TO DIE FOR HERE!) Prices are very reasonable. But the main THING: THE FOOD IS GREAT!!! Here's what hubby and I ordered: 1) 1 lb Beef Brisket (for hubby) -- $14.95 2) 1/2 lb Hot Links (to share) -- 6.95 3) Pork Rib/Brisket Combo w/ baked beans, okra &maters, & white bread (for me) -- 14.95 4) Med, size Greens (share) -- 4.50 5) Med, size Baked beans (for hubby) -- 4.00 6) Small Black-eyed Peas (share) -- 1.99 7) 2 Bottled Waters -- 1.82 Their brisket is the BOMB!!! Great smoke flavor throughout. VERY, VERY TENDER AND VERY GOOD. The brisket is good on white bread w/just a little sauce on it. Bonnie B's sides are very good, too, and show how much love this owner has in making her restaurant a truly GREAT barbecue place. The baked beans, the greens, black-eyed peas, and the okra, maters & rice were all well prepared with just the perfect amount of seasonings. We did not get to try any desserts because we were so STUFFED. But at our next visit, we will definitely try some of their desserts. Yes, we had a lot of food. Ate most of it at the restaurant, but had enough to bring home for leftovers. We've found our barbecue heaven at Bonnie B's and we will definitely return!!!
(5)
CC W.
My husband and I have gone to Bonnie B's for lunch once or twice and liked their BBQ. This review, however, is on the catering service at Bonnie B's. A few weeks ago, I needed to figure out the food for the baby shower that a friend is hosting for me. Because of the time and location of the shower, I thought of Bonnie B's. The catering menu is posted online, and after reviewing it, I picked up the phone and called the place. I explained to Betty ("the B of Bonnie B's") what kind of BBQ and side dishes I had in mind, and approximately how many people I was planning to feed. Betty was very patient and took her time to help me figure out just about how much of each item I would need. She even helped me figure out the cheaper way to get the same amount of food. The whole ordering process was painless, and Betty was definitely one of the nicest ladies I've spoken to on the phone. The day of the shower came, and the food was ready for pick up right on time. The guests really loved the food, and there was not a lot of leftovers. Betty was right on the money on the right amount of food. If there's another occasion where I need to get BBQ catering, I would definitely call Betty again.
(5)
R E.
I had such high excpectations for this place. So I got the catfish extra crispy (I had soggy fried fish), that made it extra tough. The Ribs do fall off the bone as advertised but they fall off the bone with no flavor . The sides were good, okra with tomatoes, black eye peas, solid mac and cheese and good collard greens. But thats not enough for me to return.
(2)
Danny H.
So, I actually been to this place twice. The first time I went, the service wasn't really good. It was ok to need a little improvement. Then again, I do have to admit that my buddy and I came like an hour before they close and I'm not sure if the guy was just tired and wanted to go home, having a bad day, or just wasn't good at service. But I will admit, the food was finger licking good! The second time I went to the place, we had a different waiter and he was better. Wasn't exactly awesome, but service was better this time. And again, I walked out with food coma. Both times, I had the combos and both times I had to waddle waddle out of the door. I believe this small place is a local family owned business. The service is fair to ok. But the food is bomb diggity delicious. If you get the combos, be ready to walk out sideways if you can finish the whole plate. Yup, it's some good ol' cookin up in here! And I'm gonna be rollin back up in here again for some finger lickin meats.
(3)
Kimberly A.
We too wanted to love the food after hearing so many good reviews. It was dry, the sauce was nothing spectacular... and the Mac & cheese that we had to wait for was so not worth the wait. Just mediocre in our opinion. Too bad
(2)
Dennis B.
Was looking for a good BBQ place nearby and glad we found Bonnie Bs. We got there right before they closed and ordered take out. We met Betty the co-owner and since she knew it was our first time she recommended her favorites. Needless to say Betty was fantastic - kinda like a favorite aunt. We tried some BBQ sauces and I love spicy flavors but the medium was even too much for me, so I stuck with the mild! We ordered 2 combo plates with brisket, hot links, chicken, and pork ribs. All meat plates come with BBQ sauce on the side unlike some places that cover everything with sauce. This way you can choose the best sauce for your own taste. The Mac and cheese and other sides were delicious We really enjoyed our meal - their portions were generous as well. The meats were really good and some of the best BBQ I've had. Will definitely go back and recommend if you want simple good quality BBQ.
(5)
Brian S.
Although I would have liked to give Bonnie B's a better rating, they were soooooo disorganized. Little did I know they had a groupon deal going on. A not to businesses - when you sign up for groupon, please don't get surprised when a hole lota people come knocking on your door and please, please prepare appropriately. In Bonnie B's case, the restaurant is exceptionally small, which just made the groupon phenomenon worse. We ordered the bbq chicken value plate with greens and candied yams and pulled pork with a salad and candied yams (which were actually the pureed style). We also got a drink. We wanted to order mack and cheese but they ran out. Shortly after placing the order, we tried to switch one of the sides cornbread, to which we were told "there's no way, its just too difficult", so we just went ahead and ordered it separately. Sigh. Really? With a coupon from a local mailer, this came to $23.95 - a little pricy for what we got. I think the larger portions are a better deal. The four working were nice, but obviously frazzled. I asked if I could get a glass of water and the woman asked "You already have water, right?" to which I had to respond "Um, it's for my wife" as if any justification was needed. When we didn't get our cornbread, we asked one of the servers if we could get our order, which he did bring, but only one piece. When we asked if we could get the other cornbread, he asked if we had the receipt. The receipt? Come on people, we aren't looking to skim cornbread. After a blank look, he said "nevermind, I'll bring you one". Unfortunately, he never did, so we asked another guy, who eventually did bring us that cornbread. As to the quality of the food, it was fine. Nothing that I'd bend over backwards for and I may even try it again - perhaps on a less busy night with no deals going on - and it will definitely be take out.
(3)
Shelia S.
Bonnie B's catered our summer lunch for approximately 45 people. The ribs, brisket, chicken and hot links were finger-licking good; and their collard greens and jalapeno corn muffins were out of this world. Delivery was prompt, presentation was great, the food was hot and we were all in BBQ heaven! We look forward to enjoying another delicious office meal from Bonnie B's in the near future!
(5)
Bruce T.
Bonnie B' s Smokin is truly a hidden gem! I was greeted by a kind, sweet, cheerful lady the moment I walked in- it might have been Bonnie- I didn't think to ask. She asked if I'd been there before and explained the different sauces. She could not have been nicer. I ordered the ribs, greens, and black-eyed peas. The ribs were awesome! They were smoked perfectly with a beautiful bark. The meat was tender and smoky wonderful. You can tell Bonnie's takes pride in it's sides. The greens were done perfectly and flavorful. The peas were also good. I am glad I don't live too far away because I will definitely be back!
(5)
Jen H.
The food was all-around delicious, especially the jalapeno corn bread, chopped brisket, and KILLER barbeque sauce. The owners were gracious and friendly, and we are so happy to give them our business. Wonderful!
(5)
p m.
I was in the mood for some good old fashioned barbecue or soul food. I ordered the fried fish dinner. Potato salad was OK, nothing special, Mac-n-cheese was passable. Fish had a good flavor to it. My husband ordered the ribs-which he liked as an 8, on a scale of 1-10, yams were too much like baby food though, but he did enjoy his baked beans. We could recommend this place, as a decent place to go to get some above average bar-b-que.
(4)
L L.
This place gets docked one star because of the staff. I called in an order and noted the promotion on. Their website for a free drink with a combo purchase. The guy on the phone said no problem and would get me the drink. Fast forward to pick up time...my wife picks up and the lady at the counter refused to give us a friggin fountain drink because she didn't have the coupon printed out! Wtf. A fountain drink costs about 5 cents to make and she opted to piss off their patrons. Boo Bonnie B's for your horrible customer service.
(2)
Mary JO V.
Uh-oh move over Big Mama, this place has excellent smoke flavored ribs and greens that will have you stepping up your competition. When I parked my car in back I could smell the smoker and knew it was going to be good food. The prices are not the cheapest but it is worth it once in awhile to splurge on a lunch this good. I had the tender ribs with some greens and mac & cheese and their great homemade sweet tea that sort of tastes like pineapple. All I can say is Deeelish!
(5)
Aaron G.
I liked their brisket, but what really put them over the top for me was their excellent greens and their BBQ chicken. The chicken was moist and tender: cooked just perfectly.
(4)
Jess C.
We heard about this new barbeque place in pasadena and were excited to go try it. It's easy to miss and we actually drove past it then went around and parked out front. We were greeted by Betty, who i think is one of the owner's of the place. She sat us down and explained the menu and was super nice. Service was amazing here and it was very reasonably priced. As for the food, it was pretty good. My boyfriend and I have had bbq from all around the country, and this was pretty decent. The brisket was the best, and the ribs were tender enough that they fell off the bone, but still firm enough to chew. All-in-all a great experience. Will definitely be going back.
(4)
R A.
I like the hotlinks and black-eyed peas, my dad loves their ribs. The candied yams look like baby food, mashed and pretty bland. The bbq beans taste like Bush's canned baked beans. They have a very unique bbq sauce, I can't explain the taste but it is just okay. Quick service, I usually go there on weekend and no one is ever in there Lol. Way better than Big Mama's Rib Shack (which is literally up the street).
(4)
Heather H.
Tiny hole in the wall family owned BBQ place. Really great service, yummy ribs, and best collard greens ever.
(4)
R M.
went to a fancy BBQ place in Pasadena looking for rib tips. When none were listed on the menu we consulted yelp and found Bonnies B's...the food was fresh, the server was impeccable and the ambiance was delightful. Needless to say we have finally found a BBQ place in Pasadena/ Altadena that meets our very picky demands!
(5)
NH G.
So glad I found this place!!! I'm a vegetarian, and it is very hard to find great soul food that is not drenched in pork fat :( Bonnie B's, fortunately, *does not cook vegetables with meat*!!! Yeah!!! Ordered the vegetable plate (choice between 3 or 4 vegetables, both come with a jalapeno cornbread muffin). Cleaned my plate and sorta wanted seconds. The pros: - Ridiculously good baked beans. Not sure when's the last time I had baked beans out; seems like this is a lost art. I could have eaten 4 more helpings of this! - Unexpectedly good yams. I'm used to candied yam chunks, where you can see the syrup and brown sugar. Bonnie B's are more the consistency of mashed potatoes. Sweet but not syrupy. Yum. - Great collards -- and did I mention, NO PORK! No secretly dreading what was in the pot liquor. - Exceptionally friendly staff. I went with a friend who had been in just once before, a few weeks prior, and one of the co-owners at the cash register remembered him, remembered his order, remembered his kids. Very impressive. The cons: - Mac n cheese was just so-so. I am used to chunky-cheesy. Bonnie B's is more saucy-cheesy. Also, it was a little peppery which I didn't expect (and didn't particularly like). - A little pricier than I'd like. My veggie plate, plus friend's bbq chicken with 2 sides (no drinks -- we had water) came to almost $30. Not saying it wasn't worth it, but definitely keeps this from being a weekly stop. Overall, great food, excellent service, easy to find parking. Awesome place to fill a vegetarian soul food craving.
(4)
Corina B.
Wasn't even craving BBQ but after having this down from Oklahoma true BBQ I am hooked & now can't wait to go back! Three choices of BBQ sauces mild, med, & hot spice level... My choice is the medium... put some on each bite I took of my chicken "sandwich" & I was in BBQ heaven! The BBQ baked beans, sweet velvet in my mouth! The service is great, the decor is cool and it's just plain good food. I can't wait to go back and try them desserts on the menu!
(5)
Richard O.
The ribs are tender and the sides are great, but the sauce is very meh. I was going to give them a 3 star review, but tender ribs are hard to comeby.
(4)
Blade M.
Ladies & gentlemen, we have a winner. Some of the best BBQ in so cal. Excellent ribs, uh-MAZE-ing Brisket (chopped), great links & pulled pork. The sides were also solid...greens, Mac & cheese baked beans. And all 3 of their sauces are good. Plus all the girls I was with wailed through the glazed (pound) cake for desert. The atmosphere is like a nice subway sandwich restaurant (nothing fancy)but the food & friendly staff were top notch. Move over Gus's...there's a new BBQ sheriff in town.
(4)
Jose B.
I'm always on the lookout for great BBQ. Been to TX and TN and the BBQ there is awesome. Went here for the first time last night with the family. I have to say the Brisket is the best I've had so far. The ribs were smoky but too fatty for my taste. I probably won't order the ribs again, but will definitely go with the Brisket and will give the Links a try. Beans were great. Potato salad was good too. Chicken was very tender, not dry. Wanted to try some of their cake slices, but they were out by the time we got there. Will definitely go back again. It's a small cozy place with limited seating. Service was great.
(4)
Dee W.
Food was so so. Service was great!
(3)
Fegie B.
My son-in-law was with us and he's always going to Louisiana to visit family and he said the ribs were the best he's ever tasted in his life!! We loved the experience of being there and looking at all the interesting images of powerful men and women of the world framed so beautifully, it's clear the owner has a vision besides creating the most delicious food. The greens, the brisket, the yams, all delicious, fresh and not oily. A winner and a place to go back to for real soul food. We struck lucky and haven't stopped talking about it since!
(5)
Stephen M.
We have eaten here for both for lunch and dinner. Lunch, mostly sandwiches; dinner, mostly the plates but my wife will occasionally just have a sandwich. The ribs and brisket are great. Pulled pork is actually diced pork but it's good too. Yes--all these meats come out of their own smoker. You add the sauce--and there are three sauces of increasing spiciness. Among the sides, we usually have the beans and the greens, and they're always good. I like the okra and tomato over rice. Friendly staff, and the most reliable barbeque in Pasadena. Definitely recommended.
(4)
Lisa C.
The food was good, not the best BBQ I've had, but good. The portions were not. Tiny portions of everything. So not worth the money. And the atmosphere was too ritzy and up-scale. If I'm in the neighborhood, I'd go, but other than that, its not worth it.
(2)
Jessica M.
Went here last night with the Husband and I am so glad we found this place. Hubby got the Pork Ribs combo dinner which is a 1/2 rack of ribs plus two sides He tried the candied yams and Potato Salad. I was feeling like mixing it up so i had the 2 meat combo dinner I had Beef Brisket and Pork ribs I also has Okra and tomatoes over rice. Although this place is small it is filled with pictures, and positive phrases allover the walls. The food came out and i was surprised the portions are so generous which made us very happy. I have to say the ribs were good, I really enjoyed them and the Okra. But where it is at is the Beef Brisket which is chopped and not sliced so you get tons of wonderful tender meat. The sauces here which are also home made are to die for the spicy has a great heat to it. When we were just ending our meal Bonnie came out and asked how our meal was and she seemed generally happy to meat us and pleased that we enjoyed ourselves. We will be back that much if for sure!
(4)
Stan T.
I've been here about 4-5 times and let me tell ya, the food is more than finger lickin' good, it's thumb, middle finger, the birdie finger, all them fingers smackin' lickin' goodness of homemade soul cooking. I've had the ribs, brisket, chix, fried fish and alomost all the sides. I hate to say that I love their food, cause everyone says that, but I LOVE THE FOOD here. Sure there are other soul kitchens around but Bonnie.... you my girl!! You have a way of putting a smile on my face and a couple inches more on my belt line. Service is good. The gals and guys double and triple up job duties as they are the cashier, the food runner and the busser. So be sure to take care of them. Bonnie will sometimes make an appearance as she comes out to talk to her patrons and says hi to everybody. This joint is small, so there might be a slight wait or take it to go. Only one small negative- they do not have a bathroom. You gotta go the hair salon 2 doors down to do your business.
(5)
KG G.
Nothing fancy, just delicious food! The veggies were delicious, the pulled pork sandwich was so well flavored, and the 3 levels of "hot/mild/medium" are homemade!!
(4)
Mar W.
Tried this place in Pasadena on a weekend and it did not disappoint. Had the BBQ brisket and rib tips combination with a side of collard greens and mac and cheese. Delicious! Brisket was served chopped and was moist and well seasoned. The rib tips, although tasty, were a bit on the dry and stringy side. We also tried the ribs and they were also good. Although they have three homemade sauces to choose from, they were just ok. We appreciated the friendly service.
(3)
Matt P.
In the last week, I've ventured out on a Soul Food expedition. I stumbled upon this place and at first had a difficult time finding it as the store sign is not facing you if you are driving north on Lake. Found parking in front of the restaurant and walked in. They also have parking in back I believe. When I opened the door, it felt like a sauna in there. Man, somebody turn on the ac. They had 2 or 3 fans funning that day. If the ac wasn't working, at least open up the door so you can get some fresh air inside. Anyway, I ordered one of their dinner combos with brisket and some other meat. I think it was tri tip. I have to say that I was a little disappointed with the food. All of the reviews kind of built me up for this place and it didn't really deliver. The meat was overcooked and dry. I don't know if it's because I went in for dinner and was left with all the bad parts. But it sure felt like it. I did like the greens. It was very tasty. If I am really jonesing for bbq, then I might make the drive here. If not, I will wait to go to Lucille's instead.
(3)
Brian V.
I visited the new location at 1280 N. Lake Ave in Pasadena, CA. The smoked brisket dinner offered a generous portion of flavorful, tender beef, chopped. I'm glad I ordered the sauce on the side. Too much vinegar for my taste but I know some folks like it that way. The black-eyed peas are well seasoned and served over rice. The greens are also full of flavor and tender. The candied yams were sweet and melt-in-your-mouth buttery. My wife tried the salmon which she said was delicious and my daughter had the chicken sausage which she also enjoyed. I will definitely go back.
(4)
monica m.
Our church had Bonnie B cater our lunch today and I'm SO glad they did! I've been looking for a good BBQ place in LA and I think I've found it! We had the chicken, sausage links, potato salad, and baked beans. It was SOOO good! I don't know how they made so much food and have it all consistently taste good! The chicken just falls off the bones, the baked beans were sweet and smokey, the potato salad had the right consistency and was not to mustardy, and the sausage links were little perfect bites of bites of spice loaded heaven. Soooo good! Was able to order a pulled pork sandwich while waiting and that was awesome too! It had chunks of melt in your mouth pork pieces squished between two buns. I ate it several hours later and it was still good because they put the sauce on the side. The buns weren't soggy. So nice of them! Would, however, have liked some slaw on the sandwich, but they might have left it out because it was take out. I was one of the people who picked it up and the service was outstanding. They were really nice and quick, helping us load the car. Street parking is ample (just remember to point the tires to the curb as they ticket there) and if it's full, there seemed to be some parking in the back. You need to look carefully for the restaurant for the signs are a bit small, but it's so worth it! Atmosphere is very cute and hole in the wally. Has a cool mural on one side and inspirational quotes and people they admire on the other side. Reminds me of a small BBQ joint I ate at when I was in N. Carolina. I gave Bonnie's 4 stars because I have yet to taste the rest of their menu. A church member has stated that their ribs are the highlight, falling off the bones, and a guy came in and picked up a catered order of 40 cornbread which makes me think that their cornbread must be....AWWWWW-SOOOMMMEEE!! Looking forward to giving them 5 after trying everything else!
(4)
Jewel L.
Very good BBQ. I've never had Oklahoma BBQ. It's more smokey. Very good. Great black eyed peas, okra and collard greens.
(4)
Dana S.
We had a catering order for a small party. Usually this means the food isn't as great as it is in the restaurant, but not the case here - the food was fantastic! We loved the brisket, the ribs were great and so was the chicken. We also had the yams, baked beans, greens and mac and cheese, all of them amazing. Everyone loved the food and completely stuffed themselves.
(5)
Lori F.
Great food and service. Just the nicest people ever. Can't wait to go back! Make sure you get a slice of both of their cakes! Yum, I got the fried fish and it was so good too! Their sauces are so good...Writing this, I wish I now had leftovers but we ate everything there!
(5)
Ray S.
Dropped in for lunch and am glad I did. Service was great and food was better. Three coworkers were with me so we had a variety of foods to taste. Didn't get to try the jalapeno corn muffin so will have to go back for it, but we tried the greens, ribs, mac & cheese, hot links, chicken and brisket. We're known for being pretty picky about food, so the fact that everyone only had positive comments serves as a testimony. Had read other reviews that raved about the beans (which are good). I've saved my raves for the potato salad though, excellent! The fact that they prepare some dishes without meat or meat by-products should broaden the clientele as well. Going back this weekend!
(4)
Elisabeth D.
I love this place. I've been meaning to try it since most of the BBQ places in Pasadena are pathetic. Big Momma's has boiled ribs, Barn Burner is just overpriced and ridiculous, Robin's is OK but my husband refuses to eat there--he says it's awful. I wouldn't go that far, but I haven't exactly fought to go back. Bonnie B's is the real deal. The meat--rib tips, chicken, brisket--is smoky all the way through. The meat has that pink tinge it gets when it's actually been smoked, not boiled (shudder). The sauce is perfect in my book--tangy and smoky, and I'm partial to the Oklahoma style. We had the okra, a mix of veg including corn and tomatoes, very tasty, and the black eyed peas on our order of brisket, which was chopped and lean, great with a splash of sauce. With our order of chicken, which was tender with a decent, crisp skin, we got macaroni and cheese and greens, both of which were devoured by my children--the small bites I had were good, the mac n cheese not too dry, with visible cheddar on the top. The greens were meltingly soft, and so delicious that you just know they were cooked with bacon fat. The fact that they were scarfed down by a 13 year old not known for his love of veg should tell you something. We also had the rib tip special, a paper boat piled high with chewy, smoky rib tips, just a tad dry--but for $4.99, who could complain. The bread that was served along all of the meals was the usual type that is served in southern barbeque restaurants--I won't buy the stuff, but my kids love it of course. Best of all, it's owned by local people who are grateful to have you there. Betty B's is a real neighborhood restaurant--not perfect, but the kind of place you just have to support. I used to occasionally drive to South Central to get real southern barbeque, and now I can just go down the street.
(5)
Ross W.
This small eatery is easy to miss. Pay attention to the street number. More importantly, pay attention to the street parking sign. We missed the "Turn wheels to Curb" sign and got ticketed. We had the 3-meat combo which came with 2 sides and bread. The fall-off-the-bone spare ribs is aptly named. The chicken hot links are absolutely delicious. Hubby who generally does not like beef brisket thought highly of it. The sides, collard greens and potato salad, were good too. A fan of sweet tea, I had to try Hollywood's SL Tea Slim Twist. It was sweet, but I liked it. How can anyone say no to Glaze-It-To-Me Cake? It's almost like pound cake, but much lighter, more fluffy and moist. Hubby who usually takes only a few bites of my dessert actually devoured half of the cake. Betty who double duties as cashier and server is very friendly. Service may be a bit slow, but it does not lessen the experience. Bonnie the chef came out and greeted us. This is indeed a family-run restaurant that puts love in their cooking.
(4)
Insung K.
Decent bbq joint with good flavored meats. After Perdue's closed I've been looking for another place to get decent bbq in Pasadena. Bonnie's B's Smokin is aight. You're going to spend about $10 for lunch and $15 for dinner, but they do have daily specials which changes all the time. My main beef with this place is their bread. I ordered a beef brisket sandwich and it came in the crappiest bun ever. It was almost like Wonder Bread. C'mon Bonnie, step it up and get at least a roll or something!
(3)
Roger M.
Great pricing for a whole lotta meat. Got the 3 item combo plate and left stuffed! The beef ribs were awesome and delicious. Will be back!
(5)
Jeff B.
Let me start off by saying I have a BBQ competition team and have been to the best BBQ joints all over the US. Bonnie B's is by far the Best BBQ in the area. The Sauces are original and unique and it's family owned and made. The only complaint I have is the potato salad is not home made, but who cares everything else is great. Go here you won't be disappointed.
(5)
judy h.
Absolutely AMAZING! The service, food, everything! I ordered the "fall off the bone" ribs with mac & cheese, and sweet yams. Mac & cheese was delicious! Cheesy & very tasty, while the sweet yams were sweet & perfect! The ribs literally fell off the bone, very tender, flavorful, and their bbq sauce was one of the best i've ever had. My boyfriend ordered the beef brisket, which was also absolutely perfect! Betty, one of the owners came by to talk to us. She was really nice & friendly, and told us how her family got involved in the bbq business. Everything was great about this place, definitely will recommend it to everyone! Just a heads up, I think they are only open 5 days out of the week, so make sure you check before you go. =)
(5)
Candace L.
Let's cut to the chase! This place is sooooo good! How we kept away for over two years is just senseless. Here's what we love and what we can live without: Musts: Ribs Chicken (says my man, but he loves chicken while I don't but it is tasty here) Brisket Yams Greens Potato salad (a little dash of pepper wouldn't hurt) Pass: Jalapeño cord bread muffin Mac and cheese Pulled pork Rib tips sell out early so keep this in mind. Sweet tea is very sweet and very good! The medium sauce is soooo good, I stopped myself from pouring it right down my throat and the food is amazing without it but once discovering how good it is I wanted it on every last bite! Private parking lot around back or street parking in front.
(5)
Margie D.
3.5 stars for the friendly service, delicious ribs and super tasty hot bbq sauce. To be fair, I am Southern and I'm a little jaded when it comes to authentic bbq. We had: Large pork rib plate (4 bones), 3-meat sampler (2 ribs, chopped brisket and pulled pork), collard greens, mac n' cheese, green salad, a Diet Pepsi (can) and water. Ribs are fan-freaking-tastic. They have a nice bark, subtle smokiness and falling off the bone tender. The chopped brisket was smokey, tender and juicy. The pulled pork was not good. It may have been "pulled" but barely. Large chunks, no bark, no smokiness, dry and chewy. The greens were cooked perfectly. I was surprised that this "authentic" Texas bbq place had never heard of Texas Pete's hot sauce for greens (vinegar and hot chilis) and they did need just a bit of spicing up. No meat in the greens, which is fine if you're vegan, but I like some ham hock flavor. Mac 'n' Cheese was just meh. Nothing like the creamy, custardy, cheesy mac I grew up on. I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Bonnie and her nephew. Very nice people who were eager to please. Grand total inculding tip $40.
(3)
David C.
A very tiny restaurant in a non-descript block in Pasadena, you might never notice it. While I still haven't found a rib joint to rival my favorite (Dr. Hogly Wogly's in Van Nuys), this was pretty tasty. I got the 3 meat combo, with ribs, brisket, and rib tips. The gal got the two meat combo with ribs and bbq chicken. They have three sauces. Sweet, mild spicy, and very spicy (which is pretty spicy, which I like). You get two sides. I had the mac and cheese and potato salad. You cannot choose the corn bread as side. This is a bit silly, as if they did allow people to do that, they'd make more profit, as I heard many people trying to order the corn bread as one of their sides. Doesn't matter. Only 95 cents for a corn bread. On to the meat. My favorite was the rib tips, which are dripping in sweet sauce. I got a pile of them on my plate. The brisket was very good, as well, with a small portion which could be bigger. The ribs were good, too, but you only get two. I'm not used to just eating two ribs. And even in the 2 meat combo, you only get two ribs. The chicken was all right, but nothing great. Just kind of boring. The sides were good. Loved the potato salad. Also, I never eat mac and cheese. Just not my thing. But I ate my entire portion here, so it is very good. Which they gave you a dab of butter for your corn bread. I like the place and will go back if I'm not in the mood for traveling West. However, still doesn't hold a candle to Hogly Wogly's.
(3)
Thatz L.
People are very feiendly, checking on you while you eat. It's nice to sit inside and eat...small but a nice comfortable feeling! Food is good! The greens and black Eyed Peas could use more seasoning, but then again, everyone likes it different. So maybe it's best if they put small bottles of Lawry's seasoning salt on each table so we can add it as we please. A great place for lunch though!
(4)
Patrick L.
One of the odder restaurant experiences I have had. Purchased about $40 worth of take out based on the good things I had heard. The food was good, not great. Have had better BBQ...have had worse BBQ. Odd part was when I asked for BBQ sauce for my to go order. Employee gave me a thimble size cup of hot bbq sauce. I asked for more...told me he was not allowed without charging more...I asked why...as I noticed bottle of sauce were on nearly table allowing customers to customize the sauce to meat ratio as they desired. He said it cost money...I acknowledged that it did...just as the plastic bag, styrofoam container and the sauce in the bottles on the table cost money and assumed that was built into the price. He did not know any other reasons, said he would get the owner. After about two minutes the owner came out. She explained she knew how much sauce people needed. I asked her how she knew how much sauce I needed or how she monitored use in the dining room where bottles of sauce offer virtually unlimited sauce. She said the sauce cost a lot, etc. Bottom line, silly to have such a long review about sauce...but on the other hand why would an owner be concerned about 50 cents of sauce for a $40 order. It will certainly influence whether I return or not.
(2)
Janelle L.
You WOW'd my socks off Bonnie B!! Who knew such a small little hole in the wall could produce such large robust flavors. I usually enjoy BBQ but this time was jumping out of my britches with that sauce!!! We tried the baby back and the brisket. Both tender and flavorful. The ribs alone had such a great smoky aroma and essence. For sides we indulged in some candied yams, Mac 'n cheese, collard greens and baked beans. At first we were going to dine in. Then it got a little busy. Keep in mind, the place is small so "busy" is relative. So we changed our order to go. The people running the place heard our discussion and immediately said it wasn't a problem, they'd just move some tables and chairs around. I'm glad we did. They were so nice even with the chaos due to the crowd. Lot's of people take out from this place. Parking is a challenge on the street but well worth the search. I'm definitely making this a regular spot.
(4)
Lisa C.
We came in on a Sat night and the place was completely empty, which was a little concerning but turns out it's more of a take out place. Another party came and dined it but for the most part, everyone takes out. Service The service was fine. It's a small hole in the wall so the cashier is also the server, which is cool. She was nice. Food Food was okay. It wasn't spectacular but it wasn't bad. The meats were tender, the sides were okay, the toast was just regular toast - everything was okay. They did, however, run out of mac and cheese, muffins, and pulled pork - which was a shame because the pictures of their mac and cheese look so yummy! Decor Loved - there was a huge mural on one wall and lots of pictures/quotes on the other walls. The decor suited the restaurant - it's fun. Overal - If I'm craving bbq, I'd stop by for take out.
(3)
Lyly T.
I ordered the 2 meat combo with ribs and pulled pork. Ribs were good but it didn't fall off the bone for me. The pulled pork was more like chopped pork than pulled pork. I was envisioning pork shreds and didn't get that. Loved the medium BBQ sauce. It had a nice kick. I can't imagine how spicy the hot would would be. Hubby ordered the fried catfish. That was good but a little on the salty side. We both loved the candied yams and the collared greens. The mac n cheese was blah and not cheesy at all. I came in with high expectations and was not floored.
(3)
Barclay W.
SOOOO GOOD! I love BBQ, but it is something that is so easy to mess up. There are a lot of chain places that try and do it, but there is just something missing in it. Bonnie's B Smokin though treats their BBQ right. They cook it slow and they add in that ingredient no big store can; love. Now I know what you are thinking. Love? Isn't that what parents just tell their kids to make meals more special. It is sort of a made up "spice", but it is something you can taste in your food when it is there. You can tell that they not only love making their food (because they take the time to do it right) but they love what they do and they love customers. I can't describe it, but it is something you will just have to taste. When we went I got the pulled pork dinner plate. I LOVE pulled pork. There are a lot of different types of pulled pork out there. I guess the best way I could describe this is more of the chunky (?) kind vs the shredded kind. It is still slow cook, melt in your mouth delicious. There is homemade BBQ sauce at the table ranging from regular to spicy that you can add yourself. It doesn't need it, but it takes it to an entirely new level. For sides I went with the baked beans and candied yams. The baked beans were good. Nothing crazy original there, but good. The candied yams, my god the candied yams. I could've eaten a plate of those alone and been a happy man. They are creamy and whipped to perfection. They have this intense, but not overwhelming, sweetness to them too. They could almost be your dessert. So good! We also had the jalapeno corn bread. It was good, but not the best I've ever had. Could've used a bit more spice to it. That being said it was well worth the extra 99 cents. The service also shines here. The woman who was wokring behind the counter was as sweet and charming as could be. She made you feel like you were transported into her kitchen instead of eating at a restaurant. That warm cozy feeling just added to the feeling of being taken care of and loved. The food is good here, but what truly makes this a can't miss if that secret ingredient called love that is abundant here. 24/100
(5)
Kathy C.
Everything we tried here was amazing. The ribs were falling off the bone and the sauce was just right. The catfish was moist and had just the perfect amount of crunch on the outside. The yams, greens, and black eyed peas were so good I wanted to slap somebody (but of course, not my mama cuz she'd kick my booty). But you want to know what was the best part of the whole experience? It was the service.
(5)
Chester H.
My wife found Bonnie B's when looking for a place to order from for Father's Day. For 20 people, we ordered 5 slabs of ribs, 3 lbs of brisket, 3 lbs of links, 2 pans of mac n cheese, and a pan of baked beans. The food was delicious, piping hot, and ready on time! Everyone loved it and kept asking where we got it from. We barely had any leftovers because everyone had to take a plate to go. Will definitely be ordering from Bonnie B's again.
(5)
Sarah B.
WOW. I can't begin to tell how you grateful I am that I happened to get a hankering for ribs and let the yelping commence. I found several places in the area (Pasadena) as the only place to get ribs where I live in Montrose is terrible. I hopped on the 210 and very quickly arrived with a parking spot waiting for me in front. I ordered the pork ribs, collard green and mac and cheese. My friend had chicken breast, mac and cheese and potato salad. All of the meat was tender and juicy. I thought the prices were VERY affordable considering market price for ribs. Is it wrong to try a place for lunch and head back for dinner same day? If that is wrong I don't want to be right.
(5)
Cap W.
Great food! Since we've moved to Altadena, we've been here frequently. Love the bbq and the sides are really good too. The Mac n cheese and the okra rice are our favorites. Service is super friendly too.
(5)
Nicole B.
The rib tips, Mac, and yams were great. I could not even finish half my plate it was so much food.
(5)
Renee S.
Its been a while since I've been here, the food was good but the portions were too small for the prices so no not worth going back for me.
(3)
Melanie P.
I love BBQ, but for some reason I don't frequent BBQ spots too much. Probably to spare myself from disappointment, since LA isn't really known to have too many good "American" BBQ spots. The ambiance is cozy. You can tell the owner really appreciates her customers. She has a lot of regulars who come in and she knows by name. You order from the cashier, then you find your seat. I had the rib combo with black eyed peas over rice and greens. The sides were SO good and the ribs were fall off the bone tender! It was also very reasonably priced--especially for BBQ. My meal was under $14.
(5)
Spro B.
Don't need teeth to eat these ribs. Love it
(5)
HJ U.
This place is such gem! Really great barbecue - and that's not easy to find in LA. The ribs, the brisket, the pulled pork are all meltingly good and terrifically flavorful. The mac and cheese is great, the yams are excellent, and I'm not usually a big fan of collard greens but these are terrific and I eat 'em all. The ladies who work here are also super sweet and friendly, and remember you after you've been in just once or twice. Fantastic neighborhood place.
(4)
Monica M.
This review isn't about the quality of the food because it is good. It is about service and preference. I've been here quite a few times since my last review. The food has always been good, but yesterday something took place that really bothered me. I ordered two dinners for which you get two sides. One of them I wanted two beans and was told that I had to order two different items. Are you serious??? She didn't make any suggestion to adjust order to get what I wanted (ex: order sandwich then get extra beans on side). Honestly this made me feel a particular way and I should have cancelled the order. Ended up eating something I didn't want and never eat. While there are establishments that say no substitutes, one thing I've never been told is that I couldn't have two of the same items as a side order. I could see if I was requesting something that was going overboard (asking for a free piece of cake with my meal), but this wasn't the case. To think that I am spending my money somewhere and can't eat what I want bothers me.....a lot, and I should have cancelled the order. I am a picky woman - this I know, but this was a deal breaker for me. While I have enjoyed the Barbeque here, I am not flexible about my side items.
(2)
Lisa D.
Are you a fan of southern food? If your answer is yes Then look no further. This is your must go to place. Lucille has nothing on this place. Ordered: *Fried catfish-it is yummy! Made only Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Comes with two sides. Lightly battered and tastes good without any dipping sauces. Isnt really oily either. I would highly recommend this dish!! One of the best fried catfish I've had! ! *bbq pork ribs-the meat falls off the bones really easily.not that much fat on the ribs either. Love how its not drenched in bbq sauce and you can dip to you liking. Highly recommended as well. Half rack 4-5 ribs $13.50 Service was great. The female staff was really nice and came to check up on us a few times. She didn't rush us when we couldn't decide on what to order. She was patient and very sweet. My bf and I also liked the pictures and quotes that were on the walls. Wished there was a restroom for paying customers. Tips: *Street parking or parking lot in the back. *indoor seating only *cash and credit card accepted *no public restroom *3 different bbq sauce that are made in house. *order, pay, grab a seat, and the food comes out to you. *if you want ketchup make sure you ask since its not available on the table. *closed monday & tuesday. *across the street from food 4 less. * they recycle bottles and cans so please be environment friendly.
(4)
Scott R.
Really good BBQ, really cool place with a very homey feeling. We got takeout for a birthday dinner and the food was good. They forgot to send us home with one of the items and we had to go back and collect that.
(4)
Lori A.
Very good bbq! We had pulled pork sandwhich, potato salad, pulled pork plate with mac and cheese and greens and 2 drinks. .. Sooooooo good. Had a southern feel, cured my homesickness :) only $17!!!!
(5)
Genevie G.
I've. Wen wanting to try this place and I'm glad I finally made time to do that. I had the pulled pork and with some potato salad and the Mac n cheese with the jalapeño cornbread. I could have don't without the potato salad but the rest was amazing!! Great customer service, super friendly place!
(4)
Julie S.
This year's Super Bowl Sunday was not a planned day. We originally had wings in mind (duh...Super Bowl). One should really plan ahead if one would like wings on Super Bowl Sunday. Thirty minutes before kick off we decided to run by Wing Stop to pick up 50 wings. The line was out the door of people who ordered ahead and like up randomly showed up. The average wait was an hour and a half according to the cashier. According to the dude in line, the wait was more like two hours. Knowing we'd miss the first half of the game waiting for food, we had noticed that there was a BBQ sign pointing to across the street. So we sauntered across the way & found a very unassuming establishment hidden away. The food is by far the best BBQ place we've had in a long long time. The ribs are a must & they peel right off the bone! There really isn't anything bad on the menu & take out is the way to go. Keep your eyes peeled when driving on Lake because it's easy to miss!
(5)
Janine L.
Fathers day at Bonnie B's BBQ food is great the baked beans Bomb Bay black eye bean and rice heaven on earth we had the 3 meat plates with 2 sides. portion was just right ,enough to fill u up but not to the point where u dont want to move lol I'm still sitting .. Small place but worth stopping g for
(5)
O. G.
Fairly satisfied with the food, had a brisket platter with the okra and baked beans... would have preferred more smoke or heat to the beans.. more on the sweet side. Brisket had a nice moist feel and enough smoke flavor... the spicy bbq sauce was a nice complement. The okra side was good, they were out of mac and cheese. Only complaint is would have liked more brisket. I had the big portion and didn't feel like half a lb in there... I will get the meat ala carte next time to avoid this but I will be back.
(4)
Mister M.
Needed an event catered and went with Bonnie B's. They did a wonderful job with timeliness and packaging. Plus all the food was delicious. Will definitely order from them in the future. Thanks Bonnie B's on a job well done!
(5)
Karina B.
Oooommmmggggg The staff is amazing and the food is delicious. The ribs are perfectly cooked and they are great with or without the BBQ sauce.
(5)
Joan S.
We were out in Pasadena touring Bungalow Heaven and wanted to eat somewhere closeby. Yelp reviews on Bonnie B's Smokin looked great so we tried it. And we loved it! I had bbq brisket, my friends had ribs and we tried different sides. The bbq beans were unbelievably delicious. So was our dessert. We will definitely come back when we are in the area. Thank you Bonnie and Betty!
(4)
Shelley D.
I am obsessed. I am addicted. I am so happy this place isn't too far from my house. I first was introduced to Bonnie B's when they had an event for Black History month at Caltech. There I had the smoked chicken sandwich with potato salad and baked beans. I'm not sure how these magicians don't use meat products in their sides, but the owners are vegetarians and only use spices in their baked beans to give them flavor. I also have had dinner there, where I had the catfish fry, corn bread and collared greens. Once again, how do you get your greens to taste like that without ham hocks? It's magic! A great place for delicious Soul Food. I highly recommend if you are ever craving: ribs, pulled pork, fried catfish, collared greens, cornbread or smoked chicken in a delectable bbq sauce.
(5)
Judy G.
Yes! Bonnie B's has bragging rights but it's humble and that makes me like it even more. Everything I've tasted here is done right, the chicken, the ribs, the collard greens, the beans, all of it. Bonnie knows BBQ!
(4)
Patrick H.
The ribs, the brisket, the pulled pork are all meltingly good and terrifically flavorful. The mac and cheese is great, the yams are excellent, and I'm not usually a big fan of collard greens but these are terrific and I eat 'em all. I love BBQ, but it is something that is so easy to mess up. There are a lot of chain places that try and do it, but there is just something missing in it. This place has such a good vibe to it. Really great barbecue and that's not easy to find in LA. The service was great and they treat you well. Brisket had a nice moist feel and enough smoke flavor... the spicy bbq sauce was a nice complement. Only complaint is would have liked more brisket. I had the big portion and didn't feel like half a pound in there.
(4)
Adrianne H.
Seriously the only place I think about going to when I want excellent soul food. Celebrating Mother's Day with my mom & my kids with Betty & Bonnie .....
(5)
Brad S.
I've had many a bbq lunch, dinner and late night snack. The pork rib and hot links were awesome! The pork ribs at Bonnie B's were larger than most bbq joints (not complaining) and not dry! What was the best surprise was the side dishes. My wife and I ordered two dinners, so we had four side dishes; mac/cheese, baked beans, collard greens and okra/tomato over rice. Just awesome! I gauge my entree by the side dishes, so I was glad for the tasty starters. The three choices of great bbq sauces was also a hit! What made the best impression was the service; attentive, service with a smile - all that and then some. Hard to find great service nowadays. First timers no more. We will definately try Bonnie B's again.
(5)
Diane E.
So good! Terrific food and friendly service. The ribs are great and are served with mild, medium or hot sauce. I like spicy food, so used a combo of medium and hot. The baked beans are the best I've ever had. Good potato salad, and it's a heckuva meal. Will be looking for an excuse to come back!
(5)
Peter P.
Excellent southern style BBQ. Great service and friendly people. Be sure to order early, food does run out because it's made fresh everyday.
(5)
Jez Z.
TL;DR The meat is really, really good, in fact it stands on it's own without barbeque sauce. The bbq sauce is an absolute watered down failure. The service is nice, but horrible. Come here for the meat, bring your own bbq sauce, bring your own drinks. ==================================================Â========== Dined with a friend, we were ready for some good bbq, I ordered brisket, bbq chicken and 2 ribs (pork), Mac n' cheese and candied yams, friend had catfish baked beans and cole slaw. Friend kept mentioning how good the baked beans were like 5x to be exact. As for my sides: Mac n' cheese was sour, candied yams were like baby food. The brisket was the star of the show, followed up by the bbq chicken and then the ribs, although the ribs needed a little bbq sauce, but not the watered down sauces that they served there. Friend's catfish was undercooked and partially raw, baked beans were good, but that's about it. Drinks: I ordered iced tea ($2.25 urine sample sized cup) and asked if there's unlimited refills, the gentleman said yes, then when I got my drink I was told that it isn't unlimited refills. I opted for the $1 dollar canned sodas instead, I asked for a cup of ice and got 1 1/2 cubes (not exaggerating). The guy serving us seemed very respectful, but out of it.
(3)
Daniel F.
My partner (from Texas -- he knows) and I just ate here and are SO GLAD we tried it. The eponymous Bonnie was SO friendly and checked in with us about all our food. She even offered to switched out one of our sides we hadn't eaten because it wasn't to our taste. The food: The sauces were fabulous. Medium is the best but definitely has a heart to it that lingers and grows. But the other two were good too. The okra was divine! Baked beans were also fantastic. Mac n cheese was good but would've been better had it not been swimming in the commonly juices of the other sides. Catfish was good. Ambience: Everyone working was super friendly, all the patrons seemed to know everyone. It is clear this place has a commitment to peace, love, and bbq. Verdict: I'm coming back and bringing reinforcements!
(5)
Les L.
Bonnie B's has wonderful BBQ, which is necessary because the service and the atmosphere at this restaurant needs improvement. We ordered the two meat plate with ribs and pulled pork, mac and cheese, and collard greens. The ribs were great, smoky and tender, and the pulled pork was average. The mac and cheese was solid and we liked their collards too, well-cooked. Our second dish was the hot links made of chicken and two sides. My two sides were really soup but absolutely delicious. The okra and tomato was almost like a soup and was super misplaced on a plate but if it was in a bowl with rice, YES. The collards fit in nicely with the other greens. The hot sauces really memorable with a good balance of sweet and tangy and heat. Bonnie B's is a hole in the wall with eclectic photographs as artwork. You order at a register and they seem perpetually understaffed as if one person does everything. Someone eventually came out to do things like give utensils and refill waters, but it's like pulling teeth. To top it off, the food takes a while to come out too. The food is seriously tasty but I'd highly recommend takeout.
(4)
Rocio M.
I had Bonnie's cater a small party of 50. I wasn't sure what to order but they were able to guide me with selection & keep it within a certain budget while making sure we wouldn't run out of food. I asked about warmers but they recommended not using one...something I'd regret later. Food was great & a huge hit with the first guests. Anyone eating 10 minutes after trays had been opened were eating cold BBQ....not good. This was an outdoor party & starting a line at the microwave inside was just embarrassing. The medium BBQ sauce was actually lip melting hot...making food inedible once covered in it. I should have been warned. Food is delicious, will eat here again & recommend to friends. Catering needs some tweaking. Throw in some burners & work in cost to catering menu....simple.
(3)
jon i.
After two very subpar meals in '12 &'13, we revisited recently and were happy to see their standards are back where they were in '11. Ribs were excellent and so was their brisket. We liked the choice of sauces and most of all, the ultra-friendly service. I'd been driving to Bludso's, Phillip's and JayBee's for the past 2 years but am very happy to see that my local favorite is back where they should be. See you there!
(5)
Des10ey S.
Sooooo good. I love their food, I have been there twice. The ONLY complaint....not a true complaint, but more of a disappointment is that you cannot order double sides. Exp. (you cannot say 2 sides of Mac n' Cheese, it has to be Mac N' Cheese and Greens...or yams...or whatever other side you want) It is printed on the menu, this was pointed out to me when I asked for double Mac n' Cheese. Other than that, the food and service is WONDERFUL. I will DEFINITELY be back.
(5)
Karen K.
The location is very small and parking is in front or out back. We came in here on a Friday night and my husband shared a combo thinking it would be plenty for the both of us. We ordered the 2 meat and 2 side combo and added the corn bread to it. Wow the portions are small here. We got the ribs, brisket, collard greens and mac and cheese. You only get 2 ribs and some brisket. We weren't full when we left. The sauces on the table was really good and the food isn't bad at all its just that portions are smaller.
(3)
Jamie D.
This little restaurant has the best ribs ever! Found them on yelp and am extremely satisfied. I gave four star only because there is no restrooms available. Although the food was bomb. Black eye peas were good and the salad was fresh. The full rack was $22. The hostess was nice and seating inside was small but cozy.
(4)
Lando T.
I have family in Mississippi & they know how to BBQ. This restaurant is the 1st time in ever that I can say, "Omg, this is really good!" The hidden gem that is Bonnie B's is the most amazing BBQ I've had in a long time. The hospitality suite is perfection and the food will leave you with a smile as big as the portions.
(5)
Caprianna W.
Absolutely delicious! Hits the spot when craving for some authentic soul food at an affordable price.
(5)
C G.
Best BBQ EVER! The collard greens and okra were also amazing. There is love and soul in the food here. Can't wait to come back!!!
(5)
Jeff S.
5 star ribs. Melts off the bone... Louisiana Sausage is good. Black eyed peas and rice- good. Ditto okra, tomato and rice. Jalapeno corn bread is good (needs more jalapeno) . Catfish is *meh*. or *bleh*. Prices are high. I will return again and again for the ribs.
(4)
Katie T.
I came here last Sunday afternoon and ordered the ribs with collard greens and yams. I was planning on ordering the Mac, but I'll save it for next time since they were out. Those ribs were perfect. The best ribs I've ever had. Melt-off-the-bone smoky delicious ribs. With a spectacular range of barbecue sauce, Bonnie B's has got ribs down to an art. As if it couldn't get better, the chef threw on an extra rib, on the house. Service was fast and super friendly. I felt totally at home and the vibe was just right. Soul food indeed. I will be back.
(5)
Peter C.
If this was in a better location there would be lines out the door. The customer service is first class. I actually have never been a fan of bbq places until a friend took me to Bonnie B's. It turns out I had never had bbq that set the bar this high. The ribs and the chicken are my favorites. I also like the jalapeno muffins I think they were. I don't know if they deliver or not but they should. If you're from the south where bbq is a way of life then I think even you'll love this place.
(5)
Cate T.
Came in here with a friend after spotting this place near a restaurant with some delicious pupusas. It's a tiny spot with a couple of tables and a promising menu. You pay first, take a seat, and your food is brought out to you. Sodas are of the can variety. I ordered the brisket and chicken hot links with the beans and "off the menu" coleslaw. My friend ordered the ribs with pulled pork and the same sides as me. The pulled pork was nice, but I think I it may have lacked something. The coleslaw was ignorable for me, though my friend enjoyed it. The beans are very good. The brisket was flavorful and juicy and what I was after. The chicken hot links were very tasty. They serve some regular grocery white bread on the side to mop up the sauce and juices, which is fine by me. I don't need fancy stuff all the time. I would definitely come back for the brisket and beans and to try a few other dishes. As a matter of fact, I told a friend about this place and he was dead certain this place was just plain not good. However, after telling him that the dry brisket he had was not in fact dry but juicy and flavorful, he ended up going back to try it. He agreed. It was good stuff, miles better than what he'd tried the last time. Apparently, the change in cooks over the last year was a thumbs up.
(4)
Silvanita R.
Bonnie B's is Smokin GOOD!!! My husband and I had the fallo ff the bone ribs and the perfectly prepared catfish from this establishment for the first time today - F A B U L O U S ! from the greeting at the register to the last delectable morsel. We had no idea there was this quality barbecue right in the Pasadena/Altadena area. I just may, single handedly, keep Bonnie B's in business. Well worth a try!!!
(5)
J E.
Wow! Amazing food. Fast, friendly service. Everything is home made and delicious. Definitely going back and bringing friends!
(5)
M M.
Think j just found my new favorite local BBQ joint! The ribs are tender, juicy & a little smokey. They offer BBQ sauce in 3 stages- mild, medium & hot. One of the cooks came out to deliver food, explain each sauce & followed up to make sure I was enjoying my meal. Staff is friendly & helpful! Definitely try the ribs & candied yams!!! Ps. The only drawback is they don't have a bathroom & one must venture to the Big Lots or somewhere else to do any business/wash hands. Bummer. Also, they close early on Sunday @ 5 pm.
(4)
Julie D.
I had no idea this place existed, probably living somewhat in the shadow of nearby Roscoe's. However, we eventually found it on here and decided to give it a try! The place is small, but clean and a little eclectic in decor... kind of religious, kind of a wall-of-fame... and a few fans in the front to keep you cool while eating their food. Most people were getting takeout, so it was pretty quiet. I got the fried catfish with a side of black-eyed peas and collard greens. The husband got brisket and sausage, mac n cheese, and baked beans. The two of us ate for about $30. The catfish was good -- not too heavily breaded, though a touch salty. The collard greens were flavorful, without bacon! And the black-eyed peas came with a little rice at the bottom, and although not as exciting as other sides, was good. I didn't try the meat, but the baked beans were also very flavorful and not too sweet. The mac n cheese was a little soft and not as cheesy as hoped, but not bad. Service is very friendly, and there are free BBQ sauces on the table -- mild, medium, and hot. I must be getting more tolerant, because even the hot was still pretty tolerable... though definitely try a little before "committing"!!
(4)
Roanne T.
Brisket was so good! I mean SO good. Especially with that extra sauce! I'll pass on the Mac and cheese next time...I think it needs more cheese or something. But the cornbread was great!
(4)
Sam M.
So far the best BBQ in Pasadena but that doesn't say much does it? Better then that place in South Pas. The ribs were tender and tasty. The Brisket was very good. But the pulled pork was not so good. It was tasteless and not really pulled. The greens and okra were very good. The best collard green in town, even better than Roscoe's. The beans were good too. The mac n cheese, well, so so. What I like most about this place is the lady who owns it (I think she's one of the owners). She is polite and pleasant. Overall, I liked this place and I'll be returning very soon for more ribs and brisket.
(4)
John G.
This place is actually "smokin'". You can smell the tasty smoke all around the block. Had the combo plate. Chicken, ribs, hot links, and brisket were all slammin'. The sauce made it all even more yummy. Collard greens, okra, and sweet potatoes all hit the spot. Come for the food though and stay for the hospitality.
(5)
Pancho V.
Folks it's that time of Year again...... What say you? It's Pancho's Annual "Tribute to Black History Month".... I Have a Dream I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this Nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal" I have a dream that one day Men & Women of all Nationalities will be able to sit down together at the tables of Bonnie B's, and enjoy some BBQ so good that it will bring blessings to all communities. I have a dream of "LOVE at first Bite", because.... there ain't NO Better BBQ in Town. I have a dream of a place where the Waiters & Waitresses are so Friendly, lots of Smiles and so attentive, they make you feel at home. I have a dream of Perfectly cooked piggy yelp.com/biz_photos/bonn… all chopped up and on a bun yelp.com/biz_photos/bonn… I have a dream of some Louisana Hot links yelp.com/biz_photos/bonn… with that snap when you bite them yelp.com/biz_photos/bonn… Mmmm so good! I have a dream yelp.com/biz_photos/bonn… a dream of some Pork Spare Ribs with that incredible smoky flavor, and just falls off the bone yelp.com/biz_photos/bonn… I have a dream of some Oklahoma style Beef Brisket that taste like nothing yelp.com/biz_photos/bonn… I've ever had before, so good, so Flavorful.......Mmmm they make you want more. I have a dream of Slim's Mac & Cheese yelp.com/biz_photos/bonn… and some Baked Beans yelp.com/biz_photos/bonn… the will have you beggin' for more. I have a dream I'll be commin' back for more!
(5)
A M.
OOOOOOOOMMMMMMMGGGGG!!!!! Soooo finger lickin gooooood!!! Ordered the full rack fall-off-the-bone spare ribs a la carte with a medium size mac n cheese + pulled pork sandwich with baked beans. took one bite of the rib and the whole meat falls off the bone. It's soooo good dipped n drenched in bbq sauce!! *drooools. You can tell the owner put a lot of love in preparing them ribs! So glad I got to try this place! Two thumbs up!!!!!!
(5)
April P.
I love, love, love Bonnie B's BBQ. It is sweet as opposed to tangy BBQ (more Southern, less Texas, which IMO is a good thing). It is located in North Lake and there a lots of free parking on the street right in front, you just need to remember to turn your wheels since it is on a slight slope or the 5-0 will come and get ya. My fave dishes: Brisket (nice and chopped but has a good amount of fat though, boo), Okra Rice which is so delish (but I wish they would raise the rice/okra ratio, I need my carbs!) and the candied yams are super delish. I am all about value -- the prices are decent but I just wish their portions were a little bigger. Most BBQ places have big/huge portions and theirs are kind of on the small side -- bad for me, but better for my waistline, I guess :(
(4)
Dene B.
the first time i went to bonnies i thought ok not too bad not the best but alright, i went back about three months later and ordered take out , got home and got a box of bones with hardly any meat on them, if a place is going to charge alot for ribs at least give enough food to fill someone's appitite not three bones with nothing on them and a half a scoop of beans and half a ear of corn. this place is a rip off.
(1)
S A.
My friend and I enjoyed a wonderful meal last Sunday. I was deliberating between the rib tips and the Oklahoma style brisket. As it was later in the day and they had just run out of the rib tips, I had my decision made for me. I had never had brisket this way before.....what a treat! I also had greens and Mac and cheese. I have never before experienced all three items at this level of perfection!!!! My friend had the chicken, baked beans and potato salad. She was equally impressed. The service was friendly and prompt......can't wait to return....THANK YOU!!!
(5)
Daniel V.
Hands Down the best BBQ in town. They never disappoint. Get some! Great personal service and by far the best ribs in town and all around.
(5)
Elton W.
Really awesome ribs Mac N Cheese and Baked beans also great. Do yourself a favor and SKIP the value size, it's not much food. Try the dinner combo with ribs and brisket
(5)
Rocky R.
Overall very good food. The bbq is very good, the pineapple infused sweet tea was different but good. I recommend this place and I am definitely coming back.
(4)
Laura S.
This was good for the price. FOOD: I ordered the Value price for $9.95 for the Off the Bone Ribs. It came with two ribs and two sides. I ordered a salad and Mac N Cheese. Corn bread: $1 The rib was good. It did come off the bone as I ate it and I was able to eat the cartilage off the rib. It was good. The salad was simple but a good size. The Mac N Cheese... disappointed. It was not Southern style Mac N Cheese or BBQ Mac N Cheese. It was very bland. I was kinda sad about that cuz you'd expect the good Southern style (which I've had in the South before) and it was bland. I ate it cuz I was hungry... had to put sauce in it. Corn bread - yummy. Plain. SERVICE: Very fast and friendly. PARKING: Street Make sure you turn your wheels accordingly because apparently, this is on a hill. -_- AMBIANCE: Hole in a wall.
(4)
Mark F.
Great food, great service. Service is key for me. I work in a customer service industry, so good people skills are a must for me to spend my hard earned cash. I gladly purchase good soul food from Bonnie B's!!! Can't wait to return. :-)
(4)
Heather C.
Really, really good. This is the best barbecue I've had in a restaurant. I particularly like the spare ribs and brisket and all of the sides. The sweet tea is very sweet and tastes like pineapple.
(5)
Kat K.
I was wondering why my fingers smelled smoky this morning and I just realized it's because I had the spare ribs last night. Yes, I've washed my hands on several occasions after last night's dinner -- the flavor of the rib was just that smoky. Let me tell you. The order: Beef Brisket with okra/tomato/rice and mac & cheese Pork Spare Ribs with candied yams and baked beans All freakin' delicious. The okra had really good flavor, the brisket was really tender...probably the most tender brisket I've encountered so far because they shred the meat rather than keep it in one big chunk to dry out. The mac & cheese was my least favorite though..a little dry and chewy at parts. The ribs were tender on the inside and smoky on the outside. The candied yams were perfect (this is the mashed kind, so those looking for big chunks - you have been warned) and the baked beans were gloriously sweet, barbecue-y and soft. Cripes, I love my baked beans. The owner told us they make their own bbq sauces and had me try a spoonful of their spiciest sauce. Holy cow. It's no joke. And I love and can handle spicy. I immediately felt heartburn as soon as it went down my esophagus and knew this is my new sh*t. I asked for some on the side and slathered my meats in the tangy sauce before taking each bite. Now, we did takeout so we didn't get to experience the in-restaurant dining, but even in our short exchange, the owner was full of energy, really excited about her product and really excited to serve her customers. Gives such a great vibe to a place when the person behind the counter is so gung-ho. YEA EAT THAT BARBECUE. Place is great for takeouts and small groups. Highly recommend the value meal - the lunch portion is really the perfect amount of food you should be having.
(4)
Anthony C.
We visited this restaurant because we had a craving for barbeque. Checked on yelp, and found that this place was one of many in the area. Bonnie B's is small (fits around 30 people max). It's located directly off Lake ave., in the middle of Pasadena. Inside was definitely small, but very welcoming. We were immediately welcomed in by a very polite woman who gave us menus and offered us a table. We surveyed the menu, and I asked her about the collard greens, which I've never had in my life, and she immediately offered a sample. They were delicious. My girlfriend and I shared the fried fish, mac and cheese, baked, beans, collard greens, and corn bread. Just amazing. The only thing I'm upset about was that I hadn't tried the ribs. We both bought an iced tea. This teas was amazing. It was sweet tea with what I can only explain to have a mango, coconut, and pineapple taste to it. Next time I'm in Pasadena, I'm definitely coming back and getting the ribs & brisket. The only negative things I can say was that the eating area was uncomfortably hot, though it was 100 degrees outside. It was also on the pricey side, if you were to not share the food. Although, I feel like the portions were plenty big. Other notes: they make their own barbeque sauce. They had three different kinds, unfortunately I didn't try them, but you know darn well sure I will next time when I get my ribs.
(4)
T P.
Really great. Friendly atmosphere. Fantastic food. It was hot and sunny and glaring right in our baby's face, and the lady ran over to close the blinds and make sure we were comfortable. All the food was good, but the okra and tomatoes over rice was particularly good. I don't even like okra... Not much for kids here, but the baby was welcome. Very clean, and not too noisy.
(5)
Roland L.
First things first, street parking requires turning your wheel to the curb...or else you'll get a parking ticket! But if you're eating here, we'll make sure you don't get one! That was the first thing I was greeted with by one of the gentlemen who work here. He actually wanted to check where my car was parked to ensure I had my tires facing the proper direction! Everyone employed at Bonnie B's is extremely polite and friendly. There is a down right sense of feeling at home here. On to the food review. Being my first time at Bonnie B's, I thought it appropriate to order a combination dinner plate. Let's see, oh, okay...there's a 3 meat choice plate for $16.95. I'll have the Spare Ribs, Brisket, & BBQ Chicken please. For sides, I'll have the Black Eyed Peas and Mac & Cheese. I'll have the wheat bread! Mind you, I arrived around 2pm, so there was nobody here. I was so eager as I could here them chopping the meats and preparing my plate in the kitchen. Finally, after about 5 minutes passing, here arrives my lunch! As I gazed down upon my plate, I found it necessary to snap a few photographs. My immediate impression was, the reviews are correct about serving size: Brisket is chopped rather than sliced, 3 pieces of spare ribs, thigh and wing of the BBQ chicken, thinly spread mac and cheese. There appeared to be a generous serving of black eyed peas but that was attributed to the bed of rice of which it was served on top of. Alright, time to grub! Mmm, there is a nice smoky molasses flavor to the brisket. Wow, the reviews were right, the meat does slide off the bone of the spare ribs, but also on the chicken! Okay, these spare ribs are not meaty at all! Oh, look at the thigh meat! That's some wonderfully infused smokiness going on in here..oh wait, there's not much smokiness anymore! Yes, I adore the black eyed peas...not the music group, but the one I'm eating right now! As I finished my lunch, I found myself to be hungry still. All in all, I'd have to say that Bonnie B's is not thee greatest BBQ joint out there. They do have charisma and their food is decent. Perhaps they need to work on their serving portion a little. Final rating: 3.5 (Rounded up...man, yelp needs to let you rate with half stars!)
(4)
Helen K.
Horrible folks and horrible food. The black lady who works there was seriously creepy. She pretended like she did not understand me when I asked her about something on the menu and she kept playing games with me the entire time I was there. (Basically she acted like she did not know what I was saying most of the time) Several times, she ringed up extra corn bread I did not order. She made fun of me, laughed out really loud at me and stared at me incessantly, making me uncomfortable. (She was acting in this manner to me because I was the only customer in the restaurant at the time) The guy who brought out my order from the kitchen seemed pretty strange himself. This lad's general demeanor toward me made me unsafe being in the establishment, just like the lady. Food was okay, not fantastic though. Too pricy for something that taste like cafeteria style food. The temperature of the food was very hot as if to cover up the blend flavors of the side dishes and the dry textures of the meat. Don't waste your money here and avoid this spot.
(1)
Jonathan S.
This place was legit. Good own home sould food. The staff and the service were top notch, the ribs fell of the bone, and the cornbread was phenomenal. Highly recommend. WELL DONE BONNIE B'S!
(5)
Justin C.
place was a bit hard to find. if you can see the big lots, going towards the mountains, i'm pretty sure the parkinglot for bonnie b's is the next right. right in between two buildings. anyways, came in, its a pretty small place, clean lots of pictures and ect. ordered food, one big bbq ribs meal and for my friend, one big oklahoma beef brisket. sides: candied yams, baked beans, collard greens, and slim's mac and cheese. to drink: two iced teas. food came relatively quickly. the sweet tea was very interesting... friend thought it was too sour, i thought it was interesting... kinda like the arnold palmers arizona tea... like they mixed lemonade and sweet tea together. anyways. the sides were pretty good. collard greens were good, candied yams were good, and baked beans were great. friend and i agreed that we didn't really enjoy the mac and cheese. donno. weirdish texture. ribs were indeed fall off the bone, out of six ribs, two were kinda small... and nothing but skin and bones but eh. their sweet bbq sauce was delicious. wish i had more. split everything half half with the friend so the brisket. mmm pretty good. not sure if you're supposed to use bbq sauce or if its already cooked with it so yeah. was good without any additional sauce. i donno, i was kinda meh about the whole thing... next time i'd probably just order a full rack of ribs a la carte. i think i was just hoping for more ribs. haha service was very friendly. we were given samples of the iced tea but yeah. eh. will probably be back for some more ribs. i guess i just wasn't feeling it today.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Sue W.
This is a great BBQ place. The meats are really smoky flavored and you can tell they were smoked loooooong and slooooow just the way the should be. I had the best smoked chicken wings ever and great smoky ribs. I don't normally order something if I make it myself and I make a pretty good mac 'n cheese but this was a pretty darned good version that I would certainly order...creamy rich cheese sauce with a light bread crumb topping. The people are super nice and very community-oriented. I'm definitely a fan!
(4)international n.
Amazing bbq. The brisket, ribs and catfish are my favorite, and all the sides are really good too - mac n cheese, baked beans, black eyed peas, okra. Check it out when you get a chance - yum!
(4)victoria o.
This is one BBQ joint that you don't want to pass by! Trust when I say that it's hard to find good BBQ, and this place is Delicious! The sauce for the BBQ was so good I almost wanted to drink it! It was sweet and spicy, just perfect. The brisket was amazing and the beans were seasoned just right too. I went on an off hour and there wasn't much action, but as good as this place is, I'm surprised that there's an off hour at all. Just typing this review up made me go get my left overs!! YUM Yelp!!! Don't walk RUN to Bonnie B's! Price is right, and it's food done Right, with good intention and love behind it!
(5)Iron S.
This is the place for ribs. They have a smoker out back and you can smell it as you go in. The staff was very friendly and helpful. This is very uncommon in socal. They talked to you like you were a friend, but didn't make you get you own drink ;-D The ribs had a good smoke ring and the meat came clean off of the bone. This is now my favorite bbq joint.
(5)Talmadge M.
Tried the pork ribs and black eyed peas and rice last night. I was pleasantly surprised w/ the flavor of the b.e. peas. The ribs had more cartilage on them that I care for, however, you can tell the meat spent some time w/ the smoke. I wasn't a big fan of the BBQ sauces however, the product was tasty. I like a little more bang for my buck, which is becoming hard to come by....
(4)Avery R.
Ate here for the first time this past weekend. Wasn't very impressed. The best thing was the Banana Strawberry Cake. Otherwise, the links were very average, the ribs were a little tough, and the baked beans were honestly a little undercooked for my taste...i like my beans a little softer. Don't know that I would eat here again.
(2)JL S.
Very good. I am not a spare rib lover, BUT, this place is the best for spares. Its near perfect. Sides terrific. I am a BBQ'r from Saint Louie, and grew up with STL RIBS. I gotta say, the staff is terrific, Thanks Howard, and will be back. This place is a hard to find small door, but worth the looking.
(4)Jackie R.
Found out about this place from a neighbor and absolutely enjoyed every single morsel. Maybe because it's been a while since I had good old fashioned smoked bbq ribs and chopped brisket which were in two words -- the bomb! The bbq sauces (all 3) reminded me of a little joint in my hometown of Oklahoma City called Leo's. We ate in the restaurant which had a nice homey feel and as we were eating I kept telling my son this taste just like Leo's-- turns out the owners are from Oklahoma. I will definitely go back! They really captured that Oklahoma smokehouse flavor! My husband LOVED the collard greens--said it reminds him of his grandmother's. My only regret was I forgot to try the strawberry banana cake. If it's anything like Leo's which i suspect it is I'm sure I will enjoy it too!
(5)Christine M.
What a find! Husband and I are celebrating this one! I don't know why we stopped in here for lunch the other day.. it rang a faint bell in my head... something I read on the 'Net? But we were both up for something new, and we both despair of good BBQ in Pasadena or even nearby (nearby being as much as an hour in any direction, depending on the strength of the craving). I won't list the many crushing disappointments we've endured, beginning with Big Mommas and BarnBurner... an exhaustive list of dry tough meat with candy-ass and candy-flavored sauce, trust me. Well, our Q blues are a thing of the past: we have found Bonnie's. It's a small place, hard to eye from the street. Inside it has a gleaming well-scrubbed ambience, and a notable collection of inspirational wall decor. We found that charming if idiosyncratic and knew we were in the "home" of a defined real person with a sense of purpose in life and in business. Well, the inspirational art on the walls is all of a piece with the place... Service was quick, friendly, and accommodating. We both ordered the brisket plate. And then...OMG! A huge helping of smoky, fragrant, succulent chunks of beef, cut like pot roast instead of thin slices like roast beef in a cafeteria. This is brisket redefined: beyond tender, truly MELTING, with flavor all the way through and a hint of carmelization at the edges. A large portion (but we both managed to eat every bite). And the sauce -- the sauce! I can't wait until they bottle it for to-go sales, which I need them to do starting tomorrow. I used the "medium", and it could not have been better. Not sweet, not syrupy, but just the right level of spicy, complex, elusive, with a 3-second delay of mellow heat that was just exactly right. Shall we talk comfort food? The sauce and the meat together were in perfect union, a harmony that reminded me why BBQ really matters to a good life. My husband raved about the "hot" version of the sauce, but I couldn't have been more happy with the medium so I couldn't talk myself into a bite with the hot, even for research purposes. The potato salad side was terrific; bread was traditional white, baked beans were good (and I made them heavenly with the addition of.... yes, you know where I'm going here... with a couple of extra hits of the medium BBQ sauce). I think that sauce would make anything a treat. I want to try some of the other dishes on the menu, and I will, I promise, someday try the chicken, the ribs, and the rest. But it's going to be awhile, maybe a long while, possibly a very long while, before I can choose something other than that incomparable brisket (oh, those, thick, juicy, meaty chunks of pure flavor!) and a modest pool of that perfect medium sauce. Bonnie came from out of the kitchen for a few minutes while we were there and, like her food, she really is the real deal. Earnest, conscientious, caring, a bit proud of what she's got going here -- as well she should be. A charming woman with a real gift. I get tired of the BBQ chatter: Texas vs Carolina, the dry rub vs the sauced, etc. Good BBQ is good living no matter who invented it, no matter the technique. Bonnie's is Oklahoma style if that tells you anything. What I know, what's worth not just chattering about but yelling and yelping, is that Bonnie's serves the gold-standard of brisket with sauce that you will tell your relatives about. It's guaranteed to address a BBQ craving for at least a day or so -- and then it's time to go get some more. Truth be told, I would drive way out of my way to eat here, but I've lived a good life and the BBQ gods are (finally) looking after me. Bonnie's is just 6 minutes from home.
(5)Jason T.
Ordered take out based on the Yelp reviews, VERY PLEASED with the results! :) Ordered late in the day on Sunday, became comical as the person on the phone had to check if they were out on each menu item. Very busy, go earlier in the day to make sure you don't miss out! Server was very friendly when we went to pick up, apologized for being out of so many items. Absolute must gets: ribs (fall off the bone meaty) and brisket, get the black eyed peas for a side. Links were good, but nothing out of the ordinary, I think because they're all-chicken (sometimes healthy ain't the best). Mac n cheese was okay (cheese had separated and was kinda gritty) and the candy yams were a little strange (almost paste-like...not sure if it was because we got the very last container's worth.) They were out of the collard greens, so we'll have to go back (oh, darn! ;) ) and try that and the catfish. Overall, even for take out a great experience, will definitely be going back!
(4)Lizeth M.
Ate here for the first time on Friday. Small little place which would be easy to miss if you didn't know it was there. It was delicious and definitely worth giving it a try. Husband I split a 3 meat combo, we weren't sure it would be enough food but we were actually stuffed. The food itself is worth going for, but I must say the hospitality was amazing!! You're greeted with a warm smile and a cheerful attitude which sadly enough is hard to come by these days. We left the place stuffed and with smiles on our faces. You can tell they put a lot of heart into this place as it reflects in the food and in the service, I hope this place does well.
(5)S. M.
Very very good beef brisket. I've been here 3 times now and ordered the brisket each time. For the sides, the okra was very good and the beans are excellent. The mac 'n cheese was good the first 2 times I went, but not that good the 3rd time. I was informed that all of the sides that are served are homemade, except for the potato salad, which is store bought. They have 3 barbecue sauces that are homemade. Mild, medium, and spicy. They spicy isn't too spicy, but I prefer the medium because I think it has more flavor. The homemade sweet tea they have (when they have it) is excellent as well. If they have any cake, make sure you get a slice. I had the strawberry banana cake and it was, without exaggerating, the best cake I've ever had. Service is always very good and very friendly. The restaurant is difficult to find, even if you know exactly where it is, but it is worth the stop. Parking is located in little alley behind the restaurant.
(4)Brian F.
Tried this place for the first time last week and was extremely happy. The food is delicious! The brisket and ribs were perfect and he side dishes were just as good. My wife and I got two sides each, all different kinds, and each was just as good. The staff was equally great. Very attentive and hospitable. We're planning on being regular diners.
(5)Rafael V.
ATTENTION PASADENA BARBECUE LOVERS!!!! Bonnie B is SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIUOS! What I mean is that there are truly no words....seriously. Every single time my buddy and I sit down to eat this barbecue there are no words spoken. Grunts of hmmmmnnn, or maybe mmmmm mmmm mmmm is the only thing that is heard. The BEEF Ribs fall right off the bone, the sauce is fabulous, the spare ribs are fantastic, the baby backs are wonderful, the links are superb, the greens are on point, the baked beans are tight. The only problem with Bonnie B's is that there is no restaurant. It is pick up and delivery only and all orders have to be placed the night before. But believe me when I tell you that 24 little hours is worth the wait!!! BUT WAIT THERES MORE.........have to try the strawberry cake that is to DIE FOR!!!!! Check out there website and get to ordering your ribs now! Before I leave you I wanted to go on record and tell you that Bonnie's was the best barbecue in the PASADENA AREA. Try them all if you don't believe me, I have. Big Mamas is the closest thing to a good thing in the area. Barn Burner is the McDonald's of barbecue representing the other end of the spectrum. Everything else is just mediocre in comparison.
(5)Che L.
Whoever compared this to Phillips or Woody's is out of their mind. I ordered the Brisket dinner and a 1/2 lb of Hot Links. Brisket was chopped up (like carne asada) not sliced like you'd expect, un-sauced, and under-seasoned. If you are serving meat with sauce on the side, I expect a dry rub taste. "Hot Links" were far from hot, more like sausage than links, chopped up into BIG chunks, and un-sauced as well. Who wants un sauced sliced hot links?? They offer Mild, Medium, and Hot sauce. Luckily I asked, because they had only given me mild...without asking. The mild was runny and the hot was too thick. The Mac n Cheese isn't baked...enuff said. Kraft mac n cheese is better. The Potato salad tasted like It was bought from the Ralph's deli counter. STILL waiting for a viable BBQ option in Dena cuzz this spot definitely ain't it.
(1)rob P.
For real smoked Q in California, Bonnie's is pretty decent. Since it is almost impossible to find good Q in this state without doing it yourself. Don't forget to try the smoked Bologna. If your are looking for boil in a bag bbq sitting in a half inch of sauce this is not the place. Definitely better than Big Mama's up the street.
(4)G W.
I called in an order and had some issues with that but it was quickly corrected. The food was delish the only thing I have a major gripe with is the Potato salad. I ordered a large t go with my 3 meat combo and 2 meat combo. The potato salad was from Smart and Final and they charged me 7.00 for a large side...ARE YOU KIDDING ME! That is the only thing that I am very disappointed with and outraged over. Do not mess with a 300 pound man and his BBQ/Soul food!
(4)Christina H.
The people are so friendly and the food is seriously the best BBQ I have had yet! And I'm not much of a BBQ person! Ribs fell right off the bone, the beans and BBQ sauce was so delicious. I highly recommend this place if your in the mood for delicious and affordable food!
(5)Darren M.
I was surprised by how good these ribs are. Oklahoma City style. I ordered some large party platters and all I can say is that the food was a big hit at our party. The ribs were very meaty and the sauces were fantastic. Everyone also loved the beans. Amazing. In fact everything was good. I will be going back!
(5)Rachel W.
Mehhh. Got my order all wrong. Nothing really stood out. I only got to try the sides since they forgot my BBQ Chicken. The potato salad was alright. I would return for their sauces, though. Very good flavors. Try at your own risk.
(3)Leslie D.
We thought this was some of the best BBQ we have found. The ribs and brisket were delish and vey moist. The hot BBQ sauce was perfect for me. Loved the sides, too. Collard greens, beans and cornbread. Sides are meatless is you have veggie friends. $30 for two of us. We have paid a lot more for BBQ not nearly this tasty. Loved the Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and Gandhi quotes on the walls, just a side note. Easy parking out front.
(5)A. K.
Ordered the brisket plate to go w/BBQ beans and black eyed peas over rice... Delicious!!! The food exceptional and the service here is great. Bonnie B's Smokin is a must if your looking for great BBQ in Pasadena!!
(5)Vicky G.
Good food, good prices. I ordered the smoked salmon with mac n cheese and potato salad. The salmon was delicious, as were both of the sides. I know you should stick with meat at BBQ places, but I was thinking about all of the calories in the sides and had to try for something a little lighter for the main dish. The salmon was the healthiest thing on the menu. The service was really good and all of the staff were so friendly. You order at the counter and they bring the food out to you. Staff checked on us and asked how we were doing and if we needed anything. I love the inspirational sayings and decor around the restaurant. Not your typical restaurant decorations. That being said, it's a pretty small place, there were a few spots for street parking, and everything is served with plastic plates and cups. So come here for the food and the nice experience, and not if you are trying to be fancy or impress someone!
(4)Alana M.
Reliable/Friendly Service and Great Food! Never ate here before but saw that they have great reviews so decided to give em a shot for catering my best friend's wedding shower. Below is what I ordered: 1 full tray Chicken 1 full tray Brisket 1 full tray Ribs (fall off the bone!) 1/2 tray Links 1 full tray Mac & Cheese 1/2 tray coleslaw 1/2 salad Everything was soooo delicious! Brisket, Ribs, and the Coleslaw were my favorite. Betty is the one who helped me with the order. She's super nice and detailed, which is a must to work with when you're throwing a party for 100 hungry people. BIG PLUS IS... They gave me more food than I even expected. I ended up with two large trays of chicken, one tray of ribs plus 3 large foam boxes of extra ribs, and two half trays of links. Betty said Bonnie packs it this way so that they don't cram in all the meat into the tray so that the lids stay on. In the end, everybody loved the food, was super stuffed, and there was about 1/3 of the food left over. Therefore, I highly recommend this place to anyone who is considering having a BBQ catered party.
(5)Cathie C.
This is one of the BEST BBQ places I've ever been to! The staff and owners are super helpful and friendly. The food is incredible! This is one of my local go-to's for BBQ.
(5)Nick G.
Superb BBQ and wonderful friendly customer service. I've had the brisket and pulled pork sandwiches and plan to go back many more times to explore the menu
(5)Mora K.
Come to Bonnie's BBBQ, the extra B is for... Anyways, this immediately became my favorite BBQ place; it's inexpensive and it's seriously flavorful. They have three BBQ sauces and they are all so good that it was hard to choose which one to use on my ribs! All of the sides were so good, I wish I had room in my tummy to get a few more servings of the candy yams and macaroni. I'm so glad that I found this place! I will be back for sure and I will recommend it to all of my friends.
(5)Danny A.
1/2 lb of meat during lunch is more than enough for me, but you have to pay for side orders. People working there were super nice and friendly. The food was good.
(5)Eric L.
What a gem of a BBQ/comfort food joint in N Pasadena. My coworker and I pulled into a competitor's parking lot and instantly decide to look for an alternate, what we found was Bonnie B's. We were greeted and helped by Ms. Bonnie herself which enhanced the overall experience. Being first timers Bonnies was getting us all sorts of samples as we contemplated our lunches. We ended up getting brisket and chicken and both were great. The brisket was especially notable due to the great smoke flavor and juiciness, almost no sauce needed. Chicken was very good also but after the brisket I want to stay on the red meat road for my next trip. The BBQ sauce offerings at the table are very good and will please any palate or spice lover. Its nice to see the BBQ arrive to the table un-sauced, no mystery here on what gives the great flavor to the meats. The one item that didn't knock my socks off was the mac n cheese but this dish is usually hard to please everyone. It seems like the mac n cheese you grew up with is the gold standard and Bonnie's recipe is just different than what I was raised on. I would encourage everyone to try it for themselves. See you soon Bonnie, and keep the grill and smoker well stocked, I am going to try and eat it all.
(4)Lawrence C.
The food is ok, portions are small, the service is pretty weak and they are usually out of sides... Called to order for pickup and Bonnie just left me on the phone for about 15mins, called back and she lied and said that nobody was on the phone when she returned (utter bs) so I placed my order... Let me just say that if you're still hungry after spending $15 then you need to go elswhere and no I'm not a big/fat person.
(2)Nicole N.
Excellent ribs...the sauce is delicious. It's in a decent part of the hood. On first visit I didn't get the hospitality I expected but the food was so amazing I went back. Second visit the customer service was definitely better. My husband devoured the ribs and I think I saw him dipping bread in the sauce. 3 stars instead of 5 because if you can choose two sides why the restriction? There is no double anything for your two sides so if you don't like the other offerings...tough. My yams were kind of... creamed? Don't let this deter you because the ribs really do fall off the bone and the links are tasty tasty! Call ahead if you don't want to wait. I didn't eat at the restaurant on either visit. It's smaller and almost like a cafe so probably not ideal for a sit down with a large group. It'd be great if you're grabbing a quick bite though.
(3)Ericca H.
Yumty! Yes I meant Yumty! It was so good I have been back several times and live in North Fontana. Which is about 45min away. (When I drive lol) We don't have much BBQ / Soul Food worth talking about out here. The ribs were tender, rib tips were perfect, the brisket was amazing and the BBQ sauce was outstanding. I have gone to a lot of BBQ places and the meat is great but the sides are to be desired. Their sides are delicious. I recommend it to everyone. They didn't have exactly what I wanted one day but they made special accommodation to make me happy. I love love love this place. It was clean and has a cute little dining area. Wonderful place for BBQ. I have yet to be disappointed!!!!
(5)Roxanne M.
I had been hearing about Bonnie B's around Pasadena so my sister and I decided to try it.. I had the 2 hotlink dinner with potato salad, greens, macaroni & cheese my sister had there barbeque chicken salad sandwich, potato salad, and macaroni & cheese. We dined there it was clean and well kept friendly service bonnie asked had we been there before and we said no so packed us each a rib and extra side to try so we can get a feel of what they offered. The food was tasty but my hotlinks were cut up into slices I didn't care for that much I'm use to a hotlink on a bun, I was unsure how to eat it. My sister enjoyed her sandwich and sides friendly atmosphere good for lunch my only compliant is portion sizes are really small and prices were okay on some things.
(3)Duke C.
To be honest, I had my doubts about Bonnie B's. Man, was I wrong. Thanks, scumbag brain. I found out about Bonnie B's like many, through Groupon. I've been craving for something new in the LA BBQ scene and Bonnie B's seemed like a perfect choice, so finally got a chance to use it on a Saturday. The restaurant is fairly small, and when we went, there were only one other table. If you want to dine in, order at the register first then they will set up your table. We ended up getting the 3-Meat Combo with spare ribs, brisket, and pulled pork to share, as well as the jalapeno corn muffin. The best for me, was definitely the spare ribs. It was one of the most tender pork ribs I've ever had. I took ahold of the little piece of bone that was sticking at the end and about to use my fork to take it off, and all of a sudden, the chunk of rib just fell off the bone! It only happens when the rib is super tender and done right. There's also this pinkish smoke ring right at the edges. All signs point to that they did everything right and boy... it tastes awesome. It only came with two pieces, so I only got to eat one piece. I can definitely kill a whole rack... with EASE. The brisket was also very tasty. At Bonnie B's, they chop it up like brisket. I'm a little more used to thick sliced brisket so I was a little confused but the brisket is extremely tender and I love the smoky flavor that it has. The pulled pork was a little dry so I had to use quite a bit of sauce for it. As for the sauce, there's actually 3 types: mild, medium, and spicy. My favorite is definitely the mild since it has a sweeter taste to it and it still has a tiny bit of heat! Really good with all three meats. The medium is a little darker in color and the heat level is up just a little. The spicy BBQ sauce has this paste consistency! Sorta like... the Korean hot paste... except darker, and whoo it packs a bit of heat. Corn muffin is cornbread done right! It's about $1 extra for one but it's worth it. I didn't get much of jalapeno but it was tasty so I didn't care too much about it haha. Service here is about as good as it gets. From the front to the folks in the back, everybody is super friendly. People from the kitchen will come out periodically and ask how you are doing, and make sure everything's good. The OG value of the meal would've been around $22 with 2 sodas so not bad since we were sharing. Later on when I checked the receipt I did see that she accidentally charged us two corn muffins instead of one but since we had a Groupon, I didn't bother with it. Hopefully little kinks like that will be worked out for my next visit! Also, be sure to curb your wheels for parking on the streets. It may not look like it, but there's actually an uphill gradient and Pasadena will ticket you for not curbing your wheels!
(4)Lily C.
The staff are very friendly! The place is pretty small but the few times I've been there it hasn't been too crowded. You go and order up at the cash register and then take a seat at one of the tables. What's interesting is that even though it might look fairly empty, they get a pretty steady stream of customers - a lot of them ordering take-out. To me, this is a really good sign since those are probably regulars. I liked the pork ribs and beef brisket and their cornbread is delicious! Their service might seem a bit slow but they're so nice and friendly about it that I didn't mind so much. I ordered a cookie and forgot about but when I was getting up to leave, they handed me 3 (probably to make up for forgetting - but then remembering), so that was really nice of them. There's a tiny parking lot in the back but if you park on the street, make sure to curb your wheels!!
(4)Andy O.
We took an average-sized to-go order from Bonnie B's in an attempt to change up our lunch routine. It was a decent switch, but came with a few problems... First, our order was wrong in a few ways. One guy ordered salmon and got brisket. Another asked for mac n cheese and got beans instead. We all asked for a few sides of the hottest BBQ sauce, and we ended up with one tiny to-go saucer, enough for maybe a third of one person. Second, the flavors just weren't there. The meat was OK. I wouldn't feed it to the dogs, but I wouldn't be writing mom about it either. The sides were just poor. Everything tasted like it came out of a can or a microwave. Or a can in a microwave. Wait, no, don't put the can in the microwave, it might spark up and go boom. It'll be pretty fun to watch for a few seconds, but then mom might scream at us. Or MAYBE a microwave in a can?! Woah, that's a pretty big can. That must be a can for a giant or something. Do giants eat microwaves? That's probably not a very healthy diet; your giant needs some nutrition counseling... Oh right, back to Bonnie B's... So, overall, I'd eat the food at Bonnie B's again. But only if somebody else bought it, and only if the orders were done right. If we were dining at the restaurant and had a chance to fix the things wrong with our order (and I wasn't on my man-period), it MIGHT have been four stars. Maybe... A very, very iffy-kinda maybe.
(3)Sheila J.
Great vibe... Ms Betty is so warm and inviting! Good smells... And fantastic food!!! The collard greens are to die for!!!! And the don't have any meat in the but taste marvelous !!!!! It was well worth the 65 mile drive... I will be back in this area and may drop on in.
(4)Ricky R.
WOW I'm giving this place 5 stars for serveral reasons 1. The Service was fast and the lady that took my order was very friendly and professional 2. The food was out of this world Delicious I cant wait to go back from now on when I'm in Pasadena or Los Angeles I will make it a point to get my BBQ at Bonnie B's Smokin I had Ribbs , links, potatoe salad, greens, corn bread, and my wife had the Mac and cheese and Catfish and it was all good the meat was falling off the bone the greens had good favor excellent, 3. the restaurant was clean its not real big but its a cozy place to have lunch are dinner, 4 its real easy to get to with plenty of free parking 5. good prices very affordable Bonnie B's a Winner for sure Five Stars
(5)Stephanie L.
Meh..food was a bit mediocre. We came here on a Saturday and it was definitely busy so I had high hopes but, Bonnie B's just didn't deliver. We ordered several items: smoked salmon, half rack of ribs, pulled pork, baked beans, collard greens and, mac and cheese (~$47). Smoked salmon wasn't cooked really well..it was dry and tasted off. I'll let Bonnie B's slide on this one though because I know it's not necessarily the place to get a salmon but, my dad wanted something a bit healthier. Bonnie B's selling point is of course, their BBQ but, unfortunately that wasn't that great either. The ribs were extremely dry and burnt without much flavor. Thank goodness, their BBQ sauces are all quite delicious though so, we just drowned out the meat with it. The pulled pork is decent. It was tender but, just as flavorless as the ribs. The collard greens were so incredibly salty, it was almost inedible for me especially because the greens just seemed to soak up all the broth. The mac and cheese was good..but, not memorable. I would say the baked beans is this saving grace of this place. Service started off well but, as they got busier, they just talked right over you and ended up getting you the wrong thing or just ignored you. I got so tired from flagging someone down because they kept forgetting what we ordered that eventually I just gave up. Come a bit early if you're here on a weekend. We finished around 7:45 and they announced they were out of ribs (how you can run of ribs when you're a BBQ place baffles me). I probably wouldn't come back again unless I had another deal.
(3)Susan B.
We tried Bonnie's because of the positive reviews on Yelp. We were not disappointed - the food was great! My husband's birthday was coming up so we ordered ribs, chicken and brisket for our backyard celebration. Betty, in the catering department helped me decide on the amount of food and offered suggestions for serving. She was a great help to me. The meat was amazing - ribs were big, full of flavor and cooked perfectly. Same for the chicken and brisket. All of our guests were so impressed and we were glad to spread the name of Bonnie's. I highly recommend!
(5)Arnold W.
4.5 stars. Excellent BBQ. I love how the ribs fall off the bone but is still intact. Definitely smokey. Service is nice. The sides are tasty. The sweet tea taste more like liptons/brisk with a lemoney sweetness rather than just straight up sugar sweetness like a chick-fil-a. The brisket is something else, wasn't sure if I was eating pulled pork or brisket, but it was delicious and loved the flavor and texture.
(4)david l.
My favorite Ribs in Pasadena Area. Very homie feel.. there's no bell and whistle to the decor. Come here for the family feel and the mom's cookin'. The beans are amazing
(4)Sue F.
Dear God in heaven, thank you for moving me to Pasadena so I can be closer to this place. Delicious BBQ, fall off the bone pork ribs, the best greens I've ever had. The sweet tea is this insane lemony sugary concoction of love. I have a feeling through the duration of my pregnancy I will be eating here alot.
(5)Melissa O.
The food is delicious here! Only found this place through a Groupon Deal my boyfriend bought. We've been here twice now and would definitely go back for more. We haven't found another bbq place as good as Bonnie B's. Their 3 meat dinner plate is such a good deal and they give you a decent amount! Their pulled pork sandwich is pretty good too (a bit messy and the bottom bun gets soggy, but still delicious). I love how they give a generous amount of potato salad. I really love my potato :) Their macaroni is pretty good too, but I would like it more if it had more cheese. They have 3 sauces (mild, medium, and spicy). I think the medium is the best choice for any kind of meat. You should definitely try their sweet tea! It is SOOO good! Parking is on the back and it's free. You can enter from when you just pass the restaurant or make a right at Washington and enter that way.
(4)Chris A.
After flipping channels and coming across the food network's program on the best bbq places in the US one night, my friend and I had a craving for some good soul food and bbq. Thus, I went on a Yelp quest to find a bbq place in the Pasadena/San Gabriel area. I came across Perdue's and Bonnie B's. Perdue's was closed or the address was wrong, so we ended up at Bonnie B's. We found street parking out in front (Note: be sure to turn your tires, otherwise you will get a ticket. The people at Bonnie B's were kind enough to make us aware of this and made sure we went out to fix our tires before we sat down). This place is like a little hole in the wall with a few tables and friendly, down-to-earth service. You order at the counter and then they deliver to your table or you can order to-go. I decided to go with the dinner combination, which came with two meat selections and two sides. I picked the beef brisket and the pork spare ribs, and mac n cheese and okra with tomato for the sides. The brisket came shredded rather than larger, sliced pieces. The meat was tender, but it could use a little bit more sauce. It's good that it wasn't overly doused with sauce, because I don't like it when there's too much. They had 3 different sauces on the table to use. One was a hot/spicy sauce, another regular bbq taste, and the last was like an A1 sauce. The first two went well with the meat. The pork spare ribs were also tender and came off the bone nicely, they were just a little dry, but that is somewhat expected since pork isn't as moist and beef. I did end up using more sauce throughout my meal though. The mac n cheese was decent, it wasn't too heavy, but it didn't remind me of that good, home, comfort style that I've had at other bbq places. I was pleased with the okra and tomato though... it was served over some rice and had good seasoning. It wasn't bland nor was it too salty. I think I liked this side more than the rest. The most impressive factor here was the service though. Even though it's not a true sit-down restaurant, the servers would always come by to make sure we had everything we needed and that everything was ok. They even offered to explain the different sauces. Thus, the food warrants 3.5 stars, but the service bumps it up to 4 stars. I am intrigued to try their fried catfish. The removed this item from the meat selections in the dinner combo, but you can order it separately as a dinner plate.
(4)Rob B.
Couple buddies wanted to try out a new restaurant, so we settled on Bonnie's. It was Friday lunch, but it wasn't packed at all. One of my friends wanted to get the big sized (vs. value) portion of ribs w/2 sides for around $15 (or somewhere in that area). We thought that it was going to be a good-sized portion and big enough to split, but the number of ribs we got was only slightly more than our other buddy who got the rib sandwich (basically some ribs, two pieces of wheat bread, and some potato salad) for around $8. So they're definitely not generous with their portions. Flavor was okay. Nothing special that other BBQ places don't have. Wasn't juicy, so you have to use a lot of their BBQ sauce (3 spiciness levels: mild, medium, and hot). Meat also wasn't "falling off the bone" as described. I've had plenty of ribs that were, and this wasn't it. Service is good and pretty quick; everyone was friendly. Verdict: it's decent but doesn't separate itself from the average pack in any way, shape, or form. Definitely surprised at all the five star reviews. Even in Pasadena, there are better options.
(3)Alice L.
We went hiking nearby at Eaton Canyon, and arrived here just in time for lunch! They have new hours, so they open at 11:30 AM instead of 11 like it's listed. Fairly small place but you feel welcomed with the service and definitely by the smell of home-cookin' wafting from the kitchen! Order at the counter, and sit yourself down. We used a $20 Groupon and we ordered lunch entrees of Beef Brisket ($9) and Beef Spareribs ($10) with 1 jalapeno cornbread muffin ($0.95) and sodas ($1 each) Each of the lunch entrees came with 2 side dishes so we got Okra/Tomato Over Rice, Collard Greens, Candied Yams, and Mac & Cheese. Dishes came out pretty quickly and they're decently sized for lunch. The sauces on the table are delicious and we could only handle up to the Medium level of BBQ sauce. Brisket was ultra tender and the spareribs had meat come off easily from the bone. Mmm! Okra/Tomato over rice was my favorite side, collard greens was OK, candied yams were a bit too sweet, and mac & cheese wasn't cheesy enough. But the meats made up for it :D Cornbread wasn't spicy at all despite it having jalapeno and is yummy with the alta-dena butter it comes with. Overall, a great place to go to if you're in the mood for BBQ!
(4)Leah S.
This is my favorite BBQ place in LA. The people are so nice and welcoming and the food is ridiculously good. The pork ribs are definitely the highlight. They are so tender that they straight up fall of the bone. I can't handle spicy food, so the mild sweet BBQ sauce is perfect for me. It's very sweet and flavorful and goes well with the meat. The lunch value meal is a great price. It's 10 dollars for one entree (I always get the ribs) and two sides. I love getting the candied yams and the baked beans. The yams are practically a dessert, but I can't resist them. It also comes with bread. I've never actually finished everything before because the portions are pretty big. The downside is that I don't live very close to Altadena, but when I'm there it's great to make a day of it. There's Bonnie B's, Carmela ice cream nearby, plus a ton of great hiking. I wanna come here more often if I can. The employees are always so nice.
(5)cicciolini e.
Take out, spare ribs & brisket. Generous portions (we ordered the BIG.) Both meats were good; spare ribs smoky, brisket had many melts in your mouth bites. The sides of Okra & Tomato very good, mac & cheese good, potato salad on the vinegary side, very good.
(4)kate h.
I rarely leave reviews... this one was EXTREMELY worthy of an outstanding review! For starters Betty was very helpful when i called to place my order. She walked through what my ultimate goal was and gave me suggestions that saved me money. When i went to pick up the barbecue the staff was extremely courteous and organized. The transaction was super smooth. If that already was not good enough the food was OUTSTANDING literally fall off the bone not only is this coming from me... but my 40 guests as well ;). To put the icing on the cake Betty called me after to see how everything was. They get and A+ for customer service, and an A+ for food! This place is now etched in my memory for future functions! Thanks so much! Mia
(5)Matthew G.
I fell in love with barbecue after eating here. My favorite items on the menu are the brisket and jalapeno corn muffin. I've tried these foods elsewhere but no comparison to Ms. Bonnie B's goodness. I love the atmosphere too-- good jazz music was playing and the staff was extra courteous. Barbecue people: do something good for yourself and stop by this place.
(5)Joy K.
Really delicious stuff! Their sides are really good too. Only problem for me was that they seemed a bit understaffed so had to wait a bit to order. Other than that, really really solid food!
(4)Kristy S.
This was pretty damn good, but it's more like a 4.5 than a perfect 5. I'll go with the one bad thing first - I think they're kind of forgetful. We ordered drinks and some extra stuff like cornbread with our dinner. They asked if I wanted the drinks before the food, but we said no so I assumed it would come on our trays. I had to go ask for the drinks and cornbread after our dinner came. That's hardly a reason to hate this place because the service is friendly and everything we got was delicious and came out super fresh! NOTHING needed extra bbq sauce like some places (*ahem Baby Blues ahem*). The cornbread must've been sitting in the oven baking while our dinner came out because it came to our table piping hot and delicious! :) Some of the highlights: -Rib tips and ends - delicious, and fattier than the pork ribs. -Pork ribs - meaty, moist, smoky, and fall off the bone tender! -Brisket - moist and tasty (this is starting to sound dirty...) - I can't wait to have it as a sandwich! -GREENS! I love their collard greens. SO. DAMN. GOOD! -Mac and cheese - simple, not greasy, and not too cheesy. When everything else tastes so good, you don't need an overpowering mac and cheese. -Glaze it to me cake - delicious pound cake - light as a feather with a perfectly sweet glaze! Even though the brisket didn't need it, I enjoyed the kick that Louisiana hot sauce added. Mmm mm mm!
(5)Lily T.
omg we couldn't find this place. I was driving and saw the sign, but the store front looked like a copy shop or something. We finally got out and went to check it, and I'm really glad we didn't give up and decide to go elsewhere. My friend had the beef brisket and I had the brisket on a bun. The brisket was sort of dry on its own, but was pretty good with the sauce. My friend got the okra and tomato over rice as a side, and it was quite good. I wasn't offered that as a choice though :(. She also had the potato salad, which was decent. I liked the brisket on a bun, but I didn't like that the buns looked like they were from Vons or something. When I go to a restaurant, I expect higher quality than what I can find at the market :/. Otherwise, the sandwich was pretty good. I got baked beans as the side, and the first few bites were really good, but I couldn't even finish the 1/3-cup serving cuz it was so sweet! I'd want to try their ribs one day, but we didn't want to get anything messy because we were working lol.
(3)Jon M.
This place is SO good and SO busy. That they can afford to be closed two days of the week(Mon-Tue). Which just so happens to be the only days I might have off work and want amazing BBQ. What a bummer! But when I do come here while they're open. Everything has always been great. Never a dry meat and always flavorful. The sauces are all great too. The only thing to dislike is that you can't get the same two sides with a combo. I love the beans but its just a small portion compared to the other side options. The cashier always forces me to pick something else. Been there multiples and not even once! She must know by now how much I love the beans. So sad. This place is still awesome!
(5)Kem J.
GREAT!!! BEST BBQ in town. picked up some food to go, ribs are fall off the bone and the bbq sauces are not overly sweet and thick.
(4)Karen H.
I had this place booked marked for awhile and was glad that was finally able to try it. They weren't kidding when the reviews said it was real home cooking. You can feel the love they put into this food. Here are the items we tried for 2 people. We were starving and really ordered a ton which was ok because we were glad to eat those leftovers. A full rack of ribs ~ pork ribs had a nice smokey flavor. Meaty, tender and fall off the bone like most reviewers described. We loved their house made BBQ sauce the medium one. It hand a nice citrus taste, very flavorful. I wonder if they sell the. By the bottle. S0 much better than the commercial stuff. Rib tips - charred to perfection, meaty with a nice crust. My husband really enjoyed gnawing on the cartilage :) Hot Links - Great snap of the casing and juicy!!!! Good spice and flavor. Collard greens~ the bomb! Probably the best I've ever eaten!!! I can eat a whole tub of this!!! Black Eyed Peas- Reminded of me of the Cuban rice an beans.. the texture was really creamy. This was especially good with the Hot LInks Mac n cheese- not bad but I've had better. I think because I like more of a sharp flavored cheese. The flavor was mild for me. Corn Bread Muffin - This was great essentially with everything... the bbq sauce, black eyed peas, etc. Service is friendly and you can tell they take pride in their food. Great find and will be back for pick up. =)
(4)Terence N.
Came here for dinner with a group of friends and was excited and hungry! However, the bbq did not deliver to my satisfaction...I ordered the pork ribs with jalapeno muffins. The Pork ribs were VERY VERY DRY! There was really good flavor to the ribs, but the dry meat was hard to eat...it was dry to the bone, overcooked and slightly chewy. I guess if you douse enough bbq sauce on the rib, it doesn't taste so bad...but the ribs itself were just way dry. The cornbread muffins were also dry, which I did not like. I also tried some of my friends links and brisket...the links didn't taste very good at all. The brisket was actually very good, it was the only bbq item I enjoyed, and it would be the only one I can recommend. The rib tips were way way way DRY, even dryer than the ribs, it was almost hard to chew and swallow due to the dryness..i definitely cant recommend the rib tips or pork ribs, only the beef brisket was good! The prices here weren't that cheap, and the portions were not that big...put together with dry and unsatisfying pork ribs, and meh I've had better bbq. The lady behind the counter, who I assume was Bonnie herself, was a very nice lady, as was the waiter. Service was good, but the bbq food did not deliver, it was very dry for my liking...maybes its cause we ordered food at 6:50pm, 10 minutes before they closed!
(3)Rhonda M.
I'm from L.A. and grew up 5 blocks from Phillips BBQ. Holla if ya hear on me that! So when I moved to Pasadena I had to learn to go without. Great for my waistline, bad for my taste buds. And let's face it, with choices like Phillip's, Woody's and Leo's, I was spoiled as far as BBQ is concerned. So when I offered to bring dinner to my friend's home after a day of shopping, I yelped and found Bonnie B's. I wanted to love it, I wanted to, sooooooo bad. You judge BBQ by the ribs, links and chicken, the staples of any backyard BBQ. I ordered a slab, a 1/2 lb. of links and a 1/2 of a yard bird. The location as easy to find. The inside of the restaurant sparkling clean, nicely decorated and very inviting. The customer service was excellent. The BBQ was sorta like Rhianna, flashy, with a overly sweet sauce, a tad smokey and really just dry and tasteless. Maybe this was an off day.
(2)Andre N.
Just Awesome, came here after reading the reviews and surprised I never been here before due to the close proximity to my friends who lived down the street. We always went to Big Mamas and Robins but this I felt was much better in terms of food as well as hospitality. Parking was easy to get, which was movie star parking right in front of the place, though there is parking in the back. The staff was actually even insightful in parking by warning us that if you park on the street, to curb your wheels, now that quality service. I ordered the 2 combo plate, which was the bbq chicken and Riblets with 2 sides, the sides being mac and cheese and baked beans. The beans and mac n cheese were so good, so they barely stayed on my plate, ate every bit and piece of it. They gave me good size portions of chickens and riblets, which were very delectable to the palate and had the right amount of barbecue. I even had leftovers for the meats and enjoyed another meal at home. The only thing missing from Bonnie B's was a beer to enjoy with my meal. They dont sell it unfortunately and also I didnt really care for the piece of regular bread a biscuit or roll would of been good, though they do offer a jalapeno cornbread muffin for extra, though not into jalapeno. Other than that the place was awesome, the food is great and the service is great, they really know their barbeque.
(4)Joanne D.
Had this delivered this evening....omg. Yeah, I am a fan. The three meat combo is so tasty. Brisket, pork ribs and chicken. My sides are sweet potato's and mac and cheese. I would say the jalapeno corn muffin was sad...no little spicy pepper in it at all. Got the slice of cake for dessert. It is ok. Over all happy with the meal! Thanks Bonnie!
(4)Susan H.
Pork ribs, macaroni and cheese, and BBQ beans were really good! Definitely better than Lucielle's, but portions are smaller. But prices reflect portion size, so if you want Lucielle's portion sizes you should order 3 of the same thing. Not good for big parties though because the inside is fairly small. Remember to turn your wheels towards the curb when you park on the street otherwise you'll get a parking citation. They are closed Monday and Tuesdays.
(4)Abraham S.
Bonnie B's is amazing. The food all tastes home cooked and the portions are generous. I usually get the fall off the bone ribs and I'm never disappointed. The pork is extremely tender and they have a delightful smokey flavor. They don't come presauced but if you eat at the restaurant they give you an unlimited supply of 3 varieties of barbecue sauce. (If you take it to go, get extra barbecue sauce) The sides I get are mac and cheese (the best), black eyed peas and the garden salad. The garden salad is a mix of greens, dried cranberry, bleu cheese and your choice of dressing, I usually get the vinaigrette. The dishes come with two sides so you gotta choose carefully. I HIGHLY recommend the home made sweet tea as a drink, get the large because they don't do refills. It's a mix of pineapple juice and some other goodness. Good service. Price seems high at first but if you were ordering the same thing at a steak house they would charge you double and it'd be half the quality. They close early sometimes so check the website for when they're open. Calling ahead with your order will make it quicker as you do have to wait 10-15 minutes if you order on the spot. I spoke with one of the owners about the family history and they told me they've been doing barbecue for years. They came from San Diego and somewhere else before that. It shows in the quality of food. Highly recommend this spot.
(5)Vanessa F.
I am a pescatarian and I eat A LOT of salmon. Bonnie B's smoked salmon is EXCELLENT! Greens were very good. Catfish was a little salty. Will be going back numerous times in the future.
(5)Allison Y.
My bf LOVES good down home style bbq and this is the perfect spot to get a good fix. The min he took the first bite of perfectly smoked ribs a food euphoria just washed over him. I had the brisket which were tender and just made you feel warm inside. I have to say the sauce is what got me hooked, it has a sweet, smokey and with just enough spice right at the end. It's a good thing that my bf got a taste of the mac n' cheese while there was any left. I will be back for that alone!
(4)Matt C.
I ordered delivery through labite.com a service that delivers from restaurants that do not offer it. Bonnie B's is packed with flavor and the portions are perfect for the price. I personally prefer southeastern NC style BBQ (vinegar based) but that's tough to find out her. This is the next best thing! The ribs fall off the bone and have a nice tough in a good way exterior. They make a nice brisket, but it's not the dry style, it's very juicy and tender. The sauces are all on the sweet side but it compliments the salty flavor of the meat. The mac an cheese is ok, not my favorite, but not the worst either. Their collard greens are very tasty as well as the candy yams. I've dined in before as well, and the staff (family owned and operated I think) were awesome. We sat just before closing and they didn't rush us to order or leave either. They gave us a few extra items and their sweet tea is pretty good. Glad this place is close!
(5)Nile E.
Mean BBQ game! It's right next to my barber shop, so I come here about twice a week. The sauce is EXCELLENT!!! Hot link sandwich...EXCELLENT!! You know its good when white folks are in line to get food in the "dicey" part of Alta Dena. Nile Evans - OUT!
(5)Angela O.
Absolutely delicious barbecue. I had the three meat combo with beef brisket, pork spare ribs and chicken. Sides were wonderfully delicious yams and greens with cornbread. First, the food did not taste like a salt factory which is what I've found common for SoCal barbecue places. Second, the sauce was very complimentary to the meat. If I can eat the meat without a need for sauce, it passes the taste test in my book. The barbecue here -- particularly the ribs -- passed the test. The meat fell off the bones, was tasty, and beautifully smoked. The chicken was not dry but tender and tasty and the brisket was absolutely delicious. I could have packed it between buns, poured sauce over it and would have had an old fashioned southern bar-b-que beef sandwich. Since I've become a little more health conscious, I am always in search of places that prepare food without loads of sodium or other food additives that both destroy the meat and masks the taste of the meat. This place really did it for me and I was pleasantly surprised. I will be back. Very good, healthy and my blood pressure did not go through the roof.
(5)Blake C.
The value here is unreal. My gf and I were full sharing a combo meal. The sauces are unrivaled and I fell in love with the spicy bbq sauce. If u have any good taste for ribs and bbq type food, this place is a MUST!!! I was even more surprised when Bonnie herself brought us a free side of baked beans to mix with our potato salad and it also opened my world to that wonderful mix. Not only is this place full of good bbq, but the hospitality Bonnie has for those who visit can't be matched by many other owners.
(5)C M.
I have not had a better BBQ experience. All my meat was perfect. I had ribs and beef brisket and there's great spices in the BBQ sauce. I loved that they have 3 options for sauce that way you can add just the perfect amount of flavor to your individual liking. The customer service was excellent. Very clean and great overall peaceful and cool vibe. There's easy street parking in front. Just remember to turn your tires that way the parking police don't ticket you. (The street is on a slight incline.) There is a sign on the street.
(5)Linda Irene J.
My sis & bro in law had their 45th wedding anniversary party & catered chicken, links & brisket from Bonnie Bs. We had close to 150 guests who raved about the 3 items above. Actually thought we made the food but couldn't take the credit. Cooked excellently and oh so tasty. We're ready to cater another party!!! Thank you!!!
(5)B W.
Incredible. Betty provided excellent service. The food came quickly and most importantly the food tasted wonderful. Take time to visit this small spot.
(5)Evie D.
Super friendly service, yummy ribs, killer sauce, delish greens.
(4)J D.
3 different of BBQ sauce, what more can you ask for. I got their 2 combination dinner w/ Pork Spare ribs and chicken. Chicken was tender and juicy, they smoked their chicken so the skin fell right off the meat *yumm* Pork spare ribs was Oooh my, need i say more! Anyways, they don't drench the meat with bbq sauce because they have hot, mild, bbq that you can put on urself which is a lot better. As for sides, i got the collard green and okra and tomato over rice which was marvelous! BBQ so good make you wanna smack yo' mama! lol Betty was really nice, she was the other owner of this place. I will def. be back for strawberry shortcake which they only have during the weekend.
(5)Maryam G.
I have found you... my precious one... They serve perfectly cooked, fall-off-the-bone, mouth watering awesome-ness(aka= RIBS) paired with delicious BBQ sauce. These are smoked to perfection, and not overly sauced like some other places. As for the sides, we tried the collard greens (these were exceptionally good for simply .. collard greens) and the mac and cheese (it was flavorful, but somewhat dry... needs more cheese sauce). The cornbread with the kick are quite tasty as well... yum!! I will be back..... many many many times!!!!!!!
(5)Michelle N.
I really want to give this place 4 stars but I've had better barbeque at two other places (San Diego & Pacifica). But it is the one of the best I've had in LA. I had this a while ago but I remember getting a good amount of food for a really good price. The one thing I remember CLEARLY about this place is their jalapeno corn bread! My goodness it was DELICIOUS!!! I'm craving now after mentioning it!
(3)Melanie C.
This little restaurant is worth visiting. The ribs were tender and delicious. I really enjoyed the macaroni and cheese. The sweet potatoes were a little too sweet for me, but hey that's why they call them sweet potatoes, right? We will definitely be eating at this place more often. Deliciousness!
(4)Chris C.
I love Bonnie B's. I've been here 8 or 9 times -- mostly for take out. I'm from Texas, so I think I know BBQ! Bonnie's brisket is really tasty. The sides are pretty good, too. Baked beans: a bit sweet, but good. Mac 'n Cheese: she uses a mixture of liquid and solid cheese. Pretty tasty. Make sure to eat it when it's hot! The corn muffins are my favorite, though. I think they say 'jalapeños' on the menu, but they aren't spicy AT ALL. In fact, I'm not even sure if they actually have jalapeños. They're great, though. The service is always friendly and quick. I appreciate that they always ask how I'm doing and treat everyone with respect. Cash or Credit Card. Parking on the street or in the parking lot behind the building. The dining room is pretty small -- 4 or 5 tables.
(4)Raphael Aizan S.
Bonnie B's is neither a place to avoid nor a reason to get on the freeway. I ordered the spare rib value meal (3 ribs) with collard greens and mac&cheese. The ribs are trimmed a little closer than usual, leaving only the large piece of cartilage. I enjoy nibbling at the tips, but I can appreciate the tidiness of these ribs, so to speak. They weren't as meaty or as well trimmed of fat as a number of other places, though. They were lightly smoked, and just barely seasoned with salt (no pepper, afaik) and a little sugar. Good bark, nice, porky flavor, but not an "assertive" barbecue. It's similar to Old Fashioned Flavor, if you've been there. The texture was a bit soft, overcooked. The cut edges were also dry, so I think they were cut beforehand, but they were moist once you got in there. The mac&cheese was ok. It's the kind where the cheese is baked in. It could have used more salt and a textural contrast. Burnt edges, bread crumb topping, anything. I don't really like the dry/oily texture of plain, shredded cheddar. On the bright side, the collard greens were great! They're not the vinegary kind, a good example of which is Bigmista's, but rather savory, with good texture, and not in the slightest bit salty or bitter. I think they were cooked with ham hocks, as there was a porky flavor to the delicious pot liquer. They're now the best collard greens I've had. I liked their sauce, too. It comes in mild, medium, and hot, and aside from the spiciness they all taste the same. Hot is really just medium, IMO. Something in there tastes like raisins, but they shot down my guesses of raisins or ancho chile powder. I didn't think of it just then, but it could have been pasilla chile. They said I was getting warmer when I suggested molasses, though. Service was quick and friendly. Prices are reasonable. However, my order was served lukewarm and the bread somehow never showed up. I also would have preferred it if the sauce was served warm, instead of sitting on the table in squeeze bottles. Cold sauce on warm barbecue is buzzkill. Not a big deal, since I eat most of my barbecue without sauce. I'd go back if I was in the area, and it may well be the best barbecue in Pasadena.
(3)Mark G.
One can easily drive right by this place and never know it was there but that's the thing about finding a hidden gem. I came here with my brother before going over to the Pasadena Colorado Street Bridge Festival. The place is small inside and if you want to use the restroom you'll have to go use the one in the beauty salon a couple doors down. I ordered the two item dinner with hot links and beef brisket and I really loved it. This was the best and most tender brisket I had every ate to date. Most places slice it. Here it just falls apart. Very, very flavorful and juicy with just a hint of smoky flavor. As for the hot links. They were O.K. nothing to write home about. My dinner came with cornbread (good) and two side orders. I ordered the bake beans and okra & rice (very good). I've had okra in gumbo but never on rice. It was very tender. I'll have to come back again for the brisket but I'd like to try the rest of their menu items.
(4)Colin G.
Best BBQ I have had in the Southwest for reasonable prices. Ribs and OK style Brisket are super delicious and the sides and special tea are also special in their own ways. Super friendly staff and modest dining space are endearing.
(5)Kyle L.
I first met this wonderful woman Betty at a Pasadena Chamber of Commerce meeting and she was very warm and loving. I immediately knew I had to come to this place. When I eventually did, I was blown away. The brisket and short ribs are to die for. The okra, baked beans, and black eyed peas were so delicious I could eat buckets of them. The prices were a little expensive for me (a little over 30$ for two plates), but not outrageous for what you are getting. I was a little disappointed with the Louisiana hot links. They seemed over sweetened. Their BBQ sauces were great. All in all a great place that I will go to every time I am craving southern cooking, and best of all, Betty always gives you a hug.
(4)Bill T.
Sooooo Gooooood...... Having lived in Texas for 10 years I know good BBQ. I've been searching the LA area for 3 years and then I found Bonnie B's right in my backyard. Wow, these ladies know how to cook! The meet is always delicious. The beans are SUPERB (My favorite). The mac and cheese, amongst the best in Southern California. Good sweet tea. I love the ribs the best. Chicken is also good. Catfish, well, I'm not a big fan of catfish, so I stick with the ribs. The best part is the people. The two women who run this are so charming and just plain good folk. Really a pleasure eating at a restaurant where the food is good and the owners are genuinely nice. Happy to support them. In fact, going to go there for lunch tomorrow. Try it. You'll like it.
(5)Adriana L.
Just finished having lunch here with my 2 sons..we wanted to stay in the area and try something new. We are a "foodie family", meaning we try all kinds of different restaurants. I was looking for something different for lunch and found this place on Yelp! The ribs are excellent..the meat really does "fall off the bones", the tri tip sandwich was good too. The sweet tea was phenomenal. Service is great and food is delicious...we will be back for sure! Great BBQ!
(4)C L.
Just had the pork ribs and mac n cheese and it was tasty. Barbecue can be a little bland if you do not put hot sauce. It's the hot sauce that gives it that little kick. I'm a fan. Friendly servers.
(4)BustA G.
Taking off a point for being hassled when redeeming Groupon. They have a hard copy to mark off vouchers as they're redeemed but can't grasp that if they already mark voucher as redeemed that the voucher can't be used again. Jeez....
(4)Bethany E.
We loved this place. It's small, so make sure you come early and give yourself time to wait for a seat. It's owner operated, so the service is with a smile. The carnivore enjoyed his ribs, and I (the vegetarian) enjoyed my veggie sides. The cornbread is awesome. We'll be coming back!
(4)S G.
Omgwtfbbq Stop thinking about wanting BBQ, just go here.
(5)Shawn P.
This place is worth a 3.5 stars, imo. This is one of those types of places where a cook has opened his/her home to you and you have been invited to enjoy in the bountiful meats that they are cooking. Here is my review: WHAT I ORDERED: I have come here a few times and have tried their brisket sandwich, their ribs and had their mac and cheese and baked beans (not in one sitting of course). Their main courses are pretty good. They have this sauce that claims to be spicy. But upon further taste/inspection. It's not really hot at all. If they really want a sauce with heat, they have to put in Habaneros, at the very least! As for the meat, it's very tender and juicy. You can tell that this meat has been through at least a night of marinade and the like. WAIT STAFF The staff here are very cordial and attentive. As soon as I walk into the place, they immediately ask me where I parked and if my tires are turned to the left and touching the curb (I guess the poe-poe up in that part of Pasadena give tickets if your tires are turned and touching the curb). Since the place isn't big, the staff is also good about checking to see if things are all right as well. A major plus! VERDICT: I would definitely go back. It's definitely a gem in the SGV!
(3)A. H.
There was no wait for Sunday lunch. People came and went for takeout while we were the only ones eating there. We enjoyed looking at the memorabilia on the wall of famous African Americans. My husband ordered brisket and pork ribs which were delicious. I tried the pulled pork and beef tips, but definitely preferred my husband's food. We tried the sides of collard greens, okra, black eyed peas, mac and cheese, and corn muffin, but they were all just okay. They were served with pieces of white or wheat sandwich bread. We'll definitely come back for the pork ribs and brisket. Note that there is no bathroom here for customers.
(4)Chain L.
This meal was so good i wanted to sew my ass shut. Been here several times already and quality is consistent. Would be more, but I live pretty far. Still, it's worth the 45 minute drive in one direction on surface streets. Ribs are just as good as i remember. Fall off the bone, smokey and juicy. I haven't had one side dish here that disappointed so feel freed to go nuts and order up. You could see the care and love they put into the food. The owners are super friendly people and know how to cook! Furthermore, I tried their new banana strawberry cake, and it is Oh So Good. One of the moistest tastiest cakes I have ever had. Its a must have dessert to compliment my delicious BBQ.
(5)Ed A.
This is by far the best value of bbq I've found. It is good and for $5 lunch specials you can't go wrong. It's not going to knock your socks off, but then you remember you only paid a Lincoln and and you feel all right. The place is tiny, and if you are not looking for it, you will miss it driving up Lake. The lady at the register is very nice and friendly. Their cornbread is good, not "wow", but good. This is a solid lunch spot. I love mac n cheese and I was bit a disappointed in it here. The cheese flavor is a distant hint. The pasta is over cooked. However, you are here for the meats, and again, they are good.
(4)Michael P.
Gave me old, dried out rib tips. Don't waste ur money
(1)Minda w.
Bobbie B's is such a welcoming spot. From the people who work there to the customers, everyone is so pleasant. It's been on my list of places to go but since it closes at 6 each Sunday, Bonnie B's has eluded me each time. This past Sunday, the bf and I finally made it. It was about 5pm when we got there. There were out of the beef brisket so we got a ribs & rib tips combo with mac 'n cheese & yams. The ribs were pretty good but tastes better smothered in sauce. The rib tips were really dry. The hot link on a bun was delicious! It was super juicy and went well with the bbq sauce. I might have to just do a ribs & hot link combo next time. The yams were pureed yams and they were great too. The mac 'n cheese was kind of average. The sweet tea comes with a bit of tang. It kind of tastes like a sweet Arnold Palmer. The jalapeno muffin is really tasty too. It crumbles to the touch, is very buttery and has a slight hotness to it. I wasn't crazy about the rib tips and mac 'n cheese but everything else was pretty good. 3.5 stars
(4)J R.
This is a decent place if you want some BBQ in Pasadena. The ribs were very tender and the meat fell right off the bone. This place gets three stars just for the ribs. Service was not that good. We might have come on an off night but service was not very smooth and communication was poor. The pulled pork was weird. It had small bits of bone in it and that made eating it difficult. They have several different kinds of sauce but they taste basically the same at varying levels of spicyness. The good thing is it is a fair amount of food for the money. I think we would only go here if we were getting it takeout as the table experience was not very good.
(3)Teresa N.
It's definitely not big enough for a large party. I got the combination dinner that comes with 3 choices of meat and 2 sides. I ordered pork spare ribs, brisket, rib tips, mac and cheese, and barbecue baked beans. The meat on the pork spare ribs falls off the bone! It was tender and moist as the juices drip down the side of your mouth as you pull the meat with your teeth. The brisket was the best out of the bunch. The brisket was tender and moist. It had enough flavor to make my taste buds erupt with excitement. However, the rib tips were really dry. It was almost hard to chew towards the end. You can drench the rib tips with their sauce for more flavor. The service was awesome! The waiter was attentive, and made sure our group was comfortable. Kudos! I want to give Bonnie B's Smokin a higher rating but I don't think I can. The portions are small for the amount I paid, and the dryness of the rib tips was disappointing.
(3)Jason E.
Great meats. The brisket brings a tear to my eye just thinking about it. The sides are okay. However, the people who own it are super nice, the kind of people you want to encounter when you go to a small local takeout place. You should go here.
(4)Forrest D.
After a few attempt to eat here, we finally came at a time when they were actually open. It might pay to call ahead and make sure because the hours seem a bit sketchy but it is all worth it once you sink your teeth into the ribs, and the brisket, and the chicken, and pretty much everything else. Overall it's a pretty low key affair, not a whole lot of ambiance but there's a nice mural with an interesting story that's worth hearing from the family who runs the place. There a delightful bunch, sweet and welcoming, It also doesn't seem overly busy which is slightly alarming to me as this is some fine, fine barbecue. Not just good for the neighborhood, the flavors here can hang with any in the city. Some barbecue lovers will find this sacrilegious, but I liked everything here better than at the hallowed Bludso's which is the standard bearer these days. Bludso's was good, this place still makes me drool and it's been weeks. The meat quality is better, the sauce it better, it's just better. Sorry. The combo meal with spare ribs was fantastic, everything just melts away. Sublime. They have an exceptional Oklahoma style beef brisket, it's on the sweeter side if that's important to you. Although I misunderstood and thought I was ordering hot wings, the Louisiana style chicken links were not a disappointment, quite delicious. They have plenty of great sides, collard greens and mac n cheese were quite good. Even with all that, the best thing was the ridiculously wonderful Glaze-it-to-me Cake. It's sweet and sour and all yummy in the tummy. Be aware, the city tickets if you don't turn you wheels to the curb and they are very diligent, it seems Pasadena needs your money so don't forget to park correctly or use the lot in back. Service is sweet but slightly unorganized. Prices are fair but it's not inexpensive. It is however worth every penny. If you love barbecue, this is about as good as it gets here in LA. Move over Bludso's, Bonnie's is the new Queen of the smoker. Best Plates: Spare Ribs, Oklahoma style Beef Brisket, Louisiana sytle Chicken Links, Glaze it to me Cake Food - A Ambience - C+ Service - B Value - B+
(5)Rogue X.
I read the reviews, and went for the dry ribs(thinking, dry-rub). Sadly, the ribs needed sauce, as by themselves they had NO flavor. No, I take it back, they had that smokey flavor that would have been perfect with some good spices. Now it was just smokey. The catfish was excellent. Perfectly battered, not too greasy. Potato salad and baked beans were super too. Service was really slow...waited more than 1/2 for our food after being told it would be 10-15 minutes. But the staff was really nice, if a bit disorganized. Seemed with other customers too, they weren't sure who ordered what. But in a small place that only seats maybe 20 people, it's easy to figure out. I'm not a sauce fan, but their sweet(mild) sauce was pretty decent. Likely won't go back, but if you like soul food and sauced ribs, you'd probably like this place.
(2)Kevin C.
I came here last Sunday with The Minty and I really liked it a lot. Ribs, chicken, candied yams, mac n cheese were all solid with great friendly staff and not busy. It took a little while to get the food and that was a good thing because it came out fresh. Plus I recognized the owner too when she came out and she was so very friendly to us. Making ribs with the right amount of bark and chicken with a different rub is nice. I think I would eat here again, many times over for that matter. I have to give it a few more visits before pumping up to the 5 star rating but it was pretty close for me.
(4)Chloe C.
Really enjoyed this. Totally solid BBQ and great sides. Plus the proprietress is delightfully friendly. It's in the neighborhood - we're definitely coming back!
(4)N T.
I notice, they started giving you less, like I said, I have been there several times and I know what I'm getting. Today, I order the smoked salmon - dinner portion, they gave me a value portion and claim it as a dinner portion. That's a lie, I had the salmon dinner portion before. ***Best bet, order the VALUE meal, it is the SAME quantity as the DINNER meal*** It's not worth the extra $3-$4 bucks more. You have been warn!!!
(1)Marquita T.
Bonnie B's catered an event I did for Dinah Shore this past weekend and I couldn't be more pleased! The food was absolutely exceptional and though Bonnie told me she'd give me two meat options - pulled pork and chicken - and a few samples of ribs, I was completely shocked to find that she had given me an entire tray of ribs! Every single one of my guests were thrilled with the food - the sauces are fantastic, the chicken was juicy, the ribs (OMG, the ribs!!) are almost addictive. I recommend Bonnie B's a hundred times over, I couldn't have made a better choice.
(5)Elaine C.
When I think "soul food," I always think heavy and greasy, but it wasn't like this at all when I came in for dinner today. I noticed some complaints about the portion size, but honestly, I was really happy with the amount that I got. It was perfect~! I think they probably shrank the portion size in order to compensate for the loss of profits via Groupon. I had okra with tomatoes, smoked ribs, and the mac n cheese. Everything was just right and not over-salted like most major restaurants. I like salt, but the food was not bland. I like the ambiance - it is homey and I like the mural covering about a third of the wall that depicts a very Western/Americana scenery. Only qualm is the florescent lighting (if you know me, you would know I hate it). I think the service is great (I think Bonnie's sister, i can't remember her name)...she is super nice and friendly - warm like sunshine. Love the hand sanitzers everywhere. Super good if you eat ribs with your hands, but I mean...I love to wash my hands before i eat and it is really convenient that they have it right out there. I'm going back to try the catfish - looks super yummy.. :)
(5)Vatche D.
Very kind people and good food.
(5)Tina N.
Just came back from eating here for my little brother's birthday. It was just the two of us, and they really took care. I didn't like BBQ before, but... that has changed. Because of Bonnie B's. It's a pretty small hole-in-the-wall kind of restaurant, and we missed it driving by the first time. From the minute we walked in, the restaurant was nothing but kind. They were really accommodating (since we were unfamiliar with the place), and treated us like family. Now on to the good stuff: I had the pulled pork, my little brother the BBQ ribs. Both were excellent, but my brother and I both preferred the pulled pork. You can determine how much sauce to put on the meat (there are 3 bottles on each table-- sweet, mild, and hot heat). We also each ordered mac n cheese and the potato salad sides-- both great compliments. All in all, we left stuffed. A dinner combo plate was more than filling (had to take my little bro's potato salad home!). Plus, it was delicious. Score. Bonus points: we mentioned it was my little brother's birthday, and they gave him a slice of his choice of cake, on the house! The owner even came out to say happy birthday to him, and wrote him a note on the to-go bag! Seriously, I love this place. I will be back for more.
(5)KeyMonTea T.
Rib tip's with black eye peas and mack n' cheese as sides.
(5)David E.
Wow. Really good. Food very flavorful and homemade. We enjoyed the ribs, BBQ chicken and beef brisket. Mac & Cheese, Okra & Tomato, and greens very delicious. Very friendly staff. Informal and relaxed. Support our local restaurant! This is a good one.
(5)Kit P.
A great neighborhood place. The food is solid good, the service really nice, if a bit slow, and the actual restaurant pleasant enough to eat in, if you're in the dining-in mood. We got the two-meat combo with the ribs and brisket--both real smokey! And real sweet, which I think is just the style. I liked the ribs best--meaty with a nice lacquer of smoked crust. I'm talking about that beautiful layer of laquer you get on the outside of meat when the chef really knows how to barbecue and not that black burnt crust which some restaurants without a clue serve up. (You guys know that most places just steam the meat and then pour BBQ sauce over it and stick it under the boiler? Yuk.) Part of the combo is a choice of two sides. Our choices were the greens and mac & cheese. The greens were really nice with plenty of liquor. The mac & cheese, a little lackluster. The two-meat combo is $14.95, which seems pricey, but you do get a lot of meat.
(4)Connie W.
I really like this BBQ place! I've tried the ribs and the pulled pork, which is sold out frequently. All the meat is super tender and the sauce is very unique. I love the spicy version of their special sauce. The beans taste a lot like Chinese red bean paste, which I thought was a little strange, but a lot of people seem to like it. The mac and cheese is a little flavorless, but it's good when paired with the slightly too salty pulled pork. Waitstaff is always super friendly and helpful. The decor is so uplifting too. I really enjoy coming here.
(4)kenyarda w.
So I went to this place tonight after seeing one of my other yelp friend's reviews. (Thanks BustA G). I'd read about the catfish special... and I love a good order of ribs.. and just could not decide what to get so I got both. :-) My plan was to have the catfish for dinner tonight and one rib.. And have the rest of the rib dinner tomorrow. So with the catfish I had mac and cheese and greens for my sides. The catfish was in strips and tasted very good. Would have been great had I eaten there when it was just out the fryer. My sides were both very good. So then I ate one rib. You hear about fall of the bone ribs. They took it literally. I picked up a rib and the bone was still in the box. You know that is tender. LOL I'm taking off one star only because they had no dessert. A slice of cake would have been really good but the guy said someone bought an entire cake earlier in the day. Think they'd been too busy to bake another one.
(4)Jim H.
That's some solid 4-star BBQ where you might not expect it. Very friendly customer service and even better food. Can't wait to get back!
(4)Jacob R.
Delicious, but overly expensive for the small portions. Bonnie's is a hole in the wall bbq place, and I could smell the mouth watering aroma from down the street. Anyways, I walked up to the counter and ordered the 3 meat combo platter (pork ribs, chicken, shredded brisket with mac'n'cheese and black eyed peas) and my girl ordered the pork rib value platter with the same sides as me. The employee was very friendly and patient with us as we decided. It was around $15 per person for the food, but drinks were a rip-off. The sodas they had were just canned soda and they charged like $1.50 per can. Water was only bottled water for a similar price. What? no free refills on soft drinks? At least the service was great, and they brought us some cups with ice without us needing to ask. So my food comes, and it was only 3 small pork ribs, a part of a chicken breast (not even a whole breast), and a spoonful of brisket. A spoonful of mac and beans as well. I literally had my plate cleaned in 2 minutes. Now, the food was excellent. It was some of the best mac and cheese I've had, and the brisket and chicken were delicious, but I was still hungry. Really hungry. My girlfriend cleaned her plate in a similar time and was still hungry as well. I shouldn't still be hungry after ordering a dinner combo plate, so something is wrong here. As a bit of warning, the pictures of the food here on yelp are really zoomed in, so it makes the portions look a lot bigger than they are. Unless you order a ton of extras, you won't get filled up here. I'd give 2.5 stars if I could. Great food, but leaving hungry is a big hit to the score.
(2)Anita S.
I ordered food from Bonnie B's for my son's birthday party, and I couldn't have been happier. They made an extra effort to have food ready for me right when they opened on Sunday. I got a lot for my money and it was delicious! I was getting constant compliments through the whole party, especially from the foodies and BBQ snobs. We got the chicken, pulled pork, mac & cheese and black eyed peas over rice. Everything was very flavorful. The mild, medium & hot sauces came on the side so everyone could dress it as they liked. I highly recommend calling Bonnie for your next party!
(5)Crystal T.
Four, four and a half? Bonnie B's has my favorite side orders of any of the local BBQ joints in the SGV area. The beans and yams were spot on. The beans were sweet and smokey and not too mushy. The yams were mashed and buttery with just the right amount of sweetness and nutmeg. The ribs and chopped brisket were fantastic and could eat a bowl full of the stuff. Their homemade BBQ sauce had a nice array of flavor, from the slightly sweet, to the super tangy, and slightly spicy. You should have no problem dousing the brisket in a sauce of your choice. When I went it was pretty dead, service was good. There are a few 1/2 star knock-offs. The portions are a little smaller than I'm used to at a BBQ joint and the sweet tea isn't your typical sweet tea. It's got a more citrus flavor to it, so sweet tea purists beware. Also the chicken was smokey but a little too dry/mealy.
(4)Russell L.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to turn your wheels away from the curb if you park on Lake! Apparently the city is ticketing people and are a pain in the ass. There are signs everywhere, but just be sure you do that. First of all, INCREDIBLY friendly staff. We felt very welcome the moment we stepped in. I got ribs, mac & cheese and a salad. The ribs were lean and tasty, but they were even tastier when I put some sauce on them. The mac & cheese was a little watery, but still good. The salad was good. My lady got pulled pork, okra & tomato, and a salad. She wasn't as satisfied with her choice (pork was a little too fatty). She practically jumped out of her seat when she ate the corn bread, though! Definitely worth checking out. We will most certainly be returning.
(4)Jason H.
There's plenty of "pretty good" BBQ, but few "GREAT" ones....but look no further pilgrim, Bonnie Bs is such a spot. I always get the 2 meat combo, spare ribs and brisket. The meat is smokin' and super tender. Their sauces (and thank you for not drenching the meat in sauce as it leaves the kitchen, a surefire way you know there is something wonky going on where you need to hide it) are next level, mild med and hot. I go with the med and it still has a good kick to it. For the sides I'm a baked beans and mac n cheese man. Both are excellent, I esp like the mac n cheese. It's firm, no soupy cheese in the mix, cooked perfect the way it should be. If you want noodles swimming in cheese sauce go get yourself a pack of Velveeta mac n cheese. Service isnt super quick, so dont come here in a rush as things are done at a steady pace. Once you order, expect to wait about 15-20 min for your food, which isnt out of the norm, but as the restaurant has a take out atmosphere you might think that the food comes out in 2 min. It doesnt. The lady that works the front (Betty?) is super friendly and will tell you the history of their food if you want to hear it. I also like the fact they are only open 5 days a week/8 hours each day....very old school and nice to see the family takes time off to do something else other than serve us pedestrians some of the best Q you'll find.
(5)Ann P.
I love Bonnie B's! They catered a large party for us (50 people), and everyone raved about the food! The ribs, brisket, collard greens, and black-eyed peas over rice are to die for! Betty and Bonnie are so nice, and bend over backwards to make sure the food is amazing and the service is great! We loved the food so much, we catered again the next day for a family get-together. Everyone said it was the best BBQ they had ever had. Also, their homemade BBQ sauces are the bomb! There is so much love and dedication put into the food here. This is Oklahoma City style BBQ, with a Southern California spin. Try the smoked salmon -- healthy and flavorful! If you love Southern Style BBQ and soul food, you'll love Bonnie B's!
(5)Randy T.
After reading some of the reviews for Bonnie B's here on Yelp, I had to give this place a try. And since we were going to the Coffee Gallery Backstage on Lake Street to see Tracy Newman and the Reinforcements, and Dutch Newman and the New Melodians, Bonnie B's was right on the way. Being short on time, I dropped my wife off at CGBS and drove back down the hill to get some BBQ take-out. It's a nice little place filled with lots of down home vibe. The aroma from the smoker fills the air--just what BBQ is all about. The menu has a good selection and the prices are very down-to-earth. I ordered a combo dinner plate with pork ribs and brisket, sides of beans and yams. All that food for a mere $16... There were customers at two tables when I arrived about 40 minutes before closing time on a Friday night, so it wasn't too busy as far as I could tell. However, from the time I placed my order to the time it arrived from the kitchen, was about 20 minutes--way too long for my taste, especially since we were running late for the show up the street. Besides, BBQ is slow-smoked long before I show up to place my order, so there's not much cooking needs to be done--just trimming, slicing, a scoop of each side dish. I wondered what was going on in the back... Now that I know the drill, I can order before I leave the house and by the time I arrive, the food will be ready! When my order arrived, I paid and dashed to the car so as not to miss the show. In less than a minute, the car smelled like BBQ (that's a good thing) and my only concern was that as I opened up the package at CGBS, the whole show room would smell like BBQ. Who cares? I did it any way (and the person sitting next to me asks, "Where'd you get that?" and took the info for the next time he was in the area. Before getting to the food, I must tell you that my favorite BBQ place in North America is Dr. Hogly Wogly's Tyler Texas BBQ in Van Nuys (see my review on Yelp) and I haven't found anything that could unseat the Doctor from that throne. However, good BBQ is always welcome and Bonnie B's ribs were well received! Well-smoked, very tender, and full of flavor (sans any added sauce). The brisket came already "pulled" and I prefer to slice my own, but still, the real smoke flavor rang true and I enjoyed each bite. I'm very persnickety about side dishes and although the beans and candied yams were enjoyable and a fitting compliment to the meats, Hogly's sides are still my favs. Bottom line... other than Hogly's, Bonnie B's is certainly some of the best slow-smoked BBQ I've had in the L.A. area. But be prepared to wait a while for that slow-smoked goodness to arrive at your table! BTW, I'm glad I read about the parking in the back, and the curbside parking restrictions here on Yelp!
(4)karla a.
You know you're in trouble when you eat a meal, are stuffed, but still want more! Even though I had a brisket sandwich, potato salad, and yams, I wanted to try everything else on the menu because Bonnie B's was off-the-charts delicious. The brisket is tender, chunky and infused with smoky flavor -- it didn't need much BBQ sauce because the meat stood well on its own. But the sauce was fantastic, too! The potato salad was pretty standard. A small side of their mashed candied yams made a fine dessert since they were out of cakes. The owners also gave us a sample of their smoked bologna, which was unlike anything you'll remember from Oscar Mayer. It rivals any fine sausage. Bonnie Bs offers a nice selection of canned sodas -- including my favorite orange, grape, and strawberry -- but, homemade lemonade would be the perfect touch for their superb meals. Aside from the excellent food, the positive vibe of Bonnie B's is worth a return visit. The clean, tidy, welcoming restaurant is decorated with positive, encouraging quotes and portraits of civil rights leaders from diverse cultures. During my visit the owners and workers treated every customer like we were guests in their home. For the excellent quality of the food, I felt the prices were more than fair. I didn't want to leave, I didn't want to stop eating, and can't wait to return again and again.
(4)Jason P.
I don't want to write this review. I really don't. I've been delaying it for weeks. I don't want to wait in longer lines. I don't want to be in a crowded restaurant. I want to be selfish and keep it all to myself. But Bonnie B deserves more than a 4 1/2 star average. I usually eat somewhere two or three times before writing a review. But I've gone to Bonnie B's about 7 times. I've even done a few two a days (lunch and dinner). I'm not proud. I'm certain I'm an addict. So here is what's I'm addicted to: 1. Spare Ribs- They really do fall off the bone. Its pink on the inside and brown on the outside, because its really smoked. And you can taste the quality. 2. Beef Brisket- Delicious. A little different, because the brisket is chopped rather than sliced, but it still works. It's super tender. 3. Mac N Cheese- Homemade. The right texture, the right type of macaroni, the right flavors. 4. Baked Beans- I always always always get this as one of my sides. It's simply put: the best beans I've had. 5. The sauces- Three different sauces on the table. All are different and all delicious. 6. Jalapeno corn bread- No explanation needed. Buy it and eat it. 7. Value meal for 10 bucks. It's offered everyday. You get one meat and two sides. I can't think of a better way to spend 10-12 bucks. 8 Friendliness- They ask for your name, they make you feel at home and they smile all the time. I This is a must try. If you visit, there's a good chance I'll be there.
(5)Biker A.
The beef ribs are truly fall off the bone. The brisket was also good, sides good as well. Sanitizers all over the place if you want to freshen up before using your paws to eat the bbq. They're a friendly bunch, makes you feel like you know them. It is a hole in the wall, but the tasty food is there. Another review mistakenly wrote that they only have bottled water. Not true. When I asked for water, they said "bottled or tap?"
(5)Teresa C.
I'll admit it, I have a Groupon addiction, especially since they have an iPhone app that makes it way too easy to spend your money in $5, 10, 25 amounts for foods and activities I hope I'll never for get to use. My greatest fear is to waste my Groupon after paying for it but it's easily overridden by the idea that I can try new places outside my comfort zone that I may never have thought to consider on my own. Bonnie B's is one of those places. It's in Pasadena but not downtown where I usually visit, with its yuppied shops and classy crowds. This is further north, the land of rolling hills and slightly ghetto-er crowds. Not that I'm judging (you go where the food is, I say.) The restaurant is small, with a shared parking lot in the back although there is limited timed street parking in front. Mom & Pop, family owned, they're friendly when you come in and repeat customers or friends always seem to be popping in (which sometimes seems to slow down the service a bit since there aren't many people working). One lady manned the front and I think the mom was in the back cooking. You get in line at the register to order and then sit down and wait for them to bring your food to you. They're a bit absentminded (probably because of all the chatting) and kept forgetting our drinks. But we were here with a Groupon (which we used easily) and were more than forgiving. Pricing seemed pretty reasonable and average, under $15 for a combo of three meats and sides. I tried ribs and links and my friend tried the chicken and brisket. The food took a while to come but come it did eventually. A tip for when they ask you if you want wheat or white bread with your meal (included)- you can actually order the corn bread which is fantastic, just make sure to ask for the option yourself. Chicken was very tender and juicy. My ribs were yummy and smokey, with the meat coming off the bone nicely, although I wish they'd given more pieces....for the pricing, I think they could have been a bit more generous. There are BBQ sauces on the table and the server will explain them if you're new although I stuck with the spicy one for a kick. Beans were typical, nothing special. Sausage links were meaty and smokey but the meat was again, nothing special. The food was pretty good and if you're not in a hurry or rush, its a good mom & pop BBQ place to try. The taste is different from the chains and its nice to get that home cooking style in the sides. However, it's quite a bit out of the way for me and with so many alternatives around LA to try, I don't think I'd come back unless someone else suggested it. (Although I wouldn't say no to going...)
(4)Leah M.
...ordered a bbq chicken sandwich for take-out....I got two slices of wheat bread in the old-school sandwich bags (the kind w/ just a flap and no zip loc)...chicken still on their bones and bbq sauce in plastic containers...unimpressed that I had to put the sandwich together myself...even worse, put a sandwhich together on two slices of bread that I could of brought from home... ...on the other hand, it seems that a lot of people enjoy this place, a good proportion of which dined in...perhaps my experience was just a take-out blunder and maybe I'll have a better experience if I dine in? I also admit that the chicken itself wasn't all that bad.... ...that said, I leave this place with a very tentative 2 stars, with plans to give it another try sometime someday.
(2)Lucia S.
Came here on a Friday afternoon based on recommendation from a friend. The person at the register was very helpful and told us what was most popular. My friend and I decided to share the 3 item plus 2 sides combo. We tried the Beef Brisket, Fall off the bone spare ribs (2 provided) and the BBQ dark meat chicken (2 pieces). Beef Brisket was the best, followed by ribs, then chicken. 3 kinds of BBQ sauce on the table. I am a sweet girl, so I prefer the mild and sweet while my friends liked the med sauce. The sweet yams were awesome. I could eat that for dessert. We ended up rolling out of the place. For the two of us with drinks, we paid $21.00 for lunch. Asked if they are going to bring the Fried Chicken back and they said they probably will for the summer plus a pull part pork too. Can't wait to come back here.
(5)Janey S.
Came here out of fate i suppose . Last nite we called a disconnected phone number for Purdue's , and found Bonnie B's ,. and boy are we glad we did! We purchased 4 combo dinners, plus some a la carte items, and i have the say the dinner portions were just great ! while at the same time, a lil bit on the pricey side. This is the kind of place you save up to go to, because the food is so great! the cashier greeted us warmly and gave great customer service, he was nice! but i would say, the size LARGE of their sides looks kind of small, only about 12-16 oz. , so for a family of 4, those sides would have been quite small, once you taste the mac n cheese ,collard greens and sweet potatoes, you will wish you had more. for $7ish per large, not worth it in size however, taste was great ! To be honest, even in the combo plates, the sides were just barely enough. However i cannot say nicer things about the food : The beef brisket was juicy, tender and soo flavorful ! The bbq chicken was not dried out, loved the crust and flavor. The spareribs were amazing, they did not skimp here at all, the ribs were various in size but the fat ones were very meaty. Even the small ones had a good amount of meat on the bones. The jalapeno cornbreads : Where did the jalapeno go? and wow they were very small,. the size of space in a regular muffin tin . For a$1.00 i felt they were quite overpriced.... they were pretty good for a cornbread muffin but definitely overpriced. Come here for the bbq'd meats and service!!
(4)Min T.
Have you ever noticed all the chicken spots on Lake? Well, there's a new BBQ joint called Bonnie B's and they serve some great BBQ chicken. In general I tend to avoid BBQ chicken because it can get dry. Not at Bonnie B's! It's actually moist and had great flavor. Because I'm a glutton, I got a combo so I could taste the ribs. They don't have baby backs so these ribs are a little bit fattier. Yet they were still very lean. As Kevin C noted, the rub was different on the rubs than chicken. I really liked the collard greens and the jalepeno corn bread muffin. The mac and cheese was nice too. Bonnie B's has been open for about half a year. Bonnie seems like a nice woman. She tried to temp us with dessert but we were so stuffed. Plenty of parking in the back lot.
(4)Karyn O.
The ribs are crazy good. When they say "fall-off-the-bone" they mean it. The ribs are served dry and are delicious that way, but even better topped with the homemade BBQ sauces served at the tables. The black eyed peas were delicious, as was the okra. One thing worth mentioning is that their lunch portions are the perfect size. They satisfy without making you feel like you're overstuffed. So many places confuse huge portions with a good food experience. This place has great food in just the right amounts. This is now our favorite BBQ joint in the Pasadena area. They're going to need a bigger space very soon, I think.
(5)Veronica W.
looking for b-b-q look no further this place is very , very , very good.
(5)Nia I.
Fall off smokey tender and juicy meat that can feed me for lunch and dinner, friendly service, worth the money.. my wallet and my tummy are happy :)
(4)john F. g.
I've lived in Los Angeles for 24 years and have eaten my share of awesome Q, but Bonnie B's is the best I've tasted so far. Bonnie does Q Oklahoma style and has a beautiful painting of her Grandmother and Grandfather cooking Q on the prairie on the wall. This was our second trip and we we're blown away again. I went with the $4.95 Rib Tips. Big, boldly seasoned, succulent pieces of beautiful meat. My wife had the Pork Spare Rib plate with Mac & Cheese and Potato salad. The pork ribs are fall off the bone yummy. You get 6 to 8 huge ribs, enough to take home. We both had the delicious homemade sweet tea. I look forward to exploring the rest of the menu. Say hi to Bonnie while you're there.Go now, best Q in LA!
(5)Enrique S.
good bbq with med bbq sause baked beans good didnt like mac and chease mushy worker goes on break takes the only fan off me completly puts it on him and falls asleep wtf turned stuffy check pics I took a pic lol
(3)Ly Y.
Boonie B Smokin is a slice of smoky heaven in Pasadena open only 5 days a week (Wed-Sun). Sauce: 5 Stars I love this stuff! Its smoky, sweet, and spicy I can't get enough! Pork Ribs: 5 Stars The smoke ring on the ribs was so red and deep! A lot of love was put in cooking those ribs. Beef Brisket: 3 Stars I was disappointed that the brisket was chopped and not sliced. It should be called chopped brisket. It had a decent flavor and the meat was tender. Hot Links: 1 Stars This was extremely disappointing. It was basically a spicy hotdog that got smoked.
(4)Debbie K.
Bonnie B's catered a lunch for 50 people at our office last week. It is not easy to pull off feeding that many people with hot, delicious food. Everyone loved every bite of the wonderful ribs, brisket and chicken. We have lunches quite often and this by far surpassed any caterer we have had. We already have requests to have Bonnie B's again. It was such a success, that I am sure they are top of the list. All their sides are great as well.
(5)LeLinda B.
SMOKIN' .... Bonnie B's is a truly smokin' GREAT restaurant. Once you get out of your car, you can smell the smoke, and your taste buds instantly get a BBQ fix. You know then --- that Bonnie B's will be some AWESOME eating! Hubby and I ate there on Sat, 10/30/10. We got there early (around 5pm) and there was only 1 other patron in the restaurant. We chose the front table nearest the counter. Glad we did -- the lady at the counter asked us how we found out about Bonnie B's and we replied through YELP. She took our order and was very helpful in making our selections. They have a good selection of meats, sides, and combination plates. Bonnie B's ribs are served dry, but they have 3 great sauces to choose from. I chose the HOT and put some on my baked beans. Kicked them up a notch. Then I mixed the Original and the Hot, and I really love that mixture, which I used for my tender, fall off the bone ribs. (SERIOUSLY, THE PORK RIBS ARE TO DIE FOR HERE!) Prices are very reasonable. But the main THING: THE FOOD IS GREAT!!! Here's what hubby and I ordered: 1) 1 lb Beef Brisket (for hubby) -- $14.95 2) 1/2 lb Hot Links (to share) -- 6.95 3) Pork Rib/Brisket Combo w/ baked beans, okra &maters, & white bread (for me) -- 14.95 4) Med, size Greens (share) -- 4.50 5) Med, size Baked beans (for hubby) -- 4.00 6) Small Black-eyed Peas (share) -- 1.99 7) 2 Bottled Waters -- 1.82 Their brisket is the BOMB!!! Great smoke flavor throughout. VERY, VERY TENDER AND VERY GOOD. The brisket is good on white bread w/just a little sauce on it. Bonnie B's sides are very good, too, and show how much love this owner has in making her restaurant a truly GREAT barbecue place. The baked beans, the greens, black-eyed peas, and the okra, maters & rice were all well prepared with just the perfect amount of seasonings. We did not get to try any desserts because we were so STUFFED. But at our next visit, we will definitely try some of their desserts. Yes, we had a lot of food. Ate most of it at the restaurant, but had enough to bring home for leftovers. We've found our barbecue heaven at Bonnie B's and we will definitely return!!!
(5)CC W.
My husband and I have gone to Bonnie B's for lunch once or twice and liked their BBQ. This review, however, is on the catering service at Bonnie B's. A few weeks ago, I needed to figure out the food for the baby shower that a friend is hosting for me. Because of the time and location of the shower, I thought of Bonnie B's. The catering menu is posted online, and after reviewing it, I picked up the phone and called the place. I explained to Betty ("the B of Bonnie B's") what kind of BBQ and side dishes I had in mind, and approximately how many people I was planning to feed. Betty was very patient and took her time to help me figure out just about how much of each item I would need. She even helped me figure out the cheaper way to get the same amount of food. The whole ordering process was painless, and Betty was definitely one of the nicest ladies I've spoken to on the phone. The day of the shower came, and the food was ready for pick up right on time. The guests really loved the food, and there was not a lot of leftovers. Betty was right on the money on the right amount of food. If there's another occasion where I need to get BBQ catering, I would definitely call Betty again.
(5)R E.
I had such high excpectations for this place. So I got the catfish extra crispy (I had soggy fried fish), that made it extra tough. The Ribs do fall off the bone as advertised but they fall off the bone with no flavor . The sides were good, okra with tomatoes, black eye peas, solid mac and cheese and good collard greens. But thats not enough for me to return.
(2)Danny H.
So, I actually been to this place twice. The first time I went, the service wasn't really good. It was ok to need a little improvement. Then again, I do have to admit that my buddy and I came like an hour before they close and I'm not sure if the guy was just tired and wanted to go home, having a bad day, or just wasn't good at service. But I will admit, the food was finger licking good! The second time I went to the place, we had a different waiter and he was better. Wasn't exactly awesome, but service was better this time. And again, I walked out with food coma. Both times, I had the combos and both times I had to waddle waddle out of the door. I believe this small place is a local family owned business. The service is fair to ok. But the food is bomb diggity delicious. If you get the combos, be ready to walk out sideways if you can finish the whole plate. Yup, it's some good ol' cookin up in here! And I'm gonna be rollin back up in here again for some finger lickin meats.
(3)Kimberly A.
We too wanted to love the food after hearing so many good reviews. It was dry, the sauce was nothing spectacular... and the Mac & cheese that we had to wait for was so not worth the wait. Just mediocre in our opinion. Too bad
(2)Dennis B.
Was looking for a good BBQ place nearby and glad we found Bonnie Bs. We got there right before they closed and ordered take out. We met Betty the co-owner and since she knew it was our first time she recommended her favorites. Needless to say Betty was fantastic - kinda like a favorite aunt. We tried some BBQ sauces and I love spicy flavors but the medium was even too much for me, so I stuck with the mild! We ordered 2 combo plates with brisket, hot links, chicken, and pork ribs. All meat plates come with BBQ sauce on the side unlike some places that cover everything with sauce. This way you can choose the best sauce for your own taste. The Mac and cheese and other sides were delicious We really enjoyed our meal - their portions were generous as well. The meats were really good and some of the best BBQ I've had. Will definitely go back and recommend if you want simple good quality BBQ.
(5)Brian S.
Although I would have liked to give Bonnie B's a better rating, they were soooooo disorganized. Little did I know they had a groupon deal going on. A not to businesses - when you sign up for groupon, please don't get surprised when a hole lota people come knocking on your door and please, please prepare appropriately. In Bonnie B's case, the restaurant is exceptionally small, which just made the groupon phenomenon worse. We ordered the bbq chicken value plate with greens and candied yams and pulled pork with a salad and candied yams (which were actually the pureed style). We also got a drink. We wanted to order mack and cheese but they ran out. Shortly after placing the order, we tried to switch one of the sides cornbread, to which we were told "there's no way, its just too difficult", so we just went ahead and ordered it separately. Sigh. Really? With a coupon from a local mailer, this came to $23.95 - a little pricy for what we got. I think the larger portions are a better deal. The four working were nice, but obviously frazzled. I asked if I could get a glass of water and the woman asked "You already have water, right?" to which I had to respond "Um, it's for my wife" as if any justification was needed. When we didn't get our cornbread, we asked one of the servers if we could get our order, which he did bring, but only one piece. When we asked if we could get the other cornbread, he asked if we had the receipt. The receipt? Come on people, we aren't looking to skim cornbread. After a blank look, he said "nevermind, I'll bring you one". Unfortunately, he never did, so we asked another guy, who eventually did bring us that cornbread. As to the quality of the food, it was fine. Nothing that I'd bend over backwards for and I may even try it again - perhaps on a less busy night with no deals going on - and it will definitely be take out.
(3)Shelia S.
Bonnie B's catered our summer lunch for approximately 45 people. The ribs, brisket, chicken and hot links were finger-licking good; and their collard greens and jalapeno corn muffins were out of this world. Delivery was prompt, presentation was great, the food was hot and we were all in BBQ heaven! We look forward to enjoying another delicious office meal from Bonnie B's in the near future!
(5)Bruce T.
Bonnie B' s Smokin is truly a hidden gem! I was greeted by a kind, sweet, cheerful lady the moment I walked in- it might have been Bonnie- I didn't think to ask. She asked if I'd been there before and explained the different sauces. She could not have been nicer. I ordered the ribs, greens, and black-eyed peas. The ribs were awesome! They were smoked perfectly with a beautiful bark. The meat was tender and smoky wonderful. You can tell Bonnie's takes pride in it's sides. The greens were done perfectly and flavorful. The peas were also good. I am glad I don't live too far away because I will definitely be back!
(5)Jen H.
The food was all-around delicious, especially the jalapeno corn bread, chopped brisket, and KILLER barbeque sauce. The owners were gracious and friendly, and we are so happy to give them our business. Wonderful!
(5)p m.
I was in the mood for some good old fashioned barbecue or soul food. I ordered the fried fish dinner. Potato salad was OK, nothing special, Mac-n-cheese was passable. Fish had a good flavor to it. My husband ordered the ribs-which he liked as an 8, on a scale of 1-10, yams were too much like baby food though, but he did enjoy his baked beans. We could recommend this place, as a decent place to go to get some above average bar-b-que.
(4)L L.
This place gets docked one star because of the staff. I called in an order and noted the promotion on. Their website for a free drink with a combo purchase. The guy on the phone said no problem and would get me the drink. Fast forward to pick up time...my wife picks up and the lady at the counter refused to give us a friggin fountain drink because she didn't have the coupon printed out! Wtf. A fountain drink costs about 5 cents to make and she opted to piss off their patrons. Boo Bonnie B's for your horrible customer service.
(2)Mary JO V.
Uh-oh move over Big Mama, this place has excellent smoke flavored ribs and greens that will have you stepping up your competition. When I parked my car in back I could smell the smoker and knew it was going to be good food. The prices are not the cheapest but it is worth it once in awhile to splurge on a lunch this good. I had the tender ribs with some greens and mac & cheese and their great homemade sweet tea that sort of tastes like pineapple. All I can say is Deeelish!
(5)Aaron G.
I liked their brisket, but what really put them over the top for me was their excellent greens and their BBQ chicken. The chicken was moist and tender: cooked just perfectly.
(4)Jess C.
We heard about this new barbeque place in pasadena and were excited to go try it. It's easy to miss and we actually drove past it then went around and parked out front. We were greeted by Betty, who i think is one of the owner's of the place. She sat us down and explained the menu and was super nice. Service was amazing here and it was very reasonably priced. As for the food, it was pretty good. My boyfriend and I have had bbq from all around the country, and this was pretty decent. The brisket was the best, and the ribs were tender enough that they fell off the bone, but still firm enough to chew. All-in-all a great experience. Will definitely be going back.
(4)R A.
I like the hotlinks and black-eyed peas, my dad loves their ribs. The candied yams look like baby food, mashed and pretty bland. The bbq beans taste like Bush's canned baked beans. They have a very unique bbq sauce, I can't explain the taste but it is just okay. Quick service, I usually go there on weekend and no one is ever in there Lol. Way better than Big Mama's Rib Shack (which is literally up the street).
(4)Heather H.
Tiny hole in the wall family owned BBQ place. Really great service, yummy ribs, and best collard greens ever.
(4)R M.
went to a fancy BBQ place in Pasadena looking for rib tips. When none were listed on the menu we consulted yelp and found Bonnies B's...the food was fresh, the server was impeccable and the ambiance was delightful. Needless to say we have finally found a BBQ place in Pasadena/ Altadena that meets our very picky demands!
(5)NH G.
So glad I found this place!!! I'm a vegetarian, and it is very hard to find great soul food that is not drenched in pork fat :( Bonnie B's, fortunately, *does not cook vegetables with meat*!!! Yeah!!! Ordered the vegetable plate (choice between 3 or 4 vegetables, both come with a jalapeno cornbread muffin). Cleaned my plate and sorta wanted seconds. The pros: - Ridiculously good baked beans. Not sure when's the last time I had baked beans out; seems like this is a lost art. I could have eaten 4 more helpings of this! - Unexpectedly good yams. I'm used to candied yam chunks, where you can see the syrup and brown sugar. Bonnie B's are more the consistency of mashed potatoes. Sweet but not syrupy. Yum. - Great collards -- and did I mention, NO PORK! No secretly dreading what was in the pot liquor. - Exceptionally friendly staff. I went with a friend who had been in just once before, a few weeks prior, and one of the co-owners at the cash register remembered him, remembered his order, remembered his kids. Very impressive. The cons: - Mac n cheese was just so-so. I am used to chunky-cheesy. Bonnie B's is more saucy-cheesy. Also, it was a little peppery which I didn't expect (and didn't particularly like). - A little pricier than I'd like. My veggie plate, plus friend's bbq chicken with 2 sides (no drinks -- we had water) came to almost $30. Not saying it wasn't worth it, but definitely keeps this from being a weekly stop. Overall, great food, excellent service, easy to find parking. Awesome place to fill a vegetarian soul food craving.
(4)Corina B.
Wasn't even craving BBQ but after having this down from Oklahoma true BBQ I am hooked & now can't wait to go back! Three choices of BBQ sauces mild, med, & hot spice level... My choice is the medium... put some on each bite I took of my chicken "sandwich" & I was in BBQ heaven! The BBQ baked beans, sweet velvet in my mouth! The service is great, the decor is cool and it's just plain good food. I can't wait to go back and try them desserts on the menu!
(5)Richard O.
The ribs are tender and the sides are great, but the sauce is very meh. I was going to give them a 3 star review, but tender ribs are hard to comeby.
(4)Blade M.
Ladies & gentlemen, we have a winner. Some of the best BBQ in so cal. Excellent ribs, uh-MAZE-ing Brisket (chopped), great links & pulled pork. The sides were also solid...greens, Mac & cheese baked beans. And all 3 of their sauces are good. Plus all the girls I was with wailed through the glazed (pound) cake for desert. The atmosphere is like a nice subway sandwich restaurant (nothing fancy)but the food & friendly staff were top notch. Move over Gus's...there's a new BBQ sheriff in town.
(4)Jose B.
I'm always on the lookout for great BBQ. Been to TX and TN and the BBQ there is awesome. Went here for the first time last night with the family. I have to say the Brisket is the best I've had so far. The ribs were smoky but too fatty for my taste. I probably won't order the ribs again, but will definitely go with the Brisket and will give the Links a try. Beans were great. Potato salad was good too. Chicken was very tender, not dry. Wanted to try some of their cake slices, but they were out by the time we got there. Will definitely go back again. It's a small cozy place with limited seating. Service was great.
(4)Dee W.
Food was so so. Service was great!
(3)Fegie B.
My son-in-law was with us and he's always going to Louisiana to visit family and he said the ribs were the best he's ever tasted in his life!! We loved the experience of being there and looking at all the interesting images of powerful men and women of the world framed so beautifully, it's clear the owner has a vision besides creating the most delicious food. The greens, the brisket, the yams, all delicious, fresh and not oily. A winner and a place to go back to for real soul food. We struck lucky and haven't stopped talking about it since!
(5)Stephen M.
We have eaten here for both for lunch and dinner. Lunch, mostly sandwiches; dinner, mostly the plates but my wife will occasionally just have a sandwich. The ribs and brisket are great. Pulled pork is actually diced pork but it's good too. Yes--all these meats come out of their own smoker. You add the sauce--and there are three sauces of increasing spiciness. Among the sides, we usually have the beans and the greens, and they're always good. I like the okra and tomato over rice. Friendly staff, and the most reliable barbeque in Pasadena. Definitely recommended.
(4)Lisa C.
The food was good, not the best BBQ I've had, but good. The portions were not. Tiny portions of everything. So not worth the money. And the atmosphere was too ritzy and up-scale. If I'm in the neighborhood, I'd go, but other than that, its not worth it.
(2)Jessica M.
Went here last night with the Husband and I am so glad we found this place. Hubby got the Pork Ribs combo dinner which is a 1/2 rack of ribs plus two sides He tried the candied yams and Potato Salad. I was feeling like mixing it up so i had the 2 meat combo dinner I had Beef Brisket and Pork ribs I also has Okra and tomatoes over rice. Although this place is small it is filled with pictures, and positive phrases allover the walls. The food came out and i was surprised the portions are so generous which made us very happy. I have to say the ribs were good, I really enjoyed them and the Okra. But where it is at is the Beef Brisket which is chopped and not sliced so you get tons of wonderful tender meat. The sauces here which are also home made are to die for the spicy has a great heat to it. When we were just ending our meal Bonnie came out and asked how our meal was and she seemed generally happy to meat us and pleased that we enjoyed ourselves. We will be back that much if for sure!
(4)Stan T.
I've been here about 4-5 times and let me tell ya, the food is more than finger lickin' good, it's thumb, middle finger, the birdie finger, all them fingers smackin' lickin' goodness of homemade soul cooking. I've had the ribs, brisket, chix, fried fish and alomost all the sides. I hate to say that I love their food, cause everyone says that, but I LOVE THE FOOD here. Sure there are other soul kitchens around but Bonnie.... you my girl!! You have a way of putting a smile on my face and a couple inches more on my belt line. Service is good. The gals and guys double and triple up job duties as they are the cashier, the food runner and the busser. So be sure to take care of them. Bonnie will sometimes make an appearance as she comes out to talk to her patrons and says hi to everybody. This joint is small, so there might be a slight wait or take it to go. Only one small negative- they do not have a bathroom. You gotta go the hair salon 2 doors down to do your business.
(5)KG G.
Nothing fancy, just delicious food! The veggies were delicious, the pulled pork sandwich was so well flavored, and the 3 levels of "hot/mild/medium" are homemade!!
(4)Mar W.
Tried this place in Pasadena on a weekend and it did not disappoint. Had the BBQ brisket and rib tips combination with a side of collard greens and mac and cheese. Delicious! Brisket was served chopped and was moist and well seasoned. The rib tips, although tasty, were a bit on the dry and stringy side. We also tried the ribs and they were also good. Although they have three homemade sauces to choose from, they were just ok. We appreciated the friendly service.
(3)Matt P.
In the last week, I've ventured out on a Soul Food expedition. I stumbled upon this place and at first had a difficult time finding it as the store sign is not facing you if you are driving north on Lake. Found parking in front of the restaurant and walked in. They also have parking in back I believe. When I opened the door, it felt like a sauna in there. Man, somebody turn on the ac. They had 2 or 3 fans funning that day. If the ac wasn't working, at least open up the door so you can get some fresh air inside. Anyway, I ordered one of their dinner combos with brisket and some other meat. I think it was tri tip. I have to say that I was a little disappointed with the food. All of the reviews kind of built me up for this place and it didn't really deliver. The meat was overcooked and dry. I don't know if it's because I went in for dinner and was left with all the bad parts. But it sure felt like it. I did like the greens. It was very tasty. If I am really jonesing for bbq, then I might make the drive here. If not, I will wait to go to Lucille's instead.
(3)Brian V.
I visited the new location at 1280 N. Lake Ave in Pasadena, CA. The smoked brisket dinner offered a generous portion of flavorful, tender beef, chopped. I'm glad I ordered the sauce on the side. Too much vinegar for my taste but I know some folks like it that way. The black-eyed peas are well seasoned and served over rice. The greens are also full of flavor and tender. The candied yams were sweet and melt-in-your-mouth buttery. My wife tried the salmon which she said was delicious and my daughter had the chicken sausage which she also enjoyed. I will definitely go back.
(4)monica m.
Our church had Bonnie B cater our lunch today and I'm SO glad they did! I've been looking for a good BBQ place in LA and I think I've found it! We had the chicken, sausage links, potato salad, and baked beans. It was SOOO good! I don't know how they made so much food and have it all consistently taste good! The chicken just falls off the bones, the baked beans were sweet and smokey, the potato salad had the right consistency and was not to mustardy, and the sausage links were little perfect bites of bites of spice loaded heaven. Soooo good! Was able to order a pulled pork sandwich while waiting and that was awesome too! It had chunks of melt in your mouth pork pieces squished between two buns. I ate it several hours later and it was still good because they put the sauce on the side. The buns weren't soggy. So nice of them! Would, however, have liked some slaw on the sandwich, but they might have left it out because it was take out. I was one of the people who picked it up and the service was outstanding. They were really nice and quick, helping us load the car. Street parking is ample (just remember to point the tires to the curb as they ticket there) and if it's full, there seemed to be some parking in the back. You need to look carefully for the restaurant for the signs are a bit small, but it's so worth it! Atmosphere is very cute and hole in the wally. Has a cool mural on one side and inspirational quotes and people they admire on the other side. Reminds me of a small BBQ joint I ate at when I was in N. Carolina. I gave Bonnie's 4 stars because I have yet to taste the rest of their menu. A church member has stated that their ribs are the highlight, falling off the bones, and a guy came in and picked up a catered order of 40 cornbread which makes me think that their cornbread must be....AWWWWW-SOOOMMMEEE!! Looking forward to giving them 5 after trying everything else!
(4)Jewel L.
Very good BBQ. I've never had Oklahoma BBQ. It's more smokey. Very good. Great black eyed peas, okra and collard greens.
(4)Dana S.
We had a catering order for a small party. Usually this means the food isn't as great as it is in the restaurant, but not the case here - the food was fantastic! We loved the brisket, the ribs were great and so was the chicken. We also had the yams, baked beans, greens and mac and cheese, all of them amazing. Everyone loved the food and completely stuffed themselves.
(5)Lori F.
Great food and service. Just the nicest people ever. Can't wait to go back! Make sure you get a slice of both of their cakes! Yum, I got the fried fish and it was so good too! Their sauces are so good...Writing this, I wish I now had leftovers but we ate everything there!
(5)Ray S.
Dropped in for lunch and am glad I did. Service was great and food was better. Three coworkers were with me so we had a variety of foods to taste. Didn't get to try the jalapeno corn muffin so will have to go back for it, but we tried the greens, ribs, mac & cheese, hot links, chicken and brisket. We're known for being pretty picky about food, so the fact that everyone only had positive comments serves as a testimony. Had read other reviews that raved about the beans (which are good). I've saved my raves for the potato salad though, excellent! The fact that they prepare some dishes without meat or meat by-products should broaden the clientele as well. Going back this weekend!
(4)Elisabeth D.
I love this place. I've been meaning to try it since most of the BBQ places in Pasadena are pathetic. Big Momma's has boiled ribs, Barn Burner is just overpriced and ridiculous, Robin's is OK but my husband refuses to eat there--he says it's awful. I wouldn't go that far, but I haven't exactly fought to go back. Bonnie B's is the real deal. The meat--rib tips, chicken, brisket--is smoky all the way through. The meat has that pink tinge it gets when it's actually been smoked, not boiled (shudder). The sauce is perfect in my book--tangy and smoky, and I'm partial to the Oklahoma style. We had the okra, a mix of veg including corn and tomatoes, very tasty, and the black eyed peas on our order of brisket, which was chopped and lean, great with a splash of sauce. With our order of chicken, which was tender with a decent, crisp skin, we got macaroni and cheese and greens, both of which were devoured by my children--the small bites I had were good, the mac n cheese not too dry, with visible cheddar on the top. The greens were meltingly soft, and so delicious that you just know they were cooked with bacon fat. The fact that they were scarfed down by a 13 year old not known for his love of veg should tell you something. We also had the rib tip special, a paper boat piled high with chewy, smoky rib tips, just a tad dry--but for $4.99, who could complain. The bread that was served along all of the meals was the usual type that is served in southern barbeque restaurants--I won't buy the stuff, but my kids love it of course. Best of all, it's owned by local people who are grateful to have you there. Betty B's is a real neighborhood restaurant--not perfect, but the kind of place you just have to support. I used to occasionally drive to South Central to get real southern barbeque, and now I can just go down the street.
(5)Ross W.
This small eatery is easy to miss. Pay attention to the street number. More importantly, pay attention to the street parking sign. We missed the "Turn wheels to Curb" sign and got ticketed. We had the 3-meat combo which came with 2 sides and bread. The fall-off-the-bone spare ribs is aptly named. The chicken hot links are absolutely delicious. Hubby who generally does not like beef brisket thought highly of it. The sides, collard greens and potato salad, were good too. A fan of sweet tea, I had to try Hollywood's SL Tea Slim Twist. It was sweet, but I liked it. How can anyone say no to Glaze-It-To-Me Cake? It's almost like pound cake, but much lighter, more fluffy and moist. Hubby who usually takes only a few bites of my dessert actually devoured half of the cake. Betty who double duties as cashier and server is very friendly. Service may be a bit slow, but it does not lessen the experience. Bonnie the chef came out and greeted us. This is indeed a family-run restaurant that puts love in their cooking.
(4)Insung K.
Decent bbq joint with good flavored meats. After Perdue's closed I've been looking for another place to get decent bbq in Pasadena. Bonnie's B's Smokin is aight. You're going to spend about $10 for lunch and $15 for dinner, but they do have daily specials which changes all the time. My main beef with this place is their bread. I ordered a beef brisket sandwich and it came in the crappiest bun ever. It was almost like Wonder Bread. C'mon Bonnie, step it up and get at least a roll or something!
(3)Roger M.
Great pricing for a whole lotta meat. Got the 3 item combo plate and left stuffed! The beef ribs were awesome and delicious. Will be back!
(5)Jeff B.
Let me start off by saying I have a BBQ competition team and have been to the best BBQ joints all over the US. Bonnie B's is by far the Best BBQ in the area. The Sauces are original and unique and it's family owned and made. The only complaint I have is the potato salad is not home made, but who cares everything else is great. Go here you won't be disappointed.
(5)judy h.
Absolutely AMAZING! The service, food, everything! I ordered the "fall off the bone" ribs with mac & cheese, and sweet yams. Mac & cheese was delicious! Cheesy & very tasty, while the sweet yams were sweet & perfect! The ribs literally fell off the bone, very tender, flavorful, and their bbq sauce was one of the best i've ever had. My boyfriend ordered the beef brisket, which was also absolutely perfect! Betty, one of the owners came by to talk to us. She was really nice & friendly, and told us how her family got involved in the bbq business. Everything was great about this place, definitely will recommend it to everyone! Just a heads up, I think they are only open 5 days out of the week, so make sure you check before you go. =)
(5)Candace L.
Let's cut to the chase! This place is sooooo good! How we kept away for over two years is just senseless. Here's what we love and what we can live without: Musts: Ribs Chicken (says my man, but he loves chicken while I don't but it is tasty here) Brisket Yams Greens Potato salad (a little dash of pepper wouldn't hurt) Pass: Jalapeño cord bread muffin Mac and cheese Pulled pork Rib tips sell out early so keep this in mind. Sweet tea is very sweet and very good! The medium sauce is soooo good, I stopped myself from pouring it right down my throat and the food is amazing without it but once discovering how good it is I wanted it on every last bite! Private parking lot around back or street parking in front.
(5)Margie D.
3.5 stars for the friendly service, delicious ribs and super tasty hot bbq sauce. To be fair, I am Southern and I'm a little jaded when it comes to authentic bbq. We had: Large pork rib plate (4 bones), 3-meat sampler (2 ribs, chopped brisket and pulled pork), collard greens, mac n' cheese, green salad, a Diet Pepsi (can) and water. Ribs are fan-freaking-tastic. They have a nice bark, subtle smokiness and falling off the bone tender. The chopped brisket was smokey, tender and juicy. The pulled pork was not good. It may have been "pulled" but barely. Large chunks, no bark, no smokiness, dry and chewy. The greens were cooked perfectly. I was surprised that this "authentic" Texas bbq place had never heard of Texas Pete's hot sauce for greens (vinegar and hot chilis) and they did need just a bit of spicing up. No meat in the greens, which is fine if you're vegan, but I like some ham hock flavor. Mac 'n' Cheese was just meh. Nothing like the creamy, custardy, cheesy mac I grew up on. I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Bonnie and her nephew. Very nice people who were eager to please. Grand total inculding tip $40.
(3)David C.
A very tiny restaurant in a non-descript block in Pasadena, you might never notice it. While I still haven't found a rib joint to rival my favorite (Dr. Hogly Wogly's in Van Nuys), this was pretty tasty. I got the 3 meat combo, with ribs, brisket, and rib tips. The gal got the two meat combo with ribs and bbq chicken. They have three sauces. Sweet, mild spicy, and very spicy (which is pretty spicy, which I like). You get two sides. I had the mac and cheese and potato salad. You cannot choose the corn bread as side. This is a bit silly, as if they did allow people to do that, they'd make more profit, as I heard many people trying to order the corn bread as one of their sides. Doesn't matter. Only 95 cents for a corn bread. On to the meat. My favorite was the rib tips, which are dripping in sweet sauce. I got a pile of them on my plate. The brisket was very good, as well, with a small portion which could be bigger. The ribs were good, too, but you only get two. I'm not used to just eating two ribs. And even in the 2 meat combo, you only get two ribs. The chicken was all right, but nothing great. Just kind of boring. The sides were good. Loved the potato salad. Also, I never eat mac and cheese. Just not my thing. But I ate my entire portion here, so it is very good. Which they gave you a dab of butter for your corn bread. I like the place and will go back if I'm not in the mood for traveling West. However, still doesn't hold a candle to Hogly Wogly's.
(3)Thatz L.
People are very feiendly, checking on you while you eat. It's nice to sit inside and eat...small but a nice comfortable feeling! Food is good! The greens and black Eyed Peas could use more seasoning, but then again, everyone likes it different. So maybe it's best if they put small bottles of Lawry's seasoning salt on each table so we can add it as we please. A great place for lunch though!
(4)Patrick L.
One of the odder restaurant experiences I have had. Purchased about $40 worth of take out based on the good things I had heard. The food was good, not great. Have had better BBQ...have had worse BBQ. Odd part was when I asked for BBQ sauce for my to go order. Employee gave me a thimble size cup of hot bbq sauce. I asked for more...told me he was not allowed without charging more...I asked why...as I noticed bottle of sauce were on nearly table allowing customers to customize the sauce to meat ratio as they desired. He said it cost money...I acknowledged that it did...just as the plastic bag, styrofoam container and the sauce in the bottles on the table cost money and assumed that was built into the price. He did not know any other reasons, said he would get the owner. After about two minutes the owner came out. She explained she knew how much sauce people needed. I asked her how she knew how much sauce I needed or how she monitored use in the dining room where bottles of sauce offer virtually unlimited sauce. She said the sauce cost a lot, etc. Bottom line, silly to have such a long review about sauce...but on the other hand why would an owner be concerned about 50 cents of sauce for a $40 order. It will certainly influence whether I return or not.
(2)Janelle L.
You WOW'd my socks off Bonnie B!! Who knew such a small little hole in the wall could produce such large robust flavors. I usually enjoy BBQ but this time was jumping out of my britches with that sauce!!! We tried the baby back and the brisket. Both tender and flavorful. The ribs alone had such a great smoky aroma and essence. For sides we indulged in some candied yams, Mac 'n cheese, collard greens and baked beans. At first we were going to dine in. Then it got a little busy. Keep in mind, the place is small so "busy" is relative. So we changed our order to go. The people running the place heard our discussion and immediately said it wasn't a problem, they'd just move some tables and chairs around. I'm glad we did. They were so nice even with the chaos due to the crowd. Lot's of people take out from this place. Parking is a challenge on the street but well worth the search. I'm definitely making this a regular spot.
(4)Lisa C.
We came in on a Sat night and the place was completely empty, which was a little concerning but turns out it's more of a take out place. Another party came and dined it but for the most part, everyone takes out. Service The service was fine. It's a small hole in the wall so the cashier is also the server, which is cool. She was nice. Food Food was okay. It wasn't spectacular but it wasn't bad. The meats were tender, the sides were okay, the toast was just regular toast - everything was okay. They did, however, run out of mac and cheese, muffins, and pulled pork - which was a shame because the pictures of their mac and cheese look so yummy! Decor Loved - there was a huge mural on one wall and lots of pictures/quotes on the other walls. The decor suited the restaurant - it's fun. Overal - If I'm craving bbq, I'd stop by for take out.
(3)Lyly T.
I ordered the 2 meat combo with ribs and pulled pork. Ribs were good but it didn't fall off the bone for me. The pulled pork was more like chopped pork than pulled pork. I was envisioning pork shreds and didn't get that. Loved the medium BBQ sauce. It had a nice kick. I can't imagine how spicy the hot would would be. Hubby ordered the fried catfish. That was good but a little on the salty side. We both loved the candied yams and the collared greens. The mac n cheese was blah and not cheesy at all. I came in with high expectations and was not floored.
(3)Barclay W.
SOOOO GOOD! I love BBQ, but it is something that is so easy to mess up. There are a lot of chain places that try and do it, but there is just something missing in it. Bonnie's B Smokin though treats their BBQ right. They cook it slow and they add in that ingredient no big store can; love. Now I know what you are thinking. Love? Isn't that what parents just tell their kids to make meals more special. It is sort of a made up "spice", but it is something you can taste in your food when it is there. You can tell that they not only love making their food (because they take the time to do it right) but they love what they do and they love customers. I can't describe it, but it is something you will just have to taste. When we went I got the pulled pork dinner plate. I LOVE pulled pork. There are a lot of different types of pulled pork out there. I guess the best way I could describe this is more of the chunky (?) kind vs the shredded kind. It is still slow cook, melt in your mouth delicious. There is homemade BBQ sauce at the table ranging from regular to spicy that you can add yourself. It doesn't need it, but it takes it to an entirely new level. For sides I went with the baked beans and candied yams. The baked beans were good. Nothing crazy original there, but good. The candied yams, my god the candied yams. I could've eaten a plate of those alone and been a happy man. They are creamy and whipped to perfection. They have this intense, but not overwhelming, sweetness to them too. They could almost be your dessert. So good! We also had the jalapeno corn bread. It was good, but not the best I've ever had. Could've used a bit more spice to it. That being said it was well worth the extra 99 cents. The service also shines here. The woman who was wokring behind the counter was as sweet and charming as could be. She made you feel like you were transported into her kitchen instead of eating at a restaurant. That warm cozy feeling just added to the feeling of being taken care of and loved. The food is good here, but what truly makes this a can't miss if that secret ingredient called love that is abundant here. 24/100
(5)Kathy C.
Everything we tried here was amazing. The ribs were falling off the bone and the sauce was just right. The catfish was moist and had just the perfect amount of crunch on the outside. The yams, greens, and black eyed peas were so good I wanted to slap somebody (but of course, not my mama cuz she'd kick my booty). But you want to know what was the best part of the whole experience? It was the service.
(5)Chester H.
My wife found Bonnie B's when looking for a place to order from for Father's Day. For 20 people, we ordered 5 slabs of ribs, 3 lbs of brisket, 3 lbs of links, 2 pans of mac n cheese, and a pan of baked beans. The food was delicious, piping hot, and ready on time! Everyone loved it and kept asking where we got it from. We barely had any leftovers because everyone had to take a plate to go. Will definitely be ordering from Bonnie B's again.
(5)Sarah B.
WOW. I can't begin to tell how you grateful I am that I happened to get a hankering for ribs and let the yelping commence. I found several places in the area (Pasadena) as the only place to get ribs where I live in Montrose is terrible. I hopped on the 210 and very quickly arrived with a parking spot waiting for me in front. I ordered the pork ribs, collard green and mac and cheese. My friend had chicken breast, mac and cheese and potato salad. All of the meat was tender and juicy. I thought the prices were VERY affordable considering market price for ribs. Is it wrong to try a place for lunch and head back for dinner same day? If that is wrong I don't want to be right.
(5)Cap W.
Great food! Since we've moved to Altadena, we've been here frequently. Love the bbq and the sides are really good too. The Mac n cheese and the okra rice are our favorites. Service is super friendly too.
(5)Nicole B.
The rib tips, Mac, and yams were great. I could not even finish half my plate it was so much food.
(5)Renee S.
Its been a while since I've been here, the food was good but the portions were too small for the prices so no not worth going back for me.
(3)Melanie P.
I love BBQ, but for some reason I don't frequent BBQ spots too much. Probably to spare myself from disappointment, since LA isn't really known to have too many good "American" BBQ spots. The ambiance is cozy. You can tell the owner really appreciates her customers. She has a lot of regulars who come in and she knows by name. You order from the cashier, then you find your seat. I had the rib combo with black eyed peas over rice and greens. The sides were SO good and the ribs were fall off the bone tender! It was also very reasonably priced--especially for BBQ. My meal was under $14.
(5)Spro B.
Don't need teeth to eat these ribs. Love it
(5)HJ U.
This place is such gem! Really great barbecue - and that's not easy to find in LA. The ribs, the brisket, the pulled pork are all meltingly good and terrifically flavorful. The mac and cheese is great, the yams are excellent, and I'm not usually a big fan of collard greens but these are terrific and I eat 'em all. The ladies who work here are also super sweet and friendly, and remember you after you've been in just once or twice. Fantastic neighborhood place.
(4)Monica M.
This review isn't about the quality of the food because it is good. It is about service and preference. I've been here quite a few times since my last review. The food has always been good, but yesterday something took place that really bothered me. I ordered two dinners for which you get two sides. One of them I wanted two beans and was told that I had to order two different items. Are you serious??? She didn't make any suggestion to adjust order to get what I wanted (ex: order sandwich then get extra beans on side). Honestly this made me feel a particular way and I should have cancelled the order. Ended up eating something I didn't want and never eat. While there are establishments that say no substitutes, one thing I've never been told is that I couldn't have two of the same items as a side order. I could see if I was requesting something that was going overboard (asking for a free piece of cake with my meal), but this wasn't the case. To think that I am spending my money somewhere and can't eat what I want bothers me.....a lot, and I should have cancelled the order. I am a picky woman - this I know, but this was a deal breaker for me. While I have enjoyed the Barbeque here, I am not flexible about my side items.
(2)Lisa D.
Are you a fan of southern food? If your answer is yes Then look no further. This is your must go to place. Lucille has nothing on this place. Ordered: *Fried catfish-it is yummy! Made only Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Comes with two sides. Lightly battered and tastes good without any dipping sauces. Isnt really oily either. I would highly recommend this dish!! One of the best fried catfish I've had! ! *bbq pork ribs-the meat falls off the bones really easily.not that much fat on the ribs either. Love how its not drenched in bbq sauce and you can dip to you liking. Highly recommended as well. Half rack 4-5 ribs $13.50 Service was great. The female staff was really nice and came to check up on us a few times. She didn't rush us when we couldn't decide on what to order. She was patient and very sweet. My bf and I also liked the pictures and quotes that were on the walls. Wished there was a restroom for paying customers. Tips: *Street parking or parking lot in the back. *indoor seating only *cash and credit card accepted *no public restroom *3 different bbq sauce that are made in house. *order, pay, grab a seat, and the food comes out to you. *if you want ketchup make sure you ask since its not available on the table. *closed monday & tuesday. *across the street from food 4 less. * they recycle bottles and cans so please be environment friendly.
(4)Scott R.
Really good BBQ, really cool place with a very homey feeling. We got takeout for a birthday dinner and the food was good. They forgot to send us home with one of the items and we had to go back and collect that.
(4)Lori A.
Very good bbq! We had pulled pork sandwhich, potato salad, pulled pork plate with mac and cheese and greens and 2 drinks. .. Sooooooo good. Had a southern feel, cured my homesickness :) only $17!!!!
(5)Genevie G.
I've. Wen wanting to try this place and I'm glad I finally made time to do that. I had the pulled pork and with some potato salad and the Mac n cheese with the jalapeño cornbread. I could have don't without the potato salad but the rest was amazing!! Great customer service, super friendly place!
(4)Julie S.
This year's Super Bowl Sunday was not a planned day. We originally had wings in mind (duh...Super Bowl). One should really plan ahead if one would like wings on Super Bowl Sunday. Thirty minutes before kick off we decided to run by Wing Stop to pick up 50 wings. The line was out the door of people who ordered ahead and like up randomly showed up. The average wait was an hour and a half according to the cashier. According to the dude in line, the wait was more like two hours. Knowing we'd miss the first half of the game waiting for food, we had noticed that there was a BBQ sign pointing to across the street. So we sauntered across the way & found a very unassuming establishment hidden away. The food is by far the best BBQ place we've had in a long long time. The ribs are a must & they peel right off the bone! There really isn't anything bad on the menu & take out is the way to go. Keep your eyes peeled when driving on Lake because it's easy to miss!
(5)Janine L.
Fathers day at Bonnie B's BBQ food is great the baked beans Bomb Bay black eye bean and rice heaven on earth we had the 3 meat plates with 2 sides. portion was just right ,enough to fill u up but not to the point where u dont want to move lol I'm still sitting .. Small place but worth stopping g for
(5)O. G.
Fairly satisfied with the food, had a brisket platter with the okra and baked beans... would have preferred more smoke or heat to the beans.. more on the sweet side. Brisket had a nice moist feel and enough smoke flavor... the spicy bbq sauce was a nice complement. The okra side was good, they were out of mac and cheese. Only complaint is would have liked more brisket. I had the big portion and didn't feel like half a lb in there... I will get the meat ala carte next time to avoid this but I will be back.
(4)Mister M.
Needed an event catered and went with Bonnie B's. They did a wonderful job with timeliness and packaging. Plus all the food was delicious. Will definitely order from them in the future. Thanks Bonnie B's on a job well done!
(5)Karina B.
Oooommmmggggg The staff is amazing and the food is delicious. The ribs are perfectly cooked and they are great with or without the BBQ sauce.
(5)Joan S.
We were out in Pasadena touring Bungalow Heaven and wanted to eat somewhere closeby. Yelp reviews on Bonnie B's Smokin looked great so we tried it. And we loved it! I had bbq brisket, my friends had ribs and we tried different sides. The bbq beans were unbelievably delicious. So was our dessert. We will definitely come back when we are in the area. Thank you Bonnie and Betty!
(4)Shelley D.
I am obsessed. I am addicted. I am so happy this place isn't too far from my house. I first was introduced to Bonnie B's when they had an event for Black History month at Caltech. There I had the smoked chicken sandwich with potato salad and baked beans. I'm not sure how these magicians don't use meat products in their sides, but the owners are vegetarians and only use spices in their baked beans to give them flavor. I also have had dinner there, where I had the catfish fry, corn bread and collared greens. Once again, how do you get your greens to taste like that without ham hocks? It's magic! A great place for delicious Soul Food. I highly recommend if you are ever craving: ribs, pulled pork, fried catfish, collared greens, cornbread or smoked chicken in a delectable bbq sauce.
(5)Judy G.
Yes! Bonnie B's has bragging rights but it's humble and that makes me like it even more. Everything I've tasted here is done right, the chicken, the ribs, the collard greens, the beans, all of it. Bonnie knows BBQ!
(4)Patrick H.
The ribs, the brisket, the pulled pork are all meltingly good and terrifically flavorful. The mac and cheese is great, the yams are excellent, and I'm not usually a big fan of collard greens but these are terrific and I eat 'em all. I love BBQ, but it is something that is so easy to mess up. There are a lot of chain places that try and do it, but there is just something missing in it. This place has such a good vibe to it. Really great barbecue and that's not easy to find in LA. The service was great and they treat you well. Brisket had a nice moist feel and enough smoke flavor... the spicy bbq sauce was a nice complement. Only complaint is would have liked more brisket. I had the big portion and didn't feel like half a pound in there.
(4)Adrianne H.
Seriously the only place I think about going to when I want excellent soul food. Celebrating Mother's Day with my mom & my kids with Betty & Bonnie .....
(5)Brad S.
I've had many a bbq lunch, dinner and late night snack. The pork rib and hot links were awesome! The pork ribs at Bonnie B's were larger than most bbq joints (not complaining) and not dry! What was the best surprise was the side dishes. My wife and I ordered two dinners, so we had four side dishes; mac/cheese, baked beans, collard greens and okra/tomato over rice. Just awesome! I gauge my entree by the side dishes, so I was glad for the tasty starters. The three choices of great bbq sauces was also a hit! What made the best impression was the service; attentive, service with a smile - all that and then some. Hard to find great service nowadays. First timers no more. We will definately try Bonnie B's again.
(5)Diane E.
So good! Terrific food and friendly service. The ribs are great and are served with mild, medium or hot sauce. I like spicy food, so used a combo of medium and hot. The baked beans are the best I've ever had. Good potato salad, and it's a heckuva meal. Will be looking for an excuse to come back!
(5)Peter P.
Excellent southern style BBQ. Great service and friendly people. Be sure to order early, food does run out because it's made fresh everyday.
(5)Jez Z.
TL;DR The meat is really, really good, in fact it stands on it's own without barbeque sauce. The bbq sauce is an absolute watered down failure. The service is nice, but horrible. Come here for the meat, bring your own bbq sauce, bring your own drinks. ==================================================Â========== Dined with a friend, we were ready for some good bbq, I ordered brisket, bbq chicken and 2 ribs (pork), Mac n' cheese and candied yams, friend had catfish baked beans and cole slaw. Friend kept mentioning how good the baked beans were like 5x to be exact. As for my sides: Mac n' cheese was sour, candied yams were like baby food. The brisket was the star of the show, followed up by the bbq chicken and then the ribs, although the ribs needed a little bbq sauce, but not the watered down sauces that they served there. Friend's catfish was undercooked and partially raw, baked beans were good, but that's about it. Drinks: I ordered iced tea ($2.25 urine sample sized cup) and asked if there's unlimited refills, the gentleman said yes, then when I got my drink I was told that it isn't unlimited refills. I opted for the $1 dollar canned sodas instead, I asked for a cup of ice and got 1 1/2 cubes (not exaggerating). The guy serving us seemed very respectful, but out of it.
(3)Daniel F.
My partner (from Texas -- he knows) and I just ate here and are SO GLAD we tried it. The eponymous Bonnie was SO friendly and checked in with us about all our food. She even offered to switched out one of our sides we hadn't eaten because it wasn't to our taste. The food: The sauces were fabulous. Medium is the best but definitely has a heart to it that lingers and grows. But the other two were good too. The okra was divine! Baked beans were also fantastic. Mac n cheese was good but would've been better had it not been swimming in the commonly juices of the other sides. Catfish was good. Ambience: Everyone working was super friendly, all the patrons seemed to know everyone. It is clear this place has a commitment to peace, love, and bbq. Verdict: I'm coming back and bringing reinforcements!
(5)Les L.
Bonnie B's has wonderful BBQ, which is necessary because the service and the atmosphere at this restaurant needs improvement. We ordered the two meat plate with ribs and pulled pork, mac and cheese, and collard greens. The ribs were great, smoky and tender, and the pulled pork was average. The mac and cheese was solid and we liked their collards too, well-cooked. Our second dish was the hot links made of chicken and two sides. My two sides were really soup but absolutely delicious. The okra and tomato was almost like a soup and was super misplaced on a plate but if it was in a bowl with rice, YES. The collards fit in nicely with the other greens. The hot sauces really memorable with a good balance of sweet and tangy and heat. Bonnie B's is a hole in the wall with eclectic photographs as artwork. You order at a register and they seem perpetually understaffed as if one person does everything. Someone eventually came out to do things like give utensils and refill waters, but it's like pulling teeth. To top it off, the food takes a while to come out too. The food is seriously tasty but I'd highly recommend takeout.
(4)Rocio M.
I had Bonnie's cater a small party of 50. I wasn't sure what to order but they were able to guide me with selection & keep it within a certain budget while making sure we wouldn't run out of food. I asked about warmers but they recommended not using one...something I'd regret later. Food was great & a huge hit with the first guests. Anyone eating 10 minutes after trays had been opened were eating cold BBQ....not good. This was an outdoor party & starting a line at the microwave inside was just embarrassing. The medium BBQ sauce was actually lip melting hot...making food inedible once covered in it. I should have been warned. Food is delicious, will eat here again & recommend to friends. Catering needs some tweaking. Throw in some burners & work in cost to catering menu....simple.
(3)jon i.
After two very subpar meals in '12 &'13, we revisited recently and were happy to see their standards are back where they were in '11. Ribs were excellent and so was their brisket. We liked the choice of sauces and most of all, the ultra-friendly service. I'd been driving to Bludso's, Phillip's and JayBee's for the past 2 years but am very happy to see that my local favorite is back where they should be. See you there!
(5)Des10ey S.
Sooooo good. I love their food, I have been there twice. The ONLY complaint....not a true complaint, but more of a disappointment is that you cannot order double sides. Exp. (you cannot say 2 sides of Mac n' Cheese, it has to be Mac N' Cheese and Greens...or yams...or whatever other side you want) It is printed on the menu, this was pointed out to me when I asked for double Mac n' Cheese. Other than that, the food and service is WONDERFUL. I will DEFINITELY be back.
(5)Karen K.
The location is very small and parking is in front or out back. We came in here on a Friday night and my husband shared a combo thinking it would be plenty for the both of us. We ordered the 2 meat and 2 side combo and added the corn bread to it. Wow the portions are small here. We got the ribs, brisket, collard greens and mac and cheese. You only get 2 ribs and some brisket. We weren't full when we left. The sauces on the table was really good and the food isn't bad at all its just that portions are smaller.
(3)Jamie D.
This little restaurant has the best ribs ever! Found them on yelp and am extremely satisfied. I gave four star only because there is no restrooms available. Although the food was bomb. Black eye peas were good and the salad was fresh. The full rack was $22. The hostess was nice and seating inside was small but cozy.
(4)Lando T.
I have family in Mississippi & they know how to BBQ. This restaurant is the 1st time in ever that I can say, "Omg, this is really good!" The hidden gem that is Bonnie B's is the most amazing BBQ I've had in a long time. The hospitality suite is perfection and the food will leave you with a smile as big as the portions.
(5)Caprianna W.
Absolutely delicious! Hits the spot when craving for some authentic soul food at an affordable price.
(5)C G.
Best BBQ EVER! The collard greens and okra were also amazing. There is love and soul in the food here. Can't wait to come back!!!
(5)Jeff S.
5 star ribs. Melts off the bone... Louisiana Sausage is good. Black eyed peas and rice- good. Ditto okra, tomato and rice. Jalapeno corn bread is good (needs more jalapeno) . Catfish is *meh*. or *bleh*. Prices are high. I will return again and again for the ribs.
(4)Katie T.
I came here last Sunday afternoon and ordered the ribs with collard greens and yams. I was planning on ordering the Mac, but I'll save it for next time since they were out. Those ribs were perfect. The best ribs I've ever had. Melt-off-the-bone smoky delicious ribs. With a spectacular range of barbecue sauce, Bonnie B's has got ribs down to an art. As if it couldn't get better, the chef threw on an extra rib, on the house. Service was fast and super friendly. I felt totally at home and the vibe was just right. Soul food indeed. I will be back.
(5)Peter C.
If this was in a better location there would be lines out the door. The customer service is first class. I actually have never been a fan of bbq places until a friend took me to Bonnie B's. It turns out I had never had bbq that set the bar this high. The ribs and the chicken are my favorites. I also like the jalapeno muffins I think they were. I don't know if they deliver or not but they should. If you're from the south where bbq is a way of life then I think even you'll love this place.
(5)Cate T.
Came in here with a friend after spotting this place near a restaurant with some delicious pupusas. It's a tiny spot with a couple of tables and a promising menu. You pay first, take a seat, and your food is brought out to you. Sodas are of the can variety. I ordered the brisket and chicken hot links with the beans and "off the menu" coleslaw. My friend ordered the ribs with pulled pork and the same sides as me. The pulled pork was nice, but I think I it may have lacked something. The coleslaw was ignorable for me, though my friend enjoyed it. The beans are very good. The brisket was flavorful and juicy and what I was after. The chicken hot links were very tasty. They serve some regular grocery white bread on the side to mop up the sauce and juices, which is fine by me. I don't need fancy stuff all the time. I would definitely come back for the brisket and beans and to try a few other dishes. As a matter of fact, I told a friend about this place and he was dead certain this place was just plain not good. However, after telling him that the dry brisket he had was not in fact dry but juicy and flavorful, he ended up going back to try it. He agreed. It was good stuff, miles better than what he'd tried the last time. Apparently, the change in cooks over the last year was a thumbs up.
(4)Silvanita R.
Bonnie B's is Smokin GOOD!!! My husband and I had the fallo ff the bone ribs and the perfectly prepared catfish from this establishment for the first time today - F A B U L O U S ! from the greeting at the register to the last delectable morsel. We had no idea there was this quality barbecue right in the Pasadena/Altadena area. I just may, single handedly, keep Bonnie B's in business. Well worth a try!!!
(5)J E.
Wow! Amazing food. Fast, friendly service. Everything is home made and delicious. Definitely going back and bringing friends!
(5)M M.
Think j just found my new favorite local BBQ joint! The ribs are tender, juicy & a little smokey. They offer BBQ sauce in 3 stages- mild, medium & hot. One of the cooks came out to deliver food, explain each sauce & followed up to make sure I was enjoying my meal. Staff is friendly & helpful! Definitely try the ribs & candied yams!!! Ps. The only drawback is they don't have a bathroom & one must venture to the Big Lots or somewhere else to do any business/wash hands. Bummer. Also, they close early on Sunday @ 5 pm.
(4)Julie D.
I had no idea this place existed, probably living somewhat in the shadow of nearby Roscoe's. However, we eventually found it on here and decided to give it a try! The place is small, but clean and a little eclectic in decor... kind of religious, kind of a wall-of-fame... and a few fans in the front to keep you cool while eating their food. Most people were getting takeout, so it was pretty quiet. I got the fried catfish with a side of black-eyed peas and collard greens. The husband got brisket and sausage, mac n cheese, and baked beans. The two of us ate for about $30. The catfish was good -- not too heavily breaded, though a touch salty. The collard greens were flavorful, without bacon! And the black-eyed peas came with a little rice at the bottom, and although not as exciting as other sides, was good. I didn't try the meat, but the baked beans were also very flavorful and not too sweet. The mac n cheese was a little soft and not as cheesy as hoped, but not bad. Service is very friendly, and there are free BBQ sauces on the table -- mild, medium, and hot. I must be getting more tolerant, because even the hot was still pretty tolerable... though definitely try a little before "committing"!!
(4)Roanne T.
Brisket was so good! I mean SO good. Especially with that extra sauce! I'll pass on the Mac and cheese next time...I think it needs more cheese or something. But the cornbread was great!
(4)Sam M.
So far the best BBQ in Pasadena but that doesn't say much does it? Better then that place in South Pas. The ribs were tender and tasty. The Brisket was very good. But the pulled pork was not so good. It was tasteless and not really pulled. The greens and okra were very good. The best collard green in town, even better than Roscoe's. The beans were good too. The mac n cheese, well, so so. What I like most about this place is the lady who owns it (I think she's one of the owners). She is polite and pleasant. Overall, I liked this place and I'll be returning very soon for more ribs and brisket.
(4)John G.
This place is actually "smokin'". You can smell the tasty smoke all around the block. Had the combo plate. Chicken, ribs, hot links, and brisket were all slammin'. The sauce made it all even more yummy. Collard greens, okra, and sweet potatoes all hit the spot. Come for the food though and stay for the hospitality.
(5)Pancho V.
Folks it's that time of Year again...... What say you? It's Pancho's Annual "Tribute to Black History Month".... I Have a Dream I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this Nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal" I have a dream that one day Men & Women of all Nationalities will be able to sit down together at the tables of Bonnie B's, and enjoy some BBQ so good that it will bring blessings to all communities. I have a dream of "LOVE at first Bite", because.... there ain't NO Better BBQ in Town. I have a dream of a place where the Waiters & Waitresses are so Friendly, lots of Smiles and so attentive, they make you feel at home. I have a dream of Perfectly cooked piggy yelp.com/biz_photos/bonn… all chopped up and on a bun yelp.com/biz_photos/bonn… I have a dream of some Louisana Hot links yelp.com/biz_photos/bonn… with that snap when you bite them yelp.com/biz_photos/bonn… Mmmm so good! I have a dream yelp.com/biz_photos/bonn… a dream of some Pork Spare Ribs with that incredible smoky flavor, and just falls off the bone yelp.com/biz_photos/bonn… I have a dream of some Oklahoma style Beef Brisket that taste like nothing yelp.com/biz_photos/bonn… I've ever had before, so good, so Flavorful.......Mmmm they make you want more. I have a dream of Slim's Mac & Cheese yelp.com/biz_photos/bonn… and some Baked Beans yelp.com/biz_photos/bonn… the will have you beggin' for more. I have a dream I'll be commin' back for more!
(5)A M.
OOOOOOOOMMMMMMMGGGGG!!!!! Soooo finger lickin gooooood!!! Ordered the full rack fall-off-the-bone spare ribs a la carte with a medium size mac n cheese + pulled pork sandwich with baked beans. took one bite of the rib and the whole meat falls off the bone. It's soooo good dipped n drenched in bbq sauce!! *drooools. You can tell the owner put a lot of love in preparing them ribs! So glad I got to try this place! Two thumbs up!!!!!!
(5)April P.
I love, love, love Bonnie B's BBQ. It is sweet as opposed to tangy BBQ (more Southern, less Texas, which IMO is a good thing). It is located in North Lake and there a lots of free parking on the street right in front, you just need to remember to turn your wheels since it is on a slight slope or the 5-0 will come and get ya. My fave dishes: Brisket (nice and chopped but has a good amount of fat though, boo), Okra Rice which is so delish (but I wish they would raise the rice/okra ratio, I need my carbs!) and the candied yams are super delish. I am all about value -- the prices are decent but I just wish their portions were a little bigger. Most BBQ places have big/huge portions and theirs are kind of on the small side -- bad for me, but better for my waistline, I guess :(
(4)Dene B.
the first time i went to bonnies i thought ok not too bad not the best but alright, i went back about three months later and ordered take out , got home and got a box of bones with hardly any meat on them, if a place is going to charge alot for ribs at least give enough food to fill someone's appitite not three bones with nothing on them and a half a scoop of beans and half a ear of corn. this place is a rip off.
(1)S A.
My friend and I enjoyed a wonderful meal last Sunday. I was deliberating between the rib tips and the Oklahoma style brisket. As it was later in the day and they had just run out of the rib tips, I had my decision made for me. I had never had brisket this way before.....what a treat! I also had greens and Mac and cheese. I have never before experienced all three items at this level of perfection!!!! My friend had the chicken, baked beans and potato salad. She was equally impressed. The service was friendly and prompt......can't wait to return....THANK YOU!!!
(5)Daniel V.
Hands Down the best BBQ in town. They never disappoint. Get some! Great personal service and by far the best ribs in town and all around.
(5)Elton W.
Really awesome ribs Mac N Cheese and Baked beans also great. Do yourself a favor and SKIP the value size, it's not much food. Try the dinner combo with ribs and brisket
(5)Rocky R.
Overall very good food. The bbq is very good, the pineapple infused sweet tea was different but good. I recommend this place and I am definitely coming back.
(4)Laura S.
This was good for the price. FOOD: I ordered the Value price for $9.95 for the Off the Bone Ribs. It came with two ribs and two sides. I ordered a salad and Mac N Cheese. Corn bread: $1 The rib was good. It did come off the bone as I ate it and I was able to eat the cartilage off the rib. It was good. The salad was simple but a good size. The Mac N Cheese... disappointed. It was not Southern style Mac N Cheese or BBQ Mac N Cheese. It was very bland. I was kinda sad about that cuz you'd expect the good Southern style (which I've had in the South before) and it was bland. I ate it cuz I was hungry... had to put sauce in it. Corn bread - yummy. Plain. SERVICE: Very fast and friendly. PARKING: Street Make sure you turn your wheels accordingly because apparently, this is on a hill. -_- AMBIANCE: Hole in a wall.
(4)Mark F.
Great food, great service. Service is key for me. I work in a customer service industry, so good people skills are a must for me to spend my hard earned cash. I gladly purchase good soul food from Bonnie B's!!! Can't wait to return. :-)
(4)Heather C.
Really, really good. This is the best barbecue I've had in a restaurant. I particularly like the spare ribs and brisket and all of the sides. The sweet tea is very sweet and tastes like pineapple.
(5)Kat K.
I was wondering why my fingers smelled smoky this morning and I just realized it's because I had the spare ribs last night. Yes, I've washed my hands on several occasions after last night's dinner -- the flavor of the rib was just that smoky. Let me tell you. The order: Beef Brisket with okra/tomato/rice and mac & cheese Pork Spare Ribs with candied yams and baked beans All freakin' delicious. The okra had really good flavor, the brisket was really tender...probably the most tender brisket I've encountered so far because they shred the meat rather than keep it in one big chunk to dry out. The mac & cheese was my least favorite though..a little dry and chewy at parts. The ribs were tender on the inside and smoky on the outside. The candied yams were perfect (this is the mashed kind, so those looking for big chunks - you have been warned) and the baked beans were gloriously sweet, barbecue-y and soft. Cripes, I love my baked beans. The owner told us they make their own bbq sauces and had me try a spoonful of their spiciest sauce. Holy cow. It's no joke. And I love and can handle spicy. I immediately felt heartburn as soon as it went down my esophagus and knew this is my new sh*t. I asked for some on the side and slathered my meats in the tangy sauce before taking each bite. Now, we did takeout so we didn't get to experience the in-restaurant dining, but even in our short exchange, the owner was full of energy, really excited about her product and really excited to serve her customers. Gives such a great vibe to a place when the person behind the counter is so gung-ho. YEA EAT THAT BARBECUE. Place is great for takeouts and small groups. Highly recommend the value meal - the lunch portion is really the perfect amount of food you should be having.
(4)Anthony C.
We visited this restaurant because we had a craving for barbeque. Checked on yelp, and found that this place was one of many in the area. Bonnie B's is small (fits around 30 people max). It's located directly off Lake ave., in the middle of Pasadena. Inside was definitely small, but very welcoming. We were immediately welcomed in by a very polite woman who gave us menus and offered us a table. We surveyed the menu, and I asked her about the collard greens, which I've never had in my life, and she immediately offered a sample. They were delicious. My girlfriend and I shared the fried fish, mac and cheese, baked, beans, collard greens, and corn bread. Just amazing. The only thing I'm upset about was that I hadn't tried the ribs. We both bought an iced tea. This teas was amazing. It was sweet tea with what I can only explain to have a mango, coconut, and pineapple taste to it. Next time I'm in Pasadena, I'm definitely coming back and getting the ribs & brisket. The only negative things I can say was that the eating area was uncomfortably hot, though it was 100 degrees outside. It was also on the pricey side, if you were to not share the food. Although, I feel like the portions were plenty big. Other notes: they make their own barbeque sauce. They had three different kinds, unfortunately I didn't try them, but you know darn well sure I will next time when I get my ribs.
(4)T P.
Really great. Friendly atmosphere. Fantastic food. It was hot and sunny and glaring right in our baby's face, and the lady ran over to close the blinds and make sure we were comfortable. All the food was good, but the okra and tomatoes over rice was particularly good. I don't even like okra... Not much for kids here, but the baby was welcome. Very clean, and not too noisy.
(5)Roland L.
First things first, street parking requires turning your wheel to the curb...or else you'll get a parking ticket! But if you're eating here, we'll make sure you don't get one! That was the first thing I was greeted with by one of the gentlemen who work here. He actually wanted to check where my car was parked to ensure I had my tires facing the proper direction! Everyone employed at Bonnie B's is extremely polite and friendly. There is a down right sense of feeling at home here. On to the food review. Being my first time at Bonnie B's, I thought it appropriate to order a combination dinner plate. Let's see, oh, okay...there's a 3 meat choice plate for $16.95. I'll have the Spare Ribs, Brisket, & BBQ Chicken please. For sides, I'll have the Black Eyed Peas and Mac & Cheese. I'll have the wheat bread! Mind you, I arrived around 2pm, so there was nobody here. I was so eager as I could here them chopping the meats and preparing my plate in the kitchen. Finally, after about 5 minutes passing, here arrives my lunch! As I gazed down upon my plate, I found it necessary to snap a few photographs. My immediate impression was, the reviews are correct about serving size: Brisket is chopped rather than sliced, 3 pieces of spare ribs, thigh and wing of the BBQ chicken, thinly spread mac and cheese. There appeared to be a generous serving of black eyed peas but that was attributed to the bed of rice of which it was served on top of. Alright, time to grub! Mmm, there is a nice smoky molasses flavor to the brisket. Wow, the reviews were right, the meat does slide off the bone of the spare ribs, but also on the chicken! Okay, these spare ribs are not meaty at all! Oh, look at the thigh meat! That's some wonderfully infused smokiness going on in here..oh wait, there's not much smokiness anymore! Yes, I adore the black eyed peas...not the music group, but the one I'm eating right now! As I finished my lunch, I found myself to be hungry still. All in all, I'd have to say that Bonnie B's is not thee greatest BBQ joint out there. They do have charisma and their food is decent. Perhaps they need to work on their serving portion a little. Final rating: 3.5 (Rounded up...man, yelp needs to let you rate with half stars!)
(4)Helen K.
Horrible folks and horrible food. The black lady who works there was seriously creepy. She pretended like she did not understand me when I asked her about something on the menu and she kept playing games with me the entire time I was there. (Basically she acted like she did not know what I was saying most of the time) Several times, she ringed up extra corn bread I did not order. She made fun of me, laughed out really loud at me and stared at me incessantly, making me uncomfortable. (She was acting in this manner to me because I was the only customer in the restaurant at the time) The guy who brought out my order from the kitchen seemed pretty strange himself. This lad's general demeanor toward me made me unsafe being in the establishment, just like the lady. Food was okay, not fantastic though. Too pricy for something that taste like cafeteria style food. The temperature of the food was very hot as if to cover up the blend flavors of the side dishes and the dry textures of the meat. Don't waste your money here and avoid this spot.
(1)Jonathan S.
This place was legit. Good own home sould food. The staff and the service were top notch, the ribs fell of the bone, and the cornbread was phenomenal. Highly recommend. WELL DONE BONNIE B'S!
(5)Justin C.
place was a bit hard to find. if you can see the big lots, going towards the mountains, i'm pretty sure the parkinglot for bonnie b's is the next right. right in between two buildings. anyways, came in, its a pretty small place, clean lots of pictures and ect. ordered food, one big bbq ribs meal and for my friend, one big oklahoma beef brisket. sides: candied yams, baked beans, collard greens, and slim's mac and cheese. to drink: two iced teas. food came relatively quickly. the sweet tea was very interesting... friend thought it was too sour, i thought it was interesting... kinda like the arnold palmers arizona tea... like they mixed lemonade and sweet tea together. anyways. the sides were pretty good. collard greens were good, candied yams were good, and baked beans were great. friend and i agreed that we didn't really enjoy the mac and cheese. donno. weirdish texture. ribs were indeed fall off the bone, out of six ribs, two were kinda small... and nothing but skin and bones but eh. their sweet bbq sauce was delicious. wish i had more. split everything half half with the friend so the brisket. mmm pretty good. not sure if you're supposed to use bbq sauce or if its already cooked with it so yeah. was good without any additional sauce. i donno, i was kinda meh about the whole thing... next time i'd probably just order a full rack of ribs a la carte. i think i was just hoping for more ribs. haha service was very friendly. we were given samples of the iced tea but yeah. eh. will probably be back for some more ribs. i guess i just wasn't feeling it today.
(4)