Sierra Smokehouse BBQ & Custom Catering

By no means do I consider myself a BBQ expert. I do know when things are fresh and and flavors are so bold that the ingredients used where definitely of quality. I had the black angus tri-​tip with coleslaw, baked beans and bacon macaroni and cheese. There are several different bbq sauces and each one is better then the next. The mustard bbq sauce that was awesome! I originally found this place because i was traveling in the area and I figured Unilocal… DONT fail me now… and it hasn’t! This place has amazing bbq! The owner Ed makes your custom experience even better by eaplaining about his bbq style, the culture, and the history of bbq. Ed had me sample the various sauces, shared bbq tips to make my bbq a little better and even had me sample a secret ingredient that i could use to make my own award winning bbq sauce. I live about 20 min away and i will be back… next time with people to experience what i have. If you’re in the Sacramento area… go! If your on your way to Tahoe or even coming back… stop for bbq… you’ll be glad you did… i know i am. Btw… GET THE BACON MAC N CHEESE!!!

We stopped in here on our way back to The Bay Area from a trip to S. Lake Tahoe. Upon entering we were created by Ed, the owner. He explained the menus and I quickly decided on the Yosemite Cheesesteak sandwich with a side of bacon macaroni and cheese. My son got the kids riblets with potato salad and my husband got the hot link sandwich also with a side of potato salad. All of the food was super good. The BBQ was top notch! I love Mac n Cheese and try it anywhere I can get it. This is by far the best Mac n cheese I have had It’s creamy and has the perfect sauce to noodle ratio and the bacon adds a good smokey flavor. Since I don’t live close I got a large Mac n cheese to go! It’s even tasty heated up the next day this place will definitely be added to our stops we make on our way to and from Tahoe hands down! Try the Yosemite Cheesesteak! You won’t regret it.

What a delicious meal! We were greeted by the owner, Ed, who took the time to explain some of the items on their menu. Since it all sounded so good, we both chose a 2 item plate. We both had some ribs — delicious and meaty — and the bacon Mac and cheese — add some of the seasoning to the top, and it’s pretty heavenly! I opted for the pulled pork and the dirty mashed potatoes — again, delicious! My husband chose the brisket and potato salad — which he thoroughly enjoyed. The meal was made that much better with the homemade sauces. We couldn’t decide which was our favorite, and instead chose to mix it up between each bite. An overall wonderful meal! We will be back the next time we’re in the area!

BBQ is delicious, the sides leave something to be desired. The cornbread is sadly pretty bad, and the ranch dressing on my salad seemed like it had turned/​gone bad, I couldn’t eat it.
But I’d absolutely go back again for the BBQ itself.

My boyfriend picked up a to go order for lunch today and I must say, QUITE TASTY! I ordered the fully loaded baked potato with pulled chicken and swapped out my poco de gallo for red onion (I would have done green, but no chives/​green onions as option) which is fine because the red onions added some great flavor anyways. To my surprise, I opened my box to find very generous portions of chicken, BBQ baked beans, and delicious BBQ sauce heaped into a delicious, perfectly baked potato. They gave me plenty of sour cream and extra BBQ sauce on the side, which is nice because toward the end of the potato you will want to «re-​sauce,» for full flavor. The chicken was still nice and moist and served hot and fresh, not like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for hours like some of the other places I’ve had. The BBQ sauce is the perfect blend of spicy and sweet leaving you wanting more and they do actually sell just the BBQ sauce if you get hooked like me! We’ll be back for more and we highly recommend this place. The ONLY thing I think I will skip next time is the pickled green beans, other than that this place is a new local favorite!

Wonderful little BBQ spot. Family run, warm service and delicious ribs, what more could you ask for.

Amazing food!!! I’ve tried a lot of BBQ. This is by far THE BEST! Very friendly staff! The smell outside where they smoke the meat is so good!!!
Clean and neat interior. My boyfriend and I shared the Tri-​Tip plate, with cornbread, baked beans, and coleslaw. All good! And the sauces were crazy good as well. Home made sauces? Can’t get any better

This review is based on a curve. I’m curving the review because this is BBQ in the State of CA. Given that, this is really good BBQ. But I’ve had BBQ in Texas hundreds of times, and this place wouldn’t really compete there at all. But we’re not in Texas, hence the curve.
The Brisket was good, moist, and tasty. I like it more chopped than it was and softer, but this is better than anything you can get at any other BBQ joint that I’ve been to in CA.
They had many kinds of BBQ sauce and they were homemade. The regular one was the one I liked best. They also had sweet BBQ sauce, spicey BBQ sauce, a mustard BBQ sauce, and some other sauce that was very watery and I can’t remember what that was (didn’t try it). The owner took special pride in telling me that he sweetens with honey instead of corn syrup for customer health reasons. Good job!
The sides were kind of good but needed something. Adding the mustard BBQ sauce did the trick and made them really good.
The owner was incredibly friendly, engaging, and seemed to genuinely care and be engaged with his customers. Makes you want to come come back because he’s so likable.
Overall, if you live in this area, I think this is the BBQ place to go to.

Service was excellent. I had the tri tip ranch salad. It was so good. Plenty of meat and well mixed with other indegredents that balanced the whole salad as very savory.

We have been here several times over the 3 years we have live in c.p. and each time we always have great customer service and even better food! Tonight was no different. My wife was unsure of which sauce she wanted this time so the owner took the time to pour a sample into several small cups and brought out a sample of pork and let us choose. thats what I call excellent service. By doing this it opened us up to try a couple different flavors than our usual ones. The staff has always been friendly, busy, and a nice group of young adults. Everyone needs work but it is great to see businesses that give young adults the experience and life skills needed to carve there path to the future. Great casual place to dine in or call in a order to go.

A great, even good, restaurant is more than just about the food.
Time after time this restaurant hires very young kids — high schoolers perhaps?- who– although pleasant enough when I can understand them– just lack the restaurant experience of great customer service, speed, or knowledge about food in general. Im fine with giving kids a chance but balance that out with a few adults please.
About the food: I have barbecue somewhere in Texas every year. If we are talking «portion size» then no– Sierra cannot compete and doesnt. I understand about the cost of meat, so then make it up to me by giving me an adult sized portion of one of your sides, perhaps, instead of my feeling each time that I’m eating in a kid’s cafeteria.
Their smoke is good, as are the sauces– but maybe they can be just a little less stingy with the tiny piece of cornbread thats usually quite dried out or make a bigger dinner roll.
Their «ranch» beans are average and taste canned to me as does the potato salad that tastes very much like the commercially– made Reser’s potato salad.
Lastly, Sierra enlarged their store and that’s great for people who want to dine there. I don’t, and so when I came in the other night to place an order «to go» I was dismayed to see five people waiting to order at the counter, a dining room half full of eating patrons, and absolutely NOBODY around– not even a high schooler– to take anybody’s order. Instead there was a bell sitting at the counter– I was told– «to summon Ed to come out of the kitchen to get my order.» It was 5:30 pm and not an employee in sight. At best I would probably have a 20 minute wait– something I might consider if I was back at The Salt Lick in Driftwood Texas.
For MY money– I’m sticking with Hog Wild in Placerville. Great, hard working staff, who work their butts off each time Im there, even down to running over to refill my TAB even when they are packed to the brim with tourists. Always cheerful, always pleasant, always great food with a cook that can pull off cooking a huge, moist, chicken breast sandwich each and every time I order it To Go, delicious barbecue and a fun atmosphere with additional outside dining that, unlike Sierra Smokehouse, makes me want to stay, pull up a chair, grab a cold beer, and laugh often with the employees who never seem to forget who and what’s important here. They’ve even came running to my car outside when I was waiting for a To Go order and had my dogs with me.
Im all for allowing kids a job as long as they are being taught ongoing appropriate customer service skills, cleanliness, and don’t make me feel like by my being there Im putting them out. Plus, we all like to find familiar wait staff who know us at restaurants where we dine often– don’t we? If every time we go to Sierra Smokehouse only to find all new employees that just makes me wonder WHY even kids arent sticking around.
That’s great– that Sierra made enough profit to enlarge their dining area but NOT if it means that they arent hiring– or keeping– enough staff around.
And what about hiring some seniors? I know a few who could run rings around any 16 year old!
I walked out that night– my $ 40 in hand– another disappointing night in the Cameron Park Food Desert…

Unbelievable BBQ!!! We’ve lived in EDH for 14 years, and never even knew this place existed until we read an article yesterday in the Sac Bee. Tried the «meat only» option tonight, and I have to say — the BEST BBQ (quality, taste, overall) since we experienced «Corky’s» in Memphis. We will never go anywhere else in the area from know on, and plan on giving them a ton of business. Thank you to the owner who took so much time with us, was so knowledgeable and personable. you ROCK!!!

This place is great I haven’t had anything I didn’t like, I especially like the fact that I get to choose my own sauce and apply it myself using as much or as little as I like. Also if you are undecided when you arrive the owner will talk you through your choices he has a real passion for bbq.

I’m from SC where barbecue pork is the best; the sauce adds the kick.
This is the best place in CA to get the same.
The sides are great, especially the «Mammoth Baked Potato». Can be a meal!
Friendly owners with young staff that know their stuff.
The 3 young men, handsome gentlemen came out; sang Happy Birthday to me! Blessed.
I drive in from Roseville to eat with them.
The ambience is inviting; so friendly for one person or a family or party. Catering, also.

Before I write my review, I would like to express my displeasure with the owner’s actions this evening. As my family and I were getting ready to leave the restaurant, we heard the owner complaining to a customer on how he wanted to close the restaurant because he had to pay his staff too much money and wasn’t getting enough in return. Not only did he complain in front of his customers, he did so in front of the other staff members too. I found this to be very unprofessional, and rude. Despite this unpleasant experience in the dining room, I am still giving this place 5 stars because the food is AMAZING!
Let’s get the minor inconveniences out of the way first…
Sierra Smokehouse BBQ does not serve alcohol. For those of you who enjoy a good beer with your BBQ, you will be disappointed. While I am on the subject of drinks, I was slightly annoyed that this restaurant did not offer fountain drinks — only cans of soda. Last, I didn’t see any dessert options on the menu — did I miss them? I could have been talked into some cobbler — just sayin’.
My 10 year daughter opted for the chicken sandwich with a side of mac n’ cheese– off of the kids menu. The chicken was tender and juicy, and came on a nice soft bun. The mac n cheese was good –not great.
My wife and I opted for the BBQ Lover’s Sampler which consisted of pulled pork, ribs, chicken, brisket, and 3 sides. Here are my rankings on the different meat options :
1. Beef Brisket — This is the best brisket that I have ever had the pleasure of stuffing into my face. The meat is cut into cubes which helps retain the juices. I added some of their hot BBQ sauce to it, and was completely satisfied with this selection.
2. Pork Spare Ribs — Nice texture, with plenty of meat on the bone!
3. Pulled pork — In my opinion, pulled pork taste the same wherever you go. Nothing really stood out as being different with their version.
4. Chicken Thighs — Same thing as # 3. Good, but nothing out of the ordinary.
*** The brisket was the clear winner in my opinion. I won’t even waste my time, money, or appetite on the other meat selections on my next visit.
I can’t even tell you how good the sides are at Sierra Smokehouse. Here is what I sampled during my visit:
1. Cowboy BBQ Beans — OMG — the flavor is amazing. Not too spicy, but just enough heat to keep you coming back for more.
2. Mashed Potatoes & Dirty Beef Gravy –Yes — I felt dirty, but I liked it!
3. Mac n cheese with bacon — Yes — Bacon! ‘Nuff said.
This place is firmly on my radar assuming that the owner doesn’t close the doors. Finding good BBQ is harder than it seems. Most times I leave BBQ restaurants disappointed, and mad that I spent so much money on mediocre food. However, at Sierra Smokehouse, I couldn’t have been happier with my meal.
Too bad the owner’s attitude sucks!

MUST GO HERE ! Driving home from Tahoe decided to stop here for lunch. I ordered the hot link and beef brisket sandwich both on Hawaiian buns. DELICIOUS!!! Customer service is excellent!!! Clean bathroom. Also they bring you a variety of bbq sauces to put on your meal. I will def be back when driving to Tahoe ! Side dish Mac n cheese and potato salad was the perfect size 6oz to share.

First time in you can smell the BBQ from outside. I got the mouthwatering brisket sandwich with macaroni salad. The owner was really friendly and we got to sample all the sauces and dry rub! The dry rub is great! You can put it just on about anything which I did with the macaroni salad. I tempted to go with the hotter BBQ sauce with the brisket sandwich. It was amazing! The brisket was very mouthwatering. Be sure to get it on a Hawaiian sweet roll. Perfect blend of sweet and spicy. Probably the best BBQ I’ve had and I am someone who has had lived in Texas and had a variety of BBQ there. I will definitely be back!

OK… so seriously… this place is a hole in the wall with a parking-​lot cooker. Seriously? YES! as its all about the food and all about the taste!
I am perplexed to rate any Mom & Pop with 5 stars as I usually reserve those ratings for unique over-​the-​top experiences that include a measurable ambiance. Trying to compare this eatery with the likes of say «Aji» down the hill in El Dorado Hills is ridiculous; the two restaurants are in different leagues. That said, if the « Unilocal» scale is a tool to draw attention to the best of ones league… I must give my 5 star award.
First, let me explain that no measure of common sense would find this place. Drive-​by traffic is nonexistent. Talking with Ed (owner) I discovered Sierra Smokehouse has been in business for six years! What??? so confused. I seriously only found the place via a (very boring afternoon) Unilocal surfing session (yes, I can get that board).
For background, I grew up as a vegetarian and did not taste my first meats till my late teens. In all honesty I am a meet snob! Pork scares the hell out of me (or maybe the old testament clean food laws do???) so I still don’t dabble in the piggy. Shellfish is also off my list but those unclean little friends are not served here anyway. So what is a slowly developing meat person to eat? How about Brisket, Tri-​Tip and chicken… plus lots of sides that make ones home-​style spirit smile.
I chose the Brisket sandwich… which amounted to chopped brisket in a large sweet Hawaiian bun. Oh… the humanity! A little BBQ sauce and some Brisket dripping gravy mash potatoes and I was content. So odd… as I really have no clue what Brisket is, other then some southern style beef BBQ. I couldn’t figure out why I was missing such a great experience so late in life? Why has this type of food eluded me for so long? My friends say I would have similar experiences if I would give in to eating the pig… I can’t go there. Next time I will try the Tri-​Tip.
Oh… let the reruns begin!

Excellent flavor BBQ! Family owned & local! Great for kids and meat eaters!!! Highly recommended!

WOW! The owner, Ed, knows his ‘Que!
We came here on a Thursday night, after I read about SSBBQ in the Sac Bee. I typically reserve my harshest criticism for BBQ joints. Typically, I leave these places feeling hungry and broke, so even though they have received rave reviews, I expected to be disappointed. Being an «amateur» ‘quer myself, I expect equal or better bbq than I can make at home.
SSBBQ exceeded my expectations and then some! I knew this was a legit competition BBQ joint when we walked in and saw the wall lined with trophies — clearly someone thinks this is the real deal! Sine I wanted to try everything on the menu, we ordered the family plate with a full rack of ribs (4 of us), along with every side imaginable. I’m talking ribs, chicken, brisket, pulled pork, green beans, baked beans, macaroni salad, slaw, cornbread, pretty much the works. Since everything was so delicious, I’ll breakdown the highlights (in order of my favorite):
1) The RIBS! Yum, these were PULL off the bone, not FALL off the bone (the former is how they should be). So much flavor, quality meat, very little fat, and not overly sauced. This is how ribs should be! The best I have ever had, hands down.
2) The Brisket. Brisket is a tough one to do at home. They usually take 10+ hours, and can still come out tough. These was tender, not dry, tons of flavor, and chopped with no sauce. Perfect.
3) The baked beans. I Loved these! They were sweet, but with a unique kick. Gotta try these.
4) The pulled pork — textbook perfect.
5) The sauces — Ed came out and gave a breakdown of each one — a variety for every palate.
I can’t rave enough about this place! Dinner for four ended up being about $ 70, but we all left full plus leftovers. This is quality BBQ!
PRO TIP– Ed says on weekends his wife makes bacon mac n’ cheese, must try this!