El Monte BBQ

4.5 ( 350 reviews )
$10–20
6526 Bandera Rd Suite 4, San Antonio, TX 78238, United States
+1 210-267-1356

El Monte BBQ is a hidden gem located at 6526 Bandera Rd, San Antonio, TX. This small but vibrant barbecue spot has garnered rave reviews for its exceptional food and welcoming atmosphere. Customers like Meggan Wenbourne praise the taco combo, which showcases perfectly seasoned meats alongside delectable beans and rice, calling it the "perfect BBQ." Angelena Ross was equally captivated, describing the ribs and Barbacoa tacos as "tender, juicy, and smoky," while also emphasizing the friendly service and rich history of the owner’s smoker, crafted by his father in 1978.

Reuben Reyes found the brisket to be impeccably cooked, noting the succulent smoke rings and delightful sides, especially the homemade tortillas. Additionally, SMJ White highlighted that El Monte BBQ excels not only in meats but also in sides, with a special mention of their unique peach cobbler—a perfect blend of sweetness and spice. With a casual patio area for families and accommodating service, El Monte BBQ is not just about great food; it's about a memorable dining experience. Highly recommended for anyone craving authentic Texas barbecue!

Amenities and More

  • From the business
    • Identifies as Latino-owned
  • Service options
    • Outdoor seating
    • Kerbside pickup
    • Delivery
    • Takeaway
    • Dine-in
  • Popular for
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • Wheelchair-accessible entrance
    • Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • Wheelchair-accessible toilet
  • Offerings
    • Comfort food
    • Quick bite
    • Small plates
  • Dining options
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Catering
    • Counter service
    • Dessert
    • Seating
    • Table service
  • Amenities
    • Gender-neutral toilets
    • Toilet
  • Atmosphere
    • Casual
    • Cosy
  • Crowd
    • Family friendly
    • LGBTQ+ friendly
    • Transgender safe space
  • Planning
    • Accepts reservations
  • Payments
    • Credit cards
    • Debit cards
    • NFC mobile payments
    • Credit cards
  • Children
    • Good for kids
    • High chairs
  • Parking
    • Free of charge street parking
    • Free parking lot
    • Parking
  • Pets
    • Dogs allowed outside

Reviews For El Monte BBQ

Meggan Wenbourne
Jun 6,2025
The PERFECT tiny bbq joint you want right down the street. I ordered the taco combo so I could try a bit of each meat and then the beans and rice. All of it made my jaw drop. The flavors are incredible and nothing was over the top or over seasoned. It truly is the perfect bbq. We will absolutely be back.
angelena ross
Jun 4,2025
Pack your bags and immediately go to El Monte for the best BBQ that you’ll be tasting. Tender, juicy, smoky, and did I mention tender? It was Easter Sunday. They were open for another hour. We were hungry. We headed there after some birding at Government Canyon State Natural Area. No yellow-cheeked warblers today, but we were okay with it because we did get ribs, sausage, Barbacoa tacos with fresh tortillas, creamed corn, and coconut cake at El Monte’s BBQ. The owner and staff were so friendly. The owner even showed us the smoker, which his dad had made from a propane tank in 1978. Having this history to go along with the meal was really special. The owner even gave us some brisket burnt ends to try. Wowza!!! I’ve tasted nothing like this in my life. The smoke was perfect. The seasoning was right on. Thank you El Monte!!
Reuben Reyes
May 27,2025
Small place that is somewhat dated but was clean. Ordered the one meat plate with brisket. For the sides I got cream corn and beans & rice. They have options for bread, pan de campo, or tortillas (all are made in house). I got tortillas. They have complementary pickled onions, sliced onions, pickles, and hot peppers. The brisket was cooked perfectly, had the smoke rings, and was tender and full of flavor. Both sides were very good. The person behind the counter was friendly and helpful. Through out my eating experience. Very much enjoyed everything here and will be back again. Note the days and hours as they are not open every day.
SMJ White
May 19,2025
We absolutely loved our experience at El Monte! It seems like most bbq places either do their meats really well or their sides. El Monte does it all! Our favorites were the ribs, the creamed corn, and their unique (not too sweet with a little spice) peach cobbler! But you can’t go wrong. Our kids loved playing in the patio area around back. We loved stuffing our faces. Definitely will be going back.
Kimberly P.
May 4,2025
Super friendly staff and awesome food. What’s not to love?! I stopped by to grab some lunch for the hubby and I. We got the 1-meat plate and the chopped brisket sandwich w/cheese. There’s plenty of outdoor seating and some space for the kiddos to run around. However, there are some tables inside but not ideal for a large groups (6). Overall, highly recommend. Yum!!
A Renee
May 3,2025
My first time at El Monte. The brisket is super tender and flavorful. Doesn’t need sauce , but the bbq sauce is good too. It’s thick and tangy. The sausage also has a lot of flavor. I got the sausage sandwich and it was enough to share. We also got the three tacos (sausage, brisket, pulled pork). The tortillas are good, they’re are made there, and the sides are rice and beans. The beans were very good, didn’t try the rice. The potato salad is tangy and flavorful and it’s a good sized portion. For under 40 two of us had plenty of food to share w each other. The quality is great. Only 3 tables inside, but there is patio seating as well. Didn’t have much interaction with the staff, they were nice. Sweet tea was perfect. Priced appropriately. If you want to support local, good quality I definitely recommend.
Kirk Chalmers
Apr 21,2025
We had three sliced brisket sandwich with sides. The brisket had a nice Smokey flavor and was very moist and tender. It was served on buttery toasted bread slices. The cream corn was sweet and delicious. Potatoe salad was slightly above average and the beans were tasty. The place was small and cramped. Overall, I recommend you give them a try if you’re in the neighborhood.
Krom Greatest
Mar 5,2025
This place was very small so I got it to go. The service was extremely fast and they were friendly. The food was delicious. The brisket was very tender, the beans were beans, and the creamed corn was yummy. 1/2 a poound of brisket with 2 sides for 20 bucks is not a bad deal.

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