HOLY COW BBQ
Brentwood, Santa Monica
Restaurant in Santa Monica, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Price
$30–50per person
Dress
Casual
Why go
Choose HOLY COW BBQ for an easy Santa Monica barbecue meal when the group wants comfort food without a formal dining-room pace. It is better for casual lunches, early dinners, and relaxed celebrations than for quiet business meals or polished date-night service.
About HOLY COW BBQ
HOLY COW BBQ is a Santa Monica venue with a casual dress code and daily hours. It opens at 11 AM every day, closes at 8:30 PM Sunday through Thursday, and closes at 9 PM on Friday and Saturday.
For another dining comparison, FARMshop Market & Restaurant is worth reviewing; Reddi Chick Rotisserie BBQ is another option to compare by name.
Go when the hours fit your plan
The strongest planning signal is the schedule. HOLY COW BBQ is open daily from 11 AM, with evening hours until 8:30 PM most nights and until 9 PM on Friday and Saturday. That makes it easier to place in a Santa Monica itinerary than venues with narrower operating windows, as long as you confirm any details that matter beyond hours and dress code.
For planning a Santa Monica day around it, nearby restaurant browsing is better handled through the Santa Monica restaurants guide; if the meal is part of a longer stay, pair that with the Santa Monica hotels guide, the Santa Monica bars guide, the Santa Monica wineries guide, and the Santa Monica experiences guide.
Who should choose it, and who should cross-shop
Choose HOLY COW BBQ if a casual Santa Monica option with daily hours is what you need. If you are comparing different dining directions, Kiitsu, Sweet Rose Creamery, and A Votre Santé are other names to review, depending on what kind of outing your group has in mind.
For readers comparing broader casual options, HOLY COW BBQ can be considered alongside FARMshop Market & Restaurant, A Votre Santé, Kiitsu, Reddi Chick Rotisserie BBQ, and Sweet Rose Creamery, with final decisions based on up-to-date hours and any details the venues publish directly.
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: 11 AM–8:30 PM · Tuesday: 11 AM–8:30 PM
- Location
- 264 26th St, Santa Monica, CA 90402
- Website
- holycowbbq.com
- Phone
- +13108836269
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Holy Cow BBQ reads like a neighborhood barbecue counter that leans into smoke‑and‑low‑heat American tradition while sitting comfortably within Santa Monica’s modern dining landscape. The space performs differently across the day: lunch arrivals catch the afternoon light on this walkable 26th Street block, while evening service takes on a more energetic tone. HOLY COW BBQ is casual and rustic with contemporary touches, using familiar pit techniques in a local, approachable setting, and feels like a relaxed, lively local fixture.
Best For
This is a lunchtime haunt for residents and nearby professionals who want a straightforward, satisfying meal between errands or appointments. Barbecue often peaks at midday, so Holy Cow functions best as a neighborhood lunch stop, though it also serves dinner for groups and after‑work visits. Its location on a quiet residential‑commercial block makes it well suited to family meals, group gatherings and casual after‑work dining where the focus is on hearty proteins and communal, low‑pressure service rather than a formal night out.
Ordering Tips
Treat lunch as the prime window: the editorial stresses that pits deliver their best cuts early, so midday is where the smoke‑driven proteins shine. If you’re aiming for marquee items (Carolina Pulled Pork, Texas Brisket, Baby Back Ribs, Santa Maria Tri‑Tip or BBQ Pulled Chicken) plan your visit during the earlier part of service when those plates tend to be at their peak. Expect counter service and a straightforward, shareable barbecue rhythm; lunch suits quick orders or splitting plates with a small group.
Venue details
Ambiance
Modern brick and wood interior with casual, no-attitude atmosphere; bright and welcoming with a counter-service setup and communal dining vibe.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
View
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Counter Service
- Meal Pacing
- Quick Bite
- Capacity
- Small
- Kitchen
- Traditional
- Menu Format
- A la carte
- Drinks Focus
- Beer, Bbq sauce selection
- Dietary
- Gluten-free options
- Outdoor Seating
- Yes
Signature Dishes
- Carolina Pulled Pork
- Texas Brisket
- Baby Back Ribs
- Santa Maria Tri-Tip
- BBQ Pulled Chicken
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 264 26th St, Santa Monica, CA 90402
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- 11 AM–8:30 PM
- Tuesday
- 11 AM–8:30 PM
- Wednesday
- 11 AM–8:30 PM
- Thursday
- 11 AM–8:30 PM
- Friday
- 11 AM–9 PM
- Saturday
- 11 AM–9 PM
- Sunday
- 11 AM–8:30 PM
Location
Also consider
Where to go if this does not fit
If barbecue is the main requirement, cross-shop Reddi Chick Rotisserie BBQ. If the group wants a more composed café meal with broader all-day appeal, choose FARMshop Market & Restaurant.
Restaurant context
How it compares in Santa Monica
For barbecue-adjacent comfort food, Reddi Chick Rotisserie BBQ is the closest comparison. Choose HOLY COW BBQ when the occasion calls for a casual sit-down barbecue meal; choose Reddi Chick when rotisserie is the draw and speed matters more than lingering.
FARMshop Market & Restaurant is the stronger pick for a more polished café meal, especially if the group wants a brighter, lighter-feeling lunch. A Votre Santé also makes more sense for health-leaning diners or mixed dietary preferences, while HOLY COW BBQ is the better call when the table wants barbecue as the main event.
Kiitsu and Sweet Rose Creamery serve different needs: Kiitsu is better when Japanese cooking is the plan, and Sweet Rose Creamery is a dessert stop rather than a meal replacement. For booking, HOLY COW BBQ reads as the lower-stress choice in this set, which is useful for last-minute casual plans.
Explore Santa Monica
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full HOLY COW BBQ guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare HOLY COW BBQ
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOLY COW BBQ | Santa Monica | No published awards | |
| Sweet Rose Creamery | Los Angeles | No published awards | |
| Reddi Chick Rotisserie BBQ | Los Angeles | No published awards | |
| FARMshop Market & Restaurant | Los Angeles | Café | 2025 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #2002024 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #1922023 OAD Cheap Eats in North America in Recommended |
| Kiitsu | Los Angeles | No published awards | |
| A Votre Santé | Los Angeles | No published awards |
How HOLY COW BBQ Santa Monica compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is daytime or evening better at HOLY COW BBQ?
That depends on your schedule. HOLY COW BBQ opens at 11 AM every day, closes at 8:30 PM Sunday through Thursday, and closes at 9 PM on Friday and Saturday.
What are alternatives to HOLY COW BBQ?
Other names to compare include Reddi Chick Rotisserie BBQ, FARMshop Market & Restaurant, Kiitsu, Sweet Rose Creamery, and A Votre Santé. Review current details from each venue before deciding.
