Why you should experience Woody's Bar-B-Que in Inglewood, California.
Woody's Bar-B-Que is a neighborhood barbecue institution where smoke, patience, and tradition turn simple ingredients into something deeply satisfying.
Located on South Market Street near the historic heart of Inglewood, this long-running barbecue spot serves slow-cooked ribs, hot links, chicken, and sliced beef that have drawn generations of locals through its doors since the 1970s. The room is casual and compact, the kind of place where the scent of oak smoke reaches you before the menu does. Orders arrive wrapped in paper or stacked high on trays, meats lacquered in dark barbecue sauce and accompanied by sides like beans, coleslaw, or potato salad. The rhythm here is straightforward: step to the counter, place your order, and watch as plates of ribs and rib tips emerge from the kitchen in steady succession. Woody's doesn't dress barbecue in spectacle; it delivers the straightforward pleasure of meat cooked low and slow, seasoned with time and community loyalty.
What you didn't know about Woody's Bar-B-Que.
Woody's Bar-B-Que stands as one of the enduring barbecue fixtures of South Los Angeles County, quietly building its reputation through consistency.
Founded in 1975, the restaurant began as a neighborhood pit serving oak-smoked barbecue and has remained family-owned through decades of change in the surrounding community. The menu focuses on traditional barbecue staples: slabs of pork ribs, beef ribs, rib tips, sliced beef, and links, often served with classic comfort sides such as macaroni salad, baked beans, and greens with cornbread. Portions are generous and pricing remains approachable, which has helped Woody's maintain a loyal local following that spans generations. Regulars know the combinations well: rib tip dinners paired with beans, brisket sandwiches stacked on soft bread, and dessert options like banana pudding or peach cobbler that complete the meal with Southern warmth. The dining area is modest and unpretentious, reinforcing the restaurant's identity as a working neighborhood kitchen where the focus remains firmly on the barbecue itself. Over time, Woody's has become woven into community gatherings, family dinners, and local celebrations, a place where the menu rarely changes because the formula already works.
How to fold Woody's Bar-B-Que into your trip.
Woody's Bar-B-Que works best as a relaxed meal that captures the everyday flavor of the neighborhood between larger sightseeing plans.
Arrive during lunch or early evening when the kitchen is moving quickly and the aroma of smoked meats fills the small dining room. Start with a classic rib or rib tip plate served with beans or coleslaw, letting the smoky richness set the tone for the meal. Those wanting variety often choose the combo dinners that pair multiple meats together, offering a fuller look at the kitchen's specialties. Sandwiches stacked with sliced beef or chicken provide a faster option for travelers passing through the area, while larger party platters bring together ribs, chicken, links, and sides for groups sharing a table. Because Woody's operates with a straightforward counter-service rhythm, the experience feels informal and efficient, the kind of place where locals come for dependable barbecue. After the meal, step back onto Market Street and continue exploring nearby shops or neighborhood landmarks, carrying the lingering scent of smoked ribs and sauce as a small reminder of the city's enduring barbecue traditions.
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