The South Smokin BBQ - Hayward (CA)

5 /5 Geo W: Absolutely banging barbecue! I randomly came by here for a late lunch and was pleasantly surprised. I always try to eat at local small businesses whenever I have a chance, and I found this place nearby on Google Maps. I ordered the brisket sandwich with sides of macaroni n cheese and beans. The brisket was so darn good. I havent had this good of a brisket since I visited Texas a few years ago. The meat was so tender and cooked perfectly. The flavor was incredibly good. They could have used a slightly better bread for the bun, but it works just the way it is. The mild barbecue sauce was a good compliment The Macaroni n cheese was really good as well. The beans werent my favorite. Ive had better, but it was okay. Just a bit overcooked. If you are looking for good barbecue come here. 4/17/2025 update: the place got a refresh in branding. Still really great barbecue! 6/5 stars for sure.

5 /5 Matthew I.: Great and chill place for a group of friends to eat. Staff easy to chat with. Undeniably one of the best American BBQ’s here in the East Bay. Melt-in-your-mouth, comforting goodness.

3 /5 Jonathan Monte: TLDR; its ok bbq but Id always take it to go. Convenient and quick I entered the location and was very surprised that the place didnt have the smell of BBQ. The atmosphere felt pretty boring. It wasnt a place to stay and eat at. They had a few 4 seating tables with generic padded chairs that you would see at Costco. Lots of options for BBQ. The cost was reasonable but it was just ok to good. The msc and cheese was disappointing the cheese of my fries were the same cheese and not that good. The service was like being at McDonalds, take your order and hand you the food after its ready. I could come back, but Im not going to be thinking of this as my must go to BBQ place in the future.

3 /5 Paul: The barbecue itself tasted good, but the portions were smaller than I expected for the price. The brisket had solid flavor, though the serving felt a bit light, didn’t come with much meat on the plate. But again, the portions were on the small side. Service was friendly, and the place had a nice atmosphere, but the value just wasn’t quite there. Overall, it’s an okay spot if you’re nearby, but the portion sizes kept it from being a standout experience.

4 /5 Mark Mirigian: Solid BBQ for a quick meal and friendly service. The brisket was tender but the tri-tip could have been more juicy. Neither was drenched in sauce which would have overpowered the meat. The mac & cheese was creamy and Cajun fries were seasoned well and very crispy.