901 El Cajon Blvd.
El Cajon, CA
www.wranglerfamilybarbecue.com
You all know those restaurants that really try to look like a 50s style diner. Well this place doesn’t need to try to look old. It really is! The décor here isn’t 50s, but I’d say 60s classic cafeteria/western. This theme is supported by the authentic wagon wheel lighting hanging from the ceiling with light provided by compact fluorescent light bulbs. Look around the place and you’ll see other visual cues that support this theme. The cafeteria style tables and chairs, the scuffed wood siding, the animal heads mounted on the walls, and the white on brown color scheme. This place could probably qualify for a spot on Antiques Roadshow.
If you haven’t made a run for the door by now, then that means you really like BBQ and you want to give this place a try. Okay, so I’ve been to this place before, so it wasn’t much of a shock to me. Good Bro #1 however must have hit sensory overload because of his non-stop hiccups right about the time we were going to place our order. So I order my grub and Good Bro #1 is unsure. So he asks the guy holding a knife behind the counter, “What do you recommend?” The guy flips the knife around and says, “We got ribs, we got brisket, we got ham. It’s all good brother.” So we both end up ordering some combination platters. All is good.
Eating was a mixed bag here. We both agreed that the ham was pretty good. It had the smoky smell and taste that we were craving. Although the brisket did have some slight smokiness to it and wasn’t dry, it wasn’t enough to really impress us. The ribs had a decent flavor and char on them, but still not the best. BBQ sauce had decent flavor, but I’ve tasted better. Side dishes were also “just okay”.
Stand out in the parking lot of Wrangler Family BBQ after dinner and you’ll be treated to the smell of real wood smoke. While your nose will be in Heaven though, your eyes will be telling your brain that it’s time to go because the view from the parking lot is not very scenic.
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