Pit Stop: Red House Barbecue

Can Californians do barbecue? Turns out they can, at least in Tehachapi. Red House BBQ in Tehachapi, California, is an unpretentious, no-nonsense joint that does meat right. The prices are cheap, the portions are huge, and the décor…well the décor is almost as great as the restaurant’s signature baby back ribs.

The dining room is dominated by a hand-built waterfall made out of fake rocks, and the walls are decorated with an interesting mix of taxidermy, antique weapons, butcher knives, military memorabilia, and a sign that reads “Hippies Use the Back Door, No Exceptions.” A taxidermied wild boar wearing a party hat presides over the kitchen. Better yet, the owner, a big tattooed dude, seems to be a beer aficionado. The fridge at the counter is crammed with an impressive selection of craft beers—unusual for a small town in this neck of the desert. For the record, IPA goes well with the pulled pork sandwich, which is piled with so much meat that there’s no way you’re going to get away with a clean shirt.

The pork is meltingly tender and the sauce is not too sweet for the win. If you don’t dig the pig, the crispy fried catfish comes with house made tartar sauce and tangy red coleslaw. Top that off with creamy Velveeta-infused mac and cheese. That’s the money.

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