Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue

Maybe this is an irrelevant review because the BTRBBQ is closed. But, for reasons none in our group ever figured out, we never visited for the decades we’ve been alive and visiting the Happiest Place on Earth and it never occurred to us to visit the BTRBBQ until it was announced that they were closing. Perhaps we’re part of the problem. Perhaps it’s all JJ Abrams’ fault. Yeah… I’m going to go ahead and blame JJ Abrams.
Now that we’ve had a taste of what we’d been missing, it’s kind of sad it’s gone. This was one of the more entertaining and delicious restaurants in the park. Super tender chicken, mildly spiced (as in flavor, not heat), mildly sweet, with a gentle char. The 11 year old nephew — who is usually incredibly picky about food and can eat a slice of ham and be good for the day — busted through 6 chicken breasts on his own. The ribs — also super tender, although not quite fall off the bone — again mildly spiced, with a sauce that wasn’t too sweet (which, at Disneyland, is a huge deal) and slightly tangy. The grandparents had a field day with the ribs.
Baked beans that weren’t soggy and mushy, that weren’t super sweet. Cornbread squares that were moist and only slightly grainy. Tender corncobs. Coleslaw that is crisp and refreshing instead of soggy and soupy. A country-​western hoedown show to appropriately embarass all the kids at the table mid-​meal. Oh… and the S’more Bake for dessert. The S’more Bake! Sure, I could make this at home — it’s not that hard — and I did for Christmas. But it’s just not the same.
Seated at wood benches and tables in a western atmosphere, with the screams of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad appropriately far in the distance. And all of it in an all-​you-​can-​eat format with servers that are really good at keeping your table refilled with ribs and drinks, along with the renowned Disneyland service experience, all for a totally reasonable price.
The only negative of the entire experience was that a bone bucket would have been super useful at the start of the meal instead of holding onto all our chicken and rib bones until one of the buckets emptied first. Yeah… that’s about it.
Having experienced the BTRBBQ, it’s really unfortunate that it’s gone now. Hopefully the menu returns in some fashion in the future. And even if it doesn’t, our one visit to BTRBBQ will always have positive memories for the food, the experience, and the fact that it will always be the place I introduced my nephews to the refreshing deliciousness that is an ice cold Orange Fanta.
Damn you, JJ Abrams!

I am SOOOoooo bummed this place is closed ! It was always part of our Disney Experience ! We loved being able to really enjoy a hearty meal after marching around the parks all day ! All-​you-​can-​eat usually meant 2^nd or even 3^rd helpings! The ribs were especially good & we loved the «BUCKET-o-MEAT“presentation.
I wonder if they will move the Bar-​b-​Q to Tom Sawers Island? That would be cool !? Or if they will have an all you can eat Star Wars Cantina ?
Might just have to go to Disney Village for a decent «pig –out» (cheesecake factory?) after the parks, from now on ?
The Entertainers there were a huge part of the expeience ! Camp fire songs, and country hospitality were always so soothing after the hustle and bustle of a day at «The happiest place on Earth».The Cast were the same nice folks for many years, there was Tex & miss Chriss of course, and some of Disney’s Best cast members were waitrons there .I wonder what will happen to them? Where will my cowboy singers go ???

Big Thunder Ranch BBQ is closed now and I miss it already. I made two trips for a farewell lunch and farewell dinner and both did not seem enough. Food was the same as I remembered. During lunch, I made the effort to save some room for their dessert menu, which I’ve never ordered from due to the overindulgence on the main courses. BF and I tackled the s’mores bake together, which was meant for 2 or more people for sharing. The combo of a chocolate brownie foundation topped with melted marshmallows, hot fudge, and graham crackers proved too much for us (we had went through 4 rounds of meat), but luckily to-​go boxes were available for the dessert. A sweet ending to our goodbye meals at the Ranch.
It was still holiday season mode during our dinner and lunch. We enjoyed listening to Christmas music as we dined, but most of all, we were thoroughly entertained by Miss Chris and in particular, Tex Tumbleweed. In addition to the regular repertoire of songs, he ad-​libbed a few that reflected the conversations he had with the guests (and it still rhymed too!). Pretty impressive. That reminds me that I need to write a compliment to Disney Guest Services for the entertaining duo.
Goodbye, Big Thunder Ranch Barbeque. Just as we say grace for camp meals, «rub-​a-​dub-​dub, thanks for the grub!»

The chicken is amazing. Fall off the bone and super tasty. Corn bread is one of the best too and the beans also.
Crazy to think that Disneyland had a buffet.
Really unfortunate that it’s closing down though. Maybe it’ll return as skywalker ranch bbq

Some would say there are major flaws to this place or the food isn’t as great as it could be. I say for what this place represented and the fact it has a savory quality with a good range of flavors for all-​you-​can-​ea makes Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue a one-​of-​a-​kind restaurant Disneyland will sorely miss once it’s gone.
I had the pleasure to go just this past Saturday for the first, and most likely, last time. It was a glorious Sunday and I’m grateful I was able to sneak in at the end of the day.
Atmosphere: 5 stars
Everything at Disneyland has a story or theme where each character and place fits in. With the wild west and nature taking precedence in this space it’s no surprise red rocks and smells of wildlife fill this area. BTR has tons of character with wooden tables covered with (plastic) picnic cloth, rocky roads, and a stage fit for the melodies of Tex Tumbleweed and Miss Chris. Also this part of the park is far away from the crowds and gives a peace to your meal.
Service: 3 stars
I would like to give higher stars but I know service gets hit because of the high traffic flow of guests and the time it takes to bring food out. I found myself longing for food to come out faster. The servers were friendly but it could be faster.
Food: 5 stars
Sure, the food here won’t be like steaks or racks of lamb found at a steakhouse but they stay true to their name with food you’d find at a barbecue. What’s even more important is that not everything drowns into the same flavor of over drenched barbecue sauce. The coleslaw has a citrus zing to it that juxtaposes nicely with the smokey sweetness of the ranch beans. The cornbread is sweet yet when you eat the corn wheels it doesn’t become too corny. The sausages have a nice snap to it when bitten into, the ribs are so tender they fall off the bone, and the chicken is perfectly cooked and moist. Every bite was taken ravenously and I regret nothing! This was a meal I would gladly eat over again and with it being an AYCE, you have the opportunity to.
Price: 4 stars
Of course the price is high. For dinner you’re looking to pay around $ 32 per adult which is a little higher than most AYCE places you find in California; however, being a restaurant in Disneyland that serves AYCE and you realize this is a steal!
Conclusion
Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue will always be a crucial part of Disneyland history. Though often forgotten and taken for granted I’m glad people are appreciating this wonderful restaurant before it disappears into the annals of history. I’m glad I was able to feast here at least once to say I was able to.

−−7÷100 reviews for 2016–
**********100^th REVIEW**********
On January 10^th, 2016 they will be renovating the park for Star Wars land and guess what? Big Thunder Ranch BBQ will be gone FOR-​EV-​ER. :’(I’m surely going to miss this restaurant. I believe it was the best sit down restaurant at Disneyland. I loved the BBQ picnic feel to it. Everything about this restaurant was grand. Unlimited BBQ (chicken, ribs, sausages), sweet beans, corn, coleslaw, and sweet corn bread. MMM MMMM. The meat was always juicy and moist. I loved how it wasn’t drenched in BBQ sauce as well. It was perfect. The chicken breast did get a little dry though, but was easily fixed with the BBQ sweet beans. I also usually never like corn bread because of it’s common dryness, but for some reason at Big Thunder Ranch BBQ, it was warm, moist, and sweet.
For dessert, we loved the seasonal item, peppermint ice cream on top of warm brownies. Ah! Was it heavenly. I’m not too much a fan of chocolate or brownies, but that was surely one of the best desserts i’ve ever had. The peppermint ice cream had the right flavor and crunch to it and the brownies were warm and moist. The edges were my faves! Crunch in every bite. (:
Writing this review truly made me sad, knowing that every good thing must come to an end, but hopefully Star Wars land opens up another BBQ joint soon that’s comparable to this one! It was nice knowin’ ya Big Thunder Ranch BBQ! :) YEEEEE HAW!

Hee Haw! This restaurant is loads of fun and I’m sad that it has taken me so long to visit.
They are closing on January 10 to make room for the new Star Wars Land so you have a limited time to get your fill of AYCE ribs, BBQ chicken, cornbread, baked beans and coleslaw.
The servers are friendly and really seem to enjoy their jobs. Happy, smiling faces a plenty at this restaurant. We certainly had a magical experience while we were there.

By far one of the best places to grub at Disneyland. Xx amount per person for all you can eat!?! You do know I can put it away right?
Picnic style lunch. You get ribs, chicken, coleslaw, beans and corn bread. Keep the coleslaw coming!
Too bad this joint is on its way out. Seriously, you guys are taking away my unlimited buckets of BBQ ribs for some Star Wars geek-​biz??? Peace to you & Ricky James then!
Your Homegirl,
Violy

I didn’t know a place like this existed at Disneyland! It’s also been a long time since I visited.
It was a large group of us visiting and with a large group it’s hard to plead everyone’s taste buds so this place was perfect! Who doesnt love AYC BBQ?!
Sadly, this place has closed :(I wish I had a chance to have this awesomeness one last time before they shut its doors.

I’ll start each Disney restaurant review the same, book reservations everywhere you plan to eat. Otherwise, you will be one of those people jumping from restaurant to restaurant only to be told they are only accepting reservations.
With that said, I did not book a reservation for Big Thunder BBQ initially. I had already made reservations at another place at 1pm but kept checking the app and low and behold by some miracle a 2:45pm was open, so we booked! For Big Thunder I highly recommend, while they are still open, to book a reservation here as this place is well worth the time and money. We checked in around 2:40pm and waited a while for a individual table rather than share with a big group (which was fine bc we had just eaten 1.5 hours prior to). Once seated the hostess explained how the process worked, they would bring out the BBQ and sides and keep bringing them out if we wanted more, thus all you can eat! Drinks are also included in that mix. They brought out a bucket of BBQ chicken and ribs, corn bread, re-​fried beans, and slaw. They pre-​determine the amount of BBQ based on who many people you have.
I will tell you this was some of the best BBQ I’ve had. I mean, fall off the bone, hot, flavorful and definitely filling. We opted in for just ribs and not chicken when we got refills because the chicken was pretty big (but so good!). While you’re eating a live show takes place, a guy and girl duo who are very interactive with the crowd and sing some cute songs as well as make a few jokes about Darth Vader being their new boss soon lol.
I loved this place and like others mentioned I too will be very sad to see this place go. 5 stars because you get such a great deal, the food is great and the service is very nice and the entertainment is fun. I highly recommend trying it out before they are gone!

Sucks that this spot is closing soon, great BBQ chicken and hotlinks… RIP you will be missed! Ahhh the sacrifices that we have to make for the new Star Wars theme park section of the Disneyland park. As I get older I hate having these nostalgia moments as things change in the world.
Compare this to bengal bbq inside Disneyland, where you pay like $ 7 for a little stick with like 4 ozs of meat on it… the AYCE bbq here at Big Thunder is literally buckets of meat! Buckets!

I’m super sad that this place will be closing soon. If you haven’t had a chance to try this AYCE BBQ joint located inside of Disneyland, get there soon! It’s located in Frontier land, just behind Big Thunder Mountain and next to the petting zoo (don’t worry, you can’t smell animals from there).
You can’t really beat an AYCE BBQ lunch for less than $ 25/​person. The only difference between lunch and dinner is that dinner serves sausage and corn on the cob. During lunch, we were treated to buckets of chicken and ribs as well as coleslaw, baked bbq beans, and cornbread. They’ll keep bringing out the food if you can keep eating it. The chicken was incredibly tender and moist. I’m not usually a white meat eater, but I’ll admit that even the white meat was juicy. The meat fell right off the bone on the ribs, and believe me they’re not skimpy with the food they bring out. We also took it upon ourselves to take our gluttony to the next level and ordered the S’mores dessert. I think it was around an extra $ 10. Order it early though, because it takes a while to make. It’s basically chocolate goodness with marshmallows, and chocolate sauce baked on a skillet. We’re given graham crackers to scoop up the cake and goodies. It’s really rich, and one order was plenty for 5 of us to share.
Since we were in Disneyland, it’s not surprise that the service was stellar. Everyone was so friendly, our drinks were always filled to the brim, the food came out quickly and the servers were very attentive. There’s also a stage up front where performers sing old country sounds and entertain the guest while they dine. Make sure you make a reservation, because it’s always booked!
Hopefully, I can squeeze in one more trip to eat BBQ before the restaurant leaves us. Hopefully you can too!

I’m glad I was able to try this place before it closed.
We made reservations for lunch, but we still had to wait fifteen minutes… Not sure why because there were plenty of tables.
Lunch ($ 25.99/person) included: cornbread, coleslaw, chicken, beans, ribs, and a drink.
The way it works is that they give you everything at once, and when you want more of something, you have to ask for it. It’s not a buffet. We didn’t really want to eat chicken because we wanted to eat ribs instead, so everytime we wanted more meat, it came with more chicken and that ended up going to waste. The ribs were delicious though! It was nice and tender. I’m not a huge fan of baked beans or coleslaw, but according to my boyfriend, the beans were really good. He also loved the cornbread. I thought it was kinda dry…
I would recommend this place if you’re looking to eat some bbq at Disneyland. Other than that, I think you’re better off getting bbq somewhere else (like Phil’s in San Diego!).

It’s truly sad to hear that Big Thunder Ranch BBQ will be closing in January for the new Star Wars addition to Disneyland. Hearing this, we knew we had to go one last time.
The BBQ itself is delicious and the fact that it’s all you can eat makes everything better. For an all you can eat BBQ restaurant in Disneyland of all places, you’d think the quality of the food would take a huge hit. Rest assured, this is not the case. Always served hot, the Chicken is moist, the ribs fall right off the bone, and the sausages are straight up are addicting. All served in a bucket that will continuously be refilled until your stomach begs you to stop. You’ll also be served unlimited sides like corn, coleslaw, and baked beans. Beverages are also included with unlimited refills (Arnold Palmer is absolutely perfect). All this for only $ 29.99. If you have an annual pass you can get a nice little discount as well. I only wish that Mac and Cheese or Mash Potatoes/​Scalloped Potatoes were also served.
Like anywhere in Disneyland, the customer service is spectacular. Drinks are quickly refilled and buckets are constantly replaced. There are also performers singing on stage at certain times.
Big Thunder Ranch BBQ is always packed, so my advice would be to make reservations online or over the phone. It’s the final stretch and with about two months left for you to try out Big Thunder Ranch BBQ, there’s no time wait. As a Star Wars fan, I’m excited to see the new Star Wars Land but at the cost of one of my favorite all you can eat locations, I hope it all won’t be in vain.

At least once, everyone should experience this, the best place to GLUT!
(I thought my wife made up this term, a verb form of gluttony, but it is a word)
Make reservations now!
I was really excited to try Big Thunder Ranch BBQ before it ended in January because my co-​worker had chosen it for her birthday almost annually. Basically, it’s all you can eat ribs, chicken, sausage, beans, cole slaw, corn, and cornbread, with entertainment, for about $ 30. Maybe a bad deal perhaps, but not an INSANELY bad idea.
But, alas, the food was just OK. The cole slaw was ok (celery, yuck) and the beans mediocre and barely warm, but the corn wheels, cornbread, and iced tea were good. Ask for the BBQ sauce, honey, and tabasco.
The first bucket of ribs (mostly good) chicken, and sausage (very good) was heavy on the chicken, which was slimy (if BBQd I like my chicken dry like jerky) and there wasn’t enough ribs for the three of us. We asked for another bucket and received nearly all chicken. In fact, we could use the pieces and actually form a chicken on the table, which we should have made and then crucified because even though I specified RIBS AND SAUSAGE for the third bucket it had even more chicken. SO… now we know– you must specifically say «NO CHICKEN» to get a bucket of ribs and sausage.
I loved the entertainment. We saw a couple dressed as cow folk around 8pm, and as a result of being there all day long, they were loose, ad-​libbing, silly with a wink, and adventurously harmonizing their Disney covers (Bare Necessities, You’ve Got a Friend in Me). Sad to see them leave after 3 songs. People weren’t clapping because their hands were full of chicken.

I am truly saddened that this AYCE BBQ Ranch is going to be gone in early 2016.
Big Thunder Ranch BBQ is one of my favorite spots for grubbin’ in Disneyland. How can you not like an all-​you-​can-​eat bbq in a friendly lively atmosphere with a bit of singing entertainment.
Save room for dessert! — The large Chocolate chip cookie bake topped with three scoops of ice cream is amazing and great for sharing.
Overall, the service is friendly and the food is great. One of the best values in the park. Though you can walk-​in, reservations are highly recommended if you want to secure a spot for lunch or dinner. They sometimes stop accepting walk-​ins in the early evening so get your name in early. Discounts for Annual Pass holders as well.
Hoping to visit a couple more times before it’s gone forever. :(

I am seriously devastated that this place is closing. Beyond that, I’m devastated that I only visited here for the first time last month. I am ashamed!
The atmosphere here is Disney without being too Disney. It is a reprieve form the hub bub of the rest of the park and still offers live entertainment. And the food — oh my, the food. I was skeptical when I heard about «all you care to enjoy» and Disneyland but, man, I am a believer now. The cornbread with butter is delicious, the ribs are fall-​off-​the-​bone tender, the chicken (which I really had low expectations for) was seasoned perfectly, and you can’t get a faster meal. The fact that everyone gets the same thing has this place moving! The service was great, to boot! Our buckets were always filled, our drinks full, and our bellies stuffed. Make sure to visit before they close for good — you’ll be glad that you did!

My friend loves BBQ. He knew that this eatery inside Disneyland would be closing soon, so he gathered a bunch of us up to dine here before it’s demise on January 11, 2016.
We had 2 covered picnic tables. Chicken and ribs were all you could eat, along with the baked beans, cornbread, and Cole slaw.
There were lots of napkins and enough utensils for everyone. Buckets were provided for all of the bones. The service, the wait time to be seated, and the price could be better. However, we were on Disney property for convenience and happy memories.. trying to just focus on the good and mention the areas that need improvement. .
The live entertainment was great! The country duo was very lively and cheerful! It helped set the festive mood!
Looking forward to the new Star Wars Land! Aloha!

I love everything about this place. They have a staple food; chicken and rib bbq, corn bread, coleslaw, ranch beans and drinks but here’s the thing… EAT ALL YOU CAN for one price per person!
Their bbq’s are perfectly cooked and well seasoned. All side dishes are very tasty. And if you still have space for dessert, oh my! Their servings are HUGE!
They also have a stage where entertainers sing old western and cowboy music live. Servers are very fast and very friendly. It is a perfect place to wind down during lunch or after a long day at Disney!
Last visit, I heard that they are demolishing this area of Disney for a «Star Wars» themed section of the park. I’m so bummed! Don’t get me wrong, I like Star Wars, but I’d rather have this place, in a heart beat!
I’ll keep on coming back to this place as much as I can as long as it lasts.

I feel like I found out a Disneyland secret after eating at this all-​you-​can-​eat outdoor restaurant for lunch.
Hidden behind Big Thunder Mountain next to the petting zoo, I don’t think this eatery is all that well known since it is along a less traveled path between Frontierland and Fantasyland. I made reservations (which are recommended) but seeing plenty of empty tables on a very busy summer afternoon at the park I am guessing that reservations aren’t do-​or-​die.
You’ll sit at a large picnic table with a sunshade. Smaller groups will be seated with other people but you won’t share the same food. Your food is served family style in buckets and bowls. For lunch we received BBQ chicken, beef ribs, coleslaw, BBQ beans and cornbread with honey butter. You also get a drink of your choice. Desserts are available but are an additional cost to the AYCE flat fee.
I was truly surprised at how great the food was. The chicken was falling off the bone tender and juicy. Even the white meat was moist! The ribs were tender with a light sauce with spices I enjoyed but couldn’t determine what they were exactly. The beans were fantastic and the cornbread, slathered in that honey butter, was delicious. I’m not a big coleslaw person but thought this was okay too. Once we finished our bucket of chicken and ribs we asked for another which was soon brought to our table and we continued to pig out.
Service was pleasant but a bit slow (we were in no hurry so this didn’t bother us at all). There was live country music playing from time to time on stage. Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue is a quiet relaxing oasis in the park; a nice respite from the crowds and clamor. I’ll definitely be back.