Copper Top BBQ

Stopped in to try this place driving home from Mammoth based on all the stellar Unilocal reviews. I have to say, it was Ok at best. I love BBQ and when I saw the cowboy out on the front lawn queuing it up I was excited to give it a try. I ordered the brisket which was almost cold to the touch and a bag of chips with 2 sweet rolls. We got there when it opened at 11am and there was already a line forming. Maybe I should have tried the ribs. Watching it come off the grill made my mouth water. Copper Top claims to have the best BBQ in California– Not sure about that but I’m not ready to give up on this place yet. I’ll be back!
Side note– Keep your dog off his lawn. A patron made that mistake and the Grill Master went nuts.

BEST BBQ RIBS I’VE EVER HAD! They serve Mac and cheese on Sunday’s but they run out quick. Potato salad is a must try as well!

I tried the pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw on it. The coleslaw had slices of green apple and the pork was on a pretzel bun. It was unique and very very delicious.

Amazing tri tip sandwich on a pretzel bun. So glad we skipped schatts And this place was open. Yum, yum, yum!

Awesome BBQ and really nice folks that work there. I’d recommend the tri tip sandwich. Outside seating only and the view of the mountains is incredible. Would eat there again for sure.

Fun location, friendly and interesting staff, good prices, and great BBQ! The reason there are four stars is because of the hours of operation; so check they are open before you get BBQ-​excited. Every time we head to Mammoth or any of the parks in that area we try to stop here. Last time we stopped it was still a father-​son bbq set up with the grill right there next to the street. Both are super friendly and the dad throws down some great bbq. Selection changes based upon availability, but everything we had has been AMAZING. This sentiment has been echoed by everyone we have coerced into stopping. In my opinion this is one of the two best bbq places south of mammoth lakes.

We ordered the platter and it was just okay. The tri-​tip was so-​so, chicken was above average, but the ribs wasn’t good. We were there in the late afternoon so maybe they ran out of the ribs and gave us the ribs-​end part, which was quite burnt and very dry.
The place has only the outdoor seats.

Stopped here on our way to June lake and I must say it did not disappoint! The ribs were amazing as well as the pulled pork and tri tip. I did not care for the chicken since I found it a bit dry. The potato salad was delicious and the chili was exceptional. Definitely will stop here again.

Drove by Saturday morning and smelled something delicious cooking. Unfortunately we were about an hour too early for food… So we made sure to stop on our way back through. We weren’t disappointed! I had the chicken meal and he had the tri trip sandwich and ribs as well as potato salad and cole slaw. The meat had excellent flavor, was very tender and moist. We would definitely recommend it to others!

Was in the Big Pine area for only 3 days this time and went here twice. Enough said. :) But in all honestly, this place is fantastic. It’s a father son operation and Hank is an absolutely sweetheart.
My dad read about this place online and said we had to try it on our Fishmas camping trip, we can be quite the carnivores. We arrived before opening but that mouthwatering BBQ smell had already began to fill the air. While waiting, we met a nice couple who had been here before. I asked for any recommendations and my dad mentioned that he had heard the chicken was dry. Hank happened to be walking by just as my dad said this.
Hank: well, where did you hear that?
*the blood drained from my face out of embarrassment
Dad: I read about it
Hank: I know exactly which Unilocal review you are talking about. Come over here and tell me if this chicken looks dry!
Hank walked us over to a huge bbq, lifted the copper top and unveiled a bed of glisteningly moist and yet perfectly golden chicken. It was beautiful. He poured brown sugar over the chicken and closed the top.
About 10 minutes later, Hank walked over to our group and gave us the first half chicken off the grill. It was the most juicy BBQed chicken I’ve ever had, which we all know is quite a task. How do you get that char and that crisp while remaining juicy but cooked all the way through?
On our back from the weekend, we stopped by again so I could pick up a sampler for my mom; I’d feel awful if I withheld this gem from her. I drove away in immediate regret. I should have also bought their vacuum packed rack of ribs to bring back to my friends in San Francisco…
I’ll be back everytime im in the area!

Took the old highway from Reno to LA and accidentally stumbled upon this place! Didn’t trust the whole #1 restaurant on Unilocal but I was proven wrong when I looked it up! And the reviews were all legit. In the words of the younger generation now, «dank A.F. BBQ». They deserved the title for a reason. The sauce was really good and the service was great. It is a little pricy. I think for a full rack with some drinks it’ll probably cost around $ 45. I paid $ 23~ for a meal which included 8 ribs, two sides (sweet honey rolls and chili), and two orange cream sodas. It was pretty great experience. If we ever drive that road again, we’ll come by again!

Wow, this is a Must-​Stop when you are on Hwy 395! Tasty BBQ and very friendly folks!
Tried to eat here once before but they were closed. Be sure to time your trip through Big Pine during business hours. Glad I’m tenacious and this time we arrived right before opening and stood in line to place our order. Couldn’t make up our minds so we ordered a combo plate to sample it all. We sure weren’t disappointed! I like my meat mooing and the tri-​tip was perfectly medium rare to rare. Mr. S declared the ribs as the best ever and even the chicken shined through as moist and flavorful. The side dishes were also decent. The beans were not what you’d expect but tasty. Not sure if the potato salad was what I’d usually order but I love it all if it has a bit of bbq sauce on it.
Terrific bbq, beautiful view and nice people. Great combo that will keep us coming back.

YES! Stop here and get BBQ! I actually turned around and came back and bought some leg quarters and made a Thai coconut soup with organic veggies and the legs, Yum!

Cooper Top BBQ features incredible BBQ and is a fun spot to visit if you are on a road trip up to Mammoth or venturing back to Los Angeles. It’s a family run establishment and the staff was very friendly.
The location is easy to find off the main road to Mammoth, but not overly peaceful as there are lots of cars that drive by.
if you don’t know what to try, feel free to ask the local grill master — just double check the prices before you order as some items can be expensive.

Big Pine Sampler Platter ($ 17.38) includes 5 ounces of Santa Maria tri-​tip, two pork ribs, a quarter chicken, and a Hawaiian roll. These are all cooked out front in the smoker and grills so you know what you are getting. The tri-​tip is cooked Santa Maria-​style and seasoned with Hank’s own dry rub. The meat is juicy and full of savory beefy flavor that will have you coming back for more. The pork ribs are BBQ competition worthy with a good bite where it is tender but doesn’t just drop off the bone. The flavor has a good balance of smoky, sweet, and savory flavors. The chicken, whether you order white or dark, is moist and tender. The skin has the perfect caramelization with dark golden brown color. You can also taste the freshness of the chicken as it doesn’t have any irony flavor notes at all. The meat is almost sweet and the smoke imparts a great flavor throughout. Rating: ⁵⁄₅
What is BBQ without sides? Fire Roasted Green Chili with Beans ($ 3.66 — 8 oz., $ 7.32 — 16 oz., $ 13.73 — 32 oz.) is a different take from the sweet barbeque beans usually served with BBQ. These are some of the best beans you’ll ever eat! The savory flavor with green chile pepper tones works well with the black and chili beans. The flavor pairs well with the BBQ whether you have tri-​tip, chicken, or pork ribs. If you have any tri-​tip and beans leftover, cut up the tri-​tip into small pieces and mix them up with the beans when you warm them up. It’s amazing like hearty, chunky chili. Rating: ⁵⁄₅
Potato Salad ($ 3.66 — 8 oz., $ 7.32 — 16 oz., $ 13.73 — 32 oz.) is not your ordinary picnic salad. The potatoes are cooked just right, not hard and not mushy. The seasoning and mustard are balanced — the mustard flavor does not overpower it. The pickles and olives add just the right amount of salt and acidity. The presentation is very colorful as well. Rating: 4.8÷5

Delicious meat, breathtaking view and a kind heart take Copper Top, well, to the TOP.
My 800^th review is a delicious one. Where should I start?
In case you don’t read through to the bottom, I’ll begin with the food.
Big Pine Sampler $ 17.38:
5oz Santa Maria Tri-​tip– delicious, moist and grilled to perfection. This is how meat is meant to be.
2 Saint Louis Style Ribs-​the ol copper top smokers works its magic. The although the meat does not fall off the bone, the leaness is nice and the rub superb. Again a winner
¼ Chicken but I asked politely for pulled pork instead– this was on the dry side. I’m used to a wet, steaming pile of pulled pork and while this was good, it was not the best. I’m sure most will be quite happy with it.
Includes 2 sides:
Cole Slaw– good. Not sweet enough or wet enough for me but good.
Fire Roasted Green Chili with Beans-​WOW! CTBBQ, you get 5 stars just for this. I’m looking forward to trying my hand to recreate it.
Actual hand made copper top BBQ for ribs and pork
If you’re more into sandwiches, they come on toasted pretzel buns. Yum.
Past the food portion of this review and onto the experience.
Parking is limited at best with side street and some in the back of you’re lucky.
Outdoor seating only with some picknic tables with shade.
Prepare for a line. Arrived on a Sunday at 1:10pm, made the front of the line at 1:40 with food in hand at 1:58. A little over 45 minutes before eating may seem long but just look out at the mountains and it will pass right by. A welcome break in a long drive.
AT&T cell service is not good but thankfully, Copper Top offers WiFi.
Hopefully so you can check in on Unilocal and write you’re review which is exactly what I’m working on as I stand in line.
What a good ol boy. Hank, the grill master and part owner, asked the crowd who owned the big rig parked across the street. A gentlemen spoke up and was expedited through the line with a comment about how hard he works and does not get paid to stand around. Saved the trucker 20 minutes, easily. What a nice man and excellent cook.
What I can tell you that many of the 615 other reviews is you need to stop.
Take a break
Eat some delicious BBQ
And please take a moment to talk with Hank. He has great stories. I look forward to our next conversation.

A must stop in the area. Can’t miss the big sign with the words «Voted #1 Best Restaurant in the US on Unilocal».
We were on our way up to Lake Tahoe, when I Unilocaled this fine bbq spot. The sign confirmed it right away :)
The menu is simple and the lines move fairly quickly but be prepared to wait for your food order. Don’t think «fast lines, fast service». haha nope. sorry. But it’s worth the wait! Basically your typical 3 types of meat: Tri-​tIp, Ribs, or Pulled pork. You can get them in a sandwich, or by itself (a la carte), or as a meal. The meal just means that you get your choice of meat, 2 sides, and 1 roll of Hawaiian Sweet Bread. The side choices are: a drink (which I wouldn’t necessarily consider a «Side», coleslaw, an extra 2 rolls of Hawaiian Sweet bread, Potato Salad, or their Green Chili beans.
OFF THE MENU! I asked if I could just order 1 rib and they said YES! I didn’t think I could finish an entire order of ribs and I didn’t want my food to go to waste. The regular order comes as 4 ribs, for about $ 13.30. So, since I only wanted 1 rib, the cashier charged me $ 3. Don’t think it’s a rip off! It’s actually worth the price. The ribs are very good and 1 rib was just the amount I wanted to just «taste». I had already ordered the Tri-​Tip meal with my 2 sides: green chili beans and coleslaw.
Another cool way that they ask for tip is a survey. They have a question like «What’s your favorite dessert? Ice Cream or Chocolate» With 2 buckets on either side of the cashier window, you could place your tip money in the jar that corresponds with your answer choice. You vote and tip!
After finishing our meal, they have hand wipes for you to clean your hands, and paper towels as well. On the way out, if you’re an absolute fan you could purchase some of their apparel: a hat or T-​shirt.
Definitely stop by if you’re in the area!

Holy cow, that was some awesome tri-​tip.
Pork ribs were very good, and the potato salad, which was a bit fancier than expected with pickles or something else in it– was equaled by the surprisingly well flavored cole slaw, too.
Wait is a bit crazy; we had a decent 30 minute wait that had a bit of a rush after us (probably 40 minute wait?), but there’s just-​barely-​ample seating, a small but clean bathroom, and they have a trio of BBQs loaded with charcoal and wood right out front where Hank can work his masterpieces.
I find most BBQ in California is disappointing, but tri-​tip is a uniquely California thing, and it is damned good here. Price and portions add up to a pretty decent value too, considering the quality.
Well worth a stop if you like BBQ.

So… there I was, heading Northbound on HWY 395 with my wife listening to the final chapters of ‘The Martian’, hungry and resorting to Unilocal for guidance. What to eat? Is there some off the beaten path road to the Promised Land… er ah good food? The Promised Land is a different story for a different day, but on this day, President’s Day 2016, the road wasn’t lonely and the good food was found right on HWY 395 at the Copper Top BBQ in Big Pine, CA. Like all good places, it’s not for everyone, but it just might be a great fit for you.
First things first, your fellow Unilocalers are loving the place, and I’m including myself in the consensus that’s been built about going here.
What’s the first good sign? It’s 11ish and there’s already a line. We had to wait a good 15 minutes just to put our order in, and there was a cool dry wind blowing down from the North scaring off some of the weak I’m sure. While standing in line we were just feet away from three different grills that were all in action. They had Tri-​tip, chicken and ribs all going on, and that made the wait both easier and more painful. Heck, I’d left Palm Desert, Ca. a few hours ago and my oatmeal had long ago left me wanting for more food.
Waiting for our order was also tough, as it seemed like another 15 minutes, and so we’re now into our Copper Top visit for a full half hour, we’ve been tortured and sustained by the sights and smells, and we still haven’t tasted anything…
The Copper Top came through. My wife and I shared the sampler plate, and so we each got a rib, some chicken and a generous portion of the trip tip. The meat on the rib melted in my mouth and tri tip was cooked perfectly, not dry, but moist and full of flavor. The chicken wasn’t bad either as it featured a very sweet brown sugar (I believe) glaze. Our order came with two sides and we chose the chips (Mrs. Vickers Jalapeño) and chili. The chili was very pleasing, and, well, you’ve had the chips before and they are what they are and I enjoy them.
What might be the problem? Some won’t like to be there in the wind, as there is not a lot of relief. They did have a tent set up and many had taken refuge in the tent, there is no indoor seating. My wife and I selected a bench behind the Copper Top and we got along fine there, but it was windy.
There seems to be only one bathroom shared by all. I’m not sure as we didn’t need it, but there was a line and it was busy the entire time we were there.
Do I have any hints for you? Yes, they offer extra BBQ sauce and I’d suggest that you get it. We didn’t and I regretted it as I really enjoyed it. At least one of my fellow Unilocalers didn’t enjoy their sauce, and all I can say is that I did and I might have eaten it like it was a soup if I had extra.
To wrap this up, I’m a fan, and whether or not I stop will always depend on if it’s open and if there’s a line and if I’m in a hurry… oh, heck, I’m stopping.

Food was very tasty! Prices are ok. No seating at all!
We made it to this place on our way back from Mammoth after a weekend of snowboarding. Made it in time for lunch and they were already grilling. The line was already super long and took half hour to get to the front and place our order. It’s really cold and there was only outdoor seating and the wind was super high and so eating our food was extremely uncomfortable! They also don’t have extra plates if you are splitting a half rack of ribs like we did. There’s 1 bathroom in the back of the kitchen and there was a line for that too.
Food tastes good, flavorful and seasoned well. Just really need better seating for the winter months!