California > Coalinga: Harris Ranch Express BBQ


 
Chris Allingham

Chris Allingham

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Harris Ranch Express BBQ
24553 W Dorris Ave (Interstate 5, exit 334)
Coalinga, CA 93210

Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant is a popular stopping off point along Interstate 5 during long road trips between Northern and Southern California. There's a long history of the Harris family and this land going back over 100 years, and they are well known for Harris Ranch beef that is popular in the Western United States (although that part of their business was sold in 2018). The inn and restaurant opened in 1977, and sometime around 2018 they opened a fast casual dining option called Harris Ranch Express BBQ.

They cook on a 25-foot long pit in the parking lot and sell inside at a food counter in the corner of the gas station convenience store. They smoke tri-tip, brisket, pork butt, chicken, pork ribs, beef ribs, and hot dogs. They sell full meals with sides and sandwiches, plus salads and chili.

Mrs. TVWB got the Brisket & Cheddar sandwich on a brioche bun--she absolutely loved everything about this sandwich, piled high with moist, tender brisket. It had a big section of fat in it which she really liked...I would have eaten around it. I got the tri-tip sandwich on French roll--it contained a generous portion of meat that tasted good, but sliced too thick for my liking which made it hard to eat (see last photo below). There was a choice of mild or spicy sauce. I had mild on my sammie, but I tried some spicy on the side and it didn't seem very spicy. I also didn't get much smoke flavor on the meat...if it was there, it was very subtle. Perhaps the sauce covered it up.

T'was not cheap. Brisket & Cheddar was $14.45, tri-tip was $13.45. By the time we added a bag of Fritos, a cookie, two soft drinks, tax and tip, our total was just shy of $39.

We don't often stop at Harris Ranch, on long drives our rest stops tend to fall before or after their location. But if given the chance, I think we'd go back again. I know Mrs. TVWB would; I would either switch to the brisket sammie or ask for thinly sliced tri-tip.

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great write up and review. thank you!

we'll have to add it to out stops when we can smell it commin up on the 5 (locals will relate to knowing when you're near Harris Ranch on the 5)

were such losers, as we always hit In N Out at Kettlemen City, and gas at Lost Hills. sometimes a stop at the big plaza before the Grapvine too.

hopefully your drive was uneventful and enjoyable.
 
Brett-EDH said:
were such losers, as we always hit In N Out at Kettlemen City, and gas at Lost Hills. sometimes a stop at the big plaza before the Grapvine too.
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Driving south, we're usually stopping at Chevron/McDonald's in Firebaugh for a bathroom break at the 2 hour mark, then at In-N-Out Burger in Lebec just before The Grapevine at the 4 hour 15 minute mark. Then over The Grapevine and on to wherever...
 
Chris Allingham said:
Driving south, we're usually stopping at Chevron/McDonald's in Firebaugh for a bathroom break at the 2 hour mark, then at In-N-Out Burger in Lebec just before The Grapevine at the 4 hour 15 minute mark. Then over The Grapevine and on to wherever...
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i think you're reinspring me to do a drive down to Paso Robles for central coast wine tasting. and maybe a stop into Santa Maria and hit up some OG TT stands. covid really messed up our travelling in-state. we need to reconnect and visit more of the place we love and find new places to enjoy. thanks!
 
That place looks awesome! My next trip to CA will likely be to the Bay Area... since it will be a work trip, I don't really see myself making it down to Coalinga.... most of my customers are around LA or Bay area or Bakersfield..

I'll be sure to ask for some recommendations before I head out west again. Especially interested in some places that specialize in Tri Tip
 
John K BBQ said:
That place looks awesome! My next trip to CA will likely be to the Bay Area... since it will be a work trip, I don't really see myself making it down to Coalinga.... most of my customers are around LA or Bay area or Bakersfield..

I'll be sure to ask for some recommendations before I head out west again. Especially interested in some places that specialize in Tri Tip
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don't cheat yourself. try these: https://www.yelp.com/biz/red-tacos-rey-de-la-birria-buena-park
 
I've loved the food at Harris Ranch for decades. We first started going there around the early 80s is my fading memory, around the time they had a big earthquake there. There was just the small restaurant at that time...the section where they now serve breakfast and lunch. None of the part where the store and formal dining was there. There was no hotel/motel. Just a small airstrip and dirt parking for the planes.

Our favorite was the corned beef hash and eggs breakfast. My late airplane partner would always say: "they put the towel around the basket of biscuits to keep them from floating away". Those are some light biscuits! We'd fly whatever planes we owned at the time. It's right at about 200 miles north of LA. My wife got her first taste of their food in the mid 80s when we flew up there. It seems like sometime in the late 80s they started expanding and built a small motel section, expanded the restaurant with the formal dining area and built the gas station. It continued to grow and became a full hotel resort style place. We've stayed at the hotel and eaten at that restaurant more times than I can recall. The food is always great. The gas station BBQ came along sometime which I can't recall. We've taken some to-go and eaten on the patio there a few times.

For you Tesla owners, I think they were one of the first places between SF and LA to get a Tesla charging station. Last time I was there in the late summer of 2023, they were building a huge charging station.

If you're looking for some great Santa Maria BBQ, stop in at the gas station. The serving hours are limited, so check online. The main restaurant hours are 7 days, early morning and well into the night. The hotel is a nice place and good place halfway between the SF bay and LA.
 
Been stopping there since highway five opened. Kids loved stop-ins there. If I remember, they were one of the first businesses along the 5 stretch between the Bay Area and the grapevine. Wife had family in Hollywood area.

Only go that way now when I have to…
 
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