Team Rib Factory

Some of the BEST BBQ I have had a quite a while! Their ribs are dry BBQed, but they also have 4 different BBQ sauces that they make themselves! All are delicious, and will satisfy any flavor palette you have.
We had some spareribs, and the trifecta (hot links, pulled pork, bbq chicken). For sides we got the yams, cole slaw, potato salad, and the baked beans. Get the baked beans — they were soooooo good. The ribs were also perfectly cooked with a lot of flavor packed into them.
The service was fantastic. It is a family-​owned business, and they definitely deserve more recognition! The woman that owns this place makes her own lumpia, and when I got there, they were out. I will definitely be going back to try some.
This place is too good for all the hoity toity Walnut Creek restaurants that serve bland overpriced food.

I happened to walk by here on our way to Boudin’s. The smell was too good to pass, so I decided to grab some lunch to go. The staff here is extremely friendly and hospitable. He answered all of my questions regarding the choices and was kind enough to cook french fries if I could wait a bit longer.
The food is mostly fast food style, where it’s available under a heat lamp (think Panda Express). I ordered a pulled pork sandwich with potato salad and fries for about $ 8. The amount they give you in sides is very generous and the sandwich very flavorful. I just wished the fries were crispier. Overall, a very satisfying experience and one place I’ll visit again when I’m in the area.

So I went here on a Thurs night just to grab some dinner. The food was pretty good (I got the sparerib entrée — has 2 sides).
The yams were okay, slightly sweet and not mushy. The green beans were essentially what I recall getting at the lunch line in middle school.
The spareribs, though, were pretty good. I don’t think they were flagrantly ‘amazing’ but definitely not dry or hard. The place didn’t knock my socks off and make me think I should come back.

Great smoky meat. Homemade BBQ sauce in 4 different spice levels are also awesome. BBQ beef sandwich is the best. I like the ribs too because they are marinated for up to 3 days and slow smoked/​cooked over night. Gotta try this place.
CONS: sometimes runs out of items too quickly and leaves me sad and hungry :(

This place is tits and deserves WAY more customers than the bullshit chic restaurants in the area. Their pulled pork was delicious, the yams amazing, baked beans amazing, even the damn lumpia was even amazing.
Better than Bo’s barbecue in Lafayette. I hope this place thrives until they relocate to Concord and then makes a complete killing there.
Service was super friendly, the owner came out the back and offered our party tons of samples.
Prices are fair, food is delicious, service is gracious. GO!

Greasy, fatty, deliciousy goodness that unfortunately does not belong in Walnut Creek’s Broadway Plaza. The food here is cooked by the owner and his wife and is amazing. The hottest sauce they got is not hot enough, but is well balanced between heat and flavor. The ribs fall off the bone and the sides are amazing.
unfortunately they do not have a salad with cottage cheese and a diet water with a slice of diet lemon for the stick women that frequent the plaza; they missed completely when scouting for places to put their business. Concord’s todos santos plaza or Park N Shop would have been a home run.
go here if you want really good decently priced southern food and counting calories is not on your mind at all.

Not even close to your stereotypical mall food! While I agree, this plaza is definitely not a good home for this kind of food, as the people in Walnut Creek really don’t know what good eatin’ is all about!
Located right next to Boudin’s in Broadway Plaza, you can easily miss this place if you don’t go looking for it.
I tried the pulled pork plate with green beans and mac n cheese. The beans were nice and peppery, the mac n cheese a little bland, but I still ate them up. The serving of pulled pork was HUGE and very tangy and flavorful, and I couldn’t finish it, not that my boyfriend didn’t mind helping me with that.
The owner we chatted with was super friendly and told us that they do plan on moving by the end of the year, once their lease is up and relocating to Concord, I think they will do a lot better there than in Walnut Creek.

Not bad for *mall* food.
I got the beef bbq plate and Fred got the pulled pork BBQ plate. Comes with a heaping pile of meat and 2 sides with a piece of toast. They also offer 3 different BBQ sauces of increasing levels of spicy-​ness.
I enjoyed my Beef BBQ plate — the beef was tender and it was a hearty meal. The pulled pork on the other hand was saucy, but too sweet for me. It could have been less saucy — so as to give the patron the option of adding more BBQ sauce of the flavor they prefer.

First visit here — small shop, but clean and casual. The owner, who was serving us was very friendly and helpful. We took our food for take out: spare rigs, pulled pork sandwich, green beans, bbq beans, smoked yams, lumpia.
Pulled pork was great, my sister was a big fan, as were the green beans. I thought the bbq beans were delicious as well. I had their medium hot sauce which was a very nice blend of heat and flavor for me. Lumpia was also tasty tho I have no experience with lumpia to compare it to.
The yams were just ok, as were my spare ribs. I thought they were a little tough for what she advertised. (should have gone with the babyback)
So over all, we were pleased with our meal, definitely not the greatest BBQ i’ve ever had but it satisfied our craving. Tho the prices are a little steep, I’d definitely give them a second try to solidify my opinion.
I’d venture to point out that they seem to be primarily a catering joint, so the store itself may have some issues with maintaining consistency. I could be wrong tho…

Mmm pulled pork.

Mom and dad wanted bbq for their birthday lunch and since Bo’s is closed on Mondays, I went to trusty Unilocal to find some new local bbq.
We were not disappointed! We went in early-​ish, and all wanted to sample most of what they had. The owner was there and lisened to what we wanted — beef and baby back ribs, pulled pork and chicken for my 4 year old as well as some sides to share — then he totally hooked us up! Even through in a hot link for us to try, he was totally reading my mind. We got most of the food a la carte with two small sides: baked beans and yams.
In short, the food was great! The ribs were tender, the pulled pork was not too sweet, the girl devoured the chicken and the link was awesome. The yams were like eating sweet potato pie and my dad had to take home a large side of beans, he loved them so much.
We will absolutely go back — so great to find some local bbq. I hope they find a groove and stay a while, the location is tricky and many fast-​food type places have come and gone.

The mashed yams are addictive good!

Still licking the bbq sauce off my fingers after digging into Team Rib’s Trifecta (which features three kinds of bbq meat … a scoop of pulled pork, a chicken thigh, and a spare rib).
The pulled pork is the best I’ve had, and the chicken thigh made a convert out of «i only eat white meat» me. Yum!
Can’t wait to go back and try the lumpia — the extremely nice owner promises it’s as good as any one can get in the Phillipines.
A caveat: This is NOT a traditional Walnut Creek restaurant. No waiters, no tablecloths, pretty much a «take-​out» counter with a few tables for those who want to eat there. If you are looking for a more traditional dining ‘experience,’ or a cold beer with your meal, you may be disappointed.
But if you are dying for some great bbq, then you’ve come to the right place (once you find it … in the inner promenade of Broadway Plaza, not far from, and across from, Yogurt Park)
TIP: Team Rib has a substantial take-​out menu and catering business. I’m already planning on buying a heap ‘o’ ribs and chicken thighs for the next family gathering, putting them on my own dishes, and telling my adult sons that I slaved over the stove to make them an awesome meal :)

Gayle and I were took a nice stroll through the Pacific Fine Arts Festival in Downtown Walnut Creek today. It was past lunch time and I casually mentioned Tam F.‘s positive review of Team Rib Factory. And knowing that this particular Unilocal family (including Toni M. and Alan L.) knows their BBQ, we decided to give it a try.
Team Rib Factory is hard to find even with an iphone. It’s located close to Yogurt Park, next to Boudin and on the Nordstrom side of Broadway «Lane». Actually, with my spacial direction skills, I pretty much figured the location right away. But alas, we’re in the age of digital superiority and we let the smart phone lead us around by the nose, without thinking for ourselves. At the same time, it was all worth it as Gayle uttered those golden words that a husband loves to hear: Eric, You Were Right!
The Team Rib Factory space is a bit spartan, with counter ordering, basic seating, and only soft drinks available. But who cares if it might be a bit out of place for Broadway Plaza. And after walking past yet another (of many) Asian Fusion Small Plates restaurant in Walnut Creek, sometimes digging into a big portion of BBQ meat is just the ticket.
I ordered a pulled pork sandwich combination, while Gayle chose the Trifecta (chicken, ribs, and pulled pork). Two Sides are included and with soft drinks the total (with tax) came to about $ 22. That may seem a bit pricey, but for the quality and quantity, I thought it was a good value for the money. In fact, Gayle and I figure we have one more meal between us now waiting for us in the refrigerator. And for convenience, the meals come already served in a takeout container.
I thought that Gayle’s rib was a little fatty, but otherwise everything else was superb. Gayle pronounced the chicken thigh as the best she had ever had and at one point threatened to lick the pulled pork side of the plate clean. I felt the same way about the pulled pork and enjoyed mixing and matching the Rib Factory sauces to reach my desired level of spiciness. They also serve home made Lumpias or Filipino egg rolls.
Before we left, we had a nice chat with one of the owners (Keith) who was super nice and gave us a run down of Team Rib Factory’s Bethel Island history, their catering business and Southern roots, and their mix and match flexibility in ordering meat dishes and sides. Gayle and I will certainly be back and we wish these guys success in this location that is well worth the journey.

By pure happenstance, I ended up picking dinner up from here last week after my daughter’s orthodontist appointment. Here is the breakdown:
super nice owners
great pulled pork
good chicken
decent ribs
nice bbq sauce (mild)
daughter loved the spicy sauce called «Oh Hell No»
and finally great banana bread (girl kind=no nuts) which reminded me of Maui!
–They do not have brisket which is a disappointment but maybe they will in the future. It is not fancy dining-​more for a quick lunch or for take out. We liked it better than our recent experience at Phat Matt’s and the last few times we have had Bo’s it has gone way downhill. Is this the epitome of BBQ-(oh hell no), but it is tasty and good.
We will be back and I hope they make it in this location tucked next to Boudin.

My daughter and I tagged along with my boyfriend as he was picking up some shopping for our upcoming trip this summer. As we walked around Broadway Plaza, the three of us could not help but notice the smell of barbecue. Where was it coming from? And should we eat, even though we ate like three-​four hours ago?
We sought out the smells that seemed to entrance us with every step and we found Team Rib Factory, which we DID see before but did not care to pay too much heed too. We browsed around more of the plaza area, before I was manipulated, okay succumbed to the smell and saliva coming out of my mouth, to eat here.
We ordered the Baby Back Ribs with Green Beans and Coleslaw for my daughter and the Pulled Pork Plate with Beans and Potato Salad for me and my love. As we waited I took notice of this place. To be honest it looks like a definite to-​go restaurant. Reminds me of those small Chinese restaurants you’ll find with behind the counter buffet items. And you will find the menu either posted outside the door, in filer form on some of the counters or taped to the glass by their samples of their meals.
The service is decent, but I think I was so hungry that I was just focused on eating. When we got our containers, we dived right in. Everything was delicious. I only got a chance to taste my daughter’s plate near the end because I was so into my Pulled Pork sandwich was absolutely divine. I never had Pulled Pork before and mixing it with the beans was just to die for.
I think one has to be really open-​minded to what barbecue is all about. We all know that we could have better if we grilled it or if we know of our own local flair that can be a genius on the grill. Team Rib may not be spectacular but it sure did meet the quota of hungry patrons who are craving some barbecue.

I was checking the online roster of stores & restaurants at the Broadway Plaza and I was pleasantly surprised when I saw a restaurant called «Team Rib Factory». I checked the 5 reviews on Unilocal and they were all fairly positive so I decided to check it out.
Upon walking in I was surprised to discover that its not a full-​fledged sit-​down restaurant like PF Changs or CPK. Instead its designed more like a fast food restaurant with a just a handful of tables.
Next I was disappointed that they didn’t have any print outs of their menu, nor did they have a large menu sign. Instead everything was printed on 2 sheets of 8.5×11 paper and taped to the glass that shield the pre-​cooked food from the patrons… kind of like what you’d see at a buffet.
I went ahead and ordered a slab of St. Louis style ribs and a barbecue beef meal for my wife. The staff was friendly and one of them allowed me to sample their different sauces. I tried the regular sauce which is a little on the sweet side and then I tried the «regular» hot sauce which had a vicious kick and was entirely too hot and I love spicy hot foods. I was afraid to try the fire hot sauce since my mouth was already on the fire from the «regular» hot.
I waited for around 10 minutes for our food and then took it home. The ribs looked huge and bountiful but I was quickly shocked when I realized that there the ribs were nothing but huge chunks of fat with hardly any meat on them. I don’t know who their supplier is but this place is definitely not investing in the prime cut meats!
I only made my way through 3 ribs before I began to get frustrated trying to pick the meat away from the chunks of fat. I thought to myself that I’ll never order the ribs again but maybe the beef and other meats are good.
My hopes were dashed later when my wife announced that she had given up on her food as well! She said the beef was tough and I noticed that the cuts were very lean which made it taste like rubber.
Sadly we will not go back to this place. Its not nearly as good as Bo’s in Lafayette and its not even worthy of mentioning in the same breath with Everett & Jones in Oakland near Jack London Square.
I was going to give it 1 star for the awful food but I’ll give them 2 stars only because the staff is friendly. Stay clear of the food at this place! Wow…

Here’s the thing. I’m inside the Walnut Creek Broadway Plaza shopping center. Who knew I’d find really good barbecue? This place is well worth the visit. Meat is tender and slowly cooked. Sauces are good. Sides are decent. (Contrary to an earlier review, I loved the beans and the cole slaw). Keith — who I think is the owner is gracious and attentive. Prices are reasonable. Give Keith and his store your business. You won’t regret it. (Note to Bo’s from Lafayette. Go take lessons from this place on how to do barbeque right)

A three star review on Unilocal is always a mixed bag, which can mean anything from the person really liked it to the person despised it with a passion. IMO, a three star review means there are things that work, and things that don’t work, which pretty much sums up Team Rib Factory to a tee.
In theory, I wasn’t expecting much going in. Bay Area BBQ pork is generally disappointing, even the places not located inside shopping mall food courts. The surprise was that their meats aren’t half bad, I’d definitely put their pulled pork near the top of places I’ve tried in Northern California. The meat itself is very tender and moist, which is a major plus. The sauce portion was solid, but not something I think I’ll dream about when I gave the odd erotic dream of bathing in barbecue sauce, but not something I’d scoff at either. They claimed the meat was slow cooked overnight, which I could totally see. They also claimed it was a North Carolina style sauce, which would mean it should have been more of a vinegar flavor and I couldn’t see as much.
The ugly part of it was the side dishes. I had the slaw and the green beans. The slaw was underdressed, and needed more of a vinegary kick to it. The beans were well over cooked, and were a mushy mess with near white bacon slices thrown in. This is where it seemed more like a food court restaurant.
All in all, it could have been better. But it could have been worse too. And it far outpaced my low expectations. I look forward to giving it another try on my next quarterly trip to the mall.

The pulled pork is AMAZING! The ribs and beef are excellent, too! My favorite is the variety of homemade BBQ sauces from sweet to hot, with a couple of mild in between! This is the BEST BBQ in the Bay Area! As good as any from Memphis or Kansas City!