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Jocko's Steak House
Category: Restaurants Steakhouses Steakhouses [Edit]
125 N Thompson AveNipomo, CA 93444
(805) 929-3565
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Dive-y, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
340 reviews for Jocko's Steak House
Review Highlights
"We had a filet mignon and a "large" spencer (a."
(in 44 reviews)
"One week of pure beef bliss on the Central Coast."
(in 34 reviews)
"It's the best Santa Maria style bbq I've ever had."
(in 9 reviews)
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340 reviews in English
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Review from Annette M.
Anaheim, CA
1/31/2012 3 Check-ins Here
This is not a high class joint. It is a dive bar attached to a diner with an awesome barbecue pit. The waitress' name should be Flo or something like that.
Go, order a double cut large spencer (I don't care if you think you can eat it all or not, order the double cut large spencer, medium rare). Your other options will be the dressing on your salad, and choice of baked potato, fries, or rice.
You will get a plate of pickles, pickled peppers, olives, and carrot & celery sticks, saltine crackers, and salsa. Then you'll get your salad, and you'll discover that though you may never have considered it, you really do like roasted beets on your salad (particularly with the ranch dressing).
Then your plate will come, with a steak the size of your head. You'll forget about the potato/rice/fries and the baked beans, and you will fall deeply in love with your steak.
Get a box, take home the rest, and in the morning, stand at your kitchen counter and eat it cold, right out of the box, and think to yourself that this is one of the best breakfasts you've ever eaten. You can even share the leftovers, and probably have some left after that.
(Don't get the ribs. The seasoning is tasty, but ribs need to be cooked slow and low, and they don't do that here, so they're tough. Stick to the spencer.)
Oh, and if it's the weekend - call and make a reservation. And get there on time.
I think the corkage fee is only like $5. -
Review from Peter C.
Claremont, CA
1/31/2012
Heard about this place from a friend and decided to give it a try. Thought I was going to have to dress up but it isn't that type of place! There was a lot of flannel being rocked in there. Anyways, I ordered the LARGE steak sandwich after much pressure from my friends and it was a pretty good size. Don't fool yourself though, it isn't actually a sandwich. The steak "sandwich's" buns consist of 2 small garlic breads with a gigantic steak in between. There is no way you can eat this traditional sandwich style. Knife? Yes. Fork? Yes. You're ready to go. Heads up though, Jocko's DOES NOT provide any type of steak sauce except for A1 so if you like a lot of sauce, tough luck. The flavor of steak stands out on its own and that's all you need. This is also true for the ribs so unless you like ribs sans sauce, i would avoid it. Oh yea, large steak sandwich was $16.
Before the meal, they bring you a basket of assorted crackers and then bring the bread with your meal. Strange.
Would've given this place five-stars but we had a reservation at 7:40 and wasn't seated for almost an hour. Popular place! -
Review from Lindsay A.
Los Angeles, CA
Jocko's! We had been waiting to go here for almost one year! Our expectations were definitely met! Is it weird that we planned our vacation around going to eat here? I don't think so!! After reading reviews, I made sure to call the day before and set a reservation for 7:15. When we got there (we made sure not to eat too much before we went), there was an hour and a half wait so I'm glad we had the reservation! We waited 5 minutes, then were seated! Most of the people there are older and it's not fancy at all. I like the relaxed atmosphere. I felt like I was in the midwest again! The waiters were prompt in taking our order and were knowledgeable about the food. My husband got the Filet Mignon ($31) and I got the Large Spencer ($27) per the waiter's description! The large sounded like a better piece of meat than the small. They brought us some salsa and a tray of picked vegetables, which was a little strange, but good to snack on (Don't get too full before the MEAT!). We also got a large carafe of WINE for $8! My husband drank most of it, which was entertaining. But I digress.
First course was the salad! I recommend the Blue Cheese dressing, it's not too strong and very flavorful. The meat came next! It was cooked perfectly and seasoned well. The baked potato was really good too! Of course, we both couldn't finish but we ate the leftovers the next day and it was still awesome! Finally, after your meal (as if you aren't full enough), you get ICE CREAM! Please get the SPUMONI! It is delicious! Cherry, chocolate, and pistachio. YUMMMMM!!!!!
Definitely worth the drive. I would definitely drive the 3 hours from LA just to eat there and then drive 3 hours home. :) -
Review from Scott M.
Oceano, CA
2/5/2012
Terrible experience. Was made to wait over an hour past reservation while walk ins were seated (yes they waited in the bar for 3 hours but what is the point of a reservation if they are not honored reasonably close to the time). Hostess was not very helpful in rectifying the issue. The food and wait staff were good, however I will not be coming back, food wasn't worth the hassle.
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Review from Melanie A.
Palm Bay, FL
2/6/2012
I was in town for work and this was one of the places my coworkers pumped up as the best thing ever. I was quite disappointed. The atmosphere and the food were nothing special. I will add that, because I was not in the mood for a steak the size of my head, which is all they seemed to offer, I ordered the halibut. It was OK, the rest of the food was meh. And the place itself, just bad. I hope one day they use some of their profits to at least upgrade the restrooms and furnishings a little. If I have to go back to the area in the future, I'll be skipping Jocko's.
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Review from Christina G.
Los Angeles, CA
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Such a great value. First of all, I'd recommend the Spencer steak-- tall thick and generous and SO good rare. Not overly salted/peppered/seasoned. Once seated, they serve baskets of pickled vegetables/ jalapenos/ carrots/ celery/ olives... also! Saltine crackers with a generous helping of salsa. The meal came with a side salad and 1 slice of beet. Also, a basket of garlic bread that was crisped and toasted on BOTH sides. Also, sides of homemade baked beans. Also, a choice of french fries which overflow on the plate or baked potato. The food keeps on coming!!! Finish off with your choice of ice cream (vanilla, rainbow sherbet, or spumoni). Keep on eating until you're stuffed, don't ever stop!!!
If you peek out the window you can see the giant grills were millions of steak are constantly being laid and grilled... smells like a yummy campground / campfire atmosphere / relaxed / smokey / chill / laid back / outdoorsy / non-stuck up!!
There's a fee for splitting meals, around $3 so honestly just get your own!! Who wants to share all the abundant sides anyways?? -
Review from Russell Q.
Sunnyvale, CA
1/3/2012
Like the terminator said: I'll be back.
Set in the small rustic town of Nipomo, Jocko's is a local throwback to a simpler time where the priority is oak grilled steak. The ambience is that of a modest cafeteria from the 1960s. The appetizers wouldn't know the word "fresh" even with binoculars, unless you consider canned vegetables (pickles, peppers and olives) and individual packets of saltine crackers a fresh take on a meal eaten on a stagecoach when going out west. The menu hasn't changed much over the decades.
But I'm dithering on the minutiae. The "cork fee" is a mere $5 and two bottles I proffered are opened immediately. (An Opolo Grenache which was an oddly pale rose color with very ripe red fruit, and the Beringer 2009 Knights Valley Cab Sauv.)
The salad is pure 60's. A small chopped salad of iceberg with a single beet slice. The ranch and blue cheese dressings are thick and creamy and very good.
The sweetbreads were next and are tasty but some are a tad tough. As in, "hitch them two wagons together" tough. And there's toasted bread that comes with generous serving of sweetbreads.
I order the most expensive meal, the $31 filet with fries. Others get the pork chop at $18 or the beef ribs at $16. Oh, the fries are terrible. Limper and greasier than In-N-Out fries. (Somewhere in there, I had a bottle of the Dona Paula 2009 Mendoza Malbec opened and it dueled the cab for wine of the night.)
The pork chop is a massive inch thick cut. My wife knows she won't finish this from the get go. But the real problem is that there are 2 (two, as in one and her identical twin) on her plate. As in two pounds of pork. They are cooked to perfection. Slightly smoky and still quite juicy. Magnificent.
My filet looks like the palm of an NFL lineman. They have cut it to have various stubs or knobs to better gather flavor during the grilling. It is cooked to perfection. It is the size of a large spencer (rib eye) but this is filet. One of the best steaks I have had. Period.
There was so much left over food, aka meat, we had it for brunch the next day and we still could not finish it.
Soooooo ambience, menu originality, blah blah: 3 stars.
Meat quality: 5 stars
Corkage fee: 5 stars
Value: 6 stars -
Review from SoCal Reporte r.
Temecula, CA
1/25/2012
Enjoyed the small Spencer, although it was more fatty and gristley than I expected. It was not busy the Monday night we went, and our large group was seated at the time we had reserved. The fries were soft and not hot, likewise the bread, and there was a long wait for our food, both for the first course, salad, and everything that was served afterwards. The prices are reasonable. Based on the slow service and the not-exactly-great-for-conversation-during-the-long -wait atmosphere, I'm not sure I'd go back.
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Review from David C.
Arcadia, CA
12/19/2011
Everything about this place is little off to me but its alright if you can get over it. The first thing are the little packets of saltine crackers with the salsa. It made little sense to me. Also, it is quite unappetizing when you see just a large bucket of salsa sitting in the serving station.
Next they served a metal tray consisting of some sort of vegetables. My table was confused what to do with the place. But i must say the honey pickles were pretty good.
The salad they serve is just some some basic cabbage drenched in dressing. It was blehh.
However, the redeeming part was the steak itself. I ordered the baby spencer, and it was a perfectly cooked piece of meat.
For dessert, I got myself some rocky road.
The best part of the meal is that it was only $21 before tax and tip for steak which i must say is a steal. However, the service is not the best and the atmosphere is lacking. -
Review from Nancy H.
Emeryville, CA
12/29/2011
Coming up the 101 on the way to Monterey, the Man announces he is in the mood for steak and that he will gladly treat us to steak lunch.
*Who am I to deny a free meal?!*
And thank goodness for GPS, iPhone and Yelp! We jumped off the freeway within 2 miles. There was no wait and we sat our selves. It's definitely a local place and it's nothing fancy. But the reviews pushed us right in to enjoy a meal.
The hubs had a grilled steak dinner which was huge and fantastic (per his dribble through a full mouth of dead cow). I had the steak salad, medium rare.. Which was more like a big steak on a bed of lettuce.. Dressing to the side. Kid had a burger, also huge.
Great steak, done to perfection and a nice cozy atmosphere. Will definitely return again if we are in the neighborhood. Nippomo, California... you rawk on with your bad ass steaks :)
Oh, do skip coffee.. It was a bit stale/burnt. Parking out in back, right off the 101. -
Review from Gantsa Maven Z.
Morro Bay, CA
1/20/2012
It does not live up to the hype...not even close. A cheesy looking place with a fairly boring menu and bland to average tasting steaks. I'd compare this place to a Sizzler but I haven't been to a Sizzler in probably 25 years. Shaw's in Santa Maria is so much better there's no comparison.
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Review from Kevin F.
Van Nuys, CA
12/2/2011
I'm one of those people who 'like' steak, but don't 'love it'.
That being said, I would eat a Jocko's steak as my last meal before being executed.
Completely worth the 6 hour round-trip. -
Review from SLO L.
San Luis Obispo, CA
11/7/2011
You go to a place like this for one reason and one reason only- you want the finest grilled steak money can buy.
That's all this place cares about, and it delivers them without pretense or apology.
Ambiance?
None, unless you have a soft spot for Korean War era cinderblock bunkers and rickety picnic tables.
Vegetarian?
Hope you like plain iceberg lettuce with a sliced canned beet on top.
Drinks?
They've got you covered with a great old school bar area.
Meat?
Oh, yes.
That's what the stars are for. -
Review from Tiffany P.
Chino, CA
11/16/2011
Jocko's is a great steakhouse and a must whether you're traveling up or down the Coast!
The Spencer was juicy and cooked perfectly medium rare. You get a full course meal here....iceberg lettuce salad, your main course and ice cream, and/or coffee for dessert. They also have saltine crackers laying around the table... which is a little odd. The portions are so generous that you'll likely have leftovers... or at least unbutton your pants if you can finish your plate.
The restaurant/decor is not what you would expect of a steakhouse, with picnic-like tables and its hole in the wall location. But aside from that, who cares, the food is fantastic and will be worth your while.
Beware, you may leave Jocko's in a food coma. We had a hard time driving home 'cause we were so full. -
Review from Monkey T.
Los Angeles, CA
11/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Historic place but nothing to write home about.
Fun bread sticks and relish. The entrees are mediocre. The ambiance is just strange. -
Review from Melorie C.
Glendale, CA
11/9/2011
Despite this place looking like a "hole in the wall", I wasn't disappointed at the experience here. My friends highly referred us to this restaurant and told us it would be worth the 3-hour drive. We decided to take a family trip there and we're glad we did.
My eyes opened really wide when the pork chops we ordered came to our table. It was 2 thick slabs of pork chops that were dense, tender, and so tasty! And for the price, a grand slam! So worth every penny; surprisingly, not pricey at all. You'd think for the portion you get you'd pay at least $40, but you pay like half the price. I sampled my friend's sirloin steak and that was delicious too.
I would definitely make a trip there again! -
Review from andy p.
Santa Maria, CA
1/13/2012
An honest meal at an honest price
First off let me say this is NOT a place you go if your looking for fake western chotchkies and animal heads on the walls...no, this is the real deal, not fancy or having "airs". It is a place to go if you want a real ranch style meal, the type of place that a lot of other "famous" central coast steak joints used to be...until the wine trail came through. Jockos remains true it is beginnings and I have a lot of respect for that, yes the ambiance is not the most elegant but its not suppose to be.
Ok enough of that, lets get to the food...The steaks are really good, not Ruth's Chis or Peter Luger quality but good and huge more a slab than a "steak", they are known for their Spencer which is a rib eye but I find it somewhat tough, I prefer the top sirloin. And the ribs are some of the beat around super meaty! The beans are good, but not super great, the bread is also good, but I wish it was grilled over the oak pit, the salsa is some of the best I have had, its the closest thing to the salsa you would get at the old parking lot BBQ's that used to line Broadway on the weekends in Santa Maria years ago...I really miss those. All in all if what your looking for is an awsome steak dinner go here, lunch is also really good try the Stall BBQ...and the BBQ beef on Sundays is an absolute steal.
Expect a wait for dinner, best thing to do is get there early if you can and make a reservation. They have an ok wine list, but if your into that, bring your own bottle it's only a $5 corkage fee... -
Review from brian k.
Santa Cruz, CA
11/3/2011
An Awesome Steak-
Hands down one of the best steaks I have ever had. Their big filet is absolutely phenomenal.
I have been to some pretty exotic steak places all around the world from Boston, to Texas, to Singapore etc... Jockos can give any top end restaurant a run for their money in terms of a great meal.
Don't spend your time getting ready. This place is about as casual as they come. Not your typical steak house. This is more like your local hole in the wall bar that happens to make one of the best steaks in the continental united states.
Just go there- -
Review from Mark H.
San Diego, CA
11/25/2011
Great steak, the best salsa I've had, very unique, almost no heat and very tasty.
Now for the part I didn't like. The view to the patio where they cook was unappetizing as it was so grease covered I wondered how they passed fire inspection.
The outside walls dripped of fat, even the rafters were covered.
The steak was perfect and the bread was delicious.
The waiter and bus boy were obviously not well trained and were not professional at all. They seemed as if they were right off the farm and filling in or something.
Go for food, not ambiance. -
Review from Steph S.
Vancouver, WA
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ok this is one of the BEST traditional steak houses in the area. Steaks, ribs and chicken are all awesome. Very simple venue but excellent food...and a very good value. Most dinners come with a variety of side dishes, including dessert so come Hungary.
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Review from Sam P.
9/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
On an epic motorcycle ride up the California coast, we were given a tip for dinner at Jocko's in Nipomo. I've never heard of this little town in my life. Sounds like a Japanese anime character.
The place is packed with old and fat people. Apparently, the customers have been going here for a long time and they eat a lot. The hostess at Jockos tells us that it's a 2.5 hour wait for a table. We decide to get an order to go and just eat in the bar area. We waited in the bar and had Bud Light. I spilled my beer on the carpet and I immediately went up to the bar and apologized and asked the bartender for a towel to wipe it up. With a big smile she said, "Where did you spill it, on the carpet? That's okay, don't worry about it. It wasn't your fault; it was the table's fault." And she handed me a new beer. Wow.
We happen to meet the owner, Sandy. She is overly friendly and invites us to see the grill where they cook the meat. It's huge. You could cook three people on it. She explains that her husband, who has passed away, opened the restaurant 57 years ago on highway 101, then a street. In the 1950's, they built the freeway 101 but the restaurant remained. When they first opened the restaurant, the butchers changed the name of the Spencer cut to a rib eye steak, but Jocko's kept the original name of the Spencer cut and it was their specialty.
Sandy explained that Nipomo is in a farming area with mostly avocados and lemons now. The janitor used to make a big pot of coffee and set out some snacks for the farm workers at 4:00 am and leave the back door unlocked. The farm workers would come in, have coffee and snacks, and leave some change.
We ask the waitress how much longer it will take to get our steaks. She apologizes profusely for the wait and brings us more beer for free! The steaks finally came and they made a table for us in the hallway next to the kitchen. The steaks were glorious. I shared the oversized Spencer and my other friend ate a New York steak. The steaks and the sides were delicious, but you're not going to be able to finish all the food they give you. Sandy came to chit chat with us some more. She made us feel special without singling us out. The waitress came to talk to us too and told us about life in the small town.
A huge steak with salad, beans, potato is only $27. A comparable steak would be $45 without the sides at any other restaurant. What a find!!! -
Review from Meg N.
San Luis Obispo, CA
1/28/2012
True Santa Maria steak house. Service took a bit longer than I would have liked (despite the fact that we ordered our food in advance). I like the pre appetizer of pickles and veggies. I got the salad with ranch which was good and ordered the turkey dinner as the main course. The mashed potatoes and stuffing were both delicious but the turkey was dry and there wasnt enough gravy to keep it moist. Had my turkey not been dry, I would have enjoyed this experience much more.
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Review from Veronica T.
San Luis Obispo, CA
10/29/2011 3 Check-ins Here
First time here:
Loved:
1. Large Spencer with french fries. Medium rare was perfect, juicy with great meat flavor explosions - no sauce needed.
2. Friendly service
3. $5 corkage fee
4. Very informal, you can enjoy a great steak without a pretentious ambiance
Improvements:
1. Low sodium dietary needs- be warned about the seasoning for the ribs it is on the salty side. You can ask for low or no seasoning. Wish I would have known the ribs are cooked with so much salt before I ordered.
2. I think the dining rooms are very low lit..perhaps a bit more light to see down the table. -
Review from Alicia G.
San Luis Obispo, CA
12/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
LOVE jocko's!! You might be surprised but my favorite thing here is the crab legs. Seriously huge and always great. Their beef ribs are also delectable, I like that they are salty. Their lunches here are also amazing...their small steak sandwich is anything but small and their spaghetti and raviolis are REALLY freaking good. Don't go to Jockos if you are looking for fancy cause that is not what you are going to find. But if you want good food in large amounts GO! But be prepared to wait even if you have reservations.
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Review from Ann P.
Signal Hill, CA
12/31/2011
This is the place that we looking forward to whenever we come to this area. Everyone here talk about specer steak but nobody mention about lamb. If you love lamb you must order the lamb chop. It is the best lamb chop I ever had. The cut was so thick and juicy.When our server put the plate on the table, I thought she gave us a filet migon. The lamb was so tender and cook perfect. I will definately order the lamb everytime we come here.
We also oder large specer steak but this time they over season our steak and the steak was too salty but the steak was tender.
Pistachio ice cream was so good. There were a lot of nut in it.
The only compliant I would have is their restroom. It is kind of run down and dirty. -
Review from Nicole U.
9/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
The steak might have been amazing but I can't get past the ambiance of this place.
Maybe I am being snobby but sitting down at a rickety table and then dragging my foot through a previous diners baked potato is really gross. I understand this place isn't upscale but you should not leave a restaurant feeling dirty. This restaurant is a complete dive bar serving perfectly seasoned and cooked steaks.
Maybe a mop or a vacuum? please. -
Review from Kari S.
Visalia, CA
9/22/2011
So confused as to how this place has so many great reviews. We evidently went on the worst off-night ever.
Appetizers are packets of saltine crackers and a cup of salsa. Huh? Oh and then a tray with sweet pickles and salad peppers. So confused.
My friend and I ordered a New York steakto share, and her boyfriend ordered the large rib-eye steak.
Side salads were ranch soup with a little lettuce, they were inedible due to the extreme amount of dressing.
After 40 more minutes... steaks come.
We cut into our New York (ordered medium) to split it, and it bleeds all over the plate. COLD in the center, absolutely dripping blood. DIsgusting. Her bf cuts into the rib-eye (ordered medium) and it was somewhere between medium well and well done, as there was a slight tinge of pink somewhere in the very center.
HUH?? When you're specialty is steaks, how do you mess it up this badly???
We asked to have our New York grilled more, while her bf dealt with his overdone hunk of meat. We got it back 20 minutes later, and it was better. The steaks had a good flavor, but it was evidently a total crapshoot as to how your steak is cooked. BLEH.
Service was crap too, after bringing us our check, server asks us, "Oh, did you guys want some ice cream?" I guess that's the "included dessert," We got a scoop of rocky road, it was hands down the best thing I ate in that restaurant. Sad.
I'm all for dive restaurants that end up having delicious food, but this was not one of them for us. -
Review from Jason H.
San Luis Obispo, CA
9/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Believe the hype!
After hearing about how amazing this place is, I finally made the trek to Nipomo after living in SLO for over 10 years. Why oh why did I wait so long?!
The other reviewers are right; the decor is very "dive" like and the waiting will test your patience. I made a reservation for 6:15 on a Sunday night, and we didn't get seated till 6:35. But it's ok, the wait was worth it. And I knew to expect this beforehand, so I was both mentally and spiritually prepared. We got a drink at the bar while we waited. The drinks are stiff! I like!
Once we sat down, we had crackers and bread sticks with salsa waiting for us. Yea, you read that right. Weird, but it works! Then we were handed a plate of pickles, carrots, green onions, peppercini's, olives, etc. Again, weird, but good. Then we got our salads. I had mine with ranch, and even the ranch was crazy good! I felt my heart slow while I ate it, but I didn't mind.
There was 7 of us and we brought 2 bottles of wine because the corkage fee is ONLY $5!
5 of us ordered the Spencer steak (large, of course) and 2 got ribs. The prices are reasonable to say the least, the large Spencer is only $27! I ordered mine medium and it was cooked too perfection! Nice sear on the outside and pink in the middle. I cut into it and took my first bite. HCTSWG! That's: Holy Cow, That Steak Was Great! Seasoned with just salt and pepper, it was perfect. The flavor was phenomenal. It went perfect with the red wine we brought. I also tried a rib, and be warned, it is a bit salty, but damn, salty goodness!!! Not as tender and fall-of-the-bone as I've had, but the pure meat flavor can't be beat! Our dinner also came with bread and beans, not like it needed it because the steak and fries I had was overflowing off the plate.
Each dinner came with ice cream and I got the spumoni. Again, really good! Our waiter was very helpful, he tended to all our needs and gave great recommendations. He even waived our 2 corkcage fees! Sure, it's only a $10 saving, but the thought was what counted. 7 out of 7 of us left ridiculously full and with leftovers. I had about 60% of my steak left.
I will most definitely be back to try the lamb (which the waiter recommended) and other items on this expansive menu.
If you are a lover of steak and BBQ'd meat, you owe it to yourself to come here! Don't worry about the wait or the decor, it's all about the meat! (that's what she said) -
Review from greg f.
Camarillo, CA
2/2/2012
There's probably nothing new in my review but this place is so damn good it deserves the praise. I've been there three times and it's a 100 miles away. That's a long drive just for dinner, but there's so many places to go and things to do while you're there or on the way so it makes for a fantastic outing. It's not a classy place but in a way that's a feature. It's as real as it gets, from the people to the facility to the food. The steaks and other BBQ that we've had are as good as you get in any high priced fancy joint. Some of the accompaniments that are included in the price aren't nearly in the same class as the BBQ, but it's all plenty good enough or better and all in all is one of the best meals you'll get anywhere at any price. And the price... Unbelievable value!!! They could easily charge $10 or $20 more for their dinners but they don't. Kind of telling about the kind of people the management is. On top of all this the employees are downright friendly people. That's Jocko's, my new favorite restaurant. Be sure to try the Pistachio ice cream for your dessert choice and is included with the meal.
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Review from Michael B.
Redondo Beach, CA
8/21/2011
Jocko's is one of those places that makes for a good judge of character. Which is to say if you're the kind of person who expects a 'dining experience' and you apply that standard, I don't want to introduce you to my mother. Jocko's is the kind of place you go to when you're good and hungry and you want to treat your friends to a first class steak - not if you're trying to impress people with your savoir faire. So once again I have to come out swinging at the dainty people who start talking about how they weren't treated like royalty. Jeez. Go to Chateau Marmont, princess.
Jocko's is odd because it's just off the highway and is just in the style of a legendary truckstop with perfect meats and pies, except it's more a family style restaurant and expanded biker bar, expanded. In other words, Jocko's is too big for its britches but holds up with good old American grit.
I happened to be in the joint with a third generation rancher from up the road who has got his brand on the wall. If you didn't notice it when you came in, there are real local brands here, and he pointed out the spot where you can plug yours in on a day it's not busy and make your mark. (Cattle brands are electric these days) . So now you get it. This is a steak house for people who grow beef, and you should get the flavor of the ag folks who come in and monkey 'round.
One of the fine cues that you're in a restaurant where they take pride is when your water boy can top off your glass from a foot above table level without picking up your glass or spilling a drop. Then when they serve a table of 11 clockwise within 2 minutes of the first entree hitting the table, you know notice something like perfectionism is going on. Perfectionism as opposed to professionalism. (Professionals do a good job, smile, shake your hand, give you a business card, and try to make sure you're satisfied. Perfectionists do an excellent job and let the work speak for itself). My New York Strip was perfect. Also, fine props go to the pickle plate and a perfectly satisfying green salad in a bowl the chunky bleu cheese dressing.
So here's where I say my little thing. Remember that burger joint in the Ayn Rand book where the people smoked dollar cigarettes? That's the kind of attitude people here have about the food, drinks and service. Jocko's is a perfect unspoiled American roadside restaurant - perfect for unspoiled Americans. -
Review from Patrick Z.
Concord, CA
9/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here for lunch today. I got the steak sandwich. Wow. That was a great sandwich.
This place is always great. It is a regular stop. Never been disappointed with the quality and taste of the food. -
Review from Aaron P.
Bakersfield, CA
11/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Go for dinner, not for lunch. Order the steak sandwich, thank me later. That's really all you need to know.
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Review from Robin G.
San Mateo, CA
9/6/2011
If you leave this place hungry, its your own fault. Incredible cuts of
meat, cooked perfectly every time. Jocko's is the gem of the central
coast and well worth the trip. -
Review from Ronald T.
Los Angeles, CA
8/7/2011
What can I say about jocko's it is by far the best steak that I have ever had. Put it to you this way the rib eye (Large Spencer) made the rib eye I had at Ruth Chris seem like a $10 Denny's steak. Ok maybe that was harsh but the jocko's steak was superior. It had less fat, was more tender and was fresher. The prices are very cheap by steak house standards the large ribeye is $27 and the priciest cut was a $31 filet mignon. Service is good the waitresses are friendly. The bus boys are brutal and have a I don't give a F attitude but it doesn't matter I'm not there for them. If you are in the area you owe it to yourself to visit jockos. Even if you don't plan to go thru there find an excuse and go there. Be advised the wait is long but it is worth it!!!
Also ribeye tacos made from left overs are to die for! -
Review from Arleena K.
Nipomo, CA
8/23/2011
Food is great! I wont deny that :P
but, at the price you must pay by literally sitting in a sardine can to eat is just not worth it to me
Tip- go during lunch hours and during the week. Weekends are a complete nightmare-and reservations will not get you a table in 5 minutes expect to wait -
Review from Kyle K.
Ridgecrest, CA
8/10/2011
Great place. Perfect Steaks.
RESERVATIONS!! Dont try and come in and expect a table in 5 mins without a reservation. Probably will not get seated on time with reservation. But well worth the wait. Or just phone in a order to go if you can. If you do have to wait, wait it out in the bar. Nice Stiff drinks to pass the time.
As for the food , you cant get any better steak if you ask me. I always get the Little Spencer, which comes with beans, bread and pototoe, and salad and dessert. Wife had the Filet, a 18 ounce Filet!
Service is a little slow but not bad when I have been there. But it is always slammed. -
Review from Theodore O.
Pacifica, CA
7/11/2011
My dad took me here and knew the trick. "They'll tell us we'll have to wait a few hours, but they always serve you at around 8:30."
So we hit up the bar and got some drinks and waited. and waited some more....and got a little buzzed....and then we were finally seated. My dad ordered a filet rare and I ordered a New York Strip medium. Both steaks were huge, tasty, juicy and to die for...but I think I actually liked his filet better, even though I'm not a big fan of rare - that steak had a perfect black sear on the outside with a red middle where mine had a constant medium cook throughout the whole steak.
I'd love to come back to Jocko's on my next SLO visit - I'll just be prepared to wait for the greatness. -
Review from Chris U.
Visalia, CA
7/4/2011
Ginormous steaks at a great price....that says a lot and says so little at the same time.
A friend who went to school in the area said we must go there as she had gone twice a month while living there. Called to get a reservation and the earliest time was 9:45 or come in and maybe wait 3 hours......hmmm ok guess the reso is the way to go. So after getting there at 9:30 told they were about 45 minutes behind - which is the par for this place based on anything you read. We went into the bar to grab a drink while waiting - from the looks of the inside I was expecting a rude bartender but they were friendly (maybe 'cause I ordered a Bud instead of some frilly drink??).
When we got seated, you could tell this is a place you come to eat and not to worry about the atmosphere and lack of frills. The chairs we sat in bore a striking resemblance to old outdoor furniture my grandparents had but the divier the better! After some debating, all 4 of us in our group decided to get our own dinners (if you are not a big eater you better get the split plates for sure!).
I ordered the Small Spencer Steak dinner (small comes in a meager 15 oz portion....enough to kill a small child). Before the meal comes we were provided with a rather eclectic bread/app combo. There was a basket with individually wrapped crackers and breadsticks....the bowl with the butter also had half and half - huh? Oh and if you didn't want to dip in the butter there was a bowl of salsa because as we all know breadsticks and salsa is a standard everywhere!? There was also a dish with carrot sticks, celery sticks, green onions, pepperoncinis, sweet Italian peppers and to bring it all together dill pickle chips. Suffice it say, I was getting worried.
The dinners come with a small house salad to start...you basic old style bowl of lettuce with a slice of canned beet (is it the 80's gain already?) on top. You get your choice of dressing and I went blu cheese....still trying to find the cheese part of it so if you eat there and find it let me know! No croutons, no frills, and if you want pepper grab the shaker yourself.
Man, I like good steaks and after what I heard I was excited, now based on what I had seen I was worried. But then, as though the staff had a moment of clarity in an otherwise strange acid trip, my main course arrived. The Small Spencer steak (I don't know this cut and like a fool, forgot to ask what it was) showed up as a massive juicy flavorful hunk of meat. I asked for medium rare and it was cooked properly. The seasoning was basic salt and pepper but it had a great sear and their aging was correct. I had a baked potato with the fixings which was cooked properly and good. The plate didn't dress itself up...it knew what it was and what it was there for - a hunk of meat and potato, not a hint of vegetable or color near it, taunting me to eat it if I dare. And dare I did! I was the only one at the table who finished! Ahh, it was so good and worth it!
The meal was finished with a bowl of ice cream...I went with the rainbow sherbet as it seemed to fit with the theme. I didn't have coffee but a companion asked for a cup to go....which was provided in a styrofoam bowl with plastic lid you would get soup in. I have no idea how she drank it in the car but by this time nothing shocked me.
In all, if you want a big ass, well cooked steak go to Jacko's. My meal was $21 and also included baked beans and garlic bread (which I couldn't eat or else my gut would have exploded). If you want fancy, don't go. If you want fast, don't go. If you are a vegetarian, don't go (the mounted deer heads everywhere may creep you out). If you want to feel like a caveman, then go!!!!Listed in: Traveling
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Review from Steven P.
It's better to go for dinner, but it's going to be packed any day of the week.
Worth the wait!!! You're going to have to trust me on this one. Especially when 45 minutes later, with a reservation, you're convinced the hostess has forgotten about you.
Why is it worth the wait? THIS is the best place for steak on the central coast. The other reviews ring true - I expect a long wait, but I expect great food every time. Forget AJ Spurs and McClintocks because you get your money's worth at Jocko's. You'll pay $30 - $40 for an "okay" steak at the other places around here.
Go for the Spencer during dinnertime. The best thing on the lunch is SURPRISE - the only lunch steak on the menu.Listed in: Must-Do on the Central Coast
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Review from Jordan W.
Santa Maria, CA
8/9/2011
A little known gem just off the 101 in Nipomo. This restaurant serves up great food. I recommend the fried chicken. With your meal you also get a salad, garlic bread, a side, and dessert. Great food at a really great price. And a carafe of red wine is only $8.
You definitely will want to make reservations ahead of time, otherwise you may end up waiting 2 hours.
What I like less about this restaurant is that there is virtually no waiting area inside. So when you have to wait for your table you have to go outside. The service can also sometimes be slow. I think this is due to the servers having to manage so many courses for many different tables, sometimes for large groups. But still, this is a place for a leisurely meal - definitely not a place to go if you're on a schedule.
