Bludso's BBQ
Bludso's BBQ is a privately held, founder-owned Texas-style barbecue chain operating three Los Angeles locations, founded in 2008 by pitmaster Kevin Bludso. Revenue is generated through dine-in service, takeout and delivery, catering, nationwide mail-order shipping, branded merchandise, and a loyalty program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Bludso's BBQ does
Bludso's BBQ is a privately held, founder-owned Texas-style barbecue restaurant chain founded in 2008 by pitmaster Kevin Bludso. The company currently operates three locations in the greater Los Angeles market: a flagship dine-in restaurant on La Brea Avenue, a Santa Monica location opened in 2023, and a Van Nuys takeout and delivery-only outlet opened in 2024. The company serves individual consumers seeking dine-in barbecue, families, corporate-event clients via its catering program, and nationwide direct-to-consumer buyers purchasing mail-order BBQ, sauces, rubs, and branded merchandise.
Bludso's BBQ firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bludso's BBQ
- Legal name
- Bludso's BBQ
- Website
- https://bludsosbbq.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bludso's BBQ is a privately held, founder-owned Texas-style barbecue chain operating three Los Angeles locations, founded in 2008 by pitmaster Kevin Bludso. Revenue is generated through dine-in service, takeout and delivery, catering, nationwide mail-order shipping, branded merchandise, and a loyalty program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bludso's BBQ industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Barbecue Restaurants
- NAICS
- Full-Service Restaurants (722511)
- akta.pro primary industry
- BBQ & Smokehouse Fast Casual (THAFABAH)
Keywords
Where Bludso's BBQ is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Bludso's BBQ business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Dine-in Restaurant Sales: Revenue from customers dining at La Brea and Santa Monica restaurant locations.
- Takeout and Delivery: Revenue from takeout and delivery orders placed online via Toasttab or by phone, available at all three locations including Van Nuys.
- Catering Services: Full-service catering for events with pickup and delivery options. Catering minimums are $200 for pickup and $400 for delivery. Includes party trays and custom BBQ packages.
- Merchandise and Products: Sales of BBQ sauces, dry rubs, hats, and merchandise through their Shopify store (bludsosbbq.myshopify.com).
- Cookbook Sales: Sales of the James Beard Award-winning cookbook 'Bludso's BBQ Cookbook: A Family Affair in Smoke and Soul' through their Shopify store.
- Mail Order BBQ: Nationwide shipping of famous BBQ products directly from restaurants through their mail-order program.
- Loyalty Program (Smoke Club): Points-based loyalty program where customers earn points on dine-in, takeout, and catering orders. Points can be redeemed for rewards at any location.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Meats priced by weight (1/4lb, 1/2lb, 1lb) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Lunch Tray serves 8 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bludso's Tray serves 10 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Party Tray serves 15 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Weekday Lunch Plate |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Weekday Lunch Sandwich |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Catering minimums |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Bludso's BBQ product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bludso's BBQ operates Texas-style barbecue restaurants in the Los Angeles area, serving slow-smoked meats (brisket, pulled pork, ribs, turkey, chicken) and classic sides via dine-in at the La Brea and Santa Monica locations, takeout and delivery at all three locations (including Van Nuys), full-service catering, and nationwide mail-order BBQ shipping. The company also sells proprietary sauces, dry rubs, branded merchandise, gift cards, and a James Beard Award-winning cookbook through its Shopify e-commerce store, supported by a points-based loyalty program (Smoke Club).
Product overview
Bludso's BBQ is a Texas-style barbecue restaurant chain founded by pitmaster Kevin Bludso, operating as a multi-location hospitality business rather than a software platform. The core offering consists of slow-smoked meats and classic sides served dine-in at two locations (La Brea and Santa Monica), with a third takeout-and-delivery-only outpost in Van Nuys. The portfolio also includes a points-based loyalty program (Smoke Club), full-service catering with custom que packages and party trays, nationwide mail-order BBQ shipping, a James Beard Award-winning cookbook, and a Shopify-hosted merchandise store selling sauces, rubs, and apparel. A Happy Hour program and community scholarship initiative round out the brand's non-food offerings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bludso's Bar & Cue: Restaurant and bar location at La Brea, Los Angeles
- Bludso's To Go
- Bludso's Smoke Club
Products and services
- La Brea Restaurant Original flagship restaurant offering dine-in, takeout, delivery, full bar with craft cocktails, Happy Hour specials, and event buyouts for individual consumers, families, and private event hosts in the Los Angeles area.
- Santa Monica Restaurant Second dine-in restaurant location serving smoked meats and classic sides for dine-in, takeout, and delivery to Westside Los Angeles consumers, with Happy Hour and private event buyouts.
- Van Nuys To-Go Third location and first San Fernando Valley outpost offering takeout, delivery, and catering services (no dine-in) for Valley-area consumers.
- Bludso's BBQ Catering Full-service catering for corporate events, private parties, weddings, and buyouts at all Bludso's locations, offering party trays (Lunch Tray, Bludso's Tray, Party Tray), custom que packages, and pickup or delivery with minimums of $200 (pickup) and $400 (delivery).
- Mail Order BBQ Nationwide shipping of Bludso's signature slow-smoked meats and classic sides directly from the restaurants, allowing customers outside the Los Angeles area to order and receive Bludso's BBQ products via mail.
- Bludso's Smoke Club Loyalty Program Points-based loyalty program where customers earn rewards on dine-in, takeout, and catering orders, redeemable across all Bludso's locations; includes a $10 birthday treat and access to exclusive events with Kevin Bludso.
- Bludso's Merchandise Store Shopify-hosted online store selling Bludso's BBQ sauces, dry rubs, branded apparel, and gift bundles, including the Best of Bludso's gift set featuring original sauces, rubs, cookbook, and hat.
- Bludso's BBQ Cookbook James Beard Award-winning cookbook 'Bludso's BBQ Cookbook: A Family Affair in Smoke and Soul' by Kevin Bludso and Noah Galuten, published by Ten Speed Press and available through the Shopify store.
- Happy Hour Promotional food and drink specials available Monday-Friday from 4-6pm at the La Brea and Santa Monica locations, featuring discounted appetizers, loaded fries, draft beers, wine, and house drinks.
- Bludso's Gift Cards Digital and physical gift cards sold through Toasttab, redeemable at all Bludso's BBQ locations for dine-in, takeout, and catering orders.
Companies that use Bludso's BBQ
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Bludso's BBQ technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature1 record
Bludso's BBQ partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission (LASEC)minorBludso's BBQ has been designated as an official supplier of the LASEC Business Connect program. They are one of the businesses in the Los Angeles area identified as a certified, experienced company approved to compete for contracts related to high-profile events supported by the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Bludso's BBQ competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hometown BBQ: Brooklyn-original craft BBQ concept that has expanded to Los Angeles. Direct peer competing in the same Southern California craft BBQ space with comparable menu and counter-service dining format.
- Phillips BBQ: Family-run LA BBQ institution with multiple locations serving Texas-style smoked meats. Direct competitor in the same craft BBQ niche with similar dine-in/takeout format, comparable menu structure, and shared regional customer base.
- Franklin Barbecue: Austin, Texas-based craft BBQ institution that helped define modern Texas barbecue. Comparable peer in craft BBQ authenticity, pitmaster brand prestige, and destination-dining economics despite different geographic market.
- Pecan Lodge: Legendary Dallas, Texas craft BBQ destination serving Texas-style smoked meats with national recognition. Comparable as a craft BBQ benchmark for brisket quality, pitmaster-led brand, and destination dining experience.
- Maple Block Meat Co. LA-based craft BBQ and butcher concept focused on smoked meats and curated cuts. Direct peer in the same Southern California craft BBQ category with comparable dine-in/takeout format and similar premium positioning.
- Sweet Lew's BBQ: LA BBQ restaurant serving slow-smoked meats and classic sides. Comparable independent craft BBQ operator with similar dine-in/takeout model and shared regional market positioning.
- Ray's BBQ: Long-standing LA BBQ restaurant serving Texas-style smoked meats in a casual dine-in setting. Direct competitor in the same Los Angeles craft BBQ category, targeting similar local diners and families with comparable brisket, ribs, and sides offerings.
Broad incumbents
- Dickey's Barbecue Pit: Largest BBQ franchise chain in the US with hundreds of locations nationwide. Broad incumbent representing scaled competition in the BBQ category with overlapping smoked meat and sides offerings.
- Mission BBQ: Multi-state BBQ fast-casual chain with dozens of locations serving smoked meats and American sides. Broader incumbent competing for the same dine-in BBQ customer with greater scale and franchise expansion capability.
- Famous Dave's: Established national BBQ chain with dine-in locations across multiple states. Broader incumbent in the BBQ category with overlapping menu offerings, though operates at much larger scale and less craft positioning than Bludso's.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Bludso's BBQ social profiles
Digital presenceBludso's BBQ financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bludso's BBQ leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Bludso's BBQ funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bludso's BBQ M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bludso's BBQ
What does Bludso's BBQ do?
Bludso's BBQ operates Texas-style barbecue restaurants in the Los Angeles area, serving slow-smoked meats (brisket, pulled pork, ribs, turkey, chicken) and classic sides via dine-in at the La Brea and Santa Monica locations, takeout and delivery at all three locations (including Van Nuys), full-service catering, and nationwide mail-order BBQ shipping. The company also sells proprietary sauces, dry rubs, branded merchandise, gift cards, and a James Beard Award-winning cookbook through its Shopify e-commerce store, supported by a points-based loyalty program (Smoke Club).
Is Bludso's BBQ a public or private company?
Bludso's BBQ is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Bludso's BBQ founded?
Bludso's BBQ was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bludso's BBQ based?
Bludso's BBQ is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bludso's BBQ make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Dine-in Restaurant Sales are the primary driver. The others are takeout and Delivery, catering Services, merchandise and Products, cookbook Sales, mail Order BBQ and loyalty Program (Smoke Club).
Who are Bludso's BBQ's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hometown BBQ, Phillips BBQ, Franklin Barbecue, Pecan Lodge, Maple Block Meat Co., Sweet Lew's BBQ and Ray's BBQ. Broad incumbents are Dickey's Barbecue Pit, Mission BBQ and Famous Dave's.
Does Bludso's BBQ have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bludso's BBQ.
What industry is Bludso's BBQ in?
Bludso's BBQ's product category is Barbecue Restaurants. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFABAH, BBQ & Smokehouse Fast Casual. Its NAICS code is 722511.