Big Brian’s Meats to Open First Brick-and-Mortar in Lakewood

An award-winning barbecue company that grew from backyard cooking into one of Southern California’s most visible catering operations is opening its first permanent location in Lakewood. Big Brian’s Meats will open at 5574 South St., near the intersection of Bellflower Boulevard and South Street.

Big Brian’s Meats’ menu features what owner Brian Rodriguez calls “SoCal Mex BBQ,” a mix of traditional smoked meats and the flavors both his family and his wife’s family grew up with. The concept is rooted in carefully planned and thoughtfully prepared barbecue.

“The perfect barbecue should reflect the amount of care and consideration that was put into it,” he said. “You can’t rush anything.”

Beyond the cooking technique, he looks for deep, rich flavor, an appealing texture, and seasoning that remains consistent throughout the meat.

In a conversation with What Now Los Angeles, Rodriguez confirmed that the goal is to hold a soft opening before the end of the year, with a grand opening planned for early 2027.

In August, Rodriguez ran into the previous operator at a restaurant supply store in North Long Beach. She was looking to retire and had been month to month on her lease since January. The space is just two minutes from his home.

“The new space was ridiculously affordable and close to our home. I don’t think a better situation is going to present itself to us. The business is growing, it’s healthy, and we need to scale up,” he told What Now Los Angeles.

The business has been built on risk. After 15 years as a film and video editor and eight years as a high school film teacher, Rodriguez resigned in 2022 and cashed out his teaching pension to start a barbecue company.

“Everybody was telling me, ‘That’s pretty risky.’ We went to a financial adviser who first pushed back, then reconsidered. He told us, ‘Actually, it’s a good risk because you’re betting on yourself,’” Rodriguez said.

Big Brian’s started selling from home before moving on to breweries and community events. The business is a family operation. His wife, a longtime English teacher, and their two children help out, while his 74-year-old mother serves as his sous chef and prepares the sides.

The Long Beach Barbecue Festival three years ago, followed by an appearance on Fox 11’s Good Day LA, helped put the brand on the map. The company has since catered events of up to 600 people.

This year, Big Brian’s won two awards at the festival: Best Sausage and Best Side Dish, the latter for its brisket chili. Rodriguez said it has been a long road from the shared kitchen in Cerritos, where the team had to haul equipment back and forth.

The new shop will occupy approximately 800 square feet. Rodriguez plans to continue running pop-up and mobile events alongside the brick-and-mortar operation.

“This brick and mortar is just the beginning for us to scale up,” he said. He hopes to add another location in the future.

For the Lakewood community, his message is simple.

“We live here and have been part of the community. With this location, we want to welcome them into our barbecue family, not just as customers, but as friends.”