On a recent weekend Jake had the idea that we should head out to Valley Farm Market. Specifically he wanted to see if they had meat packages (like, a bunch of various cuts of meats for one price), though they did not. We visited the market once a long time ago without purchasing anything but we did take note that they sold BBQ inside the market…
As well as at this little shack in the parking lot. This is where we headed after poking around inside the market.
It’s a pretty simple setup. Nothing fancy, no lines and there are only two outdoor tables out front.
This is the menu propped up outside on a white board. They have plates of meat or you can buy meat by the pound.
[sampler plate / $12.99]
We opted to get the Sample Plate so we could get a little taste of everything.
[hot links / $3.99 each]
Jake, T and I were sharing so we also got two hot links on the side. I thought the hot links would be plain but they came on sesame seeded hot dog buns. The hot links were thick and juicy with a nice crisp from the outer skin on the link. These were slightly spicy (but not too spicy). They were super flavorful and the juices just ran everywhere after a bite but that sure didn’t stop the three of us from enjoying these – very delicious!
Now I have to confess something: I’m not really much of a tri-tip fan. Usually I find tri-tip to be too chewy and not very flavorful… but this tri-tip has really turned it around for me. These were cut into nice semi-thick slices. They were juicy and tender and had a really nice flavor/smokiness to the meat. I have to say, this is probably one of the best tri-tips I’ve ever had since I usually shy away from the stuff. Dipped in Valley Farms signature BBQ sauce (which was sweet with a slight kick/tang) I could not get enough of it!
The pulled pork was equally as tender, juicy and flavorful and has a bit of the BBQ sauce already on it when you get the slider. I took a bite and didn’t want to share it anymore after that… but I eventually handed it back over to Jake and T so they could partake as well (aren’t I nice?). I’d say of the two I still liked the tri-tip a little better but the pulled pork was a close second.
The plate comes with two ribs but the lady gave us four instead (one was a smaller rib-tip looking piece). You can see the nice smoky pink color from these ribs. I ate mine with sauce since that’s the way I like it. These were quite tender and had a nice flavor from the rub and smoking though they were not my favorite ribs ever. I’m not some kind of BBQ master, I don’t know the ins and out of BBQ or anything but these were decent. I’d eat them again though they wouldn’t be my first choice here at Valley Farm BBQ.
For our one side, Jake asked the nice lady in the BBQ shack how the potato salad was made – namely, did it have pickles or pickle relish or anything pickly about it at all? She said no, that the potato salad didn’t have that but that it did have bacon and hardboiled eggs and things. No pickles and it was house made… SOLD.
I am super uber duper picky about potato salad and I will say that this potato salad passed my test. It was very creamy and there were bits of bacon for a little smokiness and plenty of hardboiled egg in it (which is how I make mine). My own complaint would be is that it needed a little more seasoning and a little more “oomph”. It was borderline bland but a little sprinkle of salt perked it up for me, but I did a dash of seasonings here and there would make this one a little more delicious.
All in all the three of us really enjoyed the food here. Their BBQ sauce is also really good (and also sold in the market). Highly recommend you come and check this food out if you’re nearby (or just have a hankering for something delicious).
Valley Farm BBQ
9040 Campo Road
Spring Valley, CA 91977
(619) 463-9595
Did you and Jake ride here on the motorcycle/hog I see out front of restaurant. Say you guys did.
Is this better than Bubba’s in LJ?! I love tri tip but I feel like the meat tastes weird without the bbq sauce or some sort of au jus. What’s your take on that? Can you eat tri tip without any sauce? What was the ‘kick’ that you tasted in the bbq sauce – do they have a super duper spicy version of it?
I don’t usually like potato salad but the one you had sounds yummy. I mean – hard boiled eggs and bacon added? Yes please. Maybe I can that ‘hold the potato please’ 🙂
Hi Faye – Um… yes…. we were TOTALLY on the motorcycle because we are um, huge, cyclists. Er, motorcyclists. Totally. Was that believable? 🙂
Compared to Bubba’s… I would say their tri tip is better and I liked the pulled pork more, but I like the ribs at Bubba’s more (though I always get the beef ribs at Bubba’s). I also still like Bubba’s sauce more. The hot links are totally different to me, so those are a tie.
I like eating all of my BBQ with sauce that’s on the sweeter side. I’m not sure what the kick was, but it was like it was sweet, and then a little tangy with a bit of zip of something something. I believe they only have one type of BBQ sauce that they make there.
Jake and T don’t like potato salad either – I don’t get it! What’s not to love about creamy potatoes with lots of bacon and egg (that’s how I make mine, too – lots of hardboiled egg is necessary). I adore potato salad but only if its homemade. That commercial stuff is total crap.
So good to see you finally made it here! The food sold inside the store as well as this little outside area, is excellent and unexpected. “my” potato salad has as much egg as potato (and some dill)…
Hi Cathy – Yes, I’m glad we finally stopped by and tried it out! It was so yummy, very unexpected from this little market.