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Buckethead BBQ serves amazing wood-smoked Texas style barbecue from a custom built trailer - "The Rig" - at events centered around western Placer County. They operate out of Roseville, CA, and they're a mobile restaurant, so you'll need to check them out on their website or their social media page to find out where they'll be. Follow them for some of the best EVER barbecue in Placer County! As with all of reviews that I publish, I have no affiliation with the restaurant reviewed, and there is no monetary gain on my part, as I am simply a person who likes to eat, and I love to write-up, and publish my dining experiences.
Photo: It's just past the 11:00 morning opening time, Friday, March 13, 2026, and Buckethead BBQ has set up shop in the Raley's supermarket parking lot on Woodcreek Oaks Blvd, located in Roseville, CA. Buckethead sets up shop at various locations and special events all over western Placer County. If you're a fan of authentic Texas-style barbecue, you'll fall in love with Buckethead BBQ.
Photo: The menu is displayed on a board near the order counter, and displays all of your barbecue favorites, including meat sold by the pound. I went with a "Three Meat Combo Plate," which included two sides. Buckethead BBQ uses oak and almond wood for fuel, which implants a delicious smoky taste to the meat.
Photo: I '"opened up" the restaurant, as I arrived at the 11:00 morning opening time and found Chef Axe discussing business with Abby, who took orders and provided Axe assistance. I didn't get to enjoy the pleasure of head Chef Dave's company, as he was running errands during my visit.
Photo: Chef Axe opened one of the pits and rearranged the Santa Maria chicken that was grilling the pit. The smell was simply delicious!
Photo: St. Louis pork ribs, grilling and smoking on a second pit. The pits are located on the back side of the trailer, known as "The Rig."
Photo: Chef Axe checks the temperature of a rack of ribs he's ready cut up for the many hungry diners that were beginning to arrive. He explained to me that it's very important that the ribs are a certain temperature, so they will be ready.
Photo: Chef Axe slices a smoked brisket for my lunch. Notice the beautiful smoke cap, and the beautiful color of the meat... sheer Texas-style beauty! After slicing the meat, he placed it on a small scale - not shown in the photo - and weighed it, so each portion works out to be a third of a pound. Folks, that's a generous portion of meat!
Photo: Meet Chef Axe, who delivered my "Combo Plate" to me with a smile. Axe is a talented chef and a friendly, nice guy.
Photo: Since St. Patrick's Day is only four days away, I toast the talented staff at Buckethead BBQ with a pint of green beer, which seemed like the fitting thing to do. I'm at home outside on my patio, and I'm ready enjoy some of the finest barbecue in Placer County, and the greater Sacramento area. The only negative thing I can say about Buckethead BBQ, and it's very minor thing, is there aren't any tables or any place to sit down and enjoy your fine barbecue. I notice many diners enjoy the barbecue in the vehicle, but that's not for me. I'm fortunate in that I live only a mile away from Raley's, so it's easy for me to bring it home and enjoy.
Photo: From the "Combo Plate" section of the menu, I went with "3 Meats," which included two sides. My choices of meat included brisket, jalapeño pepperjack sausage and tri tip, and sides were "Dave's Famous Baked Beans," and potato salad. Chef Axe included a generous serving of their amazing, tangy barbecue sauce on the side. Where do I begin to describe this delicious meal? Perhaps with the meat? In the photo, from left to right, brisket, pulled pork and tri tip. So that's where I'll go... Brisket. This is the quintessential barbecue when you think of Texas. Such an interesting cut of meat, as it tends to be tough, hard to work with, and takes many hours of preparation and smoking to create a perfect product. Chef Axe and Chef Dave -who was running errands at the time of my visit - nailed the brisket, as it was juicy, tender, perfectly pink/slightly brown on the inside, with a beautiful, slightly crusty smoke cap on the outside. Ah... the jalapeño pepperjack sausage, was simply delicious, as it was tender, flavorful, slightly spicy, but anybody could handle the mild amount of "heat." It was juicy, with the perfect texture, and was especially savory when dipped into Buckethead's sauce. One bite of the sausage was simply a slice of barbecue heaven! Such amazing tri tip! Like the brisket, it was smoked to perfection, medium to dark pink on the inside, with a perfect, slightly crusty smoke cap on the outside. If you like your tri tip tender, you've come to the right place, so forget your knife, as Dave's tri tip was fork tender. You simply slice off a piece of the meat, dip it into the barbecue sauce - if that's your thing - and enjoy. You'd have to look a long way in Placer County to find a better tri tip. Chef Dave offers generous portions of meat, as each "meat" nets about a third of a pound. That meant the meat in my "Combo Plate" weighed in a pound, which should satisfy any appetite, including mine. Buckethead BBQ uses both oak and almond wood for fuel, and smoke, and all of his meat feature a touch of smoky taste which enhances the flavor, but doesn't overpower the tender, juicy meat. Barbecue sauce, was served on the side, Texas-style, which made for perfect dipping, and added robust flavor the sausage, tri-tip and brisket. When it comes to barbecue sauce, this ain’t no store-bought thang... it's homemade by the skilled staff behind the scene. The sauce was tangy, yet sweet, with just a touch of smoke, sticky-gooey, and thick enough to stay on the meat, yet thin enough for dipping. Come for the meat, but stay for Chef Dave's barbecue sauce, as it's some of the best barbecue sauce that I've ever enjoyed. New Braunfels meets Roseville at Buckethead BBQ! Dave's "Famous Baked Beans" worked out to be famously good, as they were tender, but with just the right amount of firmness, and served in a thick, slightly sweet sauce, where the brown sugar stood out. I'll enjoy these beans with any meal! I absolutely adored the large helping of potato salad! I'm assuming the potatoes were Yukon Gold, cut on the chunky side, but some of the potatoes were slightly mashed, which made for a creamy texture and held the delicious side dish together. Of course there was mayonnaise, but it wasn't overpowering, along with diced, pickled red onion. I have no idea of the spices Chef Dave uses, but whatever he does, his potato salad is some of the best on the planet. Alright... are you looking for some of the best Texas style barbecue in Placer County? Or... some of the best barbecue of any genre? You'll have to check out Buckethead BBQ's website, or their social media page to find their location, as they're mobile, but when they've set up shop at a location near you - or any location - you'll enjoy amazing barbecue.
Photo: You ask "Just the meat?" Here's the delicious meat, starting with the jalapeño pepperjack sausage, smoked brisket in the middle, and the tri-tip on the far side. Note the beautiful smoke crust on the brisket, and the tender pink inside, which is the trademark of a perfectly smoked brisket.
Photo: One bite of the jalapeño pepperjack sausage, dipped into Chef Dave's tangy barbecue sauce, was a pure slice of Texas barbecue heaven! Depending on the event, the location and the time, the menu varies. Today's event was held in the Raley's parking lot, at 4051 Woodcreek Oaks Blvd. in Roseville, and the menu was tailored for the occasion. I am happy to say that Buckethead BBQ serves some of the best barbecue I've ever had the pleasure to enjoy. The combo I enjoyed today was simply delicious, and Buckethead should be a destination for "foodies," and anyone who appreciates authentic Texas-style, wood smoked barbecue. Chefs Dave, Axe and the crew serve outstanding barbecue, and they will feed you well and treat you like family. This is top shelf barbecue, any way you deal the deck of cards. Fine Gold Country Dining at Buckethead BBQ, at special events and all over western Placer County! Buckethead BBQ
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