I'll agree with braslvr, Shaw's Steakhouse is very good, so is BBQ Land, both on South Broadway in Santa Maria... Heck, you can just cruise S. Broadway on a Friday or Saturday and follow the smell of smoky red oak BBQ, there are at least a half-dozen good restaurants....plus in good weather, there well likely be the same number of local service organizations (Elks, Kiwanis, Rotary, Boy Scouts, etc.) set up in parking lots with BBQs going doing take-away meals of Santa Maria BBQ.

A bit north of Santa Maria, there's Rancho Nipomo Deli & BBQ...which is a trifle closer to SLO. Or if you are flying into LAX, there's the Santa Maria BBQ Company just North of the airport in Culver City.