Here on the west coast, the California central coast features real barbecue, not that overcooked, smoked, soggy, drippy stuff you southerners, Texans, whatevers, call "barbecue." When the ad says "You need no teeth to eat our beef," I take off running.
It's called "barbecue" because it's
BARBECUED.
So try any of the great places in Santa Maria, Santa Ynez, San Luis Obispo, and up and down the coast. My favorite is Mos in SLO (
http://www.mosbbq.com/) or just walk the weekly farmers market (Thursday night in SLO), and sample them all.