Butcher Counter
Fresh beef, pork and chicken, custom cuts, and help choosing the right meat for what you’re cooking.
Family-owned · Sawtelle
Your local market.
Weekend BBQ, too.
Don Felix is our family’s local grocery store and meat market on Sawtelle. Come in for fresh and marinated meats, the salsas and guacamole we make here, cold drinks, snacks and everyday basics. On Saturdays and Sundays—and Tuesdays too—our mom Graciela runs the smokers outside.
Local meat marketFresh cuts & marinated meats
Neighborhood groceryDrinks, snacks & everyday basics
Weekend BBQSaturday, Sunday & Tuesday
Your local market
The neighborhood meat market
The store is the heart of Don Felix. Stop in for tonight’s meat, a custom cut, groceries, cold drinks, snacks, or everything you need for the weekend cookout.
Tell us what you’re cooking. We’ll help with the cut, the marinade and what to take home with it.
Ready to Cook
Carne asada, short ribs, chuck roll, marinated chicken and other seasoned choices from the case.
Fridge & Pantry
Milk, eggs, cheese, crema, tortillas, foil, pans, storage bags and other useful market basics.
Drinks & Snacks
Mexican sodas, bottled drinks, sports and energy drinks, chips, candy and gum.
Inside the butcher case
Our four best sellers
These are what customers take home most from our butcher counter, listed in order. They are separate from the cooked BBQ menu below.
Carne Asada
$15.99 / lbShort Ribs
$14.99 / lbChicken Breast
Ask for today’s priceChicken Leg
$4.99 / lbSelection and prices can change. Text us if you need a specific cut or want to know what is in the case today.
Ask About Today’s Case
Made here in the market
Green salsa · Red salsa · Roasted salsa · Guacamole · Coleslaw · Macaroni salad · Potato salad · BBQ sauce
How we make it
Seasoned here. Smoked here.
We use Santa Maria seasoning on our BBQ meats. Then we load the smokers and give each meat the time it needs.
Our usual time in the smoker
These are the rough smoking times we work around before the BBQ reaches the counter.
- Beef ribsabout 5 hours
- Tri-tipabout 3 hours
- Pork ribs · half rackabout 2 hours
- Chicken breastabout 1 hr 20 min
- Chicken legsabout 50 minutes
- Chicken wingsabout 40 minutes
- Brisketabout 12 hours
Times are approximate. The size of the meat, weather and smoker can change the cook. We go by doneness and safe temperature, not the clock alone.
From our kitchen
Four things we make here
We make green salsa, red salsa, roasted salsa and guacamole in the market. We work with fresh tomatillos, tomatoes, avocados, onions and chiles, and roast tomatoes over the fire.
- Green salsa
- Red salsa
- Roasted salsa
- Fresh guacamole
For our meats
The seasonings and marinades we use
Different meats get different preparation. These are some of the products we use in the Don Felix kitchen:
- Santa Maria seasoning for our BBQ meats
- Chef Merito Carne Asada Seasoning
- Goya Mojo Criollo marinade
- Goya Naranja Agria bitter orange marinade
Not every meat uses every ingredient. If you have an allergy or need the exact ingredients for a particular item, ask us at the counter before ordering.
Keep it good at home
Warming & cooking help
Bought it cooked? Keep it covered and use a thermometer. Bought it raw? These are the basic safe temperatures to know.
Reheating our BBQ
These are general instructions for food that was chilled safely. If we give you different instructions with a special order, follow those.
Ribs
Heat the oven to 325°F. Put the ribs meat-side up in an oven-safe dish, add a small splash of water or broth, and cover tightly with foil. Heat until the center reaches 165°F. Uncover for the last few minutes only if you want the outside drier.
Tri-tip or brisket
Heat the oven to 325°F. Keep any juices with the meat. If it is sliced, overlap the slices in a covered dish so the edges do not dry out. Add a little broth or water if needed and heat to 165°F.
Chicken
Place the chicken in a covered oven-safe dish with a small splash of water or broth. Reheat at 325°F and check the thickest part with a food thermometer. It should reach 165°F.
Mac & cheese
Put it in a covered oven-safe dish, stir in a small splash of milk or water, and heat at 325°F. Stir once while warming and heat throughout to 165°F.
Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours, use refrigerated leftovers within 3 to 4 days, and reheat to 165°F. See USDA leftovers guidance.
Cooking raw meat
Use a food thermometer in the thickest part. Color alone is not a reliable safety check.
| What you’re cooking | Minimum internal temperature |
|---|---|
| Beef, pork or lamb steaks, chops and roasts | 145°F + 3-minute rest |
| Ground meat and sausage | 160°F |
| Chicken and turkey | 165°F |
| Previously cooked leftovers | 165°F |
These are general federal food-safety minimums, not a recipe. See the complete FoodSafety.gov temperature chart.
The people you’ll meet
This is our family
The people on this page are the same people cutting meat, running the smokers, answering the phone and helping you at the counter.
Juan
Our dad · Butcher
Juan works with the raw meats and custom cuts. He has been a butcher for more than 25 years. If you need a particular cut, ask for him.
Graciela
Our mom · Runs the BBQ
Graciela runs the smokers and handles the BBQ outside on Tuesdays and weekends.
Giovanni
At the counter
Giovanni takes orders, answers questions and helps customers figure out what to get.
Abby
At the counter
Abby helps with checkout and keeps the front moving. A lot of regulars know her by name.
Jonathan
Outside · BBQ
Jonathan works outside with Graciela and helps keep the BBQ going.
Straight from customers
What our customers say
People come for the butcher counter, BBQ and house-made salsas. They come back because Juan and the family remember how to take care of people.
Don’t take our word for it. Ask the neighborhood.
★★★★★
“This market is amazing—the best hidden gem in town. The staff and Juan are so friendly. The BBQ and house-made salsa are delish!”Stephanie Luciano · Google review
★★★★★
“Outstanding BBQ and homemade guacamole and salsas. The atmosphere is like you are eating at a family outdoor BBQ.”Lonia Guha · Google review
★★★★★
“The Baby Back Ribs, Tri Tip and Brisket are my go-to. Only thing I can say is delicious.”Tom Nino · Google review
★★★★★
“The beef ribs are exceptional—very tender and juicy. Juan had great energy and great customer service.”Jarret G · Google review
★★★★★
“I’ve known Juan for 25 years. You can always count on him for first-class service and the highest-quality prime meats.”Eric Waxman · Google review
★★★★★
“They catered our baby shower. The service and food were top notch, and our guests were so happy.”Sarah Kim · Google review
★★★★★
“The tri-tip is the tenderest I have ever had. This is a spot people are sleeping on. This spot is it!”Miguel Murcia · Google review
★★★★★
“The pork ribs were tender, flavorful and piping hot—and the fresh salsas are a feast for the tastebuds.”Laksmi Sam · Google review
★★★★★
“Juan and the gang are the best. So helpful, and the food hits every time. Such a solid neighborhood spot.”Nayth McQueen · Google review
Parties & special orders
Feeding more than a few?
Text us the date, number of people and what sounds good.
Family dinner, game day, office lunch or a holiday turkey—we do catering and large orders. If you do not know how much food you need, that’s okay. Ask us and we’ll help you figure it out.
Quick planning tool
How much BBQ meat should I start with?
This estimate assumes BBQ with sides: about ½ pound per adult and ¼ pound per child, plus a little extra. Bone-in orders and big appetites can change it, so text us before placing a large order.
Come by
Find us on Sawtelle
- Store hours
- Monday–Friday: 9AM–9PM
Saturday–Sunday: 8AM–9PM - BBQ days
- Tuesday, Saturday & Sunday
Come early for the best selection. - Call the shop
- (310) 439-1039
- Text orders
- (310) 945-7861