The Bay Area’s Best BBQ Chefs Are Having a Rib “Throwdown” in Moraga, And You’re Invited

Moraga will sizzle this Saturday, August 23 from 4–8 p.m. as the 1st Annual Moraga Rib Throwdown fires up at Canyon Club Brewery in Moraga, CA.

The community event – organized by local resident Jon Ruiz – brings together families, friends and neighbors for a friendly (non-sanctioned) barbecue competition, with all proceeds benefiting the Moraga Education Foundation and local public schools.

Guests can attend for free (no ticket required) and browse a festival of food, music and games. For those wanting to dig in, $70 tasting tickets include generous 6-oz samples of ribs from each of the three competitors (roughly 18 oz total), plus sides from Lafayette’s Postino and soft drinks – all with complimentary beer and wine from Canyon Club. (A $120 judge’s ticket adds unlimited drinks and a chance to score official votes.)

Sharing plates is encouraged and the event is open to everyone.

Three local teams will go “rib to rib” in a people’s-choice cook-off. These include Horn Barbecue (Lafayette), Live Oak Grilling Co. (Moraga), and La Chamba Taqueria (Moraga).

Each brings a distinct culinary style: Horn Barbecue is led by Chef Matt Horn, a James Beard Award semifinalist whose Oakland smokehouse blends Texas pit-smoke with Southern barbecue traditions.

Live Oak is a Moraga-based kitchen on wheels serving “…globally inspired cooking over an oak fire” with “locally sourced meats and produce.”

La Chamba Taqueria is a family-run Mexican grill in Moraga famed for its authentic recipes – “fresh salsas, amazingly grilled meats and bright flavors” passed down through family tradition.

Each team will plate up fall-off-the-bone ribs for the crowd, and patrons will vote for their favorite to win the People’s Choice rib.

The Rib Throwdown is about more than just the food. Canyon Club’s biergarten will host live music and family activities. Punked Out Pretty, a local all-ages punk-pop band formed in 2025, will headline a set in the outdoor stage.

A mini-vendor market – hosted by Lafayette vintage shop Vintage Vida – lets attendees browse local crafts and vintage goods. In short, it’s sort of a community block party with a barbecue twist.

How to Attend: No ticket is needed just to be part of the fun – you can just drop by Canyon Club (1558 Canyon Rd) anytime between 4 and 8 p.m. If you do want to taste the ribs, tickets can be purchased in advance via the official event page or at the door (while supplies last).

This is Moraga’s first-ever Rib Throwdown, and organizers hope it becomes an annual tradition. By putting the spotlight on local chefs and small businesses – while raising money for schools – the event promises to bring out the best of Bay Area barbecue culture and community camaraderie.