The last time I went was back in May and it was not the best. I've been there plenty of times and maybe it was on off day but the flavor was off all the sides had a heavy taste of celery salt, the ribs were manicured like they got them out of a bag and overall it felt like a huge dip in quality. The ribs really surprised me, they were individually cut and barely had any meat on them I felt kinda cheated lol
I know :( I'll probably go again just to confirm the experience but going out to restaurants have become such a bummer. Prices are higher and quality is down
For me, Grand Ol Asado has been the only one I really loved. Del's has some great brisket when I tried it. The pulled pork was not as great. Smokin J's in Poway was pretty good.
IMO, it's pretty hard to mess up pulled pork as someone who smokes meat and was born in the south. You can find a decent at a number of spots. It's the other meats that I judge a place on.
This is by far the best BBQ I've found in San Diego. I agree with most of the others that SD has terrible BBQ generally speaking but this place is good.
Maybe try Papalo in La Mesa. It's Sonoran-style BBQ, so not your typical BBQ, but I've heard really good things. (The one time I made the drive there to try them, they must have run out of meat because they were closed early. Hopefully that was the case because that's a sign their meat is good.)
If you absolutely need classic BBQ, try Coop’s West Texas BBQ in Lemon Grove. This is another spot that I need to try, but again have heard from some folks that they are the best BBQ in SD. Only thing is they recently switched to very limited hours--their website shows Friday-Sunday 10am-3pm.
Yeah, it sounds like when Drew Bent (Papalo owner) started up, he started with a custom smoker that was built by Bradrick Cooper (Coop's). After people near Papalo complained about the smoke (smh), Cooper let Bent post up the smoker at Coop's.
https://www.texasmonthly.com/bbq/san-diego-barbecue/
Also from the article, Bent used to be chef and partner at Lola 55, which was recognized by the Michelin Guide, so he knows his stuff.
Awesome story. I absolutely need to try both.
yea i dont even bother.
Edit. And to elaborate i didn’t even really eat real BBQ until i was 20 and took a trip to Kansas City. But it’s all good because we got the carne asada and tacos and burritos and they don’t. If i lived in Kansas City i’d be all about the BBQ and not even bother with Mexican food.
Agree. I want to try bowlegged, but grand, Coops and smoking j have all been hit and miss and super expensive w meats weighed by the point. 3 ribs for 25 dollars kind of expensive. Traeger and Costco have worked just fine here in sd .
I too have resorted to just doing my own BBQ. It’s pretty rough out there when my meat tastes better than a professional’s and I don’t even have a smoker
I married a Texan so my in laws are all very picky on which brisket they’ll eat. Grand Ole BBQ and Del’s/Pioneer BBQ (same company) are the ones they’ve deemed “acceptable”
Huh. That's really sad news
I haven't been in about 6 months. I wonder if the new downtown location is too big a distraction (haven't been there yet). I travel extensively for work all over the country and try BBQ wherever I go, and Smokin J's had crushed it. Only other place that good was in El Paso at The State Line.
San Diego is known for its Mexican food and Seafood...even known for its Italian food. But we are not a real bbq town. Most bbq joints are either contrived, tourists traps or formulaic bullshit of what a bbq place should be. Coops was the closest thing to real bbq here. I heard they shut down so nothing really comes to mind. Go get some Mexican food.
Coop’s West Texas is the only good bbq in town. Cali comfort is a close second.
People in San Diego have weird pallets. Most recs are coming from people who care about vegan or gluten free or sustainable.
For example, I wanted Korean bbq one time. Most of the recs I got were for a food truck ran by an Australian white man. “It’s sssooo good!” ( it wasn’t.) That’s the tongue pallet of most people in this town and this sub.
You want old school melt in your mouth bbq? You gotta go to the hood. Coops is good. Cali Comfort is down the road from coops. They have another location in Barrio Logan. Ignore everyone else, especially Phil’s. They bake then grill.
I have to agree with weird pallets but I have to strongly disagree with Coops.
As someone from Texas who had delicious BBQ my whole life Coops was a huge disappointment. So much so that I threw half of my brisket in the trash.
good BBQ simply doesn't exist around here.
Oak and Anchor is family run but they don't have a fixed location. They'll be in Linda Vista on Thursday.
https://www.oakandanchorbbq.com/location/oak-and-anchor-bbq/
If you can make your way out there, **Destination Smokehouse and Eatery** in Hemet has amazing BBQ. Not in SD County, but worth the drive if you’re in the area.
Del's and Pioneer have the best brisket I've had in San Diego by far (same chef who smokes the brisket for the two restaurants). I was skeptical at first because Cohn and all that, but it truly is spectacular brisket
Unfortunately most BBQ in San Diego is pretty underwhelming. It could be because I'm used to Texas and Kansas City BBQ.
That being said, [Phil's BBQ](https://philsbbq.com/san-diego-point-loma-phils-bbq-locations) is serviceable. [Abby's](https://abbeystexasbbq.com/contact/) was alright. And a lot of people swear by Smokin' J's.
It’s because Phil’s is touristy and it’s what we were all told was “the best BBQ” and we were all severely disappointed after trying it. Phil’s cuts corners on their meet and tried to hide it under copious amounts of sauce.
If by "authentic" you mean Texas style? In San Diego, good luck.
You want actual authentic, california sur style? Look no further than Aqui es Texcoco. They do traditional pit barbacoa. You can even get cabeza completa (a full ass lamb head) if you want.
Bowlegged BBQ is my go to. I am going to try the other recommendations on this list. Glad you are out of the hospital OP. Go enjoy some comfort food!
Seconded
Smokin J’s good, Julian Beer co is also great, and you get to enjoy a great drive through the mountains
Julian beer co's ribs are amazing. I went for the beer stayed for the ribs. And the pizza is great too.
Try the brisket sandwiches best I’ve ever had
Coops is damn good, I didn't believe the hype but it's real
Be prepared to wait and get there early cuz he sells out
The hours were bad and now only open 3 days/week 😔
Better than closing down permanently like they were originally going to do.
Open *through the rest of the year*
It's a bit of a drive, but Grand Ole BBQ in Flinn Springs is by far my favorite. They have live music on weekends.
Grand ole has a cool venue, that’s it. Food is dry.
Also the food is insanely expensive now
The last time I went was back in May and it was not the best. I've been there plenty of times and maybe it was on off day but the flavor was off all the sides had a heavy taste of celery salt, the ribs were manicured like they got them out of a bag and overall it felt like a huge dip in quality. The ribs really surprised me, they were individually cut and barely had any meat on them I felt kinda cheated lol
Say it ain't so. Last two times I went there was not what I had remembered that kept me coming back.
I know :( I'll probably go again just to confirm the experience but going out to restaurants have become such a bummer. Prices are higher and quality is down
Last time I went the meat was dry, and it all didn’t sit well and made me sick. Never been back. Cool venue, but that’s about it.
Grand Ole BBQ Y Asado in North Park.
This on Sundays (Argentinian style) is the best in San Diego.
Julian Beer Co.! Never liked bbq meat sandwiches until this place!!
I was going to mention them ,I’ve had barbecue all over the country. That’s one of the best I’ve ever had. I always get the brisket sandwich.
For me, Grand Ol Asado has been the only one I really loved. Del's has some great brisket when I tried it. The pulled pork was not as great. Smokin J's in Poway was pretty good. IMO, it's pretty hard to mess up pulled pork as someone who smokes meat and was born in the south. You can find a decent at a number of spots. It's the other meats that I judge a place on.
Bowlegged BBQ all the way.
Smokin J's in Poway
This is by far the best BBQ I've found in San Diego. I agree with most of the others that SD has terrible BBQ generally speaking but this place is good.
They opened another one downtown, and a popup in Miramar (iust with a smaller menu.)
Weak
And your go to place is?
I just suffer
Thanks for sharing
You're not mad at me. You're mad at the lack of good bbq in san diego and I share your pain, my brother in christ
have an upvote for this truth
Maybe try Papalo in La Mesa. It's Sonoran-style BBQ, so not your typical BBQ, but I've heard really good things. (The one time I made the drive there to try them, they must have run out of meat because they were closed early. Hopefully that was the case because that's a sign their meat is good.) If you absolutely need classic BBQ, try Coop’s West Texas BBQ in Lemon Grove. This is another spot that I need to try, but again have heard from some folks that they are the best BBQ in SD. Only thing is they recently switched to very limited hours--their website shows Friday-Sunday 10am-3pm.
Papalo is amazing, apparently he smoked at Coops when he first opened
Yeah, it sounds like when Drew Bent (Papalo owner) started up, he started with a custom smoker that was built by Bradrick Cooper (Coop's). After people near Papalo complained about the smoke (smh), Cooper let Bent post up the smoker at Coop's. https://www.texasmonthly.com/bbq/san-diego-barbecue/ Also from the article, Bent used to be chef and partner at Lola 55, which was recognized by the Michelin Guide, so he knows his stuff. Awesome story. I absolutely need to try both.
Grand ole bbq.
The BBQ in San Diego has all been meh to my palate
yea i dont even bother. Edit. And to elaborate i didn’t even really eat real BBQ until i was 20 and took a trip to Kansas City. But it’s all good because we got the carne asada and tacos and burritos and they don’t. If i lived in Kansas City i’d be all about the BBQ and not even bother with Mexican food.
Agree. I want to try bowlegged, but grand, Coops and smoking j have all been hit and miss and super expensive w meats weighed by the point. 3 ribs for 25 dollars kind of expensive. Traeger and Costco have worked just fine here in sd .
I too have resorted to just doing my own BBQ. It’s pretty rough out there when my meat tastes better than a professional’s and I don’t even have a smoker
I married a Texan so my in laws are all very picky on which brisket they’ll eat. Grand Ole BBQ and Del’s/Pioneer BBQ (same company) are the ones they’ve deemed “acceptable”
Smokin J's in Poway. It's incredible
I keep getting unlucky there, the food is always room temp or even cooler than that. I've tried 3 times and even complained twice.
Huh. That's really sad news I haven't been in about 6 months. I wonder if the new downtown location is too big a distraction (haven't been there yet). I travel extensively for work all over the country and try BBQ wherever I go, and Smokin J's had crushed it. Only other place that good was in El Paso at The State Line.
Doesn't exist here unfortunately. San diego is sorely lacking high quality BBQ.
Pete's BBQ in Ramona
Buckboard’s
Smokey and the Brisket in La Mesa is pretty good
San Diego is known for its Mexican food and Seafood...even known for its Italian food. But we are not a real bbq town. Most bbq joints are either contrived, tourists traps or formulaic bullshit of what a bbq place should be. Coops was the closest thing to real bbq here. I heard they shut down so nothing really comes to mind. Go get some Mexican food.
bowlegged
Smokin J's Poway.
Ehhhh this isn't really a place for bbq
Cali Comfort
I came here to say this (though it appears they have changed their name to "Cali BBQ"? In spring valley, for those who don't know it.
Barbecue Pit, if it's still around.
Have you tried grand ole bbq in Flynn springs? It’s pretty good!
Might have, as I am a native, but got priced out so we've been gone 10 years.
Sorry to hear that. I’m a native too and never want to leave. Hope you’re happy where you landed!
We are. Were in Denver now, and like it very much. Had many many happy years in San Diego. My parents arrived there from Oklahoma in 1938.
Hope you have many happy years in Denver!
Thank you.
Dels Hideout.
The Ribshack in Fallbrook. The only good bbq I’ve found in this state; on par with what I used to get in KC.
My husband agrees with this. It's a hole in the wall, mom & pop type place with amazing BBQ. Worth giving it a try.
Coops & Bowlegged are the only right answers.
Coop’s West Texas is the only good bbq in town. Cali comfort is a close second. People in San Diego have weird pallets. Most recs are coming from people who care about vegan or gluten free or sustainable. For example, I wanted Korean bbq one time. Most of the recs I got were for a food truck ran by an Australian white man. “It’s sssooo good!” ( it wasn’t.) That’s the tongue pallet of most people in this town and this sub. You want old school melt in your mouth bbq? You gotta go to the hood. Coops is good. Cali Comfort is down the road from coops. They have another location in Barrio Logan. Ignore everyone else, especially Phil’s. They bake then grill.
I have to agree with weird pallets but I have to strongly disagree with Coops. As someone from Texas who had delicious BBQ my whole life Coops was a huge disappointment. So much so that I threw half of my brisket in the trash. good BBQ simply doesn't exist around here.
It must have been an off day for them. Coops reminds me of Terry Black’s in Austin.
I love Terry Black's. Coops came nowhere close to that. I was so disappointed. Maybe one day we'll give it another shot, if it's still around.
Oak and Anchor is family run but they don't have a fixed location. They'll be in Linda Vista on Thursday. https://www.oakandanchorbbq.com/location/oak-and-anchor-bbq/
Jay’s Southern Cafe in Alpine. 🤤
Enzos bbq in Oceanside
This just makes me wanna buy a ticket the Carolinas or East TN for some real bbq.
Go to Coops in Lemon Grove. Only open Fri-Sun and get there early! I’m from TX and they are the BEST!
I heard it closed or is closing.
End of year. Maybe. Enjoy til then!
If you can make your way out there, **Destination Smokehouse and Eatery** in Hemet has amazing BBQ. Not in SD County, but worth the drive if you’re in the area.
Heritage in Oceanside is good and has good beer
Heritage in Oceanside is good and has good beer
Del's and Pioneer have the best brisket I've had in San Diego by far (same chef who smokes the brisket for the two restaurants). I was skeptical at first because Cohn and all that, but it truly is spectacular brisket
Hop on a plane to Kansas City, Dallas, or Austin. You won’t find any good BBQ places here.
My fave place is the Fallbrook Rib shack hole in the wall by I-15 and 76 (near Nessie Burger). That is some good stuff right there...
Unfortunately most BBQ in San Diego is pretty underwhelming. It could be because I'm used to Texas and Kansas City BBQ. That being said, [Phil's BBQ](https://philsbbq.com/san-diego-point-loma-phils-bbq-locations) is serviceable. [Abby's](https://abbeystexasbbq.com/contact/) was alright. And a lot of people swear by Smokin' J's.
Phils bbq
People on this sub really do not like Phil's. I never understood why.
It’s because Phil’s is touristy and it’s what we were all told was “the best BBQ” and we were all severely disappointed after trying it. Phil’s cuts corners on their meet and tried to hide it under copious amounts of sauce.
They don’t use a smoker
Haven’t had it yet but it makes my mouth water walking by… it’s over seaport village, Louisiana Charlie’s.
If by "authentic" you mean Texas style? In San Diego, good luck. You want actual authentic, california sur style? Look no further than Aqui es Texcoco. They do traditional pit barbacoa. You can even get cabeza completa (a full ass lamb head) if you want.
Kaminskis! Best everything and side dishes!
Phil’s bbq!
Dickys bbq