Top 10 BBQ Joints In San Diego, California

1. Phil's BBQ - Sports Arena Blvd

Hungry after watching a raucous game of football? Head off to Phil’s BBQ right around the corner from Pechanga Arena, the premier sports arena in San Diego. The BBQ Joint has eight locations across San Diego, but its most famous one is this restaurant at Point Loma in the sports arena complex. It has been serving delicious mesquite grilled baby back and beef ribs with a signature BBQ sauce since 1998. The sauce is so good that most visitors find themselves buying a couple of bottles to go! The other fan favorites on the menu are chicken wings and sandwiches. The restaurant can get busy during game days and weekends, but it’s worth the wait.

Phil's BBQ

Address: 3750 Sports Arena Blvd, San Diego, CA 92110

Website: Phil's BBQ

Opening hours: 11am - 9pm (daily)

2. Manna Korean BBQ

Manna Korean BBQ is a barbeque joint for real foodies. It is an all-you-can-eat buffet of an excellent variety of meats, seafood, and veggies that you can barbeque right at your table! If you are looking out for the first-time experience of a Korean BBQ, then this is hands-down the best place to go. The service is top-notch, and the staff is always around to help you with your meal. It is an ideal destination for large families and get-togethers where you can share food and swap stories. The restaurant offers a variety of meats but their brisket, bulgogi and gyeran-jjim (steamed eggs) come highly recommended.

Manna Korean BBQ

Address: 4428 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111

Website: Manna Korean BBQ

Opening hours: 12pm - 8pm (daily)

3. Wood Ranch

Every BBQ lover has their favorite meat cuts and if the tri-tip is yours then head straight to Wood Ranch San Diego. The restaurant serves the best tri-tip with their signature hot sauce that patrons love to talk endlessly about! The other popular items on the menu are smoked brisket and baby back ribs, and there is also a seafood lover’s favorite – fresh Atlantic salmon. Frequent visitors to the restaurant suggest to leave room for dessert at the end of the meal: the Wood Ranch butter cake is a crowd favorite. The creamy butter cake is topped with vanilla bean ice cream, fresh raspberries, and raspberry sauce, and it is quite rightly a perfect end to a perfect meal.

Wood Ranch

Address: Hazard Center, 7510 Hazard Center Dr #215, San Diego, CA 92108

Website: Wood Ranch

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11:30am - 8:30pm; Fri - Sat: 11:30am - 8:30pm

4. BBQ House Bar & Grill

The BBQ House Bar & Grill is the perfect place to stop over after a visit to the pier. With both indoor and outdoor seating that is dog-friendly, this BBQ Joint will soon become a family favorite. A San Diego favorite since 1991, the restaurant is known for its slow oak-smoked meats that include the most tender and mouthwatering beef, ham, chicken, pork, and ribs. The BBQ Joint has something for everyone in the family; they have a kids menu and even a special pup’s menu that includes an aptly named dish called scooby snack. Unlike many BBQ Joints, the side dishes are as good as the entrée’s, and their baked beans, onion rings, and jalapeno poppers are not to be missed.

BBQ House Bar & Grill

Address: 5025 Newport Ave, San Diego, CA 92107

Website: BBQ House Bar & Grill

Opening hours: 11am - 9pm (daily)

5. Bull's Smokin' BBQ

A visit to the Bull’s Smokin’ BBQ instantly makes you feel at home; the wholesome atmosphere of the BBQ Joint is why families have been coming here for years now. The restaurant has outdoor patio seating and is dog-friendly, and even offers treats and tidbits to your furry companions. Bull’s Smokin’ BBQ is known for its tender meats that melt off the ribs! Restaurant goers vouch for their brisket sandwich, pulled pork, hush puppies and not to leave out the cornbread and onion rings. The BBQ Joint also has a happy hour from 2 pm to 5 pm on weekdays.

Bull's Smokin' BBQ

Address: 1127 Morena Blvd, San Diego, CA 92110

Website: Bull's Smokin' BBQ

Opening hours: 11am - 9pm (daily)

6. Iron Pig Alehouse

You are often spoilt for choice for BBQ Joints in San Diego but the Iron Pig Alehouse stands out with its comfy atmosphere, friendly service, and delicious food. The restaurant is best known for its pulled pork and the best way to enjoy it is in the smoked taco trio, which are tacos served with brisket, pulled pork, and smoked chicken. If you are in for a bigger meal, then the ultimate meat lover’s dish is the meat madness platter, which has all the three popular types of meat and also comes with three side-dishes and Texas toast. Iron Pig Alehouse is perfect for a hang with the guys, sharing a local beer, and listening to great music while digging into utterly sinful bbq meats.

Iron Pig Alehouse

Address: 1520 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109

Website: Iron Pig Alehouse

Opening hours: Mon & Tue: 4pm - 9:30pm; Wed - Sun: 11:30am - 9:30pm

7. Abbey's Real Texas BBQ

Abbey’s Real Texas BBQ is the place to go to for a taste of Texas in San Diego! The BBQ joint has managed to replicate the authentic Texas BBQ taste by bringing in original cast iron smokers from Texas and heating them with green oak and mesquite. Run by husband-wife couple Matt & Athena, the restaurant is a family-run business and their obsession with serving authentic barbeque shows. Customers rave about the quality standards and friendly service. Beef brisket and pork shoulders are the most-often ordered dishes on the menu, which is best had with their I.P.A.

Abbey's Real Texas BBQ

Address: 6904 Miramar Rd #211, San Diego, CA 92121

Website: Abbey's Real Texas BBQ

Opening hours: 11am - 8pm (daily)

8. Del's Hideout

Del’s Hideout is not your typical BBQ joint - the hip and casual restaurant is styled like a sports bar and even has 16 flat-screen TVs and retro arcade games. A fun outing for the entire family, their menu is varied and unlike any other BBQ joint, it also offers gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly options so all your friends and family can join you for a meal here. Del’s Hideout offers BBQ plates with a choice of baby back ribs, pulled pork, or prime beef brisket. Their sandwiches are popular too, and the crowd favorite is the Big O’, which is beef brisket on whole-grain aioli with caramelized onions.

Del's Hideout

Address: 5351 Adobe Falls Rd, San Diego, CA 92120

Website: Del's Hideout

Opening hours: 4pm - 8pm (daily)

9. Bowlegged BBQ

You go to Bowlegged BBQ for the food but return for the hospitality. This BBQ joint in San Diego is a fun barbeque spot with friendly faces and owners who put their heart and soul into creating fantastic barbeques. The restaurant is one of the smaller BBQ joints and it has a cozy vibe with local art on the walls and there’s always great music playing in the background. It is known for its East Texas-style barbeque, and the meat cuts include brisket, tri-tip, and ribs. Be sure to go there early because they make daily batches and as they like to say ‘when the food’s gone, we gone.’

Bowlegged B.B.Q

Address: 4255 Market St, San Diego, CA 92102

Website: Bowlegged B.B.Q

Opening hours: Wed - Sat: 11am - 8pm; Sun: 11am - 7pm (closed on Mon & Tue)

10. The Pioneer BBQ & Catering

Pioneer BBQ & Catering is consistently rated amongst the top BBQ joints in San Diego for its vibrant atmosphere and mouthwatering dishes. The restaurant is styled to host casual get-togethers and family meals; it is also the perfect place to catch your favorite sports team play on its 17 flat-screen TVs. The barbeque is the main draw and their baby back ribs and pulled pork come with an exquisite smoked flavor. Not just the food, their drinks menu is extensive, and the bar has 14 beer taps plus an array of drinks including their signature ‘Pioneer’ which has maker’s mark, cognac, black walnut bitters, angostura, and applewood smoke.

The Pioneer BBQ & Catering

Address: 8622 Lake Murray Blvd, San Diego, CA 92119

Website: The Pioneer BBQ & Catering

Opening hours: 4pm - 8pm (daily)

San Diego has a BBQ joint for everyone

San Diego’s list of BBQ joints runs long, but we have covered the top options in the city that everyone raves about. Whether it’s a family meal or hang out with friends, you should be able to find the perfect spot in San Diego to go to the next time.