This time we ordered the rib tips dinner and beef ribs. Food was hot and fresh and tasty. The rib tip plate was enough to feed both my husband and I. The sitting area outside is laid back and chill, just like back home in Texas. Staff was nice and friendly. We enjoyed our visit here. read more

Bowlegged BBQ - rib tips with 2 sides - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

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Here we are again on another motorcycle adventure, heading south to SD. We arrived at Bowlegged BBQ, a hidden gem with limited parking. The staff was friendly and helpful, with indoor ordering and outdoor seating in a backyard patio style setting. A cigar lounge and background music added to the ambiance, which resembled a family-style BBQ party with a diverse crowd. The menu offered popular favorites, including ribs, burnt ends, tri-tip brisket, chicken, and catfish, all prepared with a touch of Southern flair. We ordered two samplers, each with three meats, two sides, and cornbread. The portions were generous, the presentation appealing, and the sauce applied judiciously. The food was delicious, tender, and flavorful. read more

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The rib tips are really good and super flavorful. The service is quick and the workers are kind. I like the vibe inside, it's comfy and cozy. read more

Drive by this place pretty often, but shy away bc of parking. Got lucky today and found parking right away. I didn't know what to order bc I wanted to try everything, but knew I was being greedy LOL. Ended up ordering the brisket dinner with baked beans and potato salad. The potato salad was good! I want to say it was the relish and a little paprika (?) that made me happy about that choice. Now the baked beans...... I don't think I've had baked beans where they put a good amount of black pepper or any black pepper. Loved them as the black pepper turned down the sweetness a bit and added a good kick to them. As for the brisket it tasted good only wish it was more tender. That is a personal preference, but the flavor was good. Definitely going back to try the hot pink, ribs, cole slaw and dirty rice. As for the ambiance.... Looks like fun times, but I didn't stay to see the fun times. Outdoor dining in the back looked fun. read more

Bowlegged BBQ - Brisket dinner with potato salad - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here with a work group and the food and service were both trash. Let's start on the service. First of all, why is a sit-down (not to go) order being served in plastic take-out containers? Then the young lady with the braids (who doubles as the cashier and I guess the server) just brought all 10 people's orders and just stacked the containers in the middle of the table. Didn't bother to pass them out to to the person that ordered them. Then to top it off (and I know this isn't a high-end restaurant) she was dressed like she was going to hang out at her homegirl's house. Just unprofessional. Now let's get to the food. I've been coming here since they opened, and while although I don't come frequently, I come enough to know the prices have went up while the food has gone down. The BBQ beans were sweet but had no other flavor other than brown sugar. The brisket topped hot link had no grilled meat flavor like BBQ is supposed to have and to pay $16 for one hot link with a few pieces of brisket sprinkled on top is diabolical. Then to top it off NONE the meat tasted like it was fresh off the grill and now that I think about it, there wasn't even a smoker smell present although I saw a big one outside on the patio. Not sure how much longer this place is going to last. read more

Mac n cheese and yams were good. Bbq pork ribs, we're not that great, a bit tough and dry. I wouldn't get the ribs again. I would buy the yams tho, those are excellent. Prices are steep. Not sure if I'd return. read more

Wow this restaurant is the answer! - just ordered from here on Uber Eats. Brisket sandwich (because they don't sell chili anymore but Uber won't correct their menu) and cornbread. When I opened the bag and took a bite of this steaming hot cornbread I could not put it down and ate the whole piece right away. It is dense and toothsome, buttery and very delicious - how do they do it? Certainly some secret recipe here - cornbread has never been this good and I'm from the Midwest. Then this hot brisket sandwich - this is the best brisket I've ever had in San Diego. Go order it right now, you think I'm not serious? Try it and tell me how it is not the best you've ever had. You will love it! read more

The best BBQ Ive had, forget Phils and all that other mainstream food! Everything I had was delicious even the sides are crazy good. read more

Delicious homemade BbQ and sides in someone's backyard. Kind of feels like you just crashed a party. A whole experience. Lots of regulars and friendly people. Runs on the expensive side. read more

Amazing food, amazing service, chill laid back atmosphere. We will be regulars! We got catfish, brisket, Mac n cheese, cornbread, yams, and a beer. Everything was great zero complaints. read more

Bowlegged BBQ: A Neighborhood Gem with Big Flavors From the moment my family and I walked into Bowlegged BBQ, we felt like we had stepped into a true neighborhood hangout. It's the kind of place where regulars gather, sharing good food and drinks, creating a sense of community that's hard to find. The atmosphere reminded me of my time in New Orleans, where hospitality and good vibes were always a part of the experience. We ordered a mix of BBQ classics: baby back ribs, brisket, and beef ribs, with a side of red beans and rice. Every bite was packed with flavor--smoky & tender. It wasn't the best BBQ I've ever had, but better than a popular place that rhymes with Gabe's. The red beans and rice were especially memorable, rounding out the meal perfectly. I'm excited to return to try their famous fish and chips, along with more of the sides I saw on the menu. The only thing to note is that the food did take a little while to come out, but that's part of the BBQ experience--good things take time. Overall, I'm glad I came to support this fantastic local business and can't wait to come back for more. read more

Bowlegged BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

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I must say the service were extremely nice and polite. The ambience was cute, but the brisket was extremely tough with a lot of grizzle. The mac & cheese was good, but I feel the price. We're a bit too much. read more

This place has a very friendly and laid back atmosphere. I enjoyed the whole experience, from walking into a place that feels like someone's home, to ordering our meal, to sitting in the back and enjoying the old school R&B vibes. We ordered the full rack of ribs and large side of Mac and cheese for about $55, and both my girlfriend and I were able to get full off about ¾ of it (honestly I could have ate it all in one sitting but told myself to have some portion control). The service was friendly. Once we ordered, we sat in the back and we waited for them to come out to call our name and give us the food. There was a gentleman who came out of the back hangout (which looked very comfortable and chill) to tell us thank you for coming, which I can assume was either Mr. Bowleg himself or another owner/co-owner. As for my recommendation, this place is awesome, come here when the weather is warm and bright! Highly recommended. read more

Want that family, back yard bbq feel? This is the place. The food is amazing and always sells out, so go early. I still have yet to try the bbq spaghetti I was told was a hit. Service is quick and your food comes out hot each time. I highly recommend this business for some re bbq. read more

Customer service was a decent experience. They did switch out one of my side last minute after I ordered over the phone. It was quite busy with people of all ethnicities. Smells like BBQ when you walk in. Now to the food I ordered. Me and my boyfriend had the brisket 0/10: no good flavor, has a chemically like smell and taste with a tough texture like that of a well done cheap steak(do not recommend, it is so gross I threw it away). ribs 7/10: I did not taste them but he said they were decent, easy to bite into. mac n cheese 0/10: WAY too salty and the cheese has no pull. It has cheese like the can of nacho cheese or like some melted government cheese. Would not ever get this again, I also threw away my portion I had on my plate. catfish 8.5/10: delicious, well seasoned, nice crunch. They ate down with this catfish. I would get this again no questions. baked beans 9/10: absolutely delicious! The flavor is so good, beans have a good texture and they smell amazing. They lowkey can go for a 10/10. read more

Fox 5 San Diego rated this place #2 - NOT A CLEAR CUT ABOVE THE REST Food: Came in Wed, around 3p, already sold out of their signature brisket. Would have just left but they took my money already. The replacement beef tri-tip was pretty good, tender and juicy, but nothing extraordinary. There was a bit too much fat on our four pieces - which were not cheap ($20 for about a half pound). The half rack of baby back ribs were also pretty tender but not fall off the bone. Again, satisfied our bbq craving, nothing more. The sauce was more on the tangy side if you're into that, or not. ~$50 for two people to only be nearly full, maybe because we didn't get sides. Service: Nice and friendly staff. There just needs to be better communication between cashier and cook staff - took our order for brisket but was sold out. Ambiance: Decorated walls are interesting. But it was too hot inside. Outdoor seating is available. read more

Bowlegged BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

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I love this place. What can I say? Okay, the Kool Aid can be a little too sweet, but I just break it down with a little water and have a second serving. I plan to go back again soon because it's been a while. Even knock kneed people will enjoy Bowlegged. read more

02/18/2026 The service felt off from the start. The menu on the chalkboard is misleading for me. 64 dollars for a full rack of ribs, and a up charge for sides is insane. She told me that at the cash register, its like I was prepared to get ripped off and I knew it.Bowleg need to re-calibrate your prices and service. read more

Not about to sit here and lie me and my fiancé literally couldn't catch this place open for weeks we kept missing the days so finally yesterday we caught it open I promise yall when I say the food was trash man I'm not exaggerating the yams had no flavor at all the macaroni and cheese literally tasted like it was out a box didn't the ribs and chicken have a strange liquid smoke taste and not the good one man I can go on and on about the food no real seasoning so whatever these ppl in the reviews saying about it being the best bbq don't believe it the venue is classic and the atmosphere is great but the food is trash save your money and turn the grill on !!!!!! read more

I ordered the brisket dinner with two sides which came with 3 pieces of brisket and I chose the collard greens and dirty rice for the the two sides. The brisket was so moist and I was certainly left wanting more. The greens were good and the dirty rice was super flavorful. I saw my friend's mac side and I totally want to try that next time. Service was pretty good. They take your order inside, you find a place to sit, and someone brings you your food. The owner also stops by to quickly check how you're doing, which I thought was a nice personal touch. Everyone was really nice and the vibes all around that this place attracts was friendly. I think this is my new favorite go to bbq spot and I look forward to returning for more deliciousness. read more

Bowlegged BBQ - Brisket Dinner with 2 Sides - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

Dry and overcooked meats, unfortunately. The kind you can't chew without having to spit out. The sides and desserts were phenomenal though. Really enjoyed the Mac and cheese and the banana pudding. Service was great, nice lady in front that took our order and brought the food out. And the vibes were cool too. I was hoping for some legit tasty brisket, ribs, etc. but they did not deliver top tier bbq food. read more

Keep in mind that Im not the type of person that dosent give bad reviews. Got take out on 10/19/25 The cashier was nice enough to tell me about what's made with pork and what has pork. Thank you again But when I got home I found a long hair in my food. So maybe have the workers in the kitchen wear hair nets. I was gonna call but accidents do happen. read more

Excellent BBQ! The green beans are sooo home made they are just like what I cook at home. The brisket was tender & the sauce was just the right amount! Good service as well The next time I'm in San Diego it's a must stop read more

The food was authentic. A little heavy on the pepper for my liking but definitely homemade and good. The service was great and professional. I got a chance to meet one of the owner. She was very friendly and helpful. The ambiance was very unique and creative. I was definitely recommend this place to others. Next time in San Diego we are definitely going to come back. read more

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Great place to eat and relax outside, staff is very friendly and accommodating, the food is very good.

Although I still love this place. Dear bowlegged .. please pay attention to the UBER EATS orders when packing them. Twice I ordered Dirty Rice and received Red Beans and rice. This is irritating when you have your mouth set for 1 thing! read more

Bowlegged BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

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The cashier girl grab my fork with the side I eat with. Not to mention it had her dirty remnants on the tip from after she grab it. I stopped by jack in the box to get another fork.. bbq wasn't good. It had a lighter fluid taste.. I won't be returning . read more

I wanted a tri-tip sandwich really bad. I was a little disappointed with what I received. First of all I didn't know that the sandwich had Cole Slaw and pickles on it. Plus the meat wasn't very good. It was tough and dry. Then lastly, I think it was way overpriced. It cost $30 for a sandwich. That is way too much. On the menu inside it said that it was $19.50 but my card was swiped and it totaled $30. I didn't realize it until I got home because I didn't get a receipt. If the prices have changed then the menu should reflect that. read more

The catfish is so goooood! I burned my mouth bc I couldn't wait to eat it LOL nice crunch, flaky fish.. great seasoning! The ribs are so delicious too, smoky! We tried the greens and Mac n cheese for the sides.. wow wow wow, both had so much flavor! Def recommend this place. Everyone here is so friendly! There's street parking in the neighborhood, and lots of tables available. This place was added to our "places to try" list after watching a YouTuber recommend this place.. so glad we came here, it did not disappoint!!! read more

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GOOD: The brisket (super tender) and ribs (very flavorful) were excellent. The hot link was very dry, but tasty nonetheless. The beans were really good, nothing special, but enjoyable and flavorful. BAD: I LOVE coleslaw, but the coleslaw had a strange taste, it tasted off. I think this happens when your cabbage gets old. I think they used old cabbage to make it, or the slaw was sitting around for a while. Either way, it was not good. The corn bread (which is so sweet it's more like corn cake, which is is a different thing, was flavorless. It tasted like sugar and corn flower. It just wasn't good. read more

Delicious BBQ and chill vibe. Ordered the sampler plate with ribs, tri tip and brisket. You could see the smoke ring on the brisket and all of the meat was tender and so tasty! My favorite was the ribs. We got the Mac and cheese and collard greens as sides and enjoyed both. Also had the corn bread, which was great. You order at the counter and they bring your food out to you. They have a decent outdoor patio with tents that is dog friendly. They had one tv outside and had basketball on and playing music, which made it a super cool atmosphere. I'm not sure if this was a special day, but we were offered beers on the house while we were sitting on the patio. The workers were super friendly. My husband's exact words were "this place is a hidden gem." We'll certainly be back. Note, their hours are open until they run out of food! We tried to go previously at 6pm on a Saturday and they were sold out! So try to go early. We went around 3:30pm on Saturday and had all of the options. read more

Bowlegged BBQ - sampler plate with ribs, tri tip, brisket, Mac and cheese, collard greens and corn bread - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

Great food!!! This place is a hole in the wall gold mine!!! The people are great, the service is great, and they are very helpful. First time coming here and I have already messaged people to meet me here next time. The ambiance inside is so cool with so much stuff and history to look at. The music is great to listen to as well. Thank you so much for making me feel at home. read more

Bowlegged BBQ - rib tips a la carte - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

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Sampling Method: "Try All" Dishes Sampled: * Brisket * Chicken * Rib tips * Catfish * Potato salad * Baked beans * Spaghetti * Hot links (favorite) * Red drink (not tasty) And yams Overall Experience: * Food Quality: Varied. The hot links, rib tips and potato salad stood out as the best items. Other dishes, while flavorful, were oilier than preferred (brisket). * Ambiance: Great atmosphere that enhanced the dining experience. * Service: Average. Had to return to the counter multiple times for missed items. * Special Note: There's a cigar lounge in the back, which was a fun discovery. Conclusion: While the food was decent, with a couple of standout items, the service could use some improvement. Despite the good time, Bowlegged BBQ did not surpass Woody's in Inglewood, CA, which remains a favorite for this LA native couple. read more

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Hands down the best BBQ in allllll of San Diego. Siblings did well with family secret recipes. It's my go to weekly, and you never disappoint. May you guys prosper to the moon and back!!! I would add photos, but I ate it, and bones don't photograph well. read more

Bowlegged I'm going to let you'll make it my wife told me not to leave a bad review just ask for you'll to do better with customer service , food quality, and the prices. read more

We just saw it a few days ago on the street and decided to give a try today. No dedicated parking. Great atmosphere to go along with the name. You order at the counter and they bring you your meal to the table. Most all of the seating is sudo-outdoors. We entered and were greeted by the man at the register with a genuine smile and helpful attitude. He gave great recommendations and help with our first experience at the place. It only took about 15 min to bring the first round (yes, i went back after we'd licked the plates for a second rack of ribs). The food was nothing short of amazing. We got ribs and brisket with a side of cabbage and mac'n'cheese. This has just been added to my short list of "places to frequent" restaurants. Thanks! read more

Being from Texas we were missing good Bbq... after exploring fb and yelp we decided to try a place like this one that was considered a hole in the wall with legit bbq. They didn't disappoint! We had the lunch specials, a brisket sandwich with chips and a soda for $15.99, rib tips with chips and a soda for $15.99, added a piece of cornbread and a koolaid too. All was super tasty. Rib tips did have some hidden bones so be careful.. it's so tasty I kept shoving it in my mouth without warning. My fault not theirs LoL! Cornbread was steamy, buttery and moist. Rib tips coulda been a little bit crispier but I think the bbq sauce softened them up a bit. They were very tasty though! The bbq sauce is a perfect balance of seasoning and sweet. The sandwich was loaded with goodness, great texture and fine slices that made it easy to eat and packed firmly so that you could get all the flavor in every bite. The koolaid was fire! Something about having a nice cold glass of koolaid with bbq. We sat on the patio and enjoyed the music through the speakers as we ate, there is even a private patio/ cigar bar that made me smile... it just has an all around cool vibe! We were there around 1pm so lunch crowd was in and out. Cool , old school retirees hung out, out back and it just really gave the place a safe, fun vibe. We will definitely be back... after all, I need some potato salad and German chocolate cake... maybe even some bbq chicken! read more

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So I saw someone post this BBQ spot on YouTube and I said I gotta try this place out . Well that was the best decision to make this place blew me off my feet !! The Service from ordering my food to when I sat down and the owner came up to us and had a nice conversation about his business and about how he started . NOW Jessica OMG by far the nicest woman and it was a pleasure meeting her she HOOKED us up she gave us 2 extra COOLAIDS and an order of CATFISH 2 pcs . I felt like I was at a good friends house the VIBE the Energy the atmosphere was soo CHILL. The FOOD was so Delicious And Defiantly coming back . Make sure you come here they will NOT Disappoint !!!! And Don't listen to these Negative comments this place Beats any BBQ spot in all San Diego !!! read more

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Food was delicious smokey and tender. The service was decent. You can tell everyone here enjoyed the food.

Ordered brisket and rib tips. Rib tips were decent. Brisket was the worst I've ever had from a bbq restaurant hands down. Paid a lot of money for inedible food. Difficult to cut with a steak knife tough. Chewing it made my jaw sore type of tenderness. Maybe it was an off day? I know little about smoking meat but am confident I could day better if you gave me two hours and a smoker read more