I wish I had come here sooner. Got here on a Friday at 12 because I finally had a weekday off to do…read morethe boots on the ground journalism people deserve. Ordering was quick and simple at its own window the. We got a booth by the bar. We had a buzzer that rang almost immediately. I grabbed my own michelada while my partner was grabbing the food. They had on a few movies no loud music blaring and I can see it would get loud when packed. Brisket was amazing and this is my go to next time. The jalapeño link was also delicious. The beef rib was a lil dry which was disappointing I love a good beef rib. Pulled pork would be great on a sandwich. Cole slaw had no onions and it was my perfect complement to the bbq sauce. The Mac and cheese was sooooo rich and delicious. Quick tip ask for more bbq sauce if you're like me and drown your meat. Michelada was ok I'll probably just get a beer next time.

Visit October 2026…read more 3.5 stars Came here on a Friday evening about 8p. Got parking right in front and walked right up to the cashier. So nice! Problem though by that time some of the items were already sold out. Live and learn. No tri tip, links, or beef ribs. Just two of the three things I had zeroed on when looking online. Thank goodness they still had brisket! I noticed that the larger pieces which I assume were from the center of the cut were tender and juicy but some of the smaller pieces were drier and needed sauce. So that was a bit of a mix mix. Pork ribs. Could have been better. Red chili: I liked this a lot. Generous chunks of beef. Great seasoning. Sides: the fries and mac cheese are outstanding! Ambiance is lively. A lot of Halloween decor. Family friendly! Ample outdoor and inside (where bar is). Large beer menu. Order food at window. We got our food immediately at the window and just needed to find a table. There was a very pleasant young man working the tables. Very cheerful. Note: I have had take out before and the tri tip was great. So bummed wasn't there. Rating based on my dine in experience.

Food was great! I ordered the Western Brisket Burger with lemon pepper fries, and everything had a…read moregreat smoky flavor. They also offer a lunch special Monday through Friday from 10 AM-3 PM. The portions were generous, and you get plenty of food for the price. The staff was very friendly and hospitable, which made the experience even better. Definitely a solid lunch spot.

Great experience and service! Food was amazing. Brisket and Cornbread a must have! Definitely will…read morebe coming back :)

This recent visit I had was really nice I've been coming to this location for years. the night was…read moresuper busy but despite it being busy and I wanted to give a shout-out to Robert. He helped us and continued checking up on us and cracking jokes and smiling despite it being busy and is always kind every time we go :)

Phil's bbq is a must every time I go to San Diego! I have been going here for more than a decade…read moreand the food never disappoints. Depending on the time, there can be hardly any wait or a very long wait. We always get the onion rings, mac salad, and beefy ribs. Everything is delicious, even my picky toddler eats it! The restaurant is clean, workers are beyond friendly, and there is ample seating.

Cool spot in Poway, we had brisket and ribs, both amazingly flavorful and tender! Cool outdoor…read morepatio right in Old Town Poway. Staff was friendly and the service quick, we went for lunch.

We had delivery and it's been a long time since we've had BBQ that good in SD. The brisket was…read morejuicy, flavorful, and falling apart. The pork ribs have a dry rub that was delicious and also tender. The pork belly was good, but paled in comparison to the brisket. Kids didn't like the corn bread because it wasn't sweet, it was also a bit dense, however the honey butter balanced it nicely. I got the succatash and enjoyed the flavorful veggies cooked perfectly. The meat did not need the BBQ sauce. And the meal came with pickle slices the kids loved. Finger licking good!

Good Hometown BBQ spot you going to love to come bring a cigar and have a drink…read more I recommend you come here and have a drink and relax.

Bowllegged BBQ absolutely lives up to the hype!…read more I ordered the leg and thigh combo plate with collard greens and mac & cheese, and every bite was packed with flavor. The chicken was so incredibly tender that it literally fell right off the bone. You can tell it was cooked with care. The collard greens and mac & cheese were both perfectly seasoned and tasted just like true comfort food. To wash it all down, I had a Tito's with pineapple and cranberry juice with a dash of the Bowllegged Welcomin' . Let me just say, it was the perfect pairing! Beyond the food, the atmosphere really stood out. The artwork both inside and outside gives the place so much personality, and with plenty of TVs and shaded outdoor seating, it's a great spot to kick back and enjoy your meal on a sunny San Diego day. The whole place has a soulful, welcoming vibe that truly felt like home. Thank you to everyone at Bowllegged BBQ for such a great experience. This is definitely a place worth stopping by if you're in San Diego. I'll absolutely be back for more!

Wow, how have we never heard of this place before?! Literally a "hole in the wall" establishment…read morethat we found by chance after a medical appointment down the street in Mission Gorge. We got the 2 Meat Combo and when my husband told the server he didn't care for chicken breast, she offered to swap it out for a hot link. For our sides, we got baked mac n cheese (an extra $3), coleslaw, and baked beans. Everything was delicious! Seasoning was perfect, not salty at all yet flavorful. The brisket and pulled pork were soo tender and that hot link was really good. The sides were also seasoned to perfection. The baked beans had bits of ground beef in it! We came at happy hour which ended at 4. I got the cranberry cocktail and it was refreshing!

Cool looking place with indoor and patio seating, kids play area and game area. There are plenty of…read moreTVs and a wide bar area. Great place to hang out for all ages. Service was a little slow. Food weren't hot and super dry. Honestly, the sides were more enjoyable than the BBQ themselves. Maybe it was an off day? Or did we came at the wrong time? I don't know but it was quite disappointing.

Honestly this is the best place for BBQ in all of San Diego !…read more I ordered the following below: *Grand Ole Beef Rib: 5/5 - The best ribs I have ever had ! Yes they are pricey, and you can only order a minimum of 1lb. However, the rib is so juicy, soft, and tender it literally falls off the bone ! It is seasoned so well you don't even have to add bbq sauce ! I was full just eating both these ribs ! *Tri-Tip Sandwich: 4/5 - A very great and tasting sandwich ! The meat its self is very tasty, juicy, & tender. The bun does complement it pretty well as well as its soft yet crispy. The chimichurri is a nice addition. *French Fries: 5/5 - Golden, crispy, seasoned fries. A great option to be paired with your delicious meats ! Fluffy white potato on the inside yet crispy and ridged on the outside ! *Mac & Cheese: 3/5 - Average mac & cheese. Was creamy, less cheesy. The macaroni was cooked perfectly however I felt it needed more salt, cheese or something to make it stand out more. Upon entering this establishment there is a lot of old western theme ! A buck in the wall, nice old oak bar, wooden tables and chairs ! They also have seating outside in the back where sometimes they play live music ! In addition on hot days they have some mist and fans spraying around to keep you cool ! The service was exceptional ! I always love coming to this place ! Very great food ! Nice vibes and friendly people !

This is THE spot to gather. I'll get to the great food but let's talk about the setting! Big open…read moreoutdoor space out back. Kids running around playing. Picnic tables filled with groups of people eating and enjoying the outdoors...and the view! The mountains give the music stage a beautiful backdrop. Amazing local live music which I always love. Nice to hear local groups. All of the food here has been good and I'm pretty sure I've tried most everything. While I didn't get dessert this day, I recommend you don't skip it. In my best Star Wars...These are the desserts you are looking for! Say it with me...TEXAS FLOOD PIE! My only negatives were the beer needed to be colder and the wait staff can get a little sidetracked when it's busy.

My partner and I had our second visit to The Fire Spot and it hit the spot! We got the deluxe menu…read moreand ordered our favorites: rib eye, skirt steak and garlic finger rib. Our server Aaron was very nice and attentive and answered all our questions about different menu items in detail. The place has limited seating so the wait list can get long but worth the wait. We will definitely be back!

The only complaint anyone could have is that the parking lot is absolutely insane. The food…read morequality, service, vibe. It's all high tier. Out of the two all you can eat options you did the lower one and still enjoyed every single bite that we had they replaced the cooking tops often so they're not a lot in the restaurant and even though it's smaller as long as you make reservations, you shouldn't have a hard time getting in. Took photos but lost them as I'm writing this about a month later! 100% go give them a try tho!

Great service and AYCE price. Walked in on friday with no reservation and seated immediately…read more Parking took a bit though

Came here dinner for my kids' bday . Meat quality definitely…read more For family of 4 ,we ordered the SOT plate , It came with 4 meats ( pork belly , beef belly . Ribeye steak and short ribs) all taste great! I love that they cook the kimchi and bean sprouts at the side of the meat , and yes , they cook for you . We only know that kimchi can taste better while heat it up like this way . Kate and Nate who service and cook for us . Both very nice and super good at cooking the meats . Nate and our family had a great conversation talk about sports and make us feel welcome ! Because it's my son's bday today . They even give him a gift . That makes his day . He loves Korean bbq . We went different restaurants to try different BBQ . And now he says he will always choose SOT from now on !

Came to Smokin' J's for the first time with my buddy Tom. Never been to Old Town Poway, very…read morerelaxed and spacious. We ordered ribs, brisket, mac and cheese and a couple of beers. We met one of the owners Josh, cool guy and he told us a bit about the founding of the business. Ribs and brisket were super tender. I like the less spicy sauce, not too sweet. Mac and cheese was great too, big shells and plenty of cheese. We sat outside on the picnic benches, nice vibe.

Overall 3.8 (not a choice so I gave a 4) Ribs 5 very tasty…read moreper my lunch companion Mac/cheese 3.5 Cornbread 5 (dreamy!; def a fave of mine, texture & taste wise) Brisket 2 (& that's generous) for me it wasn't that tasty & it was kind of choking me to eat it. Service 4 Ambience 3.8 you really have no where to sit but outside, but hey we live in SoCal At a whopping $88 for two, that's def a bit steep Not sure if I would return, maybe for the pork belly