Perfection, except one thing. A great Tri-tip sandwich. Luscious coleslaw. Friendly fast service. Convenient (at least for gates 38-45). What missing? A Tri-tip breakfast burrito. It's simple - just add it as a meat option. Make that change and you're BBQ perfection. read more

I've been told time and time again how this is the best place to eat in the San Diego Airport. I've never tried any of their locations either. Was waiting for my ride to pick me up and decided to stop by and give it a try. Service was friendly and my order came out fast. I got the El Toro and did Phil's Way, which essentially just meaning it was drowning in bbq sauce. I think it would've been fine if their bbq wasn't soo sweet. The meat was nice, but I had to wipe away a ton of bbq to taste it. It was extremely messy to eat and difficult to enjoy. Next time, I'm definitely going to get the bbq on the side. I hated their macaroni salad. It tasted like mayo and that was it. I threw all of it away. For airport food, I think this was pretty decent (minus the mac salad). For regular bbq, I've easily had way better. I do believe that their actual locations would have better quality than the airport. read more

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I swung by here on Sunday right when they opened at 11am. We lined up and were third in place. We got the Baby Back Ribs & Chicken Dinner. We got the Mac salad, potato salad, and Cole slaw. We also got a cheeseburger for the kids. The fries were hot and delicious. The bbq came out so fast and I love asking for extra sides of bbq to dip with. Service was friendly as well. They had a huge tv showing the World Cup too. It was too bad we couldn't stay long since we had to drive back to AZ. We will definitely be back whenever we are in SD! read more

Phil's BBQ - Cheeseburger - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

I stopped by Phil's bc it was right by my gate. I don't eat meat, but was surprised to see they had a no meat breakfast option. And then I ordered onion rings bc I couldn't resist!! Service was awesome-they have options to preorder/express order online, order via 3 kiosks or walk up to counter. They are super quick and efficient on getting orders out! Service staff was also really friendly and everyone seemed to be in such a good mood (which never happens at the airport). read more

Phil's BBQ - Breakfast burrito-no meat - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

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What a pleasant surprise to see this at the airport. I was looking for a snack, but ran into full meals and a full bar. The staff: some the coolest you'll ever meet. Very friendly and knowledgeable. My meal came quickly to my table. I ordered pull pork sliders on a Hawaiian bun. The sauce came on the side and it also came with a bed of fries. I am not a big fan of french fries but these were yummy. I almost missed the condiment bar on the way out. There was extra plastic utensils, moist towelettes, creole seasoning and hot sauce. Nice place to grab a bite while waiting for your flight. read more

Phil's BBQ - Pork Sliders - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

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Overview: Phil was there for me when I needed it the most, large portions, a place of solace in this airport ---- Philibuster $22.50: - 1/2 lb. double burger char-grilled, topped with center-cut smoked honey bacon, BBQ pulled pork (broham), cheese, an onion ring, and BBQ sauce - this thing was HUGE, I was full after only eating half of it - it comes with 1 side and I opted for coleslaw, all their sides sounded good but I wanted some type of veggies to cut through the heavy burger - coleslaw was creamy and crunchy, helped to cut down the grease and richness of the meat - I asked for the onion ring on the side otherwise I don't think I could've fit the burger into my mouth hahah (bonus - it was like it's own side) - the 3 different meats from the double patties, to the pulled pork, and the 2 thick bacon slices, made this super filling ---- My nitpicks: - I would've liked the bun to be more toasted - the bacon was a tad bit overcooked and hard to bite through - the bottom bun was soaking up all the oil from the patties and was a little gross seeing that grease layer in the cross section ---- After today's flight delay, missed connection, and rebooking of flights, I had 4+ hours to kill and got a little hungry. Out of the different options available in Terminal 2, Phil's seemed like a solid choice. I have yet to go to sit down at a Phil's BBQ in SD, but for my first time it was pretty darn good. For the airport price, I was pleasantly surprised at how large this burger was, I feel like it was a fair price. ---- Notes: - plenty of seating + bar seating available all with paper towel roll dispensers (it can get very messy with all the sauce!) - 3 different ways of ordering: 1. Scan a QR code and order directly on their toast platform. 2. Order from kiosks. 3. Order from cashiers in the front - hand wipes, utensils, and condiments all available for grabs - pretty cool seating area when you look at the hanging lights that show someone swimming through it (see the video) ---- Overall: good bang for your buck, solid humongous bbq burger, a bit heavy (but can be a good thing if you're trying to induce a food coma for a long haul flight!), makes me want to try a real Phil's BBQ outside of the airport read more

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Great airport food. I got the sausage sandwich with coleslaw and bbq sauce. Slaw is so good I had a side of it as well. Mayonnaise in the slaw but not too mayonnaisey. Fresh. Delicious! Service was prompt and friendly. read more

Phil's BBQ - Sausage sandwich w a side of slaw - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

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I was so surprised with how good the food from Phil's was at the airport! I even forgot to take a picture until after we were done!! Service was fast and friendly. Food was served quickly. Portions were great and taste was awesome. The tri-tip was so tender and flavorful!! I could have gladly just eaten that. Airport food is often so meh. Was nice to find an excellent choice! read more

Phil's BBQ - We finished before I remembered to take a picture! - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

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I have always liked Phil's BBQ, so was happy to grab a 1/2 rack of pork ribs and onion rings for the plane. I usually like beef ribs much more than pork ribs, but they don't have beef ribs at this location. It would be super awkward to be gnawing on a big beef rib on the plane. I get it. The pork ribs tasted good (I love their BBQ sauce), but they were tiny -- smaller than the pork ribs at their brick-and-mortar stores. Onion rings were fried nicely, but the batter was rather bland (1 star off). Make sure you pack lots of napkins and wet naps, because the food will be messy. The *outside* of my to-go boxes were also greasy. read more

I usually dislike eating at the airport for a number of reasons but this was a really good experience. Ample seating and the area was clean. The bartender that helped us was super friendly and efficient with great vibes. I wish I would've caught his name so I could mention him. He had a man bun - maybe that'll help identify him! The food was great - exactly what we were looking for prior to our departure. I would definitely eat here again if I was waiting in this terminal. read more

Phil's BBQ - Chicken Caesar salad with a side of tri tip - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

If one is to eat at an airport it may as well be good food.....Phil's BBQ fits the bill! We ordered the Philbuster burger and quarter rib dinner with coleslaw and pickle as the side. The ribs were tender and well bbq'd and the burger was HUGE and delicious, 2 patties, choice bacon, onion ring, piled high with pulled pork.....amazing! I expect to pay more at an airport but pricing was fair. The guy at the counter was super chill and accommodating, efficient and friendly, and the food came out hot and quick. Located at the end of Terminal 2 near the 38-44 gates, an open atmosphere welcomes travelers with food and drink options to please all. Enjoyed the vibe. read more

Phil's BBQ - Philbuster burger - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

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Tasty food, fast and friendly service, and a convenient location. I had the pulled pork on the side with a Caesar salad, and everything was delicious. The prices are fair, and the overall experience was great. Plenty of seating too. I'll definitely be back! read more

The place looks small however it is large inside and very clean. You have to order before siting but it goes quick. We visited San Diego with family so we ordered the family feast which comes with all the items as well as cornbread but it was eaten quickly so I didn't get a picture. The corn was also extra but the kids wanted it. I love bbq and don't just rate any highly, however this one has always been the Best and whenever we visit SD we have to go!!! This is a must!!! The best part is the fact that once you are seated there are wait staff that give excellent serve, they bring extra bbq sauce, take away empty dishes and are so friendly! ENJOY!!! read more

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Was so tasty!! We got the beef ribs and chicken wings with the fries and Mac salad! The workers were kind and gave great suggestions! read more

Love me some Phil's, and while the selection and execution at this airport off-shoot of the San Diego institution doesn't match its regular restaurant locations, it certainly beats anything I can eat in the air when flying domestic (international first class is of course on a whole other level ;). Pro tip: avoid the line and order via kiosk instead. Apple Pay accepted, and food comes out fast, always a plus when you're rushing to get somewhere! read more

Phil's BBQ - Dining Area - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

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Waiting on a flight and needed bite to eat. Sat at the bar ordered the tri tip fries and a ginger beer. The bartender was welcoming,friendly and personable. She was super attentive had a great playlist and easy to talk to. The food was OK I'm wondering if I should have got the ribs. The beef was tender but fries were just okay. read more

Phil's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

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I was heading out of town for a work trip so needed to grab something portable and easy to consume on the plane. If I could summarize the meal in one word, it would be DRY. - California Breakfast Burrito ($17.95): I don't know if I was supposed to ask for BBQ sauce or the standard California burrito ingredients (pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream), but apparently the default is that I get absolutely nothing. The burrito was just tortilla, dry meat, and minimal cheese. The only moisture came from the soggy, not-crisp fries. - Side of breakfast potatoes ($3.30): Should have passed on this one too. Not crispy. Also dry. There is a 2% pre-tax surcharge. My work has a maximum spend amount per meal, and despite choosing the most inexpensive and least appetizing combination of foods, I still exceeded my $25 stipend after addition of sales tax, the 2% double taxation, and tip (I always tip). Not much one can do when stuck eating in an airport, but for those of you who wander over to Phil's, do NOT order the California burrito. Or if you do, ask them to not forget to add all semblance of sauce. My favorite BBQ place in San Diego is Smoking J's. I wish Smokin J's would replace this airport Phil's. read more

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Can be busy since it's the main airport terminal. QR menus make it easy to order and pick up your food when ready. Have sports playing on some screens while rock is playing on the speakers. Great ribs with a sweet sauce with a little bit kick. Limited wine but a full bar. Like their Mac salad. read more

Phil's BBQ - At the SD airport location - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

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Got a beer before the flight in terminal 2, next to gate 45, end of concourse. Kiosk order or just walk up. Dine in or to go. Plenty of seats not cheap but decent quality. Quick serve , lower your anxiety and pacify your taste bud and your stomach before the flight. Airport Open air ambiance. Glad we have this choice in SAN terminal 2. read more

Phil's BBQ - Kiosk order - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

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Pros: fast service, close to United gates, sandwich was large. Cons: pulled pork was dry. First time trying Phil's BBQ. It was about 1000 but they were already serving lunch items. Good size portions, but the pulled pork was dry. The sauce was tangy which is good or bad depending on your taste. It was little too much for me. Overall it was an OK meal. read more

Phil's BBQ - BBQ Brahman sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

I love coming here when flying through San Diego. They always have solid service and the food is quick! The sauce is incredible on the pork ribs. I get it pretty much every time. In terms of the sides, they're all pretty good but my favorite is how perfect their fries are and the Cole slaw. They always have music going and multiple TVs with sports on. Theres also a bar connected for those looking for a more elaborate beverage. read more

Phil's BBQ - Bbq Baby back ribs, delicious fries and Cole slaw - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

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The ribs were delicious and full of flavor. The portions were generous, and I really enjoyed my meal. The service was good, and the restaurant offers both pick up and dine in. Even close to closing time, the place was super busy. Lots of seating available. read more

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The BBQ is okay. The most important aspect is that this is an airport bar. Good drinks served quickly. Finding a seat is often a challenge. Staff is friendly but not very fast in cleaning up tables after customers depart. read more

Can't come to SD and not get Phils! At least that's for my family ~ We had a family member visit SD for the first time and we had to make a pit stop here for lunch. She loved it. Got some baby back ribs, beef ribs, mac salad, and potato salad. This place is always packed but the food is always good. Can't complain. read more

Phil's BBQ - Beef ribs, Mac salad, potato salad, baby back ribs - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

I lived in San Diego and have been going to Phil's in Midway (& when they had a San Marcos location) for years. I have sent so many friends to Phil's and taken people from out of town at least a dozen times. I was excited to grab some ribs to go before my flight took off. They were out of the side I wanted but oh well, it's about the ribs, right? Maybe taking them to go was where I went wrong. I saw the eat in orders coming out and they looked great. I got on the plane and was digging in before the plane was done boarding. I had the tiniest, driest, most terrible ribs I have ever had. Not just from Phil's. Ever in my life. I thought it was a joke - they were half the size they normally are. The biggest one was the size of my pinky! And they were so dried out and terrible I could even eat them. The sauce was great as always but I was bummed the whole way back to Chicago. read more

Fast service which is important at an airport. Tri-tip sandwich was good, it was just overcooked for my taste. BBQ sauce was good with a little spice. Mac salad was very good but needed a little salt. They have lots of seating which is unusual at an airport. Overall, it was a good experience, I would eat here again. read more

Phil's BBQ - Tri tip sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

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Phil's was a great option at San Diego airport before flying home to Florida... Then again it probably wasn't a smart idea to eat a "Philibuster" right before getting on a 5-hour flight! That's not their fault though ;-) The burgers are great there, the food was delivered fast, and the coleslaw was amazing. I'm not sure I've ever had better coleslaw. The seating area at San Diego airport offers plenty of TVs, and on a day of our visit they were showing sports on all of them. It appeared that there was also a separate bar area of Phil's, but we were just enjoying the iced tea. Pricing average is about $20 per burger depending upon what you get, so with drinks and sides and everything else, it ends up being around $30+ per person. Overall, if you find yourself in the terminal with Phil's, it is a good option. read more

$23 philbuster $3 pickle Filthy. Filthy good. Heavier than 1/2 lb for sure. This order takes an additional 10 minutes to make and a few more to eat so you'll need some time. I ordered at the cashier not the bar and then took a seat at the table. GO PRO- order the side slaw and top the burger with it.​ read more

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I'm not going to say it's the best BBQ, but for California which is a state that seems to have no BBQ culture (I've lived all over the country), this is about as good as you can get. The portions are large and the service is friendly. read more

We were flying out of Terminal 2 around lunch time on a Saturday and decided to give this place a try. It was a good idea because the burgers and fries were really good. The menu has burgers, pulled pork, chicken sandwiches, sausage sandwiches, salads and ribs. I opted for the BBQ Cheeseburger. It came with two patties, cheese, an onion ring, and a side of BBQ sauce. Side options were fries, Cole slaw or a pickle. The fries were fresh real potatoes and were pretty good, and a very big portion. My husband had the Philibuster burger. It came with bacon and cheese, along with a side of BBQ sauce. He opted for the cole slaw and said it was really good. read more

Phil's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

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This was the worst mistake ever...from the cold fryer that seemed to be old...to the stale buns of my BBQ sandwich...if I could go back in a time machine I would runaway from Phil's.. read more

Phil's BBQ - lazy cook - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

Came to Phil's BBQ Bar side of the restaurant and were greeted by Nahely. She took my name right away and sat us down very quickly. She was very attentive although it was a busy Friday night! She was very professional and polite. She checked on us multiple times. She communicated great with her team and always had a positive attitude and smile on her face. It was great to know that there is still people who care about service. Thank you Nahely for making date night a great experience! read more

I got a pretzel with cheese sauce and a side of fries. Honestly, that pretzel was the best pretzel I have ever had! Also, the fries tasted really fresh. read more

Phil's BBQ - Pretzel - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

If your from Texas, Kansas City, Memphis or Carolina you won't recognize this as Bar-B-Que. I'm not certain what the sauce is, but it's not like any bar-b-que sauce I've ever tried. That said the sausage sandwich was good for what it was. Granted it would have been far better if it was a hot link instead of a smoked sausage, but it was all right. read more

Phil's BBQ - Phil's sausage sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

It's just solid Memphis/ St. Louis type sweet bbq smoky goodness. One thing that stands out about these places is consistency and employee attitudes they were warm friendly and helpful. Tri tip was good, good standard coleslaw. The pork ribs were outstanding fall off the bone good recommendation get em dry no sauce then add your own. The fries were legit fresh hot crispy, the Broham fries looked darn good too. Hand washing stations are nice and clean and you don't have to spread the sticky goodness all over. Tried 2 locations and both were good. read more

Arrived at 6 am for a flight back NY. Greeted with a smile by Jasmine who took my order quickly. She prepared and presented my coffee right away. I sat down by a nearby table waiting for my BEC burrito. After about a five minute wait she called my name but since she saw me sitting nearby, she walked my food over to me. Great service! The burrito was hot and delicious and thoroughly enjoyed. The dining area was clean and bright and not too noisy. Nice. Highly recommend! read more

Surprisingly good food for the airport. They must smoke their meats offsite and bring them in each day, which is fine since BBQ travels well. Only issue is that portions can be a bit large, so hard to take leftovers home if you're just starting your travels. Pork Ribs: Can definitely see why these are so popular. Its texture is both pull apart and firm. Like the right balance where the edges got a close-to-burnt texture from all that cooking, but it's actually delicious. Great smoky taste in the ribs pairs great against the sweet BBQ sauce. El Toro (Tri Tip): It's a bit well-done for how I usually have my tri-tip. So it reminded me more of brisket, albeit not as fatty. Sliced thin and tossed with BBQ sauce. I really enjoyed all the meatiness. Mac Salad: Tasted like something your aunt would bring to a picnic. It was fine, but nothing to go out of your way for like mac & cheese. Beans: Always a nice hearty pairing to BBQ. Hit the spot. read more

Phil's BBQ - El Toro - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

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A must stop before flying out of terminal2. Their bbq sauce I could drink Nice portions for aorport read more

Great bartenders! Aaron and Juain were awesome! They went above and beyond and were very friendly Juain made me one of the best Irish Coffees I've ever had, and he hand made some whip cream, as they didn't have any. I look forward to going back next time I'm at the airport! read more

One of my groups favorite restaurants! This goes without saying, but obviously Phil's has an unmatched reputation and one of the most reviewed places on Yelp. The beef ribs they have here is literally one of the best things you will ever taste. They are HUGE, smothered in amazing BBQ sauce, and super filling. The baby back ribs were great as well! For sides, we ordered Mac salad, Cole slaw, baked beans, steamed veggies. We also ordered the giant onion rings (delicious) and the cornbread (decent). I only ate 2 beef ribs and a small baby back rib and I was so stuffed l couldn't move! BBQ heaven Only thing is that there is usually a line, so be prepared to wait! Workers are super nice and take down the number of people in your group to prep you for seating. Ordering is easy and quick. Can't wait to have this again next time! read more

Phil's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California