Great service, big crowds but managed efficiently and best large beef ribs I've had in a long time !!

Best BBQ restaurant in San Diego; adjacent to Seaworld and Mission Bay. Clean and remodeled ambiance and fast service. Generous portions and affordable prices. Highly recommended and worth it. read more

So I had really high expectations for this place given it is regarded as THEE BBQ spot to be in San Diego. One side is a restaurant while the other side gives sports bar which was really cool. I'd like to premise this by saying amongst my friends I am considered a BBQ snob. Service - service is SUPERB. Everyone was attentive, constantly checked on us, and when I was absent minded and left my jacket one of the waitresses was nice enough to chase me down to my car. Absolutely no service complaints. Food: So I did not look at the menu before I came. Expecting a traditional menu that included brisket which is one of my favorites because if you can do a good brisket and a tender rib baaaabbyyy we in business. There was no brisket but they offered baby back ribs on and off the bone, chicken on and off the bone and hot links and some other options to satisfy ppl who aren't quite bbq fans. We ordered the baby back ribs with the chicken off the bone, bbq wings, potato salad, fries, baked beans and a chicken Cesar salad. Wings 10 out of 10 BBQ sauce and Ranch 10 out of 10 Ribs tenderness 10/10 and 7 out of 10 on the flavor. It wasn't horrible but it could've been way better Chicken off the bone 3 out of 10. This is because you can tell it wasn't cooked on a grill but seasoned with things to mimic bbq flavors. A salad will be a salad lol. However, they do put the aforementioned chicken on the salad and it wasn't my favorite thing. The sides were good I really appreciate that they have fresh cut fries. The baked beans were perfect. The potato salad was missing something that I couldn't quite put my finger on but when I put Tabasco on it, all was right with the world. read more

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Fun, lively atmosphere with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, making it great for casual lunch or dinners with friends or family. Their ribs and BBQ plates leave you full. The BBQ sauce is what stands out and keeps people coming back. This chain is known for its fast-casual, family-friendly setup and grilled ribs, sandwiches, and chicken. Parking can get pretty crowded during peak lunch and dinner hours since it's right by the Sports Arena area. The lines can also get long, especially on weekends, but service usually moves quickly. Overall, it's a reliable BBQ spot with good food. read more

Phil's BBQ - Chicken Dinner (Half) - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

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We did not have time to wait on a Sunday night for this amazing BBQ joint near the Arena in San Diego. The outdoor seating also had a long wait. Instead, we opted for the take out, which also took about 15 minutes to order. Service was good, but a little rushed and confused. The ribs, wings, and fries were all very tasty and worth the 15 minute wait. A bit pricey, but well with it. Would love to visit another time when we could sit and experience the crowd, which was unusually eclectic! read more

More great happy hour moments! We were greeted and seated right away. We perched at the bar and had great service! Kayleigh and Kyleigh were both fantastic. I tried 2 new drinks- Strawberry Lychee Margarita and Strawberry Cheesecake Martini. I would order these in that order. Margarita was great with BBQ and the cheesecake martini was so rich and silky; like dessert in a glass. read more

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This is my 2nd time to Phil's. When we got there, the line was loooooong! This was a work dinner, so we didn't want to wait long. My coworker said that she saw on TikTok to avoid the lines and sit at the "bar". Boy did that work! Got seated immediately! I always have to get the beef rib if it's on the menu!! The pork ribs were fall off the bone! Don't miss out on the cornbread! I think they only have the one size. Which is fine with me! I ended up taking back to my hotel for midnight snack! Coleslaw cut the richness of the meats and the beans were perfectly sweet. Will go back for the sausage link! read more

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Whoa! I had high expectations after seeing that they had thousands of reviews but ended up disappointed. The line was wrapped around the building. The To-go line is a whole lot quicker. Stay to the left for to-gos. Ordered a full rack and half chicken dinners. Both were mediocre. I thought the ribs were too charred for my liking. It was tender but too sopped with sauce. The sides were average also. I thought the corn on the cob was a few pieces of corn on the cob but it was just one. It was super loud inside too. read more

Phil's BBQ - Full rack dinner and half chicken dinner - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

Phil's BBQ is BACK in the game 10/10 across the board. Everything was spectacular--exactly how you want BBQ to hit. Ribs 10/10 Sausage link 10/10 Chicken 8/10 Fries 10/10 Corn 9/10 BBQ sauce 20/10 (seriously... unreal) Flavor, consistency, vibe--all dialed. If you haven't been in a while, it's time. They're firing on all cylinders right now. read more

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It's been over 10 years since I've been back. The taste is somewhat as I remembered. The price is reasonable. I really enjoyed the baby short ribs and the beef bone. The pulled pork was tender and good too. The portion was good too. The tri-tip was a little too burnt for me. The potato salad and sweet beans helped cut through the richness of the meat. There's still a lot of customers here for a late night. I remember coming here and having to wait an hour to be seated. We didn't have to wait this time. read more

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I went to this location the other day and it was pretty busy. But the lines moved quick and my party and I were able to find a table right away. I got the pork rib and chicken combo with fries and cole slaw. The bbq wasn't overly sweet which I liked. The meat was nice and tender as well. The only thing I wished was if the fries were crisper but other than that I found the meal pleasing. read more

Phil's BBQ - Rib Baby Back Rib & Chicken Dinner - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

Visited this very popular bbq place in San Diego. Me and my friends went on a Saturday afternoon around 5 and there was a line around the corner already although the wait wasn't that bad, about 20 minutes. Once you get to the front of the line, they will find a table for you and send you the table after you order. I ordered the Beefy Rib Tickler and I could not finish that 1 beef bone, fries, coleslaw and onion rings. The rib was fall off the bone tender, juicy and flavorful. The servers kept checking on us to make sure we have what we needed. The servers are friendly and helpful! We had a great experience. I actually went back the next day to order a full rib to bring home to my family but I am hoping to bring them so they can experience the fun restaurant. read more

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Phil's is hands down one of my fav bbq spots. In fact, it's family tradition when we drive to SD we go straight to Phil's. Service here is always friendly. I am used to ordering at the counter and didn't even know they had a full service side. However while we were standing in line to order we were asked if we wanted to sit on the full service side and were told they had a nice patio that was dog friendly. It was perfect! I ordered the wings, side of tri tip and small side of Mac Salad. All were fantastic. My friend ordered pulled pork and a side of their famous onion rings. Don't leave without trying the onion rings! I also bought 4 of their bottles of sauce to bring back to AZ with me. Yes, it's that good! read more

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Been coming to Phil's BBQ for years and it still hits every time. The BBQ is super flavorful! smoky, saucy, and consistent all across. As great as the food was though, the service really stood out this visit. They had a full house and they still went out of their way to help carry trays to the table without us even asking. That kind of service stays with me. Not to mention the patio seating was comfortable and somehow stayed cool even in the heat, which made the whole experience just solid. Phil's BBQ never misses read more

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I found myself in Point Loma on a weeknight and was hungry so we swung by the OG Phil's BBQ in sports arena. I had forgotten how long the line to order and get into the restaurant is as I typically go to the Rancho Bernardo location with little to no wait. It took about 35 minutes on a Tuesday night to order so prepare accordingly. If you are not keen to wait they do have a takeout line which is much shorter. I ordered the half baby back ribs and half bbq chicken dinner and picked fries and mac salad as my sides along with their cornbread. There was an immediate hiccup with my order. I asked for all dark meat and the kitchen manager had to be called over to input this. After sitting, I was buzzed to pickup my food fairly quickly which was surprising but when I got to the front the worker informed me she had buzzed me by mistake. I waited another 12 minutes before I was buzzed again only to find there was another hiccup with my order. There was confusion with the chicken portion of my order and the worker called over the same kitchen manager and asked for help but the kitchen manager ignored her. I felt really bad for the poor worker and assured her that it was okay. She was able to sort things out by asking another more senior worker. I finally settled down to enjoy my meal and thankfully the rest of the evening was much better. The food was delicious - this Phils BBQ imo has hands down the best quality food among the Phil's BBQ locations. The table service is also the best as our attendant got us extra plates, extra utensils and came to check on us frequently. All in all this was quite the roller coaster experience but I was thankful that things ended on a high note. read more

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

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Stopping by Phil's is a must when you're in San Diego! Great flavor and the hospitality is always great read more

Phil's BBQ - Beefy Rib & Chick-Less Dinner - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

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Phil's BBQ is such a staple of San Diego. We don't usually stop by unless we have people visit from out of town so it's always a nice treat when we do get Phil's! Service has been great every time we come, despite how busy it can get! Though it is pretty loud inside the restaurant, it's a fun and upbeat kind of loud. We opted for takeout this time since we just wanted to enjoy our food at home. Over the years I've craved BBQ less and less because the flavor can be super overwhelming, BUT I can always devour some Phil's baby back ribs and my favorite baked beans! They also make for decent leftovers, too. Until next time! read more

Phil's BBQ - Baby Back Rib and Sweet Baked Beans (Small) with extra BBQ sauce - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

Been a customer since their first location opened up in Mission Hills. They will always be the best bbq I've ever had, hands down. Recipe is always consistent, customer service is the best and just all around a vibrant atmosphere. read more

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Been to OB a few times for vacation. Always wanted to try Phils. Well I did. So yes its packed. Almost always. So prepare for a wait. Especially when football is on. The staff are abundant and super friendly. Just keep in mind a lot of it is self serve but they will help you out. You go get your food after ordering. And your drinks. If you want to try different meat without hitting the wallet too hard get a tickler and add a beverage that comes with a hot link. Beef Rib Tickler - The beef rib was great. Im not that big of a fan of their BBQ sauce but the rib itself was great.Overall temperature of all the food wasnt hot but it wasnt that cold. The rib itself can be sauced or unsauced I believe. So I got it sauced which they cook the sauce on the meat and they put some fresh sauce on it after. I feel if they just sauce the meat while its cooking should be perfect. Onion Rings - Perfect. Great crunch. Not a whole lot of onion tho. Fries - Good side. Light. Cole Slaw - Tasty and very good side. Hot Link - Not that hot or spicy. Was on the cold side as far as temperature. Very tasty though just wish it was hot in both ways. Beans - Not a fan of these style chile beans. They are soupy and made with southwest chiles. Reminds me of carne en su jugo but I love carne en su jugo. Phils is great to bring friend and family. the portions are big too. read more

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They never disappoint and I feel all the locations I have been to are always consistent. Workers are always super friendly and helpful! I've had almost everything on their menu and it's worth it. The vibe and energy in there is always family friendly which I love because we have kiddos. read more

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

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The food is always good. We order the beef rib dinner, beef tickler and onion rings. Service was fast and friendly; sat in bar area. Ambiance is semi loud with music and the sports are playing at the bar. Lots of parking. Be ready for the long lines during dinner time, worth the wait for sure! read more

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First time dining at Phil Bbq and it was delicious. My bf and I went on a Friday lunch and there were plenty of tables available. We first ordered: Best of Both: beefy rib and chicken dinner with cole slaw and macaroni salad. We also ordered a side of tri tip. It was a 5/5, the beef rib was my favorite. The meat was so tender that the meat fell off the bone. The tri tip was sliced thinly in a bbq sauce. Customer service was excellent, there was a waitress who went around and ask us if we needed anything else. read more

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

Such a reliable bbq spot in San Diego :) I recently visited this place with a big party of friends on a Friday night. I was surprised to see they were still busy after opening other locations! I always order a boneless tickler plate and it never disappoints, gives me a bite of everything. Also don't forget to order ranch it's soooo good! The staff was so nice to help seat us and push together tables so all our friends could be seated together. The restaurant was clean and comfy. I'd visit again! read more

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

Tried Phil's BBQ and overall had a solid experience. The place has a fun sports bar vibe and is clean, which made it comfortable to dine in. Service was definitely the highlight; our server Keyliegh was amazing, very attentive, and handled everything with great energy. We did get a dish that came out a bit dry, but it was quickly replaced without any hassle, which I really appreciated. The food was good overall, though it could've been a bit better, and the drinks were just okay. Honestly, the service made the whole visit worth it! VERDICT: I WILL NOT COMEBACK read more

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LOVE Phil's BBQ!!! My favorite place to eat out, the food here is bomb. This chain is usually pretty busy during peak hours, but lines move fast. The place I'd usually very lively, but the staff are quick to accomadate! Definitely recommend. read more

Phil's BBQ - Phil's Fave and pork sausage - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

Food: 9/10 Service: 8/10 Ambiance: 8/10 This place SCREAMS 'MERICA. And because im not a super big rib person (or bbq sauce person) I always thought that phil's was overhyped. BUT OMG PEOPLE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THEIR CHICKEN MORE. these s are so good, and no one talks about them. I was only able to try them because my friend's wedding catered Phil's but wow YUMMY! And the went to phil's after while giving a tour of sd and again, yummy. read more

This place sets the bar for bbq. I've had bbq at many places and this is the spot you compare everywhere else to...and this place is still the best. The prices are good, amount of food is generous, and the service is great. Bbq baby back ribs with potato salad and sweet baked beans is what I usually get. It's consistently good every time. read more

Happy hour special prices are great Portions are generous. Sauces vary at locations. Ribs are juicy read more

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I feel like this is probably an unpopular opinion, but I liked it -I just didn't love it. Honestly, everything except the BBQ ribs felt pretty below average to me. The ribs were good, but not amazing or "best I've ever had" like I expected based on all the reviews and hype. Some pieces were dramatically smaller than others too. Overall, it was alright, just not as impressive as I imagined. read more

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

Been here a few times and it is solid every time. We usually get the baby back beef and pork ribs. Baby back ribs are a must if you can try only one thing but let's be real, all of the food on the menu is delicious. The staff are all super friendly and very patient as you're trying to figure out what item to order. After we had ordered, we debated about getting BBQ sauce to take back home. One of the employees, I think it was Derek?, was able to take our order at our table and brought us the sauce. He was so attentive and checked in on us and others to see if we needed any plates, utensils, and wipes. There's plenty of seating inside as well as outdoor. Lots of parking as well. We came on a Sunday morning right when they opened and didn't have to wait too long. We took our leftovers back home and it was still delicious. Can't wait to go back the next time we're in SD. read more

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

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Always a winner in my book. Took my partner here for the first time and he loved everything, including the sides. The staff are fantastic, make great recommendations, and are very attentive to ensure there's nothing you need while you were sitting down eating. My only recommendation from this visit is that there's no clear direction which way the line should go out the door when it's starting to get busy. This caused a little bit of confusion as some people were going in different directions and standing in front of the bar window, which confused the server there. read more

Phil's BBQ - Rib-Less & Chick-Less Dinner with Sweet Baked Beans (Small) and Macaroni Salad (Small) - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

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We got the half-rack rib plate with macaroni salad and coleslaw, and we also ordered a side salad for health, heh. First off, the ribs were heavily coated in BBQ sauce. Is it possible to have too much sauce? Maybe -- because it felt overpowering. I could barely taste the ribs themselves. The BBQ seasoning also had a strong cinnamon or nutmeg flavor, which I wasn't a fan of. The ribs overall were just okay. They were tender, but there was barely any meat on them. The macaroni salad and coleslaw were good -- nothing special, but not bad either. Nothing here really stood out to me. The food was mediocre, and I wouldn't come back. read more

Phil's BBQ - Half rack rib and sides - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

Every time I go to San Diego I usually stop by Phil's BBQ. Been coming here for years and my go-to is always the beef ribs. Still really good and worth getting, but the quality and portion size isn't the same as before. I remember when you could get 4 ribs for around $20, now it's usually 3 and costs more. Customer service used to feel more solid too. This time it felt more like seasonal workers, still polite but not the same as before. I still give it a 4 out of 5 because the flavor is still there and it's kind of a must-stop for me when I'm in San Diego. I usually grab extra sauce to take home too, especially when they have it on sale. read more

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

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Ribless Tickler is the way to go if you're looking for lunch. The portion of each item is just right, while the food is tantalizing. The meat was juicy, boneless and yet, no visible pockets of fat. Great flavor with or without Phil's BBQ sauce. Phil's coleslaw is a mayonnaise dressed, nicely balanced side item;neither too sweet or savory. The generous portion of crispy fries came with (2) even better, crispier, large, sweet onion onion rings. Add some Creole spice from your table set up for a nice pop. Top this with a $2.99 fountain drink! Just so many flavors including Fanta Strawberry, a can't miss! Right now, you can add $2 to your drink purchase and receive a sausage link. Large parking lot to pair with the restaurant's large interior for dine-in or to-go orders. Both the counter and bus person were helpful. Delicious and well worth $12.99 for the menu plate I enjoyed today. read more

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

Phillips Barbecue has some of the best barbecue I've ever had. The ribs are amazing, the chicken is perfectly cooked, and the onion rings and cornbread are absolutely delicious. Everything is full of flavor and cooked just right. I really enjoy eating here because the food is always so good. They have a great variety too, like barbecue beans, ribs, chicken, and plenty of sides to choose from. The only thing is that it's usually packed, and you may have to wait in line for a few minutes. But honestly, it's totally worth the wait. I definitely recommend this place if you're looking for a really good barbecue spot. read more

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I went here for a Friday night dinner around 7pm and got it to-go as the dine-in line wrapped around 2 corners so according to my friend that's at least 1.5 hrs. Takeout line is almost nonexistent and hard to find, but you just cut through the dine-in line to the inside and stay left. We got the pork rib and chicken dinner, colossal onion rings, and the beefy rib tickler. I also tried a friend's cornbread which is okay unless it's heated up. The pork ribs were decent and the chicken was juicy and tender - good quality but not mindblowing for the hype. The onion rings were cold and stale, and they weren't even big. The beefy rib tickler is amazing - $14 for a large amount of meat with 2 predetermined sides (Cole slaw, fries) is amazing deal compared to the dinners that are at least $10 more. If I go back, I'd just stick with that. I took off all the stars cause we got stiffed and got a worse order than what I ordered. As you see, we got the macaroni salad + fries (2x small sides) for the pork ribs and chicken dinner, and all we got were fries. The fries were soggy and oily, a very unfavorable side. And they didn't even give us macaroni salad. Paying $25+ for such a thing and getting the order wrong is unacceptable, even when they're busy. read more

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It's been 12 years since I last came to Phil's. This time overall was a great experience. The line was very long but it moved relatively quickly. We were a party of 11 and had a good time getting BBQ here. I however was not impressed with the baby back rib but I liked the beefy rib a lot. Our server Roxy was amazing and professional in her service. She made sure that we had a fun time. read more

We sat at the bar this evening as we've done MANY times in the past but this is my first Phil's review. The restaurant was busy despite the rain. The food took about 20 minutes to come out. I like the Turkey burger a lot here. It's flavorful & I love the onion ring. The fries are fine, nothing to write home about. M. enjoyed the riblets & tri-tip. He thinks the bbq sauce is too sweet and prefers a smokier flavor but needless to say he cleaned his plate! The potato salad & beans were fine as well. Russell and Kailie were in charge of the bar tonight and I got a mild disapproving vibe from Russell because we did not order any drinks besides water. He never checked in on us to see how our food was... but Kailie did, and she arrived for her shift after our order had been taken. Despite being busy, she was friendly and took the time to explain the special drink she was making with banana pudding moonshine that sounded decadent and delicious. Phil's is around the corner from where I live & I've been here multiple times. I'm also not a big BBQ person as I don't eat most meat. I come here because M. enjoys it as the whole bbq joint thing is not really my scene, and maybe going forward it'll be better for us to get take out to enjoy in the comfort of home. read more

Phil's BBQ - Riblets with added tri-tip, potato salad & baked beans - Barbeque Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great spot to try West Coast BBQ! The service was good had take out but the young lady that took my order was very nice. The place was crowded but my food came out quickly. Nice place to grab BBQ if you are in town visiting. The beef ribs was very tender and the wings were really good. I also had bake beans which were ok. Overall great place and good atmosphere for BBQ! read more

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When I was visiting San Diego, Phil's BBQ was a place that had been recommended to me by a couple people. While there was a bit of a line when I first got there, it didn't take too long for us to be seated within the restaurant thankfully for a party of 4. There's quite a few tables inside, and it's a decently spacious restaurant. For the food we decided to get onion rings, baby back ribs, beefy ribs, and loaded tri tip fries. While it might not be like Texas BBQ, I really enjoyed the beefy ribs and the loaded tri tip fries the most as the meats here were full of flavor. The onion rings and baby back ribs were solid too, so I was satisfied overall. If you're in San Diego and are craving some BBQ, this is a pretty good place to check out for food! read more

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