we ordered catering for a birthday weekend lunch at a nearby airbnb and absolutely loved Smokin J's BBQ!! for a group of 20, we ordered two party platters and subbed one chicken for ribs. i was worried we may not have enough food with a bunch of hungry guys who can eat a lotttt but the portions were very generous and we were able to enjoy leftovers the next few days. everyone loved all of the sides - from the pickles, to the succotash, and can't forget the beans which were incredible! we also loved the bbq sauce and saved the extra to eat the following week because it was so tasty! i wanted to place the catering order beforehand to make the weekend as stress free as possible, so when i ran into an issue placing the order online i was put in touch with Josh to help place the order. Josh was so patient and helpful working with me to get everything planned in advance. i even accidentally placed the order for the wrong day and Josh took the time to cancel and refund the order for me and place it again with all the right details. I really appreciated how kind and responsive he was throughout the catering process. we can't wait to order from Smokin J's again next time we're in San Diego! read more

First time we tried Smokin' Js and a bit disappointed. We ordered a half rack of ribs, slaw and beans. The sides were good but the ribs were so dry that two were inedible and the others dry and not terribly enjoyable. Wish it were better but that's what we got. read more

They were so easy to work with and so accommodating, not to mention coming through with an incredible product. Thanks for helping to make our event so memorable and delicious! I recommend Smokin J's wholeheartedly! read more

Was a little late on the wagon to find this great BBQ establishment. They serve legit great tasting briskets. I did notice ordering online vs in person, I got my preferred fatty pieces of brisket when ordering in person, they seem to ignore or disregard in the note section of my preference for fattier cuts online. I'll stick to ordering in person. I also tried their pulled pork which was decent, wasn't dry and lean which I usually observe at other places. I got tried a full rack of spare ribs and that was very good and smokey. I hope to try their smoked chicken at some point too! I would probably rate this higher than the Miramar location one based on the consistency and quality of their smoked meats. read more

Yummmy, tender brisket. Flavorful sides. Sadly they were out of the mac and cheese by the time we got there. Nice outdoor seating. Friendly staff. Looking forward to my leftovers. read more

Visited on a Sunday afternoon. Had the 3x3 combo and loaded fries. Food was ok, but I wouldn't call it amazing. Had they served the meal piping hot, it could have been a game changer. But nope. Warmish to room temp. The place was pretty dirty too. Overflowing trash cans with a cloud of flies buzzing in, on, and around them, steps away from the dining tables. Spent most of my time at the table shooing the pests away. You will know the quality of an eatery by the state of the bathroom. In Smokin J's case, dingy and dirty. Floor probably hadn't seen a mop all day. Maybe I visited on an off day. But overall experience? Meh... read more

Great food! Great staff! No indoor sittings. We went on a super hot day so sitting outside shooing flies wasn't ideal but I figured this is how southern folks had bbq in the summer. We will be back on a cooler day. read more

Smokin J's BBQ - Sampler platter. - Barbeque Near Me - Poway, California

For a work event I ordered the party platter and an additional pound of brisket and pulled pork as well as a thing of coleslaw. We had about 14 people (mostly men) and there were some leftovers of each item. The platter also came with pickles and pickled onions which was a nice surprise. I ordered online and it was so easy! I also had some questions and called twice, staff was very nice and helpful! I ordered for delivery and the order arrived a couple minutes before the scheduled delivery time which was great. The food was so delicious and a big hit! Most everyone went back for seconds and some for thirds! Definitely will get again! read more

Love the Brisket...melts in your mouth. Would go back again. Got the TV Dinner. Portions are small but delicious food.

4.5. We came here for breakfast as we were in the area. We are from the midwest and KC BBQ is the standard we hold places to. We usually wait to get bbq till we go back home as no where in San Diego (that we have tried) has bbq any where as good as KC. Enter Smokin J's. My husband got the packed bowl with brisket ($11.60) which was scrambled eggs, onions, peppers and hash browns. I got the good ol' poway breakfast which was 2 eggs (I got scrambled) 2 hash browns, choice of meat (I got brisket) toast (options were white or sourdough) and coffee. Food came up quickly. I was expecting like shredded hash browns but duh how would you then get 2? The hash browns had a cajun seasoning on them and were crisp not soggy. Eggs were eggs, toast was toast but the brisket. Oh the brisket it was moist, tender (falling apart) smoky and delicious. So good. Even the kidlet enjoyed it. Also while they take cards if you have cash bring it. They charge 2% less for cash purchases. We have definitely found the place we will get bbq from when we are craving a taste of home. read more

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We met some friend here on a beautiful Sunday afternoon to fulfill our BBQ cravings. It is located in Poway and there was plenty of parking . The servers were so friendly and were helpful while we're were ordering. The food here is delicious! Kids loved it so that is also a win! Meat was cooked perfectly, and all sides were delicious. We will definitely be coming back again! read more

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What a great little spot for some good bbq! We were up in Poway doing some shopping and wanted to get dinner. Started looking around and found this little shop and thought why not - it was only about a 10 min drive from us. We put in our order through yelp and drove on over. Its in a small shopping strip and we couldn't tell which building it was at first because there isn't a prominent sign showing the name towards the parking lot. We figured it out by the giant smokers out back lol. When we got there they have the main entrance on the side and a pick up window on the street facing side of the building. The worker there was super friendly and greeted us and quickly asked what names for our orders. They have a good amount of tables on the same side where the entrance is and so we grabbed one of the tables. It was a gorgeous day and was nice to eat outside. Plus, they have paper towel rolls on every table which is a nice touch since its bbq and very messy. We both got the smokin j sandwich and it was delicious! I was surprised mine didn't come with bbq sauce on it and that you had to pay extra for sauce. Luckily my friend bought some so we were able to share it. the pork belly was super tender and basically fell apart when i started eating it. super tasty too. the brisket was also very yummy and the brioche bun wasn't soggy so that was nice bc usually most places I go to and pick up food its super soggy and almost unable to be eaten. It was a nice filling meal and we weren't able to finish it completely. If I'm ever in the area for bbq I'm definitely coming back to this place. The only downside I had was that we wanted cajun fries but they weren't offered when we went. I'm assuming it's because it was later in the day and they ran out. We went and got cajun fries from another place, but I hope to try theirs and see how good they are! read more

Smokin J's BBQ - smokin j sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Poway, California

We got TV dinners with burnt ends and pulled pork - both excellent and did not skimp. Sides of Mac cheese, beans and yams - the Mac, and yams were great, the beans were very good but not great. Service was superb. read more

Finally had a chance to try Smokin J's BBQ in Poway, CA. My favorite was the pulled pork and smoked chicken. The brisket was good, but could've been juicier for me. The sides (beans, mac n cheese) were flavorful but too small to share. The cole slaw was not good. We had good service with outdoor seating. I've had better brisket in San Diego but still recommend this restaurant. read more

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Great food even better service! My friend suggested we go here instead of kaminskis bbq on Poway road and he was right! They were very accommodating when the item we wanted originally was out. Sofia was our order taker and was super sweet and helpful! It's all out door seating but it's San Diego so it's always wonderful to sit outside! Great people watching! Arianna came to check on us and was also super sweet! If you are looking for great customer service and delicious bbq, this is your spot! Thank you Smokin Js for making my friend birthday lunch a special and yummy one! I will be back! read more

I cannot recommend dining here based on my first experience. Overall the food temperature was cold for all the dishes listed as the first problem. The chicken was undercooked so I didn't eat it. The pork was very dry, candid yams provided must have been the last scoop left in the pot, bean crack (baked beans) not very good either or due to being cold. I requested lean cuts of brisket lacked flavor and that wasn't provided. The two ladies working the register were polite, only interaction. Private parking which was a plus. Ambiance was okay, I didn't realize there was no inside seating available but I don't hold that against the restaurant. The value did not equate to the quality of food served. Food 1 star, Maybe it was an off day for the restaurant. I hope other patrons have a better experience. read more

Went on a Friday afternoon and it was pretty empty. I had ordered takeout during the pandemic and didn't remember it being very good, but thought I should give them another go. Got the brisket and Mac and cheese. The brisket was good but not spectacular - definitely an improvement from what I remember but still pretty fatty even though I asked for lean. Still, it wasn't dry and was serviceable with the provided BBQ sauce. The Mac and Cheese wasn't very good - I prefer the offerings at other BBQ places like Bull's. Ended up being a lot of money for just ok. Water is a self serve pitcher by the door along with utensils. Neither good nor bad. Staff was nice. It's mostly outdoor seating but limited. Music wasn't too loud so could have good conversation. As far as BBQ places in San Diego this was maybe a B. read more

This place is a 3.4 for me. Meat was decent but the price was a bit hurting. Totally irrational and idk why but I disliked that my food was served in to go packaging while I was eating there. I got a half order of burnt ends and the 8oz Mac n cheese. I'd say the quality is a little above a mikes or Phil's but nothing to write home about. The Mac was definitely a homemade cheese sauce but I just didn't vibe with it. If your gonna stop here I'd buy a sandwich they looked pretty good. The surrounding around is cool. There's a park to walk around and a good bar like 5 min away. Parking wasn't bad when I went but I could see it being difficult on the weekends. Price and presentation killed it for me. read more

Smokin J's BBQ - Half Burnt ends, Mac n Cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Poway, California

Pretty disappointed in this spot. Not because the food or service was bad, but because they messed up my order. We were heading back to LA after a weekend down and we decided to grab Smokin J's to go. I ordered 1/2 lbs of Brisket, 1/2 of Burnt Ends and 1/2 Rack of Ribs. We placed the order over the phone and when we went to pick it up it took about 5min. When we got home, I noticed they only gave us Brisket and Ribs which was upsetting. The Brisket was delicious but the Ribs were on the dry side. I wish I could've tried their Burnt Ends. read more

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Some of the best American barbecue I've had in quite some time. The brisket chili was hot and tender, the mac was nice and cheesy, and the brisket was tender with a crisp outside. The sauce was just something else (smokey with a hint of sweetness). I could drink a whole bottle of it. I recommend you check them out! read more

Smokin J's BBQ - TV Dinner - Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Poway, California

The BEST bbq I've ever had. I ordered the Cali J-Rito bbq burrito, add cheese/no slaw, and it was the most delicious meal. The meat was flavorful and fell apart in my mouth with each bite. The BBQ sauce was also one of a kind with the perfect sweetness and smoke to it. I will definitely be back. So glad I've found this place. read more

I wont come back to this place. They completely screw up an order for 5people. Didnt even start to make the order until we reminded them we were still waiting after 30min. It all started when we placed an order then they later say they ran out of ribs which was half our order, could have said that when we placed the order... just overall bad, bad service, food takes too long and their incompetence was ridiculous. No comped anything, no apology and service was non existent. I dont recommend.. next time phils bbq instead. Ps. Place was not busy not that is an excuse. read more

We ordered about half of everything on the menu and I personally would say Smokin J's is overwhelmingly average. Maybe we went at the wrong time ( dinner around 6:30) but everything was a little dry and no smokiness flavor to the meat. The brisket was just okay, really well seasoned but, again a little dry and for me, no smokiness flavor at all. The pork ribs were pretty good, a lot of really dry pieces but if you get a good rib, it's pretty good. The burnt ends were nothing to write home about, again some of them were just too dry to eat. The Mac and cheese was just okay, very regular. The pork belly for me, if you have one bite it is good but more than that it feels like you are eating a mouthful of grease and oil. The chicken also had no smokiness flavor and was pretty dry, but their wings are pretty good, but be careful with their buffalo sauce, it is really spicy! Pulled pork was dry as well, but good flavor. On the more positive side, the cornbread was the item that I actually liked the most, super moist and flavorful! Overall smokin J's gets a 3/5 mostly for everything being pretty dry and little to no smokiness flavor. read more

Smokin J's BBQ - Burnt Ends - 1/2lb Chicken - 1/2 Bird Brisket - 1/2lb Colafornia pork Ribs - 1/2 Rack Mac n Cheese Pork Belly Wings - Barbeque Near Me - Poway, California

Food was great. They give plenty of food. Service was also good and fast. Had the grill cheese brisket forgot to get the picture meat was tender. Outdoor seating read more

Smokin J's BBQ - This fed 2 people - Barbeque Near Me - Poway, California

We ordered food for Father's Day,everything was delicious, well packaged and plentiful. We will do that again! read more

The ladies at the register were very nice but the food itself was just okay. Most of it tasted the same or was only lukewarm. Almost all of the seating was outside but they have fans so it's not too bad if it gets hot out. read more

New favorite BBQ spot. Small and personal with very friendly staff. Nothing could have been better. The meat, veggies, and fries 10/10. The ambiance, location, vibe, music, service all excellent. I will be coming back and I will be bringing friends. If you're debating going here, do it. Like I said. My new favorite spot. read more

Smokin J's BBQ - The Smokin J - Barbeque Near Me - Poway, California

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The first thing I will say is that this place has great service. The staff is superfriendly and I had a great experience with their staff. The place is pretty nice. It is clean, and all their seating is outdoors. They try and provide shade coverage, but it all varies based on the time of day. The only problem I had was the food. It looks good, but the food was overly salty. I got the burrito. They give you a ton of meat, but it just did not have much flavor to it other than salt. The meat was tender. Because of the salt, I felt a bit bloated after eating the burrito. Overall I think the place looks nice and has a great staff. The only problem is the food was not up to par. read more

Smokin J's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Poway, California

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Great bbq! Brisket is fire. Brisket is fire. Did I mention that their brisket is fire? I've had their other meats and they're all delicious too. For what's available in SD, Smokin J's is definitely top notch! Btw, brisket is fire read more

This place is a real treat..can't go wrong with the brisket and pork belly. Their lager is also on point. Service is the best part, shout out Arianna! Don't sleep on this joint read more

Breaking down the smokin J sandwich which consists of pork belly, three slices of brisket, coleslaw between toasted buns and a side of house made barbecue sauce. 5/5 pork belly: crispy, tender pork with the fat cooked perfectly 5/5 brisket: juicy, tender, subtle smoked taste, pairs great with the sweet and tangy barbecue sauce 5/5 coleslaw: creamy dressing combined with very fresh red cabbage, and other veggies 5/5 Sandwich bun: perfectly toasted 4.5/5 ambiance: exterior seating benches and tables wrap around the front and includes some shade beneath the sycamore trees or umbrellas. Restrooms were clean. :-) lines formed around lunchtime Sunday just after I ordered read more

Smokin J's BBQ - The Smokin J sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Poway, California

Amazing bbq and some of my favorite in SD! The brisket is solid, really like the outdoor patio and quick service.

Great food, simply the best. Even the churros were amazing. Burritos and sandwiches are as good as the plates. Brought a friend from the south, and he thought it was one of the top barbecues he had ever had read more

Smokin J's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Poway, California

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Adorable little BBQ joint in the heart of Old Poway. I've been here a couple times now, and each visit starts with a cheerful and friendly welcome by the staff here. The space inside the shop is quite tiny, but after you place your order, head to the tables out in front or around the corner and they'll bring the food out to you! I was a tad disappointed in the Chili and the Chili Cheese Fries. They were not as flavorful as all the other items I've had (more smoke, less depth), and the Chili Cheese Fries were more congealed cheese globs than fries. Personally would skip those. The stars of the show are definitely their BBQ meats (as it should be!). Every piece of brisket, rib, chicken, etc. is carefully cooked to a smokey, juicy perfection with just the right touch of char. BBQ sauce is served on the side so you can dip, dunk, and smother to your heart's delight. The sauce itself is very tangy, which offers a nice kick to your palate. Sides: I really enjoy the dressing they use for the slaw, thought personally I wish the cabbage was cut just a wee bit thinner. The bean crack lives up to its name!! Beans are soft but not mushy, and swimming in a savory, smoky, just-a-tad-sweetened sauce you want to mop up with anything and everything on your plate. Mac & cheese tastes like your grandma's artery-clogging, no-holds-barred cheesy goodness. Pecan pie was also delicious! Flaky crust, gooey filling, golden-brown toasted pecans. No complaints here! Come support this local restaurant and enjoy some hearty BBQ! You'll leave with a full belly and lots of smiles. read more

Smokin J's BBQ - TV Dinners: Brisket with Bean Crack & Slaw and 1/4 Rack of Ribs with Mac n Cheese & Slaw - Barbeque Near Me - Poway, California

Food: Looking for bbq alternatives to the nearby Phil's and Abbey's and stumbled upon this gem. We ordered three plates: The 1/3 lb brisket TV dinner with crack beans and Mac and cheese (chose those two sides) was our favorite plate - the brisket was juicy, tender, and had an amazing smoky flavor to it, highly recommend! The barbecue sauce was equally amazing, having a good twang to it (more old fashioned and not as sweet as Phil's). We tried the pork ribs with potato salad and slaw (other two side options). We suggest skipping these - they were not that flavorful (smokiness minimal too), not fall off the bone, overcooked nearing dry. The four sides they offer have similar redundant barbecue seasoning and were just okay. Lastly, we tried their Ménage a Hog burrito - pork belly, pulled pork, and pork rib wrapped in a tortillas with fries and sauce. Delicious burrito and would recommend! The pork belly provided juicy, the pulled pork tender pork flavor, the seasoned fries complemented well. The burrito can be salty and watch out for the bones of the rib - should be removed prior (our opinion). In short, try the brisket, pulled pork, sauce. We'd still get ribs and sides (flavor, portion, price) from Phil's. Service: Just friendly and great people all around, from the customers to the workers! Pet friendly, and happy to answer any questions. And the wait for the food was not long at all. As a caution, their website portions and prices differed from those in-store. Atmosphere: Still a full crowd near closing on a Saturday evening! Outdoor picnic tables decorate the front, while the cooking magic happens inside and around the back. The place is appropriately situated in old school vibe scenery of Poway, adding pleasing aesthetic to the experience! read more

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This is really good bbq, having moved here from Kansas City where we had lots of bbq. We are always searching for something comparable. I had the pulled pork which was a good amount of meat with some nice bark, tender and smoky. My husband had a 3 meat combo. He choose the fatty brisket (you get your choice!) It was so juicey and tender. He liked the chicken to very flavorful (even for white meat). The pork belly was thick and very meaty. My only comments would be not that much a fan of the coleslaw it was crunky but had mostly purple cabbage. I like a finer coleslaw when I do eat it. Also, would like maybe a small piece of garlic bread with the entree. Looking forward to trying it again and getting my favorite burnt ends. Which appear to be a special item not always available. read more

Smokin J's BBQ - Pulled Pork TV dinner with coleslaw and beans - Barbeque Near Me - Poway, California

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We ordered take it for four and the food was great. I personally really enjoyed the brisket. Looking forward to trying a few different menu items. We'll be back! read more

We came here for the first time with other family who have been here before, and recommended we try SJ's. We had a party of 14, so we were given one of their sectioned outdoor patio dining areas (four 4-person tables). We bought enough food for half our group. We got the following: 1 lb. of Brisket, 1 lb. of Pulled Pork, a Rack of Ribs (substituted for 1 whole chicken for an extra $14.50), 16oz. each of Bean Crack, Mac n' Cheese, Cole Slaw, Pickles and fermented onions, 12 slices (upgraded from 6 slices) of Wonder bread, and a pint of their BBQ Sauce. We also ordered their wings (6 w/ Cajun dry rub), 1/2 lb hot links x2, 2 slices of pork belly, 3 orders of cornbread, and 2 orders of their Cajun fries. Service was excellent! The staff cleaned our tables prior to our party's arrival, they also checked on us often, and bused all our dirty dishes & cups afterwards. Favs: Brisket, pork belly, rack of ribs, pulled pork, Cajun fries, and cornbread. Not-so-favs: self-service iced water on their counter ran out often and it was far from cold. Single unisex restroom out back was often in-use w/ someone usually waiting when you tried to use it. Other than that, the food, service, serving portions, & prices were all very good! We live in Chula Vista so our chances of returning to Poway aren't high unless we're already in the area. But they have a location in the Gaslamp area of San Diego which is much closer to us. We have nothing but great things to say about SJ's BBQ! read more

Smokin J's BBQ - Family Platter (sub whole chicken for full-rack of ribs) A feast fit for a King. - Barbeque Near Me - Poway, California

It's the worst when you take out food to go and it's missing the part you were looking forward to the most!! :( why??? We really like this place but was disappointing today. read more

Smokin J's BBQ - Chicken TV Dinner - 2pc Dark But missing the second side, beans that I ordered :( - Barbeque Near Me - Poway, California

Great location in old Poway and the outside eating area is nice. Great service. Definitely come hungry. The food is really good but it's very heavy, however, I can't imagine anyone going to a bbq joint to eat light. Pulled pork and brisket are great. read more