Super fresh and so damn tasty!! I really appreciated the vegys in this salad and the brisket was unbelievably tender and flavorful so the whole salad together was the best! The green goddess dressing was very fresh and I even tried the coleslaw dressing which is AMAZING! This place makes legit bbq, definitely one of my favorites!! read more

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

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Smokin J's never disappoints they always go above and beyond to accommodate our Annual BBQ Day for our employees at Torrey Pines Bank- this was our 3rd year having them cater our luncheon. Their food is delicious their meat just melts in your mouth and we never have any leftovers. Thank you, Josh, for setting up our lunch! We look forward to next year!! Also, a shout out to Tommy for responding so quickly to my email for our event! If you want authentic delicious BBQ I highly recommend Smokin J's BBQ. read more

This place was just ok. I wish I would have liked it better especially since they have so many gluten free options. The staff was nice and the food came out quick, but they didn't give us any plates and only 2 sets of cutlery for 5 adults and three kids. This is during covid, so I try to be understanding but there was no one else there at the time we ordered. The food was ok. The meat was pretty fatty and the pulled pork was a little dry. It was generally edible, not bad but nothing I'd make a special trip for. Maybe this place is different under normal conditions, and if you have no other gluten free options in Old Poway Park this is a good place you can eat. I may be back for convenience at a minimum. read more

TLDR; this review is for when they were outside of Nobel Courts. Dry-rub BBQ meats. I didn't know they were going to be outside of the leasing office until I drove by and man, did it smell good. They change locations all the time so you have to follow them on Instagram to see where they're at. Workers were kind and gave us samples to try. We ended up choosing the brisket and half rack ribs. Each order came with coleslaw and some pickles. If you want BBQ sauce, you add that yourself. Brisket: kind of tough, a little dry. But not terrible. The pieces with fat were my favorite part because I thought that's where all the flavor was. The bites I had that didn't have fat weren't as enjoyable. For the price, I was hoping for more pieces too. Ribs: this was my favorite and I thought it didn't even need BBQ sauce to taste good. Half rack came with about 6 ribs. Overall, not bad of a find. But I do wish it were cheaper. I also had a bit of a higher expectation for the brisket and I didn't feel like it was met. read more

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By far this is the best option for BBQ catering in San Diego. I would know--I called everywhere! Josh was very communicative and at Smokin J's you get more food for less money! We got 3 meat options and a bunch of sides! The food was well worth the price we paid as well. Everyone kept asking where we got our catering from. The chicken and pulled pork was amazing, but the brisket was out of this world! I will definitely use Smokin J's for catering in the future. Not only was the food good, Josh was super easy to work with! He seemed genuinely excited for our upcoming wedding, and was not only professional and helpful in email, but he was extremely kind as well. I don't have any pictures of the food bc it was so delicious and we ate it too quickly! read more

Overall Brisket was tender it had good flavor felt a little under cooked but it was pretty ok. Our order was on the lukewarm or cold...even though that was a disappointment we managed to enjoy. Also ordered the ribs good Enjoyed the slaw, cajun fries, pork beans great. The reason for not the five is: As many people mentioned, the mac and cheese was not creamy at all and it must be improved, should be deleted or simply replaced with other dish from the menu!!! mine was grainy and really not recommended unless done fresh. Like a good south Texan missed the a basic. The white bread, mustard to eat along with brisket and more drink choices. Other than that better than most. They have potential !!! Service was good, ambiance nice. Thank you. My favorite place in the world Rudy's BBQ, Texas. read more

Holy Smokes!!!!! Soooooooooo good!!!!! In these times of covid, it's really heartening to see good, happy folks doing their best to keep their doors open. Plenty of outdoor seating for 2-6 people up front, and then 6-8 people on the side (at least from what I could see, I didn't walk the area) All the staff are super friendly, helpful, nice and attentive, like Nicole who explained the menu to me so wonderfully as it was my first time there and then who checked up on us later, as did the other staff, who brought us extra pickled veggies when I asked for an extra, and they brought us two! The food was sooooooooo delish I couldn't even keep taking photos and just wanted to NOMMMSSSSS hahaha I loved everything, especially all the sides, wish we got more mac and cheese as it wasn't your average dinky mac, nooooooo the shells and the cheese they used were sharp and elevated! usually I don't like beans but even they were sweet and surprisingly good! Get everything, try everything, bring your friends here to share! The ribs were divine, my Smokin Js sandwich was sooooo good I loved everything and ill surely be back again! Next time I gotta get dessert, that pecan pie looked jenney read more

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Wow! We can definitely understand the good reviews after trying this spot! My husband ordered the burrito. Filled with cole slaw, fries, pork belly, and brisket, it was saucy and flavorful. The tortilla was a bit cold, but the flavors made up for it. However at $19ish dollars, it'll have to be a treat rather than a regular stop. Love the convenient location. read more

Love Love Love the food here!! Always thought that I wasn't a BBQ person until I came to Smokin J's. The sauce is delicious and not overpowering. Everyone has their fav protein, mine is brisket , hubs love burnt ends and son is a ribs guy! Sides are delicious too. read more

Still dreaming about this Barbecue. We got a sampler platter with a little bit of everything and I'm so glad we did. MUST TRY THE PORK BELLY. Despite covid (the quality, consistency, and service has affected our dining experience at MOST places, not this one) our food was fast, fresh, and absolutely incredible. You can really tell a lot of work went into the slow cooking of their meat and whatever sauce they use is unmatched (I hear they sell it at the store too). The only negative is that all other bbq has been ruined as Smokin J's has now made me a bbq snob and nothing else will suffice. read more

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

We really enjoyed the Smokin J's Sandwich. The meat was tender and flavorful mixed with the right amount of coleslaw which was not too "mayonnaisey" on a moist brioche type bun. Next item we liked was the beef brisket. Crispy and tender not dry. The pulled pork and baby back ribs were average. We didn't like the Cajun fries as much as it was over coated with Cajun powder which made the fries taste a bit chalky. Good portions! read more

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The brisket was smoked to perfection and the salad with the green goddess dressing was very fresh.

We've eaten at the best BBQ restaurants in the Carolinas when daughter lived in Charleston & have since been in search of decent brisket, baby back ribs & beef ribs in our home town of SD. Neighbors on NextDoor recommended Smokin J's... this adorable spot in Poway has OUTSTANDING food! Easily the best sliced brisket we've ever eaten next to Lewis in SC. Nothing in SD compares if you're wanting BBQ & brisket, in particular. Ordered the fatty brisket & the Cali J burrito which was also delicious (saved for the next day & so huge that it easily satisfied 2 of us), along with the mac n cheese & beans sides. Service was on point. Mmm... I'll never go anywhere else for BBQ! Thx, Smokin J's!! read more

Great barbecue and brisket, meat cooked well, seasoning was just right- you could enjoy without sauce even. Probably my go to barbecue right now. Altho still like Coops and the memories of the first Phil's in Mission Hills (before it chained). read more

One of the best BBQ places in San Diego. Their smoking J burger is amazing, as is their sauces.

Great BBQ. Brisket was amazing. Order at counter. Staff was very help full. Will definitely be a return customer.

Okey-dokey get ready for a taste bud explosion and amazing barbecue close to home! You just need to go order everything on the menu- you think I'm joking! My son's roommate brought this food home after Smokin J's catered a wedding and he fell in love with the ribs so we went to dine in for his Bday tonight. As if the brisket and ribs weren't enough to lure you in, you have to try the Mac and cheese(not kidding I will be dreaming about the mac & cheese tonight), the bean crack, the fries, the sodas, the beer, etc... The outdoor dining is awesomely casual and to top it all off they actually serve breakfast! I will be going back next weekend read more

Smokin J's BBQ - Pecan Pie Brisket cajun fries regular friesBaby Back Ribs Mac n Cheese Bean Crack Water Coca Cola - Barbeque Near Me - Poway, California

stopped here due to the high ratings and was disappointed. portions are small and overall taste is BBQ really is nothing worth going out of your way for. read more

This is my go to BBQ in San Diego county thus far. I'm a big BBQ fan and will travel far to eat good bbq. This is a place worth driving for. I decided to try the plate with brisket, pulled pork and smoked chicken. All of it was phenomenal. All the sides were good as well. I was coming here frequentlly (every Saturday after our hikes) for about a month. That usually equates to a 5 out of 5 stars. It's that good! read more

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

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Had these folks cater my 50th birthday party for 40+ people and the food was the hit of the party, not me. The brisket and pulled pork were criminally good. Give these folks a try, I promise you won't be sorry. read more

We contacted Smokin' J's for a large order to serve at our son's 20th birthday party. The food was delicious and guests were raving about it was all night and even the next day. We ordered the brisket, smoked chicken, coleslaw and lots of their wonderful bbq sauce for 40+ people. Everything was ready for pickup on time the afternoon of the party. Great service from Tommy and his staff! I highly recommend it! I also recommend it for a casual lunch or dinner ( the pulled pork is pretty amazing too)! read more

What can I say about our fave bbq joint? Well, it's mostly all good things. The food is incredible! The pork belly, brisket, pulled pork & Mac and cheese being our fave items. Our family has been dining here since they first opened several years ago and long before they expanded their store and menu. We've loved everything that they've added over the years such as the breakfast items and tacos. We decided that since we love it so much to have them cater our vow renewal last May. We emailed and discussed our venue, how much food was recommended and delivery. It was super easy to get that all taken care of. Our only issue was that food was late the day of our event. My sister had to call to see where they were, as my husband and I were out doing photos. They never called to let us know that they'd be late. The person on the phone said they had gotten busy. They rushed the food over with 1 person and it took him awhile to set up. He had to pause the set up since our ceremony was starting. He's even seen in some of our photos standing at the door waiting to finish. Once the vows were done he quickly finished setting up and left. The food was incredible, as expected, and our guests were happy. It didn't interfere too much with our plans but I do wish that they had been better prepared or at least communicated with us. Keep that in mind if choosing to use them for catering and make sure to give a buffer. Our venue was only 2 miles from the shop so travel time was not the problem. With all that said, we still stop by for the occasional burrito or tacos since the food is so tasty. read more

As a preface to this review, this is my experience. Atmosphere: 8/10 Staff: 9/10 Condiments: 6/10 Food: 6/10 Went about an hour to closing (which partly is the reason why the experience may not have been the best) and the only items they were out of was the burnt ends (unfortunately). I ordered the 3x3 with double brisket, chicken, mac&cheese, coleslaw, and smoked succotash. I also ordered an additional chicken taco to see what it was about. Brisket: very good, will highly recommend the fatty option. Good smoky flavor and great texture. Chicken: good, nice smoky flavor, but quite dry for a drum and thigh. Mac & Cheese: very disappointing. luke warm, no flavor. Succotash: best side on the menu. Will recommend. Coleslaw: decent. Chicken Taco: would recommend, a bit dry, but add BBQ sauce. Overall, just not super impressed with the quality vs the price. Given I did go later in the day, I may have been given just the 'leftovers' that remained. Not in the area often, but may give a try again earlier in the day? read more

We have really enjoyed our takeout from here and have now come a number of times - any time we are in the area. The highlight has been the monogamous hog burrito (pork belly and pulled pork California burrito) which is just delicious. It has truly made us wonder why we have never seen BBQ burritos before and why they are not a common thing elsewhere. Our only minor complaint is that we would've liked a bit more slaw for a textural difference (and unfortunately they will not accommodate any modification request for the burrito) We like their mac and cheese and burnt ends as well and will order those regularly! The brisket was yummy although our recent order was heavy on the fat. We prefer our coleslaw to be more acidic and so while we love it in the burrito, we will likely skip it as an a la carte order in the future. The beans were a bit too sweet for us and sadly the brisket chili was overwhelmingly salty. Love the sauce on the side and the philosophy that it is there to complement not drown the meat. read more

I went here b/c of the reviews people were talking about on the NEXTDOOR App...I was shocked at the prices and the serving sizes. The men who were working were very nice and gave me recommendations however being a very picky eater, I knew I was not going to find a "BBQ meal" I would like so I just got my husband some burnt ends. After chatting with one of the cooks for a while, he did tell me the only chicken (other than the chicken salad sandwich) that is off the bone is a salad, which I did order as well. Upon recv'n my food, I was in shock of the small container that the burnt ends came in. There were 4 chunks of meat, I guess it was 1/2 lb, but I still was in shock for $16! My salad was an average size, had a lot of chicken in it, but again the prices was..... I would give the salad a 7, it wasn't anything special. Lettuce, peppers, carrots, tiny bit of cheese (I added more), and chicken. I mixed their BBQ sauce w/ ranch and created my own dressing, that was great! My husbands 4 pieces of burnt ends according to him were tender, but majority of one piece was all fat (and he threw it away). Again for the amount of $ we he has had better AND a larger portion. The flavor of the meat was "good" but added w/ the sauce (ask for extra) is why he gave it a 7/10. Overall, it's nothing special that we will go out of our way to get again. We have our favorite BBQ place and it's worth the drive.......and cost! (A LOT more inexpensive). -I understand the prices of meat have gone up during COVID, but there were no signs stating that is why their prices were so high- read more

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

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I really was craving good barbecue & had ordered delivery with good results. My food arrived on time. I ordered a chicken/brisket/pulled pork combo with a side of cornbread. I was disappointed to discover that the meal was inedible, cold, dry and tasteless. The chicken was hard, cold , overcooked and tasteless . Mac & cheese was a cold gluey blob. The beans were the only item adequately heated. BBQ sauce was heavy with vinegar. Cornbread was stale, dry and cold. This lousy meal with delivery was over $60 for one. I was disappointed and ended up tossing it in the trash. The staff who sent out this meal didn't care enough to prepare it with love. Why? read more

The food was great, and very friendly staff and service! The portions we ordered were perfect for 2 people. The chicken was really juicy and the brisket was so tender that it fell apart. Definitely recommend! read more

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

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Born and raised in SW Louisiana, I had a craving for BBQ this past weekend... bottom line upfront, I can rock with Smokin J. I recommend you give them a try for your own experience.. these reviews seem very mixed. This past Sunday the weather was extraordinary and you could smell the smoker before exiting the vehicle. We all know good BBQ takes time. So I directed my attention to the large smoker out back while walking inside to order. Even the stacked wood near the pit even caught my eye. The facility has a very welcoming nostalgia thats perfect for the Old Town Poway feel. I was also impressed with the staff and how friendly prompt and attentive they were. Made some great recommendations on the menu, confirmed how I wanted it cooked and I thought my brisket cuts were damn near perfect. Hope my simple experience can emulate one of your own at Smokin J. I can't think of a last time I ever wrote a review. I acted on an Yelp email while burning some extra time 3 days later. read more

Food is very good would definitely come back. Way better than Phil's bbq that have now mediocre food and prices that's not reasonable.

Yummy good food. Loved. The beans! Good service. Come hungry... Brisket was delicious read more

We came here on a Monday around 6pm it was pretty dead. They have outdoor seating and we have always smelled their bbq cooking out back so we were pumped to finally try it out. We got the 3x3 combo it's great for sharing for 2 people and great to try a little bit of everything and we added the fries (heard they were bomb). My brother in-law got the pulled pork sando. The staff was friendly and nice. Answered all our questions. The food came out fast and was pretty decent for Cali bbq. I think because it was the end of the day the meat was a little dry and we got the last bit for the day before they closed shop. Out of all the meats we had the one I liked the most was the brisket. read more

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My husband and I find this place at old town Poway for a Sunday brunch. And we absolutely enjoyed our brunch. The Smoke J brisket Sandwich is super super delicious, the meat is tender and crispy outside. Coleslaw for side is yummy too~~~ I think they used some unique seasoning to make it taste different and great. read more

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

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I loved this neighborhood barbecue joint. We stopped in as a team from work and their kitchen worked overtime to send out the freshest pulled pork sandwiches, brisket, and Cajun fries. The 12 of us barely had to wait (amazing) and absolutely feasted. We found the sandwiches to be well-seasoned, perfectly-cooked, and such a welcome treat on a workday. We sat outside on the patio and I personally enjoyed the informal cafe-like seating. It felt like a relief from the stuffy vibe at fancier restaurants that don't actually have the food to back up their stiff atmosphere. Smokin J's is the real deal. I can finally get my pulled pork fix somewhere closer than Coppertop on the way to Mammoth. read more

Great food, cute spot, gotta try the smokin j. I've ordered here many times and it never misses.

The food was absolutely amazing! I had a tv dinner of burnt ends and Mac and cheese and the crack beans (which is rightfully named). It was fantastic. I live up in Santa Clarita, but my son lives in San Marcos and we went there for dinner and I will come back just to go here. The service was good, very laidback. The atmosphere is pretty rustic, however you don't go there for the ambiance you go there for the Epic food! Does not disappoint!!! Thank you excellently done my friends! read more

Overcooked and dry. Even took the brisket back and got a fresh side of it, still dry. You have to soak it in sauce and eat with pickles and onions to make it edible. Got the 3x3, and honestly, the pulled pork and chicken were over-cooked too. What separates this place and Franklin's in Austin, Texas, is that Franklins has somehow managed to find a process that enables them to serve the meat as moist and tender as you can possibly imagine. Not sure what magic they're doing over there, but I hope Smokin J's can figure that out. read more

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

Excellent! Ordered a couple pork sandwiches, side of pork for my carb free diet, Mac and cheese and spicy fries. First time ordering and I have to say - everything was delicious. The pork, the bbq sauce with Cole slaw and pickle - wowsa! We will be back! read more

Decent food but wasn't overwhelmed. I would go back and try again. Sides were on the small side

Great food some of the best barbecue in town. Gotta try the burritos packed full of everything you would love highly recommend this place.

It was freezing the night we went, it's only outdoor seating to my knowledge, but they fired up the outdoor heaters. The staff were personable and nice. The BBQ was good, especially for the Poway area. read more