50 Best Barbeque Restaurants near La Mesa

“I haven't had BBQ this good in San Diego. If you are craving legit smoked meats this place is awesome. service is as good as the food.“

“Papalo is my new favorite restaurant! Everything is delicious! Five stars!“

“Took a wrong turn on the freeway and that lead us to this place. We had been wanting to come in and took this as a sign. We went for the two meat meal- brisket and pork ribs with bbq beans and cole slaw. Delicious!! Brisket was fork tender and full of flavor, pork ribs were seasoned perfectly and just right. The baked beans and slaw were just as good. We liked that they let you put your own sauce on. The tables have their house made sauces, bbq and a bbq mustard. Both fantastic! They have beef ribs but only on Sundays, so we’ll need a return trip( oh darn!) Definitely have some new fans here. Oh and worth noting, we got one meal which was plenty for the two of us.“

“Every time we’ve gone, the food is good. They also have a good choice of craft beers on hand rotating. The service can be either really good or really bad. They have forgotten about us and left us waiting for a check for 40 minutes. I ordered a hamburger with two slices of cheese, when they served it the hamburger only had one slice. I asked the waitress if she could just take it back and add another slice of cheese. I am more than happy to pay for it. She blew a huffing sound, shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes and said whatever and walked away with the plate. When she brought it back, she sat the plate down and said, “Do you have enough cheese now”. My wife and I have actually enjoyed going to this place, but that waitress has turned me off for a while for sure.“

“Carbon is easily one of the best restaurants in San Diego! My boyfriend and I had an amazing Valentine’s Day dinner there—great service, delicious drinks, and incredible food. I ordered the pistachio campanelle, which was an easy 11/10, and my boyfriend had the picanha steak—also 11/10! We shared a sangria, and to top it off, they surprised us with cannolis on the house. Our waitress, Michelle, was attentive and so much fun. Plus, if you’re sitting outside and get chilly, they even have blankets. We’re still talking about it. We’ll definitely be back with friends!“

“great food and BBQ sauce 🙂“

“It was my first time there food was amazing!“

“One of our family's favorite places to eat and celebrate! Food is fantastic. I recommend it to all my friends.“

“Our boy is raving about u guys!“

“Ughhh you cannot go wrong here! My only regret was getting the original menu and not the deluxe! We ordered so much food! The service was great and our server explained whenever we had questioned about the cuts. It was pretty chilling inside when we walked in but as more people started showing up, the temperature regulated. I only wish that the inside was a bit bigger to accommodate more people because this place is so good!! The marinated hand cut beef was delicious! The Korean spicy handcuff beef wasn't too spicy but also very well seasoned! The miso pork belly was good and not cut thick (which I usually prefer) but this cut was marinated so well I didn't even mind it! The steamed egg was delicious and so was the seafood tofu stew that had a way of relaxing your shoulders after the first sip! The bonchon (sides) and dips were very impressive all well seasoned with great quality. The cucumber salad was so good I had to order more! The rice came out so so fresh still steaming and overall it was such a good meal! I want to try everything there! Next time I'll get the Deluxe!!“

“Great Friday night Live Music!! ❤️🎶“

“Great lunch today. Tried a large sampling of the menu and all was great! The German chocolate cake was amazing!“

“I love this place , The Beer is good and cold ! The Brisket is the best for me , nice and juices, never dry w/ just a touch of char that gives it the best taste ever ! The portions seem like there smaller but I blame covid and all the other things that have gone on in our country, like the cost of living anymore is getting bad, we feel it and I'm sure the management feels it to ! And trust me ,Phil's is good but, Cali has it beat hands down !
Thanks you guys !“

“Loved everything we got tonight, the chicken sandwich, pulled pork, amazing! So were the fried Mac and cheese balls!!!!“

“I picked up some ribs and a sandwich for dinner last night and the food was awesome as always. Portions were big enough that I had leftovers. Corbin O'Reilly and Vince always make me feel special!“

“The food and service and always amazing!!! And so got to meet Mr Coop himself today!!!“

“Man I’ve been coming to this place for years now and even still it never ceases to amaze me.

Let’s just get it out the way, the food is great high quality for such a reasonable price. That’s something you just can’t find these days in San Diego. Sure there’s other BBQ places that some may say have better BBQ, but Phil’s is a staple to San Diego just like Hodads (who also some could argue there are better burgers here, but they will never be Hodads).

Once my daughter Turned one years old, I took her here on a little father and daughter date. She absolutely loves the french fries and most days likes the rib meat from the ribless tickler ( beef rib meat without the bone, easier to feed daughter). With a decent tip we both leave happy and full for around $20 depending on tip and it “da-da” gets a beer or not… which also they have insanely good drink prices ($5 rotating beers monthly, and not bud light but good ass beers).

Today was an especially good when it comes to the service. Our food buzzer was broken or was the wrong one or something like that so we waited a little bit longer for food than normal. Samuel (god I hope I remembered this name right) noticed my daughter and I waiting and figured something was wrong. Totally helped us out. He then, super intuitively asked if I wanted a separate plate for my daughter, and a kids cup full of water. He also brought back plastic utensils for her to play with which she loved.

After all of that, I find out that Samuel is 19 and doesn’t have kids of his own. That dude is on fire and is super intuitive and on his mark. I don’t know when he gets paid, but I can tell you right now if I Own the company I would hire him in a heartbeat and pay him as much as I could physically afford. He is one of those assets to companies that’s so many bosses oversee.

I recently lost my job, And with the new job having hard times to catch up on bills. these are rare times I can take my daughter out now. I would tip this guy $100 bill if I could. And one day when I get back on my feet I will. Keep going strong, sir. You are a beast and you will succeed at everything you do in this life with the attitude and work ethic that you have.“

“Yumm. No cayenne heat in the sauce which I appreciate, just flavorful spices. Idk if there is cayenne or not it’s just not hot. Liked potato salad and loved the beans n fries.“

“Great food, fair pricing, good portions, and VERY clean! We (family of 5)ordered 2 chicken BBQ plates, and a Smack’n Combo and still had a good amount of leftovers to enjoy later. Christian, the owner, was very friendly. My family loved our meal and the kids gave it 5 stars!“

“Good food great customer service fast my go to for Kbbq“

“We ordered lechon and it was so good! The skin was crispy and sesoned very well! Their home made sarsa was the best! 💕 we will be ordering again soon!“

“LuckyFlip Brand U Need Furniture? Take a Wild Guess ? The owner Proprietor Mr Eddie is a US Air Force veteran buy from him obviously hello Mr furniture since 1977 is there anywhere else you want to go to that has that kind of credibility huh nobody tell him Michelangelo sent you and tell him that I'm not going to take that against him LOL nothing wrong with being an Airedale that's for sure thank you for your service Mr Eddie! 9092447310 Call for more MERCH! #veterans #merch #filipino #asianbulldog #englishbulldog #smallbusiness“

“Love love this place! Catfish is fire!!!“

“Our boy is raving about u guys!“

“great food and BBQ sauce 🙂“

“TOO GOOD ! It's been way too long since we have eaten here...close to 21 months. Even though there are heaps of Asian eateries around Irvine where we moved to in Nov, 2022 no one serves authentic Chinese food like this place. Forget about the cheesy ambience inside an old movie theater that is mostly an Asian supermarket...it's all about the incredible food. WEEKEND GETAWAY ! My wife and I hit the road at 10.30am on Friday to kick off our fun packed weekend down in San Diego. We hit heavy traffic as expected but better earlier than later. FIRST STOP ! We arrived here for lunch around 12.30pm. While my wife parked our car I headed inside to the restaurant....to my surprise Joe the long time manager recognized me straight off and showed me to a vacant table in the corner. TOO EASY ! When Joe popped over to say hi I gave him our lunch order. We knew exactly what we wanted...1 x Kung Pao Shrimp and 1 x Honey Walnut Shrimp. Joe came back with a pot of Jasmine tea and 2 tall iced waters. IT WAS PACKED ! Before too long Joe brought out my wife's huge serve of Honey Walnut Shrimp. Within 2 or 3 minutes my delectable looking Kung Pao Shrimp hit the table. MOUTHSATIONAL ! Trust me no one serves authentic Chinese food as good as here. My Kung Pao Shrimp tasted amazing...no tails on the shrimp and it was kicked up just enough. My wife was in gourmet food heaven enjoying her Honey Walnut Shrimp but I did have to pinch a few of her juicy shrimp with walnuts. THE BEST ANYWHERE !“

“Second time here and it's still amazing. They have great service and are very friendly. I love how they keep asking you if you want more. I think the prices are good for the quality of the food . I love their steaming egg pot it has great flavor. My favorite bbq place.❤️👍😊“

“the beef sandwich, the pork ribs, hot links, the chicken and the sides“

“I always like great ribs and like coming here but unfortunately today's service wasn't very satisfying no side orders drinks no eating inside I can't give a great review until you fix this easues 🤔“

“I absolutely adore this destination for leisure and pre-game festivities. The staff members are incredibly attentive and dedicated to their work. The cuisine offered here is truly top-notch, with Ivan, the pitmaster, skillfully crafting the most mouthwatering brisket. Sports enthusiasts will be delighted by the abundance of TV screens, while adults can indulge in a wide selection of games. Overall, it's an immensely enjoyable establishment that never fails to deliver a fantastic experience.“

“Sushi is DELICIOUS! Customer Service is Awesome! Place is Mellow and Relaxing and very Enjoyable!“

“Just visited the PIFA festival and stopped by the L&L Hawaiian Barbecue pop-up— the food was incredible!

We tried a bit of everything: the barbecue chicken (super crispy and fresh), the chicken katsu (perfectly crisp), and the pork (so juicy). The mac salad and rice on the side were also amazing! Also, still thinking of the musubi because it was that good!!! :)

Everyone working the pop-up was so friendly and helpful. It felt like stepping into someone’s kitchen, with all the love and passion coming through in the food. Such an amazing experience overall, and it was a huge success. Thanks so much guys, can’t wait to visit the restaurant in person! :)“

“The food is a 10. Fresh, cooked to order and fast service ...“

“This is a “Great Spot For A Brat” when at Petco Park watching a San Diego Padres Game. They offer Sauerkraut or cooked Onions also on a tasty bun. Condiments such as 2 types of Mustard is available and Ketchup. Napkin dispenser is available. Service is good. They could be friendlier. I recommend the Bratwurst Sandwich, too bad you can’t get the fries at one time. They told me to go somewhere else for the fries. I ended up changing my mind like some people and didn’t get any ($7)“

“Koms Barbeque is good ?? ribs taste so good leaves that good good grill flavor in your mouth I get sauce on the side cause I love that grill flavor and the Owners Mrs Kim and Mr Wilbert is very friendly and her peach cobbler is EVERYTHING I recommend you give them a visit if you want some Real Barbecue thank you Kims Barbeque See you soon“

“Didn’t know this place existed until I stumbled into Sieu Sieu BBQ restaurant while visiting another store in the same plaza.No frills restaurant but authentic Cantonese BBQ! When they were chopping the roast pig in pieces, I can hear the crispy sound of the skin. 3 hours at dinner time, the roast pig skin is still crispy and the meat was perfectly seasoned (not too salty)!!!Also got a salted chicken. It was cooked just right, no blood still in the bone. Meat was juicy and tender. They also gave a big container of ginger onion condiment for dipping sauce. Yummy!Price is still a little cheaper than other nearby BBQ stores. Plenty of parking spaces.This is the place for roasted pork and BBQ items. We will be back for more!“

“Located near the sdsu campus, this location is accessible to students and community members alike. The food was fresh and the katsu had a delectable crutch that left a good taste in my mouth. The cashier was a kind soul that made our L & L experience one that we’ll never forget.“

“Coffee, Smoothies, Salads, Burritos, Breakfast. You can really pick anything on the menu and it'll be good. But the Shack has always been known for their BBQ plates which are my favorite in SD. The wait can be long sometimes during their peak hours but its better to order online anyways.“

“For the price, wait time, service and meat quality during our first visit; Kanpai is our new spot for Japanese AYCE BBQ!

We were there right before opening on a Saturday so there's still spots for parking.
We did the BBQ. You can also have the option for Shabu experience. The assorted meats are to order. Service was quick, got our additional meats in 3-5 mins. There's 4 dipping items/sauce available.

We ordered the following:
Prime Cut Steak- the most tender meat that we ordered so we requested it twice. Recommended!

US Wagyu Brisket - it was tender also and only took couple of minutes grilling. I like the amount of fat in the meat. It was delicious. Recommended!

M8 Wagyu Steak - another meat that we're satisfied for its tenderness. Recommended!

We weren't a fan of the Wagyu cubes..I had it medium rare hoping to be more tender but it was chewy same as when I cooked it well done.

Also ordered chicken karaage; it was crispy and well seasoned Sriracha Mayo.

Sides, "free" assorted drinks(soda), soup were available in a corner that you can keep going back. All the sides that we tried were all good; seaweed salad/cucumber salad/edamame.

Definitely will come back if we're craving for Japanese Boq.
Our server asked if we need anything multiple times which is great. Great customer service!!!“

“Delicious food and great atenttion“

“Amazing , Authentic and Smoked to perfection. Must try his Original BBQ sauce.“

“Good quality of meet, good customer service,“

“Yum! This spot in Convoy is a must go-to especially for a casual and/or group meal! The price here is right, food is delicious and abundant, free parking, huge menu, and the sweetest lady to help us through our meal today!

I love the assortment of banchan with each meal! The japchae and kimchi were so fresh and yummy.

We wanted to try items outside their usual bbq menu and I am so glad we did. From the jjajangmyeon noodles (my dad was eating this up - so good), to the braised beef rib soup (meat was following off the bone), to the dolsot bibimbap (generous portions) to even the steamed egg and cheese corn - everything was so good.

The service was great. Even though it was only one lady serving and hosting, food still came out quickly and she was so sweet showing us which sauces were for what dish.

Parking was a little hectic today for some reason but there are plenty of spots in the area. It was nice to see this place packed even on a Monday afternoon!“

“The best place to have a drink during week day! Best drinks by the Manager Felipe !“

“Me encanto el lugar que es muy familiar♥️“

“Love the food and the servers are very friendly“

“Had my birthday there, and you can absolutely taste the good quality of the food there. Recommend their premium family combo, I’ll say it’s a good amount for 1-2 people. The regular beef tongue is also a great option. Really nice service, the only problem is it’s a little pricey, but fair enough for what you get.“

“Really excellent food! The beef short ribs just melt in your mouth! Everything was soo good! Good choice of sides. I enjoyed my meal soo much. It's a lot of fun to grill your meat at your table. We had brisket, pork belly, which is basically a thick wide cut of bacon. Yum! Now I'll get to a few more things that I feel need improvement. Their chairs are uncomfortable! See photo. Hard as a rock. This place is all you can eat and the chairs ensure you don't stick around. I recommend bringing a seat cushion. Smell, must be the cleaning products they used but I detected a slight smell of urine. No Korean beer! Like how do you have a Korean restaurant and not serve Korean beer? I highly recommend a draft beer to go with your meal. Grilled meat goes excellent with a cold one. I would still come back here as my family and I had quite an enjoyable time . The smell eventually goes away . I like this place and plan to return. Oh, I forgot to mention that a robot brings your food. It's the cutest thing. My granddaughter got a real kick out of it. They also play awesome music. H.E.R. Ella Mai, Sza, and Cardi B. My favorites! We were eating to the beat! Lol. So come on down and get some great BBQ. Worth every dime.

Parking: Nice size parking lot but fills up fast“

“The kimchi stew here is delicious. The taste I had in Korea. The side dishes are a bit salty, but overall it's okay. suggestion

The kimchi stew is absolutely delicious. The side dishes are a bit salty, but overall, they’re pretty good. The service is average, but the food is so tasty that it’s worth it.“

“Las costillas de puerco súper ricas!! El mac and cheese con muy sabor, el lugar agradable y limpio, si regreso a probar más cosas del menú 😋“