50 Best Barbeque Restaurants in San Diego

“I recently visited Xinjiang BBQ, and it was a fantastic experience! The restaurant has a warm and welcoming atmosphere, perfect for a casual night out with friends or family. The staff was friendly and attentive, offering great recommendations and ensuring we had everything we needed.

Food: The menu offers a wide selection of skewers, from classic lamb and chicken to more unique options like grilled prawns and vegetables. The skewers were all grilled to perfection—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and packed with flavor. The highlight for me was the lamb skewers, which were seasoned just right and had that authentic smoky taste that’s hard to beat.

The restaurant also serves some great side dishes, like refreshing cucumber salad and crispy flatbread, which complemented the BBQ perfectly. Their homemade dipping sauces were excellent and added an extra layer of flavor to the skewers. If you’re a fan of spicy food, definitely“

“I rarely come to this area due to no parking along 30th. You’ll have to snatch one along the side streets in the residential area.

It was well worth it and be sure to call in to make a reservation. They don’t have on line version.

We each ordered our own plate but had a chance to sample all. Four of our six items were their signature items, circled on the menu.

We ordered a mixture of pasta and meat dish. 3 of us had placed our order while the 4th came late but surprisingly, all of our dishes made it out at the same time! Kuddos to the chef!

-Arugula salad: refreshing

-Beef cheek pappardelle: my fav type of pasta. It’s handmade! The beef cheek was the winner in its tenderness.

-Picanha steak (the entree): this was a preset entree with your steak smothered in a mushroom topping. Although you could sub out your sides.

-From the grill choose 3: I chose picanha steak, peperonata which is a stewed vegetable dish, and bell pepper chimichurri sauce. I expected more from the sauce, it was mainly bell peppers.

-Pistachio Campenelle: very nutty and cheesy, the pancetta was really thin and almost dissolved

-Eggplant croque (4 pieces): I was getting full from eating 2!

The picanha steak is on the menu twice. Both same price. Once as a pre set entree where your steak is topped with a mushroom sauce.

If you choose picanha from the grill list then it’s just a plain steak and you pick your sauce and side.

I have to say, I enjoyed both. I ordered my plain steak medium yet it was more tender than my friend who ordered medium rare from the entree version. Both of our cuts were extremely chewy. Although more fatty, the skirt steak might have been a better choice.“

“great food and BBQ sauce 🙂“

“Our boy is raving about u guys!“

“Fantastic ciders and food!!“

“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!“

“How much fun! Great selection of meats and sides, some you wouldn’t expect like tortillas, cheesy corn, cheese fondue and French fries. Try the brisket and spicy chicken, you won’t be disappointed. Pricing is reasonable for all you can eat, so come hungry and get your money’s worth.“

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

“There is a wait if you go inside the restaurant but it’s worth the wait! I ordered the Sampler plate the #1 it had a big portions of each item everything tasted delicious the cornbread was moist and the garlic bread was toasty. The fountain drinks they sell there taste really good 😌 I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes bqq 😋“

“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.❤️👍😊“

“Very good price for all you can eat premium waygu meats. Very simple and to the point menu. Only wish their sauces was a little better and they had one extra side like steamed egg or japchae. It's just missing one or 2 things that would make it excellent, but for the lunch price of $35 and dinner for $40 you get your value. The parking isn't too bad either compared to other spots in clairemont.“

“Came here for lunch with my mom on a Wednesday. Normally, this place has no parking availability. The place is very small but cozy. But during lunch, there were plenty. Walking in, we were seated right away. You can tell how good a restaurant is when you see most of their customers were Korean. My mom ordered the kimchi jigae. She said the broth was very good but was very disappointed that she only had 1 strip of pork belly in the soup. I ordered the galbitang and it came with 2 large beef ribs with the meat so tender it fell off the bones. The broth was also very good that i finished the broth before the meat and noodles. This is a definite place to go to again and again.“

“One of the very best pulled pork BBQ sandwich plates I've had in years. Their vinegar coleslaw and scratch potato salad was so delicious we ordered extra portions. The Pig's Gig is located in the Liberty Mall, just a small cubical that's hopping. Just one fellow who is pleasant and rockin' it! Dining in requires a little hunting for seating, but once you pop the 'to-go' box it's so worth the search! Weekday there's plenty of parking, weekends gets a little hectic.“

“Best ribs, best brisket I ever had!! Worth the $$$$ very good experience , good customer service!! 🙌🏻✌🏻🍻🍻🏖️👙🐚🩱“

“Delicious food and great atenttion“

“I took a day trip to San Diego from LA with my two friends and this was on our itinerary as the main event.

I ordered the Large Combo for 3-4 people with 3 choices of meats. It was $89.99 and it came with a corn cheese, the choice of a kimchi or soybean stew, and a steamed pot egg. We got the pork belly, the pork jowl, and the abomasum (I had no idea what this was, but my sweet server recommended it!)
The abomasum was really chewy and I wish it was cut smaller so the chewy-ness could be cooked down into crispier pieces, but the pork belly and jowl were excellent.

I thought it might not be enough since we were all really hungry and also added a side of the LA Galbi Meal (beef short rib on a hot stone plate and lots of grilled onion) and it also comes with rice, soybean or kimchi soup.

We also got a ton of side dishes aka banchan such as kimchi, pickled daikon, fish cake, fresh chives with spicy sauce, soy pickled onion, and sesame oil bean sprouts.

You can always tell the quality of a place by their side dishes at Korean restaurants and although it's not AYCE, the banchan here makes you forget about that and just enjoy the quality of the ingredients you're getting!

Everything was soooooo good and the portions were great!

We ate all the meats and were too full to finish all the banchan, but we kept telling each other how amazing the experience was as we were eating.

The servers are so amazing and would constantly come and check on our grill and replenish our sides without us asking. I love the hospitality and presentation of this restaurant so much.

The only thing I will say to look out for is that you may have to wait for parking and it depends on the busyness of the plaza (since they seem to have a bunch of great food businesses all in one) and it’s a small parking lot. Other than that, be ready to have such a good time!

If you're a local and haven't had SongHak, you're definitely missing out and need to try it! If you're not a local like me and have to travel 2+ hours for it, then I still say it was super worth it.“

“Great to share in good company!“

“This place is really good! Loved the fat little spicy sausages, the Lao salad, the crying tiger beef, the Mok fish and the heavenly jerky. So flavorful, warmly spicy but with lots of lemongrass and herbal flavors. Not a fancy place, but you can definitely feel the love.“

“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.“

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

“To go buffet review only: I’ve been here several times and swap between the 99 Ranch buffet. Ultimately, Woo quality, portion size is better than 99 even though it’s $2-3 more. Had the beef with broccoli, chicken with mixed veggies. Both very good and tender meat. Rice was good also. So, today not bad as it’s been less satisfying other visits.“

“Absolutely the best BBQ food! Generous portions. Take-out was ready quickly. Amazing onion rings. 😋 The staff were great.“

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

“Absolutely the best BBQ food! Generous portions. Take-out was ready quickly. Amazing onion rings. 😋 The staff were great.“

“My new favorite kbbq spot in San Diego! The meats are all great quality, melt in your mouth. Loved the skirt steak, prime cut, short ribs, and the marinated beef. The ny steak was also good but I preferred the other meats. Over all just really tasty, the charcoal really makes a difference in the flavor and it cooks quickly too“

“I have come here several times and I can attest that their food is exceptional. I have ordered the vegetable soon tofu, their boiled dumplings, and the seafood kalguksu. Each dish is made with love and care and I always feel warm after eating here. Their service is efficient and even if they are busy, they manage to be quick on the service. Their banchan selection is great as well, sometimes something new everytime I come. I have also gotten takeout from this place and I really love how they give me anchovies as a banchan selection as I love the little fishies. It's too bad their parking can become crowded if you do not come close to opening.“

“Best barbecue I've ever had in my life - definitely make sure you get there if you're in the area.“

“Great friendly service… really enjoy the brisket sandwich and onion rings😋“

“Restaurant is clean and well lit. It’s located in a very busy location.

There’s a kiosk to order as well as a cashier. They have daily specials listed in front which is perfect if you don’t know what to pick.

Parking can be busy during rush hours so plan accordingly!

Check photos for menu prices as of 6/4/25 - can be pricey but the amount you get is usually
Enough for 2 portions (at least for
Me)“

“First time going best bbq nacho good drinks over all good service!! I highly recommend this place to go eat“

“We come here for brunch every time we visit San Diego. Service is great and food is delicious! Try the Cali!!“

“Just had the Smoked Brisket Sandwich...bbq sauce....was AWESOME!!!“

“Family friendly, delicious, flavorful entree's, full bar, quality entertainment, parking, a destination in North San Diego, Oceanside!“

“Classic and fantastic food with great prices. Remains the benchmark for authentic cuisine. Still enjoyable after all these years.
04.04.24 - again, it always seems to amaze me how all the dishes here taste just like homemade cooking.“

“Our boy is raving about u guys!“

“Absolutely the best BBQ food! Generous portions. Take-out was ready quickly. Amazing onion rings. 😋 The staff were great.“

“Amazing tender meat!! Recommended 10 out of 10“

“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 !“

“Delicious 😋 my preferred place“

“Very lively place. There are some fun games to play on one side and the other side has the line dancing. The bartenders are usually pretty attentive. There's a $5 cover charge, but if you sign up the night before, you can get on the list to do the free line dancing lessons and get in for free.“

“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“

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

“This has been my number one place to go to for the most delicious and most freshly cooked, roasted pig, regular, whole-roasted duck, and whole roasted-open duck in the whole San Diego county!! I also like their roasted pig feet and head!!😋 I have been going here for about over two decades. I have not tried their other dishes though. My favorite dish is their whole, open roasted duck!! It's really tasty and has a lot less fat than the regular, roasted one, but it still has the right amount of moisture and flavor in the meat, except the head. The duck head is sometimes dry if it is later in the afternoon. I usually get it during their first batch in the morning when they first open at 9:30am. The Cantonese lady who's also fluent in Vietnamese and English would always ask me if I want my duck to be cut. I like to watch her cutting the whole duck into nice bite sizes and all into a box nicely and neatly. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who likes the dishes I mentioned here!“

“I am so happy happened to walk by this GEM! $37.99( More choices) for each person and half of for children. The meat sizes are huge! The quality of the food is top notch! I am willing to drive from LA to San Diego just for this! I forgot to mention they also include a 6 oz Rib eye. Yes!!! I know!“

“I really enjoyed the food. We got 2 sushi rolls and chicken katsu. All 3 were delicious. My only complaint would be the miso soup which had an odd taste, I believe due to the bowl holding the scent and slight taste of whatever soap was used to clean it. Other than that, it was an enjoyable meal.“

“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.“

“Good quality of meet, good customer service,“

“Well prepared delicious food.“

“don't miss the May Ride Road Glide burger before the month is over! a portion of the proceeds from this burger goes to the Armed Forces YMCA.“