Smokin J's BBQ & Taphouse

751 Fourth Ave, San Diego
(619) 795-1456

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Customers' Favorites

Bread Pudding with Icecream
Sticky Ribs - 1 2 Rack
Pulled Pork - 1 2 lb
Loaded Fries Brisket
Hot Links - 1 2 lb
TV Dinner - Brisket
Smokin J Sandwich
Brisket Sandwich
3x3 Combo Platter
Chicken Sandwich

Menu

Extras
Slaw Sauce 2oz
House-made, mayo-based sauce with a little tang and a little zing. Great on brisket, burgers, and FRIES!
Ketchup 2oz
Unadulterated, house-made ketchup. Dip away my friends.
BBQ Sauce 3oz
House-made sauce that is a little sweet, a little tangy, and designed to compliment your food, not overwhelm it.
Chimichurri 2oz
From the wonderful minds of those beef loving Argentinians. Throw it on your meat and bask in the glory of flavor.
Hot Sauce
Chef Rick ferments all kinds of peppers to leave your tongue tantalized.

Breakfast Burritos
Belly-up Burrito
Start your day with a breakfast burrito packed with smoked-then-braised-then-fried pork belly, over-easy eggs, crispy hash browns, aged-white cheddar, caramelized onions, and slaw sauce.
Breakfast J-Rito
A hefty breakfast burrito packed with slow-smoked brisket, over-easy eggs, crispy hash browns, aged white cheddar, and house-made white gravy.
Sausage J-Rito
A hefty breakfast burrito packed with juicy smoked hot links, over-easy eggs, crispy hash browns, aged white cheddar, and house-made white gravy.

The Breakfast Sandwich
Loco Smoko
Our take on a Hawaiian treat. 1/3lb. naturally-raised, hormone-free beef patty topped with a hash brown, fried egg, and gravy, piled on a brioche bun.

Sides
Bacon (3 pcs)
This isn't just any 'ol bacon. This is bacon that has been cured and smoked in-house to tantalize your tastebuds and bring smiles to the children.
Hash Brown
Crispy, golden brown hash brown patty tossed in our house-made cajun spices.
Sweet Potato Pancake
One big 'ol fluffy sweet potato pancake with just the right amount of REAL maple syrup.
Pork Belly
Gravy

Meats
Brisket. -1/2 lb.
If we reached deep into your mind, pulled out the best dream you've ever had, smoked it for 12-16 hours, and served it on a golden platter, it would taste something like this.
Pulled Pork - 1/2 lb.
The little piggy who went to the market came out succulent and full of flavor. Our pulled pork is dry-rubbed and smoked for 12-16 hours before being pulled to order.

Extras
Spicy BBQ Sauce 3oz.
It's our house-made, delicious bbq sauce, but spicy! We turn up the heat with Fresno peppers.
BBQ Sauce 3oz
House-made sauce that is a little sweet, a little tangy, and designed to compliment your food, not overwhelm it.
Hot Sauce
Chef Rick ferments all kinds of peppers to leave your tongue tantalized.
Slaw Sauce 2oz
House-made, mayo-based sauce with a little tang and a little zing. Great on brisket, burgers, and FRIES!
Ketchup 2oz
Unadulterated, house-made ketchup. Dip away my friends.
Chimichurri 2oz
From the wonderful minds of those beef loving Argentinians. Throw it on your meat and bask in the glory of flavor.
Cutlery
It's a knife. It's a fork. It's a spoon. It's a packet of cutlery!

Meats
Brisket. -1/2 lb.
If we reached deep into your mind, pulled out the best dream you've ever had, smoked it for 12-16 hours, and served it on a golden platter, it would taste something like this.
Pulled Pork - 1/2 lb.
The little piggy who went to the market came out succulent and full of flavor. Our pulled pork is dry-rubbed and smoked for 12-16 hours before being pulled to order.
Sticky Ribs - 1/2 rack
Yeah, they're hot. Yup, they're sticky sweet. You just might end up covered in sauce, from your head to your feet.
Burnt Ends - 1/2 lb.
If you're lucky, one day you may find an oyster with a pearl. If you're extremely lucky, one day you might wrap your lips around these mouth-watering morsels of beef.
Blackened Shrimp
We had to add a little surf to all this turf. These crustaceans are expertly blackened with a mix of the chef's secret spices. Served on a bed of slaw.
Smoked Jackfruit - 1/2 lb.
Ok, fine, this is an imposter in the meat section, but try a forkful of this baby and you may forget it grew on a tree.
Hot Link - 1/2 lb.
Chef Rick is now a sausage king. Bask in his beefy glory. Smoked, juicy, and delicious (limited availability).
Wings
After bathing in buttermilk overnight we twice fry these puppies and toss them in a sauce of your choice (bbq, buffalo, slaw sauce, cajun dry-rub), or naked. Nine wings per order.

Sandwiches
The Smokin' J
It's our namesake, so you know it must be good. Succulent brisket, mouth-watering pork belly, and delectable slaw, piled high on a toasted brioche bun. Served with fries or slaw.
The Classic
This is BBQ on a bun. Slow-smoked pulled pork, perched on a bed of slaw and pickles, overflowing a toasted brioche bun Served with fries or slaw.
Fried Chicken Sando
Our chef knows his chicken! Buttermilk brined and fried to perfection. Served with fries or slaw.
The Boneless Rib
The Boneless Rib Sandwich is what happens when you take the best spare ribs in San Diego, then braise and de-bone them before throwing them back in the smoker in a bath of pork stock and The Sauce. Served on a toasted brioche bun with pickled onions. Served with fries or slaw.
The Smash Burger
A delicious grass-fed/corn-finished beef patty topped with cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, and slaw sauce. Served with fries or slaw.
Grilled Cheese
Some days just call for a gooey slice of childhood. Others call for a gooey slice of childhood with some brisket to feel a little more grown up. Served with fries or slaw.

Combos
3 X 2
Ever feel plagued by indecision when you look at our menu. Do you break out in a cold sweat when you have to choose between succulent brisket and flavorful pulled pork? Well Dr. Smokin J has just come up with this miracle cure that is sure to cure your ailment. Order this and you will get 1/4lb. of pulled pork, 1/4lb. of brisket, and juicy, crispy fried chicken (one large thigh), with 8 oz. of mac n' cheese and bean crack, and a slice of white bread.
TV DInner - Hot Link
For those days when all you want to do is crash on the couch and put on a movie, but you're still very hungry and need to solve that problem. Enjoy 1/2 lb of our house-made hot links with your choice of two sides, and let the rest of the world melt away.
TV Dinner - Pork Belly
For those days when all you want to do is crash on the couch and put on a movie, but you're still very hungry and need to solve that problem. Enjoy 1/3 lb of pork belly with your choice of two sides, and let the rest of the world melt away.
TV Dinner - Pulled Pork
For those days when all you want to do is crash on the couch and put on a movie, but you're still very hungry and need to solve that problem. Enjoy 1/3 lb. of pulled pork and 5oz.of your choice of two sides. Then let the rest of the world melt away.
TV DInner - Brisket
For those days when all you want to do is crash on the couch and put on a movie, but you're still very hungry and need to solve that problem. Enjoy 1/3 lb of brisket with your choice of two sides, and let the rest of the world melt away.
TV DInner - Burnt Ends
For those days when all you want to do is crash on the couch and put on a movie, but you're still very hungry and need to solve that problem. Enjoy 1/3 lb of burnt ends with your choice of two sides, and let the rest of the world melt away
TV DInner - Jackfruit
For those days when all you want to do is crash on the couch and put on a movie, but you're still very hungry and need to solve that problem. Enjoy 1/3 lb of smoked jackfruit with your choice of two sides, and let the rest of the world melt away.

Sides
Bean Crack
So good you'll be hooked. Navy beans smoked in pork stock and bbq sauce, with chopped onions, chopped peppers, and chunks of smoked-then-braised-then-fried pork belly.
Slaw
Trust us, you like this slaw. Fresh chopped cabbage in our house-made slaw sauce. Simple and perfect.
Mac n Cheese
Shells covered in the creamiest combo of smoked gouda, white cheddar, yellow cheddar, and parmesan.
Collard Greens
Chef Rick took his grandmother's recipe, and then made it even better. You will not complain about finishing these greens.
Spicy Brisket Chili
The best brisket makes the best chili. Yeah, we put brisket in our chili, then cover it with cheese and red onions. You're welcome.
Cornbread
Fresh baked cornbread with whipped honey butter. Seriously, how can you turn that down?
Cajun Fries
Most commonly uttered word after someone eats our fries: "Damn!" (NOTE: fries are prepared upon your arrival to ensure they are fresh. Please plan on waiting 3-5 minutes)
Pork Belly
This is what bacon wants to be when it grows up. Our belly is smoked, braised, pressed and chilled overnight, and then finished in the fryer. 96 hours to make, 2 seconds to devour. (One order is one piece)
Salt Fry

Desserts
Bread Pudding
Served with house-made whipped cream and caramel sauce.

Fountain Soda, Tea, Water
Sweet Tea
Swell Diet Colafornia
Swell Riptide Rootbeer
Swell Wild Blueberry
Swell Coffee Vanilla Cream
Swell Pomegranate
Swell Lime-N-Lemon
Unsweet Tea
Swell Colafornia
Swell Big Ginger Ale

Bottles
Sparkling Monster Tour Water
Orang-O-Tang
Monster Tour Water

Photos

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Recent Reviews

We came in for dinner after spending 20 minutes trying to find somewhere in the area that suited what we fancied, and wasn’t too loud. In the end we were very glad we visited as we were very impressed by just how good the food and drinks were! I had the tacos with Cajun fries and the cider, and my gosh it was just amazing! Really tasty food that left us satisfied, and the cider was like drinking juice, despite it being 6.9%, which made it both delicious and dangerous haha.

The...
September 2025
On our first night in San Diego and initially looking for somewhere for a decent beer for us but also where we could take our 2 teenagers. Saw this place and was amazed how quiet it as considering it was a Saturday and the good reviews. The front of house guy was very friendly and approachable and happy for us to come in just for drinks. Excellent choice of local beers and tasted great as well, I had the Hazy IPA and my wife adored the Cali Creamin nitro ale . After a while we...
August 2025
Best find in long while!
Service, Food and ambience were all top notch and I can't say enough about the team service we received!!
I'm so coming back and recommending this place to everyone!!!
August 2025

More Reviews

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Smokin J's BBQ & Taphouse

751 Fourth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 795-1456