Buckboard's BBQ & Brew

I read an article and this bbq ranked No.19 in the whole US, though I never heard of it before. I tried it yesterday with my husband and friends. We had a big rack of big ribs, with side sampler, Mexican corn, onion rings, fries and kid size pulled pork sandwich, plus corn bread and peach cobbler for dessert. The price here is very reasonable and the quantity is very good. The foods are very delicious, and especially the beef ribs, probably the best in SD I’ve ever had so far. All the sides are very very good, I love potato salad, coleslaw, fries, beans, corn…. The corn bread is also highly recommended. The only thing I don’t really into is the peach cobbler, too doughy for me. Anyways, it’s a nice place to have a great bbq!

We ordered the Buckboard Steak Burger and a side of Mac and cheese. The Mac was standard and the burger seemed kinda small and we had higher hopes for it. We got our order to go.

If your on the edge about this place, jump off the cliff. Cause it's a place you can't take the chance to miss. Everything we ordered was on par or above expectation. The meet was tender and juicy beyond belief, we all fought over the corn bread, but the surprise of the night was how unbelievable their turkey was! We were blown away by the quality and the amazing work ethic that must have gone into cooking such flavourful food. Kudos to everyone in house. Yall are great at your craft and we appreciate you for it.

Top notch spot! Our son's baseball team was in the area for a tournament so we came here for late lunch. Easy order at counter, super nice staff, excellent service, zero problem handling 30+ kids and adults. Food was awesome!! No chain here, everything is in house. Come here!!

The basic analogy we used is: A good chunk of what makes Phil's good is the sauce. This place is as good, without the need for sauce. Is it better? Well no, they don't have a sauce worth highlighting. Translation: The meat is *good*, come here if you want some good food without anything special about it, it's just really good. No, it's not Texas style, it gets the closest out of all of them in the region. But it's designation as SoCal BBQ is appropriate. Only complaint is that the place is a bit small, inside it gets quite loud and there's not much space. Even the patio is small, and contrary to inside it feels maybe too isolated.

What a fun place to go and enjoy some really great BBQ. My boyfriend was stoked with his ribs. Boy, were they beautiful and tasty. The mac balls were delicious and my chicken sandwich was outstanding. I got the last one, too. They do sell out of items, so be sure to get there early if you want the shhh puppies. We missed out this time but will be back to try them soon. The staff was so friendly and our pup was allowed to eat with us. He is well behaved so we are lucky. He sure enjoyed the rib bone dad gave him, too. I'd recommend going to enjoy the night here at this fun spot in El Cajon.

This review is long overdue. Buckboard BBQ catered a team dinner for Granite Hills Football. We hosted 95 people after practice and hands down this was one of the best experiences for the boys. The food was INCREDIBLE. The boys got seconds and thirds of all the options and the serving staff was phenomenal. Bonus Buckboard was generous enough to provide dinner for our boys at a cost we could afford. Thank you for the wonderful food and team dinner. We have frequented the restaurant many times since then and every dinner was amazing. El Cajon has a GEM in Buckboard BBQ.

Good not great bbq, nice place though. Pork ribs were good but nothing special, tri tip more on the dry side, their sauces are all pretty good. Loved the Mac n cheese bites

Driving up what felt like to be a neighborhood had me confused at first but as I pulled into the parking lot I got excited. Parking was easy and felt like there was more than enough for this size restaurant. Service was quick and nice. Gave us time and didn't rush as us being indecisive blankly stared at the menu. We were given are number and cups and got to choose our own seat. It was nice and they had tv's with a variety of sports on. They also had some country music on but I expect nothing less at a BBQ spot. We just had water to drink, but they had a good selection of brews as well a stubborn soda machine and if you ever had stubborn you know how amazing that is!!! I ordered the Buckboard Burger with no tomato or onion (I know I need to grow up but I cant) I had it medium well and OMG it was soooooo good. My boyfriend had the half rack of ribs and the meat pulled off the bones so nicely. He really enjoyed and even tried all 3 of their house BBQ sauces. His favorite was the jalapeño while mine was the sweet one. For sides we got the wedge fries and cornbread. The wedge fries were well seasoned and came with ranch. I was shocked by how much I enjoyed them considering I usually dislike wedge fries #ShoeStringFriesSupremecy . The cornbread was easily the best I have ever had. The maple butter was just the icing on top was truly delicious and I wish I was a local so I could come again.

Not happy with the food it was mediocre. We ordered the potato wedges they were sweating due to being hot so they lost the crispness. You have to punch a whole in the lid to release the steam for take out orders. Sweet potato fries weren't fully cooked had to toss in the air fryer. I had the vegan burger with onion rings I'll give it a 6/10 macaroni was made with pure craft cheese and sprinkled with shredded cheese 1/10 my hubby had the tri tip platter 5/10 Sorry we won't be back ‍

There is open seating and outdoor patio as well, if it wouldn't have been hot we would have sat out there. The ordering system is at the counter, it was quick and easy. We got our drinks right then and there. The food came out super fast which I was a bit concerned about but it turned out just fine. The temperature and taste was great. The food we got OG Piggy, Best of Buck Platter, Mac Balls, Steak fries, and onion Rings. My favorite were the Mac Balls ... delicious and a must get. All of it was good, except the onion rings we could have done without those. They have a good draft beer list as well as cans/bottles, and wine. Pricing was reasonable. Definitely a place we will visit when in the area.

I read an article and this bbq ranked No.19 in the whole US, though I never heard of it before. I tried it yesterday with my husband and friends. We had a big rack of big ribs, with side sampler, Mexican corn, onion rings, fries and kid size pulled pork sandwich, plus corn bread and peach cobbler for dessert. The price here is very reasonable and the quantity is very good. The foods are very delicious, and especially the beef ribs, probably the best in SD I've ever had so far. All the sides are very very good, I love potato salad, coleslaw, fries, beans, corn.... The corn bread is also highly recommended. The only thing I don't really into is the peach cobbler, too doughy for me. Anyways, it's a nice place to have a great bbq!

Had high hopes when I drove out to Buckboard's but left full and disappointed. Best thing I ate was the corn bread, followed by the slaw, then the potato salad. None of the BBQ choices (beef ribs, sausage, chicken, pulled pork) even cracked the top 3 for me. Friendly counter service and ample dining area, just fell short on the food. The edges of the beef ribs were dry and burnt, sausage and pulled pork were slightly below average, tri tip was flavorless, however the chicken was decently good. The experience made me want to go back home and fire up my Santa Maria grill with red oak and cook a tri tip the way it was meant to be cooked. The search for decent BBQ in San Diego continues.

Met friends here to celebrate a birthday. This is a hole-in-the-wall place that is worth the trip. The beef ribs were so tasty and meat was just falling off the bones/. Tri-tip was juicy. The chicken wings with venom sauce was pretty good. Spicy level is manageable and I dont handle spicy food very well. Servers were very nice and friendly, too.

Pork platter, street corn (cilantro crema on side), texas toast arnold palmer, ~$32 with tip, large portions, more great bbq, good music, comfortable seating, great service, easy parking, bar and tv's.

I've been to many BBQ places all over the US and this would be rated the most disappointing. The customer service is great but the food is just plain disappointing. I had the OG Piggy with a side of potato salad, bbq beans and coleslaw. The pulled pork looked line it had been in a blender and tasted like it had been sitting in a crock pot for WAY too long. The buns were soggy and the coleslaw was watered down. The beans tasted like any old canned beans smothered in bbq sauce. The chicken is extremely dry and my brother-in-law said the corn bread is dry but the honey butter is good. Lol (of course it is, it's butter!) My husband said the pork belly sliders were good. He said the beef ribs were decent flavored but extremely dry and lacking meat on the bones. If you have ever had Texas BBQ before, don't come here...you will sorrily disappointed!! It cost $4 for just a side of 1 sausage!!!! And I have NO IDEA why everyone is raving about their peach cobbler!! Check out my photo...it's more like monkey bread with a little bit of peach topping. I counted 2 slivers of peach on mine! Incredibly disappointing! In a positive note though...of all places to go to for the best vanilla ice cream...this is it!! lol! I would come back here just to get a scoop of what tastes like extremely fresh homemade vanilla ice cream!!! I do t even like vanilla, but this stuff is the BEST!! lol! Best ice cream, worst bbq. Hope this was helpful!

Wow - 1st time here and we enjoyed our dinner here tonight Finally a good bbq place here in sd , been looking for one, glad we found this hidden gem The food was delicious, authentic smoke bbq place, generous portion and all very tasty Service was friendly and accommodating Ambiance is nice clean space and organized Def we are coming back again

My go-to items are the beef back ribs and mac and cheese. Last time I was there the mac and cheese was $6 but it's so so gooey and good. My son LOVES their mac and cheese. I've tried the pork ribs a few times but thought it was a bit dry. Their beef ribs are much better. We've also tried their tri tip which was a bit dry too. Their other apps are pretty good and you can't really go wrong with the appetizers. Their apple cobbler was delish. Parking is small but we've never had any issues finding parking. Their staff has always been wonderful every time we went there.

Best local bbq! Fast service and even better tasting food! 100% recommend, the Mac n cheese balls are the best!

Excellent service and even better food! Cold beers and fun atmosphere. Great times had by all! Couldn't recommend enough.

Service was great. Food was not. Over priced for what we got. Tritip sandwich had two slices of tri tip . Not much for $15. All sides extra.

First time we tried this place, we got our food to go & we thought it was pretty good bbq; but pricey. The next time we decided to dine in and tbf we went kinda late for dinner 7:30ish. So I understand that they might end up having food left from earlier but for those prices??? I paid over $120 for myself, my wife & our 11 yo kid which includes tip ofcourse since these days we are forced to tip in advance in hopes for good effort in service and quality of food. Here they ask for the usual 18%, 20% & 22% while they provide no service other than taking your order & telling you your food is ready. Ribs were dry, cornbread was dry, my son's pulled pork was very salty. Just not a good experience and we will not be going back

Raised in Memphis and when I heard this place made the top 100 bbq for 2024, I drove down from Orange County. Ordered the sausage and full rack of ribs. Sausage was opaque and plain with just a hint of smoke. It wasn't even grilled and looked as if it were just boiled. Ribs were in my opinion to heavy on the sauce. Good quality meat but slightly hard. Not worth the drive in my opinion and many other places that are definitely better that did not make the list. So far Bledsoe ranks # 1 for bbq in California but nothing compares to Tennessee.

Besides having the best beef ribs this side of the Mississippi. I have to give them five Stars for customer service. Everyone on the team there was awesome. It was my first time coming back since the beef ribs were back on the menu. I was beyond excited to throwdown on some smoked beef ribs.I had a small issue of confusion with my order, and they management team went above and beyond to make me feel validated and appreciated. Food & Customer service was 110%. Y'all keep doing what you're doing !

I am so happy I found this spot. Genuinely some of the best bbq I've ever had in my life. Great place and everyone was really nice. Can't recommend this place enough.

This was our first time here and the food was incredible. The Tip Sammie was sooo good as well as the baby back ribs - they were very tender. The host Rachel was awesome and very welcoming!! No problem with parking either. This is now one of our favorite BBQ places in SD!

Went for Father's Day, shredded chicken tooooo salty out of ice.I wanted it to be good but probably won't go back

It was okay I wasn't a big fan the meat was a bit hard and the prices did not match the quality. The onion rings were just about the only good thing however the service was amazing so many nice people greeted us.

Food & service are great ! Their cornbread is a must try and their bbq is amazing jalapeño bbq sauce has the perfect sweetness & spicyness . If wanting authentic bbq definitely try this place out .

Our first time here and we enjoyed it very much. It has a really chill atmosphere but still good for a group to come in and converse. I love the whole look of the place. Our cashier was so friendly and jamming with the music, oh yah they got good playlist today! She was helpful and patient with us during our orders too! Mac and cheese balls is something I crave and this is the second place that offers them, it's good and freshly cooked when served. The baby back ribs was enjoyable and shareable. My mom tend to share the sliders but she ended up eating both, she enjoyed them too. The Buckboard steak burger is a good, big, portion!

Wife and I decided to try this spot and it was pretty good. I got the tri-tip platter and my wife ordered the pork platter. I recommend getting the tri-tip medium rare. The homemade bbq sauce is really good and recommend it for pork and tri-tip. The sweet potatoes fries were mediocre tho it was really soggy. Service was quick, the employees were very nice and friendly. Nice spot to go if you wanna hang with friends and family.

While in town, I had my heart set on some San Diego style bbq not named Phil's (not a fan of that place anyways). I was on a tight schedule and ended up picking this place due to the hours and proximity from work before I had to hit the road. The other places opened later or in the opposite direction of where I needed to go. I ended up ordering the beef back ribs, pork belly sliders and a sausage link and was given 3 sauces to try (OG, House and Smoked Jalapeno). Sauces - none of the sauces were my cup of tea. One had a coffee-ish note to me so I didn't care much for that while the other one was heavy on the vinegar and third one was smoked jalapeño which was the most edible for me of the 3. Beef ribs - lots of tender meat but not much smoke taste or flavor outside of the glaze. Again, I wasn't a big fan of the 3 sauces so the ribs being glazed with the sauce beforehand was hard for me to get into. Sausage - looked and tasted like a store bought sausage but with better snap and firmer bite which I do like. Again not much smoke flavor or smoke scent. Pork belly sliders - expecting unctuous tender pork belly but it was kinda dry like they braise it beforehand, slice it and toss it in the fryer. Also very vinegar forward between the slaw and the sauce they glaze the pork belly. Just didn't fit what I like but wasn't bad. Toast - the cook burnt one side of the toast but put the presentable side facing up lol Service and Pricing - server was nice and the service was quick. Portion and pricing were very reasonable. All in all, flavors were just not for me but could be for others. Smoke flavor was little to so subtle that it was indistinguishable. Why such a low rating? Well, two hours later I was driving back up to my next office stop and started feeling queasy. I ended up pulling over on the 15 and threw up which was the start to my stomach issues later on.

This is no frills BBQ place. Good food. Nothing fancy without the SoCAL snoot. We ordered half beef rack, which was pretty good. Not too sweet, not too try. Slaw was good, not a home run. Surprisingly steak fry is just potato wedges, not steak fries that you will expect in other places. Somehow it is not clear anywhere, neither did the server clarified. OK choice of beer, not too limited neither too broad. Overall good experience.

If you are looking for authentic barbecue than you have found the right place & the vibe does not disappoint either. They have plenty of room inside & out w/nice fire pits to add to the ambiance. We got there right when they opened, but soon after that place was full of people enjoying large portions. The sauces were delicious (my fav was the sweet one), the ribs were amazing & tender, the cole slaw was exactly how I liked it (I hate having a strong yucky after taste...usually a sign it's been sitting there for awhile). Very clean, love that they have cleaning station & it just feels like a family cookout. The service was good; they welcome you, hand you a menu & allow you to find a seat before coming back up to order.

Ate the best beef ribs today. I am a picky bbq fan. Either theee us too much smoke or too much rub where one can't taste the meat. I will be back and try their pork ribs next. The grand ole bbq in Flynn Springs ( El Cajon) was my go to place. I love their outdoor patio and all of their sides. But their ribs were no where as good as Buckboard

My friend and l had the baby back ribs and the beef ribs.The food appeared and tasted like it was a day old.No temperature and it was way over priced.The only thing that we found favorable was the honey butter corn bread muffins. I don't think that we'll go back again.

I can never say enough good things about buckboards, about the food and the customer service. They have become my all-time favorite barbecue spot in the world, not just East County, where they have the competition of Coops and Phil's. The quality of the meats, their appreciation for the art of slow cooking and grill, are evident in their products. I hope to book their catering service for my upcoming wedding. Just sad to hear that they lost their vendor for the meat candy aka beef ribs, and hope that they find another vendor and can continue their work of art soon! I wish them all the success in the world. Oh and they donate meals to veterans too!

i haven't had really good bbq in san diego county since they closed brett's in north county years ago so when my bbq loving family came to town, we picked buckboard's to try out and we were NOT disappointed. we ordered a bunch of stuff to share and the absolute stand outs were the beef ribs, tri tip, cornbread, beans, and mac and cheese. this is good, down and dirty bbq and will absolutely be my go to in san diego going forward!!

Been patronizing this place the past four years or so with my drinking buddies. We head out to many locations and Buckboards is one of a handful we continue to frequent, although not lately because Tuesdays are our night out and Buckboard has been closed on Tuesdays since covid. The food is good and the beer selection is varied and good. We've never experienced bad service. The dining hall is not too loud. Parking is plentiful.

Best barbecue I've had in a while!! the cornbread, potato salad and Mac and cheese were delicious also. Definitely a hidden gem. So glad we found this place will definitely be back! Super chill place and everyone was so nice!

Amazing service and food. You have to try the macaroni and cheese its amazing I love their pork ribs and tri tip you will not be disappointed here

We ended up in Buckbeard when our first choice ended up being pick up only. While I was craving a totally different kind of food, Buckbeard was a great "we ended up here instead" choice. First, the positives: service was excellent and the serving size of the food was great. The lady behind the counter with dark curly hair who ended up as our cashier and main server was SO nice. It was never anything over the top but she was just friendly and helpful. I didn't see name tags on any of the staff so I didn't get her name, but she was great. As far as the food went, we were not prepared for the amount of food we got! While one may think that the price point isn't on the cheap side, they do give you a good amount of food for the price. We were planning on getting a half rack of ribs with the tri-tip, pulled pork and sides that we ordered. They ran out of the ribs and that was a blessing in disguise for us because we boxed up around 60% of the food we ordered. The ribs would have been much too much. I couldn't give 5 stars because I found the food itself underseasoned and the meats either under cooked or overcooked. The tri-tip we found underseasoned and undercooked. The fat and gristle were still hard and have not rendered out, it would also be better with more seasoning as it tasted bland. It was okay with the sauces they provided but good bbq meat should taste good on its own, with the sauce just extra. The pulled pork was the tastier of the meat, specially since it came topped with bbq sauce already. We found the meat a bit over cooked tho, with the texture mushy instead of tender with good shreds. The sausage had good texture but also underseasoned. The wedge fries were the surprise best side. They look burnt because they're dark but they were perfectly cooked, crunchy on the outside, and well seasoned. The Shhh Puppies are not our favorite. I was excited to see it because I fell in love with hush puppies in the East Coast and haven't found good ones here. The search continues as these stuffed hush puppies are very heavy, very grainy, and bland--which is surprising because it should be flavorful with the corn flour, cheese, and Jalapeño. The cornbread was ok, large, very firm muffins of them. While the outside was a bit hard and toothsome, they tasted good and I'd probably order them again. All in all, Buckbeard is a good place to go to if you live in the area. We will probably not go back because we found the cooking of the meat a bit uneven and the meats and Texas toast underseasoned. We could have just gotten a bad batch tho and the friendly service and good portions are still worth four stars.

We ordered delivery from about 20 minutes away, so we lwere just hoping the food was good when it arrived. It wasn't, it was Great! We ordered the tri-tip platter, side of macaroni and cheese, wedge fries, and cornbread with maple butter. Everything was hot, fresh, and delicious. While a bit pricey, the meat was very tender, generously portioned, and well worth the money. The Texas toast was soft, and still had a nice crisp on top despite being delivered. I imagine it's even better fresh from the kitchen. The cornbread was so good. I usually find cornbread to be dry and bland, but this was neither. In fact, it might be the best cornbread I've ever had. I'm a bit of a macaroni and cheese snob and have yet to find one in a restaurant that I would order again, until now. I loved the macaroni and cheese. Will definitely be back for more.

Found this place while in the area for my kid's game. Ordered the Beef Rib platter and really enjoyed it. Delicious bbq, even without any extra bbq sauce. I was a little disappointed that the platter didn't come with fries, but the bread was delicious, and it was filling enough for me. Service was friendly and excellent. You have to order from the counter first, then they bring it out to you. Looked like a nice beer selection, but was too early for me. This bbq place is great and I highly recommend it.

Today, I decided to switch things up from my usual go-to spots (Phil's or The Pioneer) and ordered from Buckboard BBQ. Unfortunately, it was far from a satisfying experience. The Tri-Tip Platter was disappointingly overcooked and lacked any flavor. Similarly, the Chicken Platter was dry and tasted like it had been prepared much earlier in the day, leaving it stale and unappetizing. The saving graces were the Street Corn and the cornbread muffins, both of which were quite good. However, the Cole Slaw was rather plain. Overall, it was a letdown for my family's meal.

Pork ribs were suuuuper dry and bland. Beef ribs were decent but with barely any meat. Max and cheese balls were fantastic. Mac n cheese was also good. Onion rings were ok as were the beans and potato salad. Not a bad price point, but definitely not on par with Grand Ole or Space Kat (RIP). Nice/friendly service.

I've been here a few times, and I swear it gets better each time. This time, I had the brisket sandwich with sweet potato fries and a sweet tea. Deeeelish!

A good place for bbq in east county. Friendly efficient service. I feel like bbq and sides are a very individual taste preference. For me it was a solid 4, with my favorites being the wings and cornbread. Potato salad was definitely the sour cream base and I prefer the Mayo classic flavor. Slaw and beans were also tasty. I'm glad I got the sampler to try many things. My friend got a sandwich and I also tried an onion ring- they are big and breaded not battered. Sauces are a nice variety but all kinda similar flavor profile. Portion of pulled pork was substantial and the chicken leg quarter was huge. I tried the thigh meat and it was juicy and well cooked. The tri tip was a bit well done for my taste, but otherwise had a nice smoke background. Soda station is great and love the hand washing area too. The only thing I missed trying was the Mac n cheese but there's always next time.

The food was excellent, service was great. Waitress surprised us with free dessert for our anniversary. Definitely will return as soon as we can

Decided on this BBQ based on other reviews. We weren't disappointed! This place served up some delicious BBQ! We had the beef and the pork half racks with a sampler of sides, macaroni and cheese, corn muffin and a wedge salad. Wow! Delicious!! All food is prepped fresh, daily, in house. No frozen prepackaged sides here! We arrived before lunch, and dining room was packed by time we left with more customers coming in. They offer outside dining as well. Staff VERY friendly, welcoming, and helpful. Order and pay at the counter. Sit wherever you like in dining room. Fountain drinks and tea are self serve. Hand wash sinks conveniently nearby. Condiments and paper towels on table. And if you need it, like we did, just ask for to-go boxes at the counter. Great first dining experience! We will be back!

a gem in el cajon! nice staff! great food! resto is clean! ample parking! definitely worth coming back!

Best bbq I've ever had. Wait time for food is extremely reasonable without it being at the expense of the quality of their food. I come out to have Buckboard's any chance I can get.

We had carry out from here a few weeks ago and were very disappointed. The ribs were fatty and the sauce bland. Although we are "bbq snobs" from Kansas City MO, we have found bbq we love in CA but this was not a place we would go again.

Tri tip over cooked no good for $23 said cooked to med but cooked well and dry. They make you type 85 words so you can't just say it's not very good.

1st time visitor! After work,I decided Icwanted BBQ. I have driven by several times,butcthis time,I stopped. Oooooohhhh..the smell that greeted me!! My favorite is BBQ Beef ribs,so I decided on the 1/2 rack,with a side of steak fries!!! Take out,so I did not eat until after I went home. Steak Fries nicely seasoned & not skimpy! BBQ beef ribs...oh my!! Yummy! Tender,beefy. Ribs are cooked with sauce on, so I was surprised at the flavor. Sauce was not spicy & I savored as it was! BTW, don't tell anyone, I almost ate the whole thing!!! Prices decent too. Staff friendly, and gave recommendations! Clean interior, and great ambience! I will be back!!

If you put in an online order, they'll prioritize you. If you order in person, be prepared to wait. Long wait aside (50 min), the food was great and I would return again when I have the time.

First time here and it has a very cool kick back vibe. A few tvs for sports watching and country music. Full bar and indoor and outdoor eating. Clean place and seat yourself wherever. Staff is nice no one bothers you. They have a soda area and sauce area where you help yourself... Now the food. I want to love it however the tri tip was a bit chewy and my butter knife just would not cut it and the pan is lined with paper so I was ripping the paper while cutting the tri tip. Mac n cheese was very good enough to share for the 3 of us. Corn cakes were ok comes with butter and nothing special. My son ordered buckboard burger which he really enjoyed and he got wedge fries which are cooked not fried. My sons GF got pulled pork sandwich with baked beans and she liked it but very messy. Tri tip does come with garlic bread which was good and has a nice crisp to it. Several different sauces which is nice. I honestly wish the tri tip was cut smaller or not so chewy but other than that pretty nice place.

This place is awesome. We stopped in last night and had a steak burger and wife had a kids pulled pork slider. Perfect size and it was honestly the best burger I have had in a while. Kinda off the beaten path on greenfield but highly recommend. Staff was nice also.