Coop’s West Texas BBQ & Catering

A little bit of Texas in San Diego! Thank You Mr. Coop and your staff for all of your hard work that goes into preparing all of your delicious food! You are truly a gift. Service is always great! Food is exceptional!!! Treat yourself, friends, families to this amazing food! Because you will have to wait until next Fri-Sun to have it again! Do yourself a favor and just come on down wherever you might find yourself reading this. Thank You Coop’s for everything you guys do!

Best BBQ ever! I agree with their motto of "Legendary BBQ". The aroma hits you in the parking lot and tortures you until you get to eat! We love the pork ribs. The BBQ sauce is also amazing! The sweet is probably our favorite but the hot is great, also. (The heat builds and sneaks up on you.) You can't go wrong at Coops. Oh!! Their collard greens are absolutely bomb-diggity!

I am excited to have found Coop’s West Texas BBQ. My teenage sons and I ordered various things to try, including brisket, mac-n-cheese, potato salad, rice beans, cornbread, and peach cobbler. All of it was delicious, but the surprising winner was the spicy chicken. Coop’s West Texas BBQ is worth the trip.

Food is exceptional, like a little bit of Texas in San Diego, service is excellent if you’re not familiar with BBQ they will definitely put you right. I would definitely recommend Coops. We ordered a little bit of everything and left happy , fulfilled, and ready for a nap.

Visited Coop's BBQ for lunch. Had a pulled pork w/mac 'n cheese. Also, the brisket w/beans. Brought home the pork rib tips, brisket & another pound of pulled pork. Pics to follow. The place smelled like a BBQ/smoker should smell like. Perfect.

Coop's BBQ never disappoints! I have been here several times over the years. A friend of mine was craving some BBQ for her birthday and I recommend Coop’s West Texas BBQ. We ordered half a rack of ribs, 1 pound of sausage, half a pound of pulled pork, corn bread, white bread, and a large order of mac and cheese. Everything was delicious! The ribs were fall off the bone good, the pulled pork was juicy, the corn bread was moist and not dense like some other spots, and the sausage was peppered just right. Each dish had so much flavor, what a meal. There are no tables(or seating) inside the restaurant, so be prepared for just take out. We ate at some picnic tables across the parking lot. The customer service was also excellent. Suemi was friendly and helpful. Coop's is a Lemon Grove Institution and my favorite BBQ in San Diego. I can't wait for my next visit. Eat up!!!

The ssssalivation is REAL! Coop knows how to do it right! His Q is legit. Tasty, tender, juicy ribs n brisket that don’t need any sauce. Every bite that slides off the bone has loads of smokiness. They go down like buttahh... But, le’me tell you, that spicy sauce is so dope. It’s bursting with so much flavor and adds some heat to the bites. It’s just a cherry on top of the sundae. So ask for the spicy sauce. It’s so good. Their sides are all great. Starting with that cornbread. The pieces are huge and perfect. They have the right amount of moisture that they don’t get all crumbly n crummy. So yummy! I could stop there, but I love their bbq beans that have chunks of pineapple. Didn’t expect that my first time there when they first opened. But I’ve been a sucker for it ever since. If you don’t want something sweet, the red beans n rice are also great. They even have chunks of the brisket in it. I must say, I never really had collard greens till I discovered Coops. I’ve had it since at other places, but I really like the way they make the greens here. I always gotta have it on my plate to complete my scrumptious meal. I usually order for pick up and bring my stash home for the fam. There is limited seating inside and outside if you can’t wait to get home. The tortuous drive is the hardest part for me! Thanks for keeping the legend goin, Coop! (The only drawback: the hours! Please stay open past 3pm. People don’t grab dinner before then. The business will at least triple if it stayed open to at least 6-7pm! And summer is coming! I’ll do (5) stars for service then. ; D )

Delicious BBQ, sides and friendly staff. Mr. Coop was welcoming and friendly! Only down side was it was a bit expensive. I ordered the ox tails over rice with two sides which was $50. It was amazing, but definitely a treat to spend so much on lunch.

West Texas BBQ Dryrub bbq Lemon grove Smoked meats Amex accepted Limited parking Limited seating Open Friday thru Sunday Take out and indoor seating Restrooms shared with a diff business Family owned / mom and pop shop Everyone's friendly Smells amazing Catering available Brisket, sausage, chicken, ribs Limited side vegetarian options Food sold until it runs out Quick service.

This was our second time here The service was fast and friendly. Inside the restaurant was a little small but it wasn't too busy so we found seats right away. we ordered ribs, tri tip, Mac and cheese, and yams. Plus a side order of cornbread and a sweet tea. The sweet tea is always so good! Everything was really good but the cornbread wasnt as good today ;(

Coop's West Texas BBQ: Where Smoke Meets Soul Let me just say this: if you haven't been to Coop's West Texas BBQ, you're not living your best BBQ life. As a Yelp Elite, I've eaten my fair share of brisket across the country, and Coop's is as authentic as it gets--no fluff, no gimmicks, just straight-up Texas BBQ done right. The vibe is unpretentious and welcoming--like your favorite uncle's backyard cookout, if your uncle happened to be a pitmaster. You can smell the smoke from the parking lot, and that's your first sign that you're about to make a very, very good decision. Let's break down the meats: * Brisket: This is the showstopper. Tender, juicy, and kissed with just the right amount of smoke. The bark is peppery and bold, and the fat is rendered perfectly--like meat butter. * Sausage links: Spicy, snappy, and bursting with flavor. Legit Texas-style. * Ribs: Fall-off-the-bone in the best way, with a smoky depth and tangy glaze that lingers just long enough to make you want another bite. * Chicken: Even the chicken here is impressive--smoked to perfection, juicy inside with a seasoned skin that's all flavor. And let's not forget the sides--because Coop's doesn't slack there either. The mac & cheese is creamy, rich, and ridiculously comforting. The collard greens? Southern grandma-approved. And the BBQ beans bring that sweet-smoky punch that rounds out the whole plate. But it's not just the food--it's Coop himself. The man is a legend. He's usually out front, checking in on guests, chopping meat, or just dropping wisdom. That kind of personal touch? You don't get that at chain spots. You feel like family here. Pro tip: Get there early. They do sell out, and when the meat's gone, it's gone. Final verdict: Coop's isn't just serving BBQ--it's serving culture, history, and a whole lot of heart. This place is a crown jewel in the San Diego food scene and an absolute must for any BBQ lover.

4.3 stars. This is the best BBQ I've had in San Diego by a long shot. Definitely trumps Phil's BBQ. The first round of brisket was a 5/5. We ordered another pound and that was drier at 3.5/5. The jerk chicken was such a pleasant surprise. Juicy, tender, and flavorful. 5/5. Dry rub ribs were okay. From the sides I thought the collard greens, Mac and cheese and candied yams were really good. The peach cobbler was a huge miss. Not what I expected. Cornbread was unmentionable. Love that they give hot bbq sauce when asked and lots of BBQ sauce. Picnic tables inside. By the time it hit around 12:30 there was already a long line out the door.

Best bbq I've had in san diego and nothing comes close. First batch of brisket was great. Second was dry. Pork ribs were not good. Chicken was pretty good. mac and cheese - decent collared greens - decent candied yams - good peach - ok cornbread - not good

There is a smoky aroma and flavor that sinks down into the bone you only get from hours in the smoker.  I was impressed by how tender and moist the turkey was.  The sauce used to smother the turkey with was like the best gravy I've eaten.  Hope Coop smokes more turkey legs in the future as this dish is my favorite smoked turkey leg.  Rice was moist and had a light flavor which combined with the smothering sauce was delicious. I don't see Shasta soda much.  When I was a kid you could find it in most supermarkets.  I like the sweet root beer flavor of Shasta Root Beer.  Reminds me of Hires Root Beer which was my favorite root beer. Coop has frequent specials so you never know what will be available unless you check his facebook page.  I'm glad I did as the smothered turkey leg is one of my favorite dishes here.

Only open Friday-Sunday! Delicious, tasty, tender meats! They serve Beef Brisket (my fav!), Pulled Pork, Southwestern Jerk Chicken, Pork Ribs, Homemade Texas Sausage, Rib Tips. I recommend getting a sampler so you can try a variety like we did. They also serve sandwiches, desserts & Sweet Tea (a must order!) Make sure to check their IG because they will highlight specials too.

Tasty food but they are skimpy with the meat for the price. I had the Potato que and it was just sautéed red potatoes and maybe 4 ounces of Brisket for $16, that, a sandwich, 1 ice tea, and a plate came out to $64.

Try out Coops! The food and service were great. They do get very busy so I would call ahead of time if you are looking for a specific item. Oh and the sweet tea is everything!

Farewell to Coop's West Texas BBQ as we know it as this will be the last weekend of business at their longtime Lemon Grove location. As one of the OGs of this BBQ style in the SD area, it has been one of my favorite dining spots. The no frills setup with multiple smokers on the opposite side of the parking lot reminded me of popular barbecue joints in the Southern states. Four picnic tables were available for inside seating so the dining space was limited. The majority of orders was for takeout, and they only accepted cash. The place opened at 10:00 and by the time I showed up, there were a dozen customers ahead of me. For this final visit, I bought a Knockout Sampler which was three pounds of meat (each had to be different) and two large sides. My picks were the Beef Brisket, Pork Ribs, and Homemade Texas Sausage along with Red Beans & Rice and Mac 'n Cheese. A small serving of Peach Cobbler and a slice of Buttermilk Pie rounded out my selections. The ribs and sausage were still on the smoker when I ordered which meant I had to wait another hour before those two meats were ready. The Pork Ribs were the best of the bunch. There were six bones with such deep smokiness to them that I didn't need to apply any barbeque sauce. I saved it for the pound of Beef Brisket that was cut into small slices. It was on the fattier side compared to places that offer more lean meat. The Texas Sausage contained a blend of spices (jalapeno?) which imparted some heat. The Red Beans & Rice were ordinary while the Mac 'n Cheese wasn't the gooiest blend I have tasted, yet it was still satisfying. The Peach Cobbler was the winner of the dessert battle as the sweetness of the peaches was terrific. Coop's does plan to have future pop-up events, and they will also provide catering if you have a function that desires this type of BBQ. Thank you to the owners and staff for your 13 years of service to the greater SD community. You will be missed!

Love it when the community comes together to save a small business from fully closing. Coop's is now open on Fri-Sun 10-3. CASH ONLY. We came on a raining Sat and was the first in line by 9:15am. We placed our order at 9:57am and got our order in 15 mins. Rainy day special of 10% off. We got a 1/2 slab pork ribs, 1/2 lb brisket, 1/2 lb jerk chicken, 1/2 lb sausage, candied yams, Mac n cheese, corn bread (requested corner piece) and sweet tea. Everything was so tender, moist with a smokey flavor of oak wood (they ran out of mesquite wood). The sausage and chicken was our least favorite. The pork ribs and brisket were our top two. The ribs had so much flavor deep into the bones and didn't need sauce. Both had the right amount of fattiness. We asked for corner cut pieces of the corn bread to get the extra crispiness on the edges. Sweet tea is a must at bbq places. Be prepared to take on that pre diabetes goodness. My fiancé said it's one of the best Mac n cheese he's had. I'm not a Mac n cheese gal but I liked it bc it was cheesy without being cheesy. Know that Coop's bbq is Texas dry rub style with a thin wet layer, not drenched in sauce. They do give you spicy and non spicy bbq sauce. Parking is in a small lot with tons of street parking. Four picnic indoor tables. Across the parking lot, there are outdoor seatings in the former Coop's chicken and waffles building.

I gotta be honest. I came here with high expectations seeing a nearly 5 star review for this establishment. Upon coming in, the place is small. The menu is written in chalk on the walls and it is difficult to navigate. The tables are like picnic tables. This place is always full though with people. Prices are comparable to TX Roadhouse. I got a rib combo meal which was about 23 dollars. 4 dollars for drinks. For four of us it was about 80 something dollars. Food didn't take long to serve. The baked beans were good. Mac and cheese was ok. The ribs looked good but don't have much meat. Does not fall off the bone either. The BBQ sauce was very good though. Honestly, I don't think I'll be back. Just wanted to give this place a try.

Coops is unmatched. There are consistently showing up and giving 100% in whatever they do Coops is the cleanest spot I have ever eaten. I respect every change and pivot they do. Lemon grove Gems Supporting family owned & black folks businesses

I really wanted to like this restaurant, but the food just wasn't up to snuff. The ox tail tasted of liquid smoke, very chemically. The ribs were a little better, but were just adequate, not good.

My husband and I tried this place called COOP'S WEST TEXAS BBQ. The inside is not that big of a space, they have long shared tables inside, it can be tight inside when there are a bunch of customers ordering to-go or dining in. We stayed to dine in 'coz I loved the BBQ smell inside :) We had: *BEEF BRISKET *PULLED PORK *SAUSAGE *PORK RIBS *JERK CHICKEN The moment we got our food omg the smokey smell from all the meats was lovely. I will usually take individual photos of each food and post them after here on Yelp, but I couldn't wait to eat so I just took one photo and ate right away :). I love their Brisket, it's so tender and goes perfectly with their BBQ sauce. Their sausage was good, it had a light spiciness. I Like the Jerk chicken too, it's so tender and tasty. Their ribs don't fall off the bones easily, but I like it still, they are very good smokey ribs. I wished to spot Mr. Cooper inside to see who was responsible for these yummy BBQ's :), but no luck, he wasn't around the day we came. We planned to visit again, and surely I am gonna order more than I ordered on our first visit, they are good BBQs. Parking was easy for us to find around.

My partner and I finally stopped by in Jan 2024 after years of hearing so much hype. To our dismay, it just did not live up to all the praise. We were so disappointed that we were disappointed! It was as if Mr. Coop's heart was just no longer in it because most of our selections -- the brisket and jerk chicken to be exact -- were just so plain and unexciting; a clear lack of smoky character and absolutely no seasoning. The jerk chicken was not even spicy, to top it off. The ribs, on the hand, showcased some promise. They had that fall-off-the-bone character which BBQ snobs claim ain't right, but it made them more enjoyable. These had *some* smoky character, at least more so than the 2 aforementioned items. In general, the BBQ sauce seemed to enhance our food greatly as it was exceptionally well-developed: it was sweet and possessed a twang and smokiness. This is what a BBQ sauce should be, but it should serve as an auxiliary piece, not a replacement of flavor. Mr. Coop was smoking some wieners in the parking lot during our visit which smelled mighty nice. We almost thought we had ordered the wrong thing. I do believe we need to give Coop's another try as not shortly after our visit, they announced their closure and then eventual peeling back of their hours of operations instead. Alas, I cannot imagine when that re-visit will occur, but I imagine since Mr. Coop is not as strained with the new refined hours, he might have improved his product to an extent.

I've been coming to Coop's for years, back when you could get a pound of rib tips on Wednesdays for $12. Over the years I've continued to patronize them, but once they started only being open a few hours a few days a week, not so much. I came today and I was very disappointed. Service is super slow, and to only get one small ramekin of BBQ sauce for an entire pound of meat is ridiculous. The potato salad tastes like it came from the deli in Albertsons and the red beans & rice had no meat in them and no seasoning. The only thing that was still magnificent were the rib tips. I used to love this place and I hope that they can get back to their glory days.

Had food catered today by Coops West Texas Barbecue. Coop and his daughter pulled up with the smoker/grill; I knew it was going to be gooooddd!!! We had three different meat to select from: meat selections were pork ribs, brisket and southwestern jerk chicken. Sides were baked beans and Mac & Cheese along with corn bread/dinner roll. I opted for the three meat selections, the two sides and extra corn bread. I tasted the brisket, pork ribs and jerk chicken. Omg!!!! So tender, flavorful and melts in your mouth! They jerk chicken have the most Smokey flavor but you can taste a hint of smokiness in the brisket and ribs. The sides were delicious, my baked beans had pieces of pineapple in it, I never knew pineapple would compliment baked beans so good but my friend Cheryl loved it so much; she had to get a cup to go! The corn bread was great texture, baked to perfection and moist. The bbq sauce that they had offered was very good, perfect seasonings and goodness. I'm so glad I get to meet these wonderful crew, they were so nice and friendly. Very professional and have a welcoming positive attitude. I highly recommend Coops!

I am excited to have found Coop's West Texas BBQ. My teenage sons and I ordered various things to try, including brisket, mac-n-cheese, potato salad, rice beans, cornbread, and peach cobbler. All of it was delicious, but the surprising winner was the spicy chicken. Coop's West Texas BBQ is worth the trip

Got to go in person today to grab some food for 6 for Mother's Day! And chose the Posse sampler platter with 5 lbs of meat. Doesn't include the choice of beef short rib. Group wanted ribs, so I got half slab (pork only), brisket, sausage & jerk chicken. Beef short ribs are $25 per rib. I'll try that another time to see how it is for 1 rib for $25. Got me thinking of Chris Rock character on New Jack City. "How much for one rib?" Anyhoo, I digress. We got sides greens, beans, and potato salad. Let me start by saying! I've yet to find any other place that has beef brisket as tender, flavorful & and mouth-watering as Coops yet! So that's my absolute favorite thing on the menu so far! The report on the pork ribs was okay but not as tender. Mom's said she would've like more of smoke flavor with the sauce & more tender on the ribs but wasn't bad. Dad had some of everything & it was all good. My grown children liked the chicken but said it lacked jerk flavor, but we all liked it regardless. That chicken was tender & juicy with a smoke flavor. Greens were great as we're the beans not sweet or overly vinegary & no meat included. Mac n cheese was mackin'! The service was great. Greeted from the moment I walked in by The Man Coop himself & Rachel(I think was her name) at the register. She explained everything well & was kind & did everything with a smile. It's a good thing when you pay attention to the employees who work with a smile & a great working demeanor. The inside had about 4 bench tables for seating to eat inside or wait. Outside, there are some tables at the other part across from them at the closed down restaurant, Da chicken Coop. My dad told me about it before I saw it. I kept saying that for the day, if you knew about this gem, why didn't you ever share the details? Now I have lived in Daygo all my life & my Daygo fam & peeps really let me down with this info. I also let myself down realizing I have driven by this spot a number of times, oblivious. Now Coops is only open the weekends Friday, Saturday & Sunday until 3p. I used to order from them via Doordash & when I couldn't get them online anymore. I went in search & my friend told me he closed the business in March 2024 she read. And when I got on Yelp, it was true. But soon after, I found he just decided to do weekends & catering/ events. That made my soul, tastebuds & stomach happy Much gratitude Coop!

Nothing g like COOPS for a Saturday tailgate before a football game. Ordered pound of jerk chicken and brisket, large potato salad and small beans. Outside pieces of brisket looked a little too fatty. They closed their chicken shop next door which we were also going to get. No more eating tables inside either.

My first time here and loved just about everything Arnold Palmer made with fresh squeezed lemonade and Texas sweet tea Beef Brisket...WOW! Tender, flavorful, cooked to perfection Great red, beans & rice Good Potato salad Peach Cobbler Service and Staff...AWESOME! Loved the vibe of the people who came in today, felt like a family gathering. I will definitely be back.

It's been a really long time since I've been here. Ordered the knockout that comes with 3 pounds of meat and 2 large side. Got the pork ribs 1/2 slab which are 6 bones and 1pound of beef brisket and 1 pound of homemade sausage and sides were candied yams and collared greens and a small side of baked beans. The owner there and always friendly handing out samples of the rib tips. Everything was really good . No complaints. Plus got the sweet tea which was so good. Can get crowded around noon time. There are 4 large tables in the dining room. Free refill and containers were free. Would highly recommend this place for people who love bbq. This is the best bbq in San Diego . Beats Phil's anytime

BBQ In San Diego is hard to find let alone good West Texas BBQ. Me being a Second generation San Diegan from the area had known only Fargos And the BBQ pit growing up. Since then we had some attempts by others to compete and some gentrification of neighborhoods took place. About 15 years ago Brad Cooper "Coop" was shown by his dad who was raised in Midland Texas and was taught his pit master skills. My cousin who swore by Coops for years and used to promise we'd have to check it out. After my lack of finding a bonafide Texas BBQ I had saw an article on NBC about the possible closure of Coops a month ago. Yesterday I finally was able to head out from Chula Vista to Lemon grove. Easy to find with plenty of parking . The first thing I noticed was the Smoker set ups in the parking lots, Oak and Pecan woods used to create the magic. These setups match up to the Texas based BBQs such as Hard 8 in Dallas , Hutchins in Frisco , I knew I was at the right place. Once inside there's a clean and modern kitchen and smokers that were grandfathered in for smoke producing heat( rare) for indoors anymore. The line for ordering was about 12 deep with a half dozen waiting and other families devouring their orders. The Menu pretty straight forward, Brisquit , Short ribs , Sausage , sides numerous, cornbread, peach cobbler, greens, MacNCheese, potato salad, coleslaw. Numerous combos, meat weights and solo variations. Everyone inside seemed to know the staff, older folks greeted by first name and thanks you'd abound. The Tip jar was full and Brad Coop was checking on everything and everybody. We waited about 25 mins for our order but with much anticipation our food was on our table lids open and my mouth watering. My brisquit , chicken, my wife's pulled port moist. I first sampled the coleslaw then potato salad figuring if this ain't right then forget it. Both sides were authentic and delicious, a bite of cornbread was moist and fresh. Onto the Brisquit first, I lathered it up with the sauce then sliced the meat effortlessly with the blunt plastic knife like warm butter. Taking the first bite I could smell the smoke as the mouth combination of sauce and meat hit my taste buds. The Magic was Done ! West Texas was now in Lemon grove transported by pit master Brad Cooper and team. The chicken and pulled pork equal in flavor and it was actually so filling we couldn't eat everything in one sitting. We didn't get to try the short ribs , MacNCheese or baked potatoes , all the more for coming back regularly and bringing friends and family.

When sauce served on the side, good barbecue, like Coops. A real pork slab instead of baby back. Collard greens are perfect. Meat good to great, instead of boiled and smothered in sauce at loser Phil's. Whether you are from Encanto, wear gold chains, and drive an Impala bouncing on hidráulics or come from La Jolla in your Tesla and drink red wine, all are welcome and lunching here. It ain't cheap, but neither is quality and real grit from Midland Texas. There has not been barbecue this good or as authentic, arguably, since Fargo's in the 90s in South Encanto. Huffman's was a greasy spoon and sucked bong water in comparison Get over to Coop's, better than Rudi's or Country Line in Texas.

Expectations were met .. not the best bbq that I've had , but definitely a place I'm likely to return to when visiting Cali . At last min myself and my bff had decided that we wanted to have a gathering for my cousins anniversary and we needed a place that could provide a decent amount of food at last minute. This place did not disappoint . When we arrived to pick up our order , the parking lot was filled with the amazing smell or bbq meats . They were close to closing, so there wasn't anyone dinning in but they were a few people placing and picking up orders. It's a Small cozy restaurant, so it's likely that they do more Togo's than anything else . The workers were friendly and polite. Food was plenty and of decent quality. After living in Dallas for so long my take on a lot of things from back home (Cali ) makes me a look like a trader lol . Down south has the best bbq ever , and I'll wait with confidence for someone to prove me wrong, lol. The smoked flavor/smell was heavily on the meats (I'm not complaining). Both The ribs and the chicken were slightly tough for my liking but they were still both enjoyable. Both the greens and the Mac & cheese were bland and lacked seasoning, which for me wasn't an issue because I actually prefer to season my own foods especially soul food . The baked beans took the cake!! I'm not big on beans ( it's a texture/allergy thing ), so if I tell you some type of bean was a hit , take my word for it.

My visit to Coop's was absolutely amazing!!! The staff and owner exhibited the true definition of customer service . Mr. Coop was delicious and well seasoned. And the atmosphere was warm and friendly!! I will definitely be back

Vibes in there are always great here and the foods always good. Brisket and pulled pork are my favorites from here but the jerk chicken is a sleeper. Service has been amazing every time I've been the people there do a great job Yams are the best I've had since I moved to San Diego, almost went back for more

The line was long BUT it was truly worth it. I ordered the combo plate for $20 with a side of potato salad. Let me tell you my taste buds truly enjoyed my meal. When I'm in town again I will stop through, and so should you

The ssssalivation is REAL! Coop knows how to do it right! His Q is legit. Tasty, tender, juicy ribs n brisket that don't need any sauce. Every bite that slides off the bone has loads of smokiness. They go down like buttahh... But, le'me tell you, that spicy sauce is so dope. It's bursting with so much flavor and adds some heat to the bites. It's just a cherry on top of the sundae. So ask for the spicy sauce. It's so good. Their sides are all great. Starting with that cornbread. The pieces are huge and perfect. They have the right amount of moisture that they don't get all crumbly n crummy. So yummy! I could stop there, but I love their bbq beans that have chunks of pineapple. Didn't expect that my first time there when they first opened. But I've been a sucker for it ever since. If you don't want something sweet, the red beans n rice are also great. They even have chunks of the brisket in it. I must say, I never really had collard greens till I discovered Coops. I've had it since at other places, but I really like the way they make the greens here. I always gotta have it on my plate to complete my scrumptious meal. I usually order for pick up and bring my stash home for the fam. There is limited seating inside and outside if you can't wait to get home. The tortuous drive is the hardest part for me! Thanks for keeping the legend goin, Coop! (The only drawback: the hours! Please stay open past 3pm. People don't grab dinner before then. The business will at least triple if it stayed open to at least 6-7pm! And summer is coming!

Best bbq in San Diego. I'm from Texas. I've tried lots and lots and lots of bbq. Trust me.

As a fellow West Texan, I'm so incredibly sad I didn't find this place sooner. Everything is so incredibly delicious. We ordered a Spud & Que with pulled pork, a pork rib combo plate with mac n cheese, and baked beans. We also got a slice of the sweet potato pie and a large container of their peach cobbler. Topped it off with two Texas Sweet Teas. When I tell you this meal soothed a piece of my homesick soul, I mean it. I felt like I was back in my granny's kitchen. I am also impressed with the amount of pulled pork on the spud. We WILL be back the food and service are worth it. Thank y'all for bringing a piece of Texas here.

Excellent bbq meats. Juicy brisket, excellent spareribs and wonderful beef short ribs. Very much comparable to Texas bbq. Beef rib as good as Louie Mueller's in Austin. Lucky to have this gem in San Diego.

Better than Phil's BBQ any day. Can't go wrong with brisket, ribs, or corn bread. Service is always on point and there's not really an ambience since people typically take their orders to go.

These were not the big sized oxtails that were advertised on Instagram that's the only reason I went , def not worth the price being charged about 48 after tax. I will stick with iQue when they do their oxtail bowls, better price, actually big baseball size meat and way more flavorful. Just stick with the original bbq menu if you come here. But I won't be back.

Huffmans. Fargos . If nostalgic butterflies don't flare up in your soul when I say those names, you ain't qualified. Coops is the torch bearer on this BBQ journey through time and space up Imperial Ave--and if you don't know imperial turns into lemon grove avenue, then you really ain't qualified. For BBQ in San Diego, you check in at Coops, nowhere else. You can read other reviews for the food descriptions. Let me tell you about the man. Coops was my first ribs after my braces were removed 26 years ago when it was just a smoker on wheels on Broadway and H in Chula Vista. When he opened Lemon Grove (his location--honorary south east), he remained solid in the community. Hires folks on probation, from local programs and stayed true to himself. Humble. Kind. And damn good person. I have never had better bbq.

Some of the best Texas bbq that San Diego has to offer. You can't get better brisket anywhere else out here! I also tried the collard greens which are some of the best I've had at a restaurant. For me, it's worth coming out to Lemon Grove to get some brisket at coop's. The family is all incredibly nice and they make amazing food. It's not hard to love a business with family values and great food.

Not cheap and CASH ONLY, but the food was delicious. We ordered brisket, chicken, and sausage for the meats. Sides were baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw and cornbread. Service was good, and stood around for the expected wait with the amount of people ordering at the time. The ambiance there is poor, really small dining area. Maybe four picnic benches? Better to order to-go and take your food to eat elsewhere. Texas sausage was okay, reminds me why I never really liked BBQ sausages. Nothing wrong with Coop's BBQ sausages, but living 25+ years in Texas I just never liked any BBQ sausages. However, they taste similar to how it is cooked in Texas. The smokey bbq flavor is amazing. The briskets are pretty delicious too, I don't have any problem eating them. Juicy and tender. Great BBQ Smokey flavor. I'll order these again next time. The Southwest Jerk Chicken was really the surprising hero. I didn't have much expectation with these, but OMG they are tender and juicy. Not sure if this was the reason why they seemed to have limited amount of chicken left. People order these a lot or they just don't make a bunch of these. Definitely ordering this again. Cornbread is yummy too, not too sweet (just how we prefer it). Most likely ordering this again. Baked beans are a tad too sweet for me, but okay for wife. However, it was great mixed with the meat and potato salad. Or, dipping it with the sausage to dilute the sweetness a bit. Still, the baked BBQ flavor is fantastic. Potato salad is yummy, just the right flavor. Wife loved the coleslaw but commented that it could be slightly less sweet (come on America, everyone could use a little less sugar!). Still worth getting as a side though. Only complaint is not something they can control, the price. Woof, expensive enough to where we might try it once in a blue moon. Especially, since we also live 20 minutes driving distance away. Good stuff though!

The love was abundant at Coop's last day today! We pulled cash out at the 7-11 nearby and there was a line because everyone was getting cash out to go to Coop's today haha. We got the knockout sampler with sausage, brisket and ribs, with potato salad and mac and cheese. We had wanted the yams and greens but they were already all out haha. Coop's smoked meats are really legendary and I hope he's able to turn it around and keep the doors open at least on the weekends. I usually get the brisket or ribs but getting a big order today, I was able to try the sausage and HOLY COW, try the smoked sausage! So good!! I think I might be a brisket and sausage girl now!

I was a long time resident of Lemon Grove and Coops was the place to go, I know they we're going to close but the overwhelming support from the community they decided to stay open, I was in town today and decided to stop by and do my part. what a disappointment. I ordered the brisket and collard green, the brisket was so tough you couldn't put it apart. full of fat, terrible, the collard greens was not tasty at all no flavor. to be honest I had better bbq from Dickey's bbq. and that is saying a lot. sorry Coops, I will not be returning. enjoy your retirement. whoever is running the place needs to shut it down. not worth it.

Great food, BBQ sauce and excellent service. They are know for the BBQ ribs. So lip smacking good. This is the best BBQ place in San Diego.

I guess even after the pandemic they've decided to basically be a to-go business. Great that I don't live far away so it's still fresh when I get home. The meats are great (although I miss the beef ribs!) but the best thing - THE CANDID YAMS (which is Sunday only). Bummer on the out of yams but the Brisket is always great!

The service is great here, the people working are super friendly. I ordered the brisket and that was super tender, the rib tips were good too. I like how they serve the sauce on the side so you have control over how much you want. The mac and cheese was okay, I thought it was kind of dry and not saucy enough, the small size was $7 and it was very small so I thought it was overpriced. The corn bread was very dry and tasted straight out of a box. I don't think I would order either of these sides again, but I would come back for the meat.

Okay I have to be fair and modify my rating; initially I rated this spot a 2 mainly because the Rib Tips were not tender however after letting the ribs sit overnight I poured the bbq sauce over and microwaved for 3 minutes they were pretty good therefore my rating is now a 3.5....

Brisket sandwich outstanding,meat is soft and juicy, soft bun. Collard greens just perfect . Outstanding expexperience. Thank you all

The portions at Coops West BBQ are generous, so be sure to come hungry. And if you have any room left for dessert, their homemade peach cobbler is a must-try. It's the perfect ending to a delicious meal. In addition to the amazing food, the service at Coops West BBQ is top-notch. The staff is always friendly, attentive, and happy to make recommendations. They truly go above and beyond to ensure that every customer has a great experience! PS. Make sure you try their brisket!!!!

Look i want to support this place and it's decent BBQ but like everywhere else the prices have gone through the roof! Why is a pulled pork sandwich the same price as a brisket sandwich ? seriously alot cheaper cut of meat things like this keep me away..

COOP's BBQ is a lemon grove staple! Hands down some of the best bbq in all of San Diego! I live a couple blocks down and can smell the bbq when he starts smoking the meats! Absolutely amazing! A must try and once you do you will for sure be coming back!

I haven't been there recently, but it's the best BBQ we've ever found! My only problem is that they close at 3pm, just about the time I think about them. PLAN AHEAD, PEOPLE!