Smokey and The Brisket BBQ

Barbecue restaurant · La Mesa

Smokey and The Brisket BBQ

Barbecue restaurant · La Mesa

1

5465 Lake Murray Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942

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Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
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Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null
Smokey and The Brisket BBQ by null

Highlights

Vintage diner with brisket, ribs, burgers & arcade  

Featured in Eater
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5465 Lake Murray Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942 Get directions

smokeyandthebrisketsd.com
@smokeyandthebrisketsd

$20–30 · Menu

Information

Static Map

5465 Lake Murray Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942 Get directions

+1 619 439 6544
smokeyandthebrisketsd.com
@smokeyandthebrisketsd

$20–30 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 7, 2025

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San Diego’s Best Barbecue Restaurants | Eater San Diego

"Tapping into a retro aesthetic, Smokey’s decor — featuring a vintage 1960s Dodge A100 van-turned-bar — reflects its core value of embracing tradition and taking pride in cooking barbecue dishes the old-fashioned way using its in-house smoker. San Diego restaurateur Alberto Morreale’s La Mesa restaurant slings barbecue classics along with a mix of sandwiches, flatbreads, Tex-Mex variations, and chicken dinners. Menu highlights include the Big Tex Meatloaf with ground chuck, smoked prime brisket, and pork belly served on a bed of potatoes with Texas sausage gravy." - Paolo Bicchieri

https://sandiego.eater.com/maps/best-barbecue-bbq-restaurants-san-diego
View Postcard for Smokey and The Brisket BBQ

Max Gastelum

Google
Great food, great service, and a great name. The wife and I will definitely be back. The Caesar salad started things off a bit strangely - it came out warm and emblazoned with grill marks. My wife is a bit of a traveling Caesar salad connoisseur, who orders these with just about every meal, and this crispy variety was a first for both of us. She did not much care for the grilled salad. Entrees were another matter entirely. The brisket and ribs presented well and were extremely tender. Entrees came with a traditional assortment of pickled onions and cucumbers, slices of white bread, and two sides. Keep an eye out for the flavorful habanero BBQ sauce hiding in a nondescript ketchup bottle. There is also a semi-hidden arcade behind the back wall - a great place for the little ones to go entertain themselves while they wait for the food to arrive... ... Which won't be long, thanks to the host/ food runner. His ability to be seemingly standing at the front podium and then teleport behind you with hot food, then vanish back into the kitchen without a trace bordered on supernatural.

Robert Mueller

Google
Wow what a great find. Very cool atmosphere and motorcycle theme. Fun music and Smokey and the Bandit playing on the TV. I mean come on motorcycle gas tanks for beer taps. Love it. Oh and the food kicks ass too. $5 beers during Padres games hell yeah. My new favorite hang out.

Athiwat Tripipitsiriwat

Google
I was deciding between pizza and bbq. But, when I came here it was a nice surprise that I could have both!! The burnt end pizza matched my fantasy!! Briskets were also amazing. The server was friendly and helpful. Plenty of parking with an arcade on the bag that you can do pool with your friends for only a buck. I would definitely come back with a group of friends.

Nick Smith

Google
Soooo good and juicy! Flavor punches left and right, knock out BBQ sauce with an authentic barnyard mechanic ambiance. Video arcade for kiddos. Plenty o' parking! The beef brisket and short ribs are so tender perfectly smoked and the rotisserie chicken with rosemary made me wanna go plant some rosemary. The elote, sooo sweet and good, cowboy cavier, do yourself a favor and get it. Everything, great plus full bar, sports. Delicious

S. R. SCHWARZ

Google
Will be back for the brisket! We tried combo plates and the brisket, Mac and cheese, creamy corn & pulled pork stand out. Fun atmosphere with good food. Good beer selection on tap and plenty to offer in cans and bottles.

Joseph Boucree

Google
I had been wanting to try this BBQ spot after hearing good things, and I left being very impressed. I ended up ordering a combo plate with brisket and spare ribs, choosing the creamy corn and brussel sprouts as my sides, plus some onion rings too. The meat was fall off the bone melt in your mouth kind of BBQ. No knife needed! Great smoke ring and flavor too. The sides were also delicious, especially the corn, which had elote vibes. The onions rings were good, but we're kind of heavy battered which is not necessarily my favorite. The only real critiques thus far is that the menu feels a little too big and overwhelming and that parking can be a little tricky. I look forward to coming back and trying some other items!

DeadEyeDave

Google
First time visit. My wife and I ordered a full rack of pork ribs to share with a side of mashed potatoes. With lemonade and iced tea, the bill came to over $53.00. The drinks were both weak, meaning they had much less flavor than expected. The meal arrived quickly but was lukewarm. It was served with a couple of slices of cheap white bread. The paper under the meat was soggy and tore easily when we served it to our plates; we had to be careful not to eat the paper. The potatoes were mashed skin-on and were served in a cheap paper tray. Food flavor was good but not great. Our server never stopped by to check on us or refill our drinks. There were barely any customers on a Monday night. We enjoyed the automotive décor.

Sharon Lipp

Google
Was craving bbq so got the ribs and mac and cheese. The ribs were fall off the bone good and a big portion totally recommend. The mac and cheese was ok. The noodles were a little undercooked and it tasted like Velveeta.
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Ada S.

Yelp
Im still thinking about this place and their brisket! First time I've had it and it was so soft it melts in your mouth. I didn't try the sliders but they looked a lil sad. Wish they came w fries like how the taco as came w chips. The tacos were great, good ratio of toppings. And the veggies were so good. I personally could go with a lil less burnt pieces and go mid charred but that's just me. My biggest hang up was the service. I didn't get the feeling of being welcomed or comfortable around our server. It felt rushed and impatient. We were a large family of mostly limited English speakers, but we were not roudy or difficult. Idk i just felt the attitude and it was awkward. My fam loved the food tho and they brought over a desert to celebrate my aunts birthday. which was sweet. The kids had fun in the arcade game room area in the back which they are obsessed with these days.
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Sunny T.

Yelp
First, 5-star restaurant name. 4-star wait staff. 3-star food. Years ago I didn't think I liked BBQ. I had mediocre experiences. Then I learned that I liked Texas dry rub style, not KC saucy or NC vinegary styles. I also try unique offerings like turkey... and in this case, I wanted to try to the jalapeno rotisserie chicken. We dropped in on a Sat evening, even found a parking space. We were romptly seated by the hostess and had a polite & attentive server, Bailey. Unfortunately all the rotisserie chickens were sold out. At least the smoked half chicken was still available, but it was ok. The flavorful fig bacon brussel sprouts slightly redeemed the meal -- esp b/c the greens aren't fried. The portion was ok for me. It's hard to run one restaurant profitably these days. (My husband got a taco later.) The decor is kitschy in a good way. There are a few old cars cut in half and repurposed as decor. We were happy to see families dining together. A photographer asked if we'd like our photo taken. We thought it a strange amenity since I don't consider this a destination restaurant. Since we were traveling, I don't anticipate being in La Mesa again... but there are many restaurants in the area, so we'd likely try a different place if we are back in the vicinity.
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Sheridan M.

Yelp
Omg this place is amazing! Only regret is I hadn't come sooner! We've driven by a million times since it opened and finally tried it today. Not only was the food incredible but they had fair prices, and awesome happy hour prices as well. Not many places you can get a cocktail under $10! The Bloody Mary was one of the best I've ever had. Everything we ordered was packed with flavor! We left with full bellies and smiling faces. Can't wait to come back for more.
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Mike S.

Yelp
I'd been meaning to try this place for a while now and unfortunately it didn't really live up to the expectation I had. The parking lot is pretty small for the size of the restaurant so be ready to park down the neighborhood and walk back. Inside the restaurant there is plenty of room and the decor is amazing. Lots of attention to detail went into to designing the look and feel. The wait staff were numerous and all very polite. It felt like they were I've staffed if anything which you don't see these days. The biggest let down was the food. It happened to be happy hour when we arrived so I decided to get a beer and something from the HH menu. The beers on draft weren't very extensive(mostly IPAs) and a few of them were out anyway so be prepared. I ordered the Stop You Engines Burger and the Burnt ends Mac And Cheese. You could tell the burger was fresh with that "fresh off the grill" taste however there wasn't a grain of salt to be found. It also didn't have the bbq sauce on it so the whole thing was very bland and boring. Adding the sauce from the table helped a bit but I wasn't very impressed with it as a whole. Because of the name, I was looking forward to trying the brisket and wasn't very impressed with that either. The burnt ends on the Mac and cheese were not that crispy hot texture but soggy and mushy. The Mac and cheese itself was very good and creamy. Overall I don't think it was as good as the menu makes it sound.
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Chanel Y.

Yelp
Very cool atmosphere, super nice staff, and the food was pretty good, too! Mac n cheese with burnt ends are really good! Try stopping in for happy hour to get them for a discount! Burgers were both pretty good as well. Will definitely be back!
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Robert Z.

Yelp
9/18/2024 Well I finally reached deep into my Foodie Wish List. This place has been on my list for years and I wasn't expecting much but it looked cool so yesterday was the day. This place was such a surprise. Lots of parking. (Private Lot) A Nice outdoor seating patio. Full Table Service. Nice large indoor seating area with a cool sporty ambiance. Great Staff and Service with a smile There is a nice game room separate from the dining room for those with kids so they will enjoy themselves. Full Service Bar to complement your dining experience. Even a few TVs. Now for the best part and I know there will be some comments from some that have "Never Been Here" how somewhere else is better. But I don't care. This is my experience and what I think. This trip I wasn't alone. My Lady from Arizona joined me and we had a great time. We started with The Texas Smoked Sausage Link. A little pricy but was moist and super flavorful. We both enjoyed it. Next Loretta ordered The Pick 2 Combo Platter. With The Pork Ribs and The Excellent Smoked Brisket. Comes with two sides of your choice. She chose The House Fries and Mac & Cheese. The Brisket was Amazing had a nice smoke-ring. The Ribs were super tender and were fall off the bone Delicious. I ordered The Beef Short Rib Special Wow what a Special Treat. Seasoned Perfectly and Slow Smoked 12 Hours. I chose The House Potato Salad and The Cowboy Caviar. Both were very tasty. We both shared everything and agreed that everything except the Mac and Cheese was Prefect. The Seasoning they use on the meat is so delicious that you don't Need Any BBQ Sauce whatsoever although several types are on the table and are very Tasty. Out of everything we tried The Brisket and The Beef Short-ribs we're both our Favorites. So much so that the fat on the beef ribs was so delicious I wanted more more fat to savor. I highly recommend this Surprisingly Wonderful BBQ Restaurant.
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Grace T.

Yelp
This morning, we saw this place on the news and thought that it sounded like a great place for lunch. We drove 45 minutes to La Mesa just to try this. They do have parking lots outside the restaurant but there wasn't a lot of lots. We did manage to park there today. We sat in the patio as we had our dog with us. It was a warm day, and they had some plastic shades up, and it was warm and stuffy. Our server was very nice and checked on us multiple times throughout the meal. We ordered a pineapple cider and a Stella Artois It was cold and refreshing. We ordered a pick 2 combo and ordered an extra side of the onions. Pick 2 - We ordered brisket and meatloaf with two other sides; Creamy corn and crispy brussel sprouts. The brisket was dry and so was the meatloaf. Unfortunately, the sides were not great either. The creamy corn wasn't creamy- it was skillet corn with cheese. The brussel sprouts were overcooked and greasy. I took a picture of the grease I saw om the brussel sprouts. The onion rings were the saving grace today. I heard from a fellow patron that it was better some months back. Maybe it's a hit or miss due to the holiday today. But we are not going to drive 45 minutes back again for this I hope they improve.
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Jose M.

Yelp
First, Ariana (our awesome waitress) provided excellent service throughout. From numerous delicious recommendations to outstanding service, Ariana was amazing. The food is delicious. From the Belly Bacon Burger, the pulled pork, the brisket, the meatloaf, or the spare ribs, it was all awesome. I can't say enough about all the delicious options that Smokey and the Brisket has to offer. And the sides are spot on as well. The mash potatoes, beans, fries, and onion rings are amazing. Smokey and the Brisket is the perfect spot for small, medium, or large groups. Plenty of space for all. I also love the game room and the TVs that are throughout the restaurant. This is a must spot for all. Everyone is very kind and helpful, especially Ariana. I'll definitely be back.
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Sam S.

Yelp
I try to tell my family once a year, to not order the slab of ribs...The meat on your fingers will fall off of your bones before these ribs will..not good..not cooked daily...Like most la mesa restaurants,just below average...sick of wasting my gas money for crap like this..Also salsa old and not rotated properly..You can taste a strict tart in it..sour....Don't believe the hype...Just another below average "barbecue joint" with fake smok,fake smell,fake wood and an old car out front.
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Sarah Z.

Yelp
Best brisket in town! Service is always friendly, and usually have plenty of space on their dog friendly patio for us. We love this place and the vibes are unmatched. Also a super friendly place for kids with a whole arcade room in the back.

Nancy A.

Yelp
What a great place! In addition to the fun atmosphere, the food is delicious! We've been in a few times recently, and it has not disappointed. The burnt ends are over the top! Great pulled pork, delicious mac & cheese and fantastic happy hour specials from 2-5. Our smoky, spicy Bloody Mary's were a big hit. Our server, Sara, was attentive, pleasant and helpful. We loved everything about our time here and look forward to coming back soon.
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Omar S.

Yelp
Good news, bad news: The bad news, which everyone seems to want first, is that Smokey and the Brisket cooks their ribs, chicken and pulled pork in an inconsistent manner, such that sometimes, the meats' textures are unappealing. The good news is that sometimes, the meats are cooked just right. The best news is that nothing I've eaten at SatB has tasted anything but superb. Some examples: - I've been served pork ribs with meat so loosely connected to its bones that it might have been pressure cooked, braised or boiled before heading to the smoker. That meat made better leftovers than dinner. I fried it up with some potatoes and eggs, and crisped it in a pan and piled it onto a Kaiser roll, and in both cases, it was delicious. - A recent order of smoked chicken was unsettlingly soft in texture. Before smoking the chicken, did the kitchen cook the chicken sous vide at a low enough temperature to kill bacteria, but not high enough to firm up the meat? That's not dangerous, but chicken shouldn't be as soft, tender and smooth as a piece of fish. On the other hand: I took the chicken home, and after 20 minutes in an oven at 200°F, it was as firm as if I'd smoked it myself. And its flavor was superb. - Pulled pork at SatB is so frequently soft and mushy that I've wonder if it's cooked, refrigerated and then microwaved per order. I've stopped ordering it. The other good news is that Smokey and the Brisket makes fantastic side dishes and desserts, and the place is a comfortable neighborhood spot for hanging with your friends. What's more, the service at SatB is outstanding. In particular, we have enjoyed the help provided by Nicki, who has the rare ability to be busy without ever making her customers aware of how busy she is. That's like server voodoo, and she's a master practitioner.
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Tan P.

Yelp
It's nice to find a true and traditional bbq restaurant in California and this was a treat to visit while in San Diego. Recommend you visit for its good food. Food: I ordered the brisket and pulled pork combo. Both meats were smoked well and tender, but the beef brisket stood out a little more in terms of almost competition worthy (and I'm a Certified KCBS BBQ Judge). The brisket was tender and savory, with it too much fat remaining. It also passed the accordion test. The pulled pork could have used a little more au jus or sauce to complement it. My colleagues ordered the ribs and I thought those were tasty. My meal came with 2 sides and the potato salad and corn bread were great options. The potato salad is fresh and cold, and the corn bread had a small piece of jalapeño inside for a little heat. The sweet tea was okay, could have been sweeter. Ambiance: The venue is very large and clean. There was plenty of seating and the decor is very unique with a fun theme of cars. I liked how there was an indoor game room and that the bar had an opening to the outside. Service: The lunch waitress was friendly but a little slow due to having to serve pretty much the entire restaurant (which was about half full). It made for our lunch break to take close to 1.5 or 2 hours. But our party was for 5-6 people, so I can understand. Overall, I recommend this place for takeout and stick with the brisket.
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Estebam F.

Yelp
I drove by this place the other day and decided to give it a a try since it had very good reviews on Yelp. My daughter and I stoped by around 8pm on a Thursday and we did not have to wait to get seated so we were very excited . The set up of the place is awesome. I love how you guys have the license plates on the ceilings. Our server was very nice to us and friendly and our food came out very quickly. The fries were amazing and the Mac and cheese was really good as well. However, the ribs and the brisket were another story. They both had more fat than meat. If you look on the right corner of my rib, you can see the chunk of fat. My daughter also freaked out because she pulled out long white tubes from the rib meat. I had to tell her it was cartilage, but she would not touch the ribs after that.
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Javier B.

Yelp
Bbq Ribs, sausage, brisket Bar/alcohol Game room Large indoor and outdoor seating Private parking Restrooms Host will seat you Corner restaurant in La Mesa

Abigail ..

Yelp
I've been to Smokey and the Brisket before and was never impressed by the food, but when my sister sent me this picture of what she got when she ordered a classic caesar salad I was in shock. What restaurant has a warm caesar salad in the first place, but who grills and chars whole lettuce and a lemon and throws a fistful of rotisserie chicken in the corner, then advertises it as a classic caesar salad with no helpful little disclaimer that it might be grilled? A warm caesar is nauseating as a concept and in its execution here to the point of her sending it to my whole family as a joke saying, "Don't order the caesar salad from smokey and the brisket...". I mean, it just looks gross which is something that anyone should have noticed before sending it out or, hey, putting it on the menu.
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Christine D.

Yelp
Service was great! I apologize I don't recall the name of the lady who helped us. She was attentive and patient since it was our first time here and wasn't sure what to order. It's nice to find local places to eat and this one was well decorated. They even had a large tire that was turned into a table! The burger was my favorite entree! The Mac and cheese was your typical Mac & Cheese. I appreciated that it wasn't drenched in cheese. As for the dry rub ribs... honestly left disappointed. I did not taste any flavor. The creamy corn lacked flavor and wasn't creamy at all. Lastly, the brisket was average.

Bailey C.

Yelp
Wow. I can't believe I've never been here. Elena was taking care of us. Another employee said she was the manager. Everyone was so nice. But the food and atmosphere were surprisingly good. We got happy hour drinks. A pitcher of beer for $20 and a lychee martini for $8. The buffalo wings were insanely good. The brisket nachos were delicious. My kids ate all of their tenders and fries. Which they never do. There was hardly anyone here on a Friday afternoon. I'm surprised. My kids played in the arcade for like 45 minutes while we were here. Loved everything.
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Steve B.

Yelp
Nostalgic name, cool decor, fun ambience, greasy fatty ribs. Inside/outside: The decorations are hip and cool, it feels like an old dinner meets a hot rod shop. Totally dig the look and feel of the place. 9/10 Food: My wife and I ordered the ribs for 2, $60 for a rack of ribs and two (2) sides (side cars).. The ribs had a nice dry seasoning rub of them but they were fatty and greasy. We mentioned it to our server and she said sometimes that's how they come out. Not very helpful. Unfortunately we could not eat much of them they made us feel yucky. 4/10 The sides we tried were the creamy corn and burnt carrots and cauliflower. The corn was good but it was et creamy at all, it was just seasoned corn. 7/10. The burnt carrots and cauliflower was okay, not much of a chard taste, basically veggies cooked with some balsamic vinegar. 7/10. My kids both had the brisket sandwich, they said it didn't have a lot flavor and they even added bbq sauce which is unlike them. Didn't try it so I won't rate it but they didn't talk much about which they usually do if they like something. One had the French fires which she said she liked. 8/10. And the other had the mac and cheese which she said tasted like velvetta shells and cheese. 6/10. Would like to try it again someday but not sure if it's worth just the theme and decor.
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Jared M.

Yelp
Amazing Bbq. Service staff is amazing especially Alejandra! We came in with a large party and she happily accommodated us with a graceful spirit!
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Angela H.

Yelp
If you come here, you have to try the brisket mac and cheese. I absolutely loved it. The brisket was so tender and the mac and cheese had so much flavor. The service is great and it's a cute restaurant
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Ms X.

Yelp
We had a great time here! Got there for happy hour and had the brisket tips and Mac and cheese...heavenly! Also, had the delightful bread pudding for dessert. Loved every bite. Can't wait to come back here the next time we swing through town. Also, our waitress was fantastic and the place is soo cute. Be sure and check out the game room.
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Trish B.

Yelp
When we're out and about, we like to venture out and try local spots in the area. This particular day out in La Mesa we decided to try Smokey and the Brisket. Our takeout order was ready earlier than expected. Loved that. Unfortunately it wasn't until we got home (Oceanside) and cracked into the boxes that we realized the extra dressings we paid for weren't included and the bone-in chicken wasn't fully cooked. I took what I thought was "safe" and, yeah. THAT happened. Outside of that, the place looked poppin and filled with locals. From the outside looking in, the decor was on par with a BBQ joint. The flavor was there, but it didn't exceed my expectations. Miss: pork belly -- it was more reminiscent of overcooked thick cut bacon Hit: jalapeño cornbread, mac and cheese
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Brad B.

Yelp
Sorry Phil, Smokey is now my dude for SD BBQ.  Yep, I've loved Phil's for a long time and I would often hit their Santee location at least once a month but Smokey has come in hot and stolen my loyalty. I now try to make it in for a few drinks and to work my way through their very eclectic menu that also sticks to the staples that all BBQ spots should offer.  Some food highlights: - The short rib. This thing is powerful and worth every penny. I believe it clocks in at $30 dollars and it's tender, juicy, and truly delicious. I also believe that you can order the short rib for two with a price tag of $55. Bring a date, sucka!  - The pizza. I know, I know, who orders pizza at a BBQ joint? I do, and I do so shamelessly. Is it on par with a pie that you'd find at a pizza specific place? No, but this certainly scratches an itch.  - The pulled pork sandwich. Okay, let me hear it... "Brad, you basic b!tc#." Call me what you like, pulled pork is my jam especially when topped with some slaw.  The staff here is so dope too. I've caught Nikki's name but don't believe I've ever introduced myself to the manager, just small talked her. She's awesome and if you play your cards correctly you may even land yourself a toasted marshmallow, torched right before your eyes.  Smokey, you've done well and have earned my biz. See you soon!
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Dan A.

Yelp
I went recently for a friend's birthday on a weekend evening, and it was packed!! Thankfully we made reservations, for over a dozen people. There are all sorts of fun decorations inside like car parts and motorcycle parts, which gives it a really fun vibe. The waitress was very attentive, and extremely helpful for our entire party. I was pretty impressed, as I went the year they opened up and I felt a little let down with the quality of food. As I revisited them this year, I could not imagine to my delight how impressed I was with the food and the service. Fried Mac 'N Cheese Bites HAVE to be on your order.. so good! The brisket sandwich is pretty killer, and their flatbread pizzas are also pretty on point. The parking lot can get filled up pretty quickly, but there's a street that you can park on right next to the restaurant that isn't too bad. This is also my first review where I've added a video, I hope you enjoy and this helps! (:
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Karen W.

Yelp
Able to get a parking spot. Made reservations for 6 people for Thanksgiving dinner. Table was ready. Food came quickly. Smoked turkey and brisket were amazing. Moist and fell apart. Sides were good. Cocktails were good. Server was Ariana and she was very friendly and attentive. Everyone enjoyed their meal. Fun diner ambiance with kitschy items all over the restaurant. Will definitely be back.
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Tim C.

Yelp
Alejandra Did an awesome job!! The best!! Every time I come here I always gets excellent service!

Timothy H.

Yelp
Went to take my daughter for her first bbq restaurant. Brisket and spare pork ribs were so dry. Got my order wrong too.
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Chad H.

Yelp
Great food and service! Emily was a wonderful server and we got photos taken as a family. The chicken tenders were a hit with the kids and the burger, ribs and brisket were a wonderful tasty treat for the adults! Great birthday dinner at Smoky and the Brisket!
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Derek M.

Yelp
Great food and even better atmosphere. We got the Stop your engines Burger and it was amazing. Our server was Gaby and she helped out so much. We would recommend her as a huge help in finding the best food. Thank you for an amazing experience...

Tony P.

Yelp
Good service and good tasting food. Nice atmosphere and decent amount of parking ,..................mmm
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Jacob V.

Yelp
So bomb. And great portions for the price. I'm from Texas and take my brisket seriously and this place doesn't disappoint.

Fernando A.

Yelp
First time visiting. Brisket sandwich was amazing. Meatloaf was great . Server was friendly and attentive. Our food was brought out to us fast. Kid friendly. Rustic decorations. Will return. Would recommend to anyone craving BBQ.
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Elizabeth V.

Yelp
1st timers and glad we did. Indoor as well as patio seating. Customer service was great! Food was good. I had the brisket and rib combo with cream corn and mash. Rib was fall of bone tender and brisket was also superb! I didn't care for their bbq so much. Corn lacked flavor but, mash could have been a bit more loose. Also ordered the jalapeño corn bread that came with a sweet butter...that was Delish! Pulled pork was good. The Caesar salad was very smoky as they do smoke the romaine. Different and tasty. For dessert we ordered the house made bread pudding with chocolate chips and churros with ice cream. Both choices were delicious! If in the area give this spot a try. The day we came they had a baby shower going on so they also host parties.
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Sam M.

Yelp
We love this place. The food is amazing and the arcade is a great touch for our kids, being dog friendly also a huge plus. I always get the burnt carrot and cauliflower salad and tonight there was something I didn't like about it, they made me a new one no questions asked. Very great and accommodating service.
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Maya R.

Yelp
If I'm ever back, it would be for the burgers. I tried the belly bacon burger, and it was very flavorful. However, unfortunately, I did not enjoy the barbecue. We couldn't decide on what to order, so we went with the pick 2 combo and asked for the prime brisket and the spate ribs with the Mac and cheese and the creamy corn. The mac and cheese was the only thing I enjoyed on this plate. The rest was lacking flavor, and the creamy corn was not creamy at all. Thankfully, the service made the experience better. Our waitress was very nice and answered all the questions we had. Also, I loved the unique decor.
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Marie S.

Yelp
Omg this place is delicious!!!Portions are huge. I would recommend sharing. Can't wait to come back an try the rest of the menu.
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Stephanie B.

Yelp
Came here for the first time this week and had a nice experience. Ordered the brisket and short rib with a side of fries and mashed potatoes. The sizes were generous and we were full by the end of dinner. I enjoyed the brisket and mashed potatoes the most. The waiter who took our order was super nice and friendly, she gave us recommendations on what to order and was right about the mashed potatoes- they are yummy! The restaurant is large and has indoor and outdoor seating. We sat outdoors which I liked. The restaurant appeared clean. I would come back and recommend this restaurant to others.
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Pedro G.

Yelp
I love me some BBQ. I always pass by this restaurant, so I decided to give it a try.  Parking was not a hassle, and we were seated right away. The overall theme of the establishment revolves around a mechanic shop. I really enjoyed looking at the decorations and cleanliness of the establishment. After looking at the menu I decided to order their brisket sandwich that comes with a side of fries and a pickle spear. I decided to substitute my fries for macaroni and cheese which I believe was the right choice. The sandwich had a smokey taste to it which wasn't overwhelming. Meat to bun ratio was fair but who doesn't want more meat right? I would have preferred the barbecue sauce be poured onto the sandwich by the cook, but I think that's my personal preference. They have bbq bottle on every dining table, but I personally believe the sauce could be a lot better. On the other hand, the macaroni was delicious. It was not over cooked, and the cheese was delicious. I'd like to add that the service was good, and our waiter was very attentive and polite. Would I return? Certainly!
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Monica N.

Yelp
Texas BBQ diner with a big menu of drinks, happy hour specials, and selection of meat and sides to choose from. The restaurant is very bright, spacious, and well decorated. Service was nice, paid attention to our orders and details. The combo meal was great value: 2 choices of meat (sausage, brisket, chicken, spareribs) and 2 choices of sides (mashed potatoes, coleslaw, potato salad, creamy corn, baked beans, mac and cheese, cowboy caviar, Brussel sprouts, etc.) for $27! The burnt end jalapeño mac and cheese was yummy and great to share. I enjoyed the sides: mashed potatoes, baked beans, and cowboy caviar a lot. The creamy corn was more oily than creamy. For the meats: sausage was very flavorful and yummy. Spareribs tender. The brisket was a bit disappointing given its rather bland flavor and sponge like texture. Chicken wasn't anything special. I would recommend coming here for a good value barbecue and great happy hour spot. Had a good time hanging out with friends over a big meal. Parking lot is small, we parked on the street and walked. There's also an arcade room in the back!
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Dung N.

Yelp
My friend invited me here the first time, so I decided to bring my hubby here to check it out as well. The first time, it wasn't as busy, but the second time was really busy- I guess the word got out! The place is pretty neat, with a smoker outside. There is also a cool bar and arcade room in the back room, but I didn't play any games when I went. My friend got a Michelada and red sangria- the sangria was pretty refreshing! We shared the brisket burnt ends & jalapeno mac n cheese, wings with habanero sauce, brisket, coleslaw, creamed corn, and smoked salmon. The bbq was pretty good! Everything was tasty. I even liked the soft bread and pickles it comes with. For dessert, we decided to get the chocolate molten lava cake, but there wasn't much chocolate liquid oozing out, so we were a little disappointed. It was still good, especially with the vanilla ice cream on top. When I went back with my hubby, he got a glass of beer and I just got an iced tea to start with. We ordered the burnt ends again because it's my favorite item here. We got the brisket, some sausage, and Mary's habanero chicken. The chicken was really juicy, but wasn't as spicy as I'd like. For dessert, we got the churros and ice cream, which was the perfect ending to our night.

Betty J.

Yelp
First time here Service was fast and efficient. Food selection - large variety My lunch was delicious Highly recommend Restaurant is cute and was very clean
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Melad T.

Yelp
I discovered this place on yelp. I'm usually down to try new barbecue spots, so I gave this one a try. It is located at a very convenient location, right off the 8 near La Mesa. The building itself is really nice, but when I arrived, parking was pretty crammed. We were seated immediately and had our orders taken. I ordered the chicken wings with the habanero barbecue sauce as the appetizer. I then ordered the brisket and spare rib platter with barbecue baked beans and brussels sprouts. I'll start off with the chicken wings, I'm just going to be pretty short about it. The sauce was good however, they were very cheap with the sauce. The spareribs and brisket were okay, but it was worth the price. No complaints on the sides. The inside of the restaurant was pretty unique. They had antique motorcycles on the wall and it was an older vehicle shop themed barbecue spot. Overall this place was average as I have been to much better barbecue spots in the area.
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Mia D.

Yelp
We've driven by this place dozens of times and always say we should try it. Well, today is the day we finally decided to give it a shot. I'm so glad we did! We walked into a classic Americana Route 66 style diner with an upscale vibe. Soft country music playing, sports on TV, and the beds of trucks as booths. We were greeted instantly and shown to a table. The waitress was on it and came to get our drink order very soon after we were seated. The menu was extensive, and it was hard to choose, as it all sounded good. We finally settled on the loaded fries, BBQ chicken salad, and ranch chicken sandwich. The fries were phenomenal! Crispy cajon fries, beef brisket, cheese sauce, fresh tomatoes, and green onions. We added some of the house BBQ sauce over the whole thing. I don't usually love West Coast sweet BBQ, a big fan of vinegar based Carolina BBQ, but this sauce had a "zing" and was not super sweet. Gooood stuff! We put it on everything. My salad was awesome. I almost had them hold the fritos but the hubby suggested I leave them on. He was not wrong. The mild sweet of the bbq, the tang of the cilantro ranch, and the salty crunch worked perfectly together. Brannon's chicken sandwich was also a home run. Quality brioche buns, generous amounts of ranch on both bun s, fresh crisp veggies, and delicious cheese covered fried chicken patty. He also got the onion rings with his sandwich. I can't put my finger on it, but there is something special in that batter. They were savory and crispy, only made better by dipping them in the other house made BBQ sauce they had on the table....habenero. This place is great! It also has a full bar and an arcade in the back with some classic arcade games, pinball, and a pool table. https://www.tiktok.com/@brannon_dempsey/video/7331918864537750826?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7319139635116262955

Aboroor 9.

Yelp
I ordered two sandwiches Togo, the brisket and the pulled pork and both were delicious. I would have like the brisket to be as loaded as the pulled pork, but nevertheless both were delicious.
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Dorothy I.

Yelp
Great place for delicious food and drinks on a Thursday night. Ariana was a great server!
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Kathie W.

Yelp
Great service from Elena, wonderful food, celebrated a BIRTHDAY & had the best times. Highly recommend!!!!!!
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Johnny Q.

Yelp
I brought my family here to buy barbecue to go for football night from a new spot. I was pretty disappointed especially after spending $80 with tip for to go. The good: my daughter enjoyed the kids burger with fries. The pulled pork and spare ribs were also decent. The bad: The chicken we received was way overcooked to the point of being burnt. It was inedible. The corn bread we received was inedible as well. It was burnt and completely stale. The staff were nice and the restaurant looked great. Unfortunately, we won't be dining here again.
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Jose N.

Yelp
The brisket was really flavorful and had a nice bark. The meatloaf was good just wish it was a bigger piece. Mashed potatoes were good too. The corn bread even though it had real corn it was good too! This was my first time here and I like the look and feel of the place. Motorcycle gas tank beer taps, arcade room and Smokey & the Bandit on tv! Our server was super nice and friendly even though she hasn't watched Smokey and the Bandit! My only gripe was they didn't have the Diablo Sandwich from Smokey & the Bandit on their menu!