Suckerfree Southern Plate & Bar

We had a 5pm reservation but due to traffic we were 15 minutes. The food was great. Huge portions. Keya was an excellent server. The drinks were great. The only thing was they were out of some of appetizers but they made up with it other options. Thank you. We'll be back.

Was walking in Gaslamp district and came upon this restaurant. The staff was friendly. Especially the bartenders. The food came out slowly. The overall experience was good. I got the chicken and waffles and fried gizzards. My friends got fried green 🍅 tomatoes, pulled pork, collard greens, mash potatoes, catfish nuggets, and chicken. The gizzards were fried to hard. Everyone enjoyed the food. The atmosphere and decor was really night. Recommend visiting if you are in the area

Quickly has become my favorite restaurant. Everything I tried has been amazing. I had the Chicken and Waffles this time and it was great. The waffle was light and aire and the chicken was so flavorful. I wash it all down with a Koolaid Margarita. The atmosphere was great. Service was really good. It was quick but our food came out really hold. My wife had the breakfast Mac& Cheese which she really enjoy.

This is seriously the best southern food restaurant I have been to away from home (Louisiana). I felt right at home with good food, drink, music, and people. The service was incredible everyone at the spot became family right away. I can't wait to get back here. I will make a special trip EVERY time I go San Diego.

Great options of food to choose from and good strong drinks. The service was very slow and the vibe was pretty dull. The only seasoned things were the Mac which was pretty good and the spicy greens. The fried chicken, okra, and green tomatoes were so unseasoned which was a major disappointment. All of the plates come with mashed potatoes and veggies with no option to sub them out or choose your own sides. If you want Mac or greens or any other popular southern side you have to just pay extra for it.

Very tasty southern food. I grew up in Virginia and this qualifies as authentic Southern food, with a slight emphasis towards Cajun style southern. Apologies that the photos are all half-eaten food, normally I get pictures before digging in but I guess I wasn't able to hold back this time ;)

Everything I tried was good. I have high blood pressure so I was concerned but I had no problems with eating 1 piece of fried chicken ,bowl of greens with Turkey necks( spicy)macaroni cheese, ( nice portions of it)and the sweet yams. Personally, the yams were my least favorite. R&B music in the background. Helpful waiters.

Had a late lunch here. Although the place was mostly empty, the service was slow and uneven. We had to ask for utensils and ny friend had to remind the waiter of her drink order three times. As for the food, it’s delicious. Do not miss out on trying the buttery grits. They’re insanely good! The mac & cheese flight is another must have. The chicken sandwich was ok. Nothing crazy. It could’ve used some more garnishes (lettuce, tomato, pickle).

This place quickly became my favorite barbecue spot in California! The meat is tender, they have a good variety of options, and the service was on top of things! Our server was a ton of fun and kept us smiling throughout our time there. I ordered the loaded Cajun fries to start and they came with a healthy portion of brisket and chimichurri. The TV dinner was an excellent option to try a variety of things, and each item was well worth it! The brisket was very tender and had plenty of flavor. You always know you're in a good bbq spot when you don't need to add any sauce! The bean crack had a good kick and was a good addition to the brisket. The brisket chili was probably the best chili I've ever had. Part of me wishes I just got a full order of it, but I'm glad I was able to try everything else too! I finished things off with a blueberry float and I was as happy as could be! I can't wait to go back the next time I'm in San Diego!

I came in with a plan: a cider if available, Mac for a side, something green and a half rack of ribs. But I saw burnt ends on the menu like a punch in the face. Plans changed. My meal started with a tiny tragedy, though, they were out. So I ordered the pork belly TV dinner (I'm on a diet) with Mac and collards. It's he meat was well smoked, not overpowering. The texture was good but the crust was right on. I'm only visiting but I might come back tomorrow. I'll cry if I don't get those burnt ends though. Oh I forgot, that TV dinner option is such a nice size. Just enough to fall in love but not enough of a love bomb to send red flags.

I love barbecue and heard good things about this place. Their original location is in Poway and that's where they smoke their meats. Since we arrived around dinner time, we weren't able to try the brisket. We started with a beer for him and strawberry milkshake for me. The milkshake was smooth and creamy. We shared the spare ribs, cajun dry rub wings, hot links, pulled pork, mac n cheese, bean crack, and Cajun fries. Everything was brought out pretty quickly. Each item comes with picked onions and pickles, which I loved. My favorites were the hot links, ribs, and seasoned fries. Service was quick and friendly. I will have to come back to try their brisket next time!

I was craving some brisket and stumbled upon this place. I ordered the brisket TV dinner with double mac and cheese. For a restaurant the brisket wasn't bad. It had good flavor and wasn't covered with sauce. I like tasting BBQ and not sauce. The mac and cheese was creamy and delicious. I hope to come back sometime and try some other meats.

My wife and I were staying at the San Diego Harbor over Memorial Day weekend and I noticed we have not been to Smokin' J's before. It said they opened at ten, but the pulled pork wasn't available until 11. Boo....So we walked around the Gaslamp for an hour or so, which there are worse things to do on a perfect San Diego afternoon. I ordered the pulled pork TV dinner and an IPA with collard greens and baked beans. Our bartender was super nice and refilled my wife's soda whenever she needed it. The food came out fast and it was a good sized portion. The pork didn't even need any sauce on it, which was good, but they only had one type of sauce. A mustard sauce would have been a nice accouterment. The beer paired perfectly with the moist and flavorful pulled pork, shich had a smoky wonderfulness to it. The beans were to die for and the collard greens had a nice vinegar tinge to it. Both excellent sides. The place is large and has three big TVs behind the bar. Gotta try this place.

Popped in for some BBQ while in the Gaslamp District. The 3x2 seemed like a good starting point; afterwards I wished I had gone all brisket! The house BBQ had good flavor, but I would have liked a spicy option, as well. The beans were good. I felt like the macaroni was missing something. The service was good and the wait wasn't long.

Amazing spot with amazing bbq! The service is great too. Friendly, fast, and easy on the eyes :) Definitely recommend. Ps: for sports fans they have games on and three massive tvs you can see anywhere in the restaurant.

Stopped by here on the way to the Padre's game. Started off with some drinks. Wish mine was a tad stronger but that's fair. Had their burnt end fancy fries and pheewwww. Ya had me at these fries. The burnt ends were a tad fatty but dang they were seasoned and cooked well. Add in that Mac n cheese and French fries? Sold. After that had their 3x2 combo and added links to it. Highly recommend doing this as it means you get one of everything. The link slapped as did the ribs and the brisket. The pulled pork was a tad dry but that's honestly the least of our worries when everything was dope. The beans were chili-like which was cool and again the Mac n cheese was tasty. Their bbq sauce I would also buy and put on everything I cook so make sure to drizzle that bad boy too. Service was quick and friendly. They kept checking in on us which was much appreciated! I think three siblings run it. That or the three guys there just literally look the same? Regardless, it's rad if it's a trio of bros. It wasn't packed on a Saturday at 4pm which was nice as that meant no wait! Would much rather go here a few blocks north of the stadium than go to a packed location close to the stadium with meh food. It's a large location and I can foresee this being a cool place to watch the game at the bar or bring friends or family for a big dinner or party. They have options on the menu to feed 10-12 people which is cool! Would also def be great with catering considering that so will keep that in mind moving forward. Parking can be a pain because of course it's downtown but there is a parking structure on the same block so that's great! We walked so can't comment on the pricing of that. Will return!

The brisket was fantastic. It was soft, juicy, and seasoned. I am drooling thinking about it. The macaroni and cheese was decent- could use a bit more seasoning and better cheese. The staff was fantastic and attentive. I am coming back soon!

Stopped here for lunch and had a great experience. As far as BBQ goes, it won't beat the titans of Nashville, St. Louis, Texas, etc., but it's so far the best I've had in the San Diego area. They have a lot of unique menu items and specials (prime rib on Friday & Saturday, jackfruit, BBQ brunch, etc.) so I'll definitely be back! We split the 3x2, I'd rank them as follows: Ribs --------- Pulled Pork -- Brisket Seriously the ribs were amazing! The seasoning was perfect. I probably would've liked the brisket more if we got fatty instead of lean (it's cool that they give you the choice!) - the bites of fat on the meat were easily the better part. Also, I'd HIGHLY recommend the "bean crack" as a side. The mac n cheese was ok, a bit watery for my taste, definitely outdone by the beans. The food came out fast and the service was friendly. The restaurant is very clean, they do a good job of balancing the upscale Gaslamp look with the rustic feel of a more traditional BBQ joint. Of course my only complaint is parking, but that's to be expected in the area.

Authentic and delicious Texas BBQ style!!! Came in looking for some good food but ended up with great food and (almost) authentic atmosphere! Service is great and everyone is nice and polite which is really Texas style. Food is awesome. I had brisket, pulled pork and sausage! Brisket was fantastic, and sausage was amazing. Pulled pork was bit on a dry side, still good. Side of Mac n cheese was filling and collard greens were delicious. Seriously no complaints! Interior is made to look like Texas, with staff sporting cow boy hats, and furniture resembling country Texas style! Well recommended!!!!

The good: the food. The food was great. The fries were crispy and had a great Cajun mix on them. They are the fries most people dream about. The smash burger was good as I didn't want bbq. The smoking j brisket was demolished very quickly. The bad: we went early when they were understaffed so the service was a little slow. But once the workers started showing up the service picked up. Overall the food outweighed the issues with service.

Celebrated a birthday with friends at Smokin J's BBQ and had a great experience. Liz was a terrific waitress and made great recommendations. The brisket (fatty not lean) was moist, not gristly, very tasty and savory. It had a really nice seasoning and the corn bread and cole slaw were great accompaniments. All of the desserts were fantastic (apple cobbler, chess pie, pecan pie). They also make these nostalgic TV Dinner trays which gives you a little of every thing and were very filling. Love that! It's located in the Gaslamp so the only easy parking is at Horton Plaza which is right across the street.

Smokin J's is one of my favorite BBQ joints to frequent in San Diego. Tucked in Gaslamp, they have a big space in which they took over Suckerfrees restaurant. My go to is the Smokin J's coincidentally, with the pork belly and brisket stacked between two buns. The sauces as well are really good and not super vinegary which is nice. And to top it off, Maya and Melissa who work their quite frequently have excellent customer service and a warm countenance that makes you feel at home. Highly recommend

Stopped by for lunch while in town for a conference a few weeks ago. Coming from the Bay Area, where most of, if not all the BBQ I've tried is crap, this was very good. I sat at the bar and the bartenders were extremely friendly and let me taste a few of the local beers while I waited for my food. I can't really compare it to other BBQ spots in SoCal aside from Phil's (which I was not impressed by), but I'd definitely come back if I had a craving and was in the area.

Best BBQ downtown, top flight by any measure. Love the brisket, ribs, and wings. Service is spot on and friendly. Atmosphere is BBQ casual, perfect match for the menu. Give this place a try!

Ok - joints got some good reviews! So me...I drop in to check it out. A reasonably good selection of beers on tap! I get them to pull me an IPA. So far so good. I order Ribs. 1/2 rack! They come out! They're big 4 sho! I know some people are picky about ribs and don't like when you put sauce on them. Personally, I don't float that way. I load some on. Hey these are pretty good! Very meaty and very tender! Half rack comes with 6 bones. I can only down 3. All in all this place is pretty good! Service was real good too! If you need bbq and you're in the area the stop on in! In happiness and health! Cheers!

Amazing service and food! I have been wanting to check this place out for a few months and I'm so glad I decided to stop in today. On my way home. I had the TV dinner platter, which came with brisket aside of macaroni and cheese and mustard greens. The mustard greens were so flavorful, and my brisket was extremely tender. It could melt in your mouth. I highly recommend this place.

Food and service were great! The only thing is missing is country music!!!! It's a BBQ place!! Gotta have country music! Otherwise don't change a thing!

Was expecting some good bbq based on reading some of the reviews. Was disappointed with the results. Customer service was awesome but the food not good. Ordered the BBQ platter which has a little of everything. Mac n cheese had the powder/grainy cheese taste. The ribs dry and grainy, Brisket was ok, fat wasn't rendered enough, pulled pork hardly any rub or smoke flavor. I got the feeling of food being reheated as it was cooked elsewhere. Hopefully others will have a better experience than what we had. Oh well, onto the next BBQ spot.

Food was delicious and staff was very nice and professional. There are plenty of vegetarian options! It is a pretty chill place for being in downtown which I loved

I decided on getting some food and settled on this spot. They delivered and I must say I was impressed. The 3x3 platter allows you to try brisket, chicken, and pulled pork. I could have done without the slice of white bread. I wish there was more mac n cheese but all in all I enjoyed everything. The beans were interesting and I might need to try them again. I also had the wings. They were different, but I couldn't decide where they rank for me. This gives me another reason to order again. Recommend it and maybe I'll dine in the next time.

I ordered take-out based on previous reviews, and with San Diego being known for having a vast variety of tasty food, I thought I had stumbled upon another great find. I became nervous when I arrived at the restaurant to find only one small family sitting in the front corner of a very large space. I also didn't smell any bbq which is pretty unusual for this genre of restaurant. The gals who helped me though were quick to greet me with a smile and were very helpful. The pork belly definitely gets 5/5 stars, but the 3 x 2 and the sticky ribs get 3.5 stars. I say go ahead and try it if you're craving bbq and are in the area. It's entirely possible that maybe we ordered on an "off" day, or perhaps we just weren't craving bbq as much as we had initially thought.

Definitely a go-to bbq spot in downtown! Really good food, happy hour is $4 beers and half off tacos! Good food, super friendly and genuine service, and a pretty solid beer selection Newer spot, nicely renovated and big open space. Great for a group or for just hanging at the bar Been here twice and definitely will continue to come back

Big fan of this spot. My favorites that I've had are the pulled pork, ribs, beans, and mac and cheese. The brisket chili is pretty amazing but be warned that it packs legit heat. They've also got some great beers on tap and have this alcoholic shirley temple type of drink that my girlfriend loves. I love going here to watch a game and have a drink and some food at the bar The owner Josh is very friendly and makes it a point to check on every table to see how their experience is when he can as well.

Service is unfortunately real rude. I asked for a water cup and got scolded instead for asking instead of told no. He handed me an empty plastic cup and said something about it being in bad taste to ask for a water cup as a bartender. Was hoping to dine in but won't be coming back. :( 0/10 experience :( super bummed, was looking forward to dining here but instead was left embarrassed. Don't recommend.

No parking lot just street parking. We walked here. Nice size and very inviting informal. Bring yur bib if you wanna Beautiful open seating. Got to meet the GM and he was a pretty nice guy. My husband wanted BBQ so we looked this place up and took a trolley over to see what those five stars were all about Our service was spot on the server very attentive. I asked him how the potato salad was prepared and he said it's served cold . We got a chuckle outta that response. The King ordered the 3x3 which came with at Louis ribs, brisket, wings and pulled pork. I'm not a huge BBQ fan but the things we do for love huh!! Anyway I got the brisket TV dinner. Brisket was moist and cooked right. Lacked a little seasoning for us but most enjoy that smoked flavor so if that's the case you'll love that. All of the meats had a smoked flavoring to them. Potato salad made with red potatoes and a peculiar dill relish. The taste is unique. We weren't excited by the cole slaw The bean crack has veggies and chunks of pork belly stirred in. I think I tasted a lil of that BBQ sauce in there too. Good taste. I had to defer to the King on the final rating and we agreed 4 stars only because all of the meats seemed to have the same flavor. But we definitely recommend it if you're looking to get some great smoke flavored meats.

Some of the best bbq we've ever had, and to find it in San Diego blows your mind hole. Meat falling off the ribs, tender brisket, and succulent pork! A caveman couldn't ask for more. Waitstaff was on point and very helpful! We will be back!

Food and service: juicy and not too greasy. Won't get Southern quality but better than Phils. Ambiance: a juxtaposition of airy chic Gaslamp but with touches of homey-ness of their Poway location. Decor not a big factor in my enjoyment of the food.

It was delicious, I have definitely had better bbq but this was by far a great stop before a baseball game. I got the chicken sandwhich and it was actually delicious, it was very crispy yet still juicy as well. The fries were alright, a little too much seasoning for my liking.

This place has great reviews, so I had high expectations. Unfortunately, the experience I had was dreadful. I absolutely hate giving one star ratings but I had to here. We came before dinnertime, yet they were already out of half the items we tried to order. I thought that was strange. Food came, and the portions were so small for the price. We both got "TV Dinners" and the sides were only a couple tablespoons. I ordered lean brisket and half of it was fatty, and the meat barely tasted seasoned. I needed to cover it in barbecue sauce. Neither of us could eat the jackfruit, it was so sour and acidic. Fries were overdone and bland. The cherry margarita tasted watery. Furthermore, after taking our order, our waitress disappeared into the back and never returned to check on us. No other waiter checked on us, it took me ages to flag someone down to order more items. I thought it was very unprofessional to abandon customers, and not bother to inform a coworker to take over a table. Food was overpriced, service was nonexistent, and the place smells like cigars from the lounge next door. Personally, I will not be returning.

Food tasty - St Louie Ribs, Smokey tender and meaty 1/2 rack. Sauce side was right! Slaw had a great twist and good match. Recommend you give them a try!

Must see when you're in SD! Josh was our server and also one of the owners , so he had superb recommendations. Everything is house made except for the mayo so I highly recommend the brisket and pulled pork. The wings were also extra crispy and saucy. Service was AMAZING they were on top of it when had such friendly attitude. Highly recommend for bottomless or craving bbq

Came here on a Wednesday at 1pm. Sat at the bar, was greeted with extremely nice staff, and ordered the pork belly tv dinner with collared greens and bean crack. The bean, was indeed, like crack. Sweet enough that I dipped the pork into it like a sauce. Collared greens were also lightly zesty, a good side to balance the savoriness of the other two pieces of the meal. I'm coming back here to try all their proteins.

Ordered dinner through DoorDash. When our food was delivered we were missing a whole meal. Called the restaurant to let them know it wasn't delivered. I know it happens. The girl that answered actually argued with me about the food being missing saying it was not. Why would I lie about this? After spending $100 on 2 meals and dessert, I didn't even want it anymore. I will never go back there again. That kind of service is embarrassing. When we finally got all our food, DoorDash had it redone, it was not all that. Meat was dry. Macaroni tasted watery.

Great and friendly service. Brisket was smoky and tasty. Chili could use more flavor. I'm not a fan of pecan pie, but theirs was surprisingly delicious.

This was definitely the best tasting BBQ spot in San Diego I've tried so far, but not the best atmosphere.. some TV's, pretty bright lighting, etc. Location is Gaslamp, which is something you have to be in the mood for (parking, people, etc.). I recommend the jackfruit BBQ, great vegan alternative for sure! The slaw was great too.

We found this place at the taste of gaslamp event, and were so impressed by the food, service, and charm that this restaurant offers. The food that we tried was packed with flavor, and so unique, I'm really excited to have a good barbecue place in the neighborhood! we were too full to try the pastries, but we spoke to the baker and she gave us some great recommendations, I can't say enough about how friendly the staff here was. There is plenty of seating, and it feels really clean and vibrant inside the restaurant.

Great BBQ downtown. The service was friendly and the brisket was really good. They even offered a choice of cuts from the brisket itself.

Nice addition to downtown, lots of tasty choices, staff is uber friendly. Place is spacious. I stopped by here during comic con and it was a nice break in the day. My only thing I'd like to see is some added side sauce with the bbq meaties.

Can't wait to try everything on the menu. I got the pork belly burrito and holy hell! Trying to think of I've ever had a better breakfast burrito. Crispy hash browns, big thick chunks of perfectly cooked pork belly. Try it with bbq sauce (I didn't think it would be good either). Can't go wrong with green or red salsa either. All on the side. Friendly staff/owners. Greta location Dow town with big tvs, bar, plenty of beers on tap, decently priced cocktails $8-9, $8 well drinks. Overall just a quality place that I hope sticks around for a long time.

This place blows away KC BBQ and Gaslamp bbq. Finally a great bbq joint in downtown. We will be back. Brisket tacos and pork belly tacos were amazing.

Food was yummy I just wished they had a spicy bbq sauce. Our waiters were friendly and quick.

We had a pulled pork dinner with Mac & cheese and slaw and a brisket dinner with chili and beans. The pulled pork was dry and had no flavor except smoke. Mac& cheese was soso. Slaw s was good. The brisket was 70% fat, the little bit of meat was good. The chili ands beans were mediocre at best. I would keep looking if I were you!

Oh man I had my hopes up for this spot. I ordered through Uber eats, and the food arrived within 15 minutes since I live right down the road. I had the TV dinner pulled pork, and the pulled pork was super cold. The mac & cheese had very little flavor. Overall it was an utter disappointment

We decided to try Smokin J's because our favorite BBQ spot had sold out early and we really had our hearts set on BBQ. After reading all the great reviews we thought this should be a solid choice. I am left confused as to why so many rave reviews. If you want good bbq this is NOT the place. We tried the brisket, sticky ribs, greens, Mac & Cheese, and cornbread. Greens weren't bad and the cornbread was decent and the butter was good, but Mac & Cheese was bland, the brisket had taste & texture of being oven cooked not bbq which made the texture weird like microwaved bbq leftovers, and the ribs flavor was terrible. I'm all for spending money on good food but Save your money this place is not worth it!

I ate at Smokin J's for the first time this past weekend. I started with the trio of meat (brisket, sticky ribs, & pulled pork). I had it with the beans, Mac & Cheese, & Cole Slaw. Then topped it off with a slice of PECAN PIE. So, about the dinner... The meat was good. I would buy it again. The sides, I wasn't impressed. I could pass on those 3 items in the future. But that damn pecan pie was amazing it stole the show. The crust was flaky and the pie filling was delicious. The slice was so tasty, I had my friend bring me a whole pie back from SD to LA 4 days later. I let my daughter try it out and all I heard was Mmmm. My only ding about the pie is, I wish it was stored in a cardboard pie box when it was picked up so it could be transported it back safely.

It's been two consecutive days that we were eating at BBQ restaurants, both newly opened ones . Today we were in CORONADO at one of the BBQ's in Grand opening today and yesterday we were at GASLAMP DOWTOWN which had just opened 3 days ago . The inside is Spacious and with an outdoor seating also . How it works is that we had to order first and pay before they will seat us. The thing I like here is that they would ask you if you would like your meats Lean or Fatty :) We ordered the Following ones: *THE SMOKIN J - Brisket, Slaw, and Pork Belly on a Bun Brioche Bun , Fries * COMBO PLATTER - Brisket , Pulled pork , wings , Fries , Beans , Slaw , & Mac and Cheese Since they just opened 3 days ago, they didn't have any Margaritas or Cocktails yet, so all of us settled just for water. Our food came quick. I shared food with my husband since we just wanted to try it first. The COMBO PLATTERS were okay, nothing different from other Bbq place but their SMOKIN ' J, omg that was so so good!!! The PORK BELLY on it is Freaking Good! I wish that they also have a Menu just for PORK BELLY ! The service from the Front Desk and Danielle both so friendly . And the restaurant is also Pet Friendly ! :) We will be back in 2 weeks coz thats their Grand Opening , more on the menu to try !

We were driving at Gaslamp and saw this New Opened restaurant called Smoking J 's Bbq . There's a lot of staff available when we came here. The place is spacious and clean. They also have an outdoor seating available. They were almost closing when we came so we will be back again to try some more next time.

Well, Georgia guy and a true BBQ fiend. Always have to try the local BBQ if in the area. Met by owner and super nice guy! Chatted while I waited for a friend. Nice place, not loud and or crowded, meaning the seating. Tried, brisket, ribs, pulled pork and Texas hots. Just wow. Usually most places are good at 1 or 2 items and ok with rest. They hit it on the head for all three. Cooked perfectly, temp at table great. Simple, 1 sauce and it is good, simple and on point. I like at hot so added some hot side, just a tad. Great food, good people, service nice. Oh Cherry cobbler with vanilla ice cream, in a small cast iron pan. Oh Yea! A must if you are a BBQ fan. Don't be disappoint. I'll be back