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Smokin J's BBQ - Gaslamp, San Diego, CA

Smokin J's BBQ - Gaslamp

4.3
4.3
36 Reviews
$30 and under
Barbecue

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 3 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Charming
  • Innovative
  • Neighborhood gem
Grab your partner and hitch up that wagon, Smokin J's BBQ is now open in the Gaslamp Quarter! Located 5 minutes from the Convention Center, and a mere 10 minutes from Petco Park or the Rady Shell by foot, we are your new favorite spot for slow-smoked brisket, pulled pork, ribs, and craft beer. Smokin J's BBQ won Reader Magazine's poll for Best BBQ in San Diego in 2022 and at our spot in the Gaslamp Quarter we strive to create a warm and inviting atmosphere perfect for date nights, family outings, Sunday football, weekend brunch, or for anytime you want eat a great meal with great people. Open for lunch, dinner, and breakfast on the weekends, we offer plenty of indoor seating, a spacious bar, and patio seating.

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Barbecue, American, Breakfast
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Fri 11:00 am–9:00 pm Sat, Sun 10:00 am–9:00 pm Brunch Fri–Sun 11:00 am–1:30 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 3:00 pm–6:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (619) 795-1456
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Rick Daniels
  • Catering
    Contact us for downtown catering options at josh@smokinjsrealbbq.com
  • Private party facilities
    Rent out our entire 2,000 sq. ft., open floor plan, dining room any day of the week. Located in a historic building in the historic Gaslamp District, we will help you host an historic event!
  • Private party contact
    Joshua George: (703) 314-1486
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Cross street
    We validate for the Horton Plaza parking garage across the street.
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Entertainment, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • The Happiest Hour

    Multiple dates available
    $4 draft beer and $4 pulled pork sliders! That's right folks, Happy Hour at Smokin J's BBQ is a tasty little treat from 3p-5p every day we are open. For a whopping $8 you can be the proud owner of a pint of local craft beer and a pulled pork slider. See you there!
    The Happiest Hour Photo

What 36 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.3
4.3 based on recent ratings
  • 4.2Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.3Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Smokin J's BBQ in Gaslamp delivers "incredible" barbecue with tender meats and a welcoming atmosphere. Diners rave about the delicious food, reasonable prices, and convenient location. While some mention service variability, the "amazing and attentive" staff often shine. A must-visit for BBQ lovers in San Diego.

36 Reviews
  1. Maxwell

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 17, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Smokin' J's BBQ is a gem unbeknownst to us. My wife and I were attending an event at the Balboa Theater and were looking to make a reservation close to the venue. Smokin' J's is literally across the street...it couldn't be more convenient. Everything was excellent, the service was outstanding, the food was delicious with very ample portions. Even though we live in Encinitas, we will go back downtown to dine at Smokin' J's again. To us, it was a hidden gem.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Ellen

    Seattle

    18 reviews

    4.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on November 13, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was good but not great. The ambience was trying a bit too hard to be cool and on theme. Service was very good.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Eric

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 11, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was delicious and portions were good. I was really surprised the place wasn’t absolutely packed when considering the value.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Grace

    San Diego

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on October 6, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Convenient location great food awsome drinks and great service.will be back

    Is this helpful?

  5. Chet

    VIP

    New York City

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on October 6, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Josh was very pleasant and engaging. Food was delicious and a must stop while in San DIego!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Sean

    VIP

    Minneapolis

    24 reviews

    4.0

    24 reviews

    Dined on October 1, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The restaurant was not busy, we were greeted right away and the service was excellent. The food was good and came out quickly. The only downside was the pricing was much higher than listed on open table. So we were surprised at the change. Overall good food, slightly high on the pricing but would certainly go back for the friendly and quick service.

    Is this helpful?

  7. OpenTable Diner

    VIP

    Chicago

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on September 26, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great atmosphere and incredible Bbq. We had the feast platter and it did not disappoint. The brisket, pulled pork and ribs are amazing. You must try the baked beans. Some of the best I’ve ever had.

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  8. Alyssa

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 31, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was amazing and the staff was very nice. Not what you’d expect from a more modern looking BBQ place but the food was incredible. We just about died over the pork belly!

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  9. Scott

    Orange County

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 29, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Definitely the best barbecue in San Diego. Unbelievably reasonable prices, considering they’re in the middle of gaslamp.

    Is this helpful?

  10. RUBY

    VIP

    Las Vegas

    62 reviews

    5.0

    62 reviews

    Dined on August 11, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything on their menu is incredible. Their meat is so tender, I love Everything we've had here.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Smokin J's BBQ - Gaslamp offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (619) 795-1456.

Smokin J's BBQ - Gaslamp is rated 4.3 stars by 36 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 3 times today
Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Smokin J's BBQ - Gaslamp

751 Fourth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

Additional information

  • Cross street
    We validate for the Horton Plaza parking garage across the street.
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Fri 11:00 am–9:00 pm Sat, Sun 10:00 am–9:00 pm Brunch Fri–Sun 11:00 am–1:30 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 3:00 pm–6:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Barbecue, American, Breakfast
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Rick Daniels
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Entertainment, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (619) 795-1456
  • Catering
    Contact us for downtown catering options at josh@smokinjsrealbbq.com
  • Private party facilities
    Rent out our entire 2,000 sq. ft., open floor plan, dining room any day of the week. Located in a historic building in the historic Gaslamp District, we will help you host an historic event!
  • Private party contact
    Joshua George: (703) 314-1486
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