Smokin J's BBQ - Gaslamp

4.4

41 Reviews

$30 and under

Barbecue

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 15, 2025

7:30 PM

Booked 2 times today

Experiences are available.

Lively
Charming
Innovative

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

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
Website
http://www.smokinjsrealbbq.com/
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

Location
751 Fourth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
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!

Private dining

Brisket (1/2 lb.)$17.50
If we went deep into your mind, pulled out the best dream you've ever had, smoked it for 12-14 hours, and served it on a golden platter, it would taste something like this.
Pulled Pork (1/2 lb.)$15.50
The little piggy who went to the market came out succulent and full of flavor. Our pulled pork is dry-rubbed and smoked for 12-14 hours before being pulled to order.
Sticky St. Louie Spare Ribs (1/2 rack)$18.50
Yeah, they’re hot. Yup, they’re sticky sweet. You just might end up covered in sauce from your head to your feet.
Carne Asada$19.50
Skirt steak, marinated overnight in chef’s secret spice blend, then kissed with a flame and finished on the flattop to order.
Blackened Shrimp (8 pcs)$15.00
We had to add a little surf to all this turf. These crustaceans are expertly blackened with a mix of the chef’s secret spices. Served on a bed of slaw.
Wings (3 per order)$5.50
After bathing in buttermilk overnight we twice fry these puppies and toss them in a sauce of your choice (bbq, buffalo, slaw sauce, cajun dry-rub), or naked.
Smoked Jackfruit$15.50
Ok, fine, this is an imposter in the meat section, but try a forkful of this baby and you may forget it grew on a tree.

Sandwiches

Comes with choice of slaw or cajun fries

The Smokin J$18.00
Brisket, slaw, & pork belly on a brioche bun.
The Classic$15.00
Pulled pork, slaw, & pickles on a brioche bun.
The Boneless Rib$16.50
w/ pickled onions on a brioche bun. (Limited Availability)
Fried Chicken Sando$18.00
w/slaw and pickles on a brioche bun.
The Melted Bird$16.00
Mama’s chicken salad & melted cheddar on toasted sourdough.
The Smash Burger$17.50
1/3lb.beef patty from our friend’s small farm in Michigan. W/ white cheddar, lettuce, grilled onions, and pickles.
Grilled Cheese$10.00
Feel free to add meat! On choice of sourdough or white bread.

Special Thangs

Fries in fun ways

Loaded Fries
Cajun fries, Mac, Meat
Brisket Chimi Fries$20.00
Salt fries, Brisket, Chimi
Chili Cheese Fries$20.00
pretty self-explanatory, no?

Sides

Bean Crack$4.50
Slaw$4.00
Mac n' Cheese$7.00
Potato Salad$5.00
Mama's Chicken Salad$9.00
Brisket Chili$9.00
Pork Belly (slice)$4.50
Cornbread$6.00
Cajun Fries$6.50

Combos

BBQ Platter$126.00
Enough food for you and your family (4-6 people). 1 lb. Brisket, 1 lb. Pulled Pork, 12 Wings, 16oz. Beans, Slaw, Potato Salad, & Mac n’ Cheese 6 Toasted Buns 16oz. The Sauce
BBQ Platter$246.00
Food for you and all your friends. 2 lbs. Brisket, 2 lbs. Pulled Pork, 24 Wings, 32oz. Beans, Slaw, Potato Salad & Mac n’ Cheese 12 Toasted Buns 32oz. The Sauce
3x3$26.50
Food for 1 hungry person. 1/4 lb. Brisket, 1/4 lb. Pulled Pork, & 1/4 Rack Ribs, w/ 3.25oz. Beans, Slaw, & Mac n’ Cheese
TV Dinners
Choose one meat and two sides

Appropriations

Tacos and Burritos

The Cali J-Rito$20.50
Brisket, pork belly, fries, and slaw all wrapped in a flour tortilla.
Surf & Turf-ito$20.50
Shrimp, carne asada, fries, and slaw wrapped in a flour tortilla.
Taco Plate$16.50
Two tacos w/chimichurri, pickled onion, & queso chihuahua. Comes with choice of side.
Solitary Taco$6.50
For when you just want one solitary taco.

Dessert

Bread Pudding$9.00
Pecan Pie$5.50
Chess Pie$5.50

What 41 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.4

4.4 based on recent ratings

4.2Food
4.4Service
4.5Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Smokin J's BBQ - Gaslamp offers a "fantastic bbq" experience with "amazing food and service." Diners rave about the "melt-in-your-mouth" brisket and flavorful sides like mac n' cheese and cornbread. The "friendly staff" and "down home" atmosphere make it a must-visit in San Diego. Highly recommended for delicious, hearty meals.

41 Reviews

R
Riley
Unspecified1 review
5.0
Dined on February 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food here was excellent in a comforting atmosphere and friendly staff. Blueberry cobbler as well as the brisket fries are a MUST. Brisket chili was also phenomenal.
Is this helpful?
R
Robert
Unspecified1 review
5.0
Dined on February 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Loved it for vday with the wife and the beer was solid. The meat was even better and would recommend the brisket for sure. The lighting was nice and romantic despite being a “bbq joint.” My only complaints was the mac and cheese was light on taste but i like my mac rich so im bias and also the corn bread had an excellent sweet flavor but was a tad dry but might just of been an older batch so I added extra butter. Overall really nice experience and will be going back for that brisket and beer. 9.5/10
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J
Josh
N. Ireland2 reviews
4.0
Dined on February 1, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 4
Overall good very good food on offer but would have liked to see something like the tv meal menu option but with the choice of 2 meats on the tray. Service was ok, staff spent a lot of time busy with each other although the restaurant was very quiet. My biggest issue on the service side was when it came to paying the check. I was not offered an itemised check and just presented with a card machine that with my total to which I added a tip. After paying I did the math and realised that a service charge must have been added to my bill without this being made clear as I was not presented an itemised bill, nor is it stated on the menus or website (we were a table of 2). I felt pretty annoyed and a bit cheated. Make sure you request an itemised bill!!!
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B
Bernhard
New York City5 reviews
4.0
Dined on January 19, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Good food for a reasonable price, ambience could be nicer
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R
Rolando
San Diego1 review
5.0
Dined on December 28, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Excelente servicio de todos. Buena comida y muy abundantes las cantidades.
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M
Maxwell
San Diego2 reviews
5.0
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.
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E
Ellen
Seattle18 reviews
4.0
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.
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E
Eric
Los Angeles1 review
5.0
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.
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G
Grace
San Diego2 reviews
5.0
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
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C
Chet VIP
New York City3 reviews
5.0
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!
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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 4.4 stars by 41 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 15, 2025

7:30 PM

Booked 2 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

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

Website
http://www.smokinjsrealbbq.com/
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

Smokin J's BBQ - Gaslamp

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

The Happiest Hour

The Smokin J's BBQ & Tap House

Custom inquiry

Meats

Brisket (1/2 lb.)$17.50

Pulled Pork (1/2 lb.)$15.50

Sticky St. Louie Spare Ribs (1/2 rack)$18.50

Carne Asada$19.50

Blackened Shrimp (8 pcs)$15.00

Wings (3 per order)$5.50

Smoked Jackfruit$15.50

Sandwiches

The Smokin J$18.00

The Classic$15.00

The Boneless Rib$16.50

Fried Chicken Sando$18.00

The Melted Bird$16.00

The Smash Burger$17.50

Grilled Cheese$10.00

Special Thangs

Loaded Fries

Brisket Chimi Fries$20.00

Chili Cheese Fries$20.00

Sides

Bean Crack$4.50

Slaw$4.00

Mac n' Cheese$7.00

Potato Salad$5.00

Mama's Chicken Salad$9.00

Brisket Chili$9.00

Pork Belly (slice)$4.50

Cornbread$6.00

Cajun Fries$6.50

Combos

BBQ Platter$126.00

BBQ Platter$246.00

3x3$26.50

TV Dinners

Appropriations

The Cali J-Rito$20.50

Surf & Turf-ito$20.50

Taco Plate$16.50

Solitary Taco$6.50

Dessert

Bread Pudding$9.00

Pecan Pie$5.50

Chess Pie$5.50

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

Does Smokin J's BBQ - Gaslamp offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Smokin J's BBQ - Gaslamp restaurant rated?

Is Smokin J's BBQ - Gaslamp currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information