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

Smokin J's BBQ - Gaslamp

4.5
4.5
41 Reviews
$30 and under
Barbecue

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 12 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Charming
  • Innovative
  • Neighbourhood 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 11:00–21:00 Sat, Sun 10:00–21:00 Brunch Fri–Sun 11:00–13:30 Happy Hour Mon–Fri 15:00–18:00
  • 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
  • Area
    Downtown / Gaslamp
  • 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, Takeaway, 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 41 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.2Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.6Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Smokin J's BBQ in Gaslamp offers "delicious food with very ample portions" and "incredible BBQ" in a "great atmosphere." The convenient location makes it a "hidden gem" for theater-goers. While prices can vary, the "friendly and quick service" and standout dishes like brisket and pork belly make it a must-visit.

41 Reviews
  1. Riley

    Unspecified

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    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.

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  2. Robert

    Unspecified

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    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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  3. Josh

    N. Ireland

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 1 February 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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  4. Bernhard

    New York City

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 19 January 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Good food for a reasonable price, ambience could be nicer

    Is this helpful?

  5. Rolando

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 28 December 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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  6. Maxwell

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 17 December 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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  7. Ellen

    Seattle

    18 reviews

    4.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on 13 November 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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  8. Eric

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 11 November 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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  9. Grace

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 6 October 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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  10. Chet

    VIP

    New York City

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 6 October 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?

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 4.5 stars by 41 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 12 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.
  • Area
    Downtown / Gaslamp
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Fri 11:00–21:00 Sat, Sun 10:00–21:00 Brunch Fri–Sun 11:00–13:30 Happy Hour Mon–Fri 15:00–18:00
  • 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, Takeaway, 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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