Cancel

Open app

Search

Bubba's Smokehouse BBQ

4.2 (1.2k reviews)
Closed 4:00 pm - 11:00 PM

Order Bubba's Smokehouse BBQ Takeout or Delivery

Bubba's Smokehouse BBQ Photos

BUBBA'S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Happy hour specials
Good for groups

You might also consider

More like Bubba's Smokehouse BBQ

Recommended Reviews - Bubba's Smokehouse BBQ

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

1/2 baby back platter, baked yam
Yelen P.

Got baby back platter, brisket platter, Phat bastard burger, and The Bubba sandwich, which were all pretty good. Menu says platters come with corn bread, but it came with Texas toast; there are two menus floating around, and the Texas toast is the current one as of this writing. Food was ready quickly. Ambiance - big open concept space, wasn't busy when I was there.

Don't waste your time with Bubba's Smokehouse BBQ (inside Society). Google says they're open until 11pm on Sundays, and their own website confirms the same--but nowhere does it mention that their kitchen closes earlier. I showed up at 9:50pm, clearly well before the posted closing time, only to be told at the door that they were already closed. I came for the restaurant, not the bar, so that excuse doesn't hold up. If your kitchen shuts down earlier, post it clearly everywhere. Super frustrating and misleading. Maybe I dodged a bullet when it comes to the food and service--guess I'll never know, because I'm not giving this place a second chance. Late-night eaters, don't bother.

View of the Baked Beans & Cornbread
Adam B.

Got a really weird ambiance being situated in the plaza of an office building and offering fast casual counter service. For an early dinner, they sure seemed to be out of a lot of items. I ordered The Bubba Combo so I could taste a few things (of what was left) but the portions were kinda small and nothing was really standout. Pulled Pork: Pretty standard. Strings of pork that were tender and moist. Went well with the sauce. Chopped Brisket: Was disappointed that they were out of the sliced brisket and only had the chopped brisket. Chopped up so small it kinda tasted like the pulled pork and at times was hard to tell apart. Hot Links: A tasty smoked link that had good smoky grill marks. But kinda small. They added some onions and peppers on top, which felt more like food at Italian fair than BBQ. Baked Beans: Decent taste and had bacon, but served in a small portion like a side sauce container. Cornbread: Muffin-like, just alright.

Nathan M.

I work across the street and been wanting to try for a while now. Well finally I did and WOW very very good. I tried the baby backs and they were so tender and juicy with lots of flavor. The guy is super nice and you can tell he takes pride in what he does. You can see the passion for cooking when you speak to the guy. Great over all will definitely return to try other menu items.

TianChee S.

New location but still great tasting good ol bbq meat! Very glad it's much closer so I have no more excuses to eating delicious bbq meats! Owner is very nice and friendly and takes pride in his food which is great!

Ordered the brisket sandwich sliced. Got a version where it was not even chopped but like grounded. Meat was dried out and grease all over to the point we could not eat. Had to be a bottom of the barrel situation since we ordered delivery at 7:30pm. Tried to take a bite before putting sauce on and there was no seasoning just grease like it was soaked in it to try and make it juicy/moist again. Mac and cheese tasted good- some of the crunchy cheese was too hard and burnt had to discard those parts, they forgot our baked beans, forgot our vanilla ice cream, the side of sausage link with grilled veggies was the only good part. After fees and etc we wasted $100. Fell for the buy one get one promo.

The Bubba Combo: tri tip, baby back ribs, chicken, Macaroni and Cheese with cornbread
Kristie L.

So happy this spot is so close and that it's on the outskirts of crazy parking situations. Came in 25 minutes before they closed and a lot of meat was sold out - great sign! Thankfully, the tri tip, baby back ribs and chicken were still available. Every bite was spot on and the sides were yummy too. Macaroni and cheese was the perfect texture as was the corn bread.

Pulled Pork Sandwich
Brian D.

Bubbas is the only bbq joint in La Jolla and anywhere close. The process seemed a little intense up front with one person running all over the place just before a lunch rush. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich. It was a normal sized sandwich for $14 but not overflowing with meat. The pork could have used some more flavor but the bbq sauce was very good. The Mac n cheese was also under seasoned.

Macaroni and Cheese
Anna Z.

stopped by here for a little snack haha The service was good, they were quick and considerate. I only got this since I wasn't that hungry but wanted to try something in the area. The ambiance is nice and I saw families eating which is a good sign. It's not really a cute date night spot but I'd definitely return with some buddies. Honestly, the mac and cheese was super solid. Not too mushy or bland at all - I'd definitely recommend!!

1/4 chicken and some brisket

See all

20 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 2
Love this 3
Oh no 1
Photo of Darryl G.
97
36
15

12 days ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 hours ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1
Photo of Steve D.
43
121
100

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 1

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 2
Photo of Greg H.
51
27
9

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

great bbq i was impressed w all the bbq very nice thanks brisket ribs babybak ribs all great

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1
Photo of Hannah R.
20
23
19

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 2
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 1
Photo of Jing M.
0
134
315

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Keena M.
579
12
4

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 1
Love this 4
Oh no 2

6 years ago

Helpful 209
Thanks 0
Love this 208
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Maaz B.
2
23
15

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1
Photo of Debi R.
477
586
1303

6 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of SF G.
1
258
19

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Jeff N.

Jeff N.

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Joseph D.
0
44
165

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 27
Thanks 0
Love this 25
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 30

Ask the Community - Bubba's Smokehouse BBQ

Is the La Jolla location (permanently) closed?

yes

Is the bbq cooked on a real smoker?

Yes a set contained Southern Pride smoker with hickory chips

Do you have gluten free burger buns?

No sorry

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

You might also consider

Barleymash

Barleymash

4.1
(3.5k reviews)
7.9 mi
$$

The FOOD 5/5 stars. MAC N CHEESE, pretzel, buffalo cauliflower, chicken tenders, fries. Not a BAD…read moreitem on their menu. The portions INSANE, so it's better if you share! The SERVICE 4/5 stars. Our server was truly amazing. She deserved the 5/5. Great recommendations, super genuine and fun, had the best energy and was CONSTANTLY checking in on us; however, a couple of the other workers could have been a little bit more open with communication. We were sitting against the window at the high top wraparound bar tables (feels like an extension of the bar), so the bar is easy to order from and was our go to as soon as we arrived. The bartender took our order, but was standoffish as if we were doing something foreign or a big "no no". Finally the server in charge of our area told us that the bartenders are in charge of the bar and there are other servers for all the other tables/zones. If we were told that from the beginning, we would have made sure to follow the order of the place and order from the correct server. A few of us truly felt bad, but now we know when we go in next time what to expect. Barleymash is always a great time, so we always want to make sure we are doing it right! I truly recommend sitting anywhere else but that window/wall on a packed night, but sometimes you have to deal with what you are lucky enough to get!

Not only is the food amazing here but the staff is even better. Every waitress / waiter or server…read morewe've ever had is top tier. Tianna was great tonight and the manager Greg really knows how to keep customers coming back. Barley Mash has always been our spot and will continue to be. Thank you guys!

Photos
Inside
Inside
Barleymash
Wall of Bourbon

See all

Wall of Bourbon
The Smoking Gun

The Smoking Gun

4.0
(670 reviews)
8.0 mi
$$

If you are downtown, you've just got to stop by the hippest space on Market Street. The Smoking Hun…read morehas your grammars couch, cassette tapes lining the walls, pool table, ping pong, football and an entire room filled with nostalgic games you'd find at the boardwalk arcade. They have got an amazing happy hour selection, which includes their Butter Burger for $9 and Nachos too! We went on Thursday and were delighted by their all you can eat Bone Nugs special. It starts with 10 juicy pieces of plump chicken thighs in a light and crisy batter tossed in your choice of sauce, with additional rounds of 5 pieces each. Our server was super attentive, making perfectly timed stops by our table AND continuing to serve us while we were in the game room embroiled in the battle of the walking dead and other retro games. Thanks, team Smoking Gun for creating such a cool space to hang.

The Smokers Gun in San Diego was such a cool late-night spot with friendly people and a fun…read moreatmosphere. Our bartender Mike was great, and may Mai Thai ($14) defiantly did what it needed to do. It was sweet, strong and served with the cutest bear-shaped glass with a beautiful purple flower on top. One drink had a girl feeling tipsy. We ordered from the late-night "midnight Bites" menu, which was the only thing we could choose from at the hour of our visit. Everything we selected was really good. Wed got the Frito Pie ($12), Chicken thigh tenders ($7), and Tots ($7). The frito pie presentation was my second favorite part (after the bear glass drink), It came in a all-clad style bowl with the chip bag cut open inside, loaded with Texas-style chilli, melted nacho cheese, and shredded cheese. It was so good I even started adding tots in there too. The tots and Thigh tenders had the perfect crisp! They have sweet and sour chili sauce for dipping with the chicken which was fab! The retro decor made the place even better. I loved seeing the old Blockbuster VHS tapes and music cassettes displayed around the bar. My little eye also spot the Dallas Cowboys flag! Texas energy is definitely in the house. There's also a small arcade area in the back, and my eyes instantly lit up seeing PAC-Man. We didn't get to fully explore the game room because we were trying to make it to Ghirardelli Ice cream & Chocolate shop for dessert before they closed at midnight too. Thankfully everything worked out perfectly since our car was parked right in front of Ghirardelli. NO military discount was honored here even though the owner is a veteran, but overall I still had a really good experience and would definitely come back whenever I'm in the Gaslamp district in SD, Cali. (Oops posted it on a smoke shop in Texas. This review was meant to be shared here) Update: Response to owner: Joe V. That was the best response from any owner I have ever received!!! I love that you mentioned yall haven't been mistaken for a smoke shop in Texas, that Mai Thai last mea bit. Yes sir I reckon it did.

Photos
Vintage couch
Vintage couch
Frito pie
Frito pie
Mai Thai. Sweet and strong

See all

Mai Thai. Sweet and strong
Tavern+Bowl East Village

Tavern+Bowl East Village

3.6
(955 reviews)
8.1 mi
$$

Was down in San Diego for the weekend, but it ended up being too chilly for a pool day, so we came…read morehere instead. Totally loved it. Staff was very nice. Only 6 lanes, so it's nice and cozy, doesn't get too loud. The strawberries and cream cocktail is a MUST try, so good. But honestly the star of the night was the $5 pound of fries. Oh my god, best fries I have ever had. It's been days and I'm still thinking about them. I would be willing to take the train down 2 hours from Orange County just to eat these fries. Please get them. Will be back!

For my husband's birthday he wanted to go bowling with our friends, I had no clue where to look, I…read moregoogle searched bowling alleys and came across Tavern + Bowl in East Village. You have to be within 7 days of your requested reservation date so as soon as I was closer I set up a reservation through Open Table. They do require a deposit which was fine because it made sure that we had the lanes needed for our party. I actually ended up calling the Tavern and Bowl to see if they had any earlier reservations and they told me if the person who requested an earlier time didn't pay the deposit I'd get the time slot. I am so lucky because these people didn't pay their deposit and we got the time and the lane. Cute thing, you can actually have kids come too, my niece who is 5 got to come along and they had a little device for her so she can push the ball, she ended up beating me. Everyone was so kind and service was so smooth and efficient, we got to bring donuts for our party and my husband and I ordered the carnitas nachos, they were delicious. Seriously such a great time, obviously this is before the Padres season so we lucked out on parking but this is a great place to host birthday parties. Thank you again for letting us have such a great time!

Photos
Cheers!
Cheers!
Tavern Wings Roasted Garlic Hummus (V) onion rings
Tavern Wings Roasted Garlic Hummus (V) onion rings
Tavern+Bowl East Village

See all

Gaslamp BBQ

Gaslamp BBQ

3.8
(657 reviews)
8.0 mi
$$

Loved the food here & the people who run it…read more The baby back ribs with fries came out hot, well-seasoned, and delicious, no complaints at all. I heard two kids and a mom order like two plain burgers and I felt so sorry for them lol. Staff were exceptionally nice. They gave me 15% off and even free cornbread simply bc my order came out a few minutes late and I was getting hangry from walking around the zoo all day with no food. I realized I lost my phone in my uber and the sweet waitress allowed me to run to my hotel to get my wallet. They even offered to call my phone for me. Their hospitality was incredible :)

My son and his friends wanted Bbq and Gaslamp Bbq closes late, so thats where I decided to Treat…read more them. They have a few outdoor seating and plenty of tables on their indoor seats. The Bbq was easy and quick to order and I ordered: *2 Sets of FULL RIBS with a side of beans. *BRISKET PLATTER with a side of Fries. *CHICKEN PLATTER with a side of Potato Salad. *PULLED PORK PLATTER with a side of Garlic bread. *LEMON DROP cocktail. My Son had the FULL RIBS, and my husband and I also had another set of FULL RIBS that we shared. They were tender and delicious, lots of Bbq Sauce on it. Our side was Baked beans, I like baked beans cooked with Bbq sauce, here the bake beans are lightly seasoned but still good. My son's friends had the BRISKET PLATTER, CHICKEN PLATTER, and the PULLED PORK PLATTER. They said that they were good and tender. It's good bbq here, but I had much better ones at other bbq restaurants, and with more of a really strong smokey smell and taste on their Bbqs. Here all of the Bbq sauce did not have that bbq smoked smell and taste, but as I said they are still good. Customer service here is Fun and very friendly. We had 2 cool servers Marfy & Jason who were always very attentive on anything we might need. Parking as alway is a pain here, it's Gaslamp so it's very busy downtown 'coz it's close to the Convention center and the Stadium and there's lots of restaurants around here. Mostly dinner time is always busy here in Gaslamp especially on the weekends. It's less busy if there's no Baseball Games or Comic-con, so plan ahead when visiting the Gaslamp.

Photos
Gaslamp BBQ
Chicken Platter
Chicken Platter
Chicken Platter

See all

Chicken Platter
Bub's at the Ballpark

Bub's at the Ballpark

3.8
(1.5k reviews)
8.1 mi
$$

Garbage Wings at Bub's at the Ballpark are the best wings in San Diego. Maybe the best on the…read moreplanet. Lindsay at Bub's at the Ballpark is the best (and most beautiful) server in San Diego. Maybe the best on the planet. [Mic drop]

Disturbing lack of ADA and psychiatric service animal awareness. I had an upsetting and humiliating…read moreexperience here involving my psychiatric service animal. When I entered the restaurant around 7:00 PM, I was stopped and questioned extensively by security regarding my service animal. Rather than being asked the limited ADA-compliant questions permitted by law, the interaction became prolonged and uncomfortable while staff repeatedly attempted to determine whether my dog was a "real" service animal or simply an emotional support animal. I remained waiting at the entrance while this was repeatedly discussed back and forth. What made the situation especially humiliating was that another patron openly laughed at me during the interaction while walking outside for a cigarette. I later realized this same patron had her own dog inside the establishment in a stroller the entire time. Staff members appeared very familiar and comfortable with her, and multiple employees, including my waitress- referred to her as a "regular." Although her dog was eventually moved to the patio area, the contrast in how the situations were handled made me feel singled out, embarrassed, and unfairly scrutinized. I later spoke with management in hopes of resolving the matter respectfully. During that conversation, I was surprised and concerned to hear that neither management nor staff were familiar with psychiatric service animals or their protections under the ADA. Psychiatric service animals are legally recognized service animals when trained to perform disability-related tasks, and this lack of awareness was deeply concerning, especially in a city like San Diego with a large disabled and veteran community. I fully understand that businesses are allowed to ask limited ADA-compliant questions regarding service animals, and I also understand that many establishments have dealt with individuals falsely claiming pets as service animals. However, there is a significant difference between appropriately verifying a service animal and making a disabled customer feel publicly interrogated and humiliated. The overall handling of this interaction lacked professionalism, sensitivity, and basic understanding of ADA service animal protections. No customer should feel mocked, scrutinized, or publicly embarrassed simply for entering a restaurant with a legitimate service animal. I sincerely hope this situation can serve as an opportunity for additional ADA education and proper service animal training for staff moving forward so that other disabled guests do not experience similar treatment. I would appreciate being informed of any steps the restaurant intends to take regarding ADA compliance and staff training before I determine how I would like to proceed further. Thank you for your time and attention.

Photos
Inside
Inside
5 Bub's Grilled Chicken Wings (~$10): Carolina Gold
5 Bub's Grilled Chicken Wings (~$10): Carolina Gold
Bar

See all

Bar
Nicky Rottens

Nicky Rottens

3.4
(907 reviews)
8.2 mi
$$

Captain's Log, Stardate 21483…read more This past Sunday, I charted a course to Nicky Rottens in Coronado, a delightful establishment located at the end of Orange Avenue. From the moment I arrived, I was greeted by an uplifting open-air environment, truly a breath of fresh air that felt like stepping onto the observation deck of the USS Enterprise. The amazing views of the bay were nothing short of spectacular, bringing a serene beauty that rivals the finest star systems. Over the years, my wife, her girlfriend, and I have become frequent travelers to this culinary haven, beaming back for nearly 15 years--a testament to its enduring allure. The selection of IPAs and mixed drinks is impressive, catering to even the most discerning palates in the galaxy. The choices are vast enough to satisfy anyone embarking on this flavor exploration, whether you prefer a refreshing drink to toast a successful mission or something bolder, like a phaser on stun! The menu features a delightful array of options, including fresh salads, tantalizing finger foods, and, of course, their famed burgers. My wife's enthusiasm for the offerings has always been infectious, and during this visit, she and her girlfriend were on a culinary adventure of their own, indulging in the flavors that have made Nicky Rottens a local favorite. The burgers are truly out of this world--juicy, flavorful, and expertly crafted to ensure a warp-speed experience with every bite. You'll find that each dish is prepared with precision, as if overseen by a skilled chef with the abilities of a Vulcan and the passion of a true culinary Starfleet officer. In conclusion, Nicky Rottens is a prime destination for anyone seeking a vibrant atmosphere, stunning views, and a solid meal. I can confidently say that if you ever find yourself in Coronado, this establishment is a must-visit. After all, it's just one small step for man, and one giant leap into deliciousness! Live long and prosper. End log. Captain 619

Got a paloma and the flavor was more intense than I expected, but it was pretty good…read more Tater tots are nice and crispy, great texture. Aside from that, they're generic normal tasting tater tots. For the burger, I liked the bun and other ingredients, but thought the savoriness of the meat was just okay. Also, can't say I'm a huge fan of the tiny lettuce whenever I see it. Overall, this joint is not bad, but I can think of very little about it that stands out. I don't feel that it fully leans into being a sports bar or dive bar or even as a burger joint. It's just.....a bar. Apparently, it prides itself as being an original coronado spot, but I didn't get that kinda vibe here. I don't know.

Photos
Nicky Rottens
Check out that big screen!! Awesome!
Check out that big screen!! Awesome!
View of the building signage from 1st Street

See all

View of the building signage from 1st Street

Bubba's Smokehouse BBQ - bbq - Updated July 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...