Stopped by Mike's Barbecue in Escondido for a late lunch around 3:30, and overall had a solid experience. We ordered the tri-tip slider, cheesy fries with meat (not totally sure which cut), mac and cheese, and a couple of beers. The tri-tip slider was delicious--simple, flavorful, and really well done. The cheesy fries were also a highlight, loaded with meat, pico de gallo, pickled jalapeños, cheese, and barbecue sauce. Definitely a satisfying dish with a good mix of flavors. The mac and cheese was a bit of a mixed bag. I had heard great things about it, and while it was good, it was topped with crumbled Ritz crackers that didn't really add much. I think the intention was to bring in some crunch, but it didn't enhance the dish and slightly took away from the overall flavor. Service was great--our waitress was friendly and attentive, and she even brought us warm cookies at the end, which was a really nice touch read more

Mike's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Escondido, California

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I feel bad even writing this but I've never walked out of a restaurant after getting my food so fast. Ever. We took like a bite of each of our items, paid, & left within the span of 10 minutes AFTER getting our food max. The service was taking a very long time before that, granted it seemed there was only one server & he was nice but they need more then, I'm not dogging on him at all. It also smelled not good when we walked in, just an overabundance of cleaner smell. When we got the food, I took a bite of my ribs & it was literally just bone. I got MAYBE 2 pinky fingers worth of meat. My chicken ("1/4" of chicken) was smaller than the palm of my hand, mind you, I have very small hands. Our toast was literally just Texas toast from the grocery store that you freeze & put in your oven, that's it. The Mac & cheese was velveeta cheese on buttered noodles with cheese itz on top, cold as well. We didn't even try our fries that we paid extra for. I left hungry, which at a bbq spot I should feel overfed if anything. It's crazy to say, but I literally thought "this restaurant should be on kitchen nightmares". Enjoy the photo of this basically quail chicken leg compared to my hand. The only chicken I got. The whole meal between us both was $60 for something I could've microwaved at home. read more

Mike's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Escondido, California

Met a friend for an early dinner here and hadn't seen her for a year so we were excited to catch up. We've both been here several times before and our company uses Mike's for catering lunches so we love the food. THIS was the WORST experience ever! We were treated pretty rudely by our waitress and felt like we were bothering her by being at her booth. The interactions were kept to a minimum after the initial attitude. Seriously, if customers annoy you then perhaps you shouldn't be in CUSTOMER SERVICE. I put the card in the holder and she walked by picked it up never said a word, $20.00 tip on a $75 bill and not even a thank you, have a nice night, NOTHING. The guy at the table next to us had the misfortune of being in her section too and when she kinda of slapped the check on the table he was standing up and my friend said wow, did she really just do that & he noticed it too and made a YIKES face. The food was great but hold the attitude, you really put a sour spin on the visit and dinner. read more

Everyone talking shit about Mike's in the reviews is wrong. I haven't been here in 10 years, and honestly, it's still fucking awesome. Smaller than I remember, but the food is still on point. James behind the bar was dialed in, and Ashley gave us awesome service. Definitely won't be waiting another 10 years to come back. Cheers! read more

Mike's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Escondido, California

We came here on a whim. Didn't get to read the other reviews but I am nice enough to give them 4 stars. The "shredded "brisket was tasty not fatty very lean.the tri tip was ok. The catfish was like a long nuggets not satisfying the dill dip was also ok.The server were very efficient and pleasant. We will try the brisket by the pound and compare if the servings will be the same cut. Thats for next time read more

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Went here on a Monday night to enjoy trivia on a double date. We ordered a variety of items - pulled pork sandwich, tri-tip sandwich, buffalo chicken fries, half chicken, and a veggie platter. The food came out and it was standard BBQ fare - none of it was bad but nothing to write home about. However, what really hurt them was the horrible service. Even though we showed up early and were ready to order, our server waited to take our order until the trivia game we came to play started and then acted annoyed that we were trying to listen to the question. Then throughout the night, he left out dishes uncleared and I had to ask him to remove them. He forgot the drink for one of our diners and never offered refills for the rest of us. In the end, he charged us the wrong price for an item and it took a really long time to get the check corrected. Just really disappointing service. Maybe it was just an off night. The trivia game was great and we had a ton of fun. We will be back! read more

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My friends and I came for some good bbq and because of the great reviews. They didn't disappoint and had great service and good food. I ordered a custom burger, which was huge. My friend ordered the western bacon bbq burger and couldn't even put it in his mouth, he had to use utensils, LOL. My other friend ordered beef ribs with a side of mac and cheese and beans. The portions were crazy huge and everyone liked their food, my only complaint was that my burger had way too much ketchup and mustard, which took away from the flavor. I give this place a solid 4. We will definitely be back to try other options. We had a great time and I recommend this place. read more

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The food was delicious and the service great. It was very clean. I had the ribs, which came with Texas toast and two sides. I had the BBQ beans and Mac salad. My friend had the BBQ chicken sandwich and a side of coleslaw. We also had the loaded fries off the appetizer menu. All delicious read more

It was OK, not horrible, just not amazing. I wouldn't seek out to go there again, but as I stated, it was just OK. The drinks/cocktails were great. read more

We had only a few minutes and let the door person know. She told the server and we did, in fact, get served quickly. And... the food was fantastic. I used to work near here and ate here often. I have to say I like the old atmosphere better. The new has way too many tvs - some wall-sized. Just too much to hear and see. The tri-tip sandwich was fantastic. The brisket sandwich was also amazing. No complaints about that. The complaint I do have and if you have read my reviews you know this sticks in my craw.... The service fee they add. It is my most hated pet peeve. Just charge more and stop hiding the flipping fees. read more

Mike's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Escondido, California

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Just left Mike's BBQ. I ordered the beef ribs , brisket with a large cornbread. My toddler had a a hot dog and Mac and cheese. The beef ribs were bland and stretchy like laffy taffy. The bottom half of the cornbread could double as a self defense weapon it was so hard. The brisket was ok however 30% of the portion was fat. It seems the hotdogs were the highlight of the menu. Don't waste your time with the Mac and cheese made from noodles and nacho cheese. I typically don't leave reviews so I called and let the manager on shift know about our experience. She was very apologetic and offered me a cornbread on the house lol. Definitely won't be returning to collect. read more

Horrible. Pork ribs and beef ribs covered in a ton of BBQ sauce to hide the five day old flavor. Bones pull off the baby's backs while trying to pick up. 5 people $230 never again read more

First visit to Mikes. Great location with plenty of parking. Walked inside to a cool vibe, huge TV screens playing a variety of sports. The lighting on each table was very cool! Waitress was so nice. The new mocktail menu was SO GREAT!! Finally, a place that has a mocktail menu for those of us who are watching their calories. Prickly pear margarita mocktail- very good! Food was a nice portion and pretty good. I was only disappointed by the macaroni salad not being homemade and was flavored like it came from a supermarket. We will return to try other dishes and watch some sports! read more

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Everyone that works here especially the woman bartender is rude, dismissive, and acted like serving customers was an inconvenience. Believe all the negative reviews about this place. ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE. This is the last time my family and I will ever eat Mike's. Lastly, make sure you are not being over charged. Check your receipts. read more

Good food.. nice service...nice but super dark... had to use flash light to see my menu read more

Mike's BBQ - Tri tip plate and corn bread - Barbeque Near Me - Escondido, California

Service. Male waiter was awful he was watching the World Cup and never came to our table but once. Food so so, pulled pork very dry . Disappointing!! read more

my husband and i are always smelling the bbq when we are in the shopping center so we've been wanting to go here for awhile! i would not recommend this bbq place! the beef and pork ribs were tough! like very tough! they left the membrane on the ribs which is the biggest "no no" when barbecuing! the mac and cheese was very interesting! they sprinkled shredded cheese on top with crushed cheez its! the cheez its were soggy and the mac and cheese was bland! however, i did like the texas toast that came with our combos! and the potato salad was tasty! service was fairly quick, we ordered our food for takeout! they had huge TV screens in the restaurant playing all the different sports! great if you want to grab and drink and watch the game! read more

Mike's BBQ - SM MAC & CHEESE - Barbeque Near Me - Escondido, California

Has great tasting pulled pork sandwiches. Onion rings are so delicious as well. Can't wait to try more of their BBQ meats and sauces. read more

Food is always awesome, we had a big table of 10 and Jason Garcia was a rockstar waiter for helping us all so well. They made a good day for group even better with such a great atmosphere and delicious food! read more

Mike's BBQ is a fun, sports-themed spot with plenty of TVs for catching all the big games. The interior has a darker, cozy vibe that's perfect for game day or a casual night out with friends. The food is flavorful and satisfying, and the service is friendly and attentive, keeping everything running smoothly even when it's busy. Whether you're here for the games or just a laid-back meal, Mike's delivers a solid experience every time. read more

Mike's BBQ - Western BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Escondido, California

Horrible! We dined for my wife's birthday, it was a disappointment on all levels. The worst BBQ that I ever tried.

Mike's never disappoints. From the staff (James was amazing today by the way) to the food, all fantastic in my book. I've been here too many times to count, yet today was the first time I had room for a dessert. I had a slight mixup- I assumed that when I ordered the cookie with ice cream, it would take 5 minutes because it's premade and the kitchen just reheats it. Wrong. Not only was it MASSIVE- but it was fresh out of the oven and extra tasty. Definitely leave room for dessert the next time you're here! Note to self- order it about 25/30 minutes before you're ready for dessert- since it's fresh, it takes a little longer than normal for it to come out! read more

Mike's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Escondido, California

Haven't been here in years and my partner wanted to give it another try. I reminded him last time we were here we weren't happy with the food but he wanted to give it another shot. The Mac and cheese tasted like the Mac and cheese you make on your stove with powder cheese. Couldn't tell if the mashed potatoes are real or powder. read more

Everything at Mike's is always wonderful! The food is the best and the prices are always fair. I always get take out and the girl who usually helps me is Jaden. Her attitude and customer service skills are unmatched. Mike in the white SUV. read more

Came here in a Sunday with my friend and it did not disappoint! Denise was excellent and provided 5 star service. The espresso martini and bloody Mary were both the best I've ever had honestly. I ordered a fried chicken slider and a brisket slider which were both great. Got sweet and a spicy BBQ sauce on the side yo dip the brisket. Both were great but it didn't need it. It's much better inside since they remodeled and downsized too. The French fries were perfect too! Would definitely come back. read more

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Delicious unrivaled we waited 2 hours, because we didn't have reservations.. 6 of us from out of town. It was worth the wait

I went to Mike's two times: 1. It was 6 months ago and experience was good, food was good for the price. Portion size was more than adequate and service was alright. 2. Today, everything was horrible, the sausage was too salty, portion sizes became a quarter of last time and prices became even more expensive. However, the worst part was the server who was impatient and abrasive in taking the order. We were 2 minutes early before the special deal end and she didn't accept the deal. Not to mention while we were eating she told us, its time to checkout. In a way, that she was pushing us to leave. I am proud that we gave her a big fat zero for the tip and talk to manager about it. Won't recommend this place anymore. read more

Great little sports bar BBQ joint tucked away in the corner unit of a strip mall. They have huge ceilings that allow them to have these gigantic projection screens going all the way around the dining room. They also have a giant board on the far wall showcasing their daily happy hour specials. The Food was delicious. Their kid plates look like adult plates, my kids didn't look like they made much of a dent in their meals. I got their pulled pork sandwich with a side of Mac and Cheese... hit the spot, delicious, and good portions. The sandwich had a good heaping size of pulled pork. Service was very good. Drinks came out quick and the food arrived soon after. Our waiter came by to refill drinks and see if we needed anything. Five stars for atmosphere, value, service and delicious BBQ. read more

Sorry people at Mikes, I don't usually leave a flaming review, and I know you get good reviews for being nice. But you're not Applebees. BBQ is in your name, so the expectation that BBQ is done right is HIGH. And honestly, it was pretty awful (and that is being a bit nice). I ordered take-out here and every item I ordered was disappointing. The Sampler plate has 1 beef rib, 3 pork spareribs, and 1/4 chicken. I also ordered a couple of ears of 'street corn". Was everything i ordered cooked days ago and reheated? The beef rib was not really edible, at least not the full thing. I would have expected the meat to fall off the bone, smoked slow and flavorful. It was so tough that I couldn't cut it off the bone with a knife, extra chewy, and no real smoke flavor. I couldn't eat most of it because it was just too tough. The pork ribs were meh at best - dry and slightly tough for pork ribs. They felt old. Definitely didn't feel like they had been cooked low and slow, and instead that i was eating leftovers from a chain restaurant. The 1/4 chicken, was a very small thigh and small drumstick. Kind of pathetic looking honestly. Taste was ok, but nothing special at all. Street corn was nothing short of an embarrassment. It seemed like a piece of steamed corn brushed with some mayonnaise, with a small dusting of paprika and parmesan. Certainly not a beautiful ear of corn, grilled over a mesquite flame and topped properly, that you might expect with anything close to authentic. I expected at least that it would have been grilled. But no. The last thing we ordered were the boneless wings that felt like they were cooked yesterday and re-heated. Lightly battered, and i guess lightly fried, and honestly just sad. I would have been better off going to the frozen section at Albertsons. As someone who loves BBQ, it was basically a complete disappointment and a waste of $60, and certainly a last time order. read more

The food was pretty good, and the place was cozy, but our server is the reason I wouldn't come back. She seemed annoyed to be serving us, she barely cracked a smile. My wife noticed this behavior as well. Just some honest feedback for the service dept. read more

Oh my gosh from the appetizers to the dry rub ribs were awesome Denise our bartender made the most awesome drinks and the barbecue ribs, baby back beef ribs with the coleslaw and bbq beans were so good. I would recommend this place to anybody. The food was great. read more

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The food at Mike's BBQ was nasty. 1. The ribs were clearly leftovers and was not fresh. 2. The ribs were dry and tough with a lot of sauce used to hide the old meat. 3. The Mac and cheese had no flavor. It was just cheese poured of overcooked leftover pasta. 4. The baked beans were clearly from a can. I could not eat the food. I wish I could get my money back. read more

I stumbled into Mikes and ordered to go. I used to go to Phil's but their quality has dried up so to speak so was hoping for something new. The server at the door was very friendly and helpful with using the kiosk to go. That was a good start...The bummer is getting home with the food. The pulled pork sandwich was mush, seriously looked like cat food, scooped into tinfoil to spare the bun. The one sausage ordered on the side was cooked like at noon...So disappointed, dry, overcooked, no one likes a dull sausage. Baby back ribs weren't very meaty but the bbq sauce was good. I did like the dark ambiance and all the tv's. Not sure if I'd recommend. read more

A sports bar this is. Good food too. This was my first time experiencing a full-house championship game (Padres v Dodgers game 4, 2024) in any sports bar. Full surround sound with huge televisions projecting the game viewable from every corner. Crowds cheering in the stadium and inside the bar itself. Really kinda impressive. An exceptional experience! Good job Mike (we saw you walking around), you've really created a great experience for your customers. The food here is always personal and we usually always get the same stuff, just for the leftovers. Mike, you will always be our local go-to sports bar. Thanks for supporting your community. Dicks read more

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Not sure why this place only has 3 stars. I had a Baja style lager (delicious) and combo #4 which is 4 baby backs and one beef rib. For sides I got Cole slaw, bbq beans, and street corn. Everything was delicious. If you like meaty ribs order the beef ribs and if you want fall off the bone tender, order the baby backs (my pref). All 3 sides were good too. The bbq sauce is less sweet than Phil's which I like. read more

Mike's BBQ - 1 Beef Rib, 4 1/3 Rack Baby Back Ribs, Sm COLE SLAW, Sm BBQ BEANS, Street Corn, TEXAS TOAST - Barbeque Near Me - Escondido, California

Came to try the food out & I was very disappointed. Ordered the combo #2 two beef ribs, 1/4 bbq chicken w/2 small sides Texas toast and 2 sliders. The bread for the sliders was dry as hell (tasted old) and the sides were a nightmare I got the bbq beans which were ok I guess. And the other side was a very overcooked wanna be Mac &cheese. Not to mention the Mac had old ass cheese it's on top (very gross) other than the nasty ass food, our waitress Denise was amazing and very sweet. DO NOT RECOMMEND this place to anyone who has taste buds. read more

Mikes is a very unique location. The food is delicious here. I have tried the pulled pork sandwich, ribs (best rack in town), nachos, burgers, and everything has been great so far. Beers are huge if you get the mug, and it's a great price. Violet is the bartender whenever I'm here. She has a great attitude and is very attentive. This place is pretty low key, except when it's a fight night it gets really lively. Overall I really enjoy this location and think it's a great place to have a couple drinks and have some good food. read more

Mike's BBQ - The bar - Barbeque Near Me - Escondido, California

Came here to watch the nba playoffs. They have TVs everywhere! Every seat is a perfect seat ! If you like meaty beef ribs this is the spot for you !! Big beef ribs tasted so yummy. You can taste it's cooked with mesquite wood. So juicy and yummy. Their brisket has amazing flavor ! Buffalo fries were so yummy. If you like chicken, the bbq sauce on top was so yummy. I also had a peach cobbler for the first time and it was fire !! Definitely coming back here to try the rest of the menu ! read more

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We supported Mikes during the pandemic while all our neighbors were going to the food trucks that trolled our neighborhood. I was of the belief that brick and mortar is more important than a food truck that could relocate anywhere, anytime. I'd like to think people like me and our family helped Mikes stay afloat during that dismal time. It was our go-to for family dinners, great BBQ and all around good food. Sadly, something happened to service and quality of food recently. Last week we ordered take-out, two full Mike's Cobb Salads with their incredible blue cheese dressing on the side. Sad to say, upon arriving home we noted neither salad had the dressing included and going back wasn't an option for this cancer patient. This is the second time take out has been less that it should have been. Regrettably we won't be returning anytime soon. read more

Mike's BBQ - Disappointing Experience, Never Again If I could give zero stars, I would. My brothers and I took our dad to Mike's BBQ for a birthday lunch on a Wednesday at noon. When we arrived, we were the only ones there, so we expected quick service. That was far from what we got. After placing our orders, half the table received their food in about 15 minutes, while the rest of us (including myself) waited another 15 minutes. Eventually, everyone at my table got their meals--except me. Keep in mind, I only ordered a hamburger, while others had beef ribs and tri-tip. The waitress finally noticed I was still waiting and gave the excuse that my burger was well-done (wrong--I ordered it medium). After another 10 minutes of waiting, I went up to the front desk to ask where my food was. More excuses: "We're really busy, sorry." I reminded them that no one was there when we arrived, so my food should have been done long before the others. Then they hit me with another excuse: "Our cooks are new." At that point, I'd had enough. I told them not to bother making my food anymore. By then, everyone else had finished eating, and I would've been left eating alone. To top it all off, it took them another 15 minutes just to bring the check. Terrible service. The food that actually came out wasn't good--the meat wasn't smoked like they claim; it tasted boiled. They completely ruined what was supposed to be a special birthday lunch. We will never be coming back. Avoid this place. read more