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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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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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

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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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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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

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

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

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

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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Gave this place a try today. Food was moist and tasty. I ordered pulled pork and brisket sliders with potato salad and mashed potatoes and gravy. Hubby had beef ribs with brisket and street corn. All of it was fresh, moist, good flavor and filling. Paul gave us excellent customer service. I was worried with the mixed reviews. We went right when they opened and we will be back. 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

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

I've been coming to Mikes bbq for years and it never fails to impress! If you're in the area and want some good food, great service and amazing drinks stop by! Worth every penny read more

Mike's BBQ - FULL- BUFFALO CHICKEN FRIES - 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 came here as it was recommended by the hotel front desk staff. The food was not great, we ordered pork ribs and were served beef ribs. The mac and cheese was watery. Rhe mashed potatoes were dry. The staff was friendly and they easily accommodated a big group, just wished the food was a lot better. read more

Great food. Way better than Phil's or other Bbq places. Highly recommend... If you want the beat Bbq, go to Mike's instead. You will be glad you did! read more

Mike's has a great selection of appetizers and entrees and has a multitude of large tv screens for watching sports games.

Got an old-fashioned, a ginger ale to mix it with because I didn't realize that's what I ordered LMAO hot wings, pulled pork slider street corn and a huge beef patty for my Doggo! Everything was really good! The wings were really good! I was not expecting them to be. The street corn was really nice. Messy but nice the drink was great and slider was good but nothing special. It taste good though. I really really really enjoyed my waitress Teddy! She was so fun to chat with and the hostess Sara was also very cool! Both of them were extremely accommodating! Which was huge because I had just spent so much time in traffic and I just needed some really great service and good food and they delivered! I really enjoyed my time even though I had to sit outside because I had my dog with me. So you get a little bit of the riffraff walking by but they were very protective of who was anywhere near the front of the location. read more

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

Meat was dry. Took forever, TVs were great. Talked to the manager... she was a joke and was dressed sloppy! Over all rating... total failure! Go to phyls! read more

The low rating is probably based on the ambiance, but we always take away, so this review is based solely on the food and kitchen. I appreciate how the kitchen staff is typically very attentive to read all order notes. The ribs are amazing...only had sub par ribs once in three years and that was over a year ago. Certain items are a rollercoaster on if they are gonna be great, like when the Mac and cheese bites are well formed and crisp they are killer, but occasionally they are mushy with limited filling. Buffalo fries are a favorite and the half order is huge! Overall, we will continue to enjoy ordering from Mike's monthly. read more

Inflation... is such a vibe killer. We came here not too long ago and prices have raised significantly. With that being said... Let's talk about the quality of the food, the drinks and the service. Service: we were greeted right away, everything looked clean and smelled clean. We came on a Sunday around 3pm. We ordered: DRINKS 2 Mikes Dirty Martinis 10/10 Their blue cheese olives are delicious FOOD -Combo #5 2 Beef Ribs, Tri-tip, Mac n cheese, bbq beans -Brisket Sandwich w/ coleslaw RATING Beef Ribs 9/10 Brisket Sandwich 10/10 Tri-tip 8/10 Mac n cheese 9/10 Bbq Beans 10/10 Coleslaw 8/10 (needed salt) Toast 10/10 Food was incredible, yes the prices are steep, but honestly... it was worth it. We even had some leftovers to take home. Will we be coming back? Yes, but maybe just on special occasions. read more

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Good food great service and so many screens to watch The fights, and basketball at the same time! Kind of loud but we're pretty much at the fights at this point. read more

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Coming from Texas to a BBQ place in Cali and trying their Briskets... we'll not what you're looking for but at the less good side dishes. Amazing coleslaw, Fire Cornbread, and okay Mac & Cheese. Great sports bar to watch sports but the BBQ is dry and not moist enough. Only if you like watching sports this is the place, not the BBQ. read more

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

The ambience is perfect. It's a great space to hang out with the family and friends. The food was mediocre, but we still ate it anyways the service was fantastic so overall I would come back. read more

This place has seriously gone down hill. Prices of skyrocketed quality of food has diminished services worse than it's ever been, and even though the venue is smaller than it used to be, the service is still horrible . You got charged $15 for a Long Island iced tea last night that tasted like crap Time to hang up the apron Mike !! read more

Got the food as takeout. If you were to do so online it said 30 minutes. From the actual restaurant it said 20 and they gave you a pager for when it's ready. I got the tri tip with street corn and potato salad sides. The tri tip I found to be good but dry. The potato salad was kind of meh. The street corn was good. My friend got the buffalo chicken fries and he said that was really good. Also for the Mac and cheese bites that I didn't think was that good either. read more

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The food and service were five star here. Huge menu, busy open dining room. LOTS of TVs for sports...we will be back for some football. Our meals came out quickly and were fresh and delicious. I had the bbq pulled pork sandwich with a side of fries. Sauce was sweet and tangy and the meat was flavored to smoky perfection. We will be back. read more

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

We were willing to try a new place. Ordered delivery and was very disappointed. I ordered a quarter chicken and added brisket. The brisket was good and tender. The chicken was awful. It was so dry I could not eat any of it because it was like jerky. The potato salad was good but the mac and cheese sauce was super runny. read more