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    Phil's BBQ

    4.3 (17k reviews)
    ModerateBarbeque, Bars, American
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Phil's BBQ Photos

    PHIL'S BBQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - Phil's BBQ

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    Reviews With Photos

    mengzi w.

    YUGE! I mean everything! Pretty fun place especially for kids. The onion rings are really big. Beef ribs standard size but for 1 rib dinner it is more than enough (I only ate half), and great price with sides, the additional ribs are also great prices. Only thing was that ribs were a bit overdone, the fatty bit (if any) has all been melted.

    Ordered Togo 3:08pm
    Kristopher M.

    Coming here for years. Was running low on funds. Could only tip 12%. Yet 4-5 people who ordered their meals after me got to leave quicker than I. Make sure you talk to your employees and make sure they humble themselves. Treating people different because they didn't get their 18-20% tip makes me not want to come back here. Check your cameras. I was wearing yellow muscle shirt and you'll see what I'm talking about.

    Colossal Onion Rings (Large)
    Merlissa A.

    Came here for the first time on a weekend trip to San Diego and Phil's BBQ will forever now be a go to spot when i'm in the area again. My partner and I shared the full rack of ribs with sauce- and trust me it's enough for 2 hungry people with the 2 sides! The ribs were juicy, tender, soft, melt in your mouth almost kind of vibe. Now, I'm not a coleslaw gal, but I ate this coleslaw as if it was my favorite salad. I ate the coleslaw more than the macaroni salad! (which is a first) lol. Okay the Colossal onion rings and the cornbread with the butter.. bless your soul for it has woken from all the souls of food. HAHA! Service was quick and the lady server was kind enough to take pictures of our group table! There's a reason why I gave this place a 5/5- I could have given it a high 6/5 but you get it.

    Receipt
    Kay M.

    Came here for Father's Day weekend lunchtime. There was plenty of parking on their lot. There was a bit of a wait when we arrived. Got the Full Baby Back Ribs Dinner with small Fresh Cut Fries and small Macaroni Salad for $32.99. Also, got the Beef Rib Dinner with small Fresh Cut Fries and small Sweet Baked Beans for $34.99. Got another Beef Rib Dinner but with small Fresh Cut Fries and small Potatoes Salad for $34.99. The Homemade Cornbread with Maple Butter for $6.99 was a must have for us. All the meat were good and they gave us extra sauces. The Fresh Cut Fries were always a good pair with the meat. The Macaroni Salad and Potato Salad were alright. The Sweet Baked Beans was so good we ordered a separate large side of it for $4.75. Too bad the Homemade Cornbread with Maple Butter was room temperature. They used to serve them warm. It was alright room temperature. We decided to order another one to take so we can have it warm. Very disappointed they don't serve the cornbread warm anymore. The portions were very generous. One dinner plate was enough to fill two adults. Had terrible heartburn at night. Would be sure to take some medications before dining here again.

    Colossal Onion Rings (Large)
    Jasmine P.

    Delicious! Depending on how big you want portions, honestly a couple sides and an entree can be shared. Onion rings were so crispy. Wings were cooked well. We got sauce on the side. The macaroni salad was also good, not too much or little dressing. The ribless and chickless are meat without bones. Generally I like bone in my meat but, if you are trying to not eat messy then this is perfect. The meat was so soft and flavorful. Service was amazing. So friendly and our cashier walked us through the experience. And even took time to take our order and ask questions and inform us of anything we should know about the items we ordered. The place has a restaurant side and a bar side. Such a fun bbq spot. Perfect for a family dinner or lunch especially with a larger crowd.

    Sausage Link Tickler
    Ter L.

    5 stars specifically for Kira and her attentive & chipper attitude!! This woman loves her job and it shows!!!! With our family visit to San Diego, my BD mentioned Phil's. The only Phil's I knew at that point pertained to coffee. Lol. Not being a huge meat eater, I was kind of standoff-ish about the idea but since the establishment is known for being a staple visit whenever people come to SD, I had to do it. The 17K+ reviews and the 4.5 star solid rating also helped with that decision. Known for their slow cooked meats and their large portions, Phil's BBQ is a casual dining experience where you get a combo of self serve and attentive service from the staff- all rolled into one. Our family of 3 arrived for a late lunch. The meal consisted of: *BABY BACK RIB + CHICKEN DINNER $25.99 -paired with potato salad + sweet baked beans *BBQ WINGS- 10ct $11.95 *SAUSAGE LINK $4.99 *COLOSSAL ONION RINGS $9.99 *LARGE SIDE: STEAMED VEGGIES $4.75 * FOUNTAIN DRINKS $3.49/each Ribs and chicken were good. These meats were cooked perfectly- lathered in sauce and very tender. The wings were good and had a light kick to it- nothing to bat an eye over for us adults but a lot of soda breaks were needed for my toddler. Beans were delicious but the potato salad wasn't a fave. The onion rings were the biggest letdown- these were massive in size but so very dry and overly crunchy. This order essentially went untouched after a few bites. the hot link was delicious and the veggies were made well but bland. 3.5 stars for the food but because this review is specifically dedicated to Kira, it's automatically a FIVE!!!! This young lady truly made our visit to Phil's BBQ 100% memorable and very much enjoyed. Service doesn't get any better than what she's offering and her warmth provided to the patrons are unmatched! Girl, YOU DESERVE A MF'N RAISE!!!!!!

    Beef Rib Dinner BEFORE
    alex r.

    Well Gawd Almighty!!! This kinda beef ribs in California?!!! Simply put... exceptional. I dove right into the Beef Rib Dinner, which came with three Big Ol' ribs and your choice of one large side or two small sides. I went with the fries and put up a good fight, but these ribs won. I couldn't finish my plate. The sauce was ridiculously good--sweet, smoky, and packed with flavor. The fries were crispy, seasoned well, and honestly would be the star at a lot of other places. But let's be real... you're here for the ribs. These things were mouth-watering, tender, and loaded with flavor. Every bite had that perfect bark on the outside while staying juicy on the inside. The meat pulled right off the bone and had me questioning why I don't eat here more often. Extremely busy place but staff is helpful and efficient. Place can get loud with all the hustle and bustle but you are at a BBQ SPOT so who cares!!! If you're from San Diego, you've probably already been here or at least heard the hype. If you're visiting, make sure this place is on your to-do list. Some restaurants get a lot of praise and don't live up to it. Phil's absolutely does.

    Nelson L.

    Hands down on of the best bbq places in San Diego! The beef ribs never miss. The sides were good. Not gonna lie the onion rings were kind of meh for the price you pay. I honestly would expect more both in quality and quantity for that level of pricing. Service was good. Open seating and there's plenty of it. Good amount of parking spots but the spaces are kind of tight.

    beefy ribs
    Jin H.

    Always heard so many great things about Phil's, so knew I had to make a stop while in San Diego. I love bbq but don't think OC has too many great spots. We ordered the beefy ribs and baby back ribs, both were good but I was wowed by the beefy ribs. I was seriously full by just one, so I got to enjoy the rest at home. $35 for this is a pretty good deal. Literally fall off the bone, so much meat, smokey, just perfect. Sides complemented the meats well. I've also tried the cornbread here from the family meal and it is amazing, so much corn flavor and super moist.

    Philibuster with beans (5/18/26)
    Eliko S.

    We sat at the bar tonight to grab a quick meal & watch some sports as we have done in the past. M. got the Philibuster with beans & I got my usual turkey burger with the onion ring & cheese & small fries. The food took about 25 minutes to come out, and when it did, my turkey burger had no onion ring & no cheese. I mentioned this to the woman who brought it out & she took it back right away. She returned a minute later, and a slice of American cheese and an onion ring had been slapped on the burger. The cheese was not melted at all, and by that time the burger was room temp. M. said his burger was tasty & he enjoyed the beans. My small fries were good & plenty to share. I was a bit disappointed in my turkey burger today, but I'll be hopeful that next time they'll get it right because normally it is really good. Dani was handling the bar well & she was friendly and efficient. I'm not a big drinker these days, but Phil's does have a an affordable & diverse selection of libations if you do choose to imbibe during your nosh sesh or vice versa. Peace.

    Menu options posted outside
    Heatherlyn L.

    Got there with a short line so we were happy and not cranky from standing for an hour. When we ordered, we had ordered several items, including beans. Finding a seat is typically a task as they are very busy however after a minute or so one of the workers pointed us to a table in the patio . I wasn't too fond of that because they have hard chairs there. When we finally (I'm exaggerating here, we were hangry) got all our food and ate it all except for a few items. We had beef ribs and short ribs and a loaded baked potato. Like I said we had leftovers, but the food was fabulous. The meat came right off the bones. We put our food into containers and realized that we never got the beans that we ordered and agreed to order despite a 10 minute wait. We decided to mention it to somebody and they right away. Got some beans to go for us. Overall, yummy bbq joint.

    Lauryn M.

    So I had really high expectations for this place given it is regarded as THEE BBQ spot to be in San Diego. One side is a restaurant while the other side gives sports bar which was really cool. I'd like to premise this by saying amongst my friends I am considered a BBQ snob. Service - service is SUPERB. Everyone was attentive, constantly checked on us, and when I was absent minded and left my jacket one of the waitresses was nice enough to chase me down to my car. Absolutely no service complaints. Food: So I did not look at the menu before I came. Expecting a traditional menu that included brisket which is one of my favorites because if you can do a good brisket and a tender rib baaaabbyyy we in business. There was no brisket but they offered baby back ribs on and off the bone, chicken on and off the bone and hot links and some other options to satisfy ppl who aren't quite bbq fans. We ordered the baby back ribs with the chicken off the bone, bbq wings, potato salad, fries, baked beans and a chicken Cesar salad. Wings 10 out of 10 BBQ sauce and Ranch 10 out of 10 Ribs tenderness 10/10 and 7 out of 10 on the flavor. It wasn't horrible but it could've been way better Chicken off the bone 3 out of 10. This is because you can tell it wasn't cooked on a grill but seasoned with things to mimic bbq flavors. A salad will be a salad lol. However, they do put the aforementioned chicken on the salad and it wasn't my favorite thing. The sides were good I really appreciate that they have fresh cut fries. The baked beans were perfect. The potato salad was missing something that I couldn't quite put my finger on but when I put Tabasco on it, all was right with the world.

    Chicken Dinner (Half)
    Mai H.

    Fun, lively atmosphere with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, making it great for casual lunch or dinners with friends or family. Their ribs and BBQ plates leave you full. The BBQ sauce is what stands out and keeps people coming back. This chain is known for its fast-casual, family-friendly setup and grilled ribs, sandwiches, and chicken. Parking can get pretty crowded during peak lunch and dinner hours since it's right by the Sports Arena area. The lines can also get long, especially on weekends, but service usually moves quickly. Overall, it's a reliable BBQ spot with good food.

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    Page 1 of 426

    Phil's BBQ Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Phil's BBQ

    Is this Halal certified?

    Great question. Not sure but it is Delicious certified. Certified by my kids loving it

    Open at 10am for early NFL games?

    Hi Joe - while we show the NFL games, we don't open until 11:00 AM. Hope to see you soon!

    Are there extra charge for using credit cards?

    Not to my knowledge.

    Do kids eat free on Sunday?

    Hey there! Thanks for reaching out. We don't currently offer a "Kids Eat Free" promotion on Sundays, but we do have some delicious options that are perfect for the whole family! Hope to see you soon!

    Is there currently a menu for dogs?

    Hi Janice, Thanks for reaching out! While we love our furry friends, we don’t currently offer a… 

    What is their health score?

    Is takeout easy at Phil's?

    No, you can't call ahead, there's a separate line which is easy but you have to wait in there for your name to be called and if you have social anxiety it's your worst nightmare. I prefer to be in and out fast but i can 100% confirm I'm never doing… 

    Is the restaurant halal?

    They are not

    Do you guys have happy hour?

    Yes - best happy hour in town! Monday - Friday from 3:00 - 6:00 PM in the bar area. $4.00: Phrings… 

    Is this location in a plaza with plenty of parking or is it street parking?

    There is a lot of parking on both sides of the building

    Can I order ahead for takeout?

    ABSOLUTELY 👍

    What condiments or sauces can you ask on the side when picking up food to go or do you have to order extra bbq sauce?

    We offer BBQ sauce, ranch and ketchup! Just ask when you pick up your food :)

    Is your meat halal?

    their best items are pork based, there is some beef but not as good

    Order to go?

    I've done it many times. If you know what their menu is already or you can look it up online, call it in and pay for it on a credit card and pick up.

    Any diary free and gluten option?

    Hi Wedyana, You can find our allergen menu here:… 

    Do they allow dogs?

    Yes - dogs are allowed on our patio!

    Do we need reservations?

    Nope! It's kinda like a fast food restaurant you order then take a seat. Then the servers come around, they also have a separate bar area that's very nice.

    How's does your phone in and pick up for orders work do we have to wait in line to pick up a to go order?

    I was there today and there's a line fir in dining & a line fir to-go orders. While waiting to dine in, I saw people walk up and confirm the phone order & the staff brought it to the counter for them. Seemed very efficient.

    Do you serve draft beer to go with to go meals?

    There's a full scale bar including draft beer

    4th of JULY... You guys open?

    Yes - till 9pm. See you then!

    View All 101 Questions

    Moe's

    Moe's

    4.4
    (389 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    Excellent selection of spirits (Top Shelf)!…read more Food was amazing. Steaks cooked to perfection. A bit on the pricy side, but worth it in my opinion. The duck was also cooked perfectly with a crispy seasoned skin that was spot on. We ordered the crispy mushrooms. Not what we expected but so good we ordered another dish with our dinner. We had the Basque Cheesecake and the Crème Brûlée. Both were outstanding. The restaurant itself has a rich mahogany feel and comfortable booths. Our waiter was always checking on us and making sure we had everything we need The family had a great first experience and will be back for more! Cheers!

    Moe's in Mission Beach is a must when you're in San Diego. What we love most is they're an elevated…read moresteakhouse but are a true neighborhood joint. Their locals are both actually local but also have many out of town regulars like us since so many travel to enjoy the amazingness of San Diego. We try to stay as close to Moe's as we can when we visit because they're in the perfect spot at the edge of Mission and the start of Pacific Beach where all the fun is. The food and cocktails are as good as the service. It's easy to chat up a new friend at the bar because their San Diego happiness is contagious. There were a number of new recipes on the cocktail menu this trip. They had me at "Party With Elvis." Although I was drawn to the fun name, the walnut-infused bourbon was too enticing to pass up, especially because they paired it with Montenegro (Amaro) and sweet vermouth. So it's a fancy Manhattan variation. It was delish!!!!!! Make sure when you go to the amazing beaches next time in SD, check out Moe's. You'll love the food and cocktails as much as the vibe. Salute @thejohnnycocktail Party With Elvis Walnut-infused Bourbon Montenegro Sweet Vermouth Tiki Bitters Orange Bitters Candied Bourbon Walnut

    Photos
    Dining room
    Dining room
    Caesar (no croutons)
    Caesar (no croutons)
    Whiskey Business

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    Whiskey Business
    Doughboy's Grill

    Doughboy's Grill

    4.6
    (61 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    Upbeat pop music playing Friendly staff…read more Open window seating Amazing food !!! The woman at the register helped me decide between 3 different options and I think I may have chose the most delicious item on the menu!!!! The breakfast smash was beyond delicious!!!! The chipotle mayo makes the burger come to life while the onion, egg and tater tot feel like a party in your mouth Maybe the best burger I've had, totally recommend! Only downside they don't serve alcohol but the food vibe and staff make up for it and there's a liquor store directly across from this place

    Paid almost $100 dollars for three burgers, two sides of curly fries, and three drinks…read more They were out of all other fry options right after the girl that took our order advertised tots and waffle fries trying to get my friend to do a combo. Once I order a combo, she suddenly remembers she's out of everything besides curly fries which was annoying. They then stick a piece of duct tape on their menu (?) which looked trashy but also confusing because you couldn't tell why it was there it the first place. They were out of all sodas and only had water, brisk tea, and Dr. Pepper available. Looks like no one was prepared for the weekend... The curly fries were sad and gross. It was pretty much just the left over curly fries as it was just an order of broken off pieces that you usually find at the bottom of a frozen food bag. On top of the that, the fries were fried in old oil. Burgers were ok. Not filling for the price that they are told for. The sauces are awesome but that's about it. Our food took forever to come out and I am once justified for avoiding businesses with teenagers manning it like the plague.

    Photos
    Menu
    Menu
    Fried Chicken Sandwich
    Fried Chicken Sandwich
    Front entrance

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    Front entrance
    Charli's Landing

    Charli's Landing

    4.7
    (118 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Fish N' Chips: Great Fish N' Chips, Batter is seasoned and tastes great, a step up from other…read moreplaces we have had. Beef Tallow is used and adds to the flavor of the Onion Rings and Fries. Flavorful taste pairs well with fish. Great service, turn time was not too long, Seating outside along port boardwalk and some under awning. Nice view of the harbor, was not too crowded on a weekday after 4 pm. We will be returning to try Charli's Smash Burger and hit the Fish N' Chips again.

    Charli's was on a list of best burgers in San Diego. So when a buddy of mine called up and said…read morelet's go eat, I mentioned Charli's. I had never been and neither had he, so why not try something new. It's in a great location near Mission Bay. Parking is ample, so definitely makes getting there easier. You order at the counter, and they call you when it's ready. I ordered a cup of the clam chowder. This was really good! Nice clam pieces too! Though I felt $6.50 for a cup was pretty steep. I ordered the Burrito with carne asada. This was ginormous! Good portion of meat with rice and beans inside. Daveed said the burger was really good and liked the nice crispy fries. The staff is friendly! They have a great outdoor patio with a view of the boats. There was a tour group waiting to head out to go whale watching. Definitely worth coming to and I've added it to my rotation. Cako Approves!

    Photos
    Charli's Landing
    Chicken burrito
    Chicken burrito
    Building Entrance

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    Building Entrance

    Phil's BBQ - bbq - Updated July 2026

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