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    Smokin J's BBQ

    4.4 (1k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Order Smokin J's BBQ Takeout or Delivery

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    SMOKIN J'S BBQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Smokin J's BBQ

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    Ari R.

    This is beginning to be a habit! Smokin J's is located in the Old Poway Village Shopping Center. A beautiful and historic part of Poway. It's the exact type of place I look for when I travel. Fortunately for me (but not my waist line) it's close, convenient, and open seven days a week! They have an extensive menu of delicious barbecue items that will satisfy everyone in your party. My go to is the pork belly taco. Although it's not prepared consistently (sometimes the pork is one large piece and other times it's chopped). I prefer it whole, but it's always tasty either way. I also like the brisket sandwich. My new favorite sides are the crack beans and cornbread (perfect texture and density). They don't have beef ribs on the menu but I was told they sell it once in a while. Bonus: gift cards are sold at Poway Costco.

    Pork belly sandwich baked beans n mac n cheese
    Landon B.

    Pretty sweet bbq place outside seating with a good view of the historic poway train yard. I had the pork belly sandwich which was really good. They were out of corn bread to i went with the baked beans they were okay. Beans with celery kinda leaves a funny after taste. Bbq sauce was okay spicy could be more spicy but its poway soo ya know. Over all pretty good.

    1lb of brisket $40
    Maria C.

    Our group of about 30 came on a Sunday afternoon. Seating is very limited so keep that in mind if you come with a big party. They don't take reservations and it is open and outdoor seating (no indoor seating is available). Lots of free parking available in the lot or street parking. It's the type of place where you order at the counter and the staff brings out your order. There could be a long line depending on the day/time you go. I opted to order the 3x3 which ample enough for 2 people to share! I shared my entree with my daughter. Since we aren't fans of beans and cole slaw, I requested an upgrade to the Mac n Cheese and they were able to accommodate. My meal came with brisket, pulled pork, chicken leg and thigh, cornbread, and mac n cheese. The flavor was real smokey and the bbq had a nice flavor - not spicy and not sweet. Surprised that everything was delicious! The brisket is my favorite and in fact I ordered 1lbs of brisket as takeout. I paid about $80 which isn't cheap but a solid spot as an option to eat out in the area.

    Jay C.

    This is a small jewel in a old neighborhood in Poway. People working in the restaurant are friendly with family like vibe. They are one of few places that offers dry rub BBQ around here. The BBQ is good. I guess was not how I wanted to be but, there was many customers taking togo so, I guess is popular here.

    Breakfast brisket burrito
    Nancy H.

    We heard their breakfast menu returned to the Poway location so we just had to come back to see if it was as delicious as we remembered! But I have gotten accustomed to their regular burritos at this point, so which burrito would I choose? Well, we came at 11AM and both the brunch as well as the lunch menu were available, so we ordered from both menus! We ordered the breakfast brisket burrito ($18), Cali J-rito ($19.25), and cajun fries ($6.50). - Breakfast brisket burrito: I did not take a picture of the brunch menu (to provide you the specific ingredients), but there was a hefty portion of brisket and a runny egg inside. It was just as delicious as I remembered. - Cali J-rito: If you can't make up your mind regarding whether you want pork belly or brisket, don't worry about it. There is a giant helping of both stuffed into this burrito. - Cajun fries: I always order these because the seasoning is out of this world, but I never understand why the fries are not crispy? I generally take them home as leftovers to reheat and crisp up in my air fryer. ONE DAY, I will try the other items that I am desperately wanting to try (brisket hash, melted bird, boneless rib sandwich, brisket chimi fries), but when I show up I automatically crave the burritos. The main drawback from the whole dining experience is the only option for outdoor dining. WHY is it so hot yet the outdoor fans are not turned on? I was sweating from the spicy BBQ sauce (TOO spicy. I much prefer their regular BBQ sauce and homemade ketchup) and the oppressive heat. Also SO MANY FLIES. I don't know if they grow them bigger in North County, but the flies were huge, had no fear, and kept trying to crawl into my paper bag of fries. I don't think I can come back this summer for dine-in, only take-out. The bathroom is for the entire shopping center (doesn't belong to Smokin J's). There is only a hand dryer so for those of you who do not like touching the door knob with your bare hands after you've just washed them, I would recommend bringing a paper towel with you.

    Buffalo wings
    Joshue T.

    Bbq was amazing always is Can't complain. One on my To-go places. Cant go wrong the wings are a bit different from last time but still good. The Mac n cheese is the reason why I drive all the way up to Poway. And the. Tri tip is always good

    TV dinner dark meat chicken
    Ashley A.

    This place is always great. Brought my coworkers, and they are already planning our next trip. I got my usual TV dinner of dark meat chicken, slaw, and mac. The spicy BBQ is the best. My coworkers tried the tacos, which were highly recommended for next time, and the burrito, which my coworker said was good. When we left, we saw a table get an order of cheesy fries with meat on top, and the portion was large. We are definitely planning to try that next time we come.

    TV Dinner with brisket, beans, & cornbread
    Edwin C.

    Overall Food: 3.0 but BRISKET = 5.0 Customer service: 2.0 My brother recommended this place for their brisket. So he had my wife at "brisket", LOL And off we went to Smokin' J's BBQ We ended up parking behind the restaurant; be aware that there is no seating inside and only outdoor tables and chairs. Not a deal breaker for us since we are visiting & staying at a hotel. It was a slow Friday night (maybe due to the rain); so the girls at the counter were more worried about their conversation than us. I didn't really care but a nice acknowledgment would have been appreciated. And I asked one of the three young girls for recommendations and she couldn't provide one since she apparently doesn't eat the food, but state "we're famous for our brisket"...hmmmm? So I just chuckled and grabbed their menu then ordered: TV Dinner with brisket , beans & cornbread & another TV Dinner with pull pork, Mac & cornbread. We waited/stood (not waiting outside in the rain) for our food; 10-15 minutes later and we're heading back to the hotel in RB. Uncovering our dinners was literally food in compartments like an "old school" TV Dinner Now to the food: wife get to her food first (while I'm getting the dog's dinner ready) and she eating like a champ then gets full really fast and leaves half of her brisket portion for me. I'm thinking to myself the brisket is no good or she's just full from the beans and cornbread. So it's my turn: pulled pork was weird when some parts were dry and some parts moist but taste was okay; then I added some of their bbq sauce and it made it better to eat, but IMO bbq pulled pork (or any bbq) shouldn't need sauce if done right. Cornbread was more of a dense cake and on the dry side and their Mac was dry as well and not cheesy, so more like baked shell pasta with cheese with a hint of jalapeño. But the entire SAVING GRACE IS THE BRISKET!!! Now take it by the time I got to the brisket it had been sitting for about 20++ minutes but when I took a bite, it was still moist and tender and everything brisket should be: seasoned, smokey...and now I want more just texting this review!!!! So when we're back in San Diego, we'll be back to maybe try the other meats but definitely ordering THE BRISKET!!!

    Tina C.

    Hands down the best bbq and customer service! Professional, friendly, and patient with answering all our questions. Plenty of outdoor seating. You can purchase the seasoninga and sauces. My favorite was the Cali-J-rito, it was so delicious, on the larger side, and I could not stop eating it even tho I was super full. I loved the slaw, it was vinegar based more than the mayonnaise type. Everything was fresh and flavorful.

    Wooo!
    Leland S.

    Had a freebie for one of their bread pudding. So here I am and here was my experience. AMBIANCE: Parking: Street parking and plaza parking. I didn't have any issues. Seating: All outside seating but a semi-patio setup. There's room for maybe 30 people, 10 groups. Vibes: Welcome to Poway! It has a nice small-town feel to things. This area in particular gives a Western feel to things from the buildings to the history. The spot itself is nice. I enjoyed being welcomed by the smokey bbq scent and the pop music. Great for a food adventure or if you're trying to cater for a sizable event. FOOD: 3x3 (Recommend) For those decisive people (like me) this is a good choice. Three mains (brisket, pulled pork, and chicken) and three sides (mac & cheese, coleslaw & pickles, and beans). I enjoyed everything about. The meats were cooked, smokey, and seasoned (don't forget to get some bbq sauce). The mac cheese is gooey and the beans are smokey sweet. Bread Pudding (Recommend) A generous slab of bread and sweets. Best served fresh to enjoy the soft, crunch, and warm sweet caramel. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Awesome! Friendly people that are knowledgeable with the menu and quick with service. TL; DR OVERALL: 4.5 Stars. Good selections, delicious food, and pleasant vibes. Philz may be the most popular bbq spot in San Diego but this spot gives a good run for its money. If I'm in Poway, I'd certainly consider coming back here. All the best to Jeremy/Josh and the rest of the Smokin J's BBQ team! TIPS: * Check out their website for the weekend menu!

    May 2025 menu
    Huyen N.

    Outdoor seating. Order inside and wait for your order to be delivered at the table. They were quite busy during lunch but our order arrived at the table quickly. Out of everything we ordered, the brisket was the most liked item. It was nice and tender, with the perfect amount of fat. Least liked item would be the pork ribs, which were too dry and salty. The burnt ends were a little sweet for our liking but their side BBQ sauce was good. The brisket chili was actually good, too. I bet it would taste better on a hot dog. Overall, food was ok. It's not worth the price, though.

    Bertha B.

    It was worth the drive we live in Fallbrook and was looking for good Bbq found this spot. We were hesitant on going but just decided too and we are happy we did! It is such a cute restraint with outdoor seating. Lots of options the cashier whom helped us was so knowledgeable and helpful with the menu knowing we were newbies. He was so professional and recommended great options. The pull pork and brisket were 10/10!! We will definitely be back

    3 x 3

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    Jeremy G.

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    7 months ago

    Food is great, outdoor seating only. Would be great if it was a bit cleaner outside between customers

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    11 months ago

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    3 months ago

    I love brisket and smokin Js always hits the spot. Arianna also takes great care of you in case you need any help.

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    9 months ago

    So good! One of my favorite BBQ places, the ribs are killer and my husband loves the cali j rito, it ends up being two meals, it's huge!

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    Jeremy G.

    Chancie, thank you! That made my night…

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    Page 3 of 26

    Smokin J's BBQ Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Smokin J's BBQ

    Are the ribs pork or beef?

    Pork ribs ( not baby back )

    Is potato salad NOT gluten-free? It doesn't have the GF markings on the menu.

    The potato salad is gluten free

    Can I substitute a different meat for the whole chicken in the family platter? I am allergic to chicken.

    You can substitute a rack of ribs for the chicken or extra pulled pork or brisket

    Do they have Shiner Bock?

    YES!!

    Is smokn j's Pet friendly?

    It's mostly all outdoor dining. We brought our dog.

    Any vegetarian options?

    Salads, succotash, potato salad, quesadillas (not on the menu, but just ask and they will make it), and a bunch of sides.

    Why is your phone number not working?

    We do not have call waiting. If we are on the phone with another customer please wait a few minutes and then try back.

    Do they serve beer? Shiner bock?

    They serve beer but I don't think they still have the shiner bock anymore.

    Is there gluten/dairy/soy free options?

    Aside from the obvious items (buns, Mac n cheese, pecan pie), everything is gluten and dairy free. The only thing we have that has trace amounts of soy is our bbq sauce.

    View All 10 Questions

    Review Highlights - Smokin J's BBQ

    The Smokin J sandwich has brisket, pork belly and coleslaw and is one of the best barbecue sandwiches ever.

    Mentioned in 48 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Well, lookie what I found.. .99 fish taco! I am on a best fish taco quest. So when a friend…read morecancelled last minute plans, I searched fish tacos and it bright me here. ** Note to the wise... they share the lot with DMV, so drive and park defensively during business hours ** It's a take a seat kinda place. And the staff will take your order. I got... 2 fish tacos (surprise) and some chips and a Diet Coke ... under 7 bucks! If you're traveling with a service dog, they have mostly high tops inside, so, take a seat outside. Which is also quite lovely. They have a fun vibe inside. About 6 high tops and 2 lower 4 top tables. Outside they have three picnic tables WITH umbrella!! Brisas was my server and she was very nice! Let's talk chips. They are served warm and have a good amount of salt. The salsa are green and red and are pretty standard heat and quality you'd expect of a San Diego taco shop. Fish tacos, were as expected. Small corn tortillas, shredded cabbage, fried fish, onion, tomato, cilantro and fresh lime. You cannot beat this price for fish tacos! And they are something I would eat again! As I rank fish tacos based on taste, this is the average expectation of a taco, making it a 3. On par with the Villa on Grand (3) or Rubios (at a fraction of the price) . It is not as memorable as Taco Craft. For the price and quality combined 4.5! I also had opportunity to try the chicken and cheese quesadilla. That was yummy!

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    Inside was very attractive.

    Taco Taco Poway - Chop cheese tacos (left 2) & Pulled pork taco

    Chop cheese tacos (left 2) & Pulled pork taco

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    Yesenia's Mexican Food - Meat in a veggie burrito! totally unacceptable

    Yesenia's Mexican Food

    4.4(1.2k reviews)
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    Yesenia's is delicious and the menu is massive. I don't come here enough. So many options and the…read morefood is flavorful with good portion sizes. They have tons of combos to choose from which is nice to try different things. They even gave us free chips.

    Came back for the sake of nostalgia, as this was my go-to spot when I lived in the area…read more I ordered a Carne Asada Burrito. Food quality is, without a doubt, amazing. You can taste every ingredient and there is obvious thought put into their recipes. The salsa bar is on point as well, and when they say spicy, they mean it. Whole 'lotta flavor no matter which salsa you choose. I had one issue though, to the point that I'm not sure I'll come back. When I received my order, I noticed that the bag felt lighter than usual. I didn't think much of it until I got to the car, but when I went to take a quick bite before heading home, I couldn't help but notice how small the burrito was. I know for a fact that this wasn't the case a couple years back when I was coming here regularly. I'm all too familiar with shrinkflation, and I get it, doing business isn't cheap, but I would have gladly paid a couple of extra dollars more to get a big burrito similar to the size of what you get from a 'Bertos shop, or really any SD taco/burrito joint for that matter. Place was clean, service was friendly, but I didn't leave very satisfied... $13 for a burrito this size just didn't make sense to me, no matter how good it tastes, but ~$18 for a bigger burrito with the same ingredients and quality, I would stop by on the regular. If you don't have a big appetite like me, none of this even matters, but if you do, don't come too hungry...

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    Great food, great service , great prices - what more could you ask for?…read more Been going here for years.

    Date of visit: March 29, 2026…read more I was in the area getting some Easter gifts, and as it was lunchtime, thought I'd owe it to myself to check out Jalapeños Mexican Food. I placed an order for five rolled tacos with the works (lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and guacamole), and a regular drink. While I was waiting, I munched on the free tortilla chips I was given paired with some spicy chunky salsa from the salsa bar. It's a good thing that I had the chips, because while there was a good bit of toppings on the rolled tacos, they just wouldn't stay on top of the order. Not just that, the rolled tacos themselves were a bit disappointing. Yes, the tortillas were crispy, but the filling was kinda... meh. And the worst part? Despite an order of rolled tacos and chips with salsa, I was STILL hungry after I left. I would've have liked to see if there was a combo of rice and beans that was available with the rolled tacos, but that menu board above the counter was TINY. And I felt rushed by the staff because I was trying to see the script, as well as a sense of rudeness overall. Otherwise, Jalapeño was clean, if not a bit on the crowded side. I was surprised though, that there was a line of customers almost out the door as I was leaving... but perhaps that was because there's not that many Mexican joints in this area of Carmel Mountain Ranch (unless you want to count Taco Bell across the street). Overall, while I'd like to try more of the menu, it'll be a hot minute before I come back.

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