Everything went well. First time there, servers were amazingly receptive and friendly. Ambience is amazing. We ordered the chef's table appetizer, jumbo pretzel, chicken tenders, Smashburger, tri-tip tacos, and brisket tacos. We are definitely going back again. read more

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Ordered beef ribs to go. Live one block away they were cold when I got home. Only 3 small ribs size of baby backs. Left out the grilled onions. PRICE ON YELP $23 was charged 28.50 Got ripped off seriously here read more

Don't know nothing about the food, as my party just visited for some drinks. We mostly all got beers, but one of us is fancy and got an espresso martini. Villain's brews their own beer, and they have a lot of good IPAs. I visited with a hop-head who knows SoCal beers, so I took his word that a Villain beer would be great, and it was. I got the Fashionably Late, which is a hazy IPA. Very tasty! Our server was super kind and gave us all lemon drop shots, on the house. Way to win my heart! I never drink shots, but I tell you what: That lemon drop went down a treat. It paired nicely with my IPA, which was citrusy. We sat on the patio, which is large and overlooks the seedy downtown San Diego streets. The weather is almost always perfect in SD, so I suggest sitting outside. But if you sit inside, that's kind of where the magic is happening. Because it wasn't until I walked around and looked at it closely that I realized that Villain's Brewing is horror themed! All around the restaurant and bar is horror movie paraphernalia, like Chucky paintings and a life-sized Freddy Krueger mannequin. I love a good themed establishment, and this one is very fun. read more

I'm staying at a hotel close by and decided to get a smash burger, fries, and a Roy Roger drink. The price was $44.80 with tip. Unfortunately, the online menu doesn't say the smash burger comes with fries already so I ended up with extra fries. I guess the prices are also different online. Ambiance was typical of a brewery and it wasn't too busy when I went which was around 9pm. The bartender was very friendly and cute. read more

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Have always loved this cute little house. Great little rooftop, we got a seat at a table upstairs after a weekday Padres game. Happy hour discount on the drinks and appetizers. It was one server upstairs but she was hustling around making it work. read more

Villain’s Brewing - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

Was in La Jolla for the weekend and decided to check out a few new SD breweries. This one is just down the way from Petco Stadium and a Padres game happened to be in play while we visited. Great location with a very cool vibe! Beers were good, and the a snacks we tried were tasty! We sat on the outdoor patio and could see the stadium stands and watch the game on their big screen at the same time. read more

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Food has gone downhill. How can a smash burger be raw in the middle?!?!? Because they don't actually smash it. It's no longer a smash burger. Service has been hit or miss as well. Kinda bummed. Wish they also had online ordering for this location. Yet, not feeling it. read more

Villain’s Brewing - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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Cute spot right near the stadium! Good happy hour, cocktails were reasonably priced and the apps are all heavily discounted. We also got fish tacos which were great. Service was good especially considering there was a whole throng pouring in after the game. Would definitely be back, esp for happy hour. read more

Villain’s Brewing - Upstairs deck - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

I was blown away by the BBQ. I've been day dreaming about it and can't get it out of my head lol The beef ribs and brisket were so soft. The beef rib just fell off the bone. The bbq sauce was the perfect balance of smokey, sweet and tangy! Finger lickin good! I also loved their corn bread! It was fluffy, moist and sweet, not dry like other corn breads I also got the corn ribs as an appetizer. I think it would've been better if it wasn't on the rib lol you think you can just bite into it and eat it, but it's still on the rib lol I heard about this place because they have a location in my hometown, Anaheim. It's around the corner from the stadium so perfect to spot to check out if you're hitting the Padres game. We sat out on the deck which had a big projector screen to watch the games. Definitely coming back to satisfy my bbq cravings! The fries were also crispy and delicious! I'm definitely coming back for the bbq! read more

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Villains took over the same cool old house that used to be Half Door. Menu changed a little, but it's still basically American food with beer, a stone's throw from Petco Park. The food was decent. We split an order of the BBQ brisket and a side of fries. It was just enough for two people and the meat was tender and you could cut it with a fork. It didn't come with any BBQ sauce, which was sort of odd, so was asked for some. Fries had a seasoning on them that was a little sweet. Yours truly had the double IPA and it hit he spot . Set me back $9 each which is a little high but it's downtown. The only real drawback was service. They seemed short handed and flustered. Things took a while to come, a couple drink orders got messed up and our bill came with an extra dish that we didn't order. They fixed it without any issue but that's where they fell short of 5 stars. read more

Villain’s Brewing - Brethren of Filth DIPA - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here before the Padres game and we ordered some beers, cocktails, and food. The IPA was a little flat but wasn't bad enough to send back. The cocktail was delicious. I ordered the Vampire Weekend and it tasted like a blood orange margarita. Loved it! Then we got the double fried potato skins and buffalo wings. The potato skins were soo good! The brisket on top was tender and smokey, and the cheese on top made it the perfect combination of flavors and texture. The wings were really good too. We sat at the bar and the bartender was friendly and helpful. Love the layout of the brewery as it's 2 stories and a lively place to go before the game. Highly recommend. read more

Villain’s Brewing - Vampire weekend - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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Food was good! This is a Halal establishment, so no pork here if that's what you are looking here. I had the Santa Maria Tri Tip Tacos and they were delicious! My daughter had the Smoked Brisket Chili and said it was the best chili she's ever had. My son had the Smoked BBQ Brisket Burger and gave it a thumbs up. My husband had the Smoked Brisket Sandwich and said it was really good, as well. Service was on the slower side, but it could have just been they were short that's day. Overall, would recommend! read more

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Took me 'a minute ' to come for food vs drinks at their cozy bar and so glad I jumped from ha.ging at rhe bar to dining on the patio. The delectable read more

American brewery Villain theme Cali BBQ and Craft beers Indoor and outdoor seating Full bar Amex accepted Restroom inside Downtown parking (paid street) Fast service Vegan and vegetarian options Tacos and burgers and salads read more

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I have been at Villain's Brewing a handful of times and it is always a great experience. The atmosphere is nice and I love their vibe. All staff are super friendly and efficient. The cocktails and mocktails are delicious and the presentation is top notch. Their fries and buffalo chicken wings are outstanding! Ordered the brisket tacos, wasn't a fan -- overly salty. Overall, I enjoy coming here and am a fan of them. read more

Villain’s Brewing - A yummy mango mocktail. Chef's kiss. - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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Cool vibe. They were out of the stronger IPAs and the food was really greasy. Fries and cornbread were too sweet. Service was moderate, nothing over the top but attentive enough. read more

Villain’s Brewing - Tri tip tacos dripping in grease from tortilla - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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"From pirate's pints to treasure-licious bites, it was a Goonies-level good time!" @villainsbrewingsd + @the.goonies = adventure on tap! Great eats, epic drinks, and proof we never say die." read more

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Nice atmosphere sitting up on the second floor. They were very busy on a Saturday afternoon playing the FIFA games but they still delivered on my fish tacos and we also got the nachos which were also delicious. Great beer selection and cocktails to pair. Definitely recommend and would return when back in San Diego. Our server seemed a bit overwhelmed with how busy it was but still managed to take great care of us and we overall enjoyed our lunch there. Cool spot! read more

I'm a fan of the Anaheim location and decided to check out the SD location as my final stop before catching the train back to Los Angeles. The place was pretty dead as it was early on a Friday, but the service was no good. We were at the inside bar and after a few minutes of no service decided to move outside. I communicated our move with the wait staff , and we waited again outside for several minutes . We just wanted drinks.. We finally got up and walked 3 minutes to Bay Side brewery where the staff was attentive and the drinks yummy. This place doesn't have the same vibes or attention as the Anaheim location. Won't be returning . Lamest brewery of the several that I visited over the past couple days. read more

Nice set up at this spot. Has a cozy feel with the wood and design but also feels like a spot you could easily start a crazy night at. Didn't have any food but it all smelt amazing!!! I got their Mexican lager and was able to easily watch the near end of the Padres game. Plenty of tvs around to see wherever you get sat at. read more

Villain’s Brewing - View from upstairs - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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We've seen this building change hands over the years - always pretty good restaurants. But this re-branding is (in my opinion) the best. Dark and moody and focusing on BBQ. Our server made great suggestions about the offerings on tap. The food came out quickly and although not unique for BBQ, was delicious and met our expectations (except for the "wedge" salad.) Hope this one sticks around for a while. read more

Villain’s Brewing - The menu calls it a Cesar "wedge" salad. Potato skins, chili, and brisket tacos. - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

The service was excellent. We went for lunch and asked to be seated outside. The tables were very dirty and I had to use a napkin to clean off the chairs and tables. But I get it. There one person tending bar and serving food. We did not order drinks but the food was fantastic. Except for the wings. They were super dry. Good buffalo flavor though. The fish tacos were crispy and the slaw was a perfect size. And their tallow fries with jalapeño ranch? The stuff that pub food dreams are made of. The brisket on the potato skins was killer! We will be back! read more

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We visited on a rainy evening, which definitely impacts my review. While there is plenty of seating in the nicely appointed outdoor patio area, there's a very little seating indoors. We were offered a seat in a covered shed area, but the couch was quite wet and the floor was dominated by a huge puddle. We opted to wait for indoor seating and luckily, we did not have to wait long. Some reviews mentioned gluten-free options, and there were indeed a few things to choose from. My husband had the tacos, and I had the taquitos. Unfortunately, the taquitos were rather dry and tasteless. There was not enough sauce or flavor. The tacos, however, were very good and flavorful. I do not drink beer, but my husband loved the Mexican style beer. It was a little saltier than others we have tasted, but not in a bad way! The service was wonderful. The manager on duty really tried to accommodate our group, especially when I let him know that one of the children in our party had special needs. He went out of his way to bring her a fun stem based play pack and answered all of our questions patiently. I would go back to give it a second chance on a nicer day! read more

Villain’s Brewing - Taquitos - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

For a person who doesn't really eat BBQ as a first choice for a meal - this place changed my mind and was absolutely AMAZING! The portions were HUGE and Tyler our server , was the BEST! He was very attentive- gave us delicious recommendations and his choices didn't disappoint! This place was walking distance from our hotel and the ambiance was chill, the music playlist in the background was epic & seeing Petco park from this brewery was icing on the cake! read more

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Went there because of Yelps high rating and the menu looked like it has a good variety of food options. The wings were good but nothing spectacular. Got the loaded dip. The chip that go with the dip was stale. The waitress was kind enough to comp us a different appetizer. I got the wagu burger, it was ok, kinda greasy. It's located on a corner and it's a good spot to meet friends. read more

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This was our fourth visit to Villains, and it continues to be a reliable spot with good energy, solid portions, and bold flavors. We started with the birria tacos, which came three to an order with broth. While they were missing limes and the salsa arrived after we had already finished the tacos, the flavor still held up on its own. Once the salsa arrived, it paired really well with the rest of our food. My six-year-old ordered the smash burger and fries, which he completely devoured. He always says this is his favorite place, and that alone speaks volumes. We also tried a couple drinks from the holiday specialty menu. The Frankenstein's Inspiration reminded me of a mojito without the mint -- strong coconut flavor, a bit heavier than my personal preference, but still a well-made drink. I ordered the ribeye tacos, which I've had before and made sure to get again -- and they did not disappoint. These were easily one of the highlights of the meal and consistently excellent. My boyfriend ordered the carne asada, served with grilled onions and mini tortillas. While it was flavorful, he mentioned it wasn't something he'd order again, mainly because it felt like something he could make at home. Not bad, just not as memorable compared to other options on the menu. The vibe at Villains is always on point -- casual, good music, and wall decor that never disappoints. The holiday decorations were a fun touch, and our server even brought out a shot for us to try, which was a nice extra. Portion sizes are solid, and we usually order sides to round out the meal, which always leaves us satisfied. Flavors that hit, vibes that stick -- this is a place we'll keep coming back to. read more

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Decided to try a new place in downtown San Diego. We were so excited to get parking nearby. When we arrived the restaurant was mostly empty, yet it still took a long time to be seated. Our party didn't mind as we liked the decorations and overall ambience was definitely a highlight. When we sat down the drinks were disappointing for the price -- they were filled with ice and had very thick syrupy taste. Unfortunately, the food also took quite a while to come out. Our server was friendly and pleasant, which we appreciated. Overall, the place has potential, so we're willing to give it another try in the future. read more

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Great spot to hang out before an event at Petco Park. Just a short walking distance from the park, we were here before WWE Survivor Series gate opening. The food and drinks were good. Perfect amount of toppings for the nachos. Service was great even with a line outside. read more

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I made a reservation here for a Tuesday at 1:15 PM through Resy, which was super easy. I also appreciated how flexible they are with cancellations and rescheduling. When we first arrived, it was pretty quiet with just a few tables seated, but it definitely picked up before we left. There's plenty of seating overall. We chose to sit outside in the covered area, which was great since there's a TV to catch games. Our server was phenomenal - very attentive, friendly, and gave really solid recommendations. Here's what we ordered: * Smash Burger: cooked perfectly and really flavorful. It came with thin-cut fries that had a great seasoning on them. * Smoked Brisket: super tender and cooked just right. Served with cornbread and pickles, and the barbecue sauce was spot on. * Ribs: you get four ribs, also with cornbread. The flavor was good, but the meat was a bit too fatty for my personal preference. They also have a great selection of craft beers on tap, which is always a plus. Happy hour is from 2-5 PM (Monday through Friday, I believe), with $6 craft beers, cocktail specials, and half-off appetizers so definitely worth checking out. Parking was easy for us with street parking available, though I imagine it could be tougher on weekends or during events. Another big bonus: they're dog-friendly. They even offer doggy patties, which the dogs absolutely devoured. Overall, it's a cute, clean spot with awesome service, great food, and a welcoming vibe. I'd definitely come back. read more

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Came with my girl around noon and they weren't busy when we got there. Ordered the brisket and she had the tri tip. My brisket was pretty cold and dry in some areas. Bbq is on the side. Still was edible but I was a bit disappointed. We shared some tallow fries, thought those were good. Her tri tip was fair but also cold. Cornbread is not bad. We each had a drink as well . Drinks were good. read more

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10/10 experience at Villains brewing!! The drinks were excellent--strong, sweet and balanced, and the food was sooo good. Shout out to Charity, our server, who was so attentive, gave great recommendations, and was overall such a pleasure!!! I'll absolutely come back for the Thai sweet and spicy wings-- they came with so much delicious sauce, were crunchy and perfectly cooked. Recommended by our server, very glad i went with that order. It's just a few streets away from Petco park, yet has a chill atmosphere with multiple seating options and a great upstairs deck. We were able to bring our dog and they gave him a complimentary beef patty (what a bonus!!!!). 5 stars will return !! read more

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In the East Village. The food is good. Lots of meat dishes. Ribs, chicken wings, and burgers and fries. Good salads with brisket or tri tip. Two story bar and restaurant with outdoor space. Dog friendly. Service was great, friendly and professional. There are a few things that could be changed on the food to make it better for my palette but overall it was a good experience. Happy Hour is good as well. read more

Villain’s Brewing - Salad & tri tip - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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I stopped in for a beer and lunch. I had the privilege of meeting the manager Ken, who was able to talk and make a lonely person having lunch by herself's day. I felt he was a kindred spirit in that I had worked as a server for years going through college. He suggested the brisket and told me how they make it in the smoker they have in the kitchen. It was very flavorful and the cornbread that came with it was moist and had just the right amount of sweetness. The IPA I had was stellar also. I will be back. The space is akin to the living room of a historic house in downtown San Diego. The brewery also has a location in Anaheim. read more

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How have I not known of this place?! A few short blocks from Petco Park is this great little spot. Service was good and friendly. They gave my husband a free beer for Father's Day and gave us two free shots. The food is very much bar food but so good! Fish tacos, brisket, appetizer platter, chicken, fries and carrots were ordered. Everything was really good with the exception of the chicken- that was just okay. We got the Thai chili sauce on the wings and they were so good. My son said the onion rings were the best he ever had. I can't wait to come back and try everything else. I'm hoping I can bring enough people with me next time to try the "BBQ boil." read more

Villain’s Brewing - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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Ok we started going back to Villiains because they've turned music down! We're so excited! Food, drinks, customer service and great atmosphere. read more

If I could give this place more we would give it a 4.8! I have been to the original Villains in Anaheim day 1 it opened--we didn't love the experience but understood it was brand new and would need to fix and iron out some things. This location--on Halloween no less--was a much more better experience. We made reservations (but didn't need to...they were sitting people quickly) and sat up stairs. The decor from what we could see was good for the spooky vibes. Service was top tier. The drink selection was good. But the food--the food is where it is at!!! I know this is a brewery but OMG the food. I ordered the brisket--PHENOMENAL. I didn't get my grilled onion (was high key looking forward to that) so tender and flavorful. My fiancé ordered the tri-tip sandwich and he was making noises rather than words lol. Said if we were to rate this visit solely on food--5/5. We also ordered the tzatziki potato salad and we wanted MORE. read more

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Recently saw this spot on an influencer's Instagram and figured, why not try it? What really caught our attention is that they offer HALAL BBQ, which is honestly hard to find, so we went in hopeful but without huge expectations (because let's be real... halal spots can be hit or miss). First off, the vibe is super unique. The decor is unlike your typical BBQ place. Walls lined with books, random villain artwork, and even some baseball-themed pieces. It's definitely a conversation starter and gives the place personality. Now let's get into the FOOD We ordered the loaded nachos, double-fried BBQ skin potatoes, mac & cheese, Greater Omaha smoked brisket, and beef back ribs and everything was honestly so good. My personal favorite was the loaded nachos. The balance of sweet and smoky flavors was perfect, and every bite hit. My husband loved the beef ribs, they were literally falling off the bone and just melted in your mouth. Nothing we tried was below an 8/10, which says a lot. The staff was also amazing, super friendly, attentive, and constantly checking in without being overbearing. If you're Muslim, I definitely recommend checking this place out for halal BBQ. One thing to keep in mind though, it is still a brewery, so I'd recommend going earlier in the day for a more comfortable experience. Overall, 10/10 would come back again. read more

Villain’s Brewing - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

We have been to this place about 3 times now and the food does. Ot disappoint one bit. The smash hamburger is by far the family favorite. You have to try their drinks too. Service first two times was kinda slow and it took forever for us to get our drinks especially our alcoholic drinks! The place wasn't super busy where you would expect that so it shocked us. Third time was the best service! Quick everything my husband didn't have to order 2 beers at a time to make sure he didn't run out and have to wait forever. The actual location is good downtown. The restaurant itself is very cool with every villain you can even think of having a picture on the wall. Even in the bathroom. I even think the bookshelf library looking dining area is very unique. A place i completely recommend read more

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Decided to check this place out for lunch a they have newly taken over this spot. It's in East village so parking isn't great, as it's all street parking. They have a Villain theme, so there are pictures of movie villains such as Jason and gremlins on the wall. The place had some decorations like cobwebs for Halloween as well, and the vibe matches the season. We seated ourselves at the bar, and they were actually very busy. Most of the tables were taken and there wasn't much seating left at the bar either. It did take a while for the server to bring us menus, but she did apologize for the wait. We ended up ordering the Smashburger which came with grilled onions and a special sauce on a Japanese milk bun. I also ordered the towel fries, which I was pleasantly surprised to see they had, as you don't see them out of it. A burger was very good juicy and had such a good flavor to it. The grilled onions gave her just a tiny bit of sweetness but not too much. Wasn't so juicy that it made the Buns soggy, so that was good. The fries were all so very good, they had some type of seasoning on them but I'm not quite sure what it was the closest thing I can think of that it reminds me of is the fries at wingstop. I will say the price point it's a little bit more than I would have liked, the burger itself was $19 and you had to buy any sides separate, the fries were $8. There are a few other places nearby that offer their burgers for about the same price but they come with fries included. Honestly this would probably be the only thing that keeps me coming here and maybe chosen a different burger spot instead. I definitely will come back, but probably just not as often. But definitely give this place a try at least once. I don't drink beer, but they do have a lot on tap, and they serve other Spirits as well. read more

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LOVED this spot. I wanted to check out some good breweries while visiting SD and Villain's had not only great beer, but delicious BBQ and a cool gothic/dark academia vibe as well! The Dank Dominion was a perfect hazy IPA and paired nicely with the brisket. The brisket was suuuper tender and flavorful, and a nice balance of fatty/lean. I don't know if they make the bbq sauce in house but was delicious as well, with a great flavor and tiny bit of heat. My only real critique was the cornbread - it was a bit more on the "cake-like" side of the cornbread spectrum, though that's a personal preference. Service was good and friendly! Price felt reasonable for the quality of the food and beer. I really enjoyed hanging out in the upstairs space, the decor was cool and the place wasn't packed. It was a more relaxed vibe than most breweries which I loved. Will definitely be back next time I'm in town! read more

Villain’s Brewing - Dank Dominion hazy IPA, 1/2 pound brisket - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California