at a glance:

BUBBA’S SMOKEHOUSE | 888 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037 | (858) 551-4227

A casual family run BBQ restaurant in the heart of La Jolla serving “fall off the bones” ribs, tender brisket, BBQ sandwiches and burgers. A short walk to the coast for one of the tastiest picnics you’ve ever had. A La Jolla hidden gem! Open daily from 12PM to 8PM.

Menu

Where to Find Good BBQ in La Jolla and San Diego?

You don’t normally think about BBQ when it comes to dining in La Jolla. I mean, La Jolla is fancy with ocean view dining and Michelin star restaurants. Can a rack of baby backs compete? If that rack of ribs came from Bubba’s Smokehouse then the answer is a resounding YES.

Bubba’s Smokehouse makes BBQ that rivals the best in San Diego, smoked low and slow and unlike Phil’s, San Diego’s most well known BBQ joint, they don’t smother everything in sauce. Fall off the bone ribs won’t win many competitions (the best BBQ ribs retain a “bite” to them) but are certainly a winner in flavor for the majority of BBQ lovers. They were good, really good!

The big test for BBQ is always the beef brisket and beef ribs. Both of these require plenty of time and the right amount of smoke, not too much, and Bubba’s nailed it. Juicy, succulent, and extremely tender, some of the best I’ve and I’ve had plenty - it’s my go-to order all around the US whenever I go for BBQ Bubba’s passes the test with flying colors.

And while the ribs and chicken are the stars here, don’t overlook their sandwiches like The Bubba, filled with pulled pork, chopped brisket, and a hot link sausage for God’s sake, all covered with your choice of BBQ sauce. Excellent burgers and homemade mac n cheese, bbq beans, and crispy sweet potato fries, people around me were even raving over the salads, which is something I’ve never heard at a BBQ joint.

Take a great rib and make it better!

While the restaurant is pleasant enough with their 50’s music vibe and friendly staff, the pro tip is to get everything “to go” and to take the short 5 minute walk over to Ellen Browning Scripps Park where you’ll find a large grassy area overlooking the ocean, the ultimate picnic spot. Spread out a blanket, hand out some napkins, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a better dining experience in all of San Diego. Save that Michelin star dining for later - let’s go get some ribs!