We came here 15 minutes before open to grab a parking spot and there was already a line! It was a nice day so we sat outside in the back. Live music came and we made requests. The back patio is awesome with tables and grass. You’re allowed to order 1/4 pound of anything so don’t feel obligated to do a 1/2. We got spicy slaw, fries, chili, 1/2 ribs, brisket sandwich, and 1/2 tri tip. For drinks, you have to get the dole whip mimosa. So good! The Ketel cucumber mint press was also delicious. Grand Ole is not my choice for bbq but I can see myself coming back just for the atmosphere and drinks.

If you love BBQ you must go to this place, it’s just the best San Diego has to offer when it comes to BBQ. They have an excellent outdoor area that is family friendly & accommodating to large parties. The Turkey is surprisingly really, really, really good. Even if you don’t like turkey, get a slice and enjoy the surprisingly subtle smoke as it remains moist, it’s the best turkey I’ve ever had. The Brisket is spot on delicious either in the half pound sandwiches or on the plate. The sandwich is just the meat between two perfect pieces of bread. You can get sliced onions & pickles on the side as well. I added the el borracho on the side as well as the traditional slaw. The el borracho we ordered on the side came on polenta and it’s a must have if you haven’t tried it. El Borracho has Fritos chips & Serranos in it, & you can order it as a topping without the polenta as a straight dish. They have an excellent selection of good beer & other beverages. Our server was efficient though we did not have silverware or bbq sauce until after our food arrived. The BBQ is delicious even cold, as ours came out cold & got colder because we didn’t have our sauces, napkins or utensils. Beer was cold on a hot day. They have live music and we enjoyed that bonus. All in all excellent bbq experience, please take the time to visit.

The biggest highlight for us was the outdoor seating for large parties and live music. The food is good, the service was really good and the outdoor seating/vibe was great. Worth a try for sure

I don’t care what you heard, this is the best bbq in San Diego!!! The ambiance of this place is great for outdoor fun. They have live music midday Saturday. It can get hot but they have misters and plenty of shade. Anyway on to the food……I had pork ribs, turkey, brisket and Mac and cheese. All were excellent but if you’re not going to be as greedy as me, the one meat I would suggest would be the pork ribs. Another great side dish is the potato salad. Go here if you want traditional bbq with all the fixings!

Our first attempt to eat here on a weekend afternoon back in October 2021 was unsuccessful because they were extremely busy, and the wait for a table was long--and we were ravenous so we went elsewhere. Now I get why they're busy. So, normally I tend to try a place's burger, but this was a Saturday and they only serve their burger on weekdays. I had a bowl of the chili verde. I do not say this lightly--this was the best chili I have ever had. They have achieved that alchemy of the whole being more than the sum of its parts. The cubes of meat were wonderfully tender. I don't claim to be an expert on chili, I just know what I like. If you're a chili aficionado, you must try it. I had the cheesy fries which were also tender, lightly seasoned, and not overwhelmed with a heavy coating of cheese. Too bad I live an hour away.

The best BBQ in San Diego! There is generally a line so we try to go right when the restaurant opens. The moment you step inside, that smoky aroma takes over, making your mouth water. The ribs? Insanely delicious - fall-off-the-bone goodness! And don't even get me started on the brisket - it's like a slice of heaven. The vibe is chill, the portions are generous, and the sauces? Oh boy, they've got this range that amps up the taste. I particularly love the spicy sauce. It's the perfect spot for BBQ lovers looking for a finger-lickin' good time! We’ve only been there a few times but one time, there was live music!

Excellent food, a nice gem out in East county. Great service. Dole whip is a must. Come early, they do eventually run out of food.

This place is ridiculously good, well worth the cost. Everything is outstanding; the service is excellent; and the atmosphere is perfect for just getting down to enjoy as much of the incredible flavors as you can. I dream of the barbecue turkey, shockingly like it even better than the pulled pork. The potato salad is great, and so is the mac & cheese. This has become my go-to spot for barbecue in San Diego hands-down.

This is my first time here. I've heard nothing but great things about this place. I drove from the Clairemont are an took me about 20mins to get there. There was about a 20min wait for are table. There was alot of people there inside an outside area's. That have a bar inside the dining area an outside. They had a country band playing an customers dancing. Real fun vibe!!! OK NOW to the good part. The food was outstanding!! I had the brisket sandwich an my son the pull pork sandwich with fries. I made sure an took a 1/2 pound of brisket an pull pork an spare ribs for later. Great place to cost for sure

Fun BBQ place. If you like heavy rub, fall off the bone stuff and interesting sauces this is place for you. Try all the sauces. Nice staff. We were not a fan of the green beans so she took it off our bill.

Love the vibe.. food was delicious fell off the bone and just tender and juicy. We love the borracho special it was amazing. Everybody was very friendly.

Top-notch BBQ. Tri-tip w/ chimichurri was outstanding. Excellent service - welcoming, friendly, and attentive. Well worth the drive.

Great bbq spot with an awesome back patio area. Loved the very unique Borracho. Havent had a hot link that good outside of Texas. Brisket was great quality too.

We arrived on Sunday morning and we were the second in line. We wanted to try the Beef Ribs, since a friend said they were awesome. Sadly we were told they weren't available. Instead, we tried the Tri-Tip sandwich, Brisket sandwich, and the Green Chili. The Tri-Tip was over the top excellent, lean, tender, flavorful, and juicy. The Green Chili was very good Texas authentic, with chunks of tender meat in every bite and had an excellent blend of spices. Both were just like they are at their North Park restaurant. The Brisket was tender, juicy, flavorful and not very fatty. Overall the sandwiches had a little less meat than at the North Park location. Our friend got the Texas Cheesesteak sandwich and Potato Salad and liked them both. This location only has the BBQ menu, and not the North Park location's Argentinian menu on Sundays.

So so so good. We've tried several BBQ places in San Diego - Cali BBQ, Phil's, etc and they were all just so-so. But Grand Ole was amazing! We did show up at 11:50 right before opening so they had everything available. We had brisket, spare ribs, pulled pork, boracho brisket fries, green chili, Cole slaw, and potato salad. Everything was delicious! My one and only complaint was that the brisket was really salty. But I'd go back every single day if I could afford it! And the service was great too!

My best friend and I went for a girl's night for the first time. We sat on the HUGE patio with the LIVE band! It was so amazing. The small menu made it easy to order knowing the food was going to be amazing. And it was. It really really was. We started with the Barracho fries with pulled pork. Such an amazing treat. The pork was so tender and they put so much on them. Their BBQ sauce had such a sweet and tangy flavor and one with an awesome kick of heat. I had the brisket sandwich which comes with Cole slaw on it. WOWZA!!! The smoke wrong that was on this brisket. So good. Tender and juicy. I didn't need BBQ sauce. I also had the white beans with bacon. Awesome! My best friend had the Philly. The flavors that poured out of the brisket and peppers and onions..fabulous! The rolls they use are so soft and sturdy at the same time. No soggy bread involved! She also had mac and cheese which was divine. It tasted as though it had smoked Gouda. A wonderful nutty flavour to it. The we out of the dessert I wanted. So sad about that. But we stayed for hours. Such an amazing environment for the whole family!!! Must eat restraunt!!! Well done!!!

Great spot for families and outdoor dining! They have mist sprays and big areas for the kids to play. Good was fantastic, music was great. We’ll be back.

After years of searching, I finally found outstanding BBQ in the San Diego area. Great food. Great vibe. Real Texas style brisket.

The beef rib was tender and juicy, but had a thick coating of pepper that masked the taste. Brisket was soft, a bit dry. The service was great Matt was very attentive, I love the atmosphere. We got there around 4pm on a Sunday and the band was leaving. I would try this place again during lunch time.

We just had a lovely evening the Grand Ole BBQ. The pulled pork and the brisket were great, chili was a little spicy for my son, and the burger was massive and delicious. All the sides were fantastic, we especially enjoyed the bbq green beans, The mac and cheese and the coleslaw were all delicious.

Daniel was very friendly. The service was quick and the food amazing. I will recommend this place to my friends and family. The outdoor area is perfect for family with kids. Worth the drive (1.5 hrs).

The brisket was very dry and the smoke flavor was imperceptible. The pulled pork was also dry, but the smoke flavor was incredible. The hot link was tasty and spicy, but had a really thick, tough casing and had an odd consistency. I always say that BBQ should not need a sauce, but sauce should compliment it. Sauce was 100% necessary, while delicious. Service was good, but it did take a longer time that I would expect to receive our food.

So glad our friends told us about this gem. The brisket was my favorite because it’s done the way I like it very tender and melt in your mouth. Pulled pork was great too. I know it’s Texas bbq but we love the Southern style vinegary sauce. Also Friday nights have live music and it’s kid friendly. 🙂

This place is fantastic. Would have given 5 stars all around but they ran out of both entrees my wife and i went there for at 4pm (Tri tip/links) on a holiday weekend. That being said, staff is great, atmosphere is relaxing and fun and there are plenty of great food and drink options.

First time here. Seems like a nice place . Food is great . They have a lot of beer choices. Brisket sandwich with coleslaw is delicious. Fries are delicious too. The place is great if you have kids. There is place for them to play. Outside lawn. Plenty of seating inside and outside. A little short on parking, but you can find some on the street too.

Fun, casual outdoor setting with good beer and love music, and amazing BBQ! I had the brisket served with their "El borracho" garnish and it was delicious. Can't wait to go back.

OMG! this place is fantastic! we went on a Sunday and they had a band live and the band was really good singing their own original music. The brisket is to die for, and then I have the pork ribs which were rubbed in a special dry rub that you dip them in barbecue sauce and oh my God was delicious, the beans have bacon and they're creamy delicious goodness this place is highly recommended!

Totally felt like I was back in Texas having some good old comfort food BBQ! Plenty of room for dine in but beware weekends are pretty busy and crazy on holidays so go during the week if you can.